PANO – Da Nang city on March 26 held a ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of a memorial monument and a revolutionary traditional house in the historical relic site B1 – Hong Phuoc.

Delegates at the ground-breaking ceremony. Photo: nhandan.com.vn

This VND 4.2 billion project, covering an area of 2.700sq.m, is expected to be completed on the National Day (September 2nd) this year.

Hong Phuoc hamlet used to be a revolutionary base with 46 secret cellars during the resistance war against American invaders.

It also serves as a venue for Vietnamese commandos who had made considerable contributions to the liberation of Da Nang City in March 1975 and then the whole of South Vietnam in April 1975 leading to the national reunification later on.

Translated by Hong Thanh

President Truong Tan Sang welcomed newly accredited ambassadors from Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines and Malaysia who presented their credentials to the Vietnamese State leader in Hanoi on March 26.

Thai Ambassador Manopchai Vongphakdi pledged to do his utmost to tighten relations between the two countries.

Indonesian Ambassador Ibnu Hadi S.E.M. E.C expressed hope to receive support from the Government, ministries and sectors of Vietnam to raise the bilateral trade value between Vietnam and Indonesia to 10 billion USD by 2018.

President Truong Tan Sang (L) receiving Thai Ambassador Manopchai Vongphakdi

Filippino Ambassador Noel Eugene Eusebio M. Servigon said he will contribute to realise the cooperation agreements between Vietnam and the Philippines, not only in national defence, but also in economics, cultures, and particularly the celebration of the 40^th anniversary of the nations’ diplomatic ties.

Coming back to Vietnam after 20 years, Malaysian Ambassador Mohd Zamruni Bin Khalid committed to work to boost the economic, trade and investment relations between the two nations.

For his part, the President hailed the fruitful and effective cooperation mechanisms between Vietnam and Thailand, adding the two nations need to work together more closely to promote their roles in ASEAN and the Mekong sub-region.

President Sang expressed his belief that Indonesia will continue its active contribution to building the ASEAN Community and hoped that the country will invest more in Vietnam.

He also called on the country to cooperate with Vietnam in settling disputes in the East Sea, in accordance with international law.

The President suggested Vietnam and the Philippines foster their cooperation not only in the ASEAN bloc but also in international forums.

He attached significance to the establishment of the strategic partnership between Vietnam and Malaysia, saying that it will contribute to regional development, and to the two countries’ bilateral relations at international and regional forums.

The President expressed hope that the trade value between Vietnam and Malaysia will reach 20 billion USD by 2020.

He also called for continuing the cooperation in labour and national defence.

Source: VNA

PANO – The Vietnam-China Border Defence Friendship Exchange is not only to build up the shared borderline of peace, friendship, cooperation and development, but also to share and apply mutual useful experience in settling their pending issues that they have not reached consensus on yet.

This was stated by Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh, Deputy Minister of National Defence, in an interview given to reporters of the People’s Army Newspaper ahead the third Vietnam-China Border Defence Friendship Exchange, scheduled to take place in the last four days of this month.

Reporters: Could you please share the target of the third Vietnam-China Border Defence Friendship Exchange?

Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh: There are different levels of relationship in external affairs between Vietnam and other countries worldwide. Among them, Vietnam attaches more importance to relations with its neighbors that share borders with the country, namely China, Laos and Cambodia.

Particularly, Vietnam and China finished border demarcation on land and in the Gulf of Tonkin. As for their results on land, the two sides completed the process of demarcation and border marker planting in accordance with international law and respect for each other national sovereignty.

It is important for all states to build their borderlines of peace, stability and development. In order to achieve the win-win target on the shared borderline between Vietnam and China, the two countries should value the bilateral border ties in general and the defence cooperation in border areas in particular.

Furthermore, it is clear to say that the border-related activities are not only a matter of protecting national sovereignty and security, but also means of strengthening a peaceful environment and facilitating the two countries’ economic and cultural activities and people-to-people friendly exchanges as well.

In order to carry out the mission, the army should firmly safeguard territorial integrity and join hands with border guards, who are also regarded as “gatekeepers” to ensure security and order in border areas. In addition, the two countries’ armies should boost cooperation to build mutual trust and consolidate friendship to pave the way for the development of other fields. So, this year’s exchange is not just a foreign affairs activity, but also a motivation to boost the trans-border cooperation between the two countries and armies.

