Vietnam-US Dialogue proves effective

Vietnam-US Political, Security and Defence Dialogue

The fourth Vietnam-US Political, Security and Defence Dialogue concluded in Washington D.C on June 18.

Both countries affirmed that bilateral cooperation in coping with the challenges of international and regional security is a natural development of full political, economic, cultural and social relations and will help create a firm foundation for economic prosperity.

Both sides agreed that maintaining peace, stability and maritime freedom in the East Sea is in line with the common interests of the international community. All territorial disputes in the East Sea must be settled through diplomatic measures and joint cooperation without coercion or the use of force.

The two sides said statements on territory and territorial waters must comply with international laws including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

They also reaffirmed the importance of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) signed between ASEAN and China in 2002 and encouraged all parties to reach an agreement on a full code of conduct.

The US side said that the incidents in recent times failed to promote peace and maintain regional stability while raising concerns about maritime security, particularly maritime freedom, economic development, lawful trade and respect for international law.

Vietnam imports first batch of coal from Indonesia

The first 9,570 tonnes of coal imported from Indonesia has docked in Vietnam, which raised the question from the public: Why from once being an exporter, is Vietnam now officially an importer of coal?

The Vietnam National Coal-Mineral Industries Group (TKV) explained that the Government allowed the group to import coal at cheaper prices to run thermal power plants in the country.

However, the public showed concern about the management of coal exploration and the efficient use of this natural resource.

The TKV is scheduled to import about 10 million tonnes of coal every year from now until 2012, making people wonder why the group doesn’t consider stop exporting coal sooner instead of increasing the volume of coal imports.  

Cross-border worries

Vietnam’s functional agencies announced Taro jelly packets and 19 kinds of beverages imported from Taiwan (China) were found to be contaminated by the toxic chemical DEHP.

The plasticiser DEHP, used in a food additive known as ‘a clouding agent’, makes food items visually more appealing to consumers, but it is believed to contain carcinogens.

The testing for the toxic chemical DEHP was based on a warning from the International Food Safety Authorities Network (INFOSAN) and Taiwan’s health agency.

Consumers are now showing worries not only about domestic products but also imported goods, which don’t meet food hygiene safety standards.

Concerning food, in Europe, E.coli bacteria continues to threaten consumers’ lives. Three weeks after the first case of E.coli infection was detected, the bacteria has caused 39 deaths and infected 3,100 patients.

Statistics showed that most of the cases are in Germany, the rest are in 13 European countries and the US, and most say they have ever been to Germany.      

No commitment reached at World Economic Forum on East Asia

The 2011 World Economic Forum (WEF) on East Asia was held in Indonesia early last week to discuss challenges in the region and in Asia in general.

Many issues were debated and there were a lot of proposals related to building a cooperation mechanism among East Asia countries to cope with common challenges. However, the WEF couldn’t reach a commitment on the details.

The situation was explained by the range of differences in area, the level of development and political and economic systems. The question was raised: if a coordination mechanism is being built, who will be responsible for it?    

More blood, more life

Since 2005, June 14 has been observed as World Blood Donor Day.

2011 is the fifth year that the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, in coordination with the National Steering Committee for Voluntary Blood Donation and the Vietnam Red Cross, honoured outstanding blood donors on this day.

100 blood donors from 63 cities and provinces over the country were chosen to be acknowledged.

Last year, Vietnam collected more than 675,000 blood units, up 12.3 percent over 2009, five times over 1994 and three times over 2000. It is worth noting that the blood volume from voluntary donors rose by 27 percent over 2009. Also in the reviewed period, more than 350,000 blood units were collected from 10 provinces and cities, accounting for 52 percent of the country’s total blood volume.

In 2010, the rate of blood donation reached only 0.78 percent of Vietnam’s population, far below the minimum level of 2 percent for safe treatment.

The WHO says the total volume of blood can meet only 40 percent of the real demand in Vietnam and it is urgent to step up blood donation campaigns far and wide.

Thailand’s election race heats up

The election in Thailand, set for July 3, promises to be a dramatic race between the Democrats and the Puea Thai party.

The election race has been heating up since former premier Thaksin Shinawatra’s younger sister Yingluck Shinawatra, also the No. 1 candidate of the Puea Thai party, decided to become a candidate. She is considered a potential rival of Thailand’s Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.

The issue of national reconciliation to bring stability and further development back to Thailand will continue to be a difficult problem after the election.

Italy-evidence about political disorder

The Italian Government has faced many difficulties over the past two weeks.

Italian Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi, appeared in court to face charges of bribing British lawyer David Mills to give false testimony. The hearing on June 18 was part of the trial on accusations that Berlusconi paid his former lawyer 600-hundred thousand dollars in 1997, to provide false evidence about his business interests. Mills was convicted of taking the bribe and sentenced to four and half years in prison. But a higher court effectively shelved the sentence by ruling that under Italy's statute of limitations, the offence was committed too long ago to be punished.

Berlusconi denies all the charges against him, and says the Milan magistrates are politically biased and bent on destroying him. His appearance on June 18 was the first time the Prime Minister has turned up in court since an overwhelming number of Italians voted in a recent referendum against trial immunity for ministers.

Previously, the center-right coalition of Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi had suffered a heavy defeat in local elections in two main cities, Milan and Naples, which was seen as a key test of the premier's popularity.

In Milan, Berlusconi's hometown which has been led by a center-right mayor for the past 20 years, Giuliano Pisapia, the candidate from the largest opposition group, Democratic Party (PD), was elected mayor.