Japan aids poor provinces in vocational training

Hanoi (VNA) – The Asia Development Bank (ADB) and the Vietnamese Government have reached an agreement of 1.3 million USD non-refundable aid for vocational training in southern Tra Vinh and Soc Trang provinces.

The project, which is funded by the Japanese Government through the ADB, will launch a new approach in vocational training for the poor and ethnic minority people in the two poorest provinces of Vietnam ’s Mekong Delta.-

Each foreigner allowed to own one apartment

Hanoi (VNA) – The Ministry of Construction said it has worked to ensure each eligible foreigner is permitted to own only one apartment in Vietnam as from January 1, 2009.

Local construction departments are requested to send the list of foreigners who want to buy apartments to the ministry to help with the management of apartment ownership by the targeted individuals.

The move also aims to prevent the speculation in the real estate market, said the ministry.

On May 22, the National Assembly adopted a resolution giving foreign individuals and organisations in Vietnam the right to buy and own apartments in the country. The resolution will be implemented on a trial basis for five years, beginning January 1, 2009.

According to the resolution, foreign individuals and organisations investing directly in the country and those hired to be executives by Vietnamese or foreign-invested enterprises will be entitled to purchase and own apartments in Vietnam .

Also benefiting are foreigners who have made special contributions to Vietnam recognised by the State President and the Prime Minister, those are college graduates with special expertise working in socio-economic fields, and foreigners who have married to Vietnamese citizens.

Foreign apartment hunters are also required to have an authorised permit for residency in Vietnam for more than one year and not the recipients of diplomatic treatment.

Those meeting the criteria are allowed to buy and own apartments in commercially-purposed housing development projects carried out in areas where foreigners are not banned to live or move around.

They are permitted to own apartments for a maximum 50 years from the certified date of ownership and are obliged to sell or donate their apartments within one year from when their ownership certificates expire.

The resolution also gives foreign-invested businesses the right to buy and own apartments. However, they must not operate in real estate development and they must have demands for employee accommodation.

Foreign-invested businesses are required to have investment licences granted by Vietnamese authorised agencies and are allowed to own apartments for a time equivalent to their investment duration written in their investment licenses.

The Construction Ministry’s Housing Management Department reported that about 80,000 foreigners are living and working in Vietnam , of which 21,000 pass the criteria for owning property in the country.

It said foreigners have leased around 220,000 sq.m of housing space in Hanoi and close to 660,000 sq.m in Ho Chi Minh City . They rent mostly villas, attached houses and apartments for the period ranging from three to five years.

The Construction Ministry estimates that around 10,000 foreigners will buy apartments with a total area of 1.5 million sq. m after the resolution takes effect-

Greece-financed school to open doors in Hue city

Thua Thien-Hue (VNA) – A secondary school built with funding granted by Greece will be inaugurated on Oct. 15 in the former imperial city of Hue to mark Greek President Karolos Papoulias’s visit to Vietnam .

Greece provided 20,000 Euro for the construction of the school through an exchange programme entitled “The Fatherland and soldiers” held by the daily newspaper People’s Army in late 2007.

The Nguyen Van Linh school, located in high-lying Huong So ward, will facilitate study of local students who used to stay home during flood season.-

Youth urged to work for Vietnam-China friendship

Beijing (VNA) – A Chinese legislator has expressed his hope that the Vietnam-China youth exchange programme will help to increase the mutual understanding between the youth of the two nations, thus contributing to enhancing the relationship enjoyed by the two countries.

Receiving Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union (HCYU) Central Committee, Nguyen Hoang Hiep in Beijing on Oct. 10, Deputy Chairman of China ’s National People’s Congress, Wang Zhaoguo stressed that the Communist Party of China has always attached importance to developing the activities of the young people, as well as the exchanges between Vietnam and China ’s young.

The youth of both Vietnam and China have a responsibility to uphold the valuable traditions between the two countries in order to forge an evergreen relationship with the motto “friendly neighbourliness, comprehensive cooperation, long-term stability and looking towards the future” and the spirit of “good neighbours, good friends, good comrades and good partners,” he said.

HCYU Secretary Nguyen Hoang Hiep commented on the relationship between Vietnam ’s and China ’s youth, including the friendship shared by young people living in border areas.

