VNA Vietnam values ties with China: Party leaderThe Party, State and people of Vietnam have always attached importance to the country's relationship with China, one which is based on the principle of "friendly neighbourliness, comprehensive co-operation, long-term stability, and future-oriented thinking" defined by the leaders of the two countries in February 1999, said Party leader Nong Duc Manh. General Secretary Nong Duc Manh received Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan in Hanoi on July 24. Mr Tang is here for the Post Ministerial Conference (PMC) and the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) meeting. General Secretary Manh told Minister Tang that important treaties and agreements signed between the two nations have contributed to the building of a common border of peace, stability and friendship. He said he highly valued the co-operation between Vietnam and China at regional and international forums, particularly the co-ordination between the two countries in preparing meetings for the ARF and PMC. The Vietnamese Party leader congratulated the Chinese people on their successful bid to host the Olympic Games in 2008. He said that he would arrange his visit to China soon and re-invited President Jiang Zemin and National Assembly Chairman Li Peng to visit Vietnam. (VNA) **** PM urges better implementation of agreements with China PM Phan Van Khai receives Chinese FM Tang Jiaxuan.Both Vietnam and China should continue discussing measures to effectively implement agreements signed between the two countries, said Prime Minister Phan Van Khai. Prime Minister Khai expressed this wish during his July 24 meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan, who is in Hanoi for the Post Ministerial Conference (PMC) and the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) meeting. Mr Khai emphasised the importance of carrying out the motto: 'Friendly Neighbourliness, Comprehensive Co-operation, Long-term Stability, and Future-oriented Thinking" which was defined by the two Parties' general secretaries. He expressed his joy at the fine development of bilateral relations which were particularly marked by Vice President Hu Jintao's presence at Vietnam's Ninth Party Congress in April. He also expressed his delight at the good co-operation between Vietnam and China in economic and commercial fields. Mr Khai asked Minister Tang to convey his best regards to his Chinese counterpart Zhu Rongji, who had made active contributions to the relationship between the two countries. He said that Vietnam expects to welcome Chinese National Assembly Chairman Li Peng's visit. Minister Tang expressed his agreement with Mr Khai's opinions on bilateral relations. He informed Mr Khai of his recent meeting with Vietnamese Foreign Minister Nguyen Dy Nien. (VNA) **** Vietnam foreign minister meets counterparts Vietnam's Foreign Minister Nguyen Dy Nien on Tuesday, July 24, met with his Chinese counterpart Tang Jiaxuan to discuss measures to boost relations between the two countries on the principle of building long-term, stable, future-oriented, good-neighbourly and all-round co-operative ties. This is in line with the December 2000 joint statement on Vietnam-China comprehensive co-operation in the new century. Mr Tang, who arrived in Hanoi for the Post Ministerial Conference and the ASEAN Regional Forum meeting, met with Mr Nien prior to these ASEAN meetings. The two ministers emphasised the need to continue promoting economic and commercial relations between the two countries, thus paving the way for healthy and stable cross-border trade development. Both sides also agreed on the need to actively deploy follow-up measures to put the Accord on Land Border, the Agreement on the Demarcation of the Tonkin Gulf and the Agreement on Fisheries Co-operation into reality. They spoke highly of the ASEAN-China co-operation in the recent past and expressed their desire to further strengthen co-operation and co-ordination between ASEAN and China in a bid to build an Asia of peace, stability, co-operation and prosperous development, first of all to make the upcoming PMC and ARF meeting in Hanoi a success. The two ministers also informed each other of their respective countries' foreign affairs in recent years. FM Nguyen Dy Nien meets Russian counterpart Igor Ivanov. Mr Nien and his Russian counterpart, Igor Ivanov, have discussed issues relating to strengthening and boosting the multifaceted co-operation between the two countries. The two ministers met within the framework of the eighth ASEAN Regional Forum Foreign Ministers' Meeting. The two ministers also discussed regional and international issues of common concern to find ways for further co-ordination between the two countries in international and Asian-Pacific arenas in the interest of peace, co-operation, and development in the region and the world. Mr Nien met Makiko Tanaka, minister of foreign affairs of Japan, who is in Hanoi to attend the ASEAN+3 Foreign Ministers' meeting (ASEAN+3), ASEAN Regional Forum and Post Ministerial Conference. He praised Japan's role as the biggest donor and trade partner of Vietnam. He thanked the government and people of Japan for preserving the high level of ODA to Vietnam even when Japan is in economic difficulty and hoped that Japan will continue its assistance to Vietnam in the time to come. Mr Nien expressed his appreciation for Japan's contributions to the strengthening of Japan-ASEAN friendly relations. Minister Tanaka expressed her satisfaction at the new progress in Japan-Vietnam co-operative relations. She reaffirmed that the Japanese government considered it greatly important to develop long-term, multi-faceted co-operation with Vietnam and that Japan will continue its ODA to Vietnam. Minister Tanaka praised Vietnam's active contributions in its capacity as chairman of the ASEAN Standing Committee and ARF during the past year. The meeting took place in a friendly, cordial atmosphere and with mutual understanding. Mr Nien thanked Canada for its assistance to Vietnam in its current process of renovation and international integration. He