Polish diplomat visits Vietnam; Finance Ministry to tighten control over market prices; President Triet welcomes RoK investors; Deputy PM Nhan visits Russia; NA Standing Committee to meet next week
 |
Vietnam is an important partner of Poland in Asia, says Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Pawel Wojciechowski.
Wojciechowski made the statement during talks in Hanoi on March 12 with his Vietnamese counterpart Bui Thanh Son.
He praised Vietnam’s Renewal achievements and its increasing role in Southeast Asia and the world, and expressed his belief that cooperation between the two countries and two ministries will be further promoted in the future.
Both host and guest discussed measures to increase cooperation in economics, trade and investment and to implement high-level agreements reached during Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung’s visit to Poland in September 2007.
They also discussed preparations for an upcoming visit to Vietnam in May 2010 by Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
Earlier, the Polish diplomat paid a courtesy visit to Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem.
HCM City prepares to evaluate candidates for new Party committees
Candidates for new-term Party committees must be persons “whose deeds match their words,” who possess a venturesome spirit, and are highly responsible, Nguyen Thi Thu Ha, head of the Ho Chi Minh Party Committee’s Personnel and Organization Commission, has said.
Speaking recently to SGGP about assembling personnel for the city’s Party Committees at all levels for the 2010-2015 term, Ms. Ha said selecting personnel should be based on democratic expansion, intellectual promotion, improving responsibility, and enhancing solidarity.
Such work must be carried out based on personnel planning criteria and the appraisal of individual qualifications, and only the most qualified cadres should be selected. In particular, special attention should be paid to selecting young and female cadres.
All Party units must set forth standards required for each position in their units and those standards will serve as a basis for the appraisal of cadres, said Ms. Ha.
Evaluations must be carried out comprehensively, objectively, and impartially, and in accordance with the Party’s regulations, she added.
Actual working efficiency must be considered the basis for evaluating personnel and feedback about cadres should be collected at both their residences and work sites, said Ms. Ha.
All cadres must be appraised in terms of political qualification, working ability, morality, lifestyle, ambitions, and development potential.
She emphasized that “candidates must be persons who hold prestigious positions within their Party unit as well as in society; who are approachable; who can handle new and complicated issues proficiently; and who are honest and trustworthy.”
Regarding a pilot plan for 69 grassroots-level Party Committees to directly elect their secretary at their upcoming congress, Ms. Ha said that because it is a new issue, careful preparations are needed to make it a success.
The direct election principles and process must be in accordance with the city Party Committee’s policies, and candidates for the position of secretary must be those who are most qualified in terms of professional skills, working capability, and prestige, she said.
The titles and standards for each title must be clearly introduced to all voters before the election, she added.
Ms. Ha asked all selected Party units to conduct the election through democratic and objective processes.
As planned, the congresses of all Party units under the city Party Committee will start from April 15 and end in May.
President honours Ba To guerrillas
State President Nguyen Minh Triet presented the State honour “People’s Armed Forces Hero” to the Ba To guerrilla unit, a founder of the revolutionary armed forces and also the Vietnam People’s Army.
The State leader also distinguished Ba To district in the central province of Quang Ngai with the Labour Order, first class–a high honour by the State and Party–at a ceremony to mark the 65 th anniversary of Ba To uprising on March 11.
Former State President Tran Duc Luong, who hailed from the province, also attended the celebration.
Triet recalled the Ba To uprising this day 65 years ago as a major contribution to the nation’s victorious August Revolution in 1945, which led to the nation’s independence on September 2 the same year.
“The success of the Ba To uprising gave birth to the first revolutionary regime in Quang Ngai. The Ba To guerrillas played a key role in forming the revolutionary armed forces in the central region and the Vietnam People’s Army, too,” he emphasised.
The State leader called upon authorities and people in the mountainous district of Ba To to uphold their heroic tradition during the current period of economic development, thus improving people’s living conditions.
Later in the day, the State President attended a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Ba To Uprising monument at March 11 Square.
The monument was designed to stand 11 metres high, including its 7 m-high base, on an area of over 11,500 sq. m. at a cost of over 12 billion VND.
The project, made of granite, is scheduled to be finished by February 2011.
Finance Ministry to tighten control over market prices
As part of efforts to restrain inflation, the Finance Ministry will tighten control over market prices, strengthen inspections, and strictly punish violators of price-related regulations.
In a notice on measures to contain inflation released March 10, the ministry said it would coordinate with provinces and cities nationwide to step up the enforcement of regulations on price registration, declaration, and posting for commodities subject to the Government’s price stabilization policy.
Those commodities include cement, steel, iron, LPG, fertilizers, sugar, milk, animal feed, pharmaceuticals, and others, the ministry said.
Any infringements upon price and tax regulations, any speculation of goods, and anyone found spreading false information related to pricing issues will be strictly punished, the ministry warned.
Depending on the nature of the violation, in addition to administrative penalties, violators could also see their business registration certificates revoked, have their goods seized, and have any ill-gained profits confiscated.
Particularly for medicines, the Finance Ministry has asked the Health Ministry to strengthen its supervision of prices and businesses’ compliance with regulations related to pharmaceutical pricing.
