Party official visits Japanese disaster victims

Truong Tan Sang, Politburo member and standing member of the Secretariat of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee, on June 3 visited victims of earthquake and tsunami in Asahi city, Chiba prefecture of Japan.

The Vietnamese Party official expressed his deep sympathy over losses and difficulties experienced by the Japanese people.

He said he admired local people’s fortitude and wished that they would soon overcome the aftermath and return to normal life.

Asahi Mayor Tadanao Akechi briefed Mr. Sang about the city’s works to overcome consequences of the twin disasters, which killed 13 citizens of the city, with two others missing and an estimated loss of JPY17 billion.

After meeting with the municipal authorities, Mr. Sang visited and presented gifts to some Japanese families, who are staying in shelters in the Ioka park of the city.

The same day, Sang called at Hachiken, where was hit by two 7.6m tsunamis on March 11, paying homage to the victims of the disasters.

Vietnam, Laos continue boosting cooperation

Vietnam is ready to help Laos train human resources and solve difficulties to ensure the efficiency of bilateral cooperation, said Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Sinh Hung.

Mr. Hung made the statement while receiving Bounpheng Mounphosay, Head of the Public Administration and Civil Service Authority of Laos, in Hanoi on June 3.

The Deputy PM expressed his hope that the visit would help boost the friendship and cooperation between the two countries in administrative reform and personnel training.

He said he supported cooperation programmes between the Public Administration and Civil Service Authority and the Ministry of Home Affairs of Vietnam and asked the two sides to continue to cooperate closely and effectively.

Bounpheng Mounphosay, who is also Minister to the Lao Prime Minister’s Office, expressed thanks to the Ministry of Home Affairs of Vietnam and said she hopes to receive more assistance and cooperation from Vietnam in future

The same day, the Lao official had a working session with leaders of the Ministry of Home Affairs of Vietnam.

The two sides exchanged views on their professional operations, especially experience in administrative reform and State management in Vietnam over the past 10 years.

VN, Laos to boost human resources

Viet Nam is always willing to exchange and help Laos train human resources, especially in the fields of industry, agriculture, education and health, said Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Sinh Hung yesterday.

He made the statement at a reception for Lao Minister to the Prime Minister’s Office and Head of the Public Administration and Civil Service Authority Bounpheng Mounphoxay during her visit to Viet Nam.

Hung said that Viet Nam’s Ministry of Home Affairs and the Laos General Administration could co-operate to link many types of training between the two countries and promote exchange programmes for both students and staff.

He also expressed his wish that the two countries would continue supporting each other to improve the efficiency of State management at all levels.

The Deputy PM said he also highly valued the long friendship between the Parties and States of the two countries, describing it as a valuable asset for both countries to maintain diplomatic development.

For her part, Bounpheng Mounphoxay expressed her hope to gain more experiences from Viet Nam in the field of administrative reform at the upcoming conference held between the two countries.

Laos honours Vietnamese Ministry of Home Affairs

Minister of Home Affairs (MOHA), Tran Van Tuan, on June 3 received a delegation from the Public Administration and Civil Service Authority of Laos, led by Minister Bounpheng Mounphosay, during their working visit to Vietnam.

At the reception, on behalf of the Lao President, Minister Bounpheng Mounphosay presented the Laos third-class Freedom Order to the MOHA in recognition of its contributions to the Public Administration and Civil Service Authority of Laos.

Minister Tran Van Tuan and Deputy Minister Tran Huu Thang were also given the second-class labour order.

Minister Tran Van Tuan expressed his honour when receiving the noble order granted by the Laos Government and confirmed that the Ministry will continue to develop the spirit of solidarity and make further positive contributions to strengthening the special friendship between the two countries.

Symposium marks late President HCM’s overseas trip to seek national salvation

A symposium was held in central Quang Ngai province on June 3 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of late President Ho Chi Minh going abroad to seek a path for national salvation (June 5, 1911).

The 25 reports presented at the symposium highlighted late President Ho Chi Minh’s motivation to travel abroad to seek the path for national salvation.

The June 5, 1911 milestone was a special event, creating drastic changes in Ho Chi Minh’s thoughts which greatly affected the history of Vietnam in the 20th century, at present and in the future.

The Rector of the Quang Ngai Political School, Le Tien Dung, MA said the symposium affirms the wisdom of President Ho Chi Minh’s decision to seek a path for national salvation. Ho Chi Minh’s thoughts reflected the truth in line with the era and enabled the Vietnamese revolution to win one victory after another.