Hiep said he believed that practical exchanges between the two countries’ young people will contribute to strengthening Vietnam-China’s traditional ties.

The 9th Vietnam-China Youth Friendship Meeting kicked off in Beijing on Oct. 9.-

Vietnam, Australia form comprehensive partnership

The Australian Foreign Minister, Stephen Smith, affirmed that Australia-Vietnam currently close and vigorous relations can be expanded in many areas.

In an interview with the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) reporters prior to Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung’s official visit to Australia on Oct. 13 and Oct. 14, 2008, he also praised Vietnam’s current renovation process and its government’s policies which focus on sustainable growth.

Vietnam’s economy continues to grow rapidly in recent years and the country is more dynamic in resolving regional and international issues, he stressed.

Following are the questions and answers:

Q: Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung of Vietnam will pay an official visit to Australia from October 13-14, 2008. The visit takes place when Vietnam and Australia are celebrating the 35th anniversary of diplomatic relations. Would you please comment on the significance of the visit?

A: The decision to establish diplomatic relations with Vietnam in 1973 was one of the early foreign policy actions of the Government of Prime Minister Gough Whitlam. The 35th anniversary of that event is an important milestone in a long-standing relationship and an excellent opportunity for both countries to reflect on the progress made since that time.

The anniversary on 26 February 2008 was marked by events in Melbourne and Hanoi. Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, hosted a visit by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Education and Training, Dr Nguyen Thien Nhan, both of whom attended an Asia Society gala event on 26 February in Melbourne. On the same day, the Australian Embassy in Hanoi hosted a gala performance at the Hanoi Opera House enjoyed by an audience of several hundred, including Vietnam’s Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Hoang Tuan Anh. Australia has welcomed other senior visitors, including Deputy Prime Minister Truong Vinh Trong and President of the National Assembly, Nguyen Phu Trong during the anniversary year. I was pleased to visit Vietnam in July to convey personally my congratulations to Vietnam’s leadership on this important milestone. I look forward to Prime Minister Dung’s visit as a further opportunity to strengthen ties between our two countries.

Economic cooperation between Vietnam and Australia has developed comprehensively to the areas of trade and investment together with growing provision of Australian official development assistance (ODA) to Vietnam. What do you think of the prospect of bilateral economic cooperation between our two countries in the future?

Two-way trade between Australia and Vietnam has grown an average of 20 per cent a year over the last five years to reach 6.9 billion USD in 2007-08. We expect this to grow further over coming years as Vietnam continues to implement its WTO commitments. Australia strongly supported Vietnam’s entry to the WTO and will continue to assist Vietnam with the implementation process, including through support for the Beyond WTO program. I am confident that the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand FTA, once signed, will contribute further to bilateral and regional trade outcomes.

Regarding investment, I am a strong believer that investors will come as long as conditions are right. Vietnam’s substantial opening of its financial sector to foreign participation has been crucial to boosting bilateral investment; the significant progress of investments by Australian banks, ANZ Bank and Commonwealth Bank, are testament to this. The Australian Government believes that many other opportunities exist for greater Australian investment in Vietnam, particularly in areas such as education services and mining. The ministerial-level Joint Trade and Economic Cooperation Committee, last held in July 2007, will continue to provide another important forum for progressing the bilateral trade and investment relationship.

During your first visit to Vietnam , you said that Vietnam and Australia had demonstrated a long-standing partnership and that you were proud of the length and significance of relations between the two countries. How do you consolidate those foundations and what kind of progress is Australia making to make the relationship robust in the future?

I was pleased to visit Vietnam in July, during which I announced a number of initiatives to advance the bilateral relationship. These included the reinvigoration of bilateral strategic talks, the commencement of the Mekong Subregional Energy program and anti-corruption training for Communist Party officials. The forthcoming visit by Prime Minister Dung will help to consolidate the relationship and explore ways in which the relationship can grow over coming years.

What else could be done to develop a comprehensive partnership between Vietnam and Australia?

From modest beginnings in 1973, the bilateral relationship between Australia and Vietnam has progressively strengthened. Cooperation is extending to a broad range of public policy areas, and private sector and people-to-people contacts are strong. Australia has warmly welcomed, and supported, Vietnam’s increasingly active role in regional and international affairs.

