Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party’s Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan has called on member nations of the European Union to continue investing in the development of the southern metropolis in 2018. Secretary Nhan convened a meeting with a delegation of ambassadors and representatives from European Union member nations on Thursday evening to discuss development plans and opportunities for 2018. During the gathering, Nhan briefed the guests on the city’s socio-economic development, urging EU member states to support, cooperate, and invest in a variety of fields, including technology, education and training, and high-quality human resources. Regarding infrastructure development, the southern Vietnamese city is seeking financial assistance and experience on building a modern traffic model based on successful initiatives in other nations, Nhan stated. Ambassadors and representatives from European Union member nations at the meeting. Photo: Tuoi Tre He highlighted … [Read more...] about Ho Chi Minh City seeks further investment from EU
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Ho Chi Minh City eyes enhanced cooperation with EU
NDO/VNA – Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan has asked the European Union (EU) to support the city in applying the 4th Industrial Revolution’s achievements in its economic development.During a reception for a delegation of ambassadors and representatives from the EU member countries in Vietnam, on January 11, Nhan highlighted the Vietnam-EU relations and the importance of the Union and each of its members in particular for Vietnam.While briefing the guests on the city’s socio-economic development, he called on the EU member nations to invest in infrastructure development in the city, especially in the construction of its urban rail transport.The city has planned to develop six metro lines, which will need financial assistance and cooperation from the EU member states, he said, adding that the municipal authority also wants to cooperate with the EU in climate change adaptation, flooding, and education-training.He added that the … [Read more...] about Ho Chi Minh City eyes enhanced cooperation with EU
Brexiteers back second EU referendum to stop ‘soft’ departure from bloc
Two of Britain's most prominent Brexit campaigners endorsed a second referendum on leaving the European Union on Thursday as the best way to stop EU supporters from trying to water down, or even halt, the country's departure from the bloc. Britons shocked the political establishment in June 2016 by voting 52 to 48 percent in favour of ending more than four decades of political, economic and legal ties with the EU. But, with the nation still deeply polarised, disillusion over the complexity of withdrawal setting in and pessimism about the economic impact of Brexit rising, many in the fervently anti-EU camp fear an eventual "soft" withdrawal that would keep key ties and foil any clampdown on immigration. Nigel Farage, a central figure in the "Leave" campaign ahead of the referendum and in its surprise outcome, said he was warming to the idea of holding a second vote to settle the argument on whether leaving was the right decision or not. "Maybe, just maybe, I'm reaching the point of … [Read more...] about Brexiteers back second EU referendum to stop ‘soft’ departure from bloc
HCM City eyes enhanced cooperation with EU, Busan
Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan shakes hands with ambassadors and representatives from EU member nations in Vietnam. Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan has asked the European Union (EU) to support the city in applying the 4th Industrial Revolution’s achievements in its economic development. During a reception for a delegation of ambassadors and representatives from EU member nations in Vietnam on January 11, Nhan highlighted the Vietnam-EU relations, and the importance of the Union in general and each its member in particular for Vietnam. While briefing the guests on the city’s socio-economic development, he called on EU member nations to invest in infrastructure development in the locality, especially in construction of urban railways and metro lines.The city has planned to develop six metro lines, which will need financial assistance and cooperation from EU member states, he said, … [Read more...] about HCM City eyes enhanced cooperation with EU, Busan
HCM City eyes enhanced cooperation with EU
Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan shakes hands with ambassadors and representatives from EU member nations in Vietnam (Source: VNA) HCM City (VNA) - Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan has asked the European Union (EU) to support the city in applying the 4th Industrial Revolution’s achievements in its economic development. During a reception for a delegation of ambassadors and representatives from EU member nations in Vietnam on January 11, Nhan highlighted the Vietnam-EU relations, and the importance of the Union in general and each its member in particular for Vietnam. While briefing the guests on the city’s socio-economic development, he called on EU member nations to invest in infrastructure development in the locality, especially in construction of urban railways and metro lines. The city has planned to develop six metro lines, which will need financial assistance and cooperation from EU … [Read more...] about HCM City eyes enhanced cooperation with EU
Migration to dominate southern EU meet in Rome
