Vietnam, Malaysia strategic partnership sees strong development

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has urged the northern province of Hai Duong to turn itself into an industrial centre of the northern region and the country at large in the next decade. 

Hai Duong should become a dynamic locality named in the list of the country’s leading localities with comprehensive development, the leader said at a working session with the provincial leaders on April 9. 

To meet the goal, Hai Dong needs to restructure industrial clusters and zones, and assess efficiency of industrial parks, universities and vocational institutions in the locality, the PM said. 

Apart from restructuring the agricultural sector and public investment, Hai Duong should heed developing the contingent of leaders in order to build a growth-enabling administration, he said. 

The leader asked Hai Duong to enter the list of 20 localities with the best indexes in terms of competitiveness and business environment, and double the number of businesses as soon as possible. 

“To become an industrial centre of the nation, Hai Duong needs to attract big enterprises both at home and abroad, and pay more attention to restructuring industrial production in the time ahead,” he further said.  

The leader also stressed the need for Hai Duong to ensure environmental protection during economic development, intensify transport connectivity, especially waterways, and increase logistic services. 

The province was urged to participate in tourism chains with national and international tours, creating momentum for developing service sectors. 

In 2017, nearly 60 percent of communes and two districts in Hai Duong were recognised as new-style rural areas.  

The province contributed nearly 14.7 trillion VND (648.8 million USD) to the State budget, equivalent 117 percent of the assigned estimate. 

Earlier the same day, PM Phuc held a dialogue with farmers in Hai Duong, where he pledged that the Government will open more channels to acquire public feedback and enable farmers to do their best to enrich themselves and the nation. 

He then visited a vegetable processing facility and a war invalid in Gia Tan commune, Gia Loc district.

Opinions to draft Law on Special Administrative and Economic Units

A view of Cai Bau island, a central island of Van Don 

According to Nguyen Khac Dinh, Chairman of the National Assembly Law Committee, the name of the bill should be changed to Law on Special Administrative and Economic Units of Van Don, Bac Van Phong and Phu Quoc to suite its scale.

Dinh said that after adjusted, the draft law comprises six chapters, 88 articles and six appendixes. Regulations on setting up control mechanisms for each unit have been added with the formation of an advisory committee.

The number of conditional business sectors stated in the bill is 131, up 23 sectors compared to the list submitted by the Government.

On the budget matter, the special administrative and economic units will be considered a district to define sources of budget collection, spending and balance. All budget-related activities of the units will be made in line with the State Budget Law and this bill, said Dinh.

Meanwhile, Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Van Trung said that the power of the advisory committee is quite big because the heads of the unit have to ask for approval from the committee when giving a decision.

There are many regulations on inspecting and monitoring the Chairman of the People’s Committee of the units, he said. According to Trung, it is unnecessary to set up the advisory committee.

Bui Van Phuong, a representative of Ninh Binh province, asserted that the models of the People’s Council and People’s Committee are not suitable to the units.

He explained that the special administrative-economic units should have special government organisation with outstanding authority and operation mechanisms to ensure smooth development of the areas.

Congratulations to French Socialist Party’s congress

The Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam has congratulated France’s Socialist Party on its 78th Congress.

Vietnamese Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong also sent his congratulations to Olivier Faure on his election as First Secretary of the Socialist Party of France.

The congress took place in Aubervilliers on April 7 and 8.

Vietnam and France set up diplomatic ties on April 12, 1973.

Party building: Transparency in personnel recruitment, promotion

The reform of the process in recruiting and appointment of managerial personnel is an important and necessary measure to develop a contingent of capable officials, in which holding examination to select candidates for key positions is considered a change that enhances transparency in personnel recruitment and promotion. 

