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Lấy về từ / captured from:
http://vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn |
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Lấy về từ / captured from:
http://vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn |
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Canada
lifts clothing quotas to boost trade HA NOI — In a decision that will boost Vietnamese exports, the Canadian Government has announced that it will eliminate all export quotas for clothing and garments. The Ministry of Trade has just announced that the Canadian Government will eliminate the apparel quotas for Viet Nam, beginning January 1, 2005. The decision was officially reported by International Trade Canada’s Export and Import Controls Bureau last Friday. The message issued seeks to inform importers, brokers and other interested parties that the five bilateral restraint agreements and the single unilateral restraint agreement involving WTO (World Trade Organisation) non-members will end on December 31, 2004. The message noted that Canada has bilateral restraint agreements with five countries that are not members of the WTO: Lebanon, Syria, Viet Nam, Cambodia and Laos. Canada also has an unilateral restraint agreement with another non-WTO-member, North Korea. "As is the case for WTO member countries, non-member bilateral restraint arrangements will be administered on the basis of date of shipment from the country of origin," the message stated. "The elimination of quotas for non-WTO countries on December 31, 2004 will conclude Canada’s multi-year process of eliminating of import restraints, related to the WTO Agreement on Textiles and Clothing, for textiles and clothing products." Under the WTO’s Agreement on Textiles and Clothing (ATC), quantitative restraints on imports of textiles and apparel established under bilateral restraint arrangements with certain WTO members are to be eliminated by January 1, 2005, according to the message from the Canadian Government. Early last month Viet Nam’s Trade Minister, Truong Dinh Tuyen, sent a letter to his Canadian counterpart, Jim Peterson, requesting that Canada remove textile quotas for Viet Nam next year, and that the country support Viet Nam’s bid to join the WTO. The Canadian Government’s decision will create favourable conditions for Viet Nam to boost exports into the nation in equal competition with the 148 WTO-member countries, said the trade ministry. The ministry added that the decision will mark a significant milestone in bilateral trade acceleration. The ministry’s official said that Vietnamese enterprises must capitalise on this opportunity to enhance exports to Canada as well as the EU. The European Union signed an agreement with Viet Nam to eliminate quotas on Viet Nam’s textiles last Saturday. — VNS |
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Student becomes Canadian Consul for a day (01-07-2005) by Van Nguyen
After a breakfast at home, a brief review of the Viet Nam News and half-an-hour workout, 18-year-old Nguyen Minh Vu was ready to start his day as the Canadian Consul General in HCM City. Though it might sound odd for a Vietnamese student to be a Consul General for Canada, the opportunity was genuine. Canadian Consul General Sanjeev Chowdhury gave Vu his desk, because he’d won as the Canadian Consul General for A Day essay contest that took place last month to celebrate Canadian Day, July 1. Contestants answered the question of how they would assist young Vietnamese people in taking advantage of business and study opportunities in Canada if they were the Canadian Consul General. Surpassing 60 other contestants from other parts of the country, Vu, an 11th grader majoring in English at the Tran Dai Nghia High school in HCM City, said he would establish a centre called Canada’s Home where young Vietnamese people could come to learn about Canada, its people and culture through available reading material, contests and other activities. Canada’s Home would also offer free English and French lessons to excellent students. The centre would be the first destination for Canadian schools to come to recruit Vietnamese students to study in Canada. Vu also proposed a Canada Alumni Association for students who completed studies in Canada. Vu said that these people would pass on their experiences to other Vietnamese students regarding studying and living in Canada. For Vietnamese businessmen, Canada’s Home would provide a business matching system for young Vietnamese and Canadian businessmen seeking partnerships. In addition, he would