CPV senior official hails ties with Germany

A senior official of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) has hailed Germany’s role in Europe and the world at large as well as the strategic partnership the two nations established from October, 2011.

Dinh The Huynh, Politburo member and Secretary of the CPV Central Committee, made the remarks at a meeting with Edelgal Bulmahn, member of the German Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs in Hanoi on May 11.

Bulmahn was heading a delegation of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) of Germany to Vietnam for the third CPV-SPD Dialogue which ended on May 11.

Huynh praised the efforts made by both CPV and SPD for holding the dialogue in an open and straightforward manner, especially amid the current global financial and economic crisis.

He said he believes the dialogue offers the two sides a chance to enhance mutual understanding, and share experience in building and implementing social welfare policies for all people, as well as for the sustainable development of Vietnam and Germany.

The host added that the bilateral relations are deepening strongly and effectively in various realms, for the benefit of the two peoples, and for peace, cooperation and prosperity in the region and the world in general.

Bulmahn, who is a former Federal Minister, said the SPD conducted this kind of dialogue only with a few political parties of Asia which she referred to its appreciation of the CPV’s role and prestige in Vietnam’s national construction and development.

She stressed the importance of the dialogue, which according to her, will contribute to effectively implementing the two countries’ strategic partnership.

During the dialogue in Hanoi, participants focused their discussions on the establishment and development of social welfare system, pension insurance and the State’s social assistance, especially for the vulnerable groups in each country.

Addressing the closing ceremony, head of the CPV Commission for External Relations Hoang Binh Quan stressed that the event helps offer solutions to challenges facing both German and Vietnamese social welfare systems.

It also contributes to intensifying cooperation between the two parties, implementing the Joint Declaration on the establishment of the Vietnam – Germany strategic partnership, and helping perfect the two parties’ social welfare policies in the new situation, Quan said.

AIPA Caucus looks to development goals

The ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) always supports ASEAN in developing effective initiatives to deal with the challenges facing its member countries.

Vietnam National Assembly Vice Chairwoman Tong Thi Phong made the statement at the fifth AIPA Caucus, which opened in the Central Highland city of Da Lat on May 12.

She said one of the big challenges for ASEAN to realise the UN Millennium Development Goals is to effectively address poverty reduction and promote growth measures alongside protecting natural resources and the environment.

These two interrelated tasks require greater efforts and responsible contributions from individual countries and regional and international institutions, Phong told the meeting.

She noted that the AIPA's resolutions on poverty reduction and green growth have been implemented in each ASEAN member country and under the microscope of individual AIPA member parliaments.

“I believe that the meeting today will make practical recommendations concerning the issues to be submitted to the upcoming 34th AIPA General Assembly for consideration,” she said.

The two-day meeting will review the implementation of the 33rd AIPA General Assembly Resolution, debate issues relating to green growth and poverty reduction for sustainable development, and examine national initiatives and joint legislation capacity.

Delegates will look at the integration of socio-economic development programs, and coordination in implementing poverty reduction policies, mobilising domestic and international resources for poverty reduction and dealing with economic crises.

The meeting has attracted 70 delegates, including parliamentarians and representatives from AIPA member countries, United Nations Development Program (UNDP) experts, and the ASEAN General Secretary and the AIPA Secretariat.

PM Dung meets with Haiphong voters

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung on May 11 met with voters in the northern port city of Haiphong to answer their queries and hear their aspirations.

Local voters expressed their pleasure at the achievements made by the entire Party, army and people during the national socio-economic development process.

They proposed the State continue to have policies supporting businesses, investing more in agriculture, farmers and rural areas, as well as speeding up the implementation of some infrastructure projects.

Acknowledging voters’ whole-heartedly ideas, PM Dung said that in the time to come, the Government will continue strengthening measures to stabilise macro-economy, curb inflation, remove difficulties for businesses, and maintain high growth in 2013 while ensuring social welfare, security and defence.

Applauding their opinions on the draft amendments to the 1992 Constitution and the amended Land Law, the Government leader said that these are important issues relating to the destiny of the country and the life of people.

The Party, State and Government will hear and acquire voters’ comments to build a modern and advanced Constitution that meets the country’s development requirements in the new period and a new Land Law that satisfies the people’s legitimate demands, the PM stressed.

VNN/VOV/VNS/VNA