At its 6th plenum, the 12th Party Central Committee issued Resolution 18-NQ/TW on some issues relating to continued reform and rearrangement for a streamlined and effective apparatus of the political system. On the eve of the 6th plenum, the Party Central Committee’s Organisation Commission became the pioneer in implementing a pilot policy on holding examination to select officials for leading positions and renewing the process to select and appoint managerial officials, by holding a public examination for the position of head of department. The examination helped the commission choose worthy candidates with good capacity of leadership and management, deep professional knowledge, firm political will, good ethics and high prestige. It also created a healthy environment for competition, thus gradually reforming the procedure of appointing officials to leading and managerial positions. 

Assessing the pilot examination held by the Party Central Committee’s Organisation Commission, standing deputy director of the commission and vice head of the examination council Nguyen Thanh Binh said the examination helped choose the right and capable candidates and prevent the waste of talent and brain drain, thus it was a breakthrough in personnel affairs.

Following the Party Central Committee’s Organisation Commission, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) was the second agency to hold an examination for leading and managerial positions. Deputy Minister of MoHA Nguyen Duy Thang affirmed that the examination was designed to discover and attract capable and qualified officials, preventing the phenomenon of closed and partial appointment. 

Recently, the Supreme People’s Court also organised an examination to select one head of department and three deputy heads of department. Deputy chief justice of the Supreme People’s Court Le Hong Quang said the event was a step toward reforming the process of appointment for leading positions in the court system in general and the Supreme People’s Court in particular, creating a healthy competition in the work of personnel appointment and promotion.

Earlier, the standing board of the Party Committee of the northern province of Quang Ninh issued Regulation 02 on piloting the organisation of examination for managerial positions at department and section levels. Accordingly, the appointment of officials for such positions in the province from now to the end of Quarter 1, 2020 must be done through examinations. 

The Ministry of Finance also issued a decision on piloting the organisation of examinations for a number of leading positions. 

Those moves showed that ministries and localities are serious in implementing the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat policy on piloting the selection of leading officials through examination. 

However, the holding of such examination is only the first step in personnel work, according to Professor Pham Van Duc, Vice President of the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences. He said what is more important is to put in place a mechanism to monitor the work of those who are appointed through examination.

Prime Minister makes surprise visit to Chu Dau ceramic village

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on April 8 paid a surprise visit to Chu Dau village in the Red River Delta province of Hai Duong, which is considered one of the cradles of Vietnam’s ceramics.

The visit was made just ten days after his unannounced tour to Bat Trang pottery village in Hanoi’s suburban district of Gia Lam.

According to researchers, the beginning of the ceramic craft of Chu Dau village dates back to the 11th century and nearly died out in the late 17th century.

In 1992, an ancient shipwreck was recovered in waters off Cu Lao Cham (Cham islet) in south central Vietnam and as many as 400,000 pottery artifacts were found. Amongst these expensive items, several were discovered to have originated from a small village in northern Vietnam and only then did the once-lost craft of Chu Dau village enjoy a revival after nearly four decades.

Different from the white glaze and blue patterns that is considered an “East-meets-West” cultural product of Bat Trang, Chu Dau’s ceramics boast patterns that are “purely Vietnamese” with noticeable influences of Buddhism and Confucianism.

During his visit, PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc spent much of his time at the Chu Dau Pottery JSC, a company that has reaped successes in the production and revival of Chu Dau pottery since its establishment in 2001. The Government leader visited the production areas, the ‘Chu Dau ceramic space,’ and was presented with products of the village.

In a meeting with the company’s staff and artisans, PM Phuc stressed the artistic values of the village’s pottery, a once famous product that has been exported across the world.

He extended his congratulations to Chu Dau Pottery JSC and praised its efforts to bring the Chu Dau’s brand name to international markets.

The PM also asked the company to pull out all the stops to maintain the artistry, show appreciation to the artists of the village and improve life quality of its workers.

Repeating the phrase of late General Vo Nguyen Giap, “Chu Dau pottery, the quintessence of the Vietnamese culture,” PM Phuc asked the Chu Dau JSC to expand its scope, focus on technology upgrade and bring the products to a wider audience around the world.

PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc receives outgoing Thai Ambassador

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc lauded outgoing Thai Ambassador Manopchai Vongphakdi for fulfilling his assigned tasks during a reception in Hanoi on April 6. 

The PM said during the ambassador’s tenure, two-way trade between both nations grew rapidly with the launch of a number of Thailand’s projects, including the southern oil refinery complex and shipbuilding, adding that both sides also offered mutual support at bilateral and multilateral forums. 

He wished that Thailand would share experience in developing tourism, opening new tours to facilitate economic development and people-to-people exchange. 

Vietnam always creates the best environment to attract Thai investors and tourists to the country, he said. 

The host expressed his wish that in any position, the ambassador will further contribute to bilateral ties. 

Ambassador Manopchai Vongphakdi, for his part, affirmed that Thailand wants to boost people-to-people exchange and investment cooperation between the two countries. 

Thai government always asks firms to abide by Vietnam’s law, especially environment regulations, he said, adding that close and effective bilateral ties not only propel the development of the two countries forward but also the entire region. 

The ambassador also vowed to foster bilateral ties in any future position. 

As the traditional New Year festival of Thailand is coming, the PM sent a message of congratulations to his Thai counterpart Prayuth Chan-ocha.

ASEAN targets sustainable economic growth, financial stability

Maintaining sustainable economic growth and ensuring financial stability and self-resilience are key goals reached at the 22nd ASEAN Finance Ministers’ Meeting (AFMM-22), the fourth ASEAN Finance Minister and Central Bank Governors’ Meeting (AFMGM-4) and related meetings held in Singapore from April 3-6. 

Speaking at the AFMM-22, Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Finance Tran Xuan Ha described modern and effective infrastructure development as one of the important pillars for Vietnam’s socio-economic development, which is also a common concern of regional countries. Thereby, the regional nations need to build a common plan to devise proper financial solutions, he said.

The finance ministers lauded ASEAN’s progress in banking integration, insurance, capital market and wished that member states will sign the eighth Package of Commitments later this year. 

The meeting took note of efforts to develop the regional capital market by strengthening capacity and carrying out initiatives such as amending the ASEAN Collective Investment Scheme, issuing ASEAN Green Bond standards, piloting the connectivity of securities markets, opening a portal on listed companies in ASEAN and rotating capital market experts among regional countries. 

The ministers welcomed achievements in harmonising the portfolio of exports-imports of 10 ASEAN member states, piloting the ASEAN Customs Transit System in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, and exchanging certificates of origin, form D among Vietnam, India, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand from January 1, 2018. 

They wished that countries will soon approve the second Protocol on the designation of border gates and the seventh Protocol on ASEAN Customs Transit System to create a legal framework for facilitating transit goods, and refine a mechanism to deal with tax disputes. 

Participants supported rallying private capital for ASEAN infrastructure upgrade and wished to partner with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and the World Bank (WB) during the project preparatory and management stage. 

They also expressed support to strengthen supervision capacity and activities of the ASEAN 3 Macroeconomic Research Office, as well as initiatives such as ASEAN Disaster Risk Financing and Insurance Programme and stressed the importance of ensuring cyber security in finance. 

The ASEAN Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors advocated taking creative and effective financial technological solutions and lauded the outcomes of financial inclusion in ASEAN by opening a portal on financial education and exchange of knowledge about ASEAN financial inclusion and issuing guidelines on national financial inclusion strategies. 

In the banking industry, the governors applauded working groups for completing the key performance indicator and risk management tool, believing that countries will fulfill goals set in the ASEAN Strategic Action Plan for financial sustainability and inclusion. 

They discussed emerging issues such as financial technology and pledged to work closely together to seek effective solutions to cyber attacks amidst the fourth industrial revolution. 

The annual meetings also saw the presence of representatives from the IMF, WB, ADB, financial and banking organisations in the region.

