NA Standing Committee wraps up 22nd session

National Assembly Standing Committee members concluded their 22nd session in Hanoi on October 15, with a range of issues high on the agenda.

They commented on the draft amended 1992 Constitution, the amendments and supplements to some articles of the Law on Vietnam People’s Army Officers, the draft revised Law on People’s Public Security and plans on issuing additional Government bonds for the 2014-2016 period.

Lawmakers reached consensus on the agenda for the legislature’s upcoming sixth session and offered feedback on the 2013 socio-economic development plan and State budget estimate, the 2011-2015 socio-economic development plan, and allocation of the State budget for 2014.

They reviewed how the economic restructuring master plan and the 2011-2013 national target programme have panned out.

In the current domestic and global economic turmoil, the country has basically fulfilled this year’s goal of strengthening macro-economic stability, curbing inflation and achieving higher growth than 2012 while ensuring social welfare for all. However, the committee members noted that challenges still lie ahead as economic competitiveness remains weak.

High on the agenda were also the settlement of the National Oil and Gas Group’s 2012 earnings, the admission to the Convention on International Interests in Mobile Equipment and Cape Town Protocol on Matters Specific to Aircraft Equipment, and the signing of the Convention for the Prevention of Torture.

Lawmakers also debated the establishment of an additional professional branch under the State Audit Office, the 2013-2015 allocation of investment for its working offices and more priorities to its staff.

President: Farmers play crucial hand in national development

President Truong Tan Sang underscored the important role that farmers play in the cause of national construction and defence, industrialisation and modernisation as well as the country's international integration.

During a ceremony in Ha Noi yesterday, he presented the "Outstanding Vietnamese Farmer 2013" award to 62 eminent farmers to mark the 83rd anniversary of the founding of the Viet Nam Farmers' Association (VFA).

Throughout history, farmers –who currently make up 70 per cent of the country's population and over 50 percent of its labour force – have made significant contributions to the prosperity of the country and the cause of renovation, Sang said.

The President voiced his hope that the award recipients, as well as farmers across the country in general, would continue contributing to the development of the agricultural sector and rural areas.

VFA Chairman Nguyen Quoc Cuong said the 62 farmers honoured at the event had proven their creativity and dynamism, especially when it came to applying modern technology to production to boost both productivity and quality.

Russia, Vietnam hold political consultation

Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son and his Russian counterpart Morgulov I.V conducted a regular political consultation in Hanoi on November 15.

They briefed each other on the situation in their respective countries and discussed measures to strengthen the Vietnam-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership in all fields.

Both sides reviewed bilateral cooperation in such fields as politics-dialogue, economics-trade-investment, culture-education-training, science-technology, energy and oil and gas.

They compared notes on regional and international issues of common concern and agreed to speed up the implementation of key cooperation projects and fine-tune a legal foundation for bilateral cooperation.

The two diplomats praised the close coordination between Vietnam and Russia at the UN forums and international organizations—APEC, EAS, ARF, ASEM, CICA, ADMM+, ACD and Shangri La.

They consented to continue working together on protecting the two nations’ interests on the international arena.

The two Deputy FMs underlined the need to maintain the mechanism of political consultation within the cooperation framework between the two foreign ministries.

On the occasion, Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh received Russian Deputy FM Morgulov I.V.

The same day, Deputy Defence Minister, Senior Lieutenant-General Truong Quang khanh and Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Morgulov co-hosted talks in Hanoi during which they hailed the fine multilateral cooperation between Vietnam and Russia, especially in in military technology, defence industry and staff training.

They also discussed and agreed on a number of issues of common concern.

The two sides agreed to create the best possible conditions for the two navies to make visits to seaports, exchange experience and increase cooperation in the areas of defence industry and cooperate on energy security in each country.

Festival marks Vietnam-UAE diplomatic ties 

A Vietnam Festival is taking place in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE) from October 9-19 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Vietnam–UAE diplomatic ties.

The event is co-hosted by the Vietnamese Embassy in UAE and UAE’s Foreign and Culture Ministries.

The festival lured the public with a series of music and cultural events including folk music performances, a range of culinary treats offered by 2012 Master Chef Vietnam winners, and documents and screenings featuring Vietnam, its people and relations with the UAE over the past years.

On the occasion, Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Phuong Nga met with Minister of Development and International Cooperation Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi, Minister of State and Managing Director of Dubai World Expo 2020 Bid Committee Reem Al Hashimi, her counterpart Abdullah Al Hamed, Assistant to UAE Foreign Minister Tariq Ahmed Al Haidan and Vice Executive Director of Abu Dhabi Investment Authority Khadem Al Rumaithi.

