Government News 22/4 NA Chairwoman concludes US visit On April 22, National Assembly (NA) Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan ended her US visit aiming to step up bilateral legislative, economic and security cooperation. During her visit from April 13-22, the NA leader met US officials and businesspeople, including Senator John McCain, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Armed Services, Senator Ron Wyden and Antony Blinken, Deputy Secretary of State. The two sides discussed a host of issues of shared concern, such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement, peace, stability and maritime safety and security in the region. US officials hailed Vietnam’s significant reform progress that has earned international plaudits. Ngan praised the US Congress, Government and businesses for backing stronger cooperative ties with Vietnam while reiterating her nation’s recognition of high importance to enhancing the comprehensive partnership with the US. She suggested both countries speed up the TPP negotiations for early signing, and intensify exchange visits in the time to come. Vietnam-Laos friendship association visits Vientiane The Vietnam-Laos Friendship Association (VLFA) is a on a five-day visit to Laos to nurture its relations with the country. VLFA President Vu Trong Kim joined a working session with President of the Laos-Vietnam Friendship Association (LVFA) Phankham Viphavan in Vientiane on April 21. During the meeting, the two sides expressed their delight at the excellent development of ties between the two neighbours in politics, economics, national defence, culture and education. They also highlighted the success of delegation exchanges, especially at high-levels. The two associations pledged to continue to raise awareness and understanding among the two nations’ young generations about the special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two nations, both in the past and in the time to come. Both associations also updated each other their early-year achievements and discussed their plans for co-organising major celebrations this year, including the 125 th birth anniversary of late Vietnamese President Ho Chi Minh. Kim presented the LVFA with the Friendship Order of the Vietnamese State to honour their outstanding efforts in consolidating the traditional friendship between the nations. Vietnam thanks US activists for supporting national liberation The Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) hosted a gathering in Hanoi on April 21 for US activists to express its gratitude for their support to Vietnam during the fight for national reunification. The 16-member US delegation was led by John McAuliff, Executive Director of the US Fund for Reconciliation and Development (FRD), who is visiting Vietnam from April 19 to May 1. Vice Chairman of the Vietnam-US Friendship Association Bui The Giang welcomed the visit, which coincided with activities marking the 40th anniversary of South Vietnam’s liberation and national reunification. He thanked the US left wing movement for friendship, solidarity and support to Vietnam in the past and expressed his delight at the FRD’s continuation of acting as a bridge linking the two peoples. Giang said he hopes the US side will further support his country in dealing with the aftermath of the war and undertaking humanitarian activities supporting the victims. McAuliff said after the countries normalised their relations 20 years ago, the FRD has supported Vietnam in negotiating and signing the bilateral trade agreement and entering the World Trade Organisation. His visit aims to learn about contemporary Vietnam, its ‘doi moi’ (renewal) efforts and foreign policies, and its response to the remnants of the war. His delegation will also meet with Vietnamese agencies and organisations to discuss cooperation, and attend activities in Ho Chi Minh City celebrating 40 years of peace. At the gathering, participants looked back on Vietnam’s past struggles and the US activists’ assistance to the country. The anti-war movement in the US in the 1960s and 1970s played a vital role in demanding the US administration negotiate and sign the Paris Accord on January 27, 1973, which created an important prerequisite for the South’s complete liberation and national reunification on April 30, 1975. NA Chairman congratulates speaker of Japan’s lower house National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung sent a message of congratulations to Tadamori Oshima over his election as Speaker of the House of Representatives of Japan. Oshima, 68, Chairman of the lower house's Budget Committee, was chosen as Nobutaka Machimura's successor during a plenary session the same day.- Party’s external relation commission delegation visits Czech Republic The head of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations Hoang Binh Quan had a working session in Prague on April 20 with President of the Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (KSCM) Vojtech Filip. The KSCM leader, who is also Vice President of the Czech parliament’s Chamber of Deputies, affirmed the Czech Government and his party have continually supported the integration and participation of the Vietnamese community in the Czech Republic. The KSCM has promoted policies to strengthen the friendship and fruitful cooperative ties between the two nations, he added. Vojtech Filip also highlighted the potential for mutual cooperation in energy, transportation, machine manufacturing and technology transfer for agricultural and aquatic product processing, ultimately fostering bilateral economic and trade relations and enhancing Vietnamese product competitiveness in international markets. He said the KSCM continually supports Vietnam’s stance on resolving East Sea disputes at multilateral and international forums, hoping that the issue will be settled by diplomatic approaches on the basis of equality and mutual respect. For his part, Hoang Binh Quan underlined the importance of the upcoming visit of Vietnamese State President Truong Tan Sang in consolidating the bilateral cooperative ties between the two nations. He also called for the host to facilitate access for Vietnamese people to visit their relatives, travel, study and work in the Czech Republic. The Czech Republic considers Vietnam one of 12 markets with great potential. Trade between Vietnam and the Czech Republic doubled in the past five years to reach 670 million USD in 2014.