Party leader praises political academy’s contributions; VFF delegation visits Cuba; Vietnam, Laos boost socio-cultural cooperation; More funding for rural water supply, sanitation; Vietnam, Belgium step up scientific cooperation

The Party leader issued the praise at a ceremony to mark the 60th founding anniversary of the academy in Hanoi on September 25.

Over the past 60 years, the HNAPA has trained hundreds of thousands of middle-and high-ranking cadres for the Party, State and the entire political system as well as thousands of masters and PhDs in political theory, administrative science and other social sciences, he said.

The General Secretary said that the current situation is posing theoretical questions that need to be answered by experts and think-tanks, including the HNAPA.

In the coming time, the academy should make more contributions to the Party’s work on theory and pay attention to clarifying socialist concepts and the path to the socialism in Vietnam, he said, adding that its first task is to develop the 1991 Political Platform to be submitted to the 11th National Party Congress.

On the same day, the HNAPA received noble orders and medals from the Lao government for its training of Lao officials.

At the award ceremony in Hanoi, Lao Ambassador to Vietnam Sunthon Saynhachac and Director of Laos’s National Academy of Politics and Public Administration Kikeo Kaykhamphithoune, offered the Issara Order to five individuals, the Labour Order of first, second and third classes to 8 HCMA units and its 25 individuals; the Friendship Order and Medal to six HCMA units and its 82 individuals.

The HNAPA has trained 2,350 Lao leaders and officials. The academy has also sent experts and lecturers to work in Laos to help it map out training curricula as well as enhance the skills of Lao training officials.

VFF delegation visits Cuba

On September 25, the President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) and member of the Presidium of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF)’s Central Committee, Vu Xuan Hong, met with chief of international relations department of the Communist Party of Cuba, Jorge Martinez.

Mr Martinez praised the fraternal friendship between the two countries and informed Mr Hong about Cuba’s preparations for its national Party congress.

Mr Hong briefed Mr Martinez on VUFO’s solidarity activities with Cuba, especially the organisation’s call for the release of five Cuban soldiers detained illegally in a US prison. He also affirmed VUFO’s determination to promote relations with the Cuban Institute for Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP).

Mr Hong appreciated Cuba’s revolutionary achievements and expressed his belief that under the Communist Party of Cuba’s leadership, Cuban people would gain greater achievements in the process of national construction and defence.

The same day, at the meeting with ICAP President, Kenia Serrano, Mr Hong informed her about VUFO’s recent activities and shared experiences in managing non-governmental organisations and organising activities for foreign students.

During the visit to Cuba from September 22-29, the VFF delegation will attend the 49th anniversary of the establishment of the Committee for the Defense of the Revolution (CDR).

Vietnam, Laos boost socio-cultural cooperation

A delegation from the National Assembly’s Committee of Culture, Education, Adolescents and Children’s Affairs led by Chairman Dao Trong Thi has visited Laos from September 22-26 to boost bilateral ties.

During its stay in Laos, the Vietnamese delegation worked with the Chairman of the Lao National Assembly’s Committee of Culture and Social Affairs, Duangdi Outthachak, and Lao Minister of Information and Culture Mounkeo Olaboun.

The two sides agreed to spend more time exchanging experiences in the NA’s examination and control of cultural and social work and state management of information and culture, especially the preservation and development of their national cultures during the renewal and integration period.

The two sides pledged to further strengthen cooperation and cultural exchange, as well as coordination at regional and international forums.

On September 25, the delegation was received by Lao NA Chairman Thongsinh Thammavong, who expressed his hope that the two NAs’ cultural and social committees will continue strengthen cooperation and mutual assistance.

40th anniversary of establishment of General Department of Vocational Training

On September 25 the General Department of Vocational Training, under the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, held a press conference to announce some activities to celebrate the 40th anniversary of its establishment with a music festival on October 6-7 and a meeting on October 8.

During its 40 years, vocational training has contributed to promoting the cause of national construction and a system of laws and 107 normative acts have been set up and unified to create a legal corridor for the management of vocational training.

The network of vocational training centres is now well developed in 63 cities and provinces, spread over 600 districts, industrial zones and trade villages.

Enrollment in vocational training centres in 2008 reached nearly 1.54 million, increasing the number of workers with vocational training by 26 percent and achieving the objective of educational development for 2001-2010.

According to Cao Van Sam, deputy head of the General Department of Vocational Training, some measures are still needed in the future to focus on increasing society’s awareness of vocational training and raising the quality of teaching to meet the human resource demands for socio-economic development.

More funding for rural water supply, sanitation

Foreign donors have pledged to continue their support for Vietnam’s efforts to achieve its Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) on its rural water supply and environmental sanitation.

The commitments came after Vietnam and the donors gathered at an annual meeting in Hanoi on September 25 to review the results of a national programme in this field.

Le Tuan Son, Chief of the Office of the National Centre for Rural Water Supply and Environmental Sanitation, reported that an additional 2.6 million rural people will be provided with safe water this year, bringing the total to 79 percent of the rural population.

As of now, only 59 percent of the households in rural areas have hygienic toilets, or six percent lower than the set target, Son said, adding that 26 percent of the capital earmarked for the project, equivalent to VND1.5 trillion, was disbursed.

Kerry Groves, Councillor at the Australian Embassy, said Vietnam is unlikely to fulfil its MDGs on rural water supply and environmental sanitation by 2015 if the country fails to map out a strategy as well as a master plan.

He suggested direct decentralisation to local authorities in order to make the use of funding more transparent and professional.

Nguyen Kim Quy, Programme Officer at the Danish Embassy, said that despite its endeavours, Vietnam has obtained disappointing results in implementing the project, therefore it is necessary to promote the trial application of new approaches to environmental sanitation.

The programme requires more than VND7.3 trillion to operate from now through 2010, but the state budget is only able to meet a small part of the amount, some VND1.4 trillion. The rest is expected to be mobilised from donors.

Vietnam, Belgium step up scientific cooperation

The Vietnam National Fund for Science and Technology Development (NAFOSTED) and the Research Foundation – Flanders of Belgium (FWO) will each dole out an annual budget of €300,000 for joint research projects.

Officials from the two funds reached consensus on the cooperation programme during their meeting in Brussels on September 24, where they shared experiences in the management of areas of research and research projects.

The joint research cooperation programme will be implemented over two years, beginning in 2009, and might be extended if it reaps good results.

The officials informed each other of the receipt of research proposals which focus on a wide range of areas, including mathematics, computing and information science, chemistry, biology, medical and health sciences, geo-science, environmental and agricultural science, engineering, materials research, as well as social and economic sciences.

NASFOSTED Executive Director Phan Hong Son said the two sides will make final decisions on what proposals are eligible for funding in November.

The cooperation programme will create a new “play ground” for Vietnamese scientists, thereby improving their capacity in conducting basic research, Son added.

PV