President Triet meets with Austrian,
Latvian leaders
President Nguyen Minh Triet met Australia’s
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Latvia ’s President Valdis Zatlaers on
separate occasions in Beijing on Aug. 9.
Beijing (VNA) – Noting the fine development of Vietnam-Australia
relations over the recent past, President Triet expressed his hope
that the Australian Government under the leadership of the Labour
Party and PM Rudd would further promote their country’s multifaceted
relations with Vietnam.
Vietnam hoped that
Australia would continue providing official development assistance
(ODA) for Vietnam and consider a project to help Vietnam build a
bridge in southern Dong Thap province, President Triet said.
He also suggested the
Australian government to continue with the training of a high-quality
workforce for Vietnam’s national industrialisation and modernisation.
The Australian PM
affirmed that his country always considers Vietnam an important
partner in Asian and is ready to continue providing ODA for Vietnam,
focusing on remote areas.
Besides, Australia
will boost investment cooperation and trade with Vietnam, he added.
The Australian PM
agreed with President Triet about the need to provide the Vietnamese
community in Australia with more information of their home country to
increase their awareness about Vietnam’s current situation.
The two leaders also
affirmed need to increase cooperation in the fight against drug
trafficking.
Meeting with his
Latvian counterpart, President Triet affirmed Vietnam’s wish to
strengthen cooperation with Latvia , one of its traditional partners.
He suggested Latvia to
support Vietnam’s cooperation with the European Union, particularly
the EU’s removal of trade barriers to Vietnam’s exports to the market.
President Valdis
Zatlaers wanted Vietnamese businesses to invest in his country, which
he said is a gate for Vietnamese goods to enter the Russian and
European markets.
He said a delegation
of Latvia’s Charmer of Commerce and Industry will visit Vietnam late
this year to explore opportunities for cooperation, adding that it
would pave the way for Vietnamese leaders to visit Latvia to boost
economic cooperation between the two countries.
President Triet agreed
with President Zatlaers’ suggestion for Vietnam’s facilitation of
entry visa granting to Latvian tourists and said he supported Latvia
to open soon its embassy in Hanoi.
Australia wants to expand
co-operation with Vietnam
Relations between Australia
and Vietnam have been developing strongly, according to a report by the
Australian Department of Foreign Affairs.
Vietnam’s economy continues to grow rapidly and the country is more
dynamic in resolving regional and international issues, said the report.
The
report highly valued economic relations between the two countries and
said that Australia will continue to strengthen the relationship for
mutual benefit. Two-way trade between the two countries reached US$6
billion in 2007. Investment especially in finance and education has made
a significant impact and there is great potential for co-operation in
mining.
Vietnam
ranks fifth among Australian ODA recipients with an estimated total of
US$100 million in 2008-2009. Also, more than 10,000 Vietnamese students
are currently studying in Australia and the same number are following
Australian educational programmes in Vietnam.
In the
future, Australia and Vietnam will continue to expand co-operation in
health care area and the fight against terrorism, transnational crime,
and drugs and human trafficking. (CPV/VOVNEWS)
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Australia appreciates Vietnam’s role
at regional and int’l forums
Hanoi
(VNA) – Vietnam has been playing an active role in the regional and
international communities, said the visiting Australian Minister for
Foreign Affairs Stephen Smith in Hanoi on July 2.
In an
interview given to a Vietnam News Agency correspondent, the Minister
underlined Vietnam ’s role as a member of the World Trade Organisation,
a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council as well as
its chairing of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum.
He said
his country saw not only opportunity to boost its relations with Vietnam
but also the importance of working with Vietnam at ASEAN and other
international forums.
Regarding his talks with Deputy Prime Minister-cum-Foreign Minister Pham
Gia Khiem on July 1, Minister Smith said the Australian government has
decided to increase its development assistance for Vietnam to 100
million AUD next year.
He
asserted that Vietnam continued to be one of Australia ’s important
regional partners and pledged a long-term cooperation with the ASEAN
country.
He also
announced a non-refundable aid of 30 million AUD for a programme on
recycled energy development in order to meet the increasing demand for
energy in the Mekong river basin countries.
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PM promises best efforts to boost
ties with Australia
Hanoi
(VNA) – The Vietnamese Government will try its best to boost ties with
Australia , especially in the fields of economy, trade, investment,
education and training and labour, for the benefits of both sides, Prime
Minister Nguyen Tan Dung stated.
