Reforms gradually help reduce red tape

Viet Nam's ministries and sectors have simplified more than 3,200 administrative procedures up to the middle of this month, accounting for nearly 70 per cent of the total procedures targeted for simplification, the Government Office announced.

In addition, implementation of the one-door mechanism, the ISO quality management system and the use of information technology at public administrative agencies have proven to be effective in providing better services.

The Government Office's report also pointed out shortcomings such as the delayed administrative reform because of hesitation by some officials to change their work habits, insufficient publicity of new administrative procedures and inappropriate behaviour by some staff which had led to difficulties for some people.

Foreign minister holds talks with UN chief

Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh (left) shakes hands with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on the sidelines of UN General Assembly meeting. (Photo: VNS)

The two met on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meeting in New York. At the meeting, the UN Secretary General also applauded Viet Nam and other related countries for making progress in implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea.

Minh updated the UN leader on Viet Nam's socio-economic development in the past five years and said that Viet Nam hoped to continue receiving support from UN agencies in reaching these goals.

Minh and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton met later in the day and agreed to foster the strategic partnership between the two countries. They exchanged views on Asia-Pacific regional structure and ways to strengthen co-operation in science and education.

Minh requested that the US continue its humanitarian aid to Viet Nam in dealing with Agent Orange/dioxin and HIV/AIDS. He also said that Viet Nam welcomed the US' attendance at the East-Asia summit this year.

For her part, Clinton said US-based General Electric Group hopes to make a bid to provide energy to Viet Nam. The US Secretary also appreciated Viet Nam's efforts in revising its adoption procedures as well as its decision to join The Hague Convention. She also encouraged Viet Nam to take part in the Proliferation Security Initiative, a global effort that aimed to stop the illegal sale of weapons of mass destruction.

Minh also met foreign ministers of Canada, Russia, Slovenia and leaders of the United Nations Development Program and the United Nations Population Fund on the same day.

South Korean ship visits HCM City

ROKS Kang GamChan, a 4,400-tonne South Korean stealth destroyer and its 4,200-tonne escort ROKS Chunji, berthed yesterday, Sep 27, with 620 crew members in HCM City where they arrived for a three-day exchange.

The crew, led by RADM Choi Yang Sun, were received by Ha Xuan Xu, representative of the Southern Naval Command, at Nha Rong Pier.

It is on a South Korea Navy Cruise Training Task Group programme to 10 countries in three months, and Viet Nam is the first destination.

Choi Yang Sun said the visit to HCM City was meant to widen the cadets' international perspective by building friendships with other countries and representing the spirit and pride of South Korea abroad.

The South Korean navy was training three Vietnamese who were excellent cadets, he said, and more were expected to be trained in future.

Today the cadets and crew will go around HCM City and play volleyball with students of the Naval Technology School.

The public and South Korean community in the city are welcome to board the two vessels from 10am to 4pm today.

The ships will leave for their next port of call, Colombo, Sri Lanka, tomorrow.

They will also sail to Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Italy, France, Greece, India, Malaysia, and Japan.

This is their sixth visit to Viet Nam since first coming in 1999.

Hungary to assist in training of Vietnamese court personnel

The Hungarian Supreme Court will help the Supreme People's Court of Viet Nam train personnel and improve qualifications of judges.

This is part of a memorandum of understanding on judicial co-operation signed by the heads of the two agencies in Ha Noi yesterday, Sep 27.

During the talks, Chief Judge of the Viet Nam Supreme People's Court Truong Hoa Binh and his Hungarian counterpart Baka Andras agreed to step up co-operation in areas such as the application of information technology in management, personnel training, statistics and legal precedent.

Baka Andras said he hoped the ongoing visit would open a new stage of development in co-operative relations between the courts of the two nations.

Nation's lawmakers strengthen ties with Czech colleagues

The Vietnamese National Assembly and the Czech Parliament needed to strengthen mutual support and co-operation in legislative activities.

Chairman of the Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs of the Senate of the Czech Republic Miroslav Antl made this statement at a meeting with NA Vice Chairman Uong Chu Luu in Ha Noi yesterday, Sep 27.

Luu said he hoped the Czech Parliament and the Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs of the Senate of the Czech Republic would promote co-operation in building and perfecting laws with the Vietnamese NA, contributing to enhancing relations between the two countries.

Vietnam wishes to boost ties with Ecuador

Vietnam wants to boost friendship and cooperation with Ecuador in various fields, including politics and diplomacy, trade, energy, telecommunications, agriculture and tourism. 

Senior Vietnamese officials made this announcement during talks and meetings with Ecuador’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Integration Kintto Lucas, who is on a Vietnam visit from September 25-28. 

During his stay in Vietnam, the Ecuadorian Deputy Minister held talks with Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister Le Luong Minh, during which they signed a memorandum of understanding on the political consultation mechanism between the two foreign ministries. 

He also met with Chairman of the Vietnamese National Assembly’s Committee for External Relations Tran Van Hang, leaders of the Ministry of Education and Training, and several economic groups. 

During the meetings, the Vietnamese side applauded upcoming Vietnam visits by Ecuadorian President Rafael Corea and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Integration Ricardo Patino. They spoke highly of the Ecuadorian Government’s intention to open a representative agency in Hanoi as well as its specific proposals on creating a legal mechanism and framework for bilateral ties. 

For his part, Kintto Lucas affirmed that the Ecuadorian Government will create favourable conditions for Vietnamese businesses to access the Ecuadorian market and set up partnerships with Ecuadorian enterprises as well as consider recognising Vietnam as a market economy. 

The two sides agreed on measures to continue consolidating and expanding their multifaceted cooperation and strengthen coordination and mutual support at international organisations and multilateral forums.

VNN/VOV/VNS/VNA