Government News 23/7 Deputy Defence Minister receives French guest Deputy Minister of Defence Senior Lieutenant General Truong Quang Khanh received the Deputy Director of the Directorate for International Development under the French Ministry of Defence’s Directorate-General of Armament, Lieutenant General Jacques Cousquer, in Hanoi on July 22. Deputy Minister Khanh said cooperation between the two countries on defence industry in recent years has produced positive results and hoped that the two sides would continue to increase high-ranking delegation exchanges and share experiences in carrying out United Nations peacekeeping missions. Lieutenant General Cousquer wished for increased defence cooperation between the two countries, especially in defence industry, and the acceleration of cooperation in information and telecommunications. Vietnamese leader’s presents given to Lao provinces Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang’s financial gifts were handed over to authorities in the Lao provinces of Luang Prabang and Houaphanh to build cultural and educational facilities on July 22. Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos Nguyen Manh Hung presented the package, which includes 40 billion VND (1.84 million USD) for building a cultural centre in Luang Prabang and 15 billion VND (690,000 USD) for constructing a nursery school in Houaphanh. He said the presents, donated by five enterprises and two banks, illustrate the Vietnamese Party, State and people’s warm sentiment towards the two provinces in particular and Laos in general. Luang Prabang Governor Khampheng Saysompheng thanked the Vietnamese State leader for the assistance which he said is meaningful to the friendship between Vietnam and Laos. Meanwhile, Houaphanh Deputy Governor Chanseng Phimason said the nursery will help educate the younger Lao generation about the special amity, solidarity and cooperation between the two countries. The officials also took the opportunity to acknowledge Vietnam’s assistance over the past years and pledged to optimise the gifts. Promoting border livelihoods is pivotal mission: official Improving the material and spiritual life of border residents is a critical mission of local Party Committees and authorities in the northwest, Central Highlands and southwest regions, said Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on July 22. At a meeting in Can Tho city, Deputy Prime Minister Phuc, who is also Chairman of the Steering Committee for the Northwest Region, noted the poverty and limited education level of border residents along with underdeveloped infrastructure in the areas. He highlighted programmes initiated by ministries and localities to boost local socio-economic development while requesting additional attention on overhauling existing programmes and policies. The official also asked for the utmost efforts of competent agencies to prevent smuggling and drug trafficking, promote personnel capacity and enhance relations with nearby localities. Deputy PM Vu Van Ninh, Chairman of the Steering Committee for the Southwest Region, asked local authorities and steering committees to actively propose measures to improve local livelihoods, especially in border areas, and foster economic development. He also underlined the need to effectively implement policies relating to border and ethnic minority issues, deal with spontaneous migration, expand foreign relations and defence-security cooperation and carry out border demarcation and marker planting as well as possible. The Steering Committee for the Northwest Region is responsible for 12 provinces and some western districts of central Thanh Hoa and Nghe An provinces. The Steering Committee for the Central Highlands is in charge of five provinces while the body for the southwest region covers 12 provinces and Can Tho city. Vietnam eyes more effective ASEAN cooperation Vietnam is actively preparing for the inception of the ASEAN Community slated for the year’s end and maximising its opportunities for more effective cooperation. ASEAN member states have so far achieved about 93 percent of the targets set out in a roadmap to build the community from 2009 to 2015, as reported at a meeting in Hanoi on July 21. The function was held by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with the engagement of representatives from over 20 ministries and sectors involved in ASEAN cooperation. Participants said Vietnam and other ASEAN member nations are working to realise remaining tasks to ensure the establishment of the ASEAN Community on schedule. Vietnam has earnestly implemented ASEAN commitments and made active contributions to the bloc’s cooperation across fields. The country has proactively promoted the solidarity and central role of ASEAN in resolving major challenges in the region and enhanced ASEAN relations with foreign partners. Local ministries and sectors have launched a number of programmes such as film festivals on ASEAN, the 20 th anniversary of Vietnam’s participation in ASEAN and the ASEAN Week. Participants agreed on key future tasks such as implementing programmes and plans to build the ASEAN Community, intensifying coordination and information exchanges, disseminating the benefits of the ASEAN Community and improving Vietnam’s cooperation efficiency in the bloc. VNA Deputy Defence Minister receives French guest, Vietnamese leader’s presents given to Lao provinces, Promoting border livelihoods is pivotal mission, Vietnam eyes more effective ASEAN cooperation