Government News 11/10 Vietnamese embassies celebrate Lunar New Year   Art performance in Myanmar to welcome Tet.  More than 500 Vietnamese expatriates in Myanmar have joined in a celebration for Tet (Lunar New Year) festival recently held by the Vietnamese Embassy, enterprises and Vietnamese people community. Delivering warm Tet greetings to the Vietnamese expats, Ambassador Luan Thuy Duong informed the participants of Vietnam’s achievements in 2017 like economic growth, corruption fighting and APEC Year 2017 as well as the sound bilateral relations with Myanmar. She called on Vietnamese businesses and people in Myanmar to strengthen solidarity, obey rules and respect culture of the host nation. They should join hands to popularise Vietnam’s images to Myanmar friends, making contributions to nurturing the comprehensive cooperative partnership between the two countries, she said. The Vietnamese diplomat noted that the embassy stands ready to support Vietnamese companies and people in Myanmar. Meanwhile, the Vietnamese Embassy in Laos organised a reception on February 9 to welcome Tet holiday.  The event was attended by Lao Minister of Defence Chansamone Chanyalath, head of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party Central Committee’s Commission for Propaganda and Training Kikeo Khaykhamphithoune, representatives from Lao ministries and authorities, Vietnamese expats and businesses in Laos. Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos Nguyen Ba Hung noted that cooperative relations between the two countries have been deepened in the fields of politics-diplomacy, security-defence, culture-education. Particularly, 12 cooperative deals inked at the Vietnam-Laos Inter-Governmental Committee last month will create impetus for bilateral collaboration in the coming years. He hailed the Vietnamese community’s contributions to the socio-economic development in both countries and thanked the Lao Government for creating favourable conditions for Vietnamese nationals living and doing business in Laos. For his part, Lao Defence Minister Chansamone Chanyalath congratulated Vietnam on its achievements in national construction and socio-economic development.  He expressed his deep gratitude for Vietnamese Party, Government and people’s support for Laos during the national liberation, protection and development. He affirmed that Laos will accompany with Vietnam to nurture and preserve the special traditional solidarity founded by President Ho Chi Minh and President Kaysone Phomvihane. The function featured Vietnamese traditional dishes and art performances extolling Vietnam-Laos solidarity. Earlier on February 6, Lao Ambassador to the US Mai Sayavongs delivered New Year greetings to Vietnamese Ambassador Pham Quang Vinh and all staff of the embassy in Washington D.C.  Cambodian officials deliver New Year greetings to Long An   Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Tran Van Can (R) and Governor of Svay Rieng province Men Vibol.  A delegation from Cambodia’s Svay Rieng and Pray Veng provinces visited the southern province of Long An on February 9 to extend greetings to local Party Committee, authorities and people on the occasion of Lunar New Year. The delegation includes Governor of Svay Rieng province Men Vibol and Deputy Governor of Pray Veng province Chanh Tha. Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Tran Van Can expressed his delight to welcome the delegation, saying that their visit is a vivid manifestation for the good neighbourliness and traditional friendship between the two countries. Last year, Long An province and Cambodia’s border localities like Svay Rieng and Pray Veng carried out cooperation in various fields, especially they joined hands to organise activities to mark 50 years of Vietnam-Cambodia diplomatic relations and the Vietnam-Cambodia Friendship Year, he said. Can believed that the three localities will boost collaboration in demarcating borderline and planting border markers, making contributions to building and protecting the shared borderline of peace, friendship and cooperation for mutual development. The Cambodian officials expressed their hope for the further development of the two countries’ solidarity and friendship. PM asks for breakthrough measures to boost Dak Nong’s growth   Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc looks at a product of Nhan Co Aluminium Plant Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc had a meeting with key leaders of the Central Highlands province of Dak Nong, during which he asked for drastic and breakthrough measures to boost the locality’s growth. The PM suggested that Dak Nong continue speeding up its economic restructuring, focusing on renewable industry and service, while reforming administrative procedures in a comprehensive manner to attract investment and fostering the growth of industry, tourism, and startups. He reminded the province to pay greater attention to forestation and natural forest protection, as well as improving its provincial competitiveness index. Particularly, the PM stressed the need to take measures to enhance the living conditions of ethnic minority community in the province, as well as maintain good relations with Cambodian localities bordering Dak Nong. He held that a conference should be held to discuss how to deal with unplanned migration. Last year, Dak Nong recorded a growth of 9.47 percent, with State budget collection of over 2 trillion VND, surpassing the plan by 24 percent. The province currently has over 2,600 enterprises. Dak Nong is facing high burden from a large number of immigrants. So far, 675,500 people have moved to the locality, doubling the population of the province in 2004. Earlier the same day, the PM visited two major projects in the province, including Nhan Co Aluminium Plant and Dak Nong Aluminium Electrolysis project. The Nhan Co Aluminium Plant has become operational since July 2017 with a design capacity of over 500,000 tonnes, mainly products exported to foreign markets, including Japan, the Republic of Korea, China and Singapore. Meanwhile, the 690 million USD Dak Nong Aluminium Electrolysis project with a capacity of 450,000 tonnes per year is scheduled to produce first products in the fourth quarter of 2019. Also on February 9, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc made a pre-Tet visit to the provincial border guards and police forces. He applauded their plans to ensure security in border