Gov’t tough in inflation control

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has warned of tough measures, including the revocation of business licenses or lawsuits, against any speculations of commodities or attempt to cash in on the petrol price hike to illegally increase product prices.

In an official dispatch issued on August 3, the Government leader asked provincial and centrally-run city administration leaders to intensify market inspections and tighten price control as well as hand down due punishments against speculators or those who spread wrong market stories for their illegitimate profits.

He also ordered the unchanged prices of some essential commodities until the end of 2008 such as electricity, coal, safe water and bus services.

“Ministries of Finance, Industry and Trade, Agriculture and Rural Development, and Health have to send out inspection teams to the market to check on the costs and prices of commodities and services which are in the trend towards price hike,” said the Prime Minister.

Fertilisers, medicines, taxi transport and milk should be the major targets for price inspection so far while Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City will be in spotlight for market stabilisation efforts.

He also asked State-run economic groups and corporations to reduce production costs and accept lower profits in an effort to share the State’s burden in inflation control.–

East Meets West helps disabled in Quang Ngai

Hanoi (VNA) – Two hospitals in central Quang Ngai province kicked off construction and upgrade of their rehabilitation centres on August 4 with assistance from the East Meets West Foundation (EMW).

The construction is part of EMW’s Support Network for People with Disabilities (SN-PWD) that is funded by Ford Foundation and some other donors.

With a financial assistance of 2.1 billion VND, the Dang Thuy Tram Hospital in Duc Pho district will build a 500-ha rehabilitation centre and upgrade its equipment.

The Son Tinh District Hospital is also provided with nearly 1 billion VND for upgrading its rehabilitation centre.

When the rehabilitation centres of the two hospitals go into operation, EMW will open training courses on rehabilitation for medical workers, who will then provide care for local people with disabilities.

EMW Executive Director John Anner said SN-PWD began in Quang Ngai province in January 2007 and it was expanded to northern Thai Binh province in September of that year, having provided support in healthcare, education and vocational training for more than 22,000 disabled people in the areas most severely affected by dioxin.

By the end of June 2008, the project has conducted surgery for more than 200 people with disabilities and given physical therapy to more than 800 others.

Additionally, 87 disabled people were provided jobs and more than 500 medical workers were provided with physical therapy training under the project.-

Swiss President’s visit opens new cooperation stage

Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh welcomed Swiss President Pascal Couchepin to Vietnam on August 4, saying it would open up a new stage in the friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

While receiving the Swiss President in Hanoi , the Vietnamese party leader said in its foreign policy, Vietnam has always attached importance to multifaceted cooperation with Switzerland and will do its best to further develop these ties.

He thanked the Swiss Government and people for their assistance to Vietnam during its past struggle for national independence and reunification and its current national construction and defence.

The party general secretary also lauded rapid and positive cooperation steps between the two countries.

President Couchepin, the first Swiss state leader to visit Vietnam , informed General Secretary Manh of the results of his talks and meetings with his Vietnamese counterpart, Nguyen Minh Triet, and National Assembly and Government officials.

He affirmed that Switzerland would continue supporting and cooperating with Vietnam in the areas it has advantages, including education and human resources training.-

Vietnam joins ASEAN defence chiefs’ meeting

The Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army, Nguyen Khac Nghien, attended the sixth ASEAN Chiefs of Defence Forces Informal Meeting (ACDFIM-6) in Bangkok from July 31 to August 3.

The attendance of the Vietnamese S enior L ieutenant- G eneral was made at the invitation of the Supreme Commander of the Thai Royal Army, General Boonsrang Niumpradit.

On the sidelines of the meeting, Nghien had bilateral meetings with the chiefs of defence forces of Malaysia, the Philippines and Indonesia.

The S enior L ieutenant- G eneral and his entourage paid a courtesy visit to Thai Prime Minister-cum-Defence Minister Samak Sundaravej.

ACDFIM-6 focused its discussion on the implementation of mechanism on addressing security challenges, boosting defence cooperation among member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

The next ACDFIM will be hosted by Vietnam.-

PM calls for boosted trade ties with Switzerland

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung said he wanted Vietnam and Switzerland to further enhance their cooperation, particularly in trade, investment, education and training.

Meeting with visiting Swiss President Pascal Couchepin in Hanoi on August 4, PM Dung proposed Switzerland support Vietnamese commodities’ entry into the Swiss market and create favourable conditions for Swiss businesses to boost investment in Vietnam .

The PM said the visit to Vietnam by President Couchepin, the first ever by a Swiss president, will help boost the traditional friendship between the two countries.