Border guards of Vietnam and China in a joint patrol

As a result, the two Ministries of National Defence agreed to hold the annual border defence friendship exchange. 2014 witnessed the first exchange at the deputy-ministerial level which resulted in an agreement to carry out a number of activities to further promote their cooperation on the mainland border as well as to boost mutual understanding to narrow the differences while increasing similarities on questions of mutual concern.

Last year, when the two sides were preparing for the second event, the Chinese side suggested the event to be at the ministerial level. This suggestion is significant as until now, few countries organized border exchanges in the presence of their defence ministers. In spite of their busy schedules, the two Defence Ministers spent four days (two in Vietnam and two in China) to attend activities in the framework of the exchange. The second event was seen as a success, making considerable contributions to development of the bilateral relations.

This year, the two sides continue running the exchange in order to further foster their traditional ties. It will take place in Lang Son province (Vietnam) and Guangxi province (China) with similar activities like the two previous events.

Reporters: After the two exchanges, what are the activities or initiatives rolled out and fulfilled by the two sides’ armies or localities that you are deeply impressed with, sir?

Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh: There are two things. Firstly, the relationship between the two sides’ border guard forces has increasingly developed, serving as an important foundation to boost the mutual trust.

Secondly, people of both countries were interested in these exchanges. The efforts to support people in border areas helped them learn more about the two armies in general and border guard forces in particular. They also understood that the good relationship between the two armies and border guard forces, and the outcomes of the exchanges would benefit their business and living standards.

In my opinion, these exchanges have made contributions to building up the images of the two sides’ border guard forces among their people. They are considered helpers and watchmen, but are not only those who stop and deal with problems relating to order and security along the shared borderline.

Meanwhile, some initiates put forward by units at the grassroots level and have been effectively applied in the reality, such as joint patrols. Normally, only border guards undertook the patrols, but at present Party committee members, authorities, youths, women and even children in various localities joined the activities. Moreover, the sister localities in Vietnam and China’s border areas regularly held cultural, sports and artistic exchanges, and these activities in turn helped beef up the bilateral cooperation and peace in border areas.

The Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence has recommended that the Government should allow the Vietnam Border Guard Command to carry out a bomb and mine clearance project in all border gates and economic parks along the shared borderline to help localities develop their economic cooperation potential with the Chinese side. The good economic relationship will improve the mutual understanding and expand the bilateral cooperation in other sectors.

Reporters: What should Vietnam and China do to realize their motto “increasing the same points of view and reducing differences” in the bilateral relations, Mr. Deputy Minister of National Defence?

Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh: We have talked about the matter many times, but on the whole it is necessary to heighten the mutual trust. To get this done, both Vietnam and China should find each side’s cooperation potential. The practical cooperation should be built in the principles of independence and self-reliance, and should contribute to building up the bilateral political trust and to ensuring peace and stability in the region. In any fields that they have “the same points of view”, the two countries have to make every effort to cooperate together basing on these above principles.

Actually, Vietnam and China still have territorial disputes in the East Sea-related issues. Vietnam’s consistent position is that they would firmly protect the national sovereignty and legitimate interests by peaceful means in accordance with international law and regional treaties, and not use or threaten to use force. In this background, firstly, the army should join the Party, State and people in firmly safeguarding the territorial integrity. Besides, the political trust is an important foundation to gradually deal with disputes in the East Sea. As a result, we also should build up the political trust with China by goodwill and defence cooperation, and then the two countries should make commitments not to use force and all disputes should be resolved peacefully.

In conclusion, the Vietnam-China Border Defence Friendship Exchange is not only to build up the shared borderline of peace, friendship, cooperation and development, but also to find and apply each side’s useful experience to deal with their pending issues. Vietnam will resolutely seek new methods to better the exchange and hopes that China should be determined to maintain the meaningful program. From that point, the both sides will soon realize that it is an essential and regular event for their all levels, branches and localities along the shared borderline.

Reporters: Thank you very much, Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh!

Written by Bao Trung-Nguyen Hoa

Translated by Van Hieu

Related stories:

>> Vietnam, China to hold border defence friendship exchange

>> Preparation for Vietnam-China border exchange program inspected

The Republic of Korea Cultural Centre has introduced a group of Vietnamese who will support culture cooperation between Vietnam and the RoK.

The 15-member group, entitled K-Culture Supporters, features outstanding Vietnamese youths such as actor Hong Dang, pianist Trang Trinh, food blogger Phan Anh and Korean language teacher Nguyen Le Thu.