The Finance Ministry also asked leading petrol and oil companies to regulate fuel prices according to market principles in consideration of the State’s instructions.
Such companies must closely follow developments in the world market and adjust domestic prices of petrol and oil promptly and reasonably.
However, from now until June, petrol and oil companies should extend the interval between adjustments, the ministry added.
If such actions cause deleterious impacts to businesses’ operations, companies should report the situation to the ministries of Finance, and Industry and Trade, which will then consider applying price stabilization measures.
President Triet welcomes RoK investors
Vietnam hopes it will attract more investors from the Republic of Korea, including the Korea Western Power Co., Ltd. (KOWEPO), says State President Nguyen Minh Triet.
While receiving KOWEPO Managing Executive Jung Sung-jin in Hanoi on March 12, Mr Triet welcomed the company’s plan to expand operations in Vietnam and said the country needs to develop the electricity industry as it is carrying out the process of national industrialization and modernization. KOWEPO-funded projects match Vietnam’s investment attraction strategy, said Mr Triet.
He confirmed that Vietnam is determined to strengthen relations with the RoK in line with the strategic partnership agreed by the two countries’ top leaders during Prime Minister Lee Myung-bak’s visit to Vietnam last October.
Jung Sung-jin praised Vietnam’s Renewal achievements and viewed Vietnam as an economic ‘dragon’ in Asia – an attractive investment destination for foreign businesses, including those from the RoK.
He vowed to speed up existing projects to help promote relations between the two countries. He said his company is interested in the Son My II thermal power project in Binh Thuan province.
Vietnam, France boost national defence cooperation
Deputy Minister of National Defence Sen. Lt. Gen Nguyen Khac Nghien received Laurent Bili, co-president of the Vietnam-France joint committee on National Defence Cooperation in Hanoi on March 12.
Nghien welcomed Bili’s visit as a valuable opportunity for the two countries to exchange experience and explore possible areas of cooperation in national defence.
Nghien, who is also Chief of General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army, said the two countries’ military cooperation has achieved fruitful results in training, delegation exchanges, medical research and air defence.
Bili briefed his host on the results of the joint committee’s meeting and expressed his hope that agreements reached at the meeting would be brought to life.
Vietnam to host 7th ASEAN Chief of Defence Forces Informal Meeting
The seventh ASEAN Chief of Defence Forces Informal Meeting (ACDFIM-7) will be held in Hanoi from March 24-27.
The meeting was announced by Lieutenant General Nguyen Tuan Dung, deputy head of the General Political Department of the Vietnam People’s Army, at a press briefing in Hanoi on March 12.
The meeting will focus on effective cooperation among military forces of ASEAN member countries in dealing with non-traditional security threats. It is one of the two most important conferences among 13 events to be held by the Vietnam Ministry of National Defence in 2010 – a year when Vietnam holds the chair of ASEAN and will attend conferences of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF)
Top leaders of military forces from 10 ASEAN member countries will gather to approve an ACDFIM-7 Resolution and a two-year Action Plan for 2010-2011.
Vietnam will use this opportunity to send a message about the readiness of its military forces to help build a strong ASEAN community.
Vietnam, Laos strengthen judicial cooperation
Lao Prime Minister Bouason Bouphavanh on March 12 received a Vietnamese delegation from the Ministry of Justice led by Minister Ha Hung Cuong, who is on a working visit to Laos from March 7-12.
PM Bouphavanh expressed his belief that the Vietnamese delegation’s visit to Laos will enhance the friendship and solidarity between the two countries. He thanked Vietnam for providing assistance to Laos in human resource training and sharing its experience in national development.
Minister Cuong informed his host of the results of his delegation’s visit to the provinces of Savanakhet and Champasac and their meeting with Lao Minister of Justice Chaleune Yiapaoher on March 11.
The two sides agreed to boost judicial cooperation in 2010, with a focus on developing human resource training and promoting the exchange of delegation visits.
Minister Cuong said he wants to get a more thorough understanding of Laos’ legal training system so Vietnam can provide better assistance in this field. “Vietnamese legal training organisations are ready to welcome Lao judicial officers to Vietnam to study and share experience,” he added.
By implementing a memorandum of understand on cooperation during the 2007-2010 period the Vietnamese and Lao Ministries of Justice have created a firm foundation for their cooperation in various areas, including document exchanges and the development of a college-level and post-graduate-level law teaching programme.
Promoting gender equality and women’s rights
A seminar was held in Hanoi on March 12 to discuss issues related to gender equality and women’s rights.
The event was co-organised by the Department for Gender Equality under the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs and the United Nations Gender Programme Coordination Group to review implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action adopted by 189 UN member countries, including Vietnam, at the 4th World Conference on Women in Beijing in 1995.
The programme has 12 strategic goals with the aim of boosting women’s progress throughout the world.
Pham Ngoc Tien, Head of the Department for Gender Equality, said that over the past 15 years, Vietnam has become one of the countries which have progressive policies and laws on gender equality and women’s rights. The country has recorded remarkable achievements in implementing the 12 strategic goals.
