PM pays Tet visits to former Party and State leaders

 

 

 

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung paid New Year (Tet) visits to former Party General Secretary Do Muoi, former State President Le Duc Anh, and General Vo Nguyen Giap on February 2.

The former leaders praised the Vietnamese Government’s work throughout 2012, helping the nation overcome difficulties and challenges, attain great socio-economic achievements, and reinforce national security and defence.

Former Party General Secretary Do Muoi (L) and PM Nguyen Tan Dung (R)
Photo (VGP)

They said they hope the Government will redouble their efforts in its managing and guiding the country to rapid development.

Dung extended his best good health and longevity wishes to the former leaders, reiterating his intent to collaborate with cabinet members on using 2012’s achievements and learning from its disappointments to boost national development in the New Year.

New headquarters for Vietnamese Embassy in Malaysia

A ceremony was held on January 31 in Putrajaya- the administration capital of Malaysia to hand over a land ownership certificate to the Vietnamese Embassy in Malaysia.

Among the guests were Ambassador Nguyen Hong Thao, Counselor-Minister Le Thi Hoang Cuc and representatives of Vietnamese agencies in Malaysia.

Ambassador Thao thanked the Malaysian Government and Putrajaya administration for helping the Vietnamese Embassy buy the two plots of land for the building of its new headquarters.

Thao said there will be diverse activities marking the 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Vietnam and Malaysia during the year.

Perbadanan Putrajaya Group President Aseh bin Haji Che Mat said 25 foreign embassies have purchased  49 out of 61 plots of land in Putrajaya so far.

Lao leaders pay Tet visit to Vietnamese embassy

Deputy Prime Ministers of Laos Thoonglun Sisulith and Somsavad Lengsavat attended a Lunar New Year party hosted by the Vietnamese Embassy in Vientiane on January 31.

In his speech, Somsavath Lengsavat congratulated Vietnamese people on the tremendous achievements they have recorded during the Doi Moi (Renewal) process.
Politburo member and Deputy PM Somsavath Lengsavat extended best Tet wishes to Vietnamese people

He noted that despite the regional and global economic recession last year, Vietnam achieved relatively high economic growth and maintained political stability and social security, while elevating its role and position globally.

He extended best wishes to Vietnamese people in the Lunar New Year.

Hosts and guests raised toasts for a new happy year ahead.

Ambassador Nguyen Manh Hung thanked the Party, State and people of Laos for having constantly promoted the traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries.

He recalled a host of activities held last year to mark major Vietnam-Laos anniversaries and expressed hope that the cooperative relations between the two countries will be further developed in all areas in 2013.

Nobel Prize winner Kroto visits Vietnam

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan on January 30 received Nobel Prize winner Professor Harold Kroto of University of California, USA.

Nhan welcomed Kroto’s visit, which he said will act as a bridge between Nobel Prize winners and Vietnamese universities and institutions to support long-term relationships and promote cooperation in science-technology and education.

The organization of a series of activities by Nobel Prize and Fields Medal winners and other renowned politicians in Vietnam gives Vietnam a good chance to share experience, increase exchanges, broaden vision and promote Vietnam’s profile to the world, said the Deputy PM.

He expressed hope that with his experience the professor will help strengthen cooperation between Hanoi National University and foreign universities.

Kroto said the purpose of his visit is to encourage and increase academic dialogues and exchanges with Vietnamese individuals and organizations.

He vowed to work closely with Hanoi National University to bring the programme ‘Bridges – Dialogues Towards a Culture of Peace’ to Vietnamese people, especially the youth.

New group fosters Algeria-Vietnam friendship

An Algeria-Vietnam parliamentary friendship group made its debut at a ceremony in capital Algers on January 30.

Algeria’s Vice Parliament Speaker Mohamed Djemani affirmed that the newly-established group will serve as a bridge to strengthening the friendship and traditional cooperation between the two countries.

He said the new organization will help create a channel of dialogue and coordination of actions between the two legislative bodies in the areas of politics, economics, and social affairs.

Vietnamese ambassador to Algeria Do Trong Cuong expressed his belief that the group will contribute to expanding bilateral cooperation in various areas, especially in legislation.

Parliamentarian Lahcen Maaloum of the National Liberation Front (FLN) was appointed as President of the group. He vowed to work hard to foster the friendship between Algeria and Vietnam.

Finalising political regime a must

The Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics and Public Administration held a workshop in Hanoi on January 31 to develop arguments for finalising the political system in Vietnam.

Since the Doi Moi (Renewal) process was introduced in 1986, Vietnam’s political system has been gradually consolidated and finalised to support the country’s transition to socialism, and promote people’s democracy and mastery rights.

The political system works by mobilising the aggregate strength of all social strata, of which the Communist Party of Vietnam forms the political nucleus, the State is the mainstay, the Fatherland Front and other social organisations are political and socio organisations.     

Over the past eight decades, the Communist Party of Vietnam has better performed its functions and managed its operations. The role and position of a number of organisations within the political regime have been adjusted to correspond to the requirements of different periods of the revolution.

However, the system has revealed shortcomings that need to be addressed. The leadership capacity of the Party, the management efficiency of the State, and the operational efficiency of other political-social organisations has yet to meet practical requirements. A number of ranking officials fall into decadent lifestyles or lacks competence at work.

Renewing and finalizing the political system is a must for Vietnam to meet the requirements of the Renewal process, accelerate national industrialisation and modernisation, and develop the socialist-oriented market economy.

Nearly 40 presentations looked at the political system’s achievements and shortcomings and proposed solutions for finalizing the system in the near future.

