President: Vietnam hopes to conclude TPP soon 

President Truong Tan Sang has told US Trade Representative Michael B. G. Froman that Vietnam will exert every effort to push up the signing of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) that involves both Vietnam and the US .

During their meeting in Hanoi on December 2, the State leader said the TPP plays an important role in the external strategies of both countries, opening up new cooperation prospects for both sides.

He highly valued the coordination between Vietnam and the US during the negotiation process.

The President expressed his belief that with the efforts of leaders of both sides, all obstacles in the negotiations will be removed.

The TPP is the continuation of bilateral cooperation between Vietnam and the US , matching their comprehensive strategic partnership, he added.

In reply, Froman briefed his host on the outcomes of his working sessions with Vietnamese ministries and sectors.

He said the TPP is of strategic importance to the US in Asia-Pacific, which benefits all engaged parties.

Through the deal, Vietnam will enjoy more favourable conditions to further its regional economic integration, he said.

The US official also said he hopes the TPP negotiations will conclude soon with the best success. 

TPP would boost trade co-operation with US

Viet Nam always realises commitments to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and bilateral trade agreements and proactively deepens its integration into the global economy on the basis of fast-growing and sustainable development.

PM Nguyen Tan Dung meets with US Trade Representative Michael B. G. Froman. -- Photo: VNA

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung made the affirmation at a reception for US Trade Representative Michael B. G. Froman in Ha Noi yesterday, Dec 2.

During the reception, PM Dung said the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) would lay a sound foundation for boosting ties between all stakeholders, including Viet Nam and the US.

The Government leader also affirmed that Viet Nam would closely collaborate with the US to reach the targets of the TPP negotiations in line with the balanced interests of relevant parties.

He voiced hope that the US would consider helping Vietnamese exports, especially garment and textile products, access its market and would help create agreements tailored for the two sides during the TPP negotiations.

Michael B. G. Froman stressed that successful negotiations for the TPP would boost co-operation between the two countries, notably in the fields of economics, trade and investment.

On the same day, the US Trade Representative was received by President Truong Tan Sang.

Voters welcome latest legislature from NA session

President Truong Tan Sang and HCM City National Assembly deputies met with voters from Districts 1 and 3 yesterday (Dec 2) to hear opinions about the sixth session of the 13th NA.

Local voters praised the outcome of the session, through which the legislature adopted many resolutions and laws, especially the draft amendments to the 1992 Constitution, which they said had progressive articles, particularly on the rights and obligations of citizens towards better protecting their legal interests.

They also welcomed the adoption of the land law, which they said clearly regulates the responsibilities and the role of State agencies in land retrieval to help prevent unreasonable land reclaimaition.

Voters also applauded the NA's decision in adjusting targets relating to economic growth, State budget collections and over-expenditures.

However, they asked the NA to increase their supervisory role towards issues such as over-expenditure quotas and action programmes of ministers following question-and-answer sessions.

Voters also raised concerns over the increase in crimes, environmental pollution and corruption and wastefulness in many localities and sectors, and proposed the NA have stricter regulations to deal with these issues.

Welcoming the sincere and straightforward opinions of local voters, Sang clarified some issues and stressed that issues of voters' concerns would be seriously considered to make work more effectively.

Can Tho voters satisfied with NA’s sixth session

Voters in Phong Dien District, the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho, have hailed the sixth session of the 13 th National Assembly, which resulted in the adoption of key resolutions and laws, most notably including amendments to the 1992 Constitution and the Land Law.

At a meeting with Politburo member and permanent member of the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat Le Hong Anh in the locality on December 2, members of the public suggested the Party, State and National Assembly come up with initiatives to stimulate rice consumption, build irrigation works and create new roads in rural areas.

They added that secondary students should be offered free schooling. Simultaneously, there should be ways to ease overload at Can Tho Children’s Hospital while power and land prices should be scrutinised again.