areas during Lunar New year holiday. Dak Nong, sharing 130km of border with Cambodia, should pay special attention to ensure security and safety along the border, while helping poor households enjoy a warm Tet festival, he asked. The PM asked them to improve combat readiness to protect national sovereignty and increase the involvement in socio-economic development activities. He urged Dak Nong border guards to build a stronger and more competent force, who is closer to the people and determined to safeguard the fatherland. Acknowledging the provincial police force’s effort in fulfilling the task of safeguarding security, he urged them to continue fighting cross-border crimes and poachers, and create a favorable environment for investment. Congratulations to Cyprus President President Tran Dai Quang, on February 9, sent congratulatory messages to Nicos Anastasiades on his re-election as Cypriot President for a second five-year term. The 71-year-old conservative won the Republic of Cyprus’ presidential election on February 4 with 56 percent of the vote. Cyprus and Vietnam officially established diplomatic ties in December 1975.  Cyprus officially opened its consulate general in Ho Chi Minh City on April 6, 2016.  Vietnamese, Chinese parties work to boost liaison   Vietnamese Ambassador to China Dang Minh Khoi Vietnamese Ambassador to China Dang Minh Khoi, on February 8, visited the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee’s International Liaison Department, which is in charge of promoting, coordinating and carrying out the CPC’s cooperative activities with foreign parities. As part of the visit to extend his Lunar New Year greetings, the diplomat had a discussion with Assistant Minister of the department Wang Yajun. Taking about achievements in bilateral friendship exchanges via the Party channel in 2017 and cooperation orientations for 2018, they expressed their delight at milestones in Vietnam – China relations last year. In 2017, it was the first time Party chiefs and State Presidents of the two nations had paid visits to the other side within a year, which helped them secure common conceptions for development of bilateral ties. Two-way trade surpassed the set goal of 100 billion USD, while exchanges of tourist arrivals between the two nations were close to 10 million.   Regarding such outcomes, the sides discussed more creative measures to boost bilateral exchanges via the Party channel. On the occasion, Ambassador Khoi thanked for assistance from the CPP Central Committee’s International Liaison Department toward the success of high-ranking visits in past time, asking the agency to further their effective coordination of Vietnam – China joint activities in the future. Authorities greet Catholics, overseas Vietnamese on Lunar New Year   Chairman of the People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Chung (L) presents a Tet gift to a representative of Thai Ha Parish  On February 9, authorities in Hanoi, Binh Duong, and Da Nang extended Lunar New Year greetings to the Catholic and overseas Vietnamese who returned home for Tet. In Hanoi, Chairman of the People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Chung visited the Hang Bot and Thai Ha parishes in Dong Da district and presented 100 gifts to disadvantaged Catholic followers there.  Parish priests Trinh Ngoc Hien of the Hang Bot Parish and Nguyen Van Kieu of the Thai Ha Parish both expressed their appreciation toward assistance from the capital’s authority in many years. In the southern province of Binh Duong, the provincial Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee held a gathering for close to 200 overseas Vietnamese, who came back to their hometown for the occasion of Lunar New Year holiday (Tet). At the event, Vice Chairman of the Binh Duong People’s Committee Dang Minh Hung acknowledged valuable contributions of the expatriate community to the country, asking them to continue supporting each other and working to promote the image of Binh Duong and Vietnam to international friends. Binh Duong has over 10,000 residents living abroad. The expats have so far invested more than 4 trillion VND (44.1 million USD) in approximately 135 projects in the province. In 2017, Binh Duong recorded 130 million USD worth of remittance, up 8 percent from 2016. A similar get-together held for over 160 overseas Vietnamese took place in the central city of Da Nang. Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Ho Ky Minh greeted the community and pledged to facilitate their travel to and business investment in the city. He stated the 110 million USD worth of remittance Da Nang received last year reflected the community’s dedication to their homeland. On the occasion, the Da Nang VFF Central Committee presented certificates of merit to three overseas Vietnamese with significant contributions to the local development. Vietnamese Ambassador to Nigeria presents credentials   Vietnam always treasures and wants to further friendship and multi-faceted cooperation with ​Nigeria. (Photo: crossed-flag-pins.com)   Vietnamese Ambassador to Nigeria Pham Anh Tuan has presented his letter of credentials to Nigerian President Muhammad Buhari in the capital city of Abuja, saying that Vietnam always treasures and wants to further friendship and multi-faceted cooperation with the African nation. The Vietnamese diplomat conveyed compliments and greetings from President Tran Dai Quang to President Muhammadu Buhari and Nigerian people.  He informed his host of Vietnam’s socio-economic development and the sound relations between the two countries. He said that he will do his utmost to contribute to the development of the bilateral ties, particularly in the fields of economy, trade and agriculture. The Nigerian President spoke highly of Vietnam’s achievements in the country’s doi moi (renewal) process and development and recommended that both sides need to bolster cooperation in the fields of Vietnam’s strength like agriculture and aquaculture. Earlier, Ambassador Tuan had a meeting with Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs Geoffrey Onyeama on February 6, during which Tuan conveyed a diplomatic note to the Minister, asking Nigeria to continue its support for Vietnam’s candidacy for non-permanent membership of the UN Security Council during 2020-2021. On the occasion, he conveyed Deputy Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh’s invitation to Geoffrey Onyeama to visit Vietnam. VNN