Voters want more help for ailing businesses, but not real estate

Voters in HCM City's District 4 expressed their opinions about the country's economic restructuring in a meeting with President Truong Tan Sang yesterday, April 25.

Sang said the big issue of reform would be discussed thoroughly at the forthcoming session of the National Assembly in the middle of May.

 

 

President Truong Tan Sang (right) meets with voters in HCM City's District 4 yesterday.
 

Voters suggested the State should offer more help to businesses and consider cutting their income taxes during times of economic difficulty. But the State budget support should not be stretched to real estate businesses, they added.

Sang also fielded questions and listened to suggestions about Viet Nam's Land Law, which is currently going through a revision process. Voters said a better mechanism was required for negotiations between enterprises and residents for land acquisition.

The president promised that voters' suggestions would be submitted to the National Assembly for consideration.

Later while noting that defending national sovereignty is the consistent policy of the Party and State, Sang stressed that peaceful measures based on international law should be used to deal with disputes.

Viet Nam has recently published its long-term plans for development of its East Sea regions, confirming its commitment to keeping the area safe and allowing it to prosper.

Earlier in the day, Sang attended a meeting with the city's People's Committee to listen to petitions and complaints registered by members of the local population. The president said that receiving feedback from citizens was essential for maintaining stability, safety and order in society.

He suggested that authorities at all levels should hold regular meetings and dialogues with their people.

HCM City voters urged to contribute to constitution draft amendment

One of the most important activities of the upcoming National Assembly session is discussing the draft amendments to the 1992 Constitution, said State President Truong Tan Sang while meeting 400 voters in Ho Chi Minh City’s District 4 on April 25.

He asked the voters to make comments on the document, saying that their recommendations on land rights and ownership, land compensation and transfer will be passed on to the National Assembly for the adjustment and issuance of legal documents that keep up with the reality.

While noting that defending national sovereignty is the consistent policy of the Party and State, Sang stressed that peaceful measures based on international law should be used to deal with disputes.

Vietnam has issued its 2020 sea-based development strategy, which acts as an important guide to tap the sea’s potential for economic development, and confirm the country’s sea and island sovereignty, he added.

The State leader also answered the voters’ questions on petrol and gas price adjustments and economic restructuring.

Earlier on the same day, President Sang had a working session with the municipal People’s Committee to deal with public complaints. 

Less sensitive issues on East Sea discussed with China

Viet Nam and China have exchanged views on less sensitive issues involving the East Sea and other maritime issues.

These include the implementation of projects on marine environmental protection, marine science research, sea search and rescue, and preventing and responding to natural disasters.

This took place at the third round of negotiations on less sensitive fields at sea in Beijing from April 22-24.

They are based on principles stipulated in the Viet Nam–China agreement guiding the settlement of maritime issues signed on October 11, 2011.

The two sides agreed to give priority to three projects, including sea search and rescue, research on the island and environmental management of the Tonkin Gulf and research comparing Holocene sediments in the Red River Delta and Changjiang River Delta.

They also agreed to work closely to implement the projects and hold a fourth round of negotiations in Ha Noi later this year.

Mekong countries promote sustainability

A prosperous and environmentally sustainable Mekong region will help build a strong and united ASEAN and contribute to maintaining peace, stability, cooperation and development in Asia and the world.

“We believe in the Lower Mekong Initiative (LMI) and its great potential and the benefits its advancement can bring about,” he added.

The two-day working-group meeting, which ends on April 26, addresses trans-boundary issues, regional integration and the development gap in ASEAN member countries.

Hosted by Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the US Department of State, the meeting welcomed participants from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and the US as well as representatives from the “Friends of the Lower Mekong” and the ASEAN Secretariat.

Michael Fuchs, the US State Department’s deputy assistance secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, said that the LMI has made impressive strides since it began four years ago.

He noted that the region was witnessing a period of transformation and economic growth and integration that will create unprecedented opportunities for the 230 million citizens who call the lower Mekong sub-region home.  

“While we continue to encourage greater development gains, we should also remain alert to the considerable challenges that pose a risk to the stability and growing prosperity of this region,” he said.

While there has been improved infrastructure development and cross-border linkages and mobility, greater environmental degradation and emerging pandemic threats are imminent.

