Legislature chief meets Ha Tinh voters

National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung on November 27 met with voters of Loc Ha District in central Ha Tinh Province, to hear their opinions after the 13th National Assembly’s fourth session closed.

The voters asked the National Assembly to put in place a mechanism to monitor the implementation of pledges made by ministers and Government members.

They also called on the legislature, Government and relevant agencies to pay more attention to agriculture, farmers and rural areas.

The NA leader explained to voters important contents of the just-concluded National Assembly’s session, especially the plans to publicise the draft revisions to the 1992 Constitution for public comment.

He stressed that the amended Constitution must reflect the will and aspirations of the people, and ensure the establishment of a more effective, more transparent and stronger State apparatus.

He also expressed his hope that voters and people will actively contribute their opinions to the draft revised Constitution, so as to make it a symbol of brainpower of the whole nation.

Several senior NA deputies also met with voters in their constituencies to report on the results of the NA’s 4 th session.

Le Hong Anh, Politburo member and permanent member of the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat, attended a meeting with religious dignitaries representing the 200,000-strong Buddhist Hoa Hao community in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho.

Politburo member and Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc met with voters in the central province of Quang Nam.

In the northern province of Ninh Binh, Politburo member and Minister of Public Security Senior Lieutenant General Tran Dai Quang discussed with local voters issues of public concern.

Party leader welcomes PT Chief

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong received the visiting Secretary General of the Labour Party (PT) of Mexico Alberto Anaya Gutierrez in Hanoi on November 28.

Gutierrez, who is also President of the Mexico-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentarian Group, praised the tremendous achievements the Vietnamese people have made over the years and expressed his confidence that the Vietnamese people will overcome every difficulty to successfully implement the Doi Moi (Renewal) process and to advance socialism under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV).

The Mexican Party leader briefed Trong on the results of cooperation programmes between the two parties, including wet rice and coconut farms in Mexico, Nopal tree plantations in Vietnam, acupuncture treatments for 250,000 underprivileged people in Mexico, the exchange of experience in education delivery and the translation of Vietnamese newspapers into Spanish.

Gutierrez also discussed the outcomes of his delegation’s working sessions with Vietnamese agencies and proposed a range of measures to further strengthen the ties of solidarity, friendship and cooperation between the two parties and peoples in the near future.

Party leader Trong congratulated the PT on its success in the July election and lauded the PT and its Chief’s contributions to solidarity and support for Vietnam and promoting the friendship and practical cooperation between the two parties and peoples over the past 15 years since the two nations established diplomatic relations.

Trong admired the CPV’s determination to persist with the path chosen by late President Ho Chi Minh to overcome challenges and speed up the process of renewal and international integration.

 The Party leader agreed to expand cooperation with Mexico across a broader range of fields and improve the efficiency of cooperative relations between the two parties.

During an earlier meeting between the two delegations, both sides updated each other of the socio-economic situations in their respective countries and compared notes on regional and international issues of common concern.

The Vietnamese Party and State have decided to bestow the Friendship Order on PT leader Gutierrez in recognition of his positive contributions to strengthening solidarity, friendship and cooperation between the two nations.

 During the visit, the PT delegation also visited the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and several significant economic, political, cultural, tourism and educational institutions in Danang city and Quang Nam province. They also met with representatives from the National Assembly (NA) Committee for External Relations, the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Education and Communication, the Communist Review, the Vietnam News Agency, the Central Acupuncture Hospital and staff and lecturers from the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics and Public Administration.

Vietnam treasures ties with China

Vietnam attaches importance to the traditional friendship, solidarity and comprehensive strategic cooperation and partnership with China.

Defence Minister General Phung Quang Thanh made the affirmation at a reception for visiting Major-General Wang Xixin, Vice Chancellor of the National Defence University of China, in Hanoi on November 28.

Thanh expressed his pleasure at the developing defence ties between the two countries, and gratitude to the Chinese Party, State and people for their support and assistance to Vietnam in its struggles against foreign invaders.

