APPF-26: Vice NA Chairman receives RoK parliamentary delegation

Vice Chairman of the Vietnamese National Assembly Phung Quoc Hien (fifth from right) receives a delegation from the RoK’s National Assembly. 

The legislative bodies of Vietnam and the Republic of Korea (RoK) should expand cooperation, support each other at multilateral inter-parliamentary forums and exchange law-making experience, said Vice Chairman of the Vietnamese National Assembly Phung Quoc Hien.

Hien made the call while receiving a delegation from the RoK’s National Assembly in Hanoi on January 18 on the sidelines of the ongoing 26th Annual Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF-26).

He also urged the two sides to promote the role of the two friendship parliamentary groups under the cooperative agreement between the two legislative bodies.

The NA Vice Chairman expressed his delights over the sound strategic partnership relations after 25 years of diplomatic ties establishment. He noted that Vietnam always treasures cooperative ties with the Republic of Korea (RoK) and both sides need to enhance high-ranking visits and promote result-oriented collaboration to bring benefits to the two peoples.

Regarding economic cooperation, Hien wished that the RoK will continue to encourage its firms to invest in Vietnam in the fields of infrastructure development, renewable energy, support industry and technology transfer.

Head of the RoK parliament delegation Jinbok Lee lauded Vietnam’s socio-economic development in the past years and agreed that the two parliaments need to enhance bilateral cooperation and strengthen cultural and people-to-people exchanges.

He hoped that the Vietnamese Government will create favourable conditions for RoK residents in Vietnam so that they can serve as a bridge to develop friendship and bilateral cooperation.

NA Chairwoman welcomes Fijian counterpart

National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan and Speaker of the Parliament of Fiji, Jico Fatafehi Luveni. 

National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan hosted a reception for the Speaker of the Parliament of Fiji, Jico Fatafehi Luveni, in Hanoi on January 17. 

The top Vietnamese legislator said the participation of the Fijian delegation at the 26th Annual Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF-26) demonstrates Fiji‘s support of Vietnam in hosting this important event. 

Ngan took the occasion to congratulate Fiji on its successful organisation of APPF-25, which she said enhanced the country’s role in the region and the world. 

The Vietnamese NA leader affirmed that Vietnam is ready to cooperate and share experience with Fiji in its strong areas, especially agriculture and food security, fishery, infrastructure and health care, in both bilateral and multilateral frameworks with the support of a third country or international organisations, similarly to the model Vietnam has been implementing in some African countries.

She expressed thanks to Fiji over its support of Vietnam in UN cooperative framework and its recognition of Vietnam’s market economy. 

The Fijian parliament leader said as a new member of the APPF, the Fiji delegation is delight to attend the APPF 26 to share viewpoints on matters of regional concern, noting that the theme of APPF-26 is useful for Fiji. 

Jico Fatafehi Luveni said she supported the proposals of Chairwoman Ngan, and expressed her wish that the two countries and their parliaments will increase cooperation and continue with their mutual support at international forums and organisations, while promoting people-to-people exchange. 

She also thanked Chairwoman Ngan for her appreciation of Fiji’s contribution to the success of the 21st Conference of Parties to the UN framework convention on climate change in Paris. 

She shared with her Vietnamese counterpart the damages caused by climate change to Fiji, stressing that a common voice of regional countries will help raise awareness and prompt actions to cope with climate change across the world.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc receives Harvard professors

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (centre) and the Harvard professors at the reception. 

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc spoke highly of the Vietnam Executive Leadership Programme (VELP), a collaborative initiative between the Vietnamese Government, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Vietnam Programme at the Harvard Kennedy School.

He made the praise while giving a reception for Professor Davis Dapice, Senior Economist of the Harvard Kennedy School’s Vietnam Programme, and Professor Thomas Vallely, Director of the Vietnam Programme, in Hanoi on January 16.

As Vietnam is looking for measures to turn itself into a “new Asian economic tiger”, the PM hoped that experts will study and choose suitable themes for the VELP.

