Regular Press Briefing by MOFA’s Spokesman on 8th May 2008
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Press and Information Department
ANNOUNCEMENT
1. President of Hungary to visit Vietnam
At the invitation of President Nguyen Minh Triet, H.E Mr. Laszlo Solyom, President of the Republic of Hungary will pay an official visit to Vietnam from 15-19 May, 2008 to further promote the friendship and multi-faceted cooperation between Vietnam and Hungary, especially in economic and trade area.
During his stay in Vietnam, President Laszlo Solyom will hold talks with President Nguyen Minh Triet and meet with Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dzung and NA Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong. The delegation of the Hungarian President will also work with several Ministries and agencies of Vietnam and visit some localities.
2. Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Gia Khiem to visit Singapore
At the invitation of Singaporean Foreign Minister George Yeo, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Gia Khiem will pay an official visit to Singapore from 20-22 May, 2008 and attend the opening ceremony of the Vietnamese Festival in Singapore on the 35th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic relations establishment.
The visit is to further enhance the friendship and cooperation between the two countries in political and economic areas, trade, investment, culture and education and training.
During his stay in Singapore, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Gia Khiem is expected to call on President Nathan and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Long, hold talks with Foreign Minister George Yeo and attend the opening ceremony of the Vietnamese Festival on May 20 and visit an economic facility of Singapore.
3. The UN Day of Vesak 2008 to be held in Vietnam
The UN Day of Vesak 2008 will take place in Hanoi, Vietnam from 14-17 May, 2008 at My Dinh National Conference Centre, Hanoi under the theme of “Buddhism and a just, democratic and civilized society”. This is an international religious and cultural activity co-organized by the Government of Vietnam, the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS) and the International Organizing Committee (IOC). About 3,500 domestic and foreign representatives of provincial and city Buddhist Churches are expected to attend the UN Day of Vesak 2008.
The UN Day of Vesak has its origin from the name of the 4th month of the Indian calendar with the conception that the Vesak month is a sacred one with the co-occurrence of thrice sacred events relating to the life of Buddha (his birth, enlightenment and passing away). At the 54th UN General Assembly on December 15, 1999 and at the proposal put forth by 34 countries, the UN General Assembly officially recognized the Day of Vesak as an international cultural and religious festival of the UN to hold aloft the Buddha’s moral and cultural values as well as his teachings on peace, solidarity and friendship. The celebration of the UN Day of Vesak has been held annually in all countries in the world since 2000.
The UN Vesak Day 2008 includes the following major activities:
- The opening ceremony of the UN Vesak Day will take place in the morning of May 14, 2008. Thematic workshops and presentations on “Buddhism in the digital era”, “Buddhism contribution to economic and social welfare development” will be held.
- The closing ceremony will be held on 17 May along with candle lighting and prayer for peace.
- At the same time, other activities such as exhibitions, cultural and art performances, trade fairs, procession of flower carriages, lantern release, etc will be conducted. There will also be visits to Buddhist sites like Yen Tu Mount, Ha Long Bay and the Buddhist cultural resort of Bai Dinh (Ninh Binh province).
4. The mid-term Consultative Groups for Vietnam (CG) Meeting in 2008
The mid-term Consultative Groups for Vietnam (CG) Meeting in 2008 hosted by Ministry of Planning and Investment and other relevant agencies will take place from 5-6 June 2008 in the Trade Union Hotel in Sapa, Lao Cai province.
Representatives of various Ministries, agencies and governors of several Northern mountainous areas will attend the meeting. Ambassadors, representatives of Vietnam donor countries and international organizations will also take part in this meeting.
Main items on the agenda include:
- Recent developments in economic and social areas.
- Climate change
- Developments of Northern mountainous areas and assistance efficiency.
Question by DPA, AFP, Akahata about the initiative to establish the Organization of Rice Export Countries (OREC) among Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia. How is it going? Has Vietnam agreed to join the organization? Please reveal the goals of this organization.
Answer:
Our food policy is always aimed to meet domestic demand and shoulder responsibility for the international community. Given the current global food crisis, we are supportive to and willing to join hands with efforts by international community to stabilize global food price in the interest of rice producers, exporters and consumers, especially those in developing countries.
So far there has already existed bilateral cooperation mechanism on rice export between Vietnam and Thailand as well as those among the five major rice exporters of Thailand, Vietnam, India, China and Pakistan. In the framework of Ayeyawady- Chao Phraya- Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS), member countries are also discussing an AMECS rice cooperation mechanism, comprising mainly information exchange and technical assistance.
According to latest news, Thai Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama withdrew the initiative on May 6th, 2008.