He also said the Vietnamese government and people have always wanted and will try their best to push up bilateral relations, bringing practical benefits for both sides.

The government leader thanked the Swiss Government and people for their assistance to Vietnam during its past struggle for national liberation and reunification and its current national construction and development, especially their help in environment protection and poverty reduction.

President Couchepin spoke highly of the achievements made by the Vietnamese Government and people. He also said he wanted to boost cooperation with Vietnam in many areas.

The Swiss President affirmed his support for Vietnamese exports, particularly coffee and garments, to the Swiss market, as well as for his country’s businesses to raise investment in Vietnam.

The Swiss leader committed an increase in official development assistance (ODA) for Vietnam in the areas of environment and education.-

State President congratulates Iranian counterpart

On the occasion of the 35th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Vietnam and Iran (August 4, 1973-2008), State President Nguyen Minh Triet on August 3 sent a congratulatory message to his Iranian counterpart, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

On the same day, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem sent greetings to Iranian Foreign Minister Manuchehr Mottaki.-

Swiss President: Switzerland continues to help Vietnam

Switzerland will continue its assistance to Vietnam in education and training, environmental protection and other areas, Swiss President Pascal Couchepin said while meeting with Vietnamese National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong in Hanoi on August 4.

The Swiss President said he was interested in Vietnam ’s renovation process and the country’s orientations to solve immediate and long-term difficulties.

Chairman Trong expressed his hope to promote the exchange of experiences with foreign countries, including Switzerland .

He affirmed that in addition to economic reform, Vietnam is implementing administrative, judicial reform, renewing the NA activities to better perform its functions such as legislation, supervision and deciding national matters.

Vietnam has always attached importance to solving social matters, including poverty and environmental pollution, to obtain the target of sustainable development, the NA Chairman said.

Chairman Trong and President Couchepin also exchanged views on the Vietnamese National Assembly’s role in resolving current difficulties of the economy to ensure the macro economic stability and social security.-

General Giap welcomes Swiss assistance in education

Vietnam wishes to receive continued assistance from Switzerland, especially in education and technology, General Vo Nguyen Giap said while receiving Swiss President Pascal Couchepin at his house in Hanoi on August 4.

General Giap said he wants young Vietnamese people to be more active and creative and called for Switzerland s further help to the country in this regard.

He also said he hoped the relationship between Vietnam and Switzerland will be further strengthened in the future.

For his part, President Couchepin said he admired General Vo Nguyen Giap and the Swiss people have learned a lot from the General as well as Vietnam .

On the occasion, General Vo Nguyen Giap presented one of his famous books entitled “The General Headquarters in the Great Spring Victory” to the Swiss President.-

Political course for Lao lecturers opens

A political course for Lao provincial political and administrative lecturers opened at the Ho Chi Minh National Politics and Administration Academy in Hanoi on August 4.

Speaking at the inauguration, deputy director of the national academy, Dr Nguyen Dang Thanh, said that the Communist Party of Vietnam and the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party always pay special attention to personnel training, especially the training of key officials for the political system.

Training a contingent of officials with high awareness of politics and qualified in both ethics and professional skills is an urgent task in the current process of both countries’ industrialisation and modernisation, Thanh said.

Cultural and Educational counselor of the Lao embassy in Vietnam , Phomkham Namkham, praised the initiative of the two political and administrative academies to organise the course, that has been held for many years.

The three-month course is part of a cooperation programme between the Ho Chi Minh National Politics and Administration Academy and the Lao National Politics and Administration Academy .-

Iran, Vietnam celebrate diplomatic anniversary

Tehran (VNA) – A meeting was held in Tehran , Iran , on August 4 to mark the day 35 years ago when Iran and Vietnam set up their diplomatic ties.

The event was co-hosted by the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ friendship coordination centre, the Iran-Vietnam Friendship Association and the Vietnamese Embassy in Iran .

During the meeting, the director of the East Asia-Pacific Department of the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Namatollah Ezadi, said Iran considers Vietnam an important country among the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, as Vietnam posted amazing economic growths, gained a non-permanent membership at the United Nations Security Council and became member of the Non-Aligned Movement.

Vietnam ’s Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Le Duong Quang, who is leading a delegation from the Ministry of Industry and Trade on a visit to Iran , introduced opportunities for Vietnam and Iran to expand trade and investment cooperation.

Vietnamese Ambassador Nguyen Van Hy spoke highly of the two countries’ efforts in boosting multifaceted cooperation. He also said that results are still modest compared with political relations and economic potentials of the two countries.

The diplomat said he believed that with joint efforts made by the two countries, bilateral relations will further develop.-