WB helps Vietnam upgrade technology; NA delegation contributes to IPU meeting; General Phung Quang Thanh receives Belarusian delegation

During a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan on April 1, World Bank Vice President Janamitra Devan said the public sector will lead while the private sector will provide the environment for science and technology.

Mr Nhan expressed thanks for the support that the WB has provided Vietnam in many different fields, especially in technology for socio-economic development.

NA delegation contributes to IPU meeting

The 122nd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) concluded in Bangkok on April 1 after six days of meetings, with many active contributions and commitments made by the Vietnam National Assembly delegation.

At its plenary session, Vice Chairman of the Vietnamese parliament Uong Chu Luu stressed that the IPU assembly served as an important venue for its member countries to review their achievements and challenges when examining the causes of wars, conflicts and national divisions.

The Vietnam National Assembly, he said, shared other countries’ views that actions should be coordinated to remove the deep rooted causes of conflicts – oppression, poverty, injustice, racism, and cultural and religious discrimination.

During the event, the Vietnamese delegation met with the IPU President and Secretary General, and also with the delegations from Laos, Cambodia, Belarus, Australia, New Zealand, Russia and Thailand.

The Vietnamese legislators also attended the meetings of the ASEAN+3 and the Asia-Pacific groups, and took part in a symposium on development aid at the invitation of the IPU.

Vietnam was elected to the IPU’s Executive Committee at the organisation’s 117th Assembly in Geneva. Since then, the country has actively participated in all IPU operations, winning high acclaims from countries in the region and the world.

Hai Phong urged to tap potential for further development

The northern port city of Hai Phong needs to build on its strengths, including its sea port, railways and airport, to accelerate growth, said State President Nguyen Minh Triet.

During his working session with the city’s key officials on April 1, Mr Triet urged Hai Phong to exert all efforts to become a strong hub, and a leading urban centre in the country.

The port city recorded a GDP growth vote of 5.75 percent and met 11 out of 12 socio-economic targets in 2009.

President Triet, however, pointed out the city’s weaknesses and difficulties, saying it does not take advantage of its railway system for transport of goods, instead using road transport with container lorries that cause traffic jams.

The State President made a tour of the island district of Bach Long Vi, where he called for more investments to improve healthcare and educational services as well as the living conditions of local islanders.

The city authorities need to make a master plan on infrastructure and open more maritime services for international ships so that Bach Long Vi Island can continue to be a centre for maritime and fishing logistical services, he said.

Mr Triet also visited the High Command of Military Zone 3 and the Navy.

General Phung Quang Thanh receives Belarusian delegation

Vietnamese Minister of National Defence, General Phung Quang Thanh on April 1 received a visiting Belarusian delegation led by P.A.Golovchenko, the First Deputy President of the Belarusian National Committee for the Defence Industry.

General Thanh warmly welcomed the Belarusian guests, saying their visit will help boost the two countries’ cooperation in various fields, particularly in national defence and military technology.

He said he hopes that the friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and Belarus will further develop for mutual benefit.

Mr Golovchenko, who is also chairman of the Belarus subcommittee for military technology cooperation of the Vietnam-Belarus Inter-government Commission, briefed his host on the outcome of his previous talks with Vietnamese officials.

Earlier, Mr Golovchenko and Lieutenant General Truong Quang Khanh, Deputy Minister of National Defence, signed the minutes of the 10th meeting of the Vietnam-Belarus Inter-government Commission.

35th anniversary of Phu Yen liberation celebrated

A grand meeting was held on Thursday at April 1 Square in Phu Yen to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the province’s liberation (April 1, 1975 – April 1, 2010).

Present at the meeting were provincial leaders, war veterans, leaders of provincial departments and organisations, as well as heroes of the armed forces, labour heroes, and heroic Vietnamese mothers, together with thousands of local people.

Addressing the event, Dao Tan Loc, Secretary of the Phu Yen provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Phu Yen provincial People’s Council, highlighted glorious military victories in Phu Yen which ultimately led to the liberation of the south and national unification.

He noted that during the war, about 13,300 people from Phu Yen laid down their lives for national independence and more than 5,300 others were injured.

Since 1975 when the province was liberated, it has developed a modern economy, with industry and construction accounting for 34 percent, service, 36 percent, and agro-forestry, 30 percent of its total GDP. The local living standard has improved considerably, with per capita income reaching VND13 million per year in 2009.

Mr Loc called on local people to promote unity and build Phu Yen into a powerful economic centre and a major gate to the central Highlands.

Fireworks were let off at three locations in Phu Yen to celebrate the historic event.

Ceremony marks Khanh Hoa’s Liberation Day

A ceremony was held in Nha Trang City in Khanh Hoa province on April 2 to celebrate the 35th anniversary of its liberation day, attracting more than 6,000 local officials, soldiers and people.

On addressing the ceremony, Vo Lam Phi, Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee highlighted the event ‘s significance, which contributed greatly to the nation’s reunification.

Since national liberation, Khanh Hoa has been in continuous development and has become one of the richest provinces in Vietnam. In the 1989-2009 period, the province saw an year-on-year increase of 11 percent in GDP. In 2009, the GDP per capita was US$1,330, 40 times more than in 1990, industrial production value exceeded VND14 trillion, export turn over reached US$546 million, tourism revenue VND1,567 billion and foreign investment over US$1 billion.

Since 2005 Khanh Hoa has been amongst the country’s 8 leading provinces in terms of state budget collection, which reached more than VND6,5 trillion in 2009.

There are now no hungry families in Khanh Hoa and the rate of poor households has fallen by 1.9 percent (according to the national criteria). Thousands of houses have also been built for poor and ethnic minority people.

The province is now in the process of building three key economic regions including Nha Trang – Dien Khanh Centre, the Van Phong Economic Zone and Cam Ranh Bay, in an effort to make Khanh Hoa the central region’s major economic centre.

PV