Currently, the literacy rate among people above the age of 10 stands at 93.1 percent, while the literacy rate among women is 90.5 percent. In the 2006-2007 academic year, more than 55 percent of students in universities and colleges were women.
To fulfill these goals, Vietnam is building a 10-year national strategy on gender equality and a five-year national target programme on gender equality to encourage women’s contributions to the development of family, community and the whole nation.
Deputy PM Nhan visits Russia
Deputy Prime Minister-cum-Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Thien Nhan began a working visit to Saint Petersburg and Moscow on March 12.
Mr Nhan is accompanied by leaders of several ministries and 13 directors and presidents of big Vietnamese universities and institutions.
His six-day visit aims to bring to life the agreements reached by Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in December 2009. This also offers a chance for the two countries’ universities and institutions to increase future cooperation.
Vietnam and Russia are carrying out a host of activities to mark 60 years of their diplomacy this year. Despite global economic woes, two-way trade last year reached US$2 billion.
NA Standing Committee to meet next week
The National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee is expected to conduct a question time during its upcoming session in Hanoi from March 15-19.
Lawmakers will also give opinions on a number of bills, including those on housing and land tax, child adoption, posts, environmental tax, Vietnamese seas, and minerals. They are expected to approve an ordinance on airplane seizing procedures.
The lawmakers will also discuss preparations for the 7th session of the National Assembly and amendments to a NA resolution concerning national projects to be submitted to the legislature for consideration.
Presidential Office delegation visits Laos
A delegation from the Presidential Office led by Nguyen Van Chien, head of the Office, visited Laos from March 9-12.
Vietnamese officials paid a courtesy visit to General Secretary and President Choummaly Sayasone and held talks with a delegation from the Lao Presidential Office.
Both sides expressed pleasure at positive developments of the traditional and special friendship between Vietnam and Laos in recent times and believed that under the leadership of the two Parties and States, bilateral relationship will further grow in the future.
The Vietnamese delegation visited several economic and cultural centres in Vientiane capital and Bokeo province.
Former Party leader honoured with 60-year Party insignia
On March 12, the Political General Department’s Party Committee under the Ministry of National Defense presented a 60-year Party insignia to former Party General Secretary Le Kha Phieu in recognition of his contributions to the Party’s revolutionary cause.
Over the past 60 years in the Party holding different positions, Mr Phieu has represented the moral quality, modest and sincere lifestyle and the strong spirit of criticism and self-criticism that is the strength of the Party.
Addressing the ceremony, Mr `Phieu pledged his continued energy and mental contributions to the Party to continue to serve the nation and people.
On the occasion, Mr Phieu asked the Political General Department to pay more attention to personnel training for the development of the department itself and that of the Vietnamese army as well.
Vietnam to join Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations
Vietnam’s commitment to continual negotiation of the Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership Agreement (TPP) reflects its determination to go ahead with its renewal process and in-depth international economic integration.
The Foreign Ministry’s spokeswoman Nguyen Phuong Nga made the statement while answering reporters’ questions on the significance of the TPP’s first round of negotiations, scheduled for March 15-19 and Vietnam’s contributions at a regular press briefing in Hanoi on March 11.
As an associate member, Vietnam is working with the TPP’s full members ahead of the start of the negotiations, Nga said. The nation will actively participate in the first round to be held in Melbourne, Australia, from March 15-19, 2010.
She confirmed that the TPP negotiation is a key effort by countries in the Asia-Pacific region to enhance linkage and cooperation for the sake of peace and development.
HCM City pledges to do its best for WEF on East Asia 2010
Under the government’s leadership, Ho Chi Minh City will do its utmost to bring the World Economic Forum (WEF) on East Asia 2010 to success.
The Deputy Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee, Nguyen Trung Tin, made the commitment while working with a delegation from the WEF on March 11.
Tin said the city is proud to host the international event and this will be a good chance for the city to highlight its potential and promote its image to the world.
At the meeting, WEF Director to Asia, Sushant Rao emphasised the historic significance of the event, as this will be the first time the forum takes place in a developing country.
Leaders of countries, international organisations and over 1,000 WEF member businesses will attend the event scheduled to take place from June 6-7, said Rao.
Dak Lak needs to improve people’s lives
The Vice Chairwoman of the Vietnam National Assembly, Tong Thi Phong, paid a visit to Buon Ma Thuot city on March 11.
Ms Phong conveyed her best wishes to the local administration and people on the occasion of the 35th anniversary of the Buon Ma Thuot victory.
She called on them to make headway towards turning Buon Ma Thuot into a major urban centre of the Central Highland region.
Urban planning must protect the ecological environment and preserve desirable features of the Central Highland city, besides developing human resources and improving the political system, she said.
She emphasised that the province of Dak Lak should make a greater effort to improve the living conditions of local people, especially those of ethnic minority groups.
PV
Related news:
- POLITICS IN BRIEF 26/11
- POLITICS IN BRIEF 1/8
- POLITICS IN BRIEF 17/12
- POLITICS IN BRIEF 24/4
- POLITICS IN BRIEF 16/10