Anh made clear issues of voters’ concern and updated them with socio-economic performance, national defence and security at home, regionally and globally.

Sharing sympathy with farmers over their slow productivity and sales of agro-fisheries products, he asked local authorities to do all they can to clear the bottlenecks along the way while realising recommendations voiced by voters.

Further important suggestions will be submitted to the Party and National Assembly for consideration in the next session.

National Assembly Chairman certifies revised Constitution

National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung yesterday (Dec 2) signed the revised 1992 Constitution adopted at the recently concluded sixth session of the 13th National Assembly.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, he affirmed that the Constitution was a political and legal document of special importance, a fundamental law of the State that reflected the will and aspiration of the whole nation and provided strategic orientations for national development.

He said that the 13th NA's first session issued a resolution on amending and supplementing the 1992 Constitution and establishing the Committee for Drafting Amendments to the 1992 Constitution.

Feedback on the draft was gathered from agencies, organisations and individuals, including overseas Vietnamese. Based on their opinions, the National Assembly considered the draft during three sessions and adopted it on November 28 at the sixth sitting, Chairman Hung said.

The top legislator emphasised the historical mission of the revised Constitution, saying that it not only reflected the progress of the country but also ensured a firmer political and legal foundation for the State and people in the face of the era's new challenges.

With the adoption of the revised Constitution, the NA accomplished its glorious mission, together with the nation entering a new period of development, he noted.

The NA leader once again thanked people nationwide for their contributions to building the Constitution.

Vietnam, Belarus legislatures talk to forge ties

The National Assemblies of Vietnam and Belarus have agreed to further their cooperation by focusing more on coordination among its committees and speeding up the implementation of reached agreements.

The pledge was made during a meeting between NA Vice Chairman Huynh Ngoc Son and the Belarusian NA’s House of Representatives Chairman V. Andreichenko and Deputy Chairman Guminski as part of the former’s visit to Belarus on December 2.

The two sides committed to support Vietnam and the Customs Union of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan to conclude negotiations for a free trade agreement soon.

They will continue promoting the efficiency of consultations and close coordination at multilateral forums such as the International Parliamentary Union and the United Nations.

Both host and guest expressed their delight at the growing ties between the two NAs in all fields, with regular high-level delegation exchanges and mutual support at international forums and organisations.

At the meeting, the two sides also discussed the socio-economic situation in each country and the recent operations of the two NAs, and sought measures to further bolster bilateral cooperation between the two legislative bodies and the two countries in the future.

The Vietnamese NA Vice Chairman affirmed that Vietnam always attaches much importance to the traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation with Belarus.

He lauded the achievements that Belarus gained in its socio-economic development and political stability maintenance, as well as the rising status of the country in the region and the world.

Vietnam appreciates the support and help that Belarusian people have given to the country in both its past struggle for independence and its current national construction, he stressed.

Son also thanked the Belarusian Government for backing the Vietnamese community living and studying in the country.

He also took the occasion to invite the Belarusian NA House of Representatives leaders to visit Vietnam soon, and said he hopes to welcome them to the IPU Congress slated for 2015 in Vietnam.

Congratulating Vietnam on its success in its socio-economic development and external relations, Chairman V. Andreichenko confirmed that the Belarusian NA always treasures ties with Vietnam.

Top Russian medical scientist visits Vietnam

Deputy Defence Minister Senior Lieutenant General Truong Quang Khanh received deputy head of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences Genrich Alexandrovich Sofronov in Hanoi on December 2.

The guest is in Vietnam to attend a seminar on occupational medicine and health care for submarine crews.

According to Khanh, the theme of the seminar is new but useful for Vietnam as it prepares to establish a submarine force.

He said he hopes Russia will share its experience and boost cooperation with Vietnam so that the country can develop a line-up of submarine officials who can ensure national protection in the new context.

Genrich Alexandrovich Sofronov said Russia is willing to share with Vietnam its experience in taking care of sailors serving in submarines.