- Vietnam, Czech Republic reflect on past, look to future The traditional political and economic ties and future cooperation prospects between Vietnam and the Czech Republic were under review at a conference held in Prague on April 20. The conference, titled ‘Vietnam, its glorious history and development prospects in international integration’, was organised by the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Parliament in collaboration with the Vietnamese Embassy in the Central Europe country on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the liberation of southern Vietnam and national reunification. Delivering a report titled ‘Vietnam in 30 years of reform’, Head of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations Hoang Binh Quan underscored the great and historic achievements in building and protecting socialist Vietnam. With the ‘Traditional friendship relationship between Vietnam and the Czech Republic over the past 65 years and great future prospects’ report, Vietnamese Ambassador Truong Manh Son highlighted landmarks in the friendship between the two countries and measures to boost cooperation in investment, education and training, culture, sports and tourism, transport and science and technology. The ambassador called on the Czech Republic to invest in Vietnam in advantageous fields such as energy, telecommunications, public transport, machinery and equipment, crystal glass and production for export. He urged the central European country to streamline visa procedures for Vietnamese enterprises to conduct business in the country. During the Year of Vietnamese Culture in the Czech Republic in 2015, a number of activities will be held including conferences, business forums and photos exhibitions as well as exchanges in culture, sports, economy and investment. Vojtech Filip, Vice President of the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Parliament, said that both Vietnam and the Czech Republic have respected and effectively implemented signed agreements. Many reports at the conference focused on the traditional friendship and cooperation, and the active role of the Vietnamese community in the Czech Republic. Switzerland intensifies cooperation with ASEAN Switzerland’s State Secretary for Economic Affairs Marie- Gabrielle Ineichen-Fleisch paid an visit to the ASEAN Secretariat and met with Deputy-Secretary General of the ASEAN Lim Hong Hin on April 20. Deputy Secretary General Lim Hong Hin expressed his appreciation for the European country’s interest in strengthening its economic cooperation with the ASEAN. He briefed the Swiss guest on the progress towards establishing the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), including efforts to enact high-impact initiatives for the business community such as administrative regulations, customs procedures and standards. He also touched upon the progress made in trade agreements including the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) based on the ASEAN+1 Free Trade Areas. In return, the Swiss State Secretary praised the preparatory efforts for the AEC and reaffirmed Switzerland's interest in further intensifying its relations with the ASEAN and its member states, especially in economic cooperation. Vietnam treasures partnership with Azerbaijan Vietnam treasures its traditional friendship with Azerbaijan, said Vietnamese Ambassador to Azerbaijan Nguyen Thanh Son on April 20. During his working session with Azerbaijani high-level officials in Baku, Son expressed his hope that the two nations would enhance cooperation in their respective advantageous fields, such as oil and gas exploration and processing, education and training, and tourism. The upcoming visit of Vietnamese State President Truong Tan Sang to the country aims to bring bilateral ties between Vietnam and Azerbaijan to a new height, Son reiterated. Meanwhile, the hosting representatives affirmed that Vietnam is a priority Asian partner of Azerbaijan, highlighting the two nations’ mutual understanding and shared viewpoint on many international issues. They underlined the huge potential and favourable conditions for promoting bilateral ties between the two countries, especially in economics and trade, as well as the mutual support in the international arena. Vietnam and Azerbaijan set up diplomatic ties in 1950. Azerbaijan opened its Embassy in Hanoi in 2013. The two countries have maintained regular high-level delegation exchanges as well as bilateral meetings on the margin of regional and international forums. President Ilham Aliyev visited Vietnam last May and Party Politburo member and Permanent member of the Party Central Committee Le Hong Anh toured Azerbaijan in October of the same year. Last year, trade reached 422.4 million USD, nearly 15 times the figure of 2012. Vietnam mainly exported mobile phones, computers, electronic spare parts, wooden products and seafood to Azerbaijan, while importing crude oil and petrol. Oil and gas is the key pillar in bilateral cooperation, with Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group opening a representative office in Azerbaijan in 2010. About 40 Vietnamese nationals are currently working or studying in Azerbaijan. VNA