Announcement

1. PM Nguyen Tan Dung to attend the World Economic Forum on East Asia (May 31)

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung will attend the World Economic Forum on East Asia in Bangkok Thailand on May 31st 2012.

With the theme “Shaping the Region’s Future through Connectivity”, the 2012 WEF on East Asia will focus on three main topics: i) How can the high economic growth economies of ASEAN help to rebalance both the global and the regional overall economic outlook? ii) How will governments and institutions develop the financial policies to manage inflation, capital outflows, commodity price volatility and balanced growth towards greater domestic and regional demand? iii) How will the region leverage its demographic dividend and technology base to develop the models to increase growth through innovation, improve talent mobility, entrepreneurship and skill building?

At the Meeting, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung will discuss together with regional leaders and heads of international organizations important issues such as regional integration and linkages, sustainable development, coping with development challenges, sharing socio-economic development experiences…

On this occasion, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung is also expected to meet bilaterally with the leaders of other countries, international organizations, and corporations.

2. DPM Nguyen Thien Nhan to attend the Joint Working Group Meeting between the 4 Northern border provinces of Viet Nam and Yunnan Province of China (June 2 - 7)

At the invitation of the Chinese Government and leaders of Yunnan Province, from the 2nd to the 7th of June 2012, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan will visit Yunnan, attend and direct the Joint Working Group Meeting between the 4 Northern provinces of Viet Nam which include Dien Bien, Lai Chau, Lao Cai, Ha Giang and Yunnan Province. The Meeting will be held in Kunming.

This Meeting is aimed at promoting cooperation in the areas of economics, trade and investment between Vietnamese provinces bordering Yunnan, helping to promote the comprehensive strategic cooperation partnership between Viet Nam and China.
The Deputy Prime Minister is expected to meet with Chinese and Yunnan leaders, and attend the Kunming Trade Fair 2012.

3. Austrian President to visit to Viet Nam (May 29-31)

At the invitation of President Truong Tan Sang and Spouse, the President of the Republic of Austria Heinz Fischer and Spouse will make an official visit to Viet Nam from May 29 to 31 2012.

The visit takes place at a time when the two countries are preparing to commemorate the 40th Anniversary of diplomatic relations (December 1 1972 - December 1 2012). President Sang and President Fischer are expected to discuss measures to promote bilateral cooperation in the areas of politics, diplomacy, economics, trade, investment, science and technology, education and training, culture, tourism, health and international and regional issues of mutual concern.

President Fischer will also meet with other top leaders of Viet Nam and visit Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City where he will attend a number of events.

4. Viet Nam 2012 CG mid-term review: (4-5/6/2012)

The 2012 CG mid-term review will be held by the Ministry of Planning and Investment in coordination with the World Bank and relevant agencies between June 4 and 5 2012 in Dong Ha city, Quang Tri province.

The Meeting will take stock of the updated information on the Vietnamese macroeconomic situation during the first half 2012 as well as on the yearly forecasts, discuss development issues relevant to the Central region of Viet Nam, focusing on 3 main issues: poverty reduction, disaster risk mitigation, and improving infrastructure catering to socio-economic development of the Central region.

II. Questions and Answers:

1. Question: China recently captured 2 fishing vessels and 14 crews of Quang Ngai province when they were fishing in the Hoang Sa islands. What is Viet Nam's reaction to that?

Answer:

On May 21st 2012, the Chinese side announced that on May 16th 2012, the Chinese fishery administration agency had captured two Vietnamese fishing vessels QNg50003TS and QNg55003TS together with 14 crews in waters off the Hoang Sa archipelago and that at 1300 hour, May 21st 2012, the Chinese side had released vessel QNg50003TS and the 14 fishermen, but seized vessel QNg55003TS all catch and fishing equipment of the two vessels.

Immediately after receiving the Chinese announcement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Viet Nam representative met and handed to the Chinese Embassy officials in Hanoi a diplomatic note which clearly stated that:

The Chinese obstruction and detention of Vietnamese fishing vessels and fishermen operating legally, normally in waters off the coast of Vietnamese Hoang Sa archipelago is a severe violation of the sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdictions of Viet Nam. Viet Nam resolutely objects these violations, and demands Chinese expeditiously return of vessel QNg55003TS together with all the assets seized by China on May 16th as well as the cessation of similar actions. Viet Nam has also demanded the return of fishing vessel QNg 66101 TS which China seized on March 4th 2012.

We have been informed that on the morning of May 23rd, the 14 fishermen and the QNg50003TS have returned safely.

2. Question: The Viet Nam - EU Parternership and Comprehensive Cooperation Agreement recently got the go ahead from all 27 EU member states for an official signing. Could you please elaborate on its significance and main content? When will be the signing? 

Answer:

The EU is one of the most important trade partners of Viet Nam. Viet Nam – EU relations have strengthened over the past years, notably since the two sides adopted the 1995 Viet Nam – EC Agreement on Cooperation, the Viet Nam – EU Partnership and Comprehensive Cooperation Framework Agreement and now that Viet Nam and EU are about to start FTA negotiations.

The PCA builds a cooperation framework that aims at transiting the relationship between the two sides to a new stage of more in depth and comprehensive development, contributing to the promotion of more effective cooperation in the future.

This Agreement lays out the basic principles governing Viet Nam – EU relations, defines cooperation goals as well as detailing contents, scopes and forms of cooperation in many areas such as commerce – investment, justice, science technology, and education and training etc.

The Framework Agreement was initialed in 2010. The official PCA signing is expected to be soon.

3. Question: Could you please confirm the upcoming visit to Viet Nam by US Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta? What is the purpose of the visit?

Answer:

As part of the upcoming Asia trip, US Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta is expected to visit Viet Nam from June 3 to 5. The visit aims at promoting the mutual understanding and cooperation between the Vietnamese Ministry of Defense and the US Department of Defense.