Hungarian Ambassador honoured with insignia

Hungarian Ambassador to Vietnam Torda Eszter has been honoured with the insignia for the cause of culture, sports and tourism in recognition of her contribution to promoting friendship between the two countries.

The award was presented to the diplomat at a ceremony held in Hanoi on March 17 by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Addressing the event, Minister Hoang Tuan Anh acknowledged the diplomat’s meritorious service to the friendship between Vietnam and Hungary, particularly in the culture, sports and tourism sector with comprehensive cooperation programmes.

This year, Vietnam and Hungary celebrate the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations (Feb 3, 1950).

HCM City to promote links with Slovak localities

Ho Chi Minh City will embrace its connection with Slovak localities in the coming time and enhance bilateral cooperation in justice, education-training, science, technology and industry.

The city encourages and will create conditions for Slovak firms to do business in the city, Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Tat Thanh Cang told Slovak Minister of Justice Tomas Borec at a meeting in HCM City on March 17.

The guest said Slovakia is willing to share its experience in judicial reform and legal system improvement for Vietnam and Ho Chi Minh City in particular.

He added that Vietnam and Slovakia are witnessing sound cooperation in various fields such as energy, petrochemistry and military technical.

He said he hopes the two countries will promote the bilateral traditional friendship in the future and focus on building and developing cooperation between localities.

Vietnam, Iran work to enhance multi-faceted cooperation

Vietnam and Iran should exert more efforts to effectively implement their existing agreements, particularly those signed during Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc’s Iran visit last October, said Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh.

Welcoming Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Ibrahim Rahimpour in Hanoi on March 17, Minh affirmed that Vietnam treasures its friendship and multi-faceted cooperation with Iran.

He said he is delighted with positive development in the bilateral ties in recent years.

The guest spoke of the great achievements Vietnam has obtained during its nation-building and development process, suggesting the country continue coordinating with Iran in trade and agriculture.

He took the opportunity to convey Iranian President Hassan Rouhani’s invitation to visit Iran to Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang, and Iranian FM Javad Zarif’s invitation to visit Iran and attend the Ministerial Meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement Coordinating Bureau from June 9-10 to FM Minh.

Earlier, the Iranian official held talks with his Vietnamese counterpart Vu Hong Nam within the framework of the two ministries’ sixth political consultation, during which they discussed specific measures to intensify the bilateral multifaceted cooperation in politics-diplomacy, trade, agriculture, science-technology and education.

Both agreed to boost all-level delegation exchanges, continue coordinating closely at international forums, and support the two countries’ enterprises to study each other’s market in order to raise two-way trade in the next years.

Deputy PM reviews Steering Committee works

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc held a working session with the officials of the Steering Committees of the Northwest, Southwest and Central Highlands regions in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho on March 17 to review their performance.

The Deputy Prime Minister, who is also Head of the Northwest Steering Committee, hailed the tireless efforts of committee heads and officials in managing difficult and sensitive issues in local areas and contributing to the socio-economic development of the country’s most impoverished regions.

In preparation for the upcoming conference between the three committees in July, the Deputy Prime Minister underscored that the current situation is more complicated in regard to border and external security, religious issues and drug crimes, mandating increased oversight in these areas.

Ensuring border security is a key priority, he said, suggesting a strengthened comprehensive political system, intensified external relations and improved living standards for local ethnic minority groups.

He also asked the leaders to improve regional linkages in economics and culture to enable practical outcomes.

Personnel and financial management and border road and socio-economic development projects were among his other requests to relevant bodies.

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc lauded efforts made by the Vietnam News Agency, including its publication and delivery of the Tin Tuc Newspaper to these regions which effectively disseminates the activities of the committees and the country.

He urged the newspaper and other media types to diversify their communication methods to meet the demands of locals, particularly ethnic minority communities.

Condolences sent to Myanmar over ferry accident

State President Truong Tan Sang on March 17 cabled a message of condolences to Myanmar’s President Thein Sein over the ferry accident on March 13 leaving nearly 60 people dead.

