Committee aims to accelerate judicial reform

State President Truong Tan Sang has reaffirmed the importance of programmes to reform military investigations and judicial agencies at the fifth meeting of the Central Steering Committee for Judicial Reform in Hanoi on April 9.

At the meeting, Mr Sang, who is also the head of the committee, was briefed on the progress of reorganizing the investigation agencies, renewing the organization and operation of the military judiciary and the establishment of People’s First Instance Courts and People’s Procuracies at regional and local levels.

Regarding the scheme to reorganize the investigation agency by 2015, he said the scheme has met expectations but still needed additional research and adjustment on its targets and tasks as proposed by the members of the committee.

Mr Sang urged for improved abilities among investigators and for upgrades to infrastructure of investigation agencies. It is important to clarify the authority and power of military courts and civil judgements, he said.

The President asked relevant authorities to study and draw up plans to establish People’s First Instance Courts which meet committee requirements and assure living conditions for judiciary staff in remote areas.

Vietnam, Laos prepare for history contest

A Vietnamese delegation led by Bui The Duc, Deputy Head of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Popularisation and Education and their Lao counterparts discussed the contest on history of the Vietnam – Laos relations in Vientiane on Apr. 9.

The event is part of activities to celebrate the Vietnam - Laos Friendship and Solidarity Year 2012, the 50 th anniversary of the two countries’ diplomatic ties and the 35 th anniversary of the signing of Amity and Cooperation Treaty.

The contest will feature the two countries’ close relations, the role played by Presidents Ho Chi Minh, Kaysone Phomvihane and Souphanouvong and other high-ranking leaders in fostering bilateral ties, important achievements made by the two nations as well as responsibilities for preserving and upholding sentiments between the two peoples .

The same day, the Lao Party Central Committee Secretary and Head of the Party Central Committe ’s Commission for Propaganda and Training Chueang Sombounkhan received the visiting delegation.

Their visit will last until Apr. 10.

Lao Deputy PM visits Vietnam

Lao Deputy Prime Minister Somsavat Lengsavad, who is also Chairman of the Laos-Vietnam Cooperation Sub-Committee, had a busy schedule during his working visit to cities and provinces of Vietnam from April 5-10.

The visit is part of activities to celebrate the Vietnam-Laos Solidarity and Friendship Year. It was made at the invitation of Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, who is Chairman of the Vietnam-Laos Cooperation Subcommittee.

On April 5 and 6, the Lao Deputy PM attended the opening ceremony of the third Coconut Festival in the Mekong Delta province of Ben Tre and a number of economic establishments in the locality.

The next day, he paid a courtesy visit to Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, joined a banquet hosted by Deputy PM Phuc and attended the opening ceremony of the Hue Festival in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue .

On April 9, the Lao Deputy PM made a fact-finding trip of several economic establishments in Nghe An province, including a dairy farm of TH Truemilk Group, an area of material trees and branch of the Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam (BIDV).

The visit is expected to contribute to tightening the friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos in general and the two countries’ localities in particular.

As scheduled, Somsavat Lengsavad will leave Nghe An province on April 10.

NA Chairman attaches importance to diplomacy

The success of diplomatic activities has contributed greatly to boosting Vietnam’s socio-economic development and status in the international arena, says National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung.

Mr Hung affirmed this while meeting with newly-accredited ambassadors and a consul general in Hanoi on April 9 before they leave for their mission overseas.

The chief legislator emphasized the role of ambassadors and chief representative officials in building policies for the nation’s socio-economic development and maintaining national security and defence.

He asked the newly-appointed ambassadors to try their best to boost bilateral and multilateral programs to serve Vietnam’s national construction, development, and international integration.

NA chairman Hung also urged them to pay due attention to establishing parliamentary diplomatic relations and facilitating people-to-people diplomacy to promote mutual understanding between Vietnam and other countries around the world.

The new ambassadors and consul general said they will endeavour to contribute to strengthening ties with other countries and accelerating Vietnam’s process of industrialization and modernization.

VNN/VOV/VNA