Director of the centre Park Nark-jong (C) and members of the group. Source: hanoimoi

Hong Dang became popular with his performance in the first Vietnamese and RoK television series production, entitled Forever Young, while Phan Anh was appointed a Korean Culinary Ambassador.

K-Culture Supporters will promote activities to boost cultural exchanges between Vietnam and the RoK.

“The cultural centre wants the members of K-Culture Supporters to be cultural ambassadors to popularise Korean culture in Vietnam,” Director of the centre Park Nark-jong said.

He said mutual understanding between peoples of the two countries will improve thanks to these Vietnamese youths.

Source: VNA

The “Jade Buddha for Peace” statue (Source: giacngo.vn)

A ceremony was held at Hoang Phuc Pagoda in the central province of Quang Binh on March 27 to receive the world’s largest Buddha statue, made of jade.

The statue will be on show at the pagoda through April 5 and then come to other northern localities.

The “Jade Buddha for Peace” statue was carved from gemstone-quality jade called Polar Pride discovered in northern Canada in 2000. Ian Green, an Australian Buddhist, invited artisans from Nepal, India and Thailand to carve the statue in Thailand.

The statue is modelled on the Siddhartha Gautama Buddha statue inside the Mahabodhi Stupa in India’s Bodh Gaya. It stands 2.7m tall, weighs four tons and sits on a 1.4m-high solid alabaster throne. Its size and beauty make it a wonder of the world.

The statue was first displayed in various pagodas in Vietnam such as in the central city of Da Nang, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Thap in the south, as well as the northern province of Bac Ninh in 2009.

It was then moved to Australia before it toured the US in 2010, Europe in 2011 and Asia in 2012.

According to monk Thich Duc Thien, head of Hoang Phuc Pagoda, the statue was first displayed in Vietnam as “the Vietnamese people love peace and believe in Buddhism, and thanks to the great support of Vietnamese enterprises in Australia.”

After its exhibition in Vietnam this year, the Jade Buddha will be permanently installed in Australia.

Hoang Phuc, a national historical relic, is an ancient pagoda associated with King Monk Tran Nhan Tong (1258-1308), the third king of the Tran Dynasty (1226-1400) and founder of the Truc Lam Zen Buddhist sect.

The pagoda was originally called Tri Kien (or Kinh Thien). It is located in Thuan Trach Village in Le Thuy district’s My Thuy commune.

Source: VNA

The central province of Quang Tri has taken numerous comprehensive measures against the Zika virus along the border with Laos, where a case was recently discovered.

The La Lay international border gates welcome more than 180 visitors into Vietnam per day. They are conducting around-the-clock monitoring to minimise risk.

Maria Ilorencia, an Argentinean visitor who entered Vietnam from Laos at the La Lay international border gate said she felt secure thanks to strict medical check-ups at Vietnam’s border gates.

Photo for illustration

Apart from keeping track of the temperatures of travelers going through the two border gates, they also conduct chemical sprays for means of transport entering Vietnam.

Since early this year, the La Lay border gate has received 22,000 travelers coming to Vietnam.

According to the Ministry of Health, Zika, first detected in Uganda’s Zika Forest in 1947, is transmitted to humans through the Aedes mosquito, which is also the main carrier of dengue fever.

Besides mild fever, rash, muscle pain, joint pain, headache, pain behind the eyes and conjunctivitis, the virus has been linked to micro cephaly, a condition that causes babies to be born with unusually small heads and in the vast majority of cases, brain damage.

There is currently no cure for the Zika virus and no vaccine for it.

The virus has to date spread to 44 countries and territories across the world, mainly in Latin America. No cases of Zika virus have been recorded in Vietnam, but on March 22, the WHO informed of an Australian visitor who tested positive for Zika after returning from Vietnam.

Source: VNA

Related Stories:

>> Localities brace for Zika virus

>> No Zika cases found in Vietnam as of March 18

PANO – The 2016 Vietnam International Fashion Week will take place at the Gem Centre in Ho Chi Minh City between April 23rd and 26th.

A collection is being showed at the 2016 Vietnam International Fashion Week. Photo: bazaarvietnam.vn

Launched in 2014 for the first time, the fashion show attracted many leading local designers and international names, such as Nguyen Cong Tri, Phuong My and Adrian Anh Tuan, and Yumi Katsura and Takada Kenzo from Japan, Song Zio from the Republic of Korea, Retano Balestra from Italia, Julien Fournie of France and so forth, to showcase their latest collections.