Ho Chi Minh City, Switzerland discuss joint work

Permanent Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Le Thanh Liem hosted a reception in the city on April 6 for Swiss Minister of Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications Doris Leuthard.

Speaking highly of Switzerland’s role in negotiating a free trade agreement between Vietnam and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) comprising Switzerland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland, Liem expressed his belief that both sides will soon complete negotiations to facilitate bilateral trade. 

He said the city is building a high-tech energy system to ensure rapid and sustainable development, and calling on domestic and foreign firms to turn wastes into energy. 

The host suggested clean water supply, transportation and seaports as potential cooperative fields to bring mutual benefits. 

Liem affirmed that the city supports the issuance of e-visas for Swiss aircrew and citizens, especially in the context that the Zurich – Ho Chi Minh City direct flights are to open in late 2018. 

Leuthard, for her part, expressed her hope that the Vietnam – EFTA free trade agreement will be signed in late 2018. 

According to her, Swiss enterprises are experienced in building smart cities and wished to work with the city on sub-component projects involving energy, transportation, seaports, clean water supply, smart technology and sewage treatment. 

She wished to receive the city’s support in e-visa issuance to facilitate aviation, tourism and trade between the two countries. 

Switzerland now ranks 11th out of 96 countries and territories investing in the city with 67 projects. Two-way trade between Ho Chi Minh City and Switzerland reached 25 million USD last year.

PM encourages Singaporean firms to invest in Vietnam

The Vietnamese Government always encourages and creates favourable conditions for Singaporean businesses to invest in Vietnam, particularly in building a hi-tech zone in the central city of Da Nang, said Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

During his reception for a delegation of Singaporean investors led by Douglas Foo, President of the Singaporean Manufacturing Federation (SMF) in Hanoi on April 6, PM Phuc highlighted the Vietnam-Singapore strategic partnership, saying that the bilateral relations are growing fruitfully with a strong surge in Singapore’s foreign direct investment (FDI) flow into Vietnam.

He highly evaluated late Singaporean PM Lee Kuan Yew’s initiative on connecting the two economies, and voiced his hope that Vietnamese and Singaporean enterprises will gain greater achievements in cooperation.

For his part, Douglas Foo expressed his impression at the development of the central city of Da Nang, saying that the city has potential and capability to become a second Singapore in the future.

He suggested Da Nang build a “garden city” as a highlight to lure tourists, adding that the city can become the world’s exhibition and conference centre. He also shared his country’s experience in green construction and design.

Singaporean investors expressed their wishes to pour investments in Vietnam and Da Nang in electronics and semiconductor manufacturing, in which Vietnam has huge development potential and Singapore has strength.

PM Phuc highlighted the similarity in terms of area between Singapore and Da Nang city, noting that Da Nang is bestowed with even more favourable natural conditions. 

The PM welcomed the investment plans of Singaporean firms, saying that he has assigned the municipal People’s Committee of Da Nang to review Singapore’s proposals and report to the Government.

ASEAN-India Senior Officials’ Meeting held in Hanoi

Deputy Foreign Minister and head of Vietnam ASEAN SOM Nguyen Quoc Dung and Secretary of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs Preeti Saran co-chaired the 20th ASEAN-India Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) in Hanoi on April 5-6. 

At the annual meeting, delegates shared a view that the ASEAN-India dialogue relationship plays an important role in ensuring peace, stability and cooperation in the region. They spoke highly of the success of the ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit held in January 2018, considering it a significant event that opened up a new chapter in bilateral ties. 

They lauded the progress of the implementation of the Action Plan for 2016-2020 and a portfolio of priority fields for 2016-2018. As of March 2018, 75 out of 130 activities in the Action Plan have been completed, equivalent to 60 percent after two years. 

Both sides agreed to push forward the practical and effective development of their strategic partnership, especially in priority fields of their strength. 

