HA NOI — Permanent Secretary of the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs Sihasak Phuangketkeow was in Viet Nam to co-chair the second political consultation meeting between the two foreign ministries. The Thai diplomat last Friday paid a courtesy visit to Vietnamese Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh, who said he was pleased with the fine development in the two countries' bilateral co-operation in various fields, including politics-diplomacy, defence-security and trade-investment. Sihasak Phuangketkeow spoke highly of the effective implementation of bilateral co-operation mechanisms, including the meeting of the Viet Nam-Thailand Joint Committee on Trade Co-operation in Ha Noi in July and the Viet Nam-Thailand Joint Working Group on Political and Security Co-operation meeting in Hua Hin earlier this month. Exchanging views on international and regional issues, the two sides pledged to promote ASEAN's six-point principle on the East Sea and co-ordinate in accelerating discussions with … [Read more...] about Senior Thai diplomat co-chairs political consultative meeting
Politics
President honours national politics academy
President Truong Tan Sang on Nov. 19 called on the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics and Public Administration to continue its role as the nation's premier institution in providing training and research on Marxism-Leninism philosophy and Ho Chi Minh Thought. Speaking at the institute on the occasion of the National Teacher's Day (Nov. 20), the President praised the institute for having trained thousands of staff and cadres, many of whom have become core members of the Party and the Government. However, amid societal changes and the resolution of the Party Congress XI that outlined the task of improving the education and training of state cadres whilst upholding morality and ethics, the institute had a major responsibility to improve the quality of training and preventing people from pursuing meaningless qualifications, Sang emphasised. The President also stressed that the institute should focus on research and work that would further clarify issues related to the Party, … [Read more...] about President honours national politics academy
VN, US discuss politics, security, defence
HA NOI — Bilateral, regional and global issues were on agenda at the fifth annual Viet Nam-US Political, Security and Defence Dialogue in Ha Noi yesterday. The event was co-chaired by Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister Le Luong Minh and US Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs Andrew Shapiro. The two sides affirmed their shared interest in elevating their partnership as discussed during the fourth dialogue in Washington in June last year and reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the bilateral relationship. They agreed to promote the exchange of high-ranking delegations and boost bilateral co-operation in priority fields, such as trade, investment and economics, science and technology, education and training, and coping with climate change and rising sea levels. They addressed measures to strengthen co-operation in multiple areas, including non-proliferation, counterterrorism, law enforcement and information sharing, maritime security, humanitarian … [Read more...] about VN, US discuss politics, security, defence
Vietnamese political academy bolsters ties with Lao counterpart
Politburo member and Secretary of the Party Central Committee To Huy Rua said he hopes the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics and Public Administration and Lao National Academy of Politics and Public Administration (NAPPA) will continue to strengthen cooperation. Rua made the comment on June 1 while receiving an NAPPA delegation led by director Kikeo Khaykhamphithoune. He said the delegation's working visit is valued highly and contributed to raising the special relationship between the two countries to a higher level. Kikeo Khaykhamphithoune affirmed that the two academies will tighten their co-operative activities in implementing their entrusted political tasks. He also informed Rua about the achievements made by the academy during the recent time.-VNA … [Read more...] about Vietnamese political academy bolsters ties with Lao counterpart
Myanmar to free all political prisoners by year end: president
LONDON – Myanmar President Thein Sein said on Monday that all political prisoners would be freed by the end of the year and that a ceasefire with ethnic groups was possible within weeks. The leader's comments, made during his first visit to London, appear to be latest stage in reforms that Thein Sein has made since he took office in 2011. "I guarantee to you that by the end of this year there will be no prisoners of conscience in Myanmar," Thein Sein told an audience at the Chatham House think-tank in London. He was also optimistic about ending decades of conflict that have raged between the government and more than a dozen ethnic groups since the country formerly known as Burma won independence from Britain in 1948. "Very possibly over the coming weeks we will have a nationwide ceasefire and the guns will go silent everywhere in Myanmar for the very first time in over 60 years," he said. "Difficult talks will follow and hard compromises will need to be made. But it must be … [Read more...] about Myanmar to free all political prisoners by year end: president