~ Le Viêt Nam, aujourd'hui. ~
The Vietnam News

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Trade between Russia and Vietnam up in 2004

HANOI - In 2004, trade between Vietnam and Russia was around $800 million, or 30% more than last year, a spokesman for the Trade Ministry of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam reported on Tuesday.

Over the past ten months of this year, Russian-Vietnamese trade has exceeded $694 million. The import of Russian commodities to Vietnam has topped $545.6 million, while the export of Vietnamese commodities to Russia has reached $148.6 million. The growth of imports from Russia has been registered in the group of such "traditional" goods as fertilizers (almost 150% more than last year), fuel and lubricants (over 100% more than last year), cars, and spare parts and components to cars and computers.

The supplies of local goods to Russia, in particular, tropical and farm produce (rice, tea, India rubber, peanuts, cashew, black pepper, fruit and vegetables), as well as light industry products (knitwear and plastics) have markedly grown. A considerable growth has been registered in the export of seafood (90%) and hand-made goods (79%). However, in the estimate of Alexander Sitnikov, Russia's trade representative in Vietnam, as of now, mutual trade makes up about 1.5% of Vietnam's total foreign trade, which has exceeded $57.5 billion this year. In particular, the country's exports have reached a record high, making up $26 billion, while imports - $31.5 billion.

RIA Novosti - December 29, 2004.


Vietnam speaks highly of Russia's role in activity of Asia Pacific Parliamentary Forum

HANOI - Vietnam highly estimates the role of Russia in the activity of the Asia Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF), chairman of the National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Nguyen Van An stated on Wednesday. According to the head of the Vietnamese legislative body, the parliament of the Russian Federation as one of 27 participants in the APPF has always played an active role in the forum's activity. "Russia's participation is of great importance in strengthening and stimulating regional cooperation within the APPF framework, which is focused on ensuring stability, peace and prosperity not only in the Asia-Pacific region but also in the whole world," Mr. Nguyen Van An said.

The speaker of the Vietnamese parliament also spoke highly of the participation of the head of the Russian parliament's upper chamber in the conference of the forum. According to him, the participation of the chairman of Russia's Federation Council in the forthcoming 13th session testifies to the Russian legislators' interest and responsibility with regard to this forum.

The APPF was established in 1993 as a forum of the dialogue among parliamentarians in the Asia-Pacific region. Its regular 13th session will for the first time be held in Vietnam on January 10-13, 2005. About 300 parliamentarians from 27 countries, among them Russia, the U.S., China and Japan, will take part in it. The Russian delegation at the forum will be headed by chairman of Russia's Federation Council Sergei Mironov who will also pay his first official visit to the SRV.

RIA Novosti - December 29, 2004.


Vietnam asks Russia to ensure Vietnamese students' security

Vietnamese Ambassador Nguyen Van Nganh on Monday sent his envoy to several senior officials of Russia to submit a diplomatic note, urging Russia to take urgent measures to ensure security for Vietnamese students in Moscow and the whole of Russia, as well as to track down and punish criminals. The note was sent to Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Minister of International Affairs Rasit Nurgaliyev and Minister of Education and Training Andree Fursenko of Russia, and Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov.

In the note, the Vietnamese diplomat stressed the seriousness of the case where two Vietnamese students attending Moscow Energy University were assaulted on Saturday night. He reiterated Vietnam's serious concern about the insecurity for the Vietnamese community in Moscow and Russia as a group of young Russian extremists killed Saint Peterburg student Vu Anh Tuan from Vietnam in October and recently roughed up the two above-mentioned students.

Also on Monday, the Vietnamese Embassy and the taskforce of the Vietnamese community in Russia met to discuss measures to support Nguyen Hoang Anh and Nguyen Tuan Anh in medical treatment. The meeting agreed to the taskforce's decision to launch a fund-raising campaign to help the two victims. Nguyen Hoang Anh was reported to have gradually recovered while his friend Nguyen Tuan Anh remained unconscious.

The Moscow Energy University's students association has sent its members to take care of them and encourage others to continue their study.

Radio The Voice Of Vietnam - December 28, 2004.