The officials pledged to boost bilateral trade and investment ties by effectively realising free trade agreements in goods, services and investment, strengthening connectivity in the private sector and facilitating small and medium-sized enterprises’ access to technologies and capital sources. 

The participants emphasised the importance of effectively realising projects and initiatives on road, navigation, aviation and digital connectivity. 

The ASEAN officials hailed India’s sharing of experience in building smart cities, developing the sea-based economy, and helping ASEAN and India firms form regional value chains, effectively join global value chains and narrow development gap. 

On regional and global issues, they said security challenges remain complicated, especially non-traditional security challenges and suggested boosting coordination in security, including cyber security, and the fight against terrorism, extreme violence, trans-national crimes and climate change. 

They lauded proposals to deploy initiatives announced by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit such as opening a digital village in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam, designating 2019 as the Year of ASEAN-India Tourism, offering doctorate scholarships to ASEAN member states,  and holding training courses on electricity use and transmission, telecom and cyber technology. 

Preeti Saran affirmed India’s policy of respecting ASEAN’s central role in regional processes and committed to assisting ASEAN in building its community. 

On the occasion, she lauded Vietnam’s role as the coordinator of ASEAN – India relations over the recent past, adding that ASEAN’s close coordination will make active contributions to the enhancement of mutual understanding, towards a region of fairness, openness and inclusiveness based on rules. 

Deputy FM Dung noted that the “Act East” Policy proposed by the Indian PM is an evidence of growing ASEAN-India ties, thus making practical contributions to peace, stability and development in the region. 

He affirmed that developing the sea-based economy and improving inclusive connectivity, especially digital connectivity, are key to lifting the ASEAN-India partnership to a new height with a market of nearly 2 billion people and a gross domestic product of more than 3.8 trillion USD per year. 

Regarding the regional and international situation, the two sides applauded the resumed negotiations and hoped that an effective and legally-binding Code of Conduct in the East Sea will be reached soon.

Vietnamese, Lao provinces reinforce multifaceted cooperation

Leaders of Vietnam’s central Quang Binh province and the Lao province of Khammouane held talks and signed an agreement on April 6, agreeing to continue strengthening multi-faceted cooperation in 2018.

The Lao delegation was led by Oday Sudaphon, Secretary of the provincial Committee of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party and Governor of Khammouane.

At the talks in Quang Binh, the officials informed each other about the socio-economic development, defence-security situation, and the Party and administration building in their respective provinces. They also reviewed the implementation of the minutes of the talks signed in Thakhek, Khammouane, on March 29, 2017.

Hoang Dang Quang, Secretary of the Quang Binh provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the provincial People’s Council, said the friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the two provinces have been developing sustainably.

Discussing the partnership in 2018, the two sides agreed to create more favourable conditions for their Party agencies, administrations and organisations to share experiences while assisting border districts to support each other to boost common development.

The two provinces will step up trade, investment and tourism promotion and issue preferential policies to encourage these activities between their businesses. They will work together to conserve and bring into play biodiversity values of Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park in Quang Binh and Hin Nam No biodiversity conservation area in Khammouane.

Quang Binh is set to receive students from Khammouane province and provide Vietnamese language and specialised training to some officials of the Lao province.

They agreed to facilitate a project on building a bonded warehouse and oil pipeline from Hon La Port in Quang Binh to Khammouane, and construction of a section crossing the two provinces under the Vung Ang – Vientiane railway project.

At the talks, both sides agreed to maintain mutual visits between their border working groups and military, police and border guard delegations to exchange experience and bolster cooperation.

They will increase disseminating information about the Vietnam-Laos agreement on land border and border gate management regulations, coordinate to solve border-related issues well, and implement the two Governments’ agreement on settling free migration and undocumented marriages in border areas. 

The provinces will also work together in issues relating to the upgrade and repair of border markers and roads traversing their border gates, along with the search and repatriation of the remains of Vietnamese voluntary soldiers and experts who laid down their lives in Laos.

