GOVERNMENT NEWS Vietnam, Thailand military officers join first exchange The first exchange between middle-ranking military officers of Vietnam and Thailand took place recently in the latter’s capital city of Bangkok with the aim of increasing mutual understanding between the two armies. Vietnamese and Thai military officers pose for a photo while visiting the aircraft carrier HTMS Chakri Naruebet (Photo: the Vietnamese Military Attaché Office in Bangkok) The Vietnamese delegation with 10 members led by Major General Le Trung Hai visited a number of Thai military units such as the Peace-keeping Centre, the Royal Thai Air Force Museum, and the Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy, and had exchanges with officers there. The guests also visited the aircraft carrier HTMS Chakri Naruebet, and expressed their hope that it will come to Vietnam in the near future. Defence relations between Vietnam and Thailand have been thriving over the past years, especially since the countries inked a defence cooperation agreement. They have increased all-level delegation exchanges such as a Vietnam visit by Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Navy Admiral Kraison Chansuvanich and the tour of Thailand by Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army Do Ba Ty. Naval cooperation is a highlight in their defence ties with joint patrols conducted on the two countries’ bordering waters which is said to have helped intensify mutual understanding and trust between the armies and ensured security at sea. Thailand presented Admiral Nguyen Van Hien and Chief of the General Staff Do Ba Ty with the Knight Grand Cross (First Class) of the Most Noble Order of the Crown of Thailand. The second middle-ranking officer exchange between the armies is scheduled to be held in Vietnam in early 2015. President greets ambassadors of Bangladesh, Greece, Saudi Arabia State President Truong Tan Sang receives Saudi Arabian Ambassador Dakhil Al Johani (Photo: VNA) President Truong Tan Sang welcomed newly-accredited ambassadors from Bangladesh, Greece and Saudi Arabia who presented their credentials to the Vietnamese State leader in Hanoi on December 29. Receiving Bangladeshi Ambassador Shahab Ullah, the President said the two countries have witnessed growing relations since the establishment of bilateral diplomatic ties 40 years ago. The President expressed his pleasure at the close bilateral coordination at international forums, saying he believes the two countries will continue to support each other for mutual benefits. He suggested the two nations enhance high-level delegation exchanges and step up bilateral cooperation in potential fields. For his part, Ambassador Shahab Ullah said he wishes to share Bangladeshi experience in poverty alleviation, maternal and infant mortality reduction, climate change adaptation, trade and industry. Welcoming Greek Ambassador Nicolas Dekanelos, President Truong Tan Sang asked the two countries to expand bilateral cooperation in economics, trade, science and technology. He described the free trade agreement between Vietnam and the European Unions as an important document to accelerate the bilateral economic ties. The Greek diplomat pledged to do his utmost to promote the friendship and collaboration between the two countries. While meeting with Saudi Arabian Ambassador Dakhil Al Johani, President Truong Tan Sang said Vietnam always welcomes foreign investors, including those from Saudi Arabia. The President said he hopes both nations will continue to support each other at international forums. The Saudi Arabian Ambassador underlined the two countries’ potential for cooperation in oil and gas, and labour. He said his country could recruit about 100,000 Vietnamese workers instead of the current 15,000. He also highlighted the need to step up bilateral negotiations for the signing of trade, economic, and investment deals, and revealed his ambition to increase two-way trade to 5 billion USD from 2 billion USD during his tenure in Vietnam. Party leader: youth play significant role in national development The Viet Nam Youth Federation should work to ensure the ideology and actions of young people from all classes of society were unified given their development would safeguard the country's stability and sustainable growth, according to Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong. Addressing the 7th National Congress of the Viet Nam Youth Federation (VYF) that kicked off in Ha Noi yesterday, Dec 29, the Party chief said that young people were the future owners of the nation and at the forefront of national construction and defence. They were also one of the deciding factors in the country's renewal and socialism-building causes, the Party chief noted before 800 delegates representing Vietnamese youngsters from all fields nationwide and overseas. He highlighted that the next generations were the cornerstone of Viet Nam's human resources development strategy, and the Party, State and people had great faith and trust in them. The leader urged the VYF to continue its contributions to national solidarity and help youngsters to effectively realise the Party and State's policies and laws. The federation's activities should reflect the youth of today as well as ideological orientations, he said. Young people should follow President Ho Chi Minh's moral example and join the fight against a "peaceful revolution" launched by hostile forces, the leader stressed. The Party chief also called on Party organisations, State agencies and all of society to create favourable conditions and a healthy social environment for youth development. In his opening speech, VYF President Nguyen Dac Vinh said in the 