Professor Vallely lauded Vietnam’s sound economic growth in the region, saying that deep renovation will be the main theme of the VELP 2018.

Vietnam should pay heed to the response to climate change in the Mekong Delta region and tackle urban issues and restructuring at credit institutions, he recommended, noting that promoting production of high added value rice is also an important measure for the country.

Vietnam prioritises strengthening partnership with Russia: NA Chairwoman

At the reception 

National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan has stated that Vietnam prioritises strengthening comprehensive strategic partnership with Russia. 

She made the statement during a reception in Hanoi on January 17 to Vice Chairwoman of the Federation Council of Russia Karelova Galina Nikolaevna and Deputy Chairwoman of the State Duma of Russia Epifanova Olga Nikolaevna on the occasion of their trip to Vietnam to attend the 26th Annual Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF-26). 

Speaking highly of mutual support in multilateral forums, especially in the United Nations, the NA Chairwoman asked Russia to back Vietnam’s run for non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the 2020-2021 tenure. 

As two-way trade hit 3.2 billion USD as of the late November 2017, she suggested continuing to effectively realise the Vietnam-Eurasian Economic Union Free Trade Agreement that took effect in 2016 to maintain trade growth. 

The host wished that the Russian parliament will provide necessary legal assistance to sign an agreement on food quality control, thus making it easier for Vietnamese firms to export farm and aquatic produce to Russia. 

She called for providing all possible support for the two countries’ oil and gas joint-ventures to operate effectively, and affirmed that Vietnam backs Russia in new energy, railway and metro construction projects in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. 

Vietnam is willing to support the establishment of an automobile manufacturing joint-venture in the near future, she said. 

Ngan also wished to receive Russia’s assistance in milch cow farming and milk processing, and clean vegetables farming projects. 

She said the Vietnamese NA always actively join parliamentary cooperation activities hosted by Russia, and wished that the two legislatures will continue working closely within the framework of the multilateral parliamentary cooperation such as the International Parliamentary Union and the Asia-Europe Parliamentary Partnership Meeting.

Vice Chairwoman of the Federation Council of Russia Karelova GalinaNikolaevna, for her part, informed the host that the Russian delegation prepares five draft resolutions on specific issues for consideration at the APPF-26. 

She said Russia attaches importance to promoting trade-economic link, tourism and cultural exchange with Vietnam. 

The guest also took the occasion to invite the Vietnamese top legislator to attend the Asia-Europe Women’s Forum in Russia this year.

Doosan Vina urged to expand operation in Vietnam

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) and General Director of Doosan Vina Park Hoong Ook 

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc suggested Doosan Heavy Industries Vietnam Co., Ltd (Doosan Vina)  further expand its production and provide more important equipment for key projects in Vietnam.

During a reception for General Director of Doosan Vina Park Hoong Ook in Hanoi on January 17, the PM congratulated Doosan Vina on its successes in Vietnam, especially in manufacturing and export of heavy industrial equipment.

Vietnam will increase investment in infrastructure development in the central region to promote economic development, he affirmed, expressing his hope that Doosan Vina’s operation will contribute to fostering the multifaceted cooperation between Vietnam and of the Republic of Korea (RoK).

For his part, Park Hoong Ook praised the Vietnamese Government’s efforts in solving difficulties facing enterprises, including Doosan Vina. 

He said Doosan Vina wishes to make more contributions to Vietnam’s economic development, especially joining industrial projects, thus improving capacity for Vietnam’s manufacturing and mechanical industry. 

The firm has been active in social activities in the country, he noted, adding that it also pays attention to training labour force for Vietnam and improving working environment for employees.

Located at the Dung Quat Economic Zone in the central province of Quang Ngai, Doosan Vina is one of the largest overseas manufacturing factories established through joint investment from the RoK-based Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction and Doosan Engineering and Construction.

It comprises of five factories, including a boiler factory, a petrochemical factory as well as a pier and port facilities.

