Vietnam calls for peace process in Darfur

New York – A Vietnamese representative to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) said in New York on June 24 that the normalisation of the relations between Chad and Sudan will play an important role in promoting the peace process in Darfur .

Addressing a UNSC debate on the situation of Darfur, Ambassador Hoang Chi Trung expressed concern over the worsening security and humanitarian situation in Darfur , particularly increasing robbery and attack on humanitarian aid workers.

The ambassador affirmed support for full deployment of the United Nations – African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) in line with Resolution 1769 of the UNSC and for efforts of the UN and the African Union in encouraging armed forces to engage in the political and peaceful process with the Government of Sudan, particularly in promoting trust-building efforts between all parties with a view to reaching a real negotiation to seek a long-term solution to conflicts in Darfur.

According to reports by UN and AU Special Envoys, Mr. Jan Eliasson and Mr. Salim Ahmed Salim, the security and political situations in Darfur have developed complicatedly due to military actions of both the Government of Sudan and armed forces. The security and humanitarian situation in Darfur has been worsened and the deployment of the UNAMID was slow as the force has not been enhanced in terms of manpower as well as equipment.

World traffic experts to meet in Hanoi

Hanoi – Leading transport industry professionals from around the world will arrive in the capital city to attend Viet Traffic 2008, Vietnam’s premier international traffic and overland transport conference and exhibition, to be held on October 15-17.

Delegates will learn about local and international case studies, urban transport planning and sustainability, advances in technology, transport financing and investments, intelligent transport systems (ITS) and road safety. They’ll also gain critical insights into Vietnam ’s road and rail development plans.

The conference features an exhibition showcasing railway infrastructure, highway construction and management, roadside extras and public utilities, ITS for traffic management and safety, and parking facilities, systems and management.

Vietnam ’s need for an efficient transportation infrastructure has increased significantly as a result of its tremendous economic growth since joining the World Trade Organisation in January 2007. In recent years, the country’s Gross Domestic Product has consistently hovered around the 8 percent mark, with 2007’s foreign direct investment (FDI) hitting a 20-year high.

Major projects are underway to build more ports, highways, railways, roads, bridges, tunnels, interchanges, overpasses, car parks and other auxiliary facilities.

However, Vietnam ’s rapid economic growth has not been matched by infrastructure improvements, said William Lean, VinaCapital’s managing director of infrastructure.

So, why has development of the country’s transport infrastructure lagged far behind general growth of the economy?

Statistics point to inevitable growth in the Vietnamese transportation sector. In Vietnam , there are 12 cars per 1,000 people. In the US , this number is 893 and in Thailand it’s 209. As Vietnam ’s wealth increases, the road network will have to be able to handle many more vehicles.

Investment in transport infrastructure provides healthy risk adjusted returns, due to relatively high and predictable yields from road tolls, user fees and rents.
In the first six months of 2008, Vietnam recorded FDI in transport of 31.6 billion USD, said Hoang Van Huan, an official from the Ministry of Planning and Investment. Nearly 9,200 projects were underway, with a total registered capital of more than 116 billion USD.

The country’s poor transport infrastructure is restricting its economic growth. Some 60 billion USD of foreign investment has not yet been spent, Huan said. It is clear that rapid development of infrastructure is vital to spur economic development in Vietnam , he said.

PM holds talks with US President to boost ties

Washington – Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and his host, U.S. President George W. Bush, discussed measures to strengthen and further boost friendly ties and multifaceted cooperation between the two countries as well as regional and international issues of mutual concern.

During their talks at the White House on June 24, PM Dung thanked the US President and people for their warm welcome. President Bush recalled fine impressions during his visit to Vietnam and he also thanked the Vietnamese Government and people for their hospitality.

President Bush expressed his pleasure at Vietnam ’s economic achievements and praised the Vietnamese Government’s determination to stabilise its macro economy.

The two leaders said bilateral ties between Vietnam and the US are developing dynamically and they agreed to firmly and efficiently push up the two countries’ friendly and constructive partnership and multifaceted cooperation on the basis of equality, mutual respect, and mutual benefit.

Both leaders agreed to increase their senior officials’ dialogues on politics, defence, security; establish a new mechanism for exchange and coordination in education, environment, and science-technology; further exchange of economic consultation; and resolve war-related humanitarian issues.

President Bush voiced his support for Vietnam ’s national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity.

The two leaders expressed their pleasure at the achievements made by Vietnamese Americans and recognised their positive contributions to boosting bilateral ties.

PM Dung affirmed that the Vietnamese Government always considers overseas Vietnamese as an inseparable part of the nation and has always created the most favourable conditions for them to contribute to their homeland.

PM Dung and President Bush agreed to foster the Vietnam-US ties in economics, trade and investment, describing this as a foundation and a driving force for lifting friendly relations and bilateral cooperation to a new height.

PM Dung affirmed Vietnam’s determination to implement bilateral and international commitments and further improve its investment and business environment.

The two sides agreed to start negotiations on a bilateral investment treaty. President Bush said the US is considering granting the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) to Vietnam and recognising its economy as a market economy. He also said that the US will import fruits from Vietnam , with the purchase of blue dragon fruits to be made this year.

Both leaders agreed to further cooperation in education and establish a task group on the matter to jointly study and put forth measures for efficient educational cooperation between Vietnam and the US in the future.

They committed to actively cooperating in the area of environment, with the establishment of a new sub-committee under a bilateral agreement on science and technology to help Vietnam cope with climate change and rising sea level. The US side expressed wish to make the partnership with Vietnam in this area a model.

The two leaders agreed to strengthen cooperation in resolving humanitarian issues left by the war. President Bush thanked the Vietnamese Government and people for their efficient cooperation with the US in seeking US servicemen regarded as Missing in Action.

He also affirmed that the US will further assist Vietnam in the prevention of HIV/AIDS, the clearance of ordnance, the detoxification of dioxin-contaminated areas, the implementation of health care projects and the search for missing Vietnamese people during the war.

The two sides affirmed that they will further their consultation and cooperation within the framework of the United Nations Security Council and in regional and international issues, such as fighting terrorism, epidemics and trans-national crime and ensuring food security.

Following the talks, which took place in the friendly and constructive spirit of respect, the two leaders held a joint press briefing.

During the event, President Bush appreciated and recognised the Vietnamese Government’s efforts and solutions to religious issues. He expressed his pleasure at the strong and dynamic development of the Vietnam-US ties in the spirit of mutual respect and benefit.

The US President thanked the Vietnamese PM for his visit and said he wanted the Vietnam-US relations to further develop.

PM Dung announced the talks held with US President Bush was successful in the spirit of friendship, constructive manner and mutual understandings. The two sides were glad to realise that the bilateral relations between the two countries have developed rapidly towards “constructive partnership, friendship, multi-faceted cooperation, equality, mutual respects and benefits”.

The Vietnamese government leader stressed that this US visit demonstrates Vietnam ’s persistent foreign policy of independence, sovereignty, multilateralisation and diversification with a wish that Vietnam will be a friend and trustworthy partner of many countries of the international community, and continue to boosting the Vietnam-US relations within the framework agreed by leaders of the two countries.

The PM hoped this visit’s outcomes will help lift the Vietnam-US ties to a new level for the benefit of people of the two countries and for peace, stability and development cooperation in the region and the world at large.