Ben Ngu relics of Nguyen dynasty discovered in Hue city

Many large rocks, which are believed to be relics of the Ben Ngu (Royal Berth) of the Nguyen dynasty, have been found by workers who were dredging the An Cuu river bed near the Ben Ngu in former imperial Hue city.

Two stone bars, which are 2.4m long, 0.3m wide and 7.4cm thick each, were lifted out of the water on July 27 while the other, which is much heavier, is still in the river.

The two stone bars have been handed to officials of the Provincial Culture, Sports and Tourism Department and the Thua Thien-Hue General Museum.

According to researcher Ho Tan Phan, the name of Ben Ngu in Hue was made known in the Nguyen dynasty.

When the King went for the Nam Giao ritual – the performance that prays for a peaceful country and a prosperous people, he usually stopped his boats and retinue at this section of the river before sailing to the royal place Thuy Phu.-

Over 76 billion VND for Hue relic restoration

Thua Thien-Hue (VNA) – Central Thua Thien-Hue province will invest more than 76 billion VND into the first phase of the project on restoration of the Dong Khanh Tomb, part of Hue ancient capital’s relic system.

The restoration will be based on the tomb’s current conditions in association with historical studies to ensure that the tomb will keep its original characters to the highest extent.

The project will also include power, water and fire and theft warning systems.

Owned by the Centre for Hue Relic Conservation, the project will be carried out for four years.-

Vietnam, Chile: gates to enter regional markets

Vietnam and Chilean leaders agreed at talks in Hanoi on July 28 that their countries were gates for their respective products to enter Southeast Asian and Latin American markets.

At talks with visiting Vice President of Chamber of Deputies of Chile, Jorge Ulloa, National Assembly Vice Chairwoman Tong Thi Phong said it would be favourable for the two sides to raise bilateral trade turnover and expand export markets.

Vice Chairwoman Phong praised the visit by Chilean parliamentarians, describing it as an important milestone in developing relations between the two legislative bodies and people.

She said the Vietnamese National Assembly supports the establishment of a joint government committee and said she hoped the two sides would soon hold the first meeting of the committee to boost economic, trade and investment relations and find out cooperation fields.

The NA Vice Chairwoman added that Vietnam is concerned with urging the joint research group on negotiations of bilateral trade agreement to further expand cooperation between the two countries, and wants to learn experiences of Chile in international economic integration process.

NA Vice Chairwoman Tong Thi Phong said she hoped that the two sides would boost coordination at the Inter-Parliamentary Union and regional inter-parliamentary forums, as well as boost cooperation between ASEAN and the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR).

Chilean Chamber of Deputies Vice President Jorge Ulloa said Vietnam was a dynamically developing economy in Asia .

The two sides agreed to boost exchange of information and experiences in legislative operations and share standpoints on international issues of mutual concern.

They also agreed to support their governments to strengthen economic, trade and investment ties to match their fine political relations and cooperation potential, as well as create favourable conditions for business communities to expand investment and market.

Exchanges between the two countries’ friendship parliamentarians groups will be enhanced.

During the visit to Vietnam from July 25-31, the Chilean guests plan to have working sessions with leaders of some Vietnamese ministries and sectors and visit a number of localities.-

Ordinance on ship arrest is necessary: court official

A senior court official has spotlighted the need for ordinance on ship arrest procedures to be enacted, saying it will facilitate the resolution of maritime claims.

Permanent Vice President of the Supreme People’s Court Dang Quang Phuong made the remark at a meeting held in Hanoi on July 28 by the National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee to get opinions on a draft Ordinance on Ship Arrest Procedures.

Phuong said the Vietnam Maritime Code, which was passed by the NA on June 14, 2007 to replace the one enacted in 1990, has a number of new regulations on ship arrest, particularly those permitting a court to make decisions on detaining ships to resolve maritime complaints.

The execution of the Vietnam Maritime Code’s regulations on ship arrest must be based on specific steps and procedures, Phuong said, adding that therefore, the enactment of an ordinance on the issue is necessary.

Chair of the NA’s Judicial Committee Le Thi Thu Ba said the draft Ordinance on Ship Arrest Procedures, which aims to ensure maritime complaints are resolved and to exercise judicial mandate of foreign courts, meets the requirements of international integration.