build a capital sponsor programme to help aspiring Vietnamese entrepreneurs carry out their business plans. Explaining his Canada’s Home idea, Vu said that he and his friends would never think to approach the Canadian Consulate if they needed information about Canada, not even information about studying in Canada. At a Canada’s Home, any young Vietnamese would find all the information they need, Vu said, as he enjoyed a meal yesterday at Chowdhury’s house, Vu’s temporary home for two days while he acts as the Canadian Consul General. In his working schedule as the consul general yesterday, Vu had briefing with the Consulate’s staff about Prime Minister Khai’s visit to Canada. He also met with five Vietnamese students who are going to Canada to study, the staff of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce (CanCham), and the students of the Canadian Language Centre. Speaking after the morning session, Vu said that he was happy because everything was smoothly handled and he had learned a lot. "Most importantly, I learned that applying to study in Canada is not as difficult as I had imagined at all," Vu said. Vu said that he wanted to pursue a diplomatic career. "Even though I might not land at this high ranking position of [consul general]," Vu said. Student vision Vu’s ambition of becoming a diplomat, especially after this event, is what Chowdhury wanted to encourage in the students. Chowdhury said that the best opportunity to understand a diplomat’s life is to open the consulate and the consul general’s home to them to let them try living as a diplomat. Explaining for his idea, Chowdhury said that someone had done the same for him while he was a college student back in Canada. "I was visiting the capitol, then someone approached me and asked what I was doing?" Chowdhury recalled, "I told him that I was visiting the parliament and the capitol." Then the man, who turned out to be Cameroon’s Ambassador to Canada, invited Chowdhury into his car and showed him around the place and the embassy. "He showed me a whole new world," Chowdhury said, "I saw what he did for his country through his work and I want to do the same for my country." Chowdhury believes that one day he’ll meet one of the 300 students who have visited his consulate office again somewhere, who became a diplomat because of the tour they made. — VNS |
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Canadian
ambassador marks National Day Viet Nam News interviewed the country’s Ambassador to Viet Nam, Richard Lecoq What does July 1st celebrate? July 1st is the anniversary of Confederation, when the provinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Quebec and Ontario joined in 1867 to become the Dominion of Canada. Every year on July 1st, Canadians celebrate their country by remembering this, and other aspects of Canada’s rich heritage. It is the culmination of a number of celebrations held in late June: National Aboriginal Day on the 21st; Saint-Jean Baptiste Day, in honour of the patron saint of French Canadians, on the 24th; and Canadian Multiculturalism Day on the 27th. Canada is known as a multicultural country. What are the benefits of this feature? Canada has been shaped by our aboriginal people and the generations of immigrants who arrived in Canada seeking a better life, from all over the world. This has produced an open country, which is reflected in Canadian culture – a culture born out of diversity and respect and one that developed as Canadians peacefully sought solutions to the problems this country has faced throughout its history. This openness is also evident in Canada’s economy, one of the most open in the world. Consider this: in 2003, Canadian exports totalled $457 billion, nearly 40 per cent of our GDP, as compared to $408 billion in imports, accounting for over a third of our GDP. Our experiences have quite naturally shaped the way we view the world. And Canada’s brand of diversity, respect and the culture of peace are reflected in our international policy. Canada provides $30 million in development assistance to Viet Nam. In your opinion, is the money being well used in Viet Nam? Does Canada plan to increase its assistance in the near future? Canada’s development assistance programme has provided technical assistance to support reforms in agriculture and rural development, natural resource management, environmental sustainability, and private sector development. In addition, technical assistance has enhanced the ability of all branches of government to analyse and develop policy in areas critical to Viet Nam’s economic competitiveness.