Party leader praises work of the VASS

Scientists from the Viet Nam Academy of Social Sciences (VASS) had played an important role in promoting basic theoretical issues regarding the country's development, said Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.

Trong made the statement at a meeting held yesterday to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the VASS.

Research results by scientists in various fields, such as economy, politics, culture, society, security and national defence, has contributed to the Party and State's policy making process, he said.

The academy's study had contributed to clarifying the developmental history of the country and people, as well as helping confirm the country's sovereignty, Trong added.

Together with scientific research, the academy also contributed to creating a strong staff of scientists for the nation's development, he said.

However, Trong said the current socio-economic situation requires the academy's scientists to study more to provide the Party and State with basic science, grounded in policy and national development planning and to serve as a foundation of social science research for the entire country.

Over the past sixty years, VASS staff of different generations had spared no efforts to contribute to the country's scientific development.

Reviewing the academy's development over the last six decades, VASS President Nguyen Xuan Thang said its predecessor - the research board of history, geography and literature - was founded during the fierce time of the resistance against the French in preparation for the country's post-war construction and development.

The academy now has a network of 35 institutes and research centres, plus magazines, publishing houses and museums, and a staff of nearly 2,000 people, he said.

It has made public tens of thousands of scientific reports and projects via domestic and foreign magazines, with 20 winning the Ho Chi Minh award and 24 receiving the State award, and published more than 7,000 book titles.

Such reports and projects have guided the country's socio-economic activities, helped extend people's knowledge and enrich their spiritual lives, Thang added.

He noted that the academy has established cooperative ties with more than 50 countries and organisations worldwide in the fields of research, personnel training and information sharing.

Thanks to its great contributions, the academy has been honoured with many awards from the Party and State, such as the Independence Order, first class, the Ho Chi Minh Order and the Gold Star Order.

In the belief that social science has become an indispensable tool of development strategies, plans and policies, the academy has accelerated research to provide scientific basics and work as an advisor for the Party and State, he said.

Vietnamese military delegation visits Malaysia

A delegation from Vietnam’s Military Academy of Logistics, led by Director Major General Luu Van Mieu, made a working visit to Malaysia from November 25-30.

During the visit, the Vietnamese team held a meeting with the Chief of Malaysia’s Defence Force, General Zulkefli Mohd Zin.

At the meeting, Zulkefli said his country’s armed forces want to learn from Vietnam’s experience in national defence, especially in army ordnance.

He expressed his hope that the visit will contribute to further promoting relations between the two armies.

Earlier, the delegation paid a courtesy visit to the Malaysian Navy’s Rear Admiral Nasaruddin bin Othman and held a working session with Defence Logistics Chief of Staff Hanafiah to learn about the Malaysian Armed Forces’ experience in implementing United Nations’ missions.

They also visited the MATRA Airbase in Subang, the Lumut Naval Base and the KD Pelandok naval training school during their visit.

Hanoi People’s Council opens eighth session

The capital city needs accelerate administrative reform, improve the investment environment, spur economic growth, ensure social welfare and improve the operational efficiency of People’s Councils at all levels.

Secretary of the municipal Party’s Committee Pham Quang Nghi made the remark at the eighth session of the Hanoi People’s Council which opened on December 2.

Hanoi posted an economic growth rate of 8.25 percent this year with increased budget for development and a stable consumer price index.

However, Chairwoman of the municipal People’s Council Ngo Thi Doan Thanh revealed limitations such as falling export turnover, lower than estimated state budget collection, high construction debts.

The environmental pollution is still a common occurrence in several localities and little progress has been seen in administrative reform, she noted.

The council will adopt policies that promote specialised agricultural production in the 2014-2020 period and the development of handicraft and craft villages, as well as the issuance, amendment and supplement of a number of taxes and land prices next year.

Participants heard a report presented by Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Vu Hong Khanh outlining the city’s socio-economic situation in 2013 and its plans for 2014.

VNN/VOV/VNS/VNA