Priorities given to curbing inflation

The National Assembly’s Economic Committee held a plenary session in Can Tho City on March 11 to examine the socio-economic report for the upcoming ninth session of the 13th National Assembly.

The Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI)’s report has shown that the country achieved the socio-economic development targets set for 2010, especially in terms of economic growth, export turnover and the country’s total investment capital.

The MPI said that the socio-economic situation in 2010 developed well while the national economy recovered rapidly in the context of the complicated over the world economy. The export situation continues to develop and record high growth rate, over four times the set target. In addition, social welfare has been ensured and people’s living standards have been improved.

However, to seize new opportunities, the country also has to face great challenges. At the session, many delegates said that inflation is recurring, which has a direct impact on the national economy. In addition, there is a growing instability with inflation, strong fluctuations of exchange rates, the trade deficit and balance of payment and in the financial and monetary markets.

Delegates highlighted the government’s resolution No 11 which will have a great impact on curbing inflation, stabilizing the macro-economy, and ensuring social welfare and sustainable development, as well as reducing poverty and maintaining political security and social order.

Delegates proposed that priorities should be given to curbing inflation. In addition, the State should also refine the legal mechanism in line with international norms, ensure the effective implementation of fiscal and monetary policies and sort out shortcomings related to synchronizing and overlapping policies.

NA Vice Chairman inspects election preparations

National Assembly Vice Chairman Nguyen Duc Kien asked the central province of Binh Dinh to accelerate dissemination of information on the elections to the 13th National Assembly and the People’s Council for the 2011-2016 period.

He hailed the province for being ready for the elections while inspecting its preparatory election work on March 11.

As they are taking place at the same time, the elections to the 13th National Assembly and the People’s Council demand great efforts from local authorities and people, Kien noted.

Vice Chairman Kien also requested Binh Dinh competently organise the second round of consultation for the upcoming elections./.

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Son La to plant 50 border markers with Laos

The northern province of Son La and its Lao neighbouring Houaphanh province plan to plant 50 markers along their shared border in 2011.

So far, the two sides have completed the construction of 18 border markers and put them under the management of the border guard forces.

The border marker planting committees of the two provinces are coordinating to conduct surveys for sites to build the 50 markers as planned.

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Vietnam extends sympathy over earthquake in China

The earthquake killed at least 14 people and injured more than 135 others as well as destroyed many houses.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Gia Khiem sent messages of condolences to the Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi over the devastating earthquakes which caused severe damage to both life and property.

The earthquake, measuring 5.8 on the Richter scale, jolted Yingjiang county of Yunnan province at midday on March 10.

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Collection of Party Congress’s documents makes debut

Collection of documents of the 11th National Party Congress was introduced at a conference held in Hanoi Wednesday.

The collection includes the opening and closing speeches of the event, the Report of the 10 th Party Central Committee on the documents of the 11 th National Party Congress, and the Platform for national construction during the transitional period towards socialism (supplemented and developed in 2011).

Socio-economic Development Strategy for the 2011-20 period, the 10th Party Central Committee’s political report, and the Congress Presidium’s report opinions gathered from delegates on the 11 th Party Congress’s draft documents and the 11 th National Party Congress’s Resolutions are included in the collection.

Also at the conference, the Party Central Committee’s Popularisation and Education Commission launched a project to provide books to wards, communes and townships of all 63 cities and provinces in the countries.

Ex US lawmakers make dioxin tour in Da Nang

The US parliamentarians have made fact-finding tour of dioxin-affected areas at Da Nang Airport.

Bob Edga, former congressman and president of the Common Cause Delegation, led a delegation of former parliamentarians and photographers arrived at Da Nang Airport on March 9 to conduct a survey into dioxin-affected areas.

The same day, the delegation held an exchange with Agent Orange (AO) victims in Da Nang City to learn about their living conditions.

They will also meet with AO victims in Hanoi and work with leaders of some relevant ministries and departments.

Edga said the delegation want to gain a better understanding of the impact of Agent Orange/dioxin on the lives of the post-war generations in such hot areas as Da Nang Airport so that they call on the US Administration and American people to support the Vietnamese AO victims’ struggle for justice.

