Government News 5/9 VN calls for Japan help in maritime research Deputy Prime Minister Trịnh Đình Dũng (right) receives Fukui Teru, Japanese Minister of State for Ocean Policy.  Deputy Prime Minister Trịnh Đình Dũng has called for more assistance from Japan in maritime research and environmental protection while receiving Fukui Teru, Japanese Minister of State for Ocean Policy and head of the Japan-Việt Nam Friendship Parliamentary Alliance’s Office, in Hà Nội yesterday. Dũng expressed his delight at the comprehensive and practical growth of the Việt Nam -Japan extensive strategic partnership in all fields with high political trust that benefits people of both countries. Japan is now a leading economic partner of Viet Nam, ranking first in terms of official development assistance (ODA) provision, second in terms of investment, third in terms of tourism and fourth in terms of trade, he noted. The bilateral cooperation in agriculture and human resource training has become more effective, while exchanges in culture and between localities as well as people of both countries have been promoted, helping to foster mutual understanding between the Vietnamese and Japanese people, the Deputy PM said. He said that maritime cooperation between the two nations has also been strengthened over recent years, noting that Japan has assisted Việt Nam in studying, exploiting and using maritime resources and the environment in a sustainable manner. Japan has also shared experience with and transferred technology to Việt Nam, while helping improve the capacity of Vietnamese officials in the fields of maritime science and technology, maritime economic development and environmental protection, and assisting Viet Nam in enhancing law enforcement capacity at sea, said Dũng. He proposed that in the future, Japan will continue working closely with and supporting Việt Nam in the area of environment, especially the sea environment. Việt Nam hopes for Japan’s help in improving its capacity in forecasting, thus giving timely responses to natural disasters, climate change and rising sea levels, along with the provision of equipment, technology and personnel training for maritime resources and environmental research, Dũng said. The Deputy PM also called for Japan’s collaboration in implementing Việt Nam’s initiative in setting up regional marine partnerships on East Asian seas in plastic waste management. Việt Nam needs assistance from Japan in management experience, maritime and coastal waste collection and treatment technology, and preventing invasive alien species and eco-diversity degradation at sea, he said. For his part, Fukui Teru said that the strategic partnership between the two countries is developing in a positive, diverse and practical manner in many spheres with different forms. The Japanese Government pays special attention to fostering cooperation with Việt Nam, especially in maritime research, he said, affirming that Japan is willing to share information and experience in ocean policy with Viet Nam so that both countries could become rich sea-based nations. He proposed that Việt Nam, as coordinator of Japan-ASEAN relations, make more contributions to fostering collaboration among the nations in the reduction of plastic waste in the ocean.  Top legislator stresses greater autonomy for universities National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan visits Vietnam National University HCM City   Chairwoman of the National Assembly Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan stressed the importance of greater autonomy for Vietnamese universities to help them meet international standards and integrate globally while meeting with lecturers and students of the Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City on September 4 on the occasion of the new 2018-2019 academic year. “Autonomy does not mean loose management and it must come with accountability, responsibility and transparency,” she said. The responsibility will require educational institutes to survive by their quality, not by short-term solutions, she said. The NA leader asked the Vietnam National University HCM City to focus on improving its training quality and teacher’s creativity to educate young students as well as promote scientific research activities to develop the university into a high-quality scientific research and technology transfer centre. The university needs to soon complete the construction of Vietnam’s first university urban area, she requested. The Vietnam National University HCM City urban area along with a hi-tech area and cultural village of ethnic groups located at the city’s gateway, the centre of the key economic zone in southeast region, will not only belong to the university but also become a scientific and cultural centre of the region, she added. Talking to the university’s students, Ngan mentioned the State’s supervising role in creating and developing the higher education environment. “The role of the State is not to control but to create rules and supervise their implementation,” she stated. She said that Ministry of Education and Training along with national universities will help make changes regarding curricula and training methods towards global integration.  Educational institutes should be granted the right to have their own recruitment criteria and take responsibility in terms of training quality, she added. Vietnam National University HCM City is the first unit in the country to make training innovations and launch the training of talented students and engineers. This year, the university and the Vietnam National University Hanoi have become the first two universities in Vietnam to be listed by Quacquarelli Symonds World University Rankings of the UK among the top 1,000 excellent universities in the world. Guatemala President praises Vietnam’s role in Asia-Pacific President of the Republic of Guatemala Jimmy Morales Cabrera receives the credentials of Vietnamese Ambassador to Mexico and Guatemala Nguyen Hoai Duong (L) (Source: headquarters of the President of Guatemala)  President of the Republic of Guatemala Jimmy Morales Cabrera lauded the rapid growth and increasing role of Vietnam in Asia-Pacific and the world when hosting Vietnamese Ambassador to Mexico and Guatemala Nguyen Hoai Duong on September 4. Ambassador Duong, who came to present his credentials, conveyed President Tran Dai Quang’s greetings and invitation to visit Vietnam to his host. He added that Morales’ trip to Vietnam is expected to enhance multi-faceted cooperation between the two countries. The Guatemalan President expressed his thanks and tasked Minister of Foreign Affairs Sandra Erica Jovel, who also attended the meeting, with arranging his visit to Vietnam. Morales said he believes in developing Vietnam – Guatemala relations, particularly in trade and investment. Earlier, on September 3, the Vietnamese diplomat handed over a copy of his credentials to Guatemalan Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Alicia Virginia Castillo. On the occasion, both sides frankly discussed measures to boost bilateral cooperation in economy-trade and cultural exchange.  