On the same day, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung offered sympathies to the Myanmar’s President.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh also sent condolences to Foreign Minister U Wunna Maung Lwin.

The crowded government-run double-decker ferry was carrying more than 225 passengers when it left the coastal town of Kyaukphyu on March 13. The ferry had travelled about 80 kilometers (50 miles) north near Myebon in Rakhine state when it hit rough seas and capsized after taking on water. Many passengers remained unaccounted for.-

Binh Thuan advised to review key products

The central coastal province of Binh Thuan should weigh the pros and corns of local key staples for further investment in anticipation of challenges posed by the global integration and the formation of the ASEAN Community in late 2015.

To create a breakthrough, provincial authorities need to concentrate on three important set targets, namely infrastructure, human resources improvement, and administrative reform, State President Truong Tan Sang said at a working session with provincial key officials as part of his tour to Binh Thuan on March 16-17.

He suggested the province to temporarily halt investment in poorly-competitive fields, while prioritising major projects with the application of science and technology.

The President noted that Binh Thuan should be supported financially to develop fishermen’s off-shore fishing operations as it holds a strategic position in safeguarding the national sea and island sovereignty.

He asked the province to address existing problems, especially in preparation of the all-level Party congresses and the 12 th national Party Congress.

Over the past five years, Binh Thuan recorded an annual economic growth of 8.9 percent. The province has formed specialised areas for growing dragon fruits and rubber – the two local major products.

It is focusing financial sources on upgrading the irrigation system and bringing new facelift for rural areas and ethnic minority inhabited regions.

However, more efforts are needed to improve the living standards of residents in the far-flung areas.

During his two-day working trip, President Truong Tan Sang visited Thuan Lan dragon fruit farm in Ham Thuan Nam commune.

As a key agricultural product, dragon fruits from Binh Thuan are popular in the domestic market and exported to China , India , Europe, the US , and Japan.

The President also examined the new-style rural model at Thien Nghiep commune of Phan Thiet city as well as some effective models combining cultivation and animal husbandry.

While visiting the Phu Hai fishing union in Phat Thiet city, the President underlined the need to support fishermen to stay more regularly at sea, adding that each should improve skills in the field.

He also offered incense at the late President Ho Chi Minh’s monument in Phan Thiet city.-

Parliament’s role in realising MDGs discussed

A conference was held in Hanoi on March 17 to discuss the National Assembly’s (NA) role in the implementation of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in the 2000-2015 period, as well as Vietnam ’s post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals.

Addressing the event, NA Vice Chairwoman Tong Thi Phong said that over the past 15 years, by responsibly striving to realise the eight MDGs, Vietnam has achieved a number of important results, especially in poverty reduction, gender equality and education. These successes have been recognised by the international community.

The country fulfilled the goal of eradicating extreme poverty and hunger in 2002, while completing primary education popularisation in 2010, she noted, adding that Vietnam is now working towards universal secondary and high school education.

Vietnam is also seeing improvements in gender equality and women’s empowerment and has successfully controlled malaria, prevented the spread of HIV and wiped out a number of other fatal diseases, Phong stated. The country will soon reach its goal to reduce child mortality, she added.

The NA Vice Chairwoman called for participants to clarify the role that the assembly plays in proposing policies, implementing sustainable development goals and supervising progress.

She also suggested that attendees recommend the agenda for the forthcoming 132 nd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU-132) during discussions on the sustainable development goals.

Meanwhile, Pratibha Mehta, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Vietnam , said sustainable development is one of the key post-2015 topics for Vietnam as well as other medium-income countries.

She stated that the implementation of sustainable development goals requires a stronger approach to public management from parliaments at global and national levels, together with their drastic engagement in policy-making. Partnerships among ministries, localities, civil society organisations and private firms must be enhanced as part of this effort, she argued.

During the conference, participants also evaluated the country’s 17 sustainable developments goals and its capacity to realise them.

The proposals will add information for the Vietnamese delegation at the IPU-132, which will be hosted by Vietnam for the first time from March 28 to April 1.