VN pushes for world peace as UN marks WWII end; PM receives new Sri Lankan, Greek ambassadors; UN, Vietnam’s move marks trusted partnership; NA leader vows to support RoK investors

Core naval force’s feat of arms praised

The brilliant achievements and heroic feats of arms made by the Vietnam People’s Navy are a source of national pride and an invaluable contribution to national construction and defence, said National Assembly (NA) Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong.

A ceremony was held in Hai Phong on May 7 by the local Party Committee and the Naval Command to celebrate the 55th anniversary of the Vietnam People’s Navy and to award the Navy the Gold Star Order for the second time – the highest distinction of the Party and State.

Over the past 55 years, Vietnam naval forces have made many sacrifices, fought courageously, and overcome every challenge to fulfill their duty, greatly contributing to the country’s revolutionary cause.

Chairman Trong praised the navy’s 55 years of service and called on its members to strictly follow the Party and State’s policies on national construction and training ever stronger and more effective naval forces.

Mr Trong underlined the need for solidarity and close cooperation between the Navy and the people.

Then, on behalf of the Party and State, Chairman Trong pinned the Gold Star Order on the Naval Arm, the ceremonial flag of the Vietnam People’s Army.

VN pushes for world peace as UN marks WWII end

A Vietnamese diplomat has urged the UN to improve its efficiency and effectiveness to serve as a protector of international peace and security and a promoter of friendly and cooperative relations among nations for development.

Vietnam’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Le Luong Minh, delivered was speaking at a special session of the UN General Assembly in New York on May 6 to mark the 65th anniversary of the end of the Second World War.

While celebrating this great victory, it is necessary for us to recall that since that victory and since the United Nations was founded in 1945, many people in the world have been continuing to suffer and are continuing to suffer from war, poverty and injustice and even never have a single day of living in peace, Minh stressed.

“As a nation who through the loss of millions of human lives, 2 million in 1945 alone, Vietnam had bravely struggled against fascism for world peace and risen up to win national independence and freedom after nearly a century of living under foreign domination.

Speaking at the meeting, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said “The war’s cost was beyond calculation, beyond comprehension, 40 million civilians dead, nearly half of those in the Soviet Union alone.”

“Those years saw extraordinary bravery, as well. World War II was one of the most epic struggles for freedom and liberation in history,” he said.

Seminar on Ho Chi Minh’s legacy in the modern era

A press briefing was held in Hanoi on May 7 by the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics and Public Administration to announce a seminar on Ho Chi Minh’s legacy in the modern era.

The seminar scheduled for May 12-13, is part of the activities celebrating the 120th anniversary of Ho Chi Minh’s birthday and the profound legacy of life and work for the cause of national liberation, national independence, democracy, social progress and peace in Vietnam and throughout the world.

Dr. Le Huu Nghia, the Academy’s director said that the seminar will focus on three major topics: Ho Chi Minh’s legacy to national independence and socialism, Ho Chi Minh’s legacy to peace, friendship and cooperation among nations, and the moral culture and character of Ho Chi Minh’s legacy.

Dien Bien Phu victory – a turning point

On seeing the famous landscape dotted with relics from the victory at Dien Bien Phu with their own eyes, the current generation gain a better understanding about the glorious past of the older generation.

In early May, many people from across the country visited Dien Bien Phu to look at the historic items left over from the Dien Bien Phu victory.

Dao Thi Quy from Hanoi says that she admired older generation’s spirit suffering from severe hardships but still defeating the French colonialists. “We will never forget their sacrifices and always tell our children to study and follow their examples,” she adds.

“I know about the Dien Bien Phu victory from reading books and newspapers. Today, I see with my own eyes items from the war and many historic sites, such as the Muong Phang relics – which was the army’s headquarters during the Dien Bien Phu campaign, as well as Hill A1, C1, C2, D1, Hong Cum fortification, Him Lam, Doc Lap , Muong Thanh Bridge and Airport and De Castries’ trench,” says Tran Ngoc Phuong, a student from the National Economics University. The items on display help us to understand more about the Vietnamese army’s bravery during the 55 days and nights of fighting.

One of the most popular destinations is the Dien Bien Phu museum. Its vice director Duong Thi Than says the items look simple but are of great significance as part of the glorious victory.

The Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism has drawn up plans to protect and maintain the historic items at Dien Bien. Its vice director Nguyen Dang Quang says the restoration also needs eye witness accounts from those who took part in the Dien Bien Phu battle. Restored sites, such as General Vo Nguyen Giap’s trench in Muong Phang or Hill A1 with its barbed wires and tunnels have helped visitors get a better understanding of the past struggle.

To attract more visitors to Dien Bien, we need to make Dien Bien more prosperous so it will become the destination of every Vietnamese at this time of year.

Australia praises regional meeting chaired by Vietnam

Australia’s Assistant Treasurer, Senator Nick Sherry, has described the first gathering of East Asian Finance Ministers in Tashkent, Uzbekistan which was chaired by Vietnam Minister of Finance Vu Van Ninh as a success.