The draft ordinance consists of six chapters with 73 articles on jurisdiction , steps and procedures on ship arrest as well as ship release.-

Party official hails VUFO’s role in foreign affairs

A senior Party official has applauded the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations’ (VUFO) positive contributions to the country’s foreign affairs and promoting its image at regional and international forums.

Working with VUFO on July 28, Politburo member and permanent member of the Secretariat of the Party Central Committee Truong Tan Sang said the union has helped Vietnam boost economic, cultural and scientific relations with other nations and has joined calls on the world to support Agent Orange victims.

The VUFO has followed closely the Party’s foreign policy by expanding the partnership, friendly exchange and cooperation with neighbouring and major countries as well as traditional friends, he said.

The Party official went on to praise the VUFO’s efforts to attract more aid from foreign non-government organisations (NGO) and manage operations of NGOs in Vietnam .

Having spoken of the VUFO’s role in external information, he emphasised the growing importance of people-to-people diplomacy during the process of international integration.

Sang also urged the VUFO and its members to reform their activities and prepare carefully for the 4th National Congress scheduled for later this year.-

Vietnam, France look for closer ties

Vietnam National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong wants the relationship between Vietnam and France to become an exemplary partnership between developing and developed countries.

During talks in Hanoi on July 28, French Senate President Christian Poncelet agreed with Trong’s vision for the two countries.

Chairman Trong praised Senate President Poncelet for his contributions to the relations of the two legislative bodies and the two countries as well, calling the French Senate President “a close friend to Vietnamese people”.

He noted that the Vietnam-France old-age relationship is growing well and the two countries, which share a historical and cultural connection, can support each other in a wide range of areas.

Highlighting France ’s strength, Chairman Trong asked for the European country’s cooperation in oil and gas exploitation, education and training, science and technology, infrastructure, and transport and communication.

He said having potential in agricultural development, Vietnam is eager to learn advanced farming and breeding techniques from France , as well as its experiences in environmental protection.

He said he expected France to share its managerial experience, especially in finance, banking and the stock market, and inflation control.

He also said he hoped for France to boost local-level cooperation with Vietnamese localities. At present, 52 provinces and regions of France have established ties with 54 Vietnamese localities.

Senate President Poncelet said he was happy to return to Vietnam and see how far the country has come and how the Government and Vietnamese people are resolved to develop the national economy.

The French guest said France and Vietnam should support each other for mutual development, for the growth in each country, and for the better life of its people.

He stressed the two countries need to cooperate more closely in countering and addressing globally-prevailing challenges, including food and energy crisis, suggesting Vietnam, as the world’s second rice exporter, should work together with France, as a major cereal exporter in the world, to ensure food security.

The French Senate President advised Vietnam to develop other energy sources, such as wind-generated and solar energy to meet growing demands and serve economic production.

He also expressed his interests in promoting cooperation with the country in health care, the supply of drinking water, water treatment and child adoption.

Poncelet lauded Vietnam for demonstrating clearly its viewpoints against the use of nuclear power for military purposes while working as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council.

“ France will work to support Vietnam to expand its multidimensional cooperation with the European Union,” the French Senate President said.

He affirmed his country will lobby the EU to recognise Vietnam ’s economy as a market economy.

At their talks, the Vietnamese and French leaders agreed that the two countries’ growing ties can be further expanded, and asserted their determination to bolster the relations to bring in practical benefit for both countries.

They also outlined the need for both countries to reinforce collaboration in regional, inter-regional and global forums.

The two legislative leaders discussed the positive development of the two countries’ legislative ties as it follows the spirit of a cooperation agreement signed by the Vietnamese NA and the French Senate in 2003.

They agreed that the signing of a cooperation agreement between the Vietnamese NA and the French House of Representatives during NA Chairman Trong’s visit to France late June also helped create a legal foundation for the two law-making bodies’ ties to grow higher to contribute to the two countries’ overall ties.-

NA leader pledges support for Vietnam-Chile ties

National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong says the legislature will do its utmost to support and develop bilateral cooperation between Vietnam and Chile in a more practical and effective manner.

Based on their fine political relations, Vietnam and Chile should beef up cooperative ties in economy, trade, culture, tourism and science, Trong told the visiting Vice President of Chamber of Deputies of Chile, Jorge Ulloa, on July 28.

