Government News 2/12 Japan, Vietnam boost human resource cooperation Politburo member and Chairman of the Vietnam-Japan Friendship Parliamentary Group, To Huy Rua, received President of the Japan National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS), Takashi Shiraishi, in Hanoi on December 1. Rua spoke highly of effective cooperation in education and training between Vietnam and Japan over the past years, and called for closer ties between the GRIPS and Vietnamese relevant agencies in the future to make use of their advantages. He emphasized that Vietnam wishes to strengthen cooperation with Japan, especially in high-quality human resource development. He urged the Japanese side to coordinate with Vietnam in training Vietnamese officials at all levels. For his part, Takashi Shiraishi showed his impressions on Vietnamese people and landscapes. He affirmed that with advantages in education and training, Japan will continue its efforts in helping Vietnam train high-quality human resources, thus making practical contributions to the two countries’ strategic partnership for peace and prosperity in Asia. Vietnam, Laos enhance joint work in ethnic affairs President of the Lao Front for National Construction Central Committee Phanduongchit Vongsa has proposed sharing more experience with Vietnam in ethnic affairs in the coming time. The joint work will cover personnel training, dissemination of ethnic laws and policies, especially those related to poverty reduction in border ethnic minority regions, Phanduongchit Vongsa told Deputy Minister and deputy head of the Government’s Committee for Ethnic Affairs Son Phuoc Hoan in Vientiane on December 1. Hoan informed his host of the outcomes of his talks with the Lao Front for National Construction Central Committee. Both host and guest agreed to increase exchange of visits and training courses on ethnic work for Lao cadres while drafting a socio-economic development scheme for areas along the two countries’ borderline. The Vietnamese delegation is on a working visit to Laos from November 30 to December 4. Vietnamese diplomats congratulate Laos’ National Day A Vietnamese delegation led by Ambassador Nguyen Manh Hung attended a ceremony in Vientiane on December 1 to celebrate the 39th anniversary of Laos’ National Day. Present at the event were Party General Secretary and State President Chummaly Sayasone, Prime Minister Thongsing Thamavong, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Thonglounsisoulith and many other Lao senior officials, as well as representatives of foreign diplomatic corps. In his speech, President Chummaly Sayasone underscored that since Laos was totally liberated in 1975, the country has maintained its stable economic growth and obtained considerable achievements in poverty reduction. Laos is expected to escape the underdeveloped status in 2020, he added. So far, Laos has established diplomatic relations with 136 countries around the world on the principle of peace, independence, friendship and cooperation. Deputy FM shares joy with Laos over national day Deputy Foreign Minister Ho Xuan Son extended greetings to Laos on the occasion of its 39th anniversary of National Day (December 2) during his visit to the Lao Embassy in Hanoi on December 1. He told Lao diplomatic staff that Vietnam gives high priority to fostering the traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation with Laos. Son said he is satisfied with the progress of delivering agreements reached by their leaders and the Inter-Governmental Committee during its 36th meeting and active preparations for the 37th meeting in early 2015. Lao Ambassador Somphone Sychaleun expressed the belief in the further development of bilateral relationship, and promised to work closely with the Vietnamese Foreign Ministry for the sake of both countries. Vietnam, Indonesia tighten defence ties Deputy Defence Minister Sen. Lieut. Gen. Nguyen Chi Vinh received Brigadier General Haryoko Sukarto, Chief of the Centre for Strategic Studies of the Indonesian National Armed Forces, in Hanoi on December 1. During the reception, Vinh spoke highly of the outcomes of the working session between the centre and the Vietnamese Defence Ministry’s Institute for Military Strategy. He asked the two agencies to work out specific plans for cooperation. The two countries’ defence ministries should upgrade their defence policy dialogue to deputy ministerial level, as well as speeding up delegation exchanges in order to strengthen mutual understanding and effective cooperation for an ASEAN region of peace, stability and prosperity, he added. The guest affirmed that Indonesia always attaches importance to developing its defence ties with Vietnam. He expressed hope for more support from the Vietnamese ministry to facilitate the collaboration between the two agencies, thus contributing to intensifying the bilateral friendship. VNA/VNN