2010-14 period, the federation had grown strongly and become a reliable friend for the youth of today. Over the next five years, the federation planned to harness the power ofyoung people for national construction and defence, Vinh added. During the congress, the VYF also launched the "I love my homeland" movement aimed at encouraging youngsters to play a more active role in national development. Recalling wartime Yesterday President Truong Tan Sang greeted former youth delegates of the war-time South Viet Nam Agency's central office in Ha Noi. The delegates met with members of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union to honour the 15th anniversary of the Youth Volunteer drive and the 40th anniversary of Reunification Day. They recalled the day they volunteered to join the fighting force in Tay Ninh Province, then a war zone. During 15 years fighting for the country's independence, they lost many friends and made many sacrifices, but they recalled those days as their proudest and most memorable. The veterans said youth upheld the country's spirit in both war and peacetime. They were the frontline soldiers to protect the country's independence; for today's young generation, the mission was contributing to national development. The President wished the delegates good health and praised them for being role models for following generations. HCM City keen to boost ties with US Ho Chi Minh City highly values the development of US science-technology, health care and education, and wishes to boost with the US in the fields of mutual concern. Secretary of the municipal Party Committee Le Thanh Hai made the statement during his reception for US newly-accredited Ambassador Theodore G. Osius in the city on December 29. HCM City witnesses the increasing number of direct and indirect investors from the US with the growing investment, the city’s official, adding that the US is among countries and territories having the high number of tourists to the city. He also spoke highly of the growing relations between Vietnam and the US. In response, Ambassador Osius described the two countries’ preparations for the 20th anniversary of the normalisation of bilateral ties as a good chance for both sides to regularly exchange high-level delegations and enhance cooperation in trade, economics, health care, education and environment. He expressed his belief that the two countries’ conclusion of negotiations on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement in the coming time will open up conditions for both sides to promote investment. NA Chairman praises NA-Fatherland Front joint work What the National Assembly (NA) has achieved is partly attributable to its coordination with Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF), top legislator Nguyen Sinh Hung said. He was speaking at a conference in Hanoi on December 29 to review collaboration between the NA Standing Committee and the Presidium of VFF Central Committee for 2014 and laying out their 2015 tasks. Joint work made by the NA, the NA Standing Committee and VFF received support from the public, strengthening their trust in the Party leadership and the State’s policies, he said. As 2015 is the final year when the 2011-2015 socio-economic development plan comes to an end and the Party Congresses at all levels are held in preparation for the 12th National Party Congress, the NA Chairman expected both sides to continue working together on law-making and law enforcement while improving the quality of their meetings with constituents as well as commentary on social issues. Looking back upon 2014, the VFF launched campaigns “the whole nation unites to build cultural lifestyle in residential areas”, “Day for the Poor”, “Vietnamese prioritise Vietnamese goods”, which have won support from the NA Standing Committee, the Council of Ethnic Affairs, NA Committees and lawmakers. The VFF has partnered with the NA Standing Committee in raising public awareness and putting Constitution into full place. However, the VFF also admitted its shortcomings in offering less thought-out feedback on a number of bills and the settlement of constituents’ suggestions, among others. Association actively supports Vietnamese in Cambodia The General Association of Vietnamese Cambodian People held a meeting to review its performance in 2014 and map out orientations for next year in Phnom Penh on December 29. The association proposed Cambodian authorities continue to take care of and give assistance to the Vietnamese Cambodians, especially in terms of legal status and material facilities, said Chairman Chau Van Chi, who was elected as a member of the 13th tenure of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Executive Board. It received support from authorities of southern cities and provinces of Vietnam such as Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Nai, Tay Ninh, Long An, Dong Thap and An Giang in building schools, granting scholarships, and opening vocational training courses for Vietnamese expatriates. The association was also active in cultural and educational work, illustrated by supporting natural disaster victims, providing free health check-ups and medicine, and presenting gifts to underprivileged Vietnamese and Cambodian people. In 2015, the association will continue to develop its apparatus by establishing new executive boards at grassroots levels, increasing its membership, and guiding the Vietnamese expatriates to register for the foreigner’s legal status implemented by the Cambodian Ministry of Internal Affairs in July 2014. It will also expand operation in the Cambodian provinces of Preah Vihear, Oddar Mean Chey, Kep, Pailin, and Tbong Kmmum. Source: VNA/ VNS