The Government is strongly committed to taking forward this important bilateral relationship, building on existing strengths and extending into new areas of cooperation.

At present, about 10,000 Vietnamese students studying in Australia, more than any other English-speaking country. What is your assessment of education cooperation between our two countries as well as the benefit that bilateral human resource development cooperation will bring to our countries?

Australia has an international reputation as a leading education and training provider and is an important study destination for Vietnamese students. Cooperation in education has become an increasingly important part of the bilateral relationship between Australia and Vietnam. The strength of our education relationship is underpinned by a Memorandum of Understanding signed in February this year by Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Education, Julia Gillard, and Vietnam’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education and Training, Nguyen Thien Nhan.

The Australian Government wants to ensure that this relationship continues to grow. To this end, the Government is offering input into Vietnam’s draft legislation relating to foreign investment in education to ensure it maximises opportunities for development of cooperation in this important sector, including investment and collaboration between Australian and Vietnamese institutions.-

NA’s Council of Ethnic Minorities opens plenary session

The National Assembly’s Council of Ethnic Minorities on Oct. 11 held a plenary session to discuss the bills of Vietnam Nationality Law (revised) and Health Insurance Law.

Regarding the bill of revised nationality law, most of the Ethnic Council members agreed with details of the bill in line with national interests. They made comments on various issues, including nationality principles, documents demonstrating Vietnamese citizenship, dealing with Vietnamese citizens bearing another nationality, responsibilities of relevant agencies, and others.

Most of the legislators agreed on the principle of one nationality, but added that there should be more open regulations to deal with the country’s trend of international integration.

Law-makers also recommended full coverage of healthcare costs for poor ethnic minority people in special disadvantaged communities.

They also proposed terms of medicare cards for the poor expand to three years from the current one year due to numerous difficulties in supplying the cards for the correct target people.

For farmers many raised concerns over their interest, asking for budget solution so as farmers can have health insurance cards of their own in 2010.

Representatives of ethnic minorities in the legislation are scheduled to discuss several bills related to road traffic rules, revised, executing civil court sentences, cadres and public employees, special consumption taxes, revised, high technology and biological diversity.–

Prime Minister leaves for official Australia visit

Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, his wife and entourage left Hanoi on October 12 for a two-day official visit to Australia at the invitation of Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.

The visit, the first made by Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung to Australia, takes place at a time when various practical activities are being held to mark the 35th anniversary of the two countries’ diplomatic ties.

PM Dung is accompanied by Minister-Director of the Government Office Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Minister of Transport Ho Nghia Dung, Minister of Construction Nguyen Hong Quan, Vietnamese Ambassador to Australia Nguyen Thanh Tan, among other high-ranking officials.-

Greek president visits Vietnam

Hanoi (VNA) – Greek President Karolos Papoulias and his wife started a week-long official visit to Vietnam on Oct. 11, at the invitation of Vietnamese State President Nguyen Minh Triet.

The Greek President and his wife are accompanied by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Petros Doukas, Deputy Minister of Health and Social Solidarity Georgios Konstantopoulos, Deputy Minister of Mercantile Marine and Island Policy Panaglotis Kammenos, Greek Ambassador to Vietnam Alexis-Platon Hajimichalis, among others.-

Party officials visit Laos

Vientiane (VNA) – A delegation of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Information and Training, led by To Huy Rua, Secretary of the Party Central Committee and head of the commission, arrived in Vientiane on Oct. 12 for a three-day working visit to Laos .

The same day, secretary Rua and Phandouangchith Vongsa, member of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party Central Committee (LPRP CC) and Head of the LPRP CC’s Commission for Information and Training, co-chaired a meeting of the two Steering Boards for a project on compilation of the history of Vietnam-Lao special relations and combatant alliance.

The participants reviewed achievements and limitations in the implementation of the project and discussed measures in order to complete the project by 2010 as planned.

Rua, Chairman of the Vietnamese Steering Board, said that the project had yielded good results and could be completed with high quality. However, he added, the implementation was slow, and should be accelerated.

