Vietnam attends meeting of regional political parties

A delegation from the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) participated the 17th Meeting of the International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP) Standing Committee in Baku, Azerbaijan on June 22-23.

The Vietnamese delegation was led by Vuong Thua Phong, Deputy Head of the CPV Central Committee Commission for External Relations.

Recent ICAPP operations were presented at the meeting and delegates heard the New Azerbaijan Party (YAP) report on preparations for the 7th plenary session of the ICAPP, which is scheduled to take place in Baku this November.

The ICAPP’s future directions were also discussed and the delegates agreed to increase the number of ICAPP Standing Committee members, build new operational mechanisms for the organisation, and strengthen cooperation in promoting regional peace, security and conciliation.

During his stay in Baku, Mr Phong worked with the Vice Chairperson of the Azerbaijan Parliament and YAP leaders to seek ways to boost ties between the two Parties and States.

Top leaders meet with voters

National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung on June 25 met with votes in Vu Quang, one of the poorest mountainous districts in the central province of Ha Tinh.

Voters in the district, where the percentage of poor and near-poor households is still at 45.85 percent, asked the NA to support the national programme to build new rural areas, provide funding to building major infrastructure projects to deal with climate change, natural disasters, and further work to reduce poverty.

NA Chairman Hung acknowledged the difficulties of the district, saying that work should focus on finding new agricultural methods to increase productivity.

He also met with voters in Ha Tinh Province, who said that the Government should consider increasing the level of investment for agriculture and rural areas, further supporting businesses and providing preferable policies that particularly support workers and labourers.

In relation to the Land Law, Hung said that the NA has assigned the Government to revise problems related to land policies, such as finishing the procedure of land assignment to all residents by 2013.

On the same day, President Truong Tan Sang met with voters in Ho Chi Minh City ’s Districts 1 and 3, who expressed their hopes that all the laws passed at the recent NA session will be quickly implemented and bring about positive changes to residents’ lives.

The HCM City voters said they are happy with the results and progress made at the recent NA session, as lawmakers and the Government tackled many important topics.

However, they said they hope that the NA will increase its supervisory role, especially in monitoring the activities of state-owned companies, anti-corruption efforts and public investment, while ensuring that all the promises delivered at the inquiry session by Cabinet members will be realised.

The President stressed that the supervisory role of the NA will not be successful without the frank opinion of voters.

Also on June 25, Le Hong Anh, permanent member of the Party Central Committee Secretariat, also met with voters in Vinh Thanh and Thot Not districts in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho.

Voters spoke highly of the results of the 3 rd session of the 13 th National Assembly and suggested the NA and Government to increase investment in developing infrastructure for education, transport, clean water and environmental hygiene as well as building new rural areas.

Anh asked the local authorities to listen to the voters’ aspirations and suggestions and create favourable conditions for the people to well perform their supervisory role, thus contributing to building the political system and maintaining local defence and security.

Lao PM receives Vietnamese Finance Minister

Finance Minister Vuong Dinh Hue is visiting Laos from June 23-27 as one of the activities to mark the 2012 Vietnam-Laos Friendship Year.

On June 25, Hue was received by Lao Prime Minister Thongsing Thamavong, who thanked the Vietnamese Ministry of Finance for its assistance to Laos over the past years, helping it achieve significant results in national development.

Hue briefed his host on the activities during his stay in Laos, including attending a ground-breaking ceremony for a project to upgrade the Finance College in Luang Prabang and holding talks with the Lao Ministry of Finance.

The two Finance Ministries agreed on measures to further strengthen bilateral cooperation.

PM Thamavong said he hopes that the two ministries will promote close ties in all fields, thus fostering bilateral relations in a sustainable manner.

UN praises VN's new laws

The United Nations in Viet Nam yesterday, June 25, congratulated the Government and National Assembly for passing a number of important laws during its recent session, expected to benefit the health and wellbeing of the general population.

Pratibha Mehta, UN Resident Co-ordinator in Viet Nam, said many of the new laws and revisions passed had brought the country in line with some of its international commitments.

"We highly commend the Government and National Assembly for their very important decisions which will bring tangible benefits to the lives of many Vietnamese," she said.

Among the new laws is the Law on the Handling of Administrative Sanctions, which introduces a number of reforms to the juvenile justice system, including that the best interests of the child should be of paramount consideration and that reform schools should only be used as a last resort.

Other notable laws passed, the UN restressed, were the Law on Advertisement, the new Labour Code and the Law on the Prevention and Control of Tobacco related Harm.

The UN also said it was very pleased to provide technical assistance and analysis of best practices, international experience and dialogue in regards to these areas.

VNN/VOV/VNS/VNA