The top legislator noted Vietnam and Chile hold the potential and strength to assist each other for mutual development, adding that the two countries have coordinated closely and backed each other at international forums.

NA Chairman Trong welcomed the Chilean delegation’s visit, saying it took place at a time when cooperative relations between the two countries, and their legislative bodies in particular, are flourishing.

He said he believed the visit will contribute to increasing mutual trust and friendship, which are considered as a foundation for the long-term and sustainable development of the Vietnam-Chile relationship.

The chairman also spoke highly of the role played by the two groups of friendship parliamentarians in promoting exchanges and cooperation between the two legislatures and the two countries at large.

In reply, Jorge Ulloa affirmed that Chile places great importance on expanding multifaceted cooperation with Vietnam , particularly in the fields of economy and trade.

Chile is willing to work as a bridge for Vietnam to enter the Latin American market, and in return, wants Vietnam to help Chile open the Asian market’s door, he said.

The Chilean lawmaker said he hoped Chile and Vietnam will conclude negotiations for the signing of a bilateral trade agreement in the near future.-

Germany to help VN with urban development

Germany will assist Vietnam in urban development and planning, forming criteria and legal norms for underground construction, and improve the professionalism for construction experts and managers.

Vietnamese Minister of Construction Nguyen Hong Quan and the German Minister of Transport, Building and Urban Affairs, Wolfgang Tiefensee, reached the consensus at recent talks in Germany.

Quan and Tiefensee agreed to boost cooperation between the two ministries by increasing direct meetings and information sharing at all levels.

During his visit from July 24-29, Minister Quan also met with Minister of State at the German Foreign Office Gernot Erler and called at Germany’s leadership in construction, architecture and urban planning corporations.

Both Tiefensee and Erler applauded Vietnam’s development achievements and affirmed that the German Government is willing to help Vietnam with economic development and international integration.

The German ministers said they hoped the two countries will carry out a number of concrete cooperation projects to mark the Year of Germany-Vietnam Relations and the 35th anniversary of diplomatic ties in 2010 as agreed upon by the two governments.

Germany Festival will be held in Vietnam and Vietnam Festival will be featured in Germany as parts of the celebrations, they said.-

Front reviews operation, discusses action plan

The Presidium of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee (sixth tenure) opened its 12th session in Hanoi on July 29.

Addressing the meeting, President Huynh Dam reviewed activities of the Central Committee and its organisations at all levels over the last six months, saying the Front has united and mobilised people of all strata at home and abroad to contribute to national development.

Participants heard Vu Van Phuc, deputy head of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Information and Education introducing three resolutions passed at the seventh plenum of the Party Central Committee (10 th Congress) on strengthening the Party’s leadership towards the youth and building a contingent of intellectuals during the country’s industrialisation and modernisation and on agriculture, farmers and rural areas.
“The resolutions are significant to the country’s development, the national great unity as well as the front’s work,” Phuc said.

The meeting will discuss the Fatherland Front’s action plan for the second half of the year and a proposal on revising the Front’s charter which will be submitted to its seventh National Congress.

The meeting will last until July 31.-

Seminar assesses WTO action programmes

The results of ministries, branches and localities’ action programmes in implementing the Government’s Resolution on a number of policies for fast and sustainable economic development when Vietnam becomes a member of the WTO were reported at a seminar held on July 29 in Hanoi.

The seminar, jointly held by the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) and the post- WTO technical assistance programme, heard that the ministries, branches and localities’ action programmes were quite well-grounded and appropriate.

By June this year, 18 out of 21 ministries and branches and 53 out of 64 provinces and cities officially issued their WTO action programmes.

To improve the efficiency of the implementation of these programmes, the MoIT proposed the Government to set up a system of State organizations acting as centres specialized in providing information and handling issues relating to the implementation of Vietnam ’s commitments to the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

The ministry also proposed the Government to adopt a mechanism of monitoring, checking and assessing the implementation of these action programmes.

Priorities should be defined for a number of territorial regions and fields and environmental issues need to be dealt with in a strategic way, according to the MoIT.

The ministry emphasized the necessity of a master programme to assess impacts of Vietnam ’s accession to the WTO and the results of implementation of WTO action programmes nationwide.-