The history of Vietnam-Laos special relations and combatant alliance is a major project of great international significance. It aims to record glorious historical pages of the traditional special relations between the two Parties, States, fatherlands fronts, armies and people of Vietnam and Laos in their joint struggle against foreign invaders and in national construction.

The compilation will cover documents, memoirs and chronicles of events on Vietnam-Laos special relations as well as a set of photo books and documentaries about the two countries.-

Prime Minister begins official visit to Australia

Vietnam and Australian agreed to work out a roadmap for comprehensive cooperation towards higher efficiency for the benefit of the two people, for peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and Prime Minister Kevin Rudd reached the agreement at their talks held in Canberra on Oct. 13 after an official welcome ceremony for PM Dung and his entourage, who arrived in the capital city earlier the same day for an official visit to Australia.

PM Kevin Rudd warmly welcomed PM Dung’s first visit to Australia at a time when the two countries celebrate the 35th anniversary of their diplomatic ties.

The Australian government wants to develop the friendship and cooperation between the two countries to a new height, he stressed.

PM Dung thanked PM Rudd, the Australian government and people for their warm welcome and stressed that Vietnam always wishes to strengthen and promote relations with Australia.

The two PMs informed each other of the situation in their respective countries.

PM Rudd praised Vietnam’s achievements over the past more than 20 years of renewal and expressed his belief that Vietnam would soon overcome the current economic difficulties, successfully curb inflation, maintain macro economic stability, prevent recession, and ensure social security and sustainable development.

He congratulated Vietnam for its important diplomatic achievements in the recent past, especially Vietnam’s accession to the WTO and role as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council in the 2008-2009 term.

For his part, PM Dung congratulated Australia’s great achievements in building Australia into a prosperous and modern country, increasing Australia’s role and prestige in the region and on the international arena.

The two leaders expressed their pleasure at the development of the two countries’ friendship and bilateral cooperation in the recent past.

They appreciated the fine development of the two countries’ bilateral political cooperation, with increasing exchange of delegations and high-level meetings.

They said that the two countries’ economic cooperation has unceasingly developed with two-way trade value reaching 7 billion USD in 2007, and expected to reach 8 billion USD this year; Australian businesses have invested more than 1 billion USD in Vietnam and the country is currently Vietnam’s third biggest export market.

Regarding education, Australia has received nearly 10,000 Vietnamese students to study in the country. It is the largest number of Vietnamese students in a foreign country. Meanwhile, Vietnam-Australia cooperation in official development assistance, tourism, culture, science and technology also obtained high effectiveness, benefiting both sides, they noted.

The two PMs said that the two sides’ cooperation has not match up to the two countries’ potential and strength, particularly in economy, trade and investment.

The two PMs discussed measures to further promote bilateral cooperation in traditional areas such as economy, trade, investment, development assistance, education and training, tourism and culture, and to expand cooperation to other areas, including labour, construction, transport, mining, security, defence, information, agriculture, heath care, science and technology.

The Australian side agreed to continue providing ODA for Vietnam, especially for the Cao Lanh bridge project in southern Dong Thap province.

Australia also pledged to complete procedures to soon recognise the market- economy status for Vietnam and agreed to increase the number of annual scholarships for Vietnamese students.

PM Rudd also expressed his belief that the Free Trade Agreement between the ASEAN and Australia and New Zealand scheduled to be signed by the end of this year and the Australian ANZ bank’s establishment of a wholly-foreign investment bank in Vietnam would help promote the two countries’ economic cooperation.

PM Dung thanked the Australian government for creating favourable conditions for the Vietnamese community in Australia to integrate into the local community and contribute to strengthening the two countries’ friendly relations.

The two leaders agreed to continue promoting cooperation in regional and international forums, including the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), the East Asia Summit (EAS), the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and the United Nations.

The two PMs believed that the visit would contribute to lifting the two countries’ traditional friendly and cooperative ties to a new height.

PM Dung invited PM Rudd to visit Vietnam early next year.

After the talks, PM Dung and PM Rudd witnessed the singing of an agreement on convicted criminals transfer, attended a ceremony to grant the license for establishment of a 100 percent foreign investment bank in Vietnam to the ANZ Bank, and met with the press.-