Prime
Minister Dung made the statement while receiving visiting Australian
Minister for Foreign Affairs Stephen Smith in Hanoi on July 2.
The PM
expressed his pleasure at growing economic ties with Australia now
Vietnam ’s 7th biggest trade partner and its 4th largest export market.
Two-way trade value reached 4.56 billion USD last year, while Australian
businesses had invested 1.01 billion USD in 174 projects in Vietnam by
the end of May.
Vietnam is Australia ’s 4th largest aid recipient with a total committed
official development assistance (ODA) capital of 93.1 million AUD, 1.3
million AUD for 2008 higher than the previous year.
Cooperation in training has been expanded. At present, over 9,700
Vietnamese students are studying in Australia while Australian-invested
training establishments in Vietnam attract thousands of others.
PM Dung
highly appreciated the results of the talks between FM Smith and
Vietnamese Deputy PM Pham Gia Khiem and urged the two sides to implement
their agreement on cooperation in labour and legislative assistance as
soon as possible.
He also
said the two foreign ministries should boost high-level dialogues and
visits.
The PM
took the occasion to thank the Australian Government for increasing ODA
for Vietnam and creating favourable conditions for the Vietnamese
community in Australian.
FM Smith
informed the host that the Australian Government will raise its
scholarship budget for Vietnamese students to 100 million USD in 2009.
He affirmed that Vietnam continues to be Australia ’s important partner
in the region and pledged to develop long-term cooperation with Vietnam
.
The
minister extended an invitation to visit Australia from the Australian
Prime Minister to PM Dung. He said that the Australian PM wishes to
visit Vietnam soon.-
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Australia willing to develop
cooperation with Vietnam
Hanoi
(VNA) - The Government of Australia considers Vietnam one of its
important partners in the region and pledges to develop long-term
cooperation with the Southeast Asian nation.
Visiting
Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Stephen Smith made the statement
during his talks with Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign
Minister Pham Gia Khiem in Hanoi on July 1.
Khiem
welcomed Smith’s first visit to Vietnam and spoke highly of the
Australian Government’s policy of continuing to promote cooperative ties
with Vietnam .
“
Vietnam always attaches great importance to expanding the friendship and
multifaceted cooperation with Australia ,” the deputy PM stressed.
In
reply, Smith said he was glad to visit Vietnam for the first time since
he was appointed as Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs in December
2007.
The two
sides expressed their pleasure at the fine developments in the
friendship and all-round cooperation when Vietnam and Australia are
celebrating the 35th anniversary of diplomatic ties this year.
They
noted that since the beginning of the year, the two nations exchanged
many high-level visits, including those to Australia by National
Assembly Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong, and Deputy PMs Nguyen Thien Nhan and
Truong Vinh Trong, and a trip to Vietnam by Queensland State ’s Minister
of Transport, Trade, Employment and Industrial Relations John Mickel.
Australia is now Vietnam ’s 7th biggest trade partner and its 4th
largest export market, with two-way trade value reaching 4.56 billion
USD last year. By the end of May 2008, Australia had invested 1.01
billion USD in 174 projects in Vietnam .
Vietnam
is Australia ’s 4th largest aid recipient with a total committed
official development assistance (ODA) capital for 2008 totalling 93.1
million AUD, 1.3 million AUD higher than the previous year.
Regarding regional and international issues, Deputy PM Khiem affirmed
that Vietnam treasures cooperation between the Association of Southeast
Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Australia , as well as within the framework of
the East Asia Summit (EAS). Vietnam supports Australia ’s efforts to
promote peace, stability and development in Asia and the Pacific, he
added.
During
the talks, the two sides also discussed measures to speed up
negotiations on the ASEAN- Australia - New Zealand Free Trade Area
(AANFTA).
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Quang Ngai
(VNA) –
The central
province
of Quang Ngai inaugurated an anchorage on June 14 as part of a 208
billion VND project funded by the Australian government to help
mitigate natural disasters’ devastating impacts.
The Tinh Hoa anchorage, located in Son Tinh district, was built at
a total cost of 39 billion VND, of which more than 27 billion VND
were provided as non-refundable aid by the Australian Government.
The facility is capable of providing a storm-shelter for around
350 fishing boats and related services.
Addressing the inaugurating ceremony, Australian management
contractor representative Tom Connor said the anchorage is a
symbolic work in mitigating negative impacts of natural calamities
in Asia .