held talks with his Canadian counterpart, John Manley, who has been in Hanoi for the eighth meeting of the foreign ministers of the ASEAN Regional Forum and the meeting of the foreign ministers of ASEAN member countries and their dialogue partners. The two foreign ministers discussed in detail measures to be taken to promote the multi-faceted relations between the two countries. Mr Nien informed Mr John Manley and his entourage of the domestic and foreign policies that Vietnam adopted at its recent Ninth National Congress of the Communist Party. He expressed Vietnam's wish to develop comprehensive, stable, and long-lasting relations with Canada in the interest of both countries and for peace and stability in the regions and the world. "Our relations should be developed on the basis of respect for each other's national independence and sovereignty, non-interference into each other's internal affairs, equality, and mutually-beneficial co-operation," Mr Nien said. Minister Manley expressed his delight at the encouraging achievements recorded by the Vietnamese people in their process of renovation and national construction. He spoke highly of Vietnam's role in this year's meetings of the foreign ministers of ASEAN and the ARF. He also stressed the two countries' past efforts to promote mutual understanding and build a stable and long-lasting relationship. The Canadian foreign minister reaffirmed his country's continued support for Vietnam's renovation and international integration, including accession to the World Trade Organisation, as well as his country's wish to broaden ties with Vietnam in all aspects. He positively evaluated the role played by the Vietnamese community in Canada and said he wished that the two countries would co-operate more closely in creating favourable conditions for the Vietnamese residents in Canada to make more contributions to developing the two countries' relations. Also on this occasion, Mr Manley and his entourage had working sessions with Vietnamese agencies and visited some localities, signing a number of agreements between the two countries. (VNA) **** ASEAN foreign ministers and three dialogue partners meet The meeting between the foreign ministers of the ASEAN countries and their counterparts of China, Japan and the Republic of Korea (ASEAN+3) took place in Hanoi on July 24. Under the chairmanship of Mr Nien, minister of foreign affairs of Vietnam, the meeting discussed regional and global issues, and development; progress of the East Asia co-operation process over the past one year, especially that of implementation of the decisions of the ASEAN+3 Summit held in Singapore in November 2000; and on ways and means to effectively enhance East Asia co-operation. The meeting also discussed the preparations for the ASEAN+3 Summit to be held in Brunei in November 2001. Reviewing a year from the first ASEAN+3 Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Bangkok in July 2000, the meeting observed that in that one year the East Asia co-operation had produced encouraging results. Through various measures, the ASEAN+3 countries had been actively implementing the Joint Statement on East Asia co-operation adopted by the ASEAN+3 Summit in Singapore in November 2000. A number of specific initiatives and projects had been adopted and their implementation had started to accelerate the East Asia co-operation, especially in the economic and financial fields, the Mekong sub-region development, human resources development, information technology, agriculture, culture, tourism, etc. Participants praised the efforts made by the two sides, effectively assisting each other to overcome the difficulties and challenges, especially in the fields of finance, investment, capital, and market, and negative impacts of the economic globalisation. The meeting agreed that, with the potential and strength of each region, ASEAN and East Asia need further enhance their efforts to build East Asia into a region of dynamic and sustainable economic development. Along this line, the East Asia Study Group had been established by the ASEAN+3 Senior Officials' Meeting held in Ho Chi Minh City in March 2001 pursuant to the decision of the ASEAN+3 Summit in Singapore in November 2000. This group was charged to study and recommend areas of priority for co-operation and specific measures to expand the East Asia co-operation framework. In the time ahead, the North East Asian countries should render greater support and assistance to ASEAN in the implementation of the Hanoi Plan of Action (HPA) and the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI), especially to the new members of ASEAN, narrowing the development gap in ASEAN and between ASEAN and North East Asian countries. This will be the main focus of the ASEAN+3 co-operation. Speaking at the meeting, Minister Nien reaffirmed that: ASEAN and North East Asia are two economic spaces closely located and interdependent. East Asia co-operation is therefore an objective need, one that serves effectively the interests of both ASEAN and North East Asia. That co-operation is in line with the regional and global trend for development co-operation. (VNA) **** East Asia co-operation, an objective requirement: FM Nien ASEAN and North East Asia are two regions located in a close and interdependent economic space. Accordingly, East Asia co-operation is an objective requirement, meeting the development needs of both ASEAN and North East Asian countries, said Nguyen Dy Nien, foreign minister of Vietnam at the ASEAN+3 Foreign Ministers' Meeting held in Hanoi on July 24. This co-operation," he continued, "is also in line with the development co-operation trends in the region and the world at large, and we have made effective efforts in our co-operation, especially those to help each other to surmount the economic and financial crisis during the 1997-1998 period. Facing new difficulties and challenges, especially those in finance, investment, capital, market and the adverse impacts caused by globalisation, ASEAN and North East Asia should further deepen our co-operation to build East Asia into a region