Vietnam, Belarus hold talks on security cooperation

Vietnam, Belarus agreed to boost their security cooperation in the future, Vietnamese Public Security Minister Tran Dai Quang and Belarusian Chairman of State Security Committee Valery Vakulchik said during a meeting in Hanoi on September 24.

The two sides agreed to increase high-level delegation exchange visits to share experiences in fighting transnational organised crime such as terrorism, cybercrime, and illegal migration. The two sides also highlighted the measures taken to ensure the safety of their respective representative organisations and individuals, and protect the legitimate rights of Vietnamese and Belarusian citizens living in the two countries.

Global and regional issues of common concern were also discussed during the talks.

Public security minister Tran Dai Quang highlighted the importance of the Belarusian security delegation’s visit to Vietnam, saying it marked a turning point in bilateral security ties and contributed to the intensification of the traditional relationship between the two countries.

For his part, Chairman of State Security Committee Valery Vakulchik thanked Vietnam for welcoming him so warmly, and expressed his delight at the development of bilateral security cooperation in the past years and hoped the bilateral cooperation would develop further.-VNA

President calls for stronger cooperation between Vietnam, Belarus

President Truong Tan Sang received the Belarusian Chairman of the State Security Committee Valery Vakulchik at the Presidential Palace on September 24.

During the meeting, Vakulchik expressed his gratitude to President Truong Tan Sang for receiving him and expressed his delight at the development of the traditional ties between Belarus and Vietnam.

The Belarusian Chairman of the State Security Committee also conveyed greetings from Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko to President Truong Tan Sang.

On this occasion, President Truong Tan Sang thanked Belarus for the financial, technological and educational assistance it provided to the people of Vietnam during its national struggle for liberation. President Truong Tan Sang asked the Belarusian Chairman of the State Security Committee to extend his invitation to Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko to visit Vietnam.

President Truong Tan Sang noted that in addition to the cooperation on politics and security, Vietnam and Belarus needed to maintain their traditional educational cooperation, and expand cooperation on trade, the economy and telecommunications. He said Vietnam had a great advantage in producing consumer goods, while Belarus was strong in the fields of heavy industry and energy. The two countries could complement each other, the Vietnamese State President suggested.

President Truong Tan Sang expressed his hope that the negotiation process on the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Vietnam and the Customs Union of Russia-Kazakhstan-Belarus would conclude in the near future.

Regarding Vietnamese-Belarusian relations, President Truong Tan Sang affirmed that Vietnam continuously attached importance to enhancing its traditional ties with Belarus, valuing the sentiments of friendship that Belarusian leaders and the people of Belarus extended to Vietnam. President Truong Tan Sang proposed the two countries continue to maintain high-level delegation visits and expand their cooperation in line with the two nations’ wishes and strengths.-

NA Vice Chair discusses gender equality with UN, Swedish Ambassador

National Assembly (NA) Vice Chairwoman Tong Thi Phong hosted reception for the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Vietnam Pratibha Mehta and the Swedish Ambassador to Vietnam Camilla Mellander on September 24.

Mehta briefed her host on the outcomes of the measures implemented to improve gender equality in Vietnam so far and the preparations for the first unofficial dialogue with Vietnam in this field.

She pledged her continued support for Vietnam in this field.

On her part, the NA Vice Chairwoman thanked Mehta for her support to the NA and people of Vietnam over the years, and for her contributions to the legal framework on gender equality in Vietnam .

She acknowledged that the unofficial dialogue was a new and flexible mechanism to boost cooperation on gender equality development. She said the involvement of NA leaders and parliamentarians would be helpful for the dialogue.

Highly valuing Sweden ’s experience in realising gender equality, she said learning from other countries’ experiences was important for Vietnam to develop its legal system on gender equality.

Congratulatory messages on Guinea-Bissau’s National Day

State President Truong Tan Sang sent his congratulatory wishes to Guinea- Bissau’s President Jose Mario Vaz on the 41st National Day of Guinea- Bissau on September 24.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh also sent message of congratulation to Guinea- Bissau’s Foreign Minister Mario Lopes da Rosa.

Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Pham Quang Nghi expressed his hope to learn from Singapore’s experience in urban planning and management, real estate development, urban underground space usage, and social housing provision.

In a meeting with former Prime Minister and Emeritus Senior Minister of Singapore Goh Chok Tong on September 24, the Hanoi leader proposed the Singaporean Government encourage businesses to strengthen their investments in Vietnam, particularly in agriculture, technology, infrastructure, finance and maritime transport.

Nghi spoke highly of the two countries’ cooperation and said that Singapore’s support in terms of direct investment and technical assistance, especially via the Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Parks, had helped boost the country’s socio-economic development. Singapore is Vietnam’s largest trade partner and investor.

Highlighting the efficiency of cooperation on education, he suggested that Singapore continue to award scholarships to Vietnamese students, assist Vietnam in developing the professional and English skills of management officials, and provide vocational training.

Vietnam, and Hanoi in particular, would create favourable conditions for Singaporean citizens and business living and operating in the country, Nghi stated.