The event, which has blown a new fresh air into the fashion industry and given a deep impression on devotees, is expected to connect Vietnamese designers to the world’s fashion industry.

Starting this year, the event will be held twice per year, the week for Spring/Summer in April in Ho Chi Minh City and the show for Fall/Winter in October in Hanoi.

Source: SGGP

Translated by Viet Anh

With abundant tourism advantages, the island district of Ly Son in the central province of Quang Ngai is making the most of its strengths to promote the locality’s economic development.

The island district welcomed a record 95,000 holiday-makers in 2015, a surge of 63,000 compared with 2014.

Bui Thi Quynh Van, district party committee secretary, said traditional cultural and historical elements related to sea and island sovereignty are significant aspects of the locality’s tourism development goals.

A corner of Ly Son island. Photo: tourdulich.org.vn

The district will continue to call on local and foreign enterprises to build infrastructure for sea and island tourism development, she added.

Deputy Director of the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism Huynh Thi Phuong Hoa said tourism is an economic development goal. The province will speed up several tourism projects in 2016 from major investors including Muong Thanh, Vingroup and Saigon Tourist.

Covering about 10 square kilometres, Ly Son has four national heritage sites, 10 provincial level relics and several old houses with many diverse cultural characteristics.

The rock cliffs in locality are also considered an encyclopedia of geology and the earth’s surface, which poses a great opportunity for the province to attract international experts and tourists to conduct research and visit.

Source: VNA

The Department of Construction in Ho Chi Minh City sought the municipal People’s Committee’s approval for a proposal to build more than 2,000 additional apartments.

The apartments are part of two social housing projects, the CC1 building and the Chuong Duong Home, funded by the Construction Corporation No.1 (CC1) under the Ministry of Construction and the Chuong Duong Joint Stock Company, respectively.

The CC1 project will be built for 210 billion VND (9.45 million USD) on nearly 3,000 square metres on Nguyen Van Dung Street in Ward No.6 in Go Vap district.

Photo for illustration

The 18-storey building is expected to offer 304 apartments ranging between 54-60 square metres each for low-income earners by December 2018.

Meanwhile, the Chuong Duong Home, worth 674 billion VND (30 million USD), includes five 13-storey buildings on 26,340 square metres in Truong Tho ward, Thu Duc district.

It will have 1,777 apartments ranging between 40-75 square metres.

According to the municipal Department of Construction, the city aims to complete three social housing projects in 2016, providing 1,491 apartments and starts construction on three other projects with 1,748 flats.

Source: VNA

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc called on Vietnam and Laos to roll out mechanisms and policies to support investors in each country.

The official made the appeal while co-chairing the second Vietnam-Laos investment cooperation conference that opened in the central city of Da Nang on March 27.

The two countries should focus on implementing their bilateral agreement for 2016-2020, accelerating transport connectivity and hastening the implementation of the one-door mechanism.

At the conference

Businesses, for their part, need to speed up the progress of licenced projects and observe local laws, the official stressed.

Vietnamese businesses should consider investing in the neighbouring country and building strategic projects, he added.

Echoing Phuc’s views, Lao Deputy Prime Minister Somsavad Lengsavath urged the two sides to complete their administrative reforms and outline bilateral cooperation mechanisms.

The two countries need to hold a joint Cabinet meeting after the annual meeting of the two Politburos in order to realise their agreed-upon goals, he said.

He suggested Vietnamese businesses coordinate with Lao authorities to invest in projects in the spheres of health care, education-training, agriculture and tourism.

This year’s conference devoted a lot of time to charting cooperation orientations for the two sides and discussing the Lao Government’s preferential policies for Vietnamese investors.

The event offered an opportunity for Vietnamese businesses and investors to access new projects in Laos and promote the two sides’ collaboration in other fields like tourism and transport.

Within the framework of the conference, Vietnamese and Lao agencies and businesses engaged in seminars that introduced Laos’ needs and investment attraction plan for the next five years.

Vietnamese investors have, so far, poured 4.9 billion USD in the neighbouring country, helping create jobs for about 40,000 Lao labourers.

Laos ranks first among 68 countries and territories Vietnam has invested in, while Vietnam is placed second among countries investing in Laos.