Press and Information Department
THE 5TH REGULAR PRESS CONFERENCE
(Hanoi, May 8, 2008)
(Hanoi, May 8, 2008)
ANNOUNCEMENT
1. President of Hungary to visit Vietnam
At the invitation of President Nguyen Minh Triet, H.E Mr. Laszlo Solyom, President of the Republic of Hungary will pay an official visit to Vietnam from 15-19 May, 2008 to further promote the friendship and multi-faceted cooperation between Vietnam and Hungary, especially in economic and trade area.
During his stay in Vietnam, President Laszlo Solyom will hold talks with President Nguyen Minh Triet and meet with Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dzung and NA Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong. The delegation of the Hungarian President will also work with several Ministries and agencies of Vietnam and visit some localities.
2. Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Gia Khiem to visit Singapore
At the invitation of Singaporean Foreign Minister George Yeo, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Gia Khiem will pay an official visit to Singapore from 20-22 May, 2008 and attend the opening ceremony of the Vietnamese Festival in Singapore on the 35th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic relations establishment.
The visit is to further enhance the friendship and cooperation between the two countries in political and economic areas, trade, investment, culture and education and training.
During his stay in Singapore, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Gia Khiem is expected to call on President Nathan and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Long, hold talks with Foreign Minister George Yeo and attend the opening ceremony of the Vietnamese Festival on May 20 and visit an economic facility of Singapore.
3. The UN Day of Vesak 2008 to be held in Vietnam
The UN Day of Vesak 2008 will take place in Hanoi, Vietnam from 14-17 May, 2008 at My Dinh National Conference Centre, Hanoi under the theme of “Buddhism and a just, democratic and civilized society”. This is an international religious and cultural activity co-organized by the Government of Vietnam, the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS) and the International Organizing Committee (IOC). About 3,500 domestic and foreign representatives of provincial and city Buddhist Churches are expected to attend the UN Day of Vesak 2008.
The UN Day of Vesak has its origin from the name of the 4th month of the Indian calendar with the conception that the Vesak month is a sacred one with the co-occurrence of thrice sacred events relating to the life of Buddha (his birth, enlightenment and passing away). At the 54th UN General Assembly on December 15, 1999 and at the proposal put forth by 34 countries, the UN General Assembly officially recognized the Day of Vesak as an international cultural and religious festival of the UN to hold aloft the Buddha’s moral and cultural values as well as his teachings on peace, solidarity and friendship. The celebration of the UN Day of Vesak has been held annually in all countries in the world since 2000.
The UN Vesak Day 2008 includes the following major activities:
- The opening ceremony of the UN Vesak Day will take place in the morning of May 14, 2008. Thematic workshops and presentations on “Buddhism in the digital era”, “Buddhism contribution to economic and social welfare development” will be held.
- The closing ceremony will be held on 17 May along with candle lighting and prayer for peace.
- At the same time, other activities such as exhibitions, cultural and art performances, trade fairs, procession of flower carriages, lantern release, etc will be conducted. There will also be visits to Buddhist sites like Yen Tu Mount, Ha Long Bay and the Buddhist cultural resort of Bai Dinh (Ninh Binh province).
4. The mid-term Consultative Groups for Vietnam (CG) Meeting in 2008
The mid-term Consultative Groups for Vietnam (CG) Meeting in 2008 hosted by Ministry of Planning and Investment and other relevant agencies will take place from 5-6 June 2008 in the Trade Union Hotel in Sapa, Lao Cai province.
Representatives of various Ministries, agencies and governors of several Northern mountainous areas will attend the meeting. Ambassadors, representatives of Vietnam donor countries and international organizations will also take part in this meeting.
Main items on the agenda include:
- Recent developments in economic and social areas.
- Climate change
- Developments of Northern mountainous areas and assistance efficiency.
QUESTIONS & ANSWER
Question by DPA, AFP, Akahata about the initiative to establish the Organization of Rice Export Countries (OREC) among Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia. How is it going? Has Vietnam agreed to join the organization? Please reveal the goals of this organization.
Answer:
Our food policy is always aimed to meet domestic demand and shoulder responsibility for the international community. Given the current global food crisis, we are supportive to and willing to join hands with efforts by international community to stabilize global food price in the interest of rice producers, exporters and consumers, especially those in developing countries.
So far there has already existed bilateral cooperation mechanism on rice export between Vietnam and Thailand as well as those among the five major rice exporters of Thailand, Vietnam, India, China and Pakistan. In the framework of Ayeyawady- Chao Phraya- Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS), member countries are also discussing an AMECS rice cooperation mechanism, comprising mainly information exchange and technical assistance.
According to latest news, Thai Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama withdrew the initiative on May 6th, 2008.
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