Canadian development assistance has helped poor rural communities to plan and carry out their own development projects by providing training in planning, primary health care, and savings and credit management. Support to a government infrastructure programme has aided in the construction of primary schools, irrigation works, and transportation and electrification facilities while assistance to vocational training institutions is helping prepare the labour force for the market economy. Skills training and credit for new small businesses, especially among women, has boosted rural enterprises and helped increase family incomes in poor areas. The Government of Viet Nam places a very high priority on its reform programme and on the co-ordination of donors and their activities – with increasingly positive results. Canada International Development Agency will continue to support Viet Nam’s reform process and its poverty reduction plans as it pursues its goals in socio-economic development. To do this Canada has recently approved a new ODA programme framework which will concentrate on governance, agriculture and rural development, and basic education. This framework was prepared in close consultation with the Government of Viet Nam and will seek to strengthen government systems and harmonise donor aid programmes in Viet Nam. Have any areas emerged that have higher potential to boost bilateral economic relations? As for many countries, the biggest boost for our bilateral economic relations will be Viet Nam’s accession to the WTO. This will require Viet Nam to adhere to a set of rules and requirements that will give Viet Nam a more stable and welcoming business and investment environment. It will also level the playing field for Viet Nam vis-a-vis some of its trade competitors, to make Vietnamese goods even more attractive to other countries. There are of course many challenges on the road to WTO accession, which were noted at the last Working Party meeting in Geneva. But it is in Viet Nam’s interest to continue on its current path, and where possible to accelerate legal and economic reforms. Canada is helping Viet Nam in this regard by providing technical training and assistance. How does your experience here compare with other countries that you have been to, in terms of both similarities and difference? Any other remarks that you may wish to make? Viet Nam is one of the most dynamic and vibrant countries in which I have ever had the privilege of living. Most visitors to Viet Nam – and certainly anyone who lives here – are struck by the incredible energy and industriousness of the people. This drive to succeed, coupled with the ambitious reforms currently underway and under discussion, will make Viet Nam an important regional player in the coming years. I would like to take this opportunity to wish Canadians living and working in Viet Nam a safe and happy Canada Day, and to thank them for the contribution that they are making to strengthen the Canada – Viet Nam relationship. — VNS
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Proposal to amend decree on adoption (27-09-2005) HA NOI — Following the ambiguous Government decree on child adoption, which resulted in decreasing numbers of Vietnamese children being adopted over the last three years, the Ministry of Justice has submitted a proposal to amend and supplement regulations to the decree. The ministry’s proposals, backed by Viet Nam’s recent agreements on adoption with the US and Canada, include simplifying procedures for adoption, unifying fees for adoption across the country, encouraging adoption of children with disabilities and serious diseases, and helping foreigners living in Viet Nam, from countries that have not yet signed agreements on adoption with the Government, adopt Vietnamese children. According to the min-istry’s International Child Adoption Department, about 702 Vietnamese children were adopted and sent abroad last year and the first five months of this year, with the French adopting 492 children, followed by Denmark, Italy, Sweden, Ireland and the US, each adopting 30-40 children. The number of adopted children has come down from 1,860 in 1998, to 1,392 in 2002 and 807 in 2003. Nguyen Cong Khanh, deputy director of the International Child Adoption Department, said this was contrary to the expectations of the Vietnamese Government and the demand for adopting children in foreign nations, as even international organisations have now shown increasing willingness to adopt Vietnamese children. Khanh said the number of requests for adopting Vietnamese children had increased by several thousand, reflecting an interest to adopt Vietnamese children who are orphans, disabled or abandoned. Last year alone, foreign adoption agencies, most of them non-governmental organisations, provided humanitarian aid worth US$620,000 to 40 centres specialising in child care in 30 cities and provinces nationwide. The Government had earlier signed child adoption agreements with France, Italy, Denmark, Ireland, and Sweden, and recently signed similar agreements with the US and Canada. The agreements with the US and Canada, however, are yet to come into force because of differences between signatories. The US, which used to adopt a significant number of Vietnamese children in the past, has adopted only ten children over the past two years, and requested Viet Nam to publicise all fees relevant for adopting children. The request, however, was not implemented as the fee regime is not unified in the country with the Ministry of Finance, and