Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Khiem has affirmed Vietnam's determination to successfully host the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Council (SEAMEC) Conference, and hold the SEAMEC Presidency next year.

Speaking with P. Abdul Aziz Umar, SEAMEC President and the Brunei Minister of Education, in Hanoi on December 21, Deputy PM Khiem spoke highly of the visit and thanked him for his assistance to Vietnam.

"There are over 2,000 Vietnamese students studying in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member countries," the deputy PM elaborated.

He noted that there remained great potential for Southeast Asian educational co-operation, adding that exchanges of experts and expertise in education, training, and public health should be promoted further.

Mr Umar informed his host of the results of his working session with Vietnam's Ministry of Education and Training and praised Vietnam's efforts in education. He expressed the belief that the fast development of Vietnam's education sector was due to its correct orientation and strategy, and that he was committed to enhance co-operation with Vietnam and welcomed more Vietnamese students to study in Brunei.

(Source: VNA)

Deputy Foreign Minister Vu Dung attended a conference of deputy foreign ministers of ASEAN countries and China (SOM ASEAN- China ) to begin implementing the Declaration on Conduct of Concerned Parties in the East Sea (DOC), in Kuala Lumpur , Malaysia , on Tuesday.

The Vietnamese delegation, led by Deputy FM Dung had attended a meeting of senior officials of Brunei , Malaysia , the Philippines and Vietnam and a meeting of senior officials of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (SOM-ASEAN).

The conference is the first of its kind since the ASEAN and Chinese leaders signed the joint declaration in 2002. Participant countries exchanged views on the situation in the East Sea and the implementation of the DOC They agreed that both the ASEAN and China have made great efforts to implement the DOC, but the implementation is still coming along slowly.

Addressing the conference, Deputy FM Dung said Vietnam, a responsible member and one of the countries to initiate the signing of the DOC, did and is doing its best to contribute to peace and stability in the region, strictly implement the DOC and is ready to join efforts with other ASEAN countries and China to find the most effective measures for the implementation.

Dung said that, for early implementation of the DOC, it is necessary to focus on implementing measures to build confidence through suitable cooperative activities in less sensitive areas. He noted a number of recent developments in the East Sea , expressing Vietnam 's deep concern about the signing of separate agreements by some countries without referring to the opinions nor gaining the consensus of concerned parties. He said that this was contrary to the spirit of the DOC, and could create a dangerous precedence and badly affect peace and stability in the region.

Vietnam urgently asked concerned countries to immediately stop the implementation of these agreements, and do not to let similar activities re-occur.

(Source: VNA)

Vietnam Army 1 (VN1) won the ASEAN Army Football Championship after beating their compatriots Vietnam Army 2 (VN2) 2-0 in the final at HCM City's Military Zone 7 yesterday, December 3.

Vietnam Army 1 team players celebrate with the champion trophy of the ASEAN Army Football Championship.

VN1 Midfielder Phan Van Dai opened the score and Tran Anh Tuan fixed the win for the country's premier military squad.

Though the championship is only in its second year, the match is certain to enter the record books as the first all Vietnamese final.

VN1, comprised of players from the V-League team, The Cong, dominated the game by attacking strongly in the first minutes. VN2, consisting mainly of players from Military Zone 7, played defensively, countering VN1's fast-paced attacks.

In the 30th minute, midfielder Truong Viet Hoang sent a left comer kick to the goal area. Striker Nguyen Duc Manh returned the ball with a header to Phan Van Dai who shot on the net at close range.

In a rapid attack seven minutes after the break, Tran Anh Tuan fired a 20m cannon-shot to the back of VN2's net in the high right corner, sealing a convincing win for VN1.

It's the first title for VN1, made particularly special as it comes just ahead of the 60th People's Army Day, December 22nd.

The Cong, relegated from the V-League last June, will play in the league's First Division beginning in January, while VN2, or Military Zone 7, will compete in the Second Division.

(Source: Viet Nam News)

VietNamNet – Asian ministers are discussing nuclear technology cooperation for peaceful purposes at a forum in Hanoi .

The fifth ministerial meeting of nine Asian countries ( Japan , the Republic of Korea , China , Thailand , Indonesia , the Philippines , Malaysia and Vietnam ), all members of the Forum for Nuclear Cooperation of Asian Countries (FNCA), opened yesterday, December 1.

Cooperation in the use of nuclear technology for peaceful purposes, cooperation to train human resources for nuclear technology of each member country, while policy and future cooperation programmes are the major issues of this meeting.