Prime Minister receives new Austrian Ambassador

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) and Austrian Ambassador to Vietnam Thomas Schuller Gotzburg 

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has assured new Austrian Ambassador to Vietnam Thomas Schuller Gotzburg that Vietnam always values and wishes to develop the traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation with Austria. 

During a reception for the Austrian diplomat in Hanoi on January 17, the PM said the two countries need to further promote joint projects, particularly in potential fields such as trade and investment. 

He thanked the Austrian government for providing official development assistance for Vietnam over the past years in railway, health care, vocational training, which has contributed to the country’s socio-economic development. 

Speaking highly of Austria’s Vamed Group’s project on modernising Cho Ray hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, PM Phuc wished that both sides will soon sign a credit agreement to launch the project. 

The Vietnamese leader also asked Austria to push for the European Union (EU)’s signing and ratification of the EU- Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) to open up more opportunities for Vietnamese and Austrian firms. 

Pledging to provide all possible support for the ambassador to fulfill assigned tasks, he hoped that the diplomat will visit Vietnamese ministries, agencies, localities and businesses to reinforce bilateral ties. 

Gotzburg, for his part, wished that the two governments will work closely together to deepen bilateral relations in the future. 

He promised to urge Austrian government to speed up cooperation projects in Vietnam, including the Cho Ray hospital project. 

The guest also believed that the EU will soon sign and approve the EVFTA.

2018 promises to be a busy year for MoLISA

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has urged the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA) to improve the quality of vocational training, describing this as a key to escape the middle-income trap. 

At the conference

Addressing a conference in Hanoi on December 17 to review the ministry’s performance in 2017 and outlines tasks for 2018, the PM asked the ministry to create conditions for the private sector to invest in vocational schools. 

“Vocational training should be carried out based on orders,” he said, stressing the need to complete polices and programmes on vocational training, especially for farmers, residents in disadvantaged areas, and social welfare beneficiaries. 

Regarding labour export, PM Phuc reminded the MoLISA to protect the image of Vietnamese people abroad and urged the ministry to develop the labour market in high-tech countries. 

He hailed the ministry’s efforts in sending a record number of 130,000 workers abroad in 2017 under contracts between Vietnam and foreign countries, exceeding the set target by nearly 24 percent. 

The Government leader, however, pointed to high unemployment rate among university graduates, slow changes in the quality of vocational training and inadequate management of guest workers. 

In the face of the fourth industrial revolution, efforts must be focused on developing human resources and reforming the vocational training system towards self-management with attention paid to information-technology (IT), he stressed. 

Talking about poverty alleviation, PM Phuc noted the unsustainable reduction of poverty rate and the big rich-poor gap. 

To achieve the target of sustainable development, it is necessary to renew poverty reduction policies, provide suitable assistance to the poor, especially those in disadvantaged, remote and ethnic minority-inhabited areas, so that they can rise from poverty themselves, he said. 

The PM also emphasized the need to expand social insurance coverage and maintain the social insurance fund sustainably.

Another task is to step up public services in support of disadvantaged groups and those in difficult circumstances, he said. 

The MoLISA should focus on completing mechanisms, policies and laws in the realms under its charge, while promptly drawing up projects on wage and social insurance reform to be submitted to the seventh plenary session of the Party Central Committee, he said. 

As the Tet (Lunar New Year) is approaching, the PM asked the sector to ensure a happy festival for people, particularly national contributors, the poor, the homeless, ethnic minorities in difficulties, residents affected by natural disasters and labourers at industrial parks. 

In 2017, the MoIT fulfilled and overfulfilled the three targets regarding the rates of trained labourers, unemployment in urban areas and poor households.  

The sector supported nearly 3 million needy people with an estimated fund of nearly 15 trillion VND (660 million USD) and allocated hundreds of thousands of tonnes of rice to disaster-affected localities and close to 3 trillion VND (132 million USD) to the poor and social welfare beneficiaries on the occasion of the upcoming Tet holiday. 

2017 was the first year when the ministry took over the state management of vocational training. By the end of this year, 1,974 vocational centres nationwide had enrolled over 2 million students.

VNA