VNA
ASEM economic ministerial meeting opens
Asian and European economic ministers began their third meeting (EMM-3) in
Hanoi on the morning of September 11, with the attendance of European Union
Commissioner on Trade Pascal Lamy, and Asia-Europe Business Forum (AEBF)
Chairman Stephen Lee.
Vietnam's Prime Minister Phan Van Khai also attended.
Addressing the opening session, Prime Minister Khai said "The 1996 ASEM
summit meeting has established a bridge to link South East and North East
Asia with the European Union (EU) - the two regions of most dynamic
development in the world- thus creating a new synergy for Asia-Europe
co-operation."
Mr Khai added, "This ASEM Economic Ministerial Meeting takes place in the
first year of the 21st century and the new millennium, a time when each and
every people and nation are earnestly longing for a more peaceful world and
a better life."
"However", he stressed, "We still have a long way to go to turn this hope
into reality. We are witnessing new complex developments in world politics
and economics. The sluggishness of the major economies is having adverse
impacts on other countries, including the ASEM members."
Vietnam's Trade Minister Vu Khoan, who is also chairman of the EMM-3 said:
"During the last five years of its existence, ASEM co-operation has proved
its vitality as a bridge spanning the two continents that have the largest
potential in the world. Thanks to the linkage under the ASEM framework,
trade and investment relations and development co-operation between and
among our countries have continued to grow despite the severe challenges as
a result of the Asian financial and economic crisis.
"Today, as the new century has dawned with new opportunities and challenges,
ASEM co-operation will have an increasingly important role to play. I
believe that, in the spirit of co-operation, at this meeting, we will be
able to come up with new, concrete measures to promote our trade and
investment relations through the implementation of the Trade Facilitation
Action Plan, Investment Promotion Action Plan and other programmes.
Businesses have a pivotal role to play in ASEM co-operation. With that
conviction, I am confident that our meeting this time will be a new hallmark
to promote our ties with the Asia-Europe Business Forum in both the planning
and implementation of economic and trade policies.
"Our meeting takes place at a time when the world economy is experiencing
unfavourable conditions for development, thus adversely affecting all of our
countries. It is my hope that we will be able to have a common voice during
our deliberations on measures to be taken to overcome new challenges. Our
meeting is also taking place prior to the WTO Ministerial Conference in
Doha. I therefore hope that we will reach a consensus on the new round of
negotiations, in which the interests of all parties concerned, especially
developing countries, will be taken into account. As a country which is now
actively preparing for the new round of talks for WTO membership, Vietnam
looks forward to your strong support.
"ASEM member countries are the top partners of Vietnam. We therefore look
forward to working closely with you to ensure the success of the Hanoi
meeting, a new milestone in the co-operation not only among ASEM countries
but also between Vietnam and each member of ASEM."
Also taking the floor at the opening session, EU Commissioner on Trade
Pascal Lamy recommended some preferential areas in which ASEM could
contribute substantial value to improving the business environment between
Asia and Europe, including a Plan of Action on trade facilitation.
He said that at the meeting, economic ministers would promote exchanges in
the area of standardising the implementation of policies, improving
mechanisms to protect intellectual property rights and investment promotion
programmes.
He also expressed his hope that ASEM would continue to contribute
initiatives and proposals in favour of global trade.
On the same morning, other speeches were presented by Charles Picque,
minister of economic Affairs of Belgium, and Sun Zhenyu, vice minister of
foreign trade and economic co-operation of China. (VNA)
****
Chinese Party officials on visit
A delegation of the Communist Party of China (CPC) led by Liu Peng, deputy
head of the CPC Central Committee's Propaganda Department, started a working
visit to Vietnam on September 9.
The delegation was received by Vu Khoan, Secretary of the Communist Party of
Vietnam Central Committee (CPV CC), in Hanoi the same day.
Mr Khoan welcomed the delegation's visit, which follows the recent visit to
Vietnam by Li Peng, member of the Politburo Standing Committee of the
Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Standing
Committee of the National People's Congress of China. Mr Khoan stressed that
the meetings between Vietnamese and Chinese leaders were significant in
boosting the friendship and co-operation between the two Parties and
countries on the principle of friendly neighbourliness, comprehensive
co-operation, long-term stability, and looking towards the future. The
exchange of views and experiences, especially in political education,
between the two Parties is necessary for the two countries' Party building
and renovation on the way to socialism.
Mr Liu expressed his belief that the mutual understanding and comprehensive
co-operation between Vietnam and China would be developed in accordance with
the aspirations and interests of each country.
The Chinese delegation had working sessions with the CPV CC's Commissions
for Ideology and Culture, and External Relations on September 10. They will
visit several economic and cultural establishments in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh
City, and southern Binh Thuan province. (VNA)
****
Co-operation with France to be enhanced
Vietnam-France co-operation should be strengthened and expanded in trade,
investment, technology, and culture to match the two countries' potential
for mutual gains in these areas.
Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Manh Cam said this to the secretary of State in
charge of external trade, Francois Huwart, and business people of France who
are in Hanoi to attend the third Economic Ministers' Meeting of the
Asia-Europe Meeting.
Mr Cam thanked France for its support to the Vietnam-European Union (EU)
relations and to Vietnam's negotiations for joining the World Trade
Organisation, stressing that Vietnam highly values its relations with France
and the EU. France now is leading European countries in trade and investment
relations with Vietnam.
For his part, Secretary of State Huwart expressed his delight over the fine
results yielded by the bilateral co-operation in economy, trade, and
investment. Many projects invested by France in Vietnam have operated
efficiently and brought about benefits for both countries. He said he wished
to boost the relations between the two countries and to exchange experience
with Vietnam's Trade Ministry in its integration into the world economy.
(VNA)
****
Trade minister meets with European economic ministers
Trade Minister of Vietnam Vu Khoan met with economic ministers from France,
the European Union, Sweden, Finland, Austria, and Denmark on separate
occasions on September 10.
The European economic ministers have been here for the third Economic
Ministers' Meeting, of the Asia-Europe Meeting, scheduled for September 11.
During his meeting with French Secretary of State for External Trade
Francois Huwart, Mr Khoan welcomed Mr Huwart's visit as a manifestation of
growing economic and commercial co-operation between Vietnam and France. He
expressed his thanks to the French government for its support and assistance
to Vietnam's open-door and economic integration policy.
Speaking to the EU commissioner in charge of trade, Pascal Lamy, Minister
Khoan briefed the latter on Vietnam's preparations for the next negotiation
on the country's joining the World Trade Organisation (WTO). He asked the EU
to create more favourable conditions for Vietnam to sell its goods in the EU
market.
Apart from acknowledging the fine development of political and economic
relations between the two countries, Minister Khoan and Swedish Foreign
Trade Minister Leif Pagrosky discussed issues relating to global and
regional integration. The Swedish minister assured his Vietnamese
counterpart that his country is ready to support and help Vietnam to join
the WTO.
Minister Khoan also discussed with the Finnish minister of foreign trade,
Kimmo Sasi, ways to boost bilateral trade relations. They agreed that
Vietnam should enter into joint ventures and co-operate with Finland in
fields in which Finland has great potential such as forestry, wood
processing, environmental protection, ship building, port construction,
telecommunications, chemical fertilisers, and the farm produce processing
industry.
Meanwhile, in their respective talks with Minister Khoan, Austrian Economy
and Labour Minister Dr Martin Bartenstein and Danish Secretary of State and
Ambassador Birger Riis-Jorgensen expressed their wish to expand economic and
commercial relations with Vietnam in the coming time. (VNA)
****
Vietnam to host conference of Asian-Pacific UNESCO members
The Vietnam UNESCO Club will host the 14th conference of the Asian and
Pacific Federation of UNESCO Clubs and Associations (AFUCA) in Hanoi on
September 16-17.
The biennial conference, the first ever to be held in Vietnam, will review
activities and discuss co-ordination plans of regional member countries of
the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation
(UNESCO) as well as programmes in response to campaigns initiated by UNESCO
and the World UNESCO Federation.
The conference will be attended by representatives from the World UNESCO
Federation and the regional UNESCO associations of the Republic of Korea,
Japan, India, Nepal, Thailand, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam.
The Vietnam UNESCO Club was established on August 3, 1993. Its general
secretary, Nguyen Xuan Thang, was elected as AFUCA's vice president at the
13th AFUCA conference in Bangladesh. (VNA)
****
Relief aid goes to flood victims
The local authorities of the flood-hit province of An Giang have provided
money and necessities worth VND 67.3 million in total to over 1,400
households. At present, more than 17,000 households in the province have
suffered hunger and are in great need of relief aid.
They have also helped local farmers harvest 1,300 hectares of rice and
vegetables to avoid flood, strengthen dykes and protect rice fields that
have yet to be harvested. Local soldiers have also assisted people in the
upstream district of Tan Chau and Chau Doc to raise floors of their houses
and clinics to ensure free medical check-ups and emergency treatment for
flood victims. The local administration has also co-ordinated with schools
to help take pupils to their classes.
The province has deployed forces to strengthen crucial parts of dyke system
and helped evacuate about 2,500 households to safer places.
Thua Thien-Hue province's Youth Union has opened a training class on flood
rescue efforts for Youth Union cadres and heads of young volunteers' groups.
After the course, learners have been provided with rescue equipment to
effectively carry out rescue activities.
The Dong Thap province's People Committee has spent VND 300 million to buy
rice for flood-hit families.
Also, many other people, Red Cross societies and medical staff from Ho Chi
Minh City have come to provide relief aid to flood victims.
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