cities and provinces levying varied fees for adoption. The existing decree, Khanh added, had not sufficiently regulated fees, and each city and province have their own regulations for collecting fees. The ministries of Justice and Finance have put forward a proposal regulating fees for foreigners adopting Vietnamese children. Though the country has signed an agreement with Canada, it was yet to get into force as each state in Canada has its own regulations, and Viet Nam had to sign agreements with local authorities of different states before Vietnamese children are adopted. According to Khanh, next year, Viet Nam would also sign child adoption agreements with three other countries, and accede to the Hague convention on child protection. The amended and supplemented decree, expected to come into effect by the end of this year, would increase the adoption of Vietnamese children, Khanh added. — VNS |
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PM Khai, Canadian PM Martin sign statement (29-06-2005)
OTTAWA — Viet Nam and Canada will strengthen bilateral relations and co-operate to build a comprehensive, stable and long-term partnership, according to a joint statement signed by Prime Minister Phan Van Khai and Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin yesterday. The statement, released after formal talks held by the two leaders at the Canadian capital, affirmed the commitment of both countries in strengthening and expanding multifaceted co-operation, especially in areas of trade and economy. Khai, the first Vietnamese head of state on an official visit to Canada, discussed a range of issues of bilateral concern with his counterpart, and praised Canada’s contributions in strengthening co-operation among nations for peace and development. Lauding positive achievements in diplomatic relations over the past three decades, the two leaders expressed their wish to strengthen governmental, commercial and civil society linkages. Canadian PM Paul Martin, who hailed PM Khai’s visit as a historic event that helped to deepen bilateral ties, congratulated the Vietnamese Government and the people on their great achievements during the Doi moi (renewal) process. The two leaders discussed measures to further boost relations, which included increasing exchanges at all levels and accelerating ties in trade, investment and transfer of science and technology. Canada will provide Viet Nam with more ODA, assist in developing education and training, and accelerate international economic integration, Martin said. Regional and international issues of mutual concern, including the role of Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC), ASEAN-Canada co-operation, and problems relating to energy, environment, and over exploitation of marine resources, were discussed by the two leaders. Speaking on the overseas Vietnamese community in Canada, Martin said they had preserved their national cultural identity while integrating into the Canadian society, helped to enrich Canada’s cultural diversity and enhanced ties between the two nations. Thanking the Canadian Government for its strong support for the country’s bid to join the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Prime Minister Khai described it as Canada’s "practical assistance" for Viet Nam’s integration with the world economy. On the occasion, Viet Nam and Canada declared the conclusion of their bilateral negotiations on Viet Nam’s accession to the World Trade Organisation (WTO). The two sides reached an agreement on two Canadian-funded projects - one on quality control of food and agricultural products and another on banking reforms in Viet Nam. They also signed an agreement on child adoption, and decided to establish a committee to assist Viet Nam organise the APEC Summit 2006 and bolster co-operation within multilateral frameworks, including the United Nations and the Francophone community. PM Khai extended an invitation to the Canadian PM to visit Viet Nam and attend the APEC Summit 2006. On the same day, PM Khai met Speakers of the Canadian Senate and the House of Commons. PM calls on Viet kieu Earlier on Sunday, Prime Minister Phan Van Khai began his Canadian visit with a trip to the Museum of Civilisation, one of Canada’s biggest museums, and presented a souvenir. On the same day, Khai and Deputy Prime Minister Vu Khoan inaugurated the Viet Nam House, a newly-built centre for culture to foster Viet Nam-Canada ties, and met the staff of Vietnamese Embassy and representatives of the Vietnamese Canadian community. Deputy PM Vu Khoan briefed Viet kieu on the results achieved during the Prime Minister’s visit to the United States, the country’s socio-economic development, and its enhanced position in the international arena. He also spoke on the challenges faced by the country during this period of development. Asking Viet kieu to actively contribute towards national construction, Khoan said overseas Vietnamese were an inseparable part of the country. — VNS |
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PM Khai touches down in Ottawa to begin Canada visit (27-06-2005)