Source: VNA

The Cua Dai bridge spanning the Thu Bon River and a coastal road in the central province of Quang Nam were put into service on March 27 in the presence of National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung.

Construction of the bridge began in August 2009 at a cost of 3.45 trillion VND (155.25 million USD).

The bridge, measuring 25.5m in width and 1.48km in length, links Hoi An city with Duy Xuyen and Thang Binh districts.

National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung cutting the ribbon to inaugurate the construction. Source: nhandan.com.vn

Meanwhile, the 24.5km coastal road runs from Duy Xuyen district to Tam Ky city. It was built at a cost of 1.44 trillion VND (64.8 million USD).

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, NA Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung said the bridge and the road are of special significance for local socio-economic development.

He urged Quang Nam to make full use of its advantages to boost the maritime economy, and build high-tech, environmentally friendly agricultural practices while upgrading its transport infrastructure to lure more investors.

Dinh Van Thu, Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee, said the projects help shorten the route between Quang Nam’s Tam Ky city and Da Nang city, and ease traffic jam on National Highway 1A.

The bridge is also expected to facilitate the use of 40,000ha of uncultivated land in the province’s southeastern region and support another project on natural disaster adaptation, he said.

Source: VNA

VietNamNet Bridge – After being drafted to serve in the war in Vietnam, an American GI decided to treat his days off-duty in the country as a ‘working vacation’ with camera in hand.

Noodle Gobbler in 1969 The pictures that Private 1st Class Lance V Nix took in and around the city of My Tho between 1968-69 show bustling markets, busy townsfolk and smiling children. Lance V. Nix at the Embassy House in My Tho in December 1968 A very different perspective from the dreary combat operations in muddy fields and jungles most commonly associated with the decades-long war. Two children pose at the Mekong River-front in southeast My Tho, Dinh Tuong Province, Vietnam, in 1969 My Tho’s downtown market in Dinh Tuong Province, Vietnam, in the year 1969 ‘I didn’t want to be there, but I was drafted and there was nothing I could do about it, said Nix, now 71, in an interview with Daily Mail Online. Three produce vendors pose for Lance V. Nix’s camera at the My Tho Market in the year 1969 “So in my free time I would just grab my camera and walk around taking pictures.” I caught these two ladies on film as they walked by the sandbags and razor wire around the military operational centre at the south end of My Tho across from the Navy dock on the Mekong River’ in 1969, wrote Nix of this picture Flower girls at the My Tho marketplace, in the Dinh Tuong Province in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta, 1969 Nix, who was 24, said his job was to ‘do everything’ at command headquarters. Girl selling produce at the My Tho market in 1969. “I had a lot of free time,” said Nix and I was allowed to wear civilian clothes. A woman shopping at the same market Gleening the last of the fish from the drying rain ponds at the Binh Duc airstrip west of My Tho, Dinh Tuong Province, in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta in the year 1969 During excursions with his Minolta SRT 101 camera, Nix said, “Most people didn’t know if I was a reporter or whatever.” Sidewalk fast food in My Tho 1969. Busy with mid-day shoppers at the My Tho Market in Dinh Tuong Province, Vietnam, in 1969 “The reactions from people were a little bit of everything. Some people wanted their picture taken and would smile like you won’t believe. Some would be shy.” Flower vendors selling [marigolds] for TET New Year celebration at the My Tho Market in Dinh Tuong Province, Vietnam, in the year 1969 In Nix’s view, “The Vietnamese citizens weren’t really involved in the war. They were bystanders basically. They were so used to occupation, with the French before us.” ‘Local men take a mid-day break for a little card game. In northeast My Tho in 1969′ wrote Nix of this picture “Most citizens were just trying to live their lives, hoping not to have their heads blown off.” River Front Fast Food 1969. In My Tho on the Mekong River, Dinh Tuong Province, Vietnam in 1969 A [remnant] from the French colonial days, the long loaves of French bread were plentiful in My Tho,’ Nix wrote of this picture A shoe seller and two smiling children at the My Tho Market in 1969 as photographed by Lance V Nix Vegetables cut into decorative patterns at the My Tho Market in preparation for Tet festivities, 1969 Water Taxi across the Mekong to Kien Hoa January 1969. Stern view of water taxi approaching Kien Hoa Province from Coconut Monk’s island Famous Coconut Monk on an island in the Mekong just a couple miles south of My Tho who founded his own unique religion, a blending of the teachings and philosophies of Buddism with Christianity Vietnam’s Coconut Monk in his tower at the east end of his “floating” platform refuge at the very eastern tip of his island in the Mekong River near My Tho, Vietnam Lance V. Nix pictured on Veterans Day 2014, in Fort Ord, California. ‘Back in uniform 45 years later. How time flies,’ Nix wrote

VOV

Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung had a meeting with the French National Assembly’s Foreign Affairs Committee Chairwoman Elisabeth Guigou at Government Headquarter yesterday evening on the occasion of her visit to Vietnam.

