On the leasing of forestation land to foreign investors, Mr. Phat said 10 cities and provinces across the country have approved projects with a combined area of 305,353 ha, but they have to date handed over just 15,644 ha to the investors under 50-year contracts.

However, Deputy Le Quang Binh, Chairman of the National Assembly’s Committee for National Defence and Security, did not agreed with the figure as reported by the minister, citing the committee’s own surveys that show up to 398,374 ha had been committed to 19 foreign-invested forestation projects in 18 provinces.

Most of the licensed land is located in areas that are important to the nation’s national defence and security while others are riverhead or protective forests, Mr Binh noted.

Mr Binh nevertheless said he agreed with the government’s solution to the issue by asking cities and provinces to stop granting investment licences to foreign investors and at the same time, allocate the remaining forestation land to households, individuals and domestic companies.

The government needs to work out measures to deal with the land designated foreign-invested projects and revise the delegation of power to local administrations in the licensing of forestation land to foreign investors in the direction of strengthening supervision, he added.

While sharing Binh’s opinions, the Minister of Planning and Investment, Vo Hong Phuc, pledged to withdraw licenses of all projects that might affect the country’s national defence and security, as well as those intended to occupy large areas of land for inappropriate purposes.

Mr Phuc assured the legislators that his ministry will review the licensing of forestation projects in provinces. The licensing must be based on different laws such as the Enterprise Law, the Land Law, the National Defence Law and the NA’s Resolution No. 66, he said.

Legislators concerned about online games, lavish festivals

Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Tuan Anh admitted adverse impacts of violent online games and asked relevant agencies to reinforce censorship of cultural products.
At the National Assembly’s Q&A session on June 11, Minister Mr Anh also pointed to the need to promote education on the law in schools and at workplaces and strongly condemn behaviours against social ethics.

Mr Anh said his ministry and the Ministry of Information and Communications, which co-manage online gaming services, have recognised the harms and ill effects of violent games and are working together on the making of inter-ministerial documents to adjust their mandate over the services appropriately.

Minister of Information and Communications Le Doan Hop clarified his ministry’s responsibilities on the management of online games and internet shops, saying his ministry’s inspection teams have examined Internet shops nationwide and handled 145 violations.

The Ministry of Information and Communications are inspecting the operation of the producers and suppliers of online games to help formulate management solutions and regulations in conformity with reality, Minister Hop said.

During the Q&A session, many legislators questioned, the lavishness of festivals in the country in recent times and problems in cultural management.

Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Anh said his ministry has dealt with a spectrum of cases relating to lavishness and superstition in festivals, affirming that the administrations will not relax its management of festivals.

The administrations at all levels should be highly aware of the role and position of festivals in social life given these events help younger generations gain a thorough understanding of the nation’s history and traditional values, Minister Anh underscored.

The festivals have been organised with funding contributed by the peoples, not by the State, the minister said, explaining that these festivals, such as the firework, Hue city, fruits and sea festivals have in reality drawn a large number of foreign visitors and promoted the country’s image far and wide.

Concluding the Q&A session today, NA Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong affirmed that festivals are encouraged to be organised in a healthy manner to highlight national culture and promote the country’s image as it is a legitimate need of the people.

However, he emphasised the need to continue to maintain and preserve the nation’s distinctive culture, traditions, and ethical values in a time when the country is pursuing a market economy and integrating into the globe.

VietNamNet/VOV