Quang Binh and Khammouane will also encourage cooperation in other fields that match their demand and capacity, the officials said.

At the talks, the two sides signed a diplomatic cooperation agreement with a view to enhancing bilateral ties.

On this occasion, the provincial People’s Committee of Quang Binh presented certificates of merit to three organisations and six persons of Khammouane to honour their contribution to the solidarity between the two provinces.

PM congratulates Khmer people on traditional New Year festival

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has conveyed his best wishes to the Khmer ethnic minority group in the southern region on the occasion of their traditional New Year festival - Chol Chnam Thmay - which falls on April 14-16.

In his message of congratulations, PM Phuc said the Vietnamese Party and State always pay special attention to ethnic minorities and socio-economic development in their areas. 

Over the past years, the material and spiritual lives of ethnic groups have improved while the great national unity bloc has been strengthened, he said, adding that together with people nationwide, Khmer monks and people have made important contributions to the common development of the nation. 

The PM noteed the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat has issued Directive No.19-CT/TW dated January 10, 2018 on strengthening work in the Khmer ethnic-inhabited region while the Government issued Resolution No.120/NQ-CP dated November 17, 2017 on the sustainable development of the Mekong Delta in response to climate change. 

The leader hoped that with the support of the Party and State, Khmer monks and people would continue building on the past achievements to contribute to socio-economic development and upholding traditional culture. In conclusion, PM Phuc wished them a warm and happy New Year.

Chol Chnam Thmay is one of the most important festivals of the Khmer people. It usually lasts three days and is celebrated mostly in pagodas. The festival is a demonstration of Khmer people’s aspirations, like many other ethnic groups, to move on from the previous year’s misfortunes and look forward to a promising new year.

HCM City leaders extends New Year greetings to Lao officials

A delegation of Ho Chi Minh City led by Deputy Secretary of the municipal Party Committee Tat Thanh Cang on April 6 visited and extended greetings to the Lao Consulate General’s staff in the city on the occasion of the traditional New Year of Laos – Boun Pi Mai.

Cang took the occasion to congratulate the Lao people on achievements they have recorded in national construction and development under the leadership of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party.          

Ho Chi Minh City always pays special attention to developing the time-honoured friendship, comprehensive cooperation and special solidarity with Laos, the official said, stressing that the city has actively work to implement agreements with Lao localities, contributing to cultivating the relationship between the two countries. 

Lao Consul General Somxay Sanam-Oune thanked HCM City for its support to the Consulate General over the past time, especially in organising the first-ever programme to introduce products of Lao businesses in the city last January. 

The diplomat noted his hope that Laos and Vietnam, including HCM City, will organise more cooperative activities to consolidate and enhance the bilateral relationship.

Conference seeks to reform VFF organization, operation

The reform of organisation and operation of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) and other socio-political organisations in Vietnam was spotlighted at a conference in Hanoi on April 6.

Mai Van Chinh, deputy head of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Organisation said that in the past 30 years, along with achievements, the VFF has shown a number of shortcomings. Its organizational structure is large but unveils ineffectiveness in some assigned fields.

This requires the VFF and socio-political organisations to continue renovating and completing their structures to suit the political, economic, cultural and social situation in the new period, he said.

Chinh pointed out that the organization and operational methods of the VFF and socio-political organisations has yet been researched thoroughly in theory and practicality.

He noted that the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Organisation has implemented a one-year project on renovating the organization model and operational methods of the VFF and other socio-political organisations with the engagement of many scientists and management officials.

Participants at the event gave their ideas on theoretical and practical issues related to the work, while analyzing new circumstances and new requirements in the field.

They also defined orientations, targets, principles and major solutions to renovating the organization model and improving the operational efficiency of the VFF and socio-political organisations.

President of the VFF Central Committee Tran Thanh Man said the ideas gathered during the conference are significant, helping the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Organisation in advising the Politburo and the Party Central Committee in personnel work.