Press digest – May 12

Czech Minister of Industry and Trade welcomed in Ha Noi

Deputy Defense Minister Sen. Lt. Gen. Truong Quang Khanh welcomed Czech Minister of Industry and Trade Jan Mladek, who is in Viet Nam to attend the fourth meeting of the two countries’ inter-governmental committee.

Mr. Khanh praised the cooperation between Viet Nam and the Czech Republic, especially in military technology, suggesting both sides further boost human resources training in the field.

Jan Mladek expressed his hope to continue intensifying his country’s cooperation with Vietnam.

UK Gov’t raises East Sea tension issue with China

The UK Government declared its backing for the European Union’s statement on the tension in the East Sea and raised the issue with the Chinese Government.

On the UK Foreign Ministry’s website, Foreign Office Minister Hugo Swire said China’s installation of an oil rig in Viet Nam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf had escalated tensions in the East Sea.

The EU is concerned that unilateral actions could affect the security environment in the region, as evidenced by reports about the recent collision of Vietnamese and Chinese vessels, said the Spokesperson of the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.

Remains of soldiers repatriated from Laos

The remains of 27 Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who died in Laos during wartime were laid to rest at a cemetery in Ba Thuoc district in the central province of Thanh Hoa.

The remains had been gathered in Laos’ Hua Phan province since October 2013 by a team from the provincial Military High Command.

TPP countries start HCM City talks

Officials from the 12 countries participating in negotiations on a Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade agreement convened for a meeting in Ho Chi Minh City.

Delegates are to focus on solving existing issues, including tariffs, particularly those imposed on farm produce, intellectual property, and state-owned enterprise reform.

Besides the TPP, Viet Nam hopes to complete its negotiations on free trade agreements with the European Union and the Customs Union of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan.

Thua Thien-Hue to call for foreign investment

The central province has called for foreign investment for four projects with a total capital of US$1.2 trillion, a source from the province reported.

The four projects include construction of a 102 km Express Way with six lanes that link Cam Lo district in Quang Tri Province and La Son in Thua Thien-Hue, a 40-hectare solid waste plant in Huong Van commune of Huong Tra town, a 35-hectare waste water treatment system at Chan May-Lang Co Economic Zone’s industrial park and duty-free zone, and a technician training college in the economic zone.

Atlassian, Pyramid expand market in VN

A leading provider of collaboration software, Atlassian, and creative digital and software development company Pyramid Consulting will expand their joint software development centre in Ho Chi Minh City.

Over the next six months, Pyramid Consulting will recruit 60 highly-skilled Java software engineers for Atlassian to support the team on developing new features and plug-ins for Atlassian JIRA, the issue management software, and Atlassian Confluence, the team and content collaboration platform.

IBM helps Dong Nai enhance IT skills

The world’s leading information technology group - IBM launched a counseling program on technology application and management worth US$250,000 for Dong Nai’s Department of Health and Department of Science and Technology.

The event aims to help Dong Nai province improve management capacity including skills on personnel management, project management, information and communication, security policies, information technology application, and other soft skills.

By Thuy Dung