Speakers proposed renewing the Party’s leadership methods for the State, Fatherland Front and political-social organisations, increasing the leadership and management capacity of all key figures in the political system, and building people’s supervisory mechanism for the State’s power.
They also underlined the need to enhance the role of social criticism of the Fatherland Front, accelerate administrative reform, and further staff cuts.

VUFO reviews 2012’s activities

The Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) held a conference in Hanoi on February 1, reviewing its activities in 2012 and outlining its tasks for this year.

Addressing the event, VUFO President Vu Xuan Hong said his organisation will continue expanding its network of global partners in 2013, boosting people-to-people relations with neighbour nations by establishing frameworks for practical cooperation and reinforcing the ties of friendship and mutual understanding with ASEAN member countries.

It will also hold activities to alleviate the nation’s lingering war pain, share experiences with traditional allies and progressive left-wing organisations around the world, and contribute to peace, equitable and sustainable development, and social progress internationally on behalf of Vietnam

On top of this, the VUFO will hold its third international conference on cooperation with foreign non-governmental organisations, soliciting their commitment to help reduce poverty.

Last year, foreign non-governmental organisations disbursed funds totaling nearly US$300 million, mainly allocated to healthcare, education, human resources development, disaster relief, climate change adaption, and overcoming the aftermath of war. They pledged to providing an additional US$153.6 million to reduce poverty and support development in 2012.

VUFO expanded bilateral, multilateral, and people-to-people cooperation, consolidating regional friendship and solidarity, and its many significant diplomatic initiatives have strengthened links with countries all over the world.

Vietnam-Cambodia Friendship Association’s activities under review

The Vietnam-Cambodia Friendship Association (VCFA) hosted a February 2 ceremony in the northern Bac Ninh province to review its 2012 activities and mark the 45th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries.

In his speech, VCFA Chairman Vu Mao spoke highly of the association’s diverse activities over the past year that contributed to strengthening the friendship it represents.

Cambodian Ambassador to Vietnam Hul Phany praised the VCFA’s achievements the expressed the hope that it will encourage more Vietnamese investment in border provinces and cities for the two countries’ mutual benefit.

In 2013 the association will continue expanding its education and communications programmes, promoting the traditional friendship by celebrating major anniversaries, holding Vietnamese singing contests, and organising exchanges of experts and volunteer soldiers.

VUFO unveils 2013 activities with global partners

The Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) held a conference in Hanoi on February 1 to review its activities in 2012 and set its tasks for this year.

Addressing the event, VUFO President Vu Xuan Hong said his organisation will continue expanding its network of global partners in 2013, and boost people-to-people relations with neighbour countries by establishing practical cooperation frameworks and enhancing friendship, mutual understanding and links with ASEAN member countries.

It will also hold activities to mobilise relevant sides to ease the aftermath of war in Vietnam, share experience with traditional counterparts and left-wing progressive organisations around the world, as well as contribute to progressive and democratic international organisations, of which Vietnam is a member, for peace, equitable and sustainable development, and social progress.

On top of this, the third international conference on cooperation with foreign non-governmental organisations will be held to call for aid and seek commitments to reduce poverty from them.

Last year, foreign non-governmental organisations disbursed nearly 300 million USD, mainly in healthcare, education, human resources development, disaster relief, coping with climate change and overcoming the aftermath of war. They committed to provide an additional 153.6 million USD to reduce poverty and support development in Vietnam this year.

VUFO enhanced bilateral and multilateral people-to-people cooperation, which increased solidarity and friendship in the region. Many significant diplomatic activities intensified links with countries all over the world.

HCM City marks 83rd founding anniversary of CPV

A meeting to mark the 83rd founding anniversary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and the 1968 Spring Offensive and Uprising was held in Ho Chi Minh City on February 2.

Addressing the event, Secretary of the municipal People’s Committee Le Thanh Hai recalled the Communist Party of Vietnam’s establishment and its 83 years of development.

Hai asked the municipal authorities to overcome shortcomings in Party building and administrative reforms to build a civilised and modern city.

On the occasion, awards were presented to outstanding individuals and collectives in recognition of their contributions to Party building and development.

Earlier, the municipal leaders offered incense and laid a wreath at the HCM City Museum.

On February 1, as part of activities to mark the 1968 Spring victory, the Ho Chi Minh City Museum opened an exhibition of over 300 documents and artifacts vividly depicting the victories of Saigon–Gia Dinh special task force troops during the 1968 Spring Offensive and Uprising.

Visitors had a chance to listen to historic moments as retold by witnesses, including sacrifice of soldiers who forged a new era in the nation’s history.

A ceremony to present Vietnamese soldiers’ mementoes to the municipal youth union was held in the city the same day.

The mementoes included a bicycle previously owned by fallen soldier Nguyen Son Ha, and a guitar that had been played at a student music festival in 1968.

Through the objects, the youth relived the unforgettable days of the 1968 Spring, a past season of youth vitality.

Mekong Delta targets 2 bln USD in tra fish exports

Provinces in Vietnam ’s Mekong Delta plan to export 650,000 tonnes of tra fish this year, earning the region an expected 1.7–2 billion USD.

Six thousand hectares of aqua-cultural areas will be used to farm tra fish, mainly in Can Tho city and the provinces of Dong Thap, An Giang and Ben Tre.

The localities are striving to supply 4 billion quality fry and 3.3 million tonnes of fish foodstuff to farmers, who are also encouraged to work closely with production and consumption businesses to minimise their risk and costs.

The provinces will focus on using scientific technology in breeding, processing, preserving and diversifying products, as well as providing farmers with domestic and global market information.

They will also make it easier for farmers to expand domestic consumption with a variety of products and improve their access to credit.

In 2012, provinces in the Mekong Delta yielded 1.29 million tonnes of tra fish, and shipped 645,000 tonnes overseas.

VNA/VOV