He stressed that the project to lessen consequences of natural
disasters in Quang Ngai received two highest awards of Australia ,
including a technical prize of
Queensland
State and a national prize for excellent technical consultancy.
According to Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Bill Tweddell, the
Australian Government will provide 9.85 million AUD in aid for
Vietnam in support of poverty reduction in Quang Ngai during the
2008-11 period.
The project will benefit around 26,000 poor households in the
province and targets to reduce the poverty rate of local ethnic
minority groups to below 30 percent by 2010.-Enditem
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Deputy PM Trương Vĩnh Trọng continues
his Australia working trip
VNGOP -
Deputy PM Trương Vĩnh Trọng and the Government delegation attended a
symposium on May 9 in Sydney on HIV prevention, drug detoxification in
jails and community responses to HIV/AIDS.
Health
care for prisoners and delinquents in reeducation camps is one of top
issues in New South Wales. Dr. Deborah Zador, Director of the Drugs and
Alcohol Clinic in the New South Wales Prison, stated that, this work can
help make prisoners healthy and protect the community health as well.
Mrs.
Julie Babineau, Chief Executive of the New South Wales Prison’s Health
Care Center, revealed that nearly 1,000 employees are working at 90
health care centers for prisoners and delinquents throughout the state.
Speaking
of the community’s role in HIV/AIDS prevention, Prof. Chris Puplick
(Wollongong University, former President of the Australian National
Council on AIDS and Related Diseases) told that Australia has already
brought into play the role of communities in minimizing HIV spread. He
stated that if the role of communities is not highlighted, the
development of HIV/AIDS may become more complicated.
By Thùy
Dung
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Deputy PM Trương Vĩnh Trọng to visit
Australia
VNGOP –
At the invitation of the Australian Government, Deputy PM Trương Vĩnh
Trọng and a high-ranking delegation of the Vietnamese Government will
pay an official visit to Australia on May 3-11, 2008.
The visit is aimed at learning Australia’s experience of HIV/AIDS
prevention and anti-drug as well as other activities to further
strengthen the comprehensive cooperation between the two countries.
Deputy
PM Trương Vĩnh Trọng and his entourage will pay courtesy visits and have
meetings with Australian leaders; work with AusAIDS; visit several
healthcare centers for drug addicts and HIV/AIDS-infected people; and
join seminars on policies, programs and laws on HIV/AIDS prevention and
anti-drug; .
Australia is now the 7th biggest trade partner and the 4th export market
of Việt Nam. In 2007, the two-way trade turnover between Việt Nam and
Australia was US $4.6 billion, rising up 10% against 2006. Australia’s
total investment capital in Việt Nam reached about US $790 million by
late October 2007, with 156 projects, mainly focusing on processing
industry, property, consulting, and education.
By
Nguyên Hồ
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Vietnam,
Australia join hands to prevent human trafficking
Hanoi (VNA) – The Australian Government will provide 1
billion VND this year to assist
Vietnam ’s efforts to
prevent trafficking of women and children in northern border Lang Son
province.
Announced on March 25,
the assistance will provided through the Australian Agency of
International Development (AusAID) with the Centre for Community Health
Promotion (CCHP) as the Vietnamese partner.
CCHP Director Tran Minh
Gioi said the one-year project, starting from March 2008, is hoped to
reach 8,000 people, including 2,000 school children and 400 women and
children in high risk groups.
The assistance is part of
Australia ’s Asia Regional Trafficking Persons Project which helps
countries in Southeast Asia tackle the problem of human trafficking.
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NA
Chairman meets with New South Wales Governor
Sydney (VNA) – National
Assembly Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong met with Deputy Governor-General of
Australia and Governor of New South Wales (NSW) State Professor Mari
Bashir in Sydney on March 14.
During the meeting
Chairman Trong said he hoped the NSW Governor would continue contributing
to friendship and cooperation between Viet Nam and Australia , and New
South Wales in particular.
He thanked Governor
Bashir for her assistance to Viet Nam and told the gathering of her close
ties with the Viet Nam Women’s
Union .
Professor Bashir said her
state has communities of people from many countries, including the
Vietnamese community.
She said
New South Wales and
Viet Nam are currently
implementing health care and education cooperation programmes.
The same day, Chairman
Trong and his delegation met with NSW’s Legislative Council President
Peter Primrose and Vice Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Grant
McBridge.
