President to speak in UN Assembly debate

President Nguyen Minh Triet

President Triet is expected to deliver a speech at the assembly’s general debate, which will highlight Viet Nam’s foreign policy of deepening bilateral and multilateral relations, reflecting its positive, constructive and responsible contributions to the UN.

The general debate will focus on ways to tackle global crises, including those to strengthen multilateralism and dialogue among cultures for international peace, security and development.

On the sidelines of the general debate, the Vietnamese leader is scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with a number of heads of state, prime ministers and heads of delegations, as well as UN leaders.

The UN General Assembly’s 64th session will include discussions on a wide range of issues, including development in Africa, maintenance of international peace and security, promotion of human rights, sustained economic growth and sustainable development and effective co-ordination of humanitarian assistance efforts.

Also tabled for discussion will be the promotion of justice and international law, disarmament, drug control, crime prevention and the fight against international terrorism, as well as organisational and administrative matters.

Viet Nam as a non-permanent member of the Security Council for the 2008-2009 term, has won applause from many UN member states and the UN Security General for the nation’s positive and constructive constributions to the UN’s general activities.

Viet Nam has succesfully fulfilled its Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) as well as the One United Nations initiative, which was designed, which was designed to overhaul and reform the UN’s operations.

VIet Nam has been pursuing its policy of fostering peace and countering the arms race, as the country has signed up to every multilateral treaty on disarmanent and non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and has strictly stuck to these commitments.

Viet Nam completed its term as Security Council Chair in July 2008 and has finalised all preparations for when it takes over the rotating presidency of the council for the second time next month.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Gia Khiem is expected to chair the first meeting of the Security Council in October, focusing on the theme of women, peace and security.

While chairing the Security Council, Viet Nam will present a report to the General Assembly on the council’s activities during the 2008-09 period and provide information about the meetings with non-UNSC member states, especially ASEAN and Non-Aligned Movement nations.

President to visit Cuba 

After meetings at the UN, President Nguyen Minh Triet will make an official visit to Cuba from Saturday to Tuesday at the invitation of Cuban President Raul Castro.

The President will then visit Chile at the invitation of Chilean President Michelle Bachelet.

The visits are to strengthen traditional friendship and promote bilateral economic and trade relations.

Viet Nam and Cuba have enjoyed a special solidarity since December 2, 1960, when the two countries established diplomatic relations.

Cuba was among the first and a leading nation in the world movement to support Viet Nam in her struggle for national liberation and construction.

The country has supported and shared with Viet Nam her high expertise in construction, transportation, biotechnology, health care, agriculture and sports.

In recent years, the two countries have regularly exchanged high-level delegations.

The two-way trade turnover between Viet Nam and Cuba has increased every year. It grew from US$300 million in 2006 to $497 million in 2008 and is well on its way to an even higher figure this year.

Co-operation between Viet Nam and Cuba has expanded in oil and gas, the production of consumer products, electronic spare parts, telecommunications and tourism.

Following his visit to Cuba, Triet will travel to Chile. The relationship between the two nations has been raised to a high level through the exchange of visits by senior Party and Government delegations.

During a visit to Chile by Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh, the two countries issued a Joint Statement towards a Comprehensive Partnership Relationship.

A series of co-operative agreements on diplomatic-politics, trade-economics, science and technology, culture and tourism were also signed.

Two-way trade turnover between the two countries has also increased from $18.6 million in 2000 to $240 million in 2007.

Chile imports from Viet Nam leather shoes, garments and textiles, coffee, plastic articles and furniture, while Viet Nam imports from Chile non-ferrous metal, timber and wine.

To promote their economic co-operation, the two countries are about to hold the fourth round of negotiations on a bilateral free trade agreement later this month.

Chile is backing Viet Nam’s effort to become a member of the United Nations Economic and Social Council.

(Source: VNS)