Lights on in Dak Nong as villages connect to the grid

Dak Nong (VNA) – A 217 billion VND project to supply electricity to ethnic minorities in the Central Highlands province of Dak Nong commenced on Oct. 10.

This is part of a Government project to supply power to villages in five provinces in the region that do not currently have access to the main grid.

It is expected that by the end of 2009, 12,755 ethnic minority households in Dak Nong’s 116 villages will have access to power.-

East Asian environment ministers visit Ha Long city

Hanoi (VNA) – Environment ministers from Singapore , Myanmar , Brunei , Indonesia , the Philippines , Malaysia , and China visited Ha Long city, in the northern province of Quang Ninh, home to the UNESCO world heritage site of Ha Long Bay, on Oct. 10.

The ministers, who have been in Vietnam from Oct. 6-10 for the first East Asian Environmental Ministers’ Meeting, met Quang Ninh’s provincial leaders and shared with them their experiences, solutions and achievements in promoting sustainable environment.

The ministers also participated in the online voting for Ha Long Bay as one of seven natural wonders of the world in a competition launched by NewOpenWorld.

Ha Long city is among 10 ASEAN cities to be presented with an “ASEAN environmentally sustainable city” award in 2008 at the first East Asian Environmental Ministers’ Meeting.

The award was in recognition of Ha Long city’s endeavours in protecting the environment in the course of its economic development, particularly in its protection of Ha Long Bay.-

ASEAN looks towards environmentally sustainable cities

Hanoi (VNA) – The concept and reality of environmentally sustainable cities was one of the top priorities during discussions at the Southeast Asian environment ministers’ meetings which took place in Hanoi from October 6-10.

The first East Asia Summit Environment Ministers Meeting, the 11th Informal ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on the Environment, the 7th ASEAN+3 Environment Ministerial Meeting, and the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Transboundary Haze Pollution, were hosted by Vietnam ’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.

The participating ministers have acknowledged the efforts made by ASEAN member countries in preventing and controlling forest fires. They pledged to maintain preventive measures and proposed that international and regional partners support ASEAN’s initiatives to cope with forest fires.

The ministers agreed to give priority to “environmentally sustainable cities” in environmental cooperation in the East Asian region, in order to address the challenges posed by rapidly growing urbanisation and related issues in the areas of climate change, energy and the environment.

They shared experiences in urban planning, urban greenery, sewage treatment, water supplies, waste management, controlling soil, water and air pollution and climate change.

The first East Asia Summit Environment Ministers Meeting was lauded as an important step towards making high-ranking East Asian officials’ ideas on environment cooperation a reality.

During the event, the ministers also praised Vietnam ’s initiative to set up an environmental education centre for the East Asian region, regarding it as a useful initiative.

The ministers also appreciated ongoing and new initiatives promoted by member countries such as “Low Carbon Society”, “Compact Cities”, “Eco-Cities” “Environmentally Sustainable Transport” and “Clean Asia Initiative”.-

Vietnamese, Chinese youths meet in Beijing

Beijing (VNA) - The 9th Vietnam-China Youth Friendship Meeting opened in the Chinese capital city of Beijing on Oct. 9, showing off a banquet of art performances by artists from both countries.

Vietnam ’s 100-strong delegation to the annual event is headed by Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union Central Committee, Nguyen Hoang Hiep.

Lu Yongzheng, Secretary of the Secretariat of the Communist Youth League of China, welcomed the Vietnamese guests and affirmed the friendship and effective cooperation between the two youth unions.

Lu said he hoped that exchange activities between young people from China and Vietnam will further develop in order to increase mutual understanding and trust as well as to create stability and sustainable development in the two countries’ bilateral relations.

In reply, Hiep thanked the hosts for their warm reception and congratulated the Chinese people on their successful hosting of the Beijing Olympic Games in August.

He asserted that the Vietnam-China friendship, which was nurtured by Presidents Ho Chi Minh and Mao Zedong, is an important factor in ensuring the success of the revolutionary cause in each country.

During the 10-day event, the Vietnamese youths will join their peers from Hunan and Guangxi provinces in a wide range of friendship activities.-

Vietnam welcomes Russia’s Party delegation

Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam wishes to consolidate and develop its traditional friendship and comprehensive cooperation with Russia in the spirit of “strategic partnership” for the benefits of the two peoples, and for peace, cooperation and development in the region and the world at large.

The statement was made by Truong Tan Sang, Politburo member and standing member of the Secretariat of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee (CPVCC).

Receiving a delegation from the United Russia Party’s Saint Petersburg organisation led by C. Serov, Vice Secretary of the organisation’s political council, in Hanoi on October 9, Sang said the visit demonstrated the fine friendship and cooperation between the two parties and two nations.

For his part, C. Serov praised Vietnam ’s great achievements during its renewal process and affirmed that he will work hard to help strengthen the relationship and cooperation between the two parties and the strategic partnership between Vietnam and Russia .

During its stay in Vietnam , the delegation met with the head of the CPVCC Commission for External Affairs, Tran Van Hang.

At a talk with a CPV delegation led by Ta Minh Chau, Vice Chairman of the Commission of External Affairs, the two sides discussed measures to boost the bilateral relationship, develop the strategic partnership and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries.

The delegation visited several economic and cultural establishments in Ho Chi Minh City and northeastern Quang Ninh province.-

Greek President’s visit to complete legal for cooperation

Hanoi (VNA) – Greek President Karolos Papoulias’s official visit to Vietnam from Oct. 11-16 is expected to complete the legal corridor for boosting relations with the signing of a series of agreements.