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NA
Chairman Trong calls for more Australian investments
Canberra
(VNA)- National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong has told Prime Minister
Kevin Rudd of Australia to boost investments to match its great potential.
The two leaders held
talks in Canberra
on March 12 as part of Chairman Trong’s visit to
Australia
.
Chairman Trong said
Australia
’s investments into Viet Nam remained modest, although it is the seventh
largest trade partner and the fourth largest export market of the
Southeast Asian nation with bilateral trade revenues reaching 9 billion
USD in 2007.
Australia boasts a great
potential and increasing regional and international prestige, making it
good for Viet Nam to boost multi-faceted cooperation, especially in
economy, trade and investment, said the chief legislator.
Trong also called for
more regular exchanges of visits as good opportunities for Vietnamese to
draw experiences in global integration for development.
For his part, PM Kevin
Rudd recalled an event 35 years ago when the Labour-ruled Australian
Government was among the first in the world to establish ties with Viet
Nam as a signal of Australia’s respect to relations with the Southeast
Asian nation.
He also congratulated
Viet Nam for its recent achievements in socio-economic development and
regional and international integration.
/
Prior to the talks with PM Rudd, Chairman Trong met Speaker of the House
of Representatives Harry Jenkins, who emphasised the mutual respect and
mutual assistance in relations between the two countries.
The host also called for
efforts to expand bilateral ties to other areas such as terror fight and
epidemics control.
He described Chairman
Trong’s visit as a step forward in bilateral relations.
Australia is always a
friend and leading trade partner of
Viet nam
, said Jenkins.
He said Australian
investments in Viet Nam have been showing efficiency and the influxes of
Australian tourists are increasing.
He also expressed
satisfaction at constantly improved bilateral relations in education,
aviation, mining and many other areas.
Jenkins concluded by
lauding the Vietnamese community’s contributions to the economic and
cultural development in Australia as well as their roles in opening
opportunities for dialogues and cooperation between the two countries.
Trong and his high-level
National Assembly delegation also had working sessions with the Chairman
of the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee, Michael
Porshaw, Foreign Minister of the opposition party Andrew Robb and
representatives from the Australia-Viet Nam Friendly Parliamentarians
Group.
During their meetings,
host and guest exchanged experiences in law-making and supervision of
Government operations as well as discussed measures to cement cooperation
in a large range of areas, from energy to mining, education,
infrastructure development and HIV/AIDS control.
Chairman Trong and his
entourage also attended Senate and House hearings at the Parliament House.
The NA leader attended a
gathering with crowds of overseas Vietnamese in Australia at the
Vietnamese Embassy.
Ambassador Nguyen Thanh
Tan held a party in honour of Chairman Trong, his wife and his entourage.
Among the guests were
representatives from the Australian Parliament and Foreign Ministry and
Ambassadors from nine member countries of the Association of Southeast
Asian Nations and the three northeastern Asian nations of China , Japan
and the Republic of Korea.
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NA
Chairman seeks closer ties with Western Australia state
Perth (VNA) – National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong
hoped that Australia
, especially the Western Australia state, would promote cooperative ties
with Viet Nam
for the benefit and development of both countries.
During his meeting with
Governor of Western Australia Ken Michael and in Perth , Western Australia
on March 10, Chairman Trong said he was pleased with the growing
cooperation between Viet Nam and Australia and Western Australia in
particular. He noted, however, that
Australia’s
investment in Viet Nam remained incommensurate with both sides’ potentials
and wish, despite robust trade ties.
Chairman Trong expressed
his thanks to Australia for its valuable assistance to Viet Nam, saying
that My Thuan bridge is a vivid manifestation of the friendship and
fruitful cooperation between Viet Nam and Australia .
Governor Ken Michael
warmly welcomed Chairman Trong’s visit, which, he said, would help boost
the cooperation between his state and Viet Nam . A great number of
Vietnamese businesses accompanying Chairman Trong means the visit would
provide an opportunity for businesses from the two countries to meet and
discuss chances of cooperation.
The governor also
recognised the contributions the Vietnamese community in Australia has
made to Australia’s development and the friendship and cooperation between
the two countries.
NA Chairman Trong also
met with Western Australia’s Deputy Premier, Treasurer and Minister for
State Development Eric Ripper, who said Western Australia wanted to expand
cooperation in education and training with Viet Nam. Many Vietnamese
students are studying in
Australia,
and Australian students should also go to
Viet Nam
to learn more about Viet Nam’s culture.