The leaders of Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, Portugal and Spain will meet in the Italian capital for a short meeting at 1800 GMT (2.00am Singapore time), followed by a joint press conference and a working dinner.It will be the fourth meeting of the "Southern Seven" since Greece's Alexis Tsipras launched the initiative in September 2016. The group met twice last year, in Lisbon and Madrid.Issues on the agenda are expected to range from the future of the eurozone, to efforts to propel growth, employment and investment, as well as preparation for the 2019 European Parliament elections.But from overcrowded reception centres on Greek islands to packed boats heading for Spain, the hottest topic is bound to be migrants.For Italy, 2017 was a turning point: the country went from large-scale arrivals in the first six months to a sharp drop off, thanks to controversial agreements in Libya.In the end some 119,000 people landed here, down 35 per cent on 2016.For its part, Spain saw a … [Read more...] about Migration to dominate southern EU meet in Rome
‘Vulnerable’ Afghans should be part of EU relocation plan: Greece
Under the scheme some 30,000 refugees, mainly Syrian, have been moved from Greece and Italy to other parts of the EU, a figure much lower than the 160,000 originally envisaged, to help ease the migrant crisis.Afghans currently make up the second largest asylum-seeking group in Europe, after Syrians, but have so far not been eligible for the relocation programme.The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) recommends certain categories, including "vulnerable Afghans" and "3,300 unaccompanied minors", should be included in the refugee programme, Philippe Leclerc, UNHCR representative in Greece, said at a press conference."Solidarity has to continue in the areas for vulnerable categories," he added.At the moment, only asylum-seekers of nationalities with an average recognition rate of 75 per cent or higher are eligible for relocation in the EU - a rate Afghans have failed to reach overall.The UNHCR, International Organization for Migration (IOM) and Greek Migration Minister … [Read more...] about ‘Vulnerable’ Afghans should be part of EU relocation plan: Greece
Polish PM sacks key ministers in move to mend EU ties
The prime minister was due in Brussels on Tuesday for talks with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, focused on the EU's unprecedented disciplinary procedure against Warsaw over its controversial judicial reforms, which Brussels says threaten the rule of law.Ahead of his departure, it was announced that defence minister Antoni Macierewicz and foreign minister Witold Waszczykowski lost their jobs along with environment minister Jan Szyszko, among others, at an official ceremony held at the presidential palace in Warsaw.Interior minister Mariusz Blaszczak took over the defence portfolio, while Jacek Czaputowicz, a deputy foreign minister with centrist views, will serve as foreign minister."We don't want to be a dogmatic, doctrinaire or extremist government; we want to be a government that draws together the economy and society, as well as the European and global dimensions with the local level," Morawiecki, who himself took office just last month, said as he greeted his … [Read more...] about Polish PM sacks key ministers in move to mend EU ties
Cheese is the beef as EU-Mexico trade talks resume
MEXICO CITY — The EU and Mexico resumed talks on Monday aimed at sealing a new version of their 18-year-old trade deal, a project that has hit several snags -- including the touchy issue of cheese. Mexico, which sends some 80 per cent of its exports to the United States, is keen to diversify its trading partners because of US President Donald Trump’s threats to pull out of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). It had been making fast progress on modernising its 2000 trade deal with the European Union. But after announcing they hoped to wrap up talks by the end of 2017, negotiators ran into trouble on some final details -- notably whether Mexico’s dairy industry has the right to produce "Manchego cheese," a product that originated in Spain’s La Mancha region. The Europeans want exclusive rights to that name, along with more than 300 other products ranging from wines to beers to meats. But that is a problem for cheese producers in Latin America’s … [Read more...] about Cheese is the beef as EU-Mexico trade talks resume
EU to invite Iran FM for talks over protests: Berlin
BERLIN — The European Union will invite Iran’s foreign minister for talks about the recent anti-government protests that have hit the country, Germany’s Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said on Sunday. "Together with the EU’s foreign policy chief (Federica Mogherini), we agreed to invite the Iranian foreign minister, if possible next week," Gabriel told German public broadcaster ZDF, without giving further details. 21 people have died and hundreds arrested since December 28 as protests over economic woes turned against the Iranian government as a whole, with attacks on government buildings and police stations. "We very quickly affirmed that we support the freedom to demonstrate and that the state should support this," Gabriel said. At the same time, Gabriel said Berlin will not follow the lead of US President Donald Trump, who pledged to help Iranians "take back" their government. Trump also seized on the recent unrest to again slam a multiparty nuclear deal with … [Read more...] about EU to invite Iran FM for talks over protests: Berlin