British minister says Vietnam is debating use of capital punishment
A British government minister says Vietnam has agreed to host a meeting on capital punishment.
Mike O'Brien, a UK Minister of State fror Foreign Affairs, is visiting Vietnam and says details of the meeting are yet to be confirmed but it's clear that Vietnam is starting to debate the execution of criminals.
The human rights group, Amnesty International, said last year that the number of executions in Vietnam was on the rise, particularly for drug-related crimes.
But Mr O'Brien notes that Hanoi has cut the number of crimes punishable by death to about 29 from 43.
Britain is the largest European Union investor in Vietnam, with direct investment of more than $US two billion.
Bilateral trade in 2003 was $US 1.2 billion.
ABC Radio Australia News - March 19, 2004.
Britain is willing to assist Viet Nam's entry into WTO
HANOI - The UK is willing to help Viet Nam join the World Trade Organisation (WTO), British Minister of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Mike O'Brien said at a seminar on the WTO and Viet Nam's integration into the global economy held in Ho Chi Minh City on Tuesday.
To become a WTO member, Viet Nam needs to adopt an open and equal capital system, the British Minister underlined, assuming that although Viet Nam has cut taxes on industrial products, the country should do the same on other products, such as vehicles and vehicle spare parts.
O'Brien was concerned that Viet Nam still levies taxes on many other products that will hinder investment into the country.
He noted that Viet Nam should give EU businesses preferential treatments similar to those it offers US traders.
The British Minister appreciated Viet Nam's remarkable achievements over the past decade, especially in the poverty reduction.
Britain's trade ties with Viet Nam have grown strongly in recent years with two way trade value exceeding 1 billion USD last year.
However, O'Brien suggested that Viet Nam push up renovation as a way of opening its markets, simplifying licensing procedures for investors and publicising statistics in order to catch up with other regional countries.
He stressed that weaknesses of Viet Nam's capital market has posed a big hindrance to the effective use of local and foreign capitals. He also cited the fact that ineffective State-owned enterprises were seen as a hindrance to the national economy's growth.
Vietnam News Agency - March 17, 2004
British Army chief visits Vietnam
The head of Britain’s Army began a week long visit to Vietnam today as one of the highest-ranking British military officials to tour the communist country.
General Sir Michael Jackson’s eight-day trip includes talks with senior military officials in Hanoi, a visit to a British demining programme in central Vietnam, and a tour of the Cu Chi tunnels in the south used in guerrilla warfare during the Vietnam War.
Jackson is scheduled to pay a courtesy call to legendary General Vo Nguyen Giap, 92, the military mastermind behind Vietnam’s defeat of the French and the Americans and the most prominent Vietnamese figure still living from that era.
Jackson is also expected to meet with Vietnamese soldiers enrolled in a British-funded project that offers English lessons.
The purpose of the visit is to further broaden military ties between the two countries that follows a September 2003 visit to Britain by Vietnamese Vice Minister of Defence Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Huy Hieu.
Ireland On Line - March 15, 2004
High level British military visit to Vietnam
The head of the British Army, General Michael Jackson, is to begin a week-long visit to Vietnam this weekend.
General Jackson, who will arrive in Hanoi on Sunday, will be the most senior representative of the British Armed Forces to visit the country.
During his trip, he will also visit central Quang Tri province, Hue and Ho Chi Minh city.
While in Hanoi, he is expected to pay a courtesy call on the Chief of the General Staff, Senior Lieutenant General Phung Quang Thanh.
General Jackson will also meet with other military officials to discuss the British-Vietnamese defence relationship.
In Quang Tri he will visit a de-mining project funded by the British non-governmental Mines Advisory Group.
ABC Radio Australia News - March 12, 2004.
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