He emphasised the need to increase delegation exchanges at all levels, which, he said, will strengthen the friendship and solidarity between the two armies and peoples, benefiting people from the two countries as well as ensuring peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

The minister confirmed Vietnam’s defence policy of peace and self-defence, and stated that Vietnam does not join military alliances or permit foreign countries to establish military bases in its territory or use its territory against other states.

Wang expressed his hope that the Vietnamese Defence Ministry will send more officers to study at his university.

Prime Minister holds reception for Mongolian, Nigerian ambassadors

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung received newly appointed ambassadors from Mongolia and Nigeria in Ha Noi yesterday, Nov 28.

At a reception for Mongolian Ambassador Dorj Enkhbat, Dung said that Viet Nam wanted to boost links with Mongolia and was willing to help the country strengthen ties with other members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Receiving Nigerian Ambassador Mazi Matthias Ojih Okafor, Dung said the two countries should exchange delegations to boost mutual understanding, sign an agreement on investment protection and avoiding double-taxation – and strengthening co-operation in the fields of agriculture, oil and gas, and information technology.

Vietnam attends UNHRC meeting on ethnic minorities

Vice Chairman of the Government Committee for Ethnic Minorities, Deputy Minister Hoang Xuan Luong, led a delegation to the fifth session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) on ethnic minorities held in Geneva, Switzerland, on November 27-28.

At the event, Luong delivered a speech on Vietnam’s achievements and measures to ensure the rights of ethnic minorities.

He affirmed that the Vietnamese State’s consistent policy is that all ethnic groups are equal and united, respect and support each other for mutual development.

Since 1992, Vietnamese law has been always revamped to meet the fundamental rights and legal interests of ethnic minorities. Over the last 10 years, the National Assembly (NA) has promulgated 38 laws directly relating to this issue.

Up to 17.27 percent of NA deputies belong to ethnic minority groups.

Ethnic groups see their cultural identities respected and their languages taught in State education. All communes in ethnic minority areas are connected by road and have electricity, clean water, schools, post offices and healthcare centres, most of them have access to entertainment services like television and radio.

The Vietnamese delegation pointed out that despite gaining important achievements, ensuring the rights of ethnic minority people face difficulties as they are in remote locations, have poor quality human resources, insufficient land for farming, difficult living conditions and limited access to social services.

Luong said that in the coming time, the Vietnamese State will continue revising its legal system and policies, increase investment for areas inhabited by ethnic minority people, focus on solving the issues of agricultural land and water for daily use, as well as ensuring regulations on grassroots-level democracy.

The State will support ethnic minority people in improving their capacity and knowledge to help them effectively become involved in authority apparatus at all levels, he added.

South Africa, Vietnam formalise judicial cooperation

Vietnam and South Africa have endorsed a draft agreement on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters in Pretoria City.

The agreement was reached following the November 26-27 negotiations between delegations of the Supreme People’s Procuracy of Vietnam and the South African Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Development.

Under the agreement, both sides will assist each other in the transmission of procedural documents, taking of statements, exchange of documentation and evidence, among other activities.

Le Tien, Head of the Vietnamese delegation, said the signing, ratification and implementation of the agreement will lay a foundation for completing a legal framework between the two countries for preventing and combating crime, as well as strengthening their partnership for further development.

Vietnam-Laos relations progress

The time-honoured relationship between Vietnam and Laos has been nurtured and consistently developed over the generations, said Lao State President and Party General Secretary Chummaly Saynhasone.

The Lao leader made the remark while receiving outgoing Vietnam Ambassador Ta Minh Chau in Vientiane on November 27.

He praised Chau for his great efforts in strengthening bilateral ties during his term there.

The Vietnamese diplomat was presented with the Lao Labour Order, first class, in recognition of his contributions to deepening the two countries’ friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation.

Ambassador Chau said that in recent years, Vietnam and Laos have experienced solid development across various fields, including politics, economics, culture, education, and national security and defence.

To date, Vietnam has invested nearly US$5 billion in more than 400 projects in Laos, ranking third amongst Laos’ three largest foreign investors.

Two-way trade turnover is expected to reach nearly US$1 billion in 2012.

VNN/VOV/VNS/VNA