The gathering, known as East Asian Summit (EAS) Finance Ministers’ Meeting (FMM), was held on the sidelines of the 13th ASEAN+3 Finance Ministers Meeting and specifically focused on economic and financial issues, with the participation of senior officials from ASEAN countries, China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand.

Assistant Treasurer Nick Sherry said on May 4 that the participants had a wide-ranging discussion on major economic issues facing all 16 EAS economies and discussed the work of the G20 in detail.

EAS regional cooperation and capacity building was another major focus of EAS FMM discussions on May 4, including an analysis of the first pilot round of capacity building programmes which was initiated by Australia.

According to Senator Nick Sherry, the meeting also agreed to Australia’s proposal for a second capacity building programme, which will focus on structuring and restructuring financial markets, to be delivered in partnership by Australia, Malaysia and China.

“The pilot saw active participation by Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam, so Australia looks forward to the second round building on these achievements,” said the Assistant Treasurer.

He added that the participants also agreed to meet again in the future and for finance officials to meet more often to deal with important EAS issues.

PM receives new Sri Lankan, Greek ambassadors

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung received the newly-appointed ambassadors of Sri Lanka and Greece in Hanoi on May 6.

Meeting with the Sri Lankan Ambassador, Kalahe Gamage Ivan Amarasinghe, PM Dung pledged to continue bolstering Vietnam’s wide-ranging cooperation, especially in economies, with Sri Lanka.

Mentioning the two countries’ celebration of their 40-year diplomatic ties this year, the PM emphasised the need to coordinate in organising practical and effective activities to herald the event. He expressed his hope that the new ambassador will enthusiastically contribute to boosting the two countries’ friendship, and implementation of their signed agreements for mutual benefits.

The Sri Lankan Ambassador expressed his Government’s wish to work with Vietnam in projects spurring economic development, especially in the fields which are Sri Lanka’s strengths.

At his reception for Greek Ambassador Rose Ieremia, PM Dung offered his sympathy for economic difficulties the European country has been overcoming.

He said he believes that by exerting their joint efforts and with the international community’s assistance, the Greek Government and people will soon get over this difficult time to stabilise and develop their economy.

The new ambassador applauded Vietnam’s socio-economic development achievements and said she will work with relevant Vietnamese agencies to take necessary measures to increase the number of Greek tourist arrivals in Vietnam in the coming time.

UN, Vietnam’s move marks trusted partnership

The United Nations (UN) and Vietnamese Government’s Harmonised Programme and Project Management Guide (HPPMG) marks an important turning point in the trusted partnership between both parties.

This was stated by John Hendra, the UN’s Resident Coordinator, at the signing ceremony for the HPPMG in Hanoi on May 6.

“Never within the UN system, in Vietnam or elsewhere in the world, has there been a joint set of programme and project management practices that embodies such a high degree of alignment and harmonisation”, said Hendra.

Speaking at the ceremony, Vo Hong Phuc, Minister of Planning and Investment, on behalf of the Vietnamese government, confirmed that they, together with the UN’s agencies, would do their utmost to put the HPPMG into action.

The HPPMG is a key element of the One Set of Management Practices – one of the five pillars of the ‘One UN’ Initiative that is being piloted in Vietnam. It is expected to help reduce transaction costs for all parties involved and improve the effectiveness of aid.

The guide enables the three UN agencies – UNDP, UNICEF and UNFPA – to simplify and harmonise the programme and project management procedures and make them more suited to the Vietnamese government’s current system.

AWC meets in Hanoi

The fourth meeting of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Working Group on Customs-matters (AWC) was held in Hanoi on May 6 by the General Department of Vietnam Customs.

Participants focused their discussion on upcoming ASEM customs co-operation, especially in creating favourable trade and security conditions for supply chain to develop.

Customs officials of ASEM member countries will co-operatively develop an action programme to facilitate trade activities, including simplifying customs procedures and helping members implement trade partnership programmes.

Customs staff of ASEM member countries will help each other to combat trade fraud and violations of intellectual property rights and exchange information on contraband seizures and development trends. They will also evaluate the effectiveness of environmental protection regulations.

Lao NA delegation welcomed in Hanoi

The Vice Chairwoman of the National Assembly, Tong Thi Phong, received a visiting delegation from the Lao National Assembly Office, led by its Deputy Chief, Khampheng Vilaphan, in Hanoi on May 5.

After being informed of the project to build the Lao National Assembly Office Headquarters with assistance from the Vietnam NA, Ms Phong highlighted the significance of the work, saying it symbolizes the special solidarity between the two parliaments and between the two countries.

She expressed her wish that the two countries’ NA Offices would strengthen coordination and supervision in order to complete the project on schedule with safety and high quality.

In the coming time, the two offices should also increase visits by delegations as well as the exchange of information and experiences on administration and consultancy skills, she added.