Legislators visit Italy to boost bilateral ties

A delegation of the Vietnam National Assembly’s Defence and Security Committee, headed by its Chairman Le Quang Binh, paid a working visit to Italy from March 9-13.

The seven-member delegation had a working session with the Italian House of Representatives’ Defence and Security Committee and its Secretariat.

The two sides informed each other of the economic and political situation in their respective country and exchanged experience in legislation and supervision.

They expressed wish to boost ties and mutual understanding between the two legislative bodies in general and the two committees in particular in order to promote bilateral cooperation and friendship.

At the meeting, Chairman of the Italian House of Representatives’ Defence and Security Committee Crielli Edmondo spoke highly of Vietnam ’s development in all fields, saying that Vietnam has undergone a strong integration into regional and the world economies.

He also said Vietnam performed well its role as Chair of ASEAN in 2010 and this showed the country’s increasing position.

The same day, the delegation met with representatives of the opposition Democracy Party.

Vietnam helps train Cambodian military officers

The National Defence Academy on March 11 held a closing ceremony for the course that helped train senior officiers for the Cambodian Royal Army.

During the course, trainees were provided with basic matters regarding military and national defence of countries in the region and the world as well.

They also had a chance to improve their studies on terrorism, international anti-terrorism, evolution of peace, national independence and national sovereignty in the context of economic globalisation.

They conducted researches on themed subjects, such as Vietnam ’s experiences in national construction and protection, military thoughts and arts, and made fact-finding tours of several units and localities.

The training course helped improve knowledge of military and national defence for Cambodian officers in the new situation.

Army leader greets military attaché delegation

Deputy Defence Minister Lieut. Gen. Do Ba Ty received a delegation of foreign military attachés in Hanoi on March 11.

Ty, who is also Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA), told his guests that the VPA has incessantly expanded the friendship and cooperation with armies and peoples all over the world on the basis of respect for independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and mutual benefits.

He added that cooperation between Vietnam and other countries has been increasingly deepened, as evidenced by fruitful achievements that contribute to stability and development in the region and the world.

The deputy minister said he hoped the military attachés would continue to serve as a bridge to promote the effective relations between their countries’ armies and the VPA, helping to build a peaceful, friendly, stable and prosperous environment in the world.

Singaporean military attaché Col. Chan Mun Kit, who headed the Delegation of Foreign Military Attaches in Vietnam, congratulated Deputy Minister Ty on his assumption of the Chief of the VPA General Staff.

He highly valued the Vietnamese Defence Ministry’s successful organisation of the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM+) in 2010, which, as he described, marks the first step for a new mechanism for defence and security cooperation in the emerging regional security architecture.

He also informed the host on the outcomes of the Delegation’s cooperation with the Vietnamese Defence Ministry over the past time.

Vietnam sends condolences to Japan over quake

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung sent a message of sympathy to his Japanese counterpart Naoto Kan over the powerful earthquake that hit many areas in Japan on March 11.

The same day, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Gia Khiem also extended his condolences to the Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs Takeaki Matsumoto.

Around 200 to 300 bodies were found in Sendai’s Wakabayashi Ward following the disaster that rocked the northeastern and eastern regions of Japan, while another 93 people have been confirmed dead, according to Kyodo News.

Paraguayan President visits HCM City

On March 11, Paraguayan President Lugo Mendez visited a high-tech industrial park in HCM City and the Cu Chi Tunnel as part of his official visit to Vietnam from March 8-12.

His delegation was briefed on the operation of the 88 ha- high tech industrial park which has contributed to boosting rural and agricultural industrialisation and modernisation as directed by the Party and State.

It is considered an advanced model of agricultural manufacturing to develop high tech agricultural production areas in HCM City and its surrounds.

During the visit to the Cu Chi Tunnel relic site, Mr Mendez and his entourage were told about the history and development of the Cu Chi Tunnel as well as the great sacrifice of the Vietnamese people for Cu Chi.

