Press digest – July 2

PM welcomes top Philippine diplomat

PM Nguyen Tan Dung on Wednesday welcomed Philippine FM Albert F. Del Rosario who is on a two-day visit to Viet Nam at the invitation of Deputy PM, FM Pham Binh Minh.

The Philippines’ top diplomat said his visit aims to deploy the initiatives and agreements reached during PM Dung’s visit to the Philippines on May 21-22.

FM Del Rosario also briefed the host about the major outcomes of his talks with Deputy PM, FM Pham Binh Minh earlier on the same day.

Regarding the East Sea issue, the Philippine FM said that China’s recent aggressive and inhumane acts violate international law and make the situation in the East Sea worse.

VN, Philippines discuss bilateral, multi-lateral issues

Deputy PM, FM Pham Binh Minh and Philippine FM Albert F. del Rosario on Wednesday discussed measures to realize the outcomes of PM Nguyen Tan Dung’s working visit to the Philippines on May 21-22, 2014.

Both sides agreed to organize the first meeting of the joint foreign ministry-level working group which was set up to develop a roadmap for elevating the Viet Nam-Philippines relations to strategic partnership level, in the third quarter of 2014.

They also highly valued the significance of the realization of the bilateral cooperation agreements and mechanisms, including those on sea, ocean, and fisheries cooperation.

Deputy PM, FM Minh took the occasion to thank the Philippines for actively assisting and repatriating the Vietnamese fishermen who illegally fishing in the Philippines’ waters.

VN, Philippines issue joint press release

Viet Nam and the Philippines on July 2 issued a joint press release on the occasion of the visit to Viet Nam of Secretary of Foreign Affairs Albert F. Del Rosario.

According to the joint press release, the discussions between the foreign ministers of the two countries covered bilateral cooperative projects, international and regional concerns, and people-to-people ties.

Regarding the East Sea issue, the two foreign ministers discussed the urgent need to address the escalating challenges through peaceful means and in accordance with international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

WB supports VN’s power sector reform

The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors has approved a loan package of US$ 200million and a credit of US$ 70 million for Viet Nam to support power sector reforms, climate resilience, and lower carbon intensity development.

Of the total, the US$200 million sum will go to the Third Power Sector Reform Development Policy Operation, which supports six policy areas, including the full commercial operation of Viet Nam’s competitive generation market; the entry of new generation companies in the market.

HSBC: VN’s manufacturing PMI posts 52.3 in June

The Vietnamese manufacturing sector continued to see improvements in business conditions in June, according to the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC).

The bank said the Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) posted 52.3 in June, down slightly from 52.5 in May and signaling a further improvement in business conditions in the sector.

VN, Australia co-operate in crime prevention

Vietnam and Australia on July 2 signed an agreement on mutual judicial support in crime prevention, marking a new development in bilateral legal co-operation.

The agreement was inked during the visit to Australia from July 1-7 by a delegation from the Viet Nam Supreme People’s Procuracy, led by Director General, Nguyen Hoa Binh.

The Vietnamese official and Australian Minister of Justice, Michael Keenan described the signing as a demonstration of the international commitment between the two countries in a joint effort against crime, especially transnational crime.

Health ministry tightens epidemic prevention measures

The Ministry of Health has tightened epidemic prevention measures amid the threat posed by dangerous diseases such as of the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection, dengue fever, hand-foot-mouth and avian influenza.

At a meeting of the Steering Committee for Epidemic Prevention and Control on July 2, Deputy Minister Nguyen Thanh Long stressed that this is a top priority of the health sector at present.

He required hospitals to review the treatment guidance for diseases and make appropriate update, while calling for the mass media’s help in spreading information on disease prevention measures.

Construction federation opposes China’s wrongful acts

The Viet Nam Federation of Civil Engineering Associations has issued a statement strongly protesting against China’s violations of Viet Nam’s sovereignty, sovereign right and jurisdiction, and requesting the country to withdraw its oil rig from Viet Nam’s waters.

The statement said China’s illegal placement of the Haiyang Shiyou-981 rig and a fleet of escort ships in Viet Nam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf goes against the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and China’s own commitments in its relations with ASEAN as well as the agreement between the two countries’ leaders on principles guiding the settlement of sea-related issues. China’s acts threaten peace and stability in the region, the statement said.

The federation called on domestic and foreign civil engineers, especially the civil engineer associations of the Asia-Pacific region and China, and the world community to condemn China’s violations of international law and support Viet Nam in protecting its sovereignty and territorial integrity as well as international law and peace, stability and maritime safety and freedom in the East Sea and the region./.

(Source: VGP/VNA/VOV/Nhandan Online)