The same day, the Party Committee and the administration of central Nghe An province broke ground for a project to preserve and upgrade the grave of Mrs Hoang Thi Loan, President Ho Chi Minh’s mother.

At the ceremony, Party and State leaders and the people of Nghe An watched a song and dance program featuring the life of Hoang Thi Loan who gave birth to the great national leader, President Ho Chi Minh.

Hoang Thi Loan passed away in 1900 and was buried in Hue city. 1922, her remains were brought to Sen Village in central Nghe An province.

To express the Vietnamese people’s profound gratitude to her, the Nghe An Standing Committee decided to construct a tomb for Mrs Hoang Thi Loan.

The tomb was started in 1984 and completed one year later. Her grave has become a scared historic site that has captured the attention of people throughout the country.

Foreign Minister visits EU

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Pham Gia Khiem, left Hanoi on June 2 for Austria at the invitation of the Austrian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Michael Spindelegger.

Mr Khiem will attend the 10th Asia-Europe Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Hungary from June 6-7 at the invitation of the Hungarian Foreign Minister, Janos Martonyi, and Vice President of the European Commission, Catherine Ashton.

National Assembly deputies visit India

A National Assembly delegation, headed by Vice Chairman Huynh Ngoc Son, paid a working visit to India from May 31 to June 6.

The delegation was received by the Speaker of Lok Sabha (India’s House of the People), Meira Kumar, who expressed her deep feelings towards the land and people of Vietnam.

Ms Kumar said she was delighted at the growing ties of cooperation between the two countries and between the two parliaments.

She also highlighted Vietnam’s role in ASEAN and described Vietnam as a bridge for India to implement its Oriental policy and develop its ties with other ASEAN countries.

The Speaker of Lok Sabha affirmed her support for Vietnam at regional and international forums and expressed her hope that the strategic partnership between Vietnam and India will continue to grow and flourish in the fields of economics, trade, science, and education.

The Vietnamese delegation was later received by the Head of India’s Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence, Satpal Maharai, who expressed admiration for Vietnam during the past war of liberation as well as in the current process of national construction.

Mr Maharaj reiterated that India considers Vietnam a pillar in its Oriental policy.

During their stay in India, Vietnamese NA deputies visited the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the Communist Party of India.

Human Rights Council expert praises Viet Nam’s progress

Viet Nam had achieved great progress in reducing poverty and the enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights by its population during the last two decades, said Maria Magdalena Sepulveda Carmona, the Human Rights Council’s Independent Expert on human rights and extreme poverty on Tuesday.

Sepulveda discussed the enjoyment of human rights, in particular economic, social and cultural rights, of those who were particularly vulnerable to poverty, especially ethnic minorities in Viet Nam.

Vu Anh Quang, minister and deputy head of the Vietnamese Mission at the United Nations said Viet Nam had mapped out a comprehensive national strategy focusing on generating jobs and providing training, healthcare, education and other basic social services for poor people.

However, it was still a developing country that faced numerous challenges and much remained to be done to improve the condition of the people who were still living in poverty.

Quang said Viet Nam wished to continue to work together with the UN Human Rights mechanism and the Independent Expert and hoped the co-operation and dialogue would create a favourable environment for bilateral relations in the future.

Vietnam, Laos Parties tighten ties

A delegation of the Commission for Organisation of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee (CPVCC) is paying an official working visit to Laos from June 4-8.

The delegation, headed by the commission’s head To Huy Rua, held talk with their counterparts from the Organisation Commission of the Lao People’s Revolution Party (LPRP) Central Committee.

At the meeting, the director of the Lao Party’s Organisation Commission, Chansy Phosikham hailed the significance of the Vietnamese delegation’s visit, which manifests the special friendship, solidarity and multifaceted cooperation between the two countries as well as the development in relations between the two Commissions for Organisation. He also congratulated Rua on his appointment as Head of the Commission for Organisation.

Rua, who is a member of the Politburo and the Secretariat of the CPVCC, congratulated the Lao people on the achievements they reaped during the past time and expressed his belief that Vietnam-Lao ties will further grow.

At the meeting, the two sides informed each other of the socio-economic situations in their country as well as the implementation of Party organising and building work during the past time. They agreed to continue the exchange of delegations and mutual support in information technology application, official training and consultation for the two Parties in enhancing human resources in the future.

Following the meeting, the two sides signed a minute on cooperation in the 2011-2015 period.