FNCA was established 15 years ago, and for the first decade was dubbed the Asian Nuclear Cooperation Programme. Its name was changed to FNCA in 1999. Japan, which has the most advanced civil nuclear technology in the region, initiated the forum and is the major sponsor for this forum.

The annual ministerial meeting of FNCA is organised alternatively in Japan in one year and in another member country in the next year.

Member countries consider FNCA an effective mechanism for social-economic development via regional cooperation to use nuclear technology for peaceful purposes. Through FNCA, developing countries can improve their technical and material resources and to train staff.

There are seven cooperation fields under the FNCA: human resource training, reactor research, application of nuclear technology in agriculture, application of nuclear technology in health, radioactive waste management, media relations regarding nuclear energy, and safety.

Member countries are implementing 11 cooperative projects in the above fields. Vietnam participates most of the projects.

To prepare for the meeting, a conference for national coordinators of projects in member countries was held in Hanoi on November 30. At today’s meeting, member countries report on nuclear research and development policy and activities within the FNCA framework. They will also discuss two topics: regional cooperation in developing human resources for nuclear science and technology, and future FNCA policy and programmes.

Tran Hoang Ha

Prime Minister Phan Van Khai underscored political and security co-operation in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), saying these should continue to be ASEAN's top priorities.

Leaders of the 10 ASEAN countries join hands in Vientiane in a show of regional co-operation.

Addressing the 10th ASEAN Summit, which opened in the Lao capital Vientiane yesterday morning, November 29, PM Khai said maintaining peace and stability in the East Sea and accelerating economic co-operation should be fundamental concerns of the ASEAN community.

With the theme "Advancing a Secure and Dynamic ASEAN Family through Greater Solidarity, Economic Integration and Social Progress", the summit affirmed ASEAN leaders' determination to resolve outstanding challenges faced by the association.

These challenges include the widening development gaps among ASEAN members and between its members and the rest of the world, adverse impacts caused by the war in Iraq, petroleum price hikes, avian flu and international terrorism.

PM Khai said Vietnam supports the development of a comprehensive strategy covering ASEAN's relationship with dialogue partners, in which special attention will be given to links with north-eastern Asian countries. He confirmed Vietnam's support for an ASEAN-East Asia co-operation mechanism with ASEAN playing the key role.

The Vietnamese Prime Minister shared the views of Lao PM Bounnhang Vorachith that global socio-political issues, including the Iraq war, conflicts in the Middle East and parts of Africa, and a difficult world economy had inevitable impacts on South-east Asia.

The Lao PM said co-operation among ASEAN member countries has been strengthened, while ASEAN's basic principles of consensus and non-interference in each other's internal affairs have been preserved.

In his opening remarks, the summit Chairman Vorachith noted, "Since the previous ASEAN summit held in Bali, Indonesia last year, the association has recorded many important successes in political, security, and socio-economic development fields."

PM Vorachith said the Plan of Action on the ASEAN Security Community, and the Plan of Action on the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community signed by the ASEAN leaders at the end of this summit, would constitute another significant achievement.

ASEAN members denounced international terrorism, and confirmed their determination to mitigate the terrorism's influence on the bloc, and called for international support for these efforts. They supported a peaceful and comprehensive solution to the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue, and hoped the six-party negotiations would soon resume to achieve the goal of a nuclear-free peninsula.

Leaders expressed concern over current developments in Iraq and the Middle East, and pledged support for the United Nations' central role in the rebuilding of Iraq.

Signs of the times

In a flurry of agreement signings, ASEAN leaders endorsed the Vientiane Action Programme, a six-year plan that focuses on deepening regional integration and narrowing the development gap within ASEAN member countries.

They also agreed to set up an ASEAN Development Fund to support the implementation of the programme and future projects, calling upon support from dialogue partners and other countries, as well as regional and international organisations.

Heads of government adopted the ASEAN Security Community Plan of Action and the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Plan of Action to carry out the Bali Concord II —  a broad, long-term vision for an integrated community — which was approved at last year's summit in Indonesia.

The ASEAN Framework Agreement for the Integration of Priority Sectors was approved as a move towards an ASEAN economic bloc.

Under this agreement, the original six ASEAN member countries will liberalise tariffs in 11 key sectors, including textiles and electronics, by 2007, with the deadline for the new members (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam) by 2012.

The countries agreed to establish a definitive agenda by the end of 2005 towards the eventual removal of all tariffs for ASEAN traders.

Association leaders signed a declaration against people trafficking, especially women and children, as part of joint efforts to fight international crimes.

The 10 ASEAN members also signed protocols on sectorial integration and enhanced dispute settlement mechanisms.

(Source: Viet Nam News)