Government News 14/1 Foreign Ministry hosts New Year meeting with EU ambassadors The Foreign Ministry and the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) held a New Year meeting in Hanoi on January 13 with EU Ambassador to Vietnam Franz Jessen as well as ambassadors and chargé d’affaires from EU member states. The meeting was the first in a series of activities to celebrate the 25th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Vietnam and the EU (1990-2015). Addressing the event, Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son highlighted positive development in bilateral cooperation between Vietnam and the EU over the past 25 years, as well as partnership between Vietnam and each EU member countries. He lauded the effective coordination and support that the EU and its members have given to Vietnam during the country’s development and international integration process. The diplomat also thanked the EU diplomats for their contributions to the growth of Vietnam-EU ties. Son expressed his belief that with the diplomats’ coordination, Vietnam and the EU will finalise work for 2015, including the ratification of a partnership and comprehensive cooperation framework agreement (PCA) and the signing of a Vietnam-EU Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) as well as EU’s recognition of Vietnam ’s market economic status. On the occasion, he also expressed sympathy to families of victims of the Charlie Hebdo terror attack in Paris on January 7, affirming that Vietnam hopes to work with the EU to ensure peace, security, stability and development in the region and the world. On his part, Ambassador Franz Jessen hailed socio-economic achievements that Vietnam has made, as well as the sound relations between Vietnam and the EU over the past years. The EU always attaches much importance to cooperation with Vietnam as one of important partners in the Asia-Pacific region, and is keen to boosting the ties, especially after the two sides reach the PCA and EVFTA. Meanwhile, Hoang Van Dung, VCCI Vice Director stated that the chamber is ready to work for closer connectivity with ministries, sectors and businesses of both sides, contributing to the development of trade and economic collaboration between Vietnam and the EU. Condolences to France over Paris terror attack Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son has represented Vietnam to write on a funeral book at the French Embassy in Hanoi to express sympathy to victims of the recent terror attack in France. He extended condolences to the Government, people and the victims’ families and wished they will soon overcome the great loss. The terror attack targeting the weekly Charlie Hebdo’s headquarters in Paris killed 12 people and injured many others. Earlier, President Truong Tan Sang, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh also sent messages of condolences to their French counterparts over the attack. Vietnam, Laos plan for friendship activities this year The Vietnam–Laos and Laos–Vietnam Friendship Associations will hold a host of activities this year to educate young generations about the special friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the two nations. The plan was reached by President of the Vietnam–Laos Friendship Association (VLFA) Vu Trong Kim and Vice President of the Central Committee of the Laos–Vietnam Friendship Association (LVFA) Central Committee Vilayvong Bouddakham during a meeting in Hanoi on January 13. Both sides will hold events commemorating the 125th birthday of the late President Ho Chi Minh, including trips to relic sites dedicated to him in the Lao provinces of Khammouane and Savannakhet. The year of 2015 also marks the 40th founding anniversary of the two associations, a chance for them to recall their past history of development. Kim, who is also Vice President and Secretary General of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee, informed his guest of the VLFA’s activities last year. Bouddakham, First Secretary of the Central Committee of Lao People’s Revolutionary Youth Union, highly valued Vietnam’s assistance and investment in Laos, contributing to the country’s socio-economic development. He said that two-way trade neared 1.58 billion USD last year, up 34.5 percent year-on-year. Currently, nearly 8,000 Lao students are pursuing studies in Vietnam, he added. Environment minister thanks the media Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Nguyen Minh Quang has expressed his appreciation for the role of the media, which actively worked alongside the ministry to popularise information during 2014. At a meeting with reporters in Hanoi on January 13, Quang described the media as an effective tool to uncover violations within the sector and keep the public informed about legal decisions, such as the 2013 Law on Land and the 2014 Law on Environmental Protection, as well as activities during the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Lima, Paris. He also informed reporters of key tasks the ministry hopes to accomplish this year, including fine-tuning laws and policies on natural resources and the environment, especially the draft Law on Marine Resources and Environment and the draft Law on Meteorology and Hydrology. The ministry also plans to establish a 2016-2020 strategy and draft a document guiding the implementation of the Law on Environmental Protection, including cracking down on violations and improving complaint and denunciation settlements. Next June, the existing information technology system at international seaports will be connected to the National Single Window, a platform used to declare export and import goods. Personnel will undergo additional training to improve professional skills and work ethic as part of a plan to build workforce capacity between 2012 and 2020. The ministry will also extend its collaboration to foreign partners and maximise foreign resource use. Quang expressed his hopes for stronger partnerships with the media this year. External relations significant to Hanoi’s development External relations and people-to-people exchange contributed significantly to Hanoi’s development in 2014, said Le Hong Son, Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee. At a conference in the city on January 12 to review 2014 operations across Hanoi Union of Friendship Organizations (HAUFO) and establish action plans for 2015, Son said the city’s main vehicle promoting people-to-people exchange, the Union, maintains strong connections and friendship with foreign embassies and international organisations in Vietnam. He reported that so far Hanoi has established relations with over 100 cities, countries and territories, making 2014 a successful year for the city’s external works. Numerous international events held in the capital this year enabled meaningful cultural exchange and fostered strong people-based diplomacy. Son said HAUFO collaborated with the embassies of Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar, India, and Sri Lanka to organise friendship exchange programmes, enhancing mutual understanding between locals and visitors across the world. According to the Vice Chairman, a seminar providing information about the East Sea issue was organised, while a special column at www.haufo.org.vn was also launched to introduce international friends to Vietnam’s sovereignty in the East Sea and the Vietnamese Government’s consistent policy of abiding by international law in solving issues related to sovereignty. Along with friendship exchanges, a series of cultural and sporting events were also held throughout the year to celebrate the nation’s holidays. Speaking at the conference, President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations Vu Xuan asked HAUFO to continue forging links with relevant agencies in order to further promote its activities in 2015. VNA/VOV