President wants flawless officials

President Truong Tan Sang told voters in the District 4 in HCM City that success in the fight against corruption, embezzlement and wastage depended on the impeccable behaviour of officials at all levels.

He said the government was planning to review the existing anti-corruption law to respond to new requirements.

"The Party and Government are well aware of the importance of anti-corruption activities. We have carried out the war against corruption for many years. Yet, successes have not been up to our expectation," Sang said.

Many voters attending the meeting expressed their anxiety about the effectiveness of the anti-corruption law and hoped that the newly elected National Assembly deputies would do what they had promised during their election campaigns.

Nguyen Tan Quang, from ward 18, asked the National Assembly to increase its supervision activities, particularly in major economic groups, and take strong actions against corruption.

"Taking back bribery money would be a good way to increase the State budget," Quang said.

Hoang Minh Ngoc, from ward 4, drew the attention of the president to the slow issuance of the guiding documents to turn the laws passed by the National Assembly into reality.

Ngoc complained about overlapping and contradictions in laws the people and law enforcement officers had to implement.

During the meeting, many voters expressed their anxiety about the situation in the East Sea, about territorial encroachments by foreign boats and vessels.

President Truong Tan Sang pledged to convey all the messages from the voters to the National Assembly.

He reiterated his and other deputies' promise to do their best and live up to the voter expectations.

"The fight against corruption and inflation, stabilising the macro economy and the issuance of legal documents are the focus of the Party and Government. They have been including these in the working agenda of the National Assembly and the Government," Sang said.

"Protecting our national sovereignty and territorial integrity over our islands is the consistent policy of the Party and Government. We're determined to protect our national independence and territorial integrity while maintaining an environment of peace in the service of our path of industrialisation and modern-isation."

Sang said in order to carry out these important tasks, the nation must have correct policies and strong measures to protect its territorial integrity through peaceful negotiations and in line with the international laws and practices.

Meanwhile, at another meeting with voters in the Tay Ho District of Ha Noi yesterday, Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong said the positive results from the 13th National Assembly's first session were important and significant.

Trong emphasised that the implementation of many politic events, including the 11th National Party Congress, the 13th National Assembly and People's Council elections, amidst a complicated world economical situation, had been a big success in terms of national development.

The Party leader thanked voters for their trust, saying he hoped that they would continue contributing their opinions with a view to helping the NA and its deputies do their jobs properly.

Trong agreed with opinions related to improving the quality of the legal system and supervision based on anti-corruption and waste in the long term.

Voters also called on the NA to improve construction investment, food hygiene, land use and management, the education system and advertising, amongst others.

Thanking the Party and State for its efforts in caring for its people, especially those in mountainous and remote areas, in terms of social welfare, voters emphasised the importance supporting youth unions, women's associations and labour co-operatives.

It was hoped that NA deputies would adhere to calls for building a more transparent State machine while on matters relating to East Sea, voters urged peace, stability and development.

Party General Secretary receives Lao ambassador

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong praised the contribution of Lao Ambassador Soonthorn Xayachak in consolidating bilateral relations between Viet Nam and Laos during his working term.

Having made the comments at a reception for the outgoing ambassador in Ha Noi yesterday, Aug 11, General Secretary Trong expressed his delight at the successful organisation of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party's 9th Congress and its 7th National Assembly Election.

Trong also expressed his hope that, under the leadership of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, Lao people will successfully implement the resolution of the 9th Party Congress.

The general secretary highlighted the official visit of Lao Party General Secretary and State President Choummaly Sayasone to Viet Nam in contributing to peace, stability, development and co-operation in the region and the world.

The ambassador congratulated Viet Nam on the success of its 11th National Party Congress as well as on the results of the recent National Assembly elections.

She thanked the Vietnamese Party and the State for supporting and helping Laos during the past years.

Congratulations to newly-elected leaders

President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Durao Barroso has sent messages of congratulations to newly-elected State President Truong Tan Sang and Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung. 

Irina Bokova, Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), has also extended congratulations to State President Truong Tan Sang, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung. 

Other messages of congratulations to State President Truong Tan Sang are from the Presidents of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Germany and Slovakia, the Queen of the Netherlands, the Malaysian King and the Australian Governor-General. 

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung was congratulated by his Belarusian, Finnish, Spanish and Ukrainian counterparts and the President of the Council of Ministers of Poland. 