of sustainable and dynamic development." The ASEAN+3 Foreign Ministers' Meeting was attended by the ASEAN foreign ministers; Mr Tang Jiaxuan, minister of foreign affairs of the People's Republic of China; Madam Makiko Tanaka, minister of foreign affairs of Japan; and Mr Han Seung Soo, minister of foreign affairs of the Republic of Korea. Mr Nien stressed: "A stable ASEAN of equitable and dynamic development with the combined population of more than 500 million and total GDP of over US $700 billion is not only the aspiration of the ASEAN peoples but also in the common interest of peace and stability in the region and the world as well as that of North East Asian countries. "To this end, we would like to call upon the North East Asian countries to double efforts in boosting the mutually beneficial co-operation with ASEAN. We hope that, in the time to come, with your strength, the three North East Asian countries will continue to give more support to ASEAN in its bid to implement the Hanoi Plan of Action and the Initiative for ASEAN Integration, especially to help the less-developed ASEAN countries narrow the development gap within ASEAN and step by step bridge the gap between ASEAN and North East Asian countries. We should view this as the focus of the ASEAN+3 co-operation." He reviewed the past year since the First ASEAN+3 Ministerial Meeting in Bangkok last July, saying the East Asia co-operation process has scored encouraging achievements. "First, we should recall that at the ASEAN+3 Summit Meeting last November in Singapore our leaders agreed to endorse a number of initiatives and decisions aimed at further expanding and deepening the East Asia co-operation. By taking various measures, ASEAN and the three North East Asian countries are now working hard to implement these initiatives and decisions. The ASEAN member countries highly appreciate the commitments made by the North East Asian countries to promote the co-operation in the ASEAN+3 framework. In this connection, a variety of co-operation projects in various fields, especially in economic, finance, Mekong sub-regional development, human resources development, information technology, agriculture, culture and tourism are now under the pipeline and being implemented. It is noteworthy that under the decision made by the ASEAN+3 leaders, the East Asia Study Group was established in Ho Chi Minh City in March 2001 and has come into operation. Building on the achievements recorded by the East Asia Vision Group with a detailed report comprising many initiatives and recommendations aimed at enhancing the East Asia co-operation, we hope that the East Asia Study Group will soon be able to recommend concrete measures and a priority list for the East Asia co-operation, which will be submitted to the coming ASEAN+3 Summit Meeting for consideration," Mr Nien noted. (VNA) **** New Zealand hopes for more co-operation with Vietnam New Zealand is working on ways to boost economic co-operation with Asian-Pacific countries, including Vietnam, said Phil Goff, foreign minister of New Zealand, who visited Ho Chi Minh City on July 22-23. Mr Goff and his entourage were received by Nguyen Minh Triet, Politburo member of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee (CPV CC) and the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee's secretary; and Le Thanh Hai, CPV CC member, and chairman of the Municipal People's Committee. Mr Goff said the bilateral relations should be cultivated to create more opportunities for experience exchange and mutual understanding. He expressed support for Vietnam's economic renovation and its efforts in integrating into the international economy. Mr Triet praised New Zealand's projects in Vietnam, saying they constituted an important foundation for further development of bilateral co-operation, particularly in education, industry, animal husbandry, and farming and forestry product processing. The New Zealand delegation visited the Cu Chi historical tunnel, a Monument to Fallen Soldiers, a traditional craft village, and other economic and cultural establishments in the city. (VNA) **** Vietnam respects Indonesian people's decision: spokeswoman Vietnamese Foreign Minister spokeswoman Phan Thuy Thanh said Vietnam respects the Indonesian people's decision to change their leadership and sincerely wishes the government and people of Indonesia, under the leadership of Ms Megawati, early stability. Asked by foreign journalists in Hanoi on July 24, about Vietnam's reaction to the developments in Indonesia, Ms Thanh said: "Vietnam follows with keen interest developments in Indonesia, the most populous country in both South East Asia and the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) - a country having time-honoured friendly relations with Vietnam." She stressed: "We held that the recent developments in Indonesia are the internal affairs of its people. Like other ASEAN member countries, Vietnam persists in the grouping's principle stance of non-interference into each other's internal affairs. Vietnam hopes Indonesia will be able to peacefully maintain its territorial integrity as well as continue its economic recovery and development, thus contributing to peace, co-operation, and development in South East Asia and the world at large." The spokeswoman stressed that President Tran Duc Luong and Prime Minister Phan Van Khai on July 24, had extended congratulations to Ms Megawati Sukarnoputri on her appointment as President of Indonesia, saying "Vietnam believes in strengthening and developing the friendly and co-operative ties between the two nations that were originally forged by the late presidents Ho Chi Minh of Vietnam and Sukarno of Indonesia". (VNA) _________________________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki Phone +358-40-7177941 Fax +358-9-7591081 http://www.kominf.pp.fi General class struggle news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe mails to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Geopolitical news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] __________________________________________________