The PM affirmed both Vietnam and France are looking to elevate further their strategic partnership relations in all sectors in order to bring benefits for two sides.

PM Dung also expressed his desire that France will impulse ratification of Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) between Vietnam and the EU and the signing of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA).

Mrs. Elisabeth Guigou affirmed the relations between France and Vietnam have developed strong in accordance with both historical and political foundation.

She said that French President appreciated Vietnam’s visit to the 21st Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP21) as well as outstanding contributions of Vietnam for the success of the COP 21. French President will plan to visit Vietnam next year.

VGP – With over three fourth of the vote, the European Parliament (EP) passed an official resolution to ratify the Viet Nam-EU Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) on December 17 at its plenary session in Strasbourg city, France.

The resolution welcomes Viet Nam’s outcomes in “Doi Moi” (reform) and integration over the past time and hails the country’s role and position in regional and global arena.

It said cooperation between the EU and Viet Nam has developed rapidly since they established diplomatic ties 25 years ago, moving from an initial focus on trade and aid to cooperation and comprehensive partnership.

The EP emphasized that the signing of the PCA with Viet Nam demonstrates the strategic significance of the Southeast Asian country as a key partner of the EU in the region and ASEAN.

The EP also highlighted that the PCA would cement and deepen the Viet Nam-EU relations in such areas as trade, investment, development cooperation and others like social affairs, democracy, human rights, and joint settlement of regional and global challenges.

Besides, the resolution also expressed the EP’s concerns over illegal and unilateral actions that cause tensions in the East Sea, threatening peace, security, stability, international trade and fundamental benefits of the EU in the region as well as navigation safety and freedom on the EU’s main maritime trade routes.

The resolution also calls on China and related parties to reduce tensions in the East Sea while stressing the need to resolve disputes via peaceful means, build trust, and hold bilateral and regional negotiations on the basis of international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)./.

By Kim Loan

The European Parliament (EP) adopted an official resolution ratifying the Vietnam – EU Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA), at a plenary session in Strasbourg city, France, on December 17.

The resolution welcomes Vietnam’s outcomes in “Doi Moi” (reform) and integration over the past time and hails the country’s role and position in regional and global arena.

It said cooperation between the EU and Vietnam has developed rapidly since they established diplomatic ties 25 years ago, moving from an initial focus on trade and aid to cooperation and comprehensive partnership.

The EP stressed that the signing of the PCA with Vietnam demonstrates the strategic significance of the Southeast Asian country as a key partner of the EU in the region and ASEAN.

The parliament committed to widening and deepening the Vietnam-EU relations across sectors such as social affairs, democracy, human rights, and settlement of regional and global challenges.

In its resolution, the EP expressed its deep concerns over illegal and unilateral actions that cause tensions in the East Sea, threatening peace, security, stability, international trade and fundamental benefits of the EU in the region as well as navigation safety and freedom on the union’s main maritime trade routes.

The EP calls for more efforts from China and parties involved to reduce tensions in the East Sea while stressing it is necessary to address disputes via peaceful means, building trust, and holding bilateral and regional negotiations on the basis of international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

The Vietnam-EU Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) sailed through the Senate of France in Paris on December 17 with 100 percent of the vote.

The PCA is a framework agreement that looks to adjust the relationship between Vietnam and the EU and replaces the 1995 Vietnam-EC Framework Cooperation Agreement.

The deal allows Vietnam to access the EU market more easily on the basis of the equal, long-term, and stable partnership and comprehensive cooperation.

Signed on June 27, 2012, the pact will come into force after it is ratified by all EU members.

Speaking at a discussion in Paris, Annick Girardin, Minister of State for Development and Francophony, elaborated on the French Government’s views which lauded developments in the comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and France over the past time, especially in economics, trade and investment.

She commented on the increasing bilateral trade and the stronger flow of French investments in the Southeast Asian nation.