HA NOI — Prime Minister Phan Van Khai arrived in Ottawa on Saturday, beginning his week-long official visit to Canada at the invitation of Prime Minister Paul Martin. Khai and his delegation were welcomed at the airport by Deputy Leader of the House of Commons Mauril Belanger, and ambassadors of ASEAN countries in Canada and the Vietnamese ambassador Nguyen Thi Hoi in Ottawa. During his visit, PM Khai is expected to meet with Speaker of the Senate Dan Hays, Speaker of the House of Commons Peter Milliken, and hold talks with Prime Minister Paul Martin. Khai’s visit to Canada is aimed at ushering in a new stage of development in the multi-faceted co-operation with the country, especially in the economic-commercial, scientific-technological, education and training fields, and strengthening co-ordination at multi-lateral forums. The visit is the first by a Vietnamese prime minister since Viet Nam and Canada established diplomatic relations in 1973. Viet Nam and Canada have signed 16 treaties on economics, trade development, the avoidance of double taxation, aviation, administrative reform, education and training. The two sides are negotiating a co-operation agreement on child adoption and accelerating bi-lateral negotiations on Viet Nam’s joining of the World Trade Organisation (WTO). Two-way trade increased from US$121 million in 1998 to $429.7 million in 2004. Viet Nam exports mainly garments, leather products, footwear, bicycles, farm produce, seafood and handicrafts to Canada, while importing medicines, post and telecommunications equipment, plastic, pulp, chemical fertilisers and machinery. Canada abolished garment and textile quotas for Viet Nam on January 1, 2005. The country ranks 23rd among 69 countries and territories investing in Viet Nam, with 46 projects at a combined registered capital of $232 million. Canada has increased its official development assistance (ODA) to Viet Nam from $7.5 million in the 1996-1999 period to $10 million in 2000 and 2001, $18 million in 2002, and $26 million in both 2003 and 2004. ODA has gone into administrative reform, information technology, environmental protection, and education and poverty reduction programmes in Viet Nam. The number of Canadian visitors has also increased, from 31,000 people in 1999 to 40,000 in 2003 and more than 53,000 in 2004. Meanwhile, the number of Vietnamese students in Canada has risen from 298 in 2000 to 793 in 2003, bringing the total number of Vietnamese students who have studied in Canada to more than 1,500. — VNS |
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Viet
Nam to send first workers to Canada Early next month, 24 workers from Viet Nam will begin construction work in Canada under a trial contract signed between the International Human Resources Supply Company (Sona) under the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs and a Canadian company. The workers, all men aged between 24 and 36, will work in Canada for three years. Each worker has already deposited VND250 million (US$15,800) and will work 44 hours a week for US$1,500 a month. Sona Manager Le Quang Dat said that if the trial contracts are successful, the Canadian company will increase the number of Vietnamese workers for different fields. Tuoi Tre (Youth) |
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Canada celebrates its links to Viet Nam (01-07-2005) Celebrate Canada – 11 days in which Canadians honour the country’s original inhabitants, their French heritage and their multicultural society – culminates today, July 1, Canada Day. Viet Nam News spoke to Ambassador Richard Lecoq.
What special ceremonies will be held to celebrate the day and are there any planned for Viet Nam? Canada Day is the culmination of eleven-days called Celebrate Canada! The celebrations begin on June 21 with National Aboriginal Day to recognise and celebrate the essential contribution of indigenous people to the development of our country. Next, on June 24, Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day to honour the patron saint of French Canadians. On June 27, we have Canadian Multiculturalism Day, when Canadians pay tribute to the cultural diversity that has enriched our society. All these events culminate with Canada Day on July 1. On Parliament Hill in the nation’s capital, Canadians draped in red and white will celebrate with an all-day outdoor festival including an eclectic mosaic of Canadian performing arts and an amazing fireworks show. In Ha Noi and HCM City, the Canadian communities both cities organised family barbecues to celebrate Canada’s Birthday. More than 500 Canadians and their friends had a chance to meet and chat about Canada. You were posted to Ha Noi three years ago. What is your view of the relationship between the two countries? I have seen the relationship between Viet Nam and Canada continue to strengthen, culminating in this historical visit of Prime Minister Phan Van Khai to Canada. Solid bilateral relations with Viet Nam, underpinned by the 250,000-strong Vietnamese-Canadian community, has led to increased co-operation in multilateral fora and political engagement. Canada has supported Viet Nam’s international integration, and both countries have collaborated in important multilateral fora such as La Francophonie, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the Asia Pacific Economic forum and the United Nations. Viet Nam will also be Canada’s ASEAN co-ordinating country for 2006-2008. Bilateral trade has grown significantly and increased by 33 per cent during the past year. Viet Nam has become one of Canada’s 25 development partners where official development assistance will be concentrated; Canadian bilateral ODA to Viet Nam averages $30 million each year. Notable developments include the signing of a Canada-Viet Nam air transport agreement, Canada’s lifting of textiles and clothing import quotas and Canada’s announcement of a debt relief initiative for Viet Nam covering the next five years – it was $2.2 million for 2005.
