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Preparations start for national polls
Prime
Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has asked Vietnamese media agencies to be ready to
embark on a new campaign for the coming National Assembly and People’s Councils
elections. To
ensure safety for the poll, the PM asked the Ministry of Public Security to make
plans to prevent and foil any schemes to disrupt law and order on the polling
day.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development was instructed to
develop plans to respond to any emergency situations that may arise from natural
disasters during the elections.
The
polls electing deputies to the National Assembly and People’s Councils at
various levels for a five-year term from 2011-16 will be held on Sunday, May 22. A
Resolution of the National Assembly Standing Committee on the election day and
the establishment of the Central Election Council are to be made public today,
Jan 21.
President prompts Shell to expand Viet Nam operations
President Nguyen Minh Triet said Viet Nam’s achievements in recent years were
accomplished due to the co-operation and support the country has received from
foreign partners.
Triet made the statement yesterday, Jan 20, at a reception in the capital that
was attended by Shell’s Chief Financial Officer Simon Henry.
The
President said that during the freshly concluded 11th National Party Congress,
the Communist Party of Viet Nam reiterated its renewal policy and intention to
further strengthen and consolidate its co-operation with other countries and
international partners. He
expressed his wish that Shell would provide further support to Viet Nam’s
socio-economic development. “Shell
is one of the world’s leading corporations to resume its business in Viet Nam
during the early years of the country’s renewal process,” said Triet. He asked
Shell to expand its operations in Viet Nam in the energy and infrastructure
sectors. Henry
lauded the recent Party Congress and the achievements Viet Nam had made in
socio-economic development. “Global
integration has helped Viet Nam become an attractive destination for foreign
investors, ” said Henry. “International integration has opened up promising
development for Viet Nam in the years to come. As a result the demand for energy
will increase, particularly electricity.” He
informed President Triet of Shell’s business strategy, in which his corporation
would focus on oil and gas exploration and importing and distributing liquefied
petroleum gas (LPG). Henry
expressed his interest in becoming a share holder in the process of equitising
the distribution of petrol and diesel in Viet Nam, as well as in co-operating
with the Viet Nam National Petroleum Corporation in their efforts to discover
new oil and gas fields.
Gov’t officials visit to Vietnam Buddhist Sangha
A delegation from the Government’s Committee for
Religious Affairs headed by Nguyen Thai Binh visited Buddhist dignitaries at the
Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS) on January 20 on the occasion of the Lunar New
Year Festival (Tet).
Mr Binh, member of the Party Central
Committee and Deputy Minister of Home Affairs wished Most Venerable Thich Thanh
Tu, Vice Chairman of the VBS Executive Council, and venerables and superior
bonzes a happy and healthy New Year. He briefed them on the country’s
socio-economic situation last year and the success of the 11th
National Party Congress. Binh spoke highly of VBS’s constant
efforts to popularize Buddhism, extend gratefulness to those who have rendered
their service to the country and fallen soldiers, and do charity work over the
years. He said he believes VBS will continue to consolidate Buddhist
organisations at all levels and conduct practical activities to raise followers
and nuns and monks’ awareness of their responsibility to do good deeds for both
religion and the country. Most Venerable Tu said VBS is
committed to making more contributions to socio-economic development and poverty
reduction.
Japan, VN ink nuclear co-operation accord
Viet Nam and Japan will co-operate in developing and using nuclear energy for
peaceful purposes under an agreement signed yesterday, Jan 20.
The
agreement covered many areas: radioactive isotope and radiation research; light
water reactor design and operation; nuclear safety and security; radioactive
waste storage, transport and treatment; human resource development; uranium
exploration and exploitation; and the creation of legal frameworks for a
peaceful nuclear energy sector.
Addressing the signing ceremony, signatories Vietnamese Deputy Minister of
Science and Technology Le Dinh Tien and Japanese Ambassador Yasuaki Tanizaki
said the deal opened a new chapter in civil nuclear co-operation between the two
countries.
The
agreement aims to create a legal framework and favourable conditions for Japan
and Viet Nam’s agencies, science and technology organisations, education and
training establishments, and businesses relating to nuclear energy. VNN/VOV/VNS | 