Helene Conway-Mouret from the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Armed Forces of the Senate, presented a draft law which is comprised of eight chapters and 65 articles stipulating economic, trade and investment ties, development cooperation as well as the collaboration in justice, education, training, health care and the environment between the two nations.

The majority of the senators at the event echoed the French Government’s views on the fruitful Vietnam-France relations.

They agreed that the agreement should be soon ratified in order to create a legal framework for the affiliation between Vietnam and the EU, including the Vietnam-France relations.

Michel Billout, s enator from Seine – et – Marne , held that the PCA will pave the way for a mutually beneficial and more intensive and sustainable cooperation framework between Vietnam and the EU.

He explained that the EU is Vietnam’s leading economic and trade partner and the country’s important importer.

The PCA, along with the strategic partnership signed by Vietnam and France in September 2013, is expected to contribute to driving the bilateral relations towards a new period in a more effective and intensive fashion, meeting each side’s demand for development, he said.

Noting with joy the Senate’s ratification of the agreement, Helene Luc, a former French senator and Honorary President of the France-Vietnam Friendship Association, said the approval has translated the resolve to promote the two countries’ relations into a legal document that advance the bilateral ties to match the strategic partnership.

The Hanoitimes – On December 16, at a reception for President of the French National Assembly’s Foreign Affairs Committee Elisabeth Guigou in Hanoi, President Truong Tan Sang asked for more efforts from both Vietnam and France to raise two-way trade above the current nearly 3 billion USD level.

He congratulated France on successfully hosting the 21 st Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 21) and suggested the France NA support Vietnam to intensify its ties with the EU and early rat1ify the Vietnam-EU Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA).

President Truong Tan Sang received President of the French National Assembly’s Foreign Affairs Committee Elisabeth Guigou

Regarding France’s concern over the East Sea situation, the State leader confirmed that China’s fast and large-scale constructions on islands in the sea have broken the status quo, threatened regional security and violated the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC).

He thanked France for backing Vietnam’s stance of addressing disputes by peaceful means in accordance with international law, the DOC, and working towards the signing of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) and maintaining maritime and aviation security and safety. He again expressed sympathies over France’s losses in recent terrorist attacks, stressing Vietnam’s viewpoint of strongly condemning terror actions that cost civilian casualties.

For her part, Elisabeth Guigou affirmed that President Francois Hollande always pays special attention to Vietnam and wishes to visit the country at the soonest time. Regarding the East Sea situation, she stated that through the photos provided by the Vietnamese Defence Ministry, she and other parliamentarians acknowledged that the scale of the constructions by China is not small, exactly as Vietnam said.

She confirmed France’s support for dealing with disputes by peaceful measures with respect to international law and its willingness to cooperate with Vietnam in East Sea-related issues. The official also said she and other parliamentarians are working to address minor technical problems so the PCA will be approved in early 2016. She hoped that the two countries’ businesses will intensify collaboration in aviation and food industry.

By Anh Kiet

The Hanoitimes – The Vietnam-EU Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) has been approved by the Senate of France in Paris on December 17 with 100 percent of the vote.

The PCA is a framework agreement that looks to adjust the relationship between Vietnam and the EU and replaces the 1995 Vietnam-EC Framework Cooperation Agreement. The deal allows Vietnam to access the EU market more easily on the basis of the equal, long-term, and stable partnership and comprehensive cooperation.

Signed on June 27, 2012, the pact will come into effect after it is ratified by all EU members. PCA allows Vietnam to facilitate access to EU markets than on the basis of development cooperation relationship of equal, long-term, stable and comprehensive partnership.

French Parliament also plans to soon consider ratification of the PCA in early 2016. If both houses of the French Parliament ratified the cooperation between Vietnam and the European Union (EU) in general, between Vietnam and France in particular will be boosted in the coming years.

Speaking at a discussion in Paris, Annick Girardin, Minister of State for Development and Francophony, elaborated on the French Government’s views which lauded developments in the comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and France over the past time, especially in economics, trade and investment.

She commented on the increasing bilateral trade and the stronger flow of French investments in the Southeast Asian nation.

Helene Conway-Mouret from the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Armed Forces of the Senate, presented a draft law which is comprised of eight chapters and 65 articles stipulating economic, trade and investment ties, development cooperation as well as the collaboration in justice, education, training, health care and the environment between the two nations.