The Speakers of the Belarusian Lower House, the Czech Republic of Upper House and the Ukrainian Parliament have extended congratulatory messages to NA Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung. 

Matsumoto Takeaki, Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Eric Falt, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for External Relations and Public Information, have sent greetings to Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh.

Party leader receives out-going ambassador

The Vietnam-Laos special relationship will develop more intensively and practically for prosperity of each country and for peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world. 

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong emphasised this on August 11 while receiving Lao ambassador Sunthon Sayachak, who came to say goodbye on the occasion of completing her tenure as Ambassador to Vietnam.
Mr. Trong highlighted the Lao ambassador’s contributions to enhancing the special solidarity between the two countries and extended his congratulations to the ambassador on her election as a member of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party Central Committee at the ninth National Party Congress.
He expressed his hope that the diplomat will continue her contributions to the relationship between Vietnam and Laos in her new position.
The Party leader also spoke highly of outcomes of the recent official friendship visit by Lao Party General Secretary and President Choummaly Sayasone.
The Lao ambassador congratulated the Party, State and people of Vietnam on the achievements, saying she firmly believed that under the sound leadership of the Party, the Vietnamese people will gain greater success, fulfilling the target of becoming a modern industrialised nation by 2020.
She expressed her thanks for support from the Party, Sate and people of Vietnam for Laos during her tenure.
The Party, State and people of Laos will make every effort together with Vietnam to preserve and develop the special solidarity between the two countries, he said.

Ha Tinh asked to spare no effort for greater achievements

Ha Tinh should make greater efforts to bring the province out of the poverty status and to develop its agriculture comprehensively by 2015, said Chairman of the National Assembly (NA) Nguyen Sinh Hung.

Mr. Hung made the request at the 180^th anniversary of the central province’s establishment on August 11, which was attended by leaders of ministries and agencies, local authorities, revolutionary veterans, representatives from Laos’s provinces of Bolykhamsay and Kham Muon, heroic mothers, and thousands of local people.

The NA leader underlined Ha Tinh’s outstanding achievements during its construction and development, as well as its contribution to the country’s glorious revolutionary cause.

As a province rich in culture, patriotism, and revolutionary tradition, Ha Tinh has joined efforts with the whole country in the proud history of nation building and protection, Mr. Hung said, adding that Ha Tinh upheld the revolutionary tradition to contribute to the final victory of the country.

NA Chairman Hung asked the province to try their best in implementing the resolution of the 11^th National Party Congress, fulfilling its socio-economic task, and increasing the proportion of industry and services contribution to GDP to 82 percent.

The Party and people of Ha Tinh should take full advantage of its geographical position, natural resources, human resources, and the experience of the previous generation, as well as boosting cooperation with other localities across the country and foreign partners to ensure rapid and sustainable economic growth, he said.

Mr. Hung also urged the province to pay due attention to ensuring social welfare, reducing poverty, and improving people’s living conditions, both spiritually and materially.   

In addition, he said, Ha Tinh should attach great importance to Party building and combating corruption and wastefulness.

He expressed his belief that the Party and people of the province will overcome difficulties to gain greater achievements and contribute more to the nation’s cause of construction and protection.

NA Chairman Hung also granted the province with the Ho Chi Minh Order at the ceremony.

Southern hub celebrates India’s Independence Day

The Ho Chi Minh City chapter of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations held a meeting in the southern city on August 11 to mark the 64th anniversary of the Independence Day of the Republic of India.

India gained its independence from the United Kingdom on August 15, 1947.

The friendship between the two countries has developed constantly over the past years in many fields, especially economics.

Two-way trade turnover increased considerably from US$50 million in the 1980s to more than US$1 billion in 2006.

Recent years have also seen the relationship grow. In the first five months of this year, the bilateral trade revenues hit over US$1.5 billion, a 39 percent increase from the same period last year.

After such encouraging results, Vietnam and India have now set a target of raising bilateral trade turnover to US$5 billion by 2015.

The ASEAN-India Free Trade Area agreement, which was signed in 2009, and India’s recognition of Vietnam as a full market economy have opened up many opportunities for comprehensive and mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries.

In HCM City, the Vietnam-India Friendship Association held a number of culture and arts exchanges to increase mutual understanding between Indian and Vietnamese enterprises and to assist them in exploring investment and trade opportunities in each country.

VNN/VOV/VNS/VNA