With more than 50,000 Canadians visiting Viet Nam each year – most of them Viet Kieu – fostering this relationship is critical to building a stronger bridge between our countries. In June 2004, I had an opportunity to visit ten major Viet Kieu communities in five provinces to share an honest appraisal and to help develop a greater understanding of what is happening in Viet Nam. I see more and more young Canadians and Viet Kieu explore Viet Nam through travel, work and volunteer opportunities. How will Viet Nam’s Prime Minister Phan Van Khai just ended visit to Canada affect the relationship? This was an historic event. It is also an opportunity to strengthen the political and economic relationship and reiterate our commitment in helping Viet Nam’s continued development. The commitment of the two prime ministers to strengthening government, commercial and civil-society links resulted in the signing of major agreements including: The resumption of adoptions between Canada and Viet Nam; The satisfactory conclusion of bilateral negotiations for Viet Nam’s accession to the World Trade Organisation; The reopening of Viet Nam to Canadian beef; A friendship agreement between Quebec City and the City of Hue for co-operation in culture, tourism, science and technology and community development; and A memoranda of understanding between the Canadian International Development Agency and the Viet Nam Government dealing with banking reform and food and agriculture products quality and control. Viet Nam and Canada have successfully concluded bilateral negotiations for Viet Nam’s accession to the World Trade Organisation. How will Viet Nam’s admission to the WTO affect trade between the two countries and how long before we see some of the results of this admission? Canada has been a long-standing supporter of Viet Nam’s access to the WTO and the rules-based multilateral trading system. Viet Nam’s accession to the WTO will bring new commercial opportunities for Canadian exporters of goods and services. Although Canada’s bilateral negotiations have concluded, Canada and other WTO members continue to negotiate with Viet Nam on WTO multilateral rules. As Viet Nam has yet to complete bilateral negotiations with other WTO members such as the US, China and Australia, we can only hope for speedy and successful results to materialise soon! Canada and Viet Nam have decided to establish a co-operation committee to help Viet Nam in organising the APEC Summit next year. As a founding member of APEC, how will you go about it? It’s a great pleasure for Canada to help Viet Nam in organising the upcoming 2006 APEC Summit. Since its creation, Canada has been actively involved in various APEC committees and working groups, and we hope to bring our organisational and learning experience from the 1997 APEC Summit hosted in Vancouver, British Columbia to help Viet Nam organise a successful summit. I do not yet have specific details about Canada’s assistance as part of the co-operation committee.
What have you done to promote Viet Nam – Canada links during your term in Viet Nam? I have done a lot during three years. I really worked hard at visiting the Vietnamese Canadian community. We have ten Viet Kieu communities in five provinces. My objective was to listen to them and explain to them what is happening in Viet Nam and to explain the potential the country now offers especially in terms of economic potential. My second objective was to encourage young people to come to visit Viet Nam and understand the country. I have travelled to 40 of 64 provinces. What I really try to do is to create more opportunities for co-operation. I’m personally interested in minority people because they are poor. I think it’s important for Viet Nam to integrate them into development. — VNS
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