During a visit to the
University of
Western Australia,
Chairman Trong said that education and training is a potential area for
Viet Nam and Australia to promote cooperation.
The
University of
Western Australia
currently has about 20 Vietnamese students, and has established
cooperative ties with the Ho Chi Minh City Polytechnics University .
The same day, President
of the Legislative Council (upper house) Nick Griffith and Speaker of the
Legislative Assembly (lower house) Fred Riebeling of Western Australia
hosted a banquet in honour of Chairman Trong, his wife and delegation.
Chairman Trong also met
with Penny Flett, President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of
Western Australia and representatives from Alcoa Group, Australia’s
leading group in ore mining.
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Vietnam Embassy in
Canberra celebrates the 35th Anniversary of the establishment
of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Australia
On 8 August, 2007, at the High Commission of Brunei Darussalam, the ASEAN Heads
of Missions in Canberra organized a ceremony to commemorate the Fortieth
Anniversary of the founding of the Association of South-East Asian Nations
(ASEAN). Present at the celebration are The Hon. Alexander Downer, MP, Minnister
for Foreign Affairs of Australia, together with about 200 guests, including High
ranking officials of Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade,
Department of Defence and some other departments, scholars from several
institutes and universities, and diplomats from a large number of foreign
missions and international organizations in Canberra.
Addressing the Celebration, H.E. Mr Meas Kim Heng, Ambassador of Cambodia,
current Chair of ASEAN Head of Missions reviewed the establishment and
development of ASEAN and stressed that ASEAN is at a historic turning point,
that is to transform from a dynamic and resilient Association into a ASEAN
Community by 2015, which based on three pillars namely ASEAN Security Community,
ASEAN Economic Community and ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community, as enshrined in the
Vision 2020 and the Bali Concord II; ASEAN continues to play a central role in
the evolving strategic architecture of East Asia, develop ASEAN Regional Forum
(ARF) as an important mechanism for dialogue and cooperation on political and
security issues in the Asia Pacific region, step up intra-ASEAN interagency
cooperation to better counter terrorism, pursue deeper economic linkages with
its Dialogue Partners, and better cope with the challenge posed by regional
integration, the expansion of its external linkages and rapid globalization.
The Chair of HOM also appreciated the participation and commitment made by
Australia in various ASEAN dialogue meetings such as the EAS, ARF, PMC which
have made great contribution to peace, prosperity and economic development of
countries in Southeast Asia and the region as a whole. On behalf of the HOM, he
expressed the profound gratitude to the Government and the people of Australia
for the valuable support and assistance to ASEAN member countries in their
development and integration efforts, believing that by deepening and broadening
the relations in political, economic, social and cultural areas, ASEAN and
Australia relations will develop into a successful and lasting partnership, thus
contributing to peace, stability and prosperity in the region.
The Celebration was successfully held with praise from international friends,
making contribution to familiarizing the image of ASEAN in Australia and
fostering the solidarity and cooperation among the ASEAN missions in Canberra.
On 28th July 2007, H.E. Mr Nguyen Thanh Tan, Ambassador of S.R Vietnam in
Canberra and Madam Dang Thanh Xuan held a Get-together to celebrate the 30th
anniversary of the signing of the Friendship and Co-operation Treaty and the
45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two
countries.
Present at the celebration are H.E. Mr Khenthong Nuanthasing, Ambassador of Lao,
Madam Phavanh Nuanthasing, together with all diplomats and staff members of the
2 Embassies. Speaking at the celebration, the two Ambassadors reviewed the
glorious stages and outstanding achievements made by the peoples of the two
countries in the past as well as in recent times, stressed that Vietnam and Laos
are two neighbours whose relations were formed and developed along their
thousand-year history of national construction and defence; the relations
between the two nations, particularly fostered by President Ho Chi Minh and
President Khayson Phomvihan have been promoted by the two Parties, States and
leaders, making it a priceless asset for the two countries on their path toward
prosperity and happiness. They affirmed the close cooperation between the two
missions to make contribution to the friendly relations and the special
solidarity between the two countries.
The Get-together took place in a cheerful and intimate atmosphere with sport
activities, Lamvong Dance and enjoying of Vietnamese and Lao traditional food.