Political News Headlines 1/7 President bids farewell to outgoing UK diplomat President Truong Tan Sang hosted a reception in Hanoi on June 30 for UK ambassador Antony Stokes who came to say goodbye at the end of his tenure in Vietnam. Ambassador Antony Stokes spoke highly of the vigorous development of Vietnam-UK relations in various fields. In particular, on the basis of their strategic partnership, both nations have achieved good results of cooperation in the field of trade, economics, science and technology and crime prevention. The British Council pays special attention to education cooperation with the Southeast Asian nation by providing scholarships for Vietnamese students and supporting childcare projects, Antony Stokes told his host. He expressed desire to further boost education cooperation with Vietnam towards the establishment of the Vietnam-UK University in the central city of Danang. The British diplomat said he hopes that the Vietnam-UK strategic partnership will grow and flourish in the time to come for mutual benefit. President Sang hailed the ambassador’s efforts to foster the two countries’ relationship and extended his thank to the British government for providing ODA and funding Vietnam’s poverty reduction projects. Vietnam always places great importance on the strategic partnership with the UK, Sang said, hoping that more breakthroughs in comprehensive cooperation will be recorded in the future. Top legislator welcomes WFUCA President National Assembly (NA) Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung has appreciated the role, position and enormous contribution of the World Federation of UNESCO Clubs, Centres and Associations (WFUCA) as well as the Vietnam Union of UNESCO Associations’ initiatives. NA Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung received the President of the World Federation of UNESCO Clubs, Centres and Associations (WFUCA) George Christophides and representatives from the Vietnam Federation of UNESCO Associations (VUFA) in Hanoi on June 30. At the meeting, VUFA Chairman reported to NA Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung on his organization’s operational accomplishments over the past 20 years. From an organization with dozens of official members, the VFUA has had nearly 10,000 members so far including over 100,000 official members nationwide. The organization has made practical contributions to the nation’s goals of education, science, culture, and socio-economic development. The VUFA is also rated as one of the leading organizations of the non-governmental UNESCO movement in the Asia Pacific region and the world. WFUCA President George Christophides praised VFUA activities, saying that his organization will boost exchange and cooperation between Vietnam and other countries in all fields, especially in education, culture and science. NA Chairman greatly valued WFUCA’s noble mission and tremendous contributions to nurturing the friendship between peoples, protecting global peace, enhancing national cooperation and developing areas of culture, education, science, information and communication. Hung also acknowledged the contributions and achievements of the non-governmental UNESCO movement in the world that President George Christophides is a representative. He commended the VUFA for its initiatives in building new codes of conduct and relations and asked it to further promote the image of Vietnam and its people to international friends. The same day, Deputy Prime Minister cum Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh also met with George Christophides, who is also Vietnam’s Honourary Consul to the Republic of Cyprus. Minh highlighted the WFUCA’s assistance, noting that the Foreign Ministry will give further support to the VFUA to help it enhance its role.  FM Minh asked the WFUCA to assist the VFUA, especially in promoting Vietnam’s images, preserving cultural heritage, and expanding life-long study centres in the country. He also affirmed Vietnam's willingness to boost ties with European countries, including Cyprus, and applauded Christophides’s contributions to strengthening bilateral partnership. Both side should push up delegation exchange to promote mutual understanding and all-around cooperation, Minh added. HCM City signs pact with Rhone-Alpes Region A comprehensive cooperation agreement was signed between HCM City and France's Rhone-Alpes Region during a visit to the region headed by Le Hoang Quan, chairman of HCM City People's Committee, last week. The Agreement on Cooperation between HCM City and Rhone-Alpes Region in the 2014-2017 period highlights four priorities between HCM City and the Rhone-Alpes Region, including the development of a sustainable economic partnership, development cooperation, cooperation on training, cultural exchanges and training of young staff. Addressing the signing ceremony, Quan said the renewed agreement on bilateral cooperation indicates the two sides' efforts to enhance cooperation and match the potential of both Rhone-Alpes Region and HCM City. In December 2012, HCM City and the Rhone-Alpes region signed a number of agreements to enhance cooperation during talks between the deputy chairman of the HCM City People's Committee Nguyen Huu Tin, and Bernard Soulage, vice chairman of the Rhone-Alpes Regional Council. They included a cooperation agreement between HCM City, the Rhone-Alpes Region and the Lyon Urban Community on urban-related areas and an agreement between HCM City and Lyon on installing a lighting system for the main post office in Saigon. On Thursday, Quan opened the "HCM City Days in Lyon City and Rhone-Alpes Region" festival, while the HCM City delegation introduced a music show called "Songs from the City Named after President Ho Chi Minh" at the Palais de Mutalite in Lyon. Nam Dinh city celebrates 60 years of liberation The northern province of Nam Dinh held a ceremony on June 30 to mark 60 years since its capital city of Nam Dinh was liberated (July 1). At the event, local people recalled the milestones of their resistance war against the French forces. After occupying Nam Dinh, French colonialists built the city into a major industrial zone, with the largest garment and textile manufacturing sector in northern Vietnam as well as the entire Indochina under French rule. On July 1, 1954, Nam Dinh was the first northern city to enjoy freedom before the Geneva Agreement was signed, putting an end to colonialism in Vietnam and other Indochinese nations. Addressing the ceremony, Secretary of the provincial Party Committee, Pham Hong Ha stressed that Nam Dinh city always holds an important strategic position in the development of the southern Red River Delta region and Nam Dinh province in particular. From 2008 to 2013, the city recorded annual economic growth of over 14%. Last year, the city’s average income per capita reached VND39.4 million (US$1,900). Meanwhile, its poor household rate decreased to 3.1%. Source: VNA/VOV/ND/VNS