Mr Mendez said, “After visiting and learning about the lives and sacrifice of the Cu Chi people, I can affirm that no foreign influence can encroach on Vietnam’s sovereignty,”

In the afternoon the same day, President Mendez and his entourage left HCM City for home.

Exhibition highlights Vietnam-Laos traditional relations

A photographic exhibition praising the time-honoured relations between Vietnam and Laos was held recently in Vientiane by the Vietnamese Embassy and the Vietnamese Cultural Centre in Laos.

The event praised the success of Vietnam’s 11th National Party Congress and welcomed Laos’ 9th Revolutionary People’s Party.

On the occasion, the relevant agencies presented one first prize, two second prizes, two third prizes and five consolation prizes to outstanding works.

Two months after launching the exhibition, it attracted 170 entries from 170 students of the Vietnam Art Teacher Training College and 70 entries from 50 Lao students.

All works of art highlighted the humanity and the traditional friendship between Vietnam and Laos.

The exhibition was of great political significance, showing young people’s confidence in the revolutionary cause of the two Parties, State and its peoples.

Deputy Minister of Public Security receives Hungarian ambassador

Senior Lieutenant General and Deputy Minister of Public Security Le The Tiem received Hungarian ambassador to Vietnam Vizi Laszlo in Hanoi on March 11.

Mr Laszlo expressed his pleasure at the fine tradition cooperation between Hungary and Vietnam which has grown and flourished over the past years while affirming that his government will continue to provide a preferential credit for Vietnam to help it implement a project to build an e- residential registration and management system.

The relations between Hungarian legal agencies and the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security have been expanded and proved effective in controlling crime and ensuring social order, said Mr Laszlo.

Deputy Minister Tiem praised Mr Vizi’s contributions to consolidating the friendship and effective cooperation between the two countries during his term of office in Vietnam and thanked the Hungarian Government for providing Vietnam with the preferential credit to carry out the project.

The Ministry of Public Security will implement the project soon as a positive contribution to strengthening the relations between Vietnam and Hungary as well as their legal agencies, Mr Tiem said.

Vietnam extends sympathy over earthquake in China

The earthquake killed at least 14 people and injured more than 135 others as well as destroyed many houses.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Gia Khiem sent messages of condolences to the Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi over the devastating earthquakes which caused severe damage to both life and property.

The earthquake, measuring 5.8 on the Richter scale, jolted Yingjiang county of Yunnan province at midday on March 10.

Fighting graft vital to nation’s stable growth

Fighting corruption is one of the four major activities required to build Viet Nam into a socialist state ruled by law, says Deputy Prime Minister and Deputy Director of the National Anti-Corruption Steering Committee Truong Vinh Trong.

He made the statement at an annual committee review meeting yesterday in the northern province of Quang Ninh where participants acknowledged the progress that was recorded in 2010.

Last year, anti-corruption sub steering committees in all the 63 provinces and cities conducted a total of 760 inspection visits, issued 2,526 guiding documents to implement the anti-corruption law, and sent 2,322 reports to relevant offices.

During the year, 53 major corruption cases were settled.

Participants agreed that more attention should be focused on areas that have high potential for corruption such as land management and land-use rights, management of public assets, civil works projects, public procurement and mineral resources management.

They also asked for a special mechanism to protect whistleblowers in corruption cases and give awards to those who were champions in the fight.

Trong said corruption remained a big challenge facing the country’s socio-economic development.

“That’s why fighting corruption is a very important, urgent and long-term mission,” said Trong.

To stop corruption, Trong said it was imperative to have good co-ordination between all Government agencies and stakeholders.

He listed six major tasks for 2011 which have been adopted by the National Steering Committee, including:

To accelerate the information, education and communication campaign directed at each party member, Government official and citizen on their rights and obligations in anti-corruption activities;

To implement documents adopted at the 11th National Party Congress on anti corruption;

To conduct regular anti-corruption inspection visits of Government agencies and organisations. Prevention should be the key measure.

To settle corruption cases in a timely manner;

To complete the organisation structure of steering committees and offices at the provincial level, and;

To enhance the aggregated strength of the political system and the entire society in the fight against corruption.