Weekly Review
Foreign leaders’ visits to Vietnam and the Parliamentary elections in Russia have been prominently featured, among other events, in the past week.
Foreign leaders’ visits to Vietnam
 |
| State Vice President Doan and Prince Frederic of Denmark |
During his stay in Vietnam, he worked with State President Truong Tan Sang, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, and State Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan. All leaders agreed that both sides will spare no effort to lift Vietnam-Denmark relations to a new height.
Prince Frederic also attended a meeting to mark 40 years of Vietnam-Denmark diplomatic ties.
Important documents were signed between the two sides, including the Vietnam-Denmark Joint Statement on establishing a strategic partnership in climate change, environment, energy and green growth, and four other important cooperative agreements on safe water supply and rural environmental sanitation; maritime protection; building a quality management system and protecting intellectual property rights; and public management and administrative reforms in 2012-2015.
 |
| PM Dung and PM Myasnikovich signing Vietnam-Belarus joint statement |
During talks with Vietnamese leaders, both sides expressed their satisfaction with the development of the bilateral relationship, especially in economics, trade, and investment. They also agreed to raise two-way trade turnover to US$1 billion in the next five years.
 |
| PM DUng and Thai PM Shinawatra |
During her talks with Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, both government leaders proposed close cooperation to effectively implement ASEAN’s available mechanisms toward successfully building the ASEAN community to 2015. They also vowed not to allow any organizations or individuals to use their territories to carry out actions which could harm each other's states.
The Thai PM also worked with State President Truong Tan Sang, who affirmed that upcoming negotiations on a Vietnam-Thailand strategic partnership will open a new chapter in bilateral relations in all fields and contribute to building the ASEAN community.
The official visits to Vietnam made by foreign leaders expressed their keen interest in boosting bilateral ties with the Southeast Asian country, which they consider a close friend and reliable partner.
Vietnam announces 500 largest businesses
|
|
According to the list, the Vietnam National Petroleum Corporation and the Vietnam Post and Telecommunications Group rank second and third, respectively.
World Bank pledges continual support for Vietnam
Managing Director of the World Bank (WB) Sri Mulyani Indrawati said WB will continue helping Vietnam achieve its socio-economic development goals.
 |
| PM Dung and WB Managing Director Sri Mulyani Indrawati |
The WB Managing Director spoke highly of Vietnam’s recent socio-economic achievements despite the global economic and financial crisis. She also proposed measures to maintain high economic growth and curb inflation.
Her visit shows the WB’s eagerness to back Vietnam’s socio-economic development targets in the new context.
Russia’s Parliamentary elections begin
The seven political parties registered in Russia are taking part in the elections for the sixth convocation of the Russian State Duma of the, which began on December 4.
About 3,000 candidates are on the federal party lists. It means that seven candidates will be running for one deputy mandate in the 450-seat lower chamber of Russian parliament
The first polling stations opened in Kamchatka territory and the Chukotka, Magadan and Sakhalin regions as well as some districts in Yakutia.
The United Russian Party is likely to have the upper hand in the polls which will pave the way for its candidates in the Presidential election in March 2012.
Situation in Middle East worsens
The situation in the Middle East is getting worse as European Union Foreign Ministers agreed to impose sanctions on Iran and Syria.
Accordingly, 180 firms and officials in Iran and 23 firms and officials in Syria were placed on the EU sanction list.
EU ministers said that they would extend the existing sanctions by examining, in close co-ordination with international partners additional measures including measures aimed at severely affecting the Iranian financial system in the transport and energy sectors."
In response, the Syrian government decided to suspend its membership in the Union for the Mediterranean (UFM) as well as the Syrian-Turkish free trade agreement
Hillary Clinton pays historic visit to Myanmar
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on December 1 paid an official visit to the Southeast Asian country of Myanmar.
Myanmar President Thein Sein said the visit was “historic” and represents a new chapter in relations between the two countries.
Ms. Clinton is the first US secretary of state to visit Myanmar in 50 years.
She told President Thein Sein that she made the trip because both she and US President Barack Obama are encouraged by the steps the Myanmar Government has taken to help its people.