The majority of the senators at the event echoed the French Government’s views on the fruitful Vietnam-France relations. They agreed that the agreement should be soon ratified in order to create a legal framework for the affiliation between Vietnam and the EU, including the Vietnam-France relations.

Michel Billout, s enator from Seine – et – Marne , held that the PCA will pave the way for a mutually beneficial and more intensive and sustainable cooperation framework between Vietnam and the EU. He explained that the EU is Vietnam’s leading economic and trade partner and the country’s important importer.

The PCA, along with the strategic partnership signed by Vietnam and France in September 2013, is expected to contribute to driving the bilateral relations towards a new period in a more effective and intensive fashion, meeting each side’s demand for development, he said.

Noting with joy the Senate’s ratification of the agreement, Helene Luc, a former French senator and Honorary President of the France-Vietnam Friendship Association, said the approval has translated the resolve to promote the two countries’ relations into a legal document that advance the bilateral ties to match the strategic partnership.

For her part, Ms. Hélène Luc, honorary Chairman of France-Vietnam Friendship Association expressed joy when the agreement was passed. According to her, this has turned the ratification of the determination to promote relations between Vietnam and France, commensurating with the strategic partnership level.

By Anh Kiet

ktdt.vn

French President Francois Hollande. Photo: AFP

The French National Assembly’s Foreign Affairs Committee Elisabeth Guigou has confirmed that French President Francois Hollande will visit Vietnam in the soonest time next year.

She made the statement during her visit to Vietnam on December 16 when she met with President Truong Tan Sang and Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.

President Francois Hollande had planned to visit Vietnam in 2015 but he has been too busy in dealing with the terror attack and the 21st Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 21), according to Guigou.

At the meeting, President Truong Tan Sang asked for more efforts from both Vietnam and France to raise two-way trade above the current level of nearly US$3 billion.

He congratulated France on successfully hosting the COP21 and suggested the France National Assembly support Vietnam to intensify its ties with the EU and early ratify the Vietnam-EU Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA).

Regarding the East Sea/South China Sea situation, Guigou stated that through the photos provided by the Vietnamese Defense Ministry, she and other parliamentarians acknowledged that the scale of the constructions by China is not small, exactly as Vietnam said.

She confirmed France’s support for dealing with disputes by peaceful measures with respect to international law and its willingness to cooperate with Vietnam in East Sea-related issues.

(VOVworld) – Vietnam’s exports rose 8.1% in 2015 compared to a year earlier. Although it missed the government target of 10% growth for 2015, exports were considered a highlight of the national economy with their expanded scale, contributing to GDP growth and generating more jobs for workers, particularly in the production of farm produce.

Garment production for exports in Hoa Tho Textile and Garment Company. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam earned 162 billion USD from exports in 2015, lower than the set target of 165 billion USD, with nearly 71% coming from foreign invested companies. The US and the EU remained Vietnam’s main export markets.

At the online conference between the government and provinces held late last year, Minister of Trade and Industry Vu Huy Hoang attributed 2015’s lackluster performance to the decline in global demand that influenced a number of Vietnam’s export items, including agricultural, forestry, and aquatic products, crude oil, and coal.

But in the last quarter, Vietnam worked hard to increase exports of several top earners, like rice and products from the processing-manufacturing industries, to spur export revenue.

Vietnam’s achievements in increasing exports are attributed to the improvement of support policies for exports and trade promotion and the government’s completion of FTA negotiations with major economic partners.

The trade deals are expected to offer more opportunities for Vietnam’s exports, Doctor Vo Tri Thanh, Deputy Director of the Central Institute for Economic Management said that “FTAs are expected to have great impacts on Vietnam’s exports. Among 12 TPP countries, Vietnam is likely to be the biggest winner in terms of its influence on the total export value, with garments and textiles expected to double and millions of jobs expected to be generated. The EU-Vietnam Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) has helped increase Vietnam’s exports by 35%.”

The Vietnamese government and state management agencies are proactively implementing measures to boost exports focusing on enhancing the competitiveness of the national economy as well as enterprises, productivity, and quality.

According to Tran Thanh Hai, Deputy Director of the Exports-Imports Department of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, “state management agencies are trying to help domestic businesses expand the market by negotiating free trade agreements, with their sights on the US and EU. The role of Vietnamese management agencies is to accompany enterprises by developing support services for exports in logistics, administrative reforms, and designing a national and ASEAN single-door mechanism.”

Chung Thuy