PM meets Cambodian, French leaders

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung met with his Cambodian and French counterpart on February 4 during his visit to Cambodia to attend the cremation of the late Cambodian King Father Norodom Sihanouk.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung meets his Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen. (Source: VNA)

At his meeting with Cambodian PM Hun Sen in Phnom Penh to discuss bilateral cooperation, Dung extended deep sympathy to the Cambodian Royal family, leaders and people over the death of the King Father, while affirming his resolve to foster the relations between the two countries.

The two PMs expressed their delight at the friendship and comprehensive bilateral cooperation over the past time, especially in economics, trade and investment.

They highly valued the joint activities that contributed to the success of the Vietnam–Cambodia Friendship Year in 2012 and the 45th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties, which helped raise public awareness, especially among the younger generations, about the friendship, cooperation and mutual support between the two peoples.

PM Dung invited Hun Sen to visit Vietnam this year.

At talks with his French counterpart Jean Marc Ayrault the same day, Dung said 2013 will be a good year for Vietnam and France to lift their bilateral relations to a strategic partnership level.

Dung added that Vietnam always attaches importance to developing traditional ties with France, one of Vietnam’s priority partner s in Europe.

He spoke highly of France’s commitment to provide Vietnam with 340 million USD in Official Development Assistance (ODA) in 2013. He stressed his wish to accelerate bilateral economic ties, especially in energy, space and aeronautics, infrastructure and housing.

Both sides confirmed that the two countries will work together to successfully organise activities during the Vietnam-France, France-Vietnam Year 2013-2014, and agreed to develop the Hanoi Technology-Science University to international standards.

Sympathy sent to Mexico over explosion

President Truong Tan Sang on February 4 sent condolences to his Mexican counterpart Enrique Pena Nieto, the Mexican people and victims’ families over the explosion at the headquarters of the state-owned oil company PEMEX in Mexico City.

The January 31 explosion killed at least 35 people and injured many others.

Conference on implementation of NA resolutions

A conference to thoroughly grasp the NA resolutions at the fourth session of the 13th NA was broadcast live in 63 cities and provinces on Feb. 4.

The conference, the first of its kind, was organised by the NA Standing Committee to uphold responsibility and raise the role and position of people-elected bodies.

Addressing the conference, NA Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung said this is a specific action to deploy NA resolutions on a number of renovations to improve the quality and efficiency of NA activities.

He said he hoped the Ethnic Council, NA agencies and delegations and People’s Councils at all levels will bring into play their responsibilities to supervise ministries, sectors and localities in implementing NA resolutions.

The supervision by NA delegations, People’s Councils and each NA delegate will help detect shortcomings in mechanisms and policies as well as those who fail to implement their responsibility for the people, Hung elaborated.

He proposed NA delegations and People’s Councils at all levels review the implementation of policies since the first session of the 13th NA to withdraw lessons for legislation and supervision and other important issues of the country.

NA Office Chairman Nguyen Hanh Phuc said the conference agreed to focus on the supervision of the 2013 socio-economic development plan, collecting public opinions on the draft amendments of the 1992 Constitution and confidence votes for the posts elected by the NA and People’s Councils as well as the work of the People’s Procuracy and the People’s Court.

Supervision work will be focused on NA hearings at the fourth session, improving the efficiency and effectiveness of policies and laws in the settlement of public denunciations and petitions on land and renovations to increase the quality of NA activities, he added.

Leaders pay New Year visits to armed forces, farmers

In the days leading up to the Lunar New Year, President Truong Tan Sang on February 4 visited Information Brigade 205, a unit awarded with the title ‘Hero of the People’s Armed Forces’.

The president inquired after the officials and soldiers’ work and daily life. He praised the brigade’s efforts in upgrading and applying new informatics technology (IT) advances.

Via the brigade’s communication system, Sang extended his New Year greetings to the authorities of Truong Sa town and Nam Yet island in central Khanh Hoa province.

He also visited the Special Force Mission 1 under the Special Force High Command.

On the same day, the president made a trip to the flower-growing commune of Tay Tuu, in Hanoi’s suburban Tu Liem district.

Sang showed his happiness to see positive changes in the commune, saying that the authorities of Tay Tuu should continue caring for the life of local people, especially during New Year Festival days.

The same day, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan visited and extended New Year greetings to the Environmental Police Department under the Ministry of Public Security.

On the occasion, he presented the Prime Minister’s Certificate of Merit to the department and five individuals from the ministry in recognition of their achievements in fighting for food safety.

Defence Minister Phung Quang Thanh on the same day visited the Veterans Association of Vietnam.

VNN/VOV/VNA