Goh Chok Tong agreed with his host’s proposal to encourage businesses to invest in Vietnam, saying that it would benefit the two sides and support Vietnam in enhancing its technical, managerial and financial capacities.

The former Singaporean PM also suggested that Vietnam improve its investment environment by reforming and completing its legal system in a bid to attract more investment.

VFF agrees on personnel plans for next tenure

The Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee held its eighth conference in Hanoi on September 24, outlining the organisation’s personnel plans for the eighth tenure (2014-2019).

The VFF Central Committee is set to comprise 385 members, 30 more than during the previous tenure, with 11.6 percent from the central level, 16.4 percent from the country’s numerous localities, and the rest from different classes, sectors, ethnic minority groups and religions, both inside and outside the country.

According to the plans, 50.9 percent of the total members are non-Party members, and 21 percent are female.

That same day, VFF agreed on a 62-member Presidential Board, made up of 22 VFF representatives at the central level, 13 VFF representatives at the local level and 27 overseas Vietnamese.

A plan for VFF’s Standing Committee was also devised, including a president and a vice president/ and general secretary.

Candidates were already nominated for the positions, including the current VFF leader Nguyen Thien Nhan, who was nominated for President.

Members of the VFF Central Committee and Presidential Board gave feedback on the VFF Appeal, which calls for the broader engagement of community members in VFF’s efforts to supervise and critique society.

VFF president Nguyen Thien Nhan said the appeal’s editorial team would compile the feedback before circulating a draft to all VFF members.

Training high-calibre officials is priority: Party chief

One of the priorities for the country’s next stage of development is to produce a contingent of high-calibre officials, both in terms of morals and intellect, and in senior positions in particular, Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong said.

He addressed a ceremony commemorating the 65th anniversary of the founding of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics and Public Administration in Hanoi on September 24.

He asked the academy to revise its curricula, especially the basics on Marxism-Leninism and Ho Chi Minh’s thoughts, and overhaul management practices.

In view of the current situation, training should focus on political firmness, virtues and lifestyle a bid to address moral degradation amongst Party members, he said.

Additionally, the Party leader requested regular updates of scientific data on the impacts on policy and law-making.

He suggested the academy train a cohort of qualified researchers and lecturers, as well as nurturing young talents, upgrading facilities, boosting the Party and expanding ties with foreign partners.

Concluding his speech, the leader expressed his belief that the academy would fulfil its assigned tasks, just as the Party, State and people trusted the institution to do.

Originally called the Nguyen Ai Quoc Party school, the academy has trained hundreds of thousands of mid and high-level managers and lecturers, many of whom now have successful careers in the Party, State and local administration.

The academy has been awarded the Golden Star Order, Ho Chi Minh Order, and the Labour Hero title in the Renewal Process.

On the occasion, the academy was once again presented with the Ho Chi Minh Order.

The event was also graced by the presence of former Party and State leaders.

Vietnamese senior officers visit Cambodia

Head of the General Department of Politics under the Vietnam People’s Army Senior Lieutenant General Ngo Xuan Lich is paying a working visit to Cambodia from September 24-27.

Ngo Xuan Lich, who is also Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee, is accompanied by a number of senior officers from the border guard force, military zones and other departments of the army.

The visit, made at the invitation of General Neang Phat, Secretary of State of the Cambodian Ministry of Defence, seeks to further consolidate the friendship, solidarity, and all-faceted cooperation between the two countries’ armies and people.

Deputies discuss People's Court law

Chairman of the National Assembly Nguyen Sinh Hung yesterday called for clarification of the draft amended Law on the Organisation of the People's Court.

He said it needed to reflect the spirit of the Constitution by showing that the court has the judicial power and was an independent agency in its proceedings.

Hung was speaking at a discussion session of the NA Standing Committee on the draft law.

Representative of the People's Supreme Court suggested that the draft law give more competence to the Court in investigating and collecting evidence in criminal cases when necessary.

However, representative of the NA Judicial Committee said investigating and collecting evidence was the job of investigative units and in reality, no countries in the world allowed a court to carry out investigations and collect evidence.

However, the committee agreed with the People's Supreme Court that there was a need to establish a new specialised court to deal with administrative tasks which fall within people's courts. This new court is proposed to be named "Administrative Court".

On the same day, NA deputies also discussed the draft law on NA deputies and People's Council deputies election.

All agreed that it was necessary to have a law regulating the matter. Regarding the criteria for candidates, some deputies said the law needed to have more detailed requirements as well as identifying the difference between candidates for NA deputy title and candidates for the title of People's Council deputy.

While the draft law said that candidates for these titles must submit a health report issued by authorised medical agencies and a judicial certificate, many deputies disagreed.

NA Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung said the requirement to submit such documents would be a waste of time and money.

On the other hand, NA Vice Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan said the draft law had not addressed gender equality in making lists of candidates and suggested this should be clarified in the draft law.

Deputies agreed with an official document explaining why voting had not been organised for many overseas Vietnamese.

They suggested the issue be studied further so that Vietnamese citizens around the world could practise their voting rights.

VNS/VNA/VOV