They agreed that the establishment of a political consultation mechanism between Vietnamese and Guatemalan foreign ministries as well as the mutual support of the two countries at international organisations and multilateral forums, particularly in Asia-Pacific, are also necessary. They considered these practical activities to mark 25 years of Vietnam – Guatemala relations (1993 - 2018). National Day observed in Thailand, Germany   Delegates to the gathering held by Vietnamese Embassy in Thailand take photo  The Vietnamese Embassy in Thailand hosted a gathering in the northeastern Thai province of Udon Thani on September 2 to celebrate Vietnam’s 73rd National Day. Attending the event were the Governors and Deputy Governors of Thailand’s northeastern provinces, Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister and Chairman of the State Commission for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs Vu Hong Nam, Chairman of the Vietnamese General Association in Thailand Cao Van San and representatives from the overseas Vietnamese community. Speaking at the ceremony, Vietnamese Ambassador Nguyen Hai Bang lauded late President Ho Chi Minh, who led Vietnam to success in the struggle for independence. He stressed that Vietnamese people can be proud of the country’s development. From a poor country, Vietnam has become a developing and middle income nation, with people’s living conditions improved, its socio-political situation stabilised and its position in the international arena enhanced. The diplomat stated that Vietnam-Thailand relations are developing well, in not only defence security, but also economics, trade and investment. They are each other’s biggest trade partner in ASEAN, with two-way trade growing by 15.5 percent each year to hit 15.3 billion USD in 2017. Thailand ranks ninth out of 126 nations and territories investing in Vietnam, with 493 projects worth a total 10 billion USD, he added. Also on the occasion, the overseas Vietnamese community in Berlin and Brandenburg held a sport and cultural festival to connect Vietnamese people living in Germany. National Day marked in Indonesia   Art performance at the event   The Embassy of Vietnam in Indonesia hosted a ceremony in Jakarta on September 4 to celebrate the 73rd anniversary of Vietnam’s National Day (September 2, 1945 - 2018).  Speaking at the event, Ambassador Pham Quang Vinh highlighted the major achievements recorded by Vietnam after 32 years of its renewal process, especially in economic development.  In 2017, Vietnam recorded an economic growth of 6.8 percent, the highest since 2010. The disbursement of foreign direct investment (FDI) hit 17.5 billion USD, up 10.8 percent. The country raked in 214 billion USD from exporting goods in the year, up 21 percent year-on-year.  Vietnam is moving to promote industrialization and modernization, and expand international integration, he said, adding that the country is also working hard to build a constructive government to serve people and businesses though creating legal frameworks and favourable conditions for investment and development. The diplomat also emphasised the traditional friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and Indonesia, affirming that the two sides have exerted efforts to further step up their cooperation, thus bringing benefits to their people.  Vinh took the occasion to congratulate Indonesia on its successful hosting of the recent Asian Games 2018.  Addressing the event, Chairman of the Indonesia Investment Coordinating Board Thomas Lembong congratulated Vietnam on the National Day.  He stressed that Vietnam, from a poor country that suffered from the devastation of wars, has now become a typical example of dynamic and successful development. The official wished the bilateral relations would continue to be further strengthened in the time to come and benefit the two peoples. Deputy PM meets WEF ASEAN 2018 sponsors At the reception  Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh on September 4 met representatives from businesses sponsoring the World Economic Forum on ASEAN 2018 (WEF ASEAN) slated for September 11-13 in Hanoi.  They include Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group, Vingroup, T&T, A Chau Automobiles, Vietcombank, VinaCapital, FLC and Kim & Kim International Café.  Minh spoke highly of their contributions to WEF ASEAN 2018, the most important multilateral external event in the year.  He said the event will attract the most numerous leaders in and outside the region, international organisations and representatives from nearly 1,000 leading firms worldwide, higher than the estimated 800 and nearly doubling those in WEF forums over the past years.  He stressed that the forum will afford Vietnamese enterprises a chance to connect and share ideas with the world’s leading businesses and investors.  Within the framework of WEF ASEAN 2018, the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry will hold the Vietnam Business Summit. Themed “Vietnam – Reliable business partner: Connectivity and Creativity”, the event is expected to draw over 1,000 delegates from domestic and foreign enterprises.  The event will focus discussion on the role of Vietnam in regional and global value chains, as well as introduce policies and business and investment opportunities in the Southeast Asian country, particularly in the fields of finance and infrastructure. VNN