During the visit, the first by a Greek head of State since the two countries set up diplomatic ties in April 15, 1975, the two sides plan to sign agreements on avoidance of double taxation, investment encouragement and protection, and marine transport. The two foreign ministries will also ink a memorandum of understanding on their cooperation and the two ministries of trade and industry are to sign an MoU on cooperation in energy.

Relations between Vietnam and Greece saw strong development over the past years with Prime Minister Petro Moliviatis’s visit to Vietnam in May 2007, President Nguyen Minh Triet’s trip to Greece in June 2008 and the opening of the Greek Embassy in Hanoi in March 2007.

The two sides already signed framework agreements on cooperation in economy, industry and technology. However, trade turnover between Vietnam and Greece was very modest.

Greece and Vietnam have potential to cooperate in sea transport, ship building, tourism and energy.

The Greek people and the Communist Party of Greece supported the Vietnamese people in the past struggle for national independence. In recent years, the Greek Government expressed wish to expand multifaceted cooperation with Vietnam.-

NA elite comments upon directions for 2009

Hanoi (VNA) – The National Assembly Standing Committee met on Oct. 10 to consider reports regarding the country’s socio-economic performance and State budget in 2008 and to establish the direction of socio-economic development plans and State budget estimation for 2009.

Minister of Planning and Investment Vo Hong Phuc presented a report outlining the country’s performance and plans for 2009, pointing out that its efforts to curb the rate of inflation and stabilise the macro-economy during 2008 have yielded important initial results.

According to him, the country experienced the year’s lowest monthly consumer price index (CPI) increase – 0.18 percent – in September, and he expects the yearly CPI increase to be 24 percent.

Production continued to achieve high growth rates, with the country’s GDP growth rate in 2008 estimated at 6.5-7 percent.

The report identified the top priority for 2009 as striving to control the rate of inflation in order to achieve a one-digit inflation rate by 2010, thus gradually stabilising the macro-economy, improving social welfare, maintaining growth rates at an appropriate and sustainable level, and intensifying international cooperation and integration.

The minister estimated an annual GDP increase of 7 percent in 2009, to stand at 1,820 trillion VND or nearly 106 billion USD. The average GDP per capita is estimated to be 1,200 USD.

The country will target an export turnover of 76.7 billion USD, up 18 percent on 2008, whilst acting to keep the CPI increase below 15 percent and reducing the poverty rate to 12 percent in 2009.

According to the NA Economics Committee’s report assessing 2008’s performance, nine out of 25 major socio-economic targets are forecast to be not completed, including the failure to obtain the targeted growth rate, State budget overspend, and the delayed disbursement of development investment sourced from the State budget and Government bonds.

The committee agreed with the proposed solutions for 2009 to implement the five-year plan (2006-2010), stressing the need to continue the tightened and flexible monetary policy, maintain close control over the increase of total liquidity and credit loans whilst ensuring the liquidity of the banking system, and to deal with bad debts incurred by commercial banks.

The NA elite will continue their discussions on these issues on Oct. 11.-

Cuba, Vietnam organise cordial exchange

Hanoi (VNA) – The Vietnam-Cuba Friendship Association (VCFA) hosted a friendly exchange with the Cuban ambassador Fredesman Turro Gonzales, in Hanoi on October 10 .

Ambassador Fredesman Turro expressed his pleasure at his second term in Viet Nam and briefed those present on Cuba ’s current socio-economic situation and the damage inflicted by hurricanes Ike and Gustav.

On the day of the International Anti-Embargo (Oct.10), Fredesman Turro condemned the US embargo towards Cuba and called for lifting it.

Permanent Vice-President of VCFA Do Van Tai appealed to branches of VCFA for a humanitarian collection in order to help repair the damage suffered by Cuba as a result of hurricanes Ike and Gustav.-

Vietnamese, Indian defence officials look to the future

Hanoi (VNA) – Defence Minister General Phung Quang Thanh received the Deputy Defence Minister of India , Vijai Singh, who is on a working visit to Vietnam , in Hanoi on Oct. 10.

The Indian army delegation’s visit to Vietnam will help to increase the mutual understanding between the two military forces and their people, said General Phung Quang Thanh.

Deputy Minister Vijai Singh informed the host of the results of the fourth Vietnam-India annual security dialogue, which, he said, will contribute to consolidating their traditional bilateral relationship, multifaceted cooperation and mutual trust.

During his stay in Vietnam , Deputy Minister Vijai Singh and his entourage visited the Vietnam Army Museum and took in the beauty of Hanoi ’s landscape.-

PM seeks increased cooperation with Australia

Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung affirmed that the Vietnamese Government and people will do their best to promote broad cooperation with Australia , particularly in areas of the economy, trade, investment, education and training and science and technology for their mutual benefit.

Receiving the new Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Allastar Cox in Hanoi on Oct. 10, the PM said he was pleased with the increasing levels of cooperation between the two countries.

He cited soaring trade value, investment capital and development aid Australia has given to Vietnam as examples of their developing relationship.

The Vietnamese leader expressed his hopes that the two countries’ ties will be boosted in a more practical and effective manner following his up-coming visit to Australia .

Sharing this view, Ambassador Allastar Cox said he expected the visit to lift the two countries’ relationship to new heights, particularly in matters relating to the economy, trade and investment.

The diplomat hoped the two countries’ cooperation would help projects such as the building of the Cao Lanh bridge in the Mekong delta, which was constructed using Australian aid and the opening of a wholly-Australian owned bank in Vietnam in the near future.-