Training course held for staff of level-2 field hospital

At the opening ceremony of the event (Source: qdnd.vn)

A training course on field operation was opened for staff of Vietnam’s level-2 field hospital No.2 in the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations on November 26. 

The event was organised by the department in collation with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and relevant agencies. 

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Colonel Hoang Kim Phung, Director of the department, said the level-2 field hospital No.2 will replace the level-2 field hospital No.1 in the next year. 

The pre-deployment training for the second level-2 field hospital is being actively implemented, with the provision of both peacekeeping and medical knowledge. 

The three-day course, joined by experienced experts from the ICRC, aims to equip attendees with basic knowledge on surgical classification and treatment for patients wounded by conflicts, and those related to infectious diseases and antibiotics. 

It also provides them with experience and techniques in performing field surgeries in the case of lacking resources and medical facilities and facing security risks due to conflicts.

National teleconference spotlights agriculture, farmers, rural areas

At the teleconference 

The settlement of issues regarding agriculture, farmers and rural areas is an important political task of the entire Party and people until 2020 and the years beyond, said a Party official. 

Nguyen Van Binh, head of the Party Central Committee’s Economic Commission, was speaking at a national teleconference reviewing the ten-year implementation of Resolution 26-NQ/TW on agriculture, farmers and rural areas adopted at the seventh plenum of the 10th Party Central Committee, which is also the first of its kind issued by the Party. 

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Deputy PM Trinh Dinh Dung and a large number of representatives from ministries, agencies, sectors, foreign embassies and international organizations also attended the event.

Binh stressed that President Ho Chi Minh and the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) had always paid due attention to the development of agriculture, farmers and rural areas, considering this important foundations and forces for national socio-economic development and maintenance of political stability, security and national defence. 

Over the past decade, Vietnam has made great achievements in this field, which are recognised and applauded by the international community, he said, highlighting the improved role and position of farmers. 

However, there still remain limitations regarding the organisation, quality, efficiency and sustainability of agricultural production, rural economy and new-styled rural area building, according to the official. 

Due to the bottlenecks, some targets set by the resolution may not be fulfilled by 2020 if no breakthrough solutions and timely, drastic instructions are taken, he said. 

Given this, Binh urged delegates to propose models and solutions to spur the development of agriculture, farmers and rural areas in the time ahead, enhance the Party’s leadership, improve the efficiency of State management, promote the role of the Vietnam Fatherland Front and other socio-political organisations and encourage the public’s participation in this regard. 

At the conference, deputy head of the Party Central Committee’s Economic Commission Cao Duc Phat presented a report on the ten-year implementation of the resolution. 

Earlier, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and representatives of ministries and agencies cut the ribbon to open a national exhibition on agriculture, farmers and rural areas. 

With more than 100 booths, the exhibition introduces achievements Vietnam has gained over the past ten years in this sphere, along with quality farm produce, technologies and services in agriculture and agricultural startups.

As of late 2017, 34.4 percent of communes met the criteria on new-style rural areas, which is expected to reach over 40 percent in late 2018 and 50 percent in 2019. 

According to the draft summing report that attests to the correctness of Resolution 26, the agricultural sector accounts for nearly 70 percent of the national population and 40 percent of the nation’s workforce. 

Several goals for 2020 set in the resolution are likely to be fulfilled, including raising the income of rural residents by more than 2.5 times compared to present (per capita income in rural areas in 2017 was 32 million VND, up 3.49 times from 2008). 

The agricultural sector will employ around 30 percent of the workforce by 2020 (the rate was 38.6 percent in June this year), while half of the communes nationwide will achieve all criteria for new style rural areas.

Prime Minister applauds development of Vietnam-Cambodia relations

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) and Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Prak Sokhonn 

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc lauded the growth of Vietnam-Cambodia ties during a reception in Hanoi on November 26 for Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Prak Sokhonn. 

PM Phuc suggested that the two foreign ministries continue reviewing high-level agreements and fix existing shortcomings in the collaboration of trade, investment, transportation, agro-forestry, and education-training. 

He called for joint work to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the victory over the genocidal regime (January 7, 1979), reflecting the profound solidarity in combat between the two nations and raising the two people’s awareness of the importance of the historic victory. 

The PM asked both sides to legally recognise 84 percent of the border demarcation and marker planting, and process legal papers for Vietnamese-Cambodians. 

PM Phuc urged Sokhonn to continue working closely with relevant Cambodian authorities and localities in the relocation of floating houses of Vietnamese-Cambodians on Tonle Sap Lake in Kampong Chhnang province, as directed by Prime Minister Hun Sen. 

Sokhonn, for his part, said he always gives priority to developing the friendly neighbourliness, comprehensive cooperation and solidarity between the two coutries.

He vowed to work closely with the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs to build on their past achievements. 

Regarding the relocation of the floating houses of Vietnamese-Cambodians, he said the province also has plans to ensure new housing for the residents, expressing his belief that both sides will soon be able to make suitable solutions in this field.

People of Can Tho concerned about production connectivity

National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan (R) meets with people in Truong Long commune of Phong Dien district, Can Tho city, on November 26 

Several residents in Can Tho city demonstrated their interest in agricultural production connectivity while meeting with National Assembly (NA) Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan and other deputies representing the Mekong Delta locality on November 26.

The legislators met with citizens in Truong Long commune of Phong Dien district to inform them about the outcomes of the freshly concluded sixth session of the 14th parliament.

A resident in Truong Long commune said that farmers, including those in the Mekong Delta - the biggest agricultural hub of Vietnam - want to connect with one another in value chains to satisfy the export demand, but they haven’t been able to access support policies in this regard, while their production activities remain unplanned. This has led to the modest added value of their products.

NA Chairwoman Ngan shared the view that unstable prices as a result of agricultural production not being aligned with the market have made it hard for farmers to improve their livelihoods.

She noted although there has been a big amount of high-quality farm produce, they have yet to generate corresponding incomes for their producers. Meanwhile, they are being sold at high prices at supermarkets and in big cities, generating profits for others.

It is obvious that farmers are not the biggest beneficiary, the top lawmaker said, adding that forming connectivity in all steps, from input materials and seed supply to farming techniques and consumption, will