General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee, Nguyen Phu Trong, will pay an official visit to China from October 11-15. Party Secretary General Nguyen Phu Trong and the Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam Kong Xuanyou. The visit will be made following an invitation by Hu Jintao, General Secretary of the Communist Party of China and President of China. This will be the first visit to China of Mr. Trong as the leader of the CPV. In the meeting in Hanoi on September 30, with newly-accredited Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam, Kong Xuanyou, Trong emphasized that Vietnam consistently attaches importance to strengthening and developing the traditional friendship and comprehensive cooperation with China. Trong said that the lifting of bilateral relations to the level of comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership crated a firm foundation and momentum for development of the Vietnam-China relationship in the future. Regarding the existing issues in Vietnam-China … [Read more...] about Party Chief Nguyen Phu Trong to visit China next week
China
Macron bets on horse diplomacy in China
The animal, a retired Republican Guard horse named Vesuve de Brekka, is in quarantine in China. But Macron was set to show a photo of it to Xi when they met on Monday (Jan 8) in Beijing.The French presidential office said Xi had been "fascinated" by the Republican Guard when he was escorted during a visit to Paris in 2014, but the choice of gift became a talking-point back home in France."Wishing to have friendly ties with foreign heads of state, Emmanuel Macron wants to make more than a gift - a diplomatic gesture," the presidency said in a statement.French historian Jean-Louis Gouraud, the author of a 2009 book on horses in politics, said he found the choice puzzling and wondered if it might be misinterpreted.Horse exchanges have long been a diplomatic tradition, but they were offered in the past to all-powerful Chinese emperors as a sign of deference by visitors, and the move could be seen as showing Macron in a position of weakness.On the other hand, the gift was a gelding - a … [Read more...] about Macron bets on horse diplomacy in China
Paid less than male peers, BBC China editor quits and speaks out
The BBC's China Editor Carrie Gracie has quit her post in Beijing to fight for her right to pay equality with male peers, posting an attack on what she called the "secretive and illegal BBC pay culture". Gracie's revolt is part of the fallout from pay disclosures the British broadcaster was forced to make last July, which showed that two thirds of the highest earners on air were men, and that some of them were earning far more than women in equivalent roles. Funded by a license fee levied on TV viewers and reaching 95 percent of British adults every week, the BBC is a pillar of the nation's life, but as such it is closely scrutinized and held to exacting standards by the public and rival media. Gracie's stand was one of the top news headlines of the day on the BBC itself and on other British media, and many prominent women from the BBC and beyond voiced their support on social media under the slogan #IStandWithCarrie. Gracie, who speaks fluent Mandarin and has reported on China for … [Read more...] about Paid less than male peers, BBC China editor quits and speaks out
China ships attack 23 boats since start of year, says official
Le Quang Thich, vice chairman of Quang Ngai Province said 23 local fishing boats were attacked by Chinese vessels over the past six months and there was a rise in intrusions by China's coastguard and fishing boats. Le Quang Thich "Eight Chinese coastguard ships and 184 fishing ships invaded Vietnamese waters," Thich said. "Compared with last year, the number of coast guard vessels increased by six and the number of fishing ships increased by 161." Thich said some Chinese ships came within 16 nautical miles of Ly Son Island. Authorities are conducting programmes to raise awareness so fishermen can better work safely while protecting the sovereignty of Vietnam waters. A fisherman said on June 10 that four Chinese ships surrounded boats near Hoang Sa Island. Six people boarded their their boat and stole their catch and equipment. Quang Ngai authorities are cooperating with the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour to build a memorial for fishermen and soldiers who died in clashes … [Read more...] about China ships attack 23 boats since start of year, says official
Exhibition features traditional Lunar New Year paintings of VN, China
The exhibition is jointly organised by Vietnam’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MoCST) and China’s Ministry of Culture.The opening ceremony was attended by MoCST Minister Nguyen Ngoc Thien, who is on an official visit to the country, Vietnamese Ambassador to China Dang Minh Khoi, Chinese cultural officials, among others.Addressing the event ceremony, Director of the MoCST’s International Cooperation Department Nguyen Trung Khanh said the event is expected to raise the awareness among Vietnamese and Chinese people of the significance of the biggest traditional festival of the two nations.Through the event, visitors will see the similarities in cultural and historical values of Vietnam and China, which have helped consolidate the growing friendship between the two nations, Khanh said.The exhibition runs until January 15. … [Read more...] about Exhibition features traditional Lunar New Year paintings of VN, China