For his part, Deputy Chief of the Lao NA Office Khampheng Vilaphan vowed to do his utmost to foster and promote the special solidarity and friendship as well as comprehensive cooperation between the two nations.

He expressed his wish to learn from experiences of the Vietnamese NA in enacting legislation and supervision as well as making decisions on important issues of the country.

NA leader vows to support RoK investors

The Vietnam National Assembly (NA) will join hands with the government to create better conditions for investors from the Republic of Korea (RoK), said NA Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong.

Mr Trong made the statement while receiving Vice Speaker of the RoK National Assembly Moon Hee Sang in Hanoi on May 5.

The chairman applauded the RoK delegation’s visit, expressing his hope that it will help further beef up cooperative relations between the two nations and the two legislatures as well.

Since Vietnam and the RoK established diplomatic ties in 1992, the bilateral relationship has developed comprehensively, especially in politics, economy culture and education, he said, adding that the RoK is now one of Vietnam’s leading economic, trade and investment partners.

The top lawmaker noted the two countries share time-honoured relations and various cultural similarities, and tens of thousands of Vietnamese women get married with RoK men and thousands of RoK families are living in Vietnam. This laid a firm foundation for long-term expansion of the bilateral relationship, Mr Trong said.

He added that senior leaders of Vietnam and the RoK had previously agreed to elevate the multifaceted cooperation to the level of strategic cooperative partnership.

Trong thanked the NA and people of the RoK for effective assistance they have extended to Vietnam in recent years, as well as favourable conditions they created for Vietnamese citizens who are living and studying in the RoK.

Moon Hee Sang said the RoK wants to participate in a number of major infrastructure and energy projects in Vietnam.

He proposed the Vietnamese legislative body support RoK investors and RoK people who are living and working in the Southeast Asian country.

The vice speaker said he hopes that the two parliaments will foster exchange and cooperation between the two countries for the benefit of their people and for common prosperity in the whole region.

Party official calls for stronger aid from FES

The Party Central Committee’s Politburo member Truong Tan Sang has urged the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) of Germany to increase cooperation and for the benefit of sustainable development in Vietnam.

Mr Sang, who is also permanent member of the Party Central Committee Secretariat, made the call during a May 5 reception for FES President Anke Fuchs, who has been in Hanoi to attend the 20th founding anniversary of the FES Office in Vietnam.

The Party official spoke highly of the contributions and successes of the FES Office over the past 20 years, and emphasised the Vietnamese State’s policy of facilitating operations of foreign non-governmental organisations.

He expressed his hope that the FES, with its role as a bridge between the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and the Social Democratic Party of Germany, will contribute more to developing friendly and cooperative relations between the two parties and two nations as well.

For her part, Fuchs thanked the Party and State of Vietnam for supporting the institute’s activities in Vietnam over the past two decades.

She praised the leadership of the CPV as well as the achievements the Vietnamese people have made during the renewal process which aims to improve the country’s position and prestige in both the region and the world.

The FES President also expressed her wish to step up cooperative ties with Vietnamese partners in the fields of mutual concern.

Earlier, Fuchs was received by Hoang Binh Quan, Head of the CPV Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations.

President welcomes voters’ opinions to law building

President Nguyen Minh Triet welcomed voters of HCM City’s precincts 1 and 2 for their opinions given to law building during his meeting on May 4 to prepare for the 7th session of the 12th legislature scheduled to begin on May 20.

Two-thirds of the voters focused their opinions on the Law on the execution of criminal charges and agreed to commute death penalty cases but to ensure the strictness of the sentence for criminals.

They also agreed to choose lethal injection to death penalty cases instead of shooting as lethal injection helps relieve pains on criminals and psychological stress on executioners and reduce costs.

Voters also proposed the State encourage the socialisation of education and disseminate laws to help people better understand and live and work in accordance with laws.

Many other opinions were given to the draft laws on cooking safety and consumer rights protection.
Voter Le Van Minh from precinct 1’s Cau Ong Lanh ward emphasised the necessity to protect consumers before the consequences occurred.

President Triet, who is accompanied by NA deputies of HCM City, confirmed that voters’ concrete and practical opinions proved their deep interest in building and completing the country’s legal system.

Voters’ opinions will make practical contributions to the legal building process, he stressed.

Sharing opinions with precinct 2’s voters on compensation, land reclamation and resettlement of the Thu Thiem new urban area project, the President advised local authorities and people to explore and listen to one another to find out solutions to the issue.

Vietnam to complete rural development programme by 2030

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) is putting into action the national target programme to develop new rural areas following the Prime Minister’s direction.

The programme is expected to be completed by 2030. This means 20 percent of all communes in Vietnam will match the MARD’s criteria for new rural areas by 2015, and this figure will rise to 50 percent by 2020.

Currently, the People’s Committees in provinces and centrally-run cities are working with the MARD to conduct surveys on the real state of affairs in rural areas and draw up zoning plans for socio-economic development in every rural residential area.

PV