These realities indicated that connectivity must be improved and that greater opportunities for private enterprise and entrepreneurship should be encouraged, he said.

The growing demands for energy must be countered with the management of natural resources in a sustainable manner, Fuchs said, adding that these challenges could only be addressed effectively through greater transnational cooperation.

LMI has helped the area measure the effects of climate change, train pharmacists in identifying counterfeit and sub-standard medicines, and increase opportunities for workers to advance their professional usage of English.

Fuchs also noted that the US views ASEAN as a key component of its broader engagement in the Asia-Pacific.

“Our efforts under LMI are meant to spur regional integration within ASEAN and help build capacity among member states to close the development gap,” he said.

Other issues of common concern are health, energy security, agriculture and food security.

Speaking at a seminar on the sidelines of the meeting, Deputy Foreign Minister Son said that all LMI members have agreed to promote the participation of the private sector, especially public-private partnerships (PPP).

He said that training courses for staff and experts working on PPP projects were necessary.

Bill Magennis, managing partner of the Australian law firm Allens Pte Ltd, said that public-private partnerships are one of the fastest ways to develop infrastructure.

Party chief welcomes officials to ICAPP meeting

The Communist Party of Vietnam will continue to support the efforts of the International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP) in strengthening the exchange and cooperation between political parties in Asia.

Nguyen Phu Trong, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV), made the remarks at a reception for the heads of the delegations to the 19th ICAPP Standing Committee meeting in Hanoi on April 25.

The Standing Committee, of which Vietnam is a member, has made remarkable contributions to the positive and dynamic development of ICAPP, he added.

The CPV highly values ICAPP’s contributions to peace, cooperation and development in Asia, he affirmed.

At the reception, Trong also spoke highly of ICAPP’s influence and its success in promoting cooperation, dialogues, mutual understanding and experience sharing between political parties in Asia for peace and stability, as well as raising their awareness of issues relating to the development of the region and the world.

The Vietnamese Party leader informed his guests of Vietnam’s situation, including actions implemented by the Party and State.

The heads of the delegations spoke highly of Vietnam’s achievements during its 26-year renewal process under the leadership of the CPV.

They also highly valued Vietnam’s active participation and proposals to ICAPP’s activities.

The CPV has been an ICAPP member since the conference was launched in 2000. It was voted to the Standing Committee in the 3rd ICAPP General Assembly in 2004, and has held its position ever since.

Vietnam, South Africa ties deepen through time

Despite their geographical distance apart, Vietnam and South Africa have nurtured their traditional ties over the past two decades.

Since establishing diplomatic ties on December 22, 1993, before South Africa’s first democratic election, Vietnam and South Africa have enjoyed numerous achievements, especially in politics, reflected by the high-level meetings between leaders of both countries.

However, Vietnam-South Africa ties existed even before the official establishment of their diplomatic relationship – people from both countries united and supported each other during each nation’s struggle for independence and freedom. The two countries shared numerous similarities in the challenges they faced during their past struggles for national liberation.

Over the past 20 years, a number of bilateral agreements and memoranda of understanding on various strategic issues of mutual concern have been signed.

In August last year, South Africa hosted the second meeting of the Vietnam-South Africa Inter-Governmental Partnership Forum, which drew the participation of Deputy Foreign Minister Le Luong Minh. During the forum, both countries discussed bilateral relations and outlined prioritised areas in order to not only strengthen their current political ties but also expand trade and tourism cooperation between the two countries.

South Africa is Vietnam’s top partner in Africa, with two-way trade increasing from 200 million USD in 2007 to 640 million USD in 2011. The two countries are striving to increase trade to 1 billion USD in the near future.

Holding an important position in the developing markets as well as the global economy, South Africa is one of the top ten economies in the world with best infrastructure, financial services and banking system, - a promising market for Vietnamese businesses.

It can also serve as a bridge linking Vietnam and the rest of Africa and 14 countries in the South African Development Community (SADC) with a population of over 250 million.

The occasion of the 19th Freedom Day of South Africa (April 27) and the 20th anniversary of Vietnam-South Africa diplomatic ties is a chance for both countries to review and further their cooperation for stronger development and prosperous societies in both countries.

VNN/VOV/VNS/VNA