During the meetings, the UAE said that they attach great importance to further promoting all-around cooperation with Vietnam while Deputy FM Nga voiced Vietnam’s willingness to promote multifaceted links with the UAE.

Both sides agreed to strengthen delegation exchange at all levels, prepare for the second meeting of the Inter-Governmental Committee scheduled for next year in the UAE and support each other at regional and international forums activities in celebration of the anniversary.

Both foreign ministries also concurred to boost consultations and work closely on improving the efficiency of cooperation in trade, investment, labour, oil and gas, and tourism.

Prime Minister greets Russian official

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung yesterday (Oct 15) met with visiting Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov, who arrived in Viet Nam to attend a session of the intergovernmental committee.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung meets visiting Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov who came to Viet Nam to attend an intergovernmental committee session yesterday.

The Vietnamese Government leader praised the 16th session of the Viet Nam-Russia Intergovernmental Committee for Economic, Commercial, Scientific and Technological Cooperation, ahead of the upcoming visit to Viet Nam by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Addressing the traditional friendship and cooperation between Viet Nam and Russia, PM Dung urged both sides to discuss concrete measures to enhance future areas of cooperation, as agreed by high-ranking leaders, adding that both countries would strive to exceed this year's US$4 billion trade target.

In addition to enhancing bilateral cooperation in education and the oil and gas sector, the PM requested both sides speed up the implementation of key projects, including the construction of a nuclear power plant in Ninh Thuan Province.

The PM also paid tribute to Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations between Viet Nam and the Customs Union of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan, calling on the Russian government to facilitate an early conclusion to negotiations.

The PM also lobbied the Russian side to continue supporting the Vietnamese community in the First Deputy PM's country, highlighting their role in contributing to Russia's development and serving as a bridge to bring the two countries closer.

The Russian guest affirmed his country valued cooperation with Viet Nam in current areas of trade, investment, education and training, security, science and technology, and oil and gas.

He added that his government pledges to speed up FTA negotiations between Vietnam and the Customs Union and create favourable conditions for the Vietnamese community in Russia.

He also flagged cooperation agreements on trade, investment, education and science were in the pipeline for the upcoming visit to Viet Nam by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Festival celebrates Vietnam-India cultural exchange

The upcoming sixth Vietnam-India People Friendship Festival will help increase understanding, friendship and cooperation between the peoples of the two countries.

The festival will take place in Vietnam from October 20-26, it was reported at a press conference in Hanoi on October 15.

The event will be joined by 30 Indians from the worlds of politics, culture and art, with a delegation led by D.P.Tripathi, General Secretary of the Nationalist Congress Party and Vice President of the All India Peace and Solidarity Organisation (AIPSO).

The Indian guests will be received by Party and State leaders, pay tribute to late President Ho Chi Minh at his mausoleum, offer incense at the monument dedicated to Indira Gandi, and visit Tran Quoc pagoda where there is a Bo tree that was gifted to Ho Chi Minh by Indian President Rajendra Prasad in 1957.

They will make a tour to the central city of Da Nang to explore Champa culture and the Cu Chi underground tunnels in Ho Chi Minh City, a historic relic site where local people took refuge and fought against US troops during the American war in Vietnam.

The event will include a talk themed “Vietnam-India Cultural Exchange” and a Vietnam-India joint artistic performance in Da Nang.

Nguyen Van My, Deputy General Secretary of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) said following the establishment of a strategic partnership between Vietnam and India in July 2007, VUFO and AIPSO have designed a series of activities in response to the strategy, including the organisation of an event to engage with people from all walks of life.

Accordingly, the first Vietnam-India People Friendship Festival was held in India in September 2007.

President: Farmers play crucial hand in national development

President Truong Tan Sang underscored the important role that farmers play in the cause of national construction and defence, industrialisation and modernisation as well as the country's international integration.

During a ceremony in Ha Noi yesterday, Oct 15, he presented the "Outstanding Vietnamese Farmer 2013" award to 62 eminent farmers to mark the 83rd anniversary of the founding of the Viet Nam Farmers' Association (VFA).

Throughout history, farmers –who currently make up 70 per cent of the country's population and over 50 percent of its labour force – have made significant contributions to the prosperity of the country and the cause of renovation, Sang said.

The President voiced his hope that the award recipients, as well as farmers across the country in general, would continue contributing to the development of the agricultural sector and rural areas.

VFA Chairman Nguyen Quoc Cuong said the 62 farmers honoured at the event had proven their creativity and dynamism, especially when it came to applying modern technology to production to boost both productivity and quality.     

President holds court with new ambassadors to Viet Nam

President Truong Tan Sang yesterday (Oct 15) welcomed newly appointed ambassadors from Cuba, Canada, India, Japan, Bulgaria and Uganda.

At the meeting, Sang congratulated the ambassadors on their new posts and praised bilateral cooperation between Viet Nam and the respective nations.

Ambassador Herminio Lospez Diaz of Cuba, expressed his admiration for the late General Vo Nguyen Giap, who passed away on October 4, and expressed his deepest sympathies on behalf of the people of Cuba.

Speaking on the 40 years of bilateral ties between Viet Nam and Canada, Ambassador David Joseph Devine, said the relationship had been a strong foundation for boosting bilateral trade, currently at US$2bn.

Also in attendance, Indian Ambassador Preeti Saran stressed the importance of tightening bilateral cooperation in education, tourism, commerce, oil exploitation and national security.

Japanese Ambassador Hiroshi Fukada also took the opportunity to reaffirm Japan's support in helping Viet Nam restructure its economy and through official development assistance (ODA).

The President gave assurances to the diplomats that the country would create the best conditions for them to fulfill the objectives of their posts.

Ambassador Evgueni Stefanov Stoytchev of Bulgaria for his part highlighted the importance of both countries assisting each other to enter the European Union and the ASEAN community.

Ambassador Wagidoso Madibo Charles of Uganda reaffirmed his country's support for Viet Nam's bid to join the UN Human Rights Council.

Officials meet voters nationwide

Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Fatherland Front Nguyen Thien Nhan met voters in Yen Dung district, northern Bac Giang province on October 15 to prepare for the upcoming sixth session of the 13 th National Assembly (NA).

Voters asked the Deputy PM to make clear wrongdoings committed by local authorities in policy implementation. They also urged him to draw attention to local concerns, such as the development of rural areas following the national model, the building of irrigation infrastructure and health clinics, an increase in environmental protection and more social security in industrial zones.

Deputy PM Nhan asked the local authorities to mobilise resources to protect trademarks and ensure the production and consumption of agricultural products.

The same day, Politburo member and Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Pham Quang Nghi also met with voters in Hanoi. He called on the city’s authorities to undertake their assigned tasks with a high degree of responsibility during a working session with the municipal People’s Council, People’s Committee and Fatherland Front Chapter.

He also expressed his hope that Hanoi’s NA deputies will promptly report the aspirations of the people to the assembly. Local residents have called for revisions of the Law on Land, arguing that it should focus more on agricultural land allocation for planting trees and development.

Also on October 15, deputies from the southern province of Kien Giang met with voters.

Most of the voters called on the government to amend a decree on rural and agricultural credit policies, introduce measures supporting agro-product prices and offer agricultural insurance to help farmers overcome difficulties caused by natural disasters, diseases and market risks.

They asked for the building of a Vietnamese rice trademark and support to farmers’ production and consumption of other crops instead of rice.

For their part, voters in the province’s island areas suggested that the officials, civil servants and soldiers working there should be given the same levels of allowance as those in other extremely disadvantaged regions.

PM congratulates new Vatican Secretary of State

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has sent a message of congratulations to Archbishop Pietro Parolin on the occasion of his official assumption of office as Secretary of State of the Vatican.

National Assembly vice chair receives Cuban delegation

Deputy Chairwoman of the National Assembly, Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, yesterday welcomed a delegation headed by Secretary of the Council of State of Cuba, Homero Acosa Alvarez.

Ngan said the visit was important for exchanging ideas between Viet Nam and Cuba, who's among the country's traditional partners. She called on both countries to strengthen ties in the future.

Ngan praised the dialogue between the Cuban delegation and various judicial agencies of Viet Nam.

Alvarez congratulated Viet Nam for its economic achievements and provided practical experiences in judicial reform.

President sympathises with factory blast victims

President Truong Tan Sang yesterday (Oct 15) sent a letter of sympathies to the families of those killed and injured in Saturday's explosion in a fireworks factory in northern Phu Tho Province.

At least 24 people died and nearly 100 others were injured in the blast, which tore through a wing of the Z121 military factory run by the General Department of the Defence Industry under the Ministry of Defence.

The explosion also damaged hundreds of houses in surrounding areas.

In the message, Sang asked ministries, agencies and local authorities to continue helping those affected stabilise their lives.

The families of those killed will each receive VND103 million (US$4,900), said Nguyen Duc Lam, head of the Defence Industry Department.

The aid will come from the Defence Ministry, the Defence Minister, the General Departments of Politics and the Defence Industry, the factory, trade union for the defence industry and provincial authorities.

Injured victims will receive VND33 million ($1,570) each from the ministry and provincial authorities.

The owners of damaged homes will receive VND10 million ($476) each from the province.

Initial investigations said a technical fault led to the explosion. Fire then spread to the production establishment where an estimated 17,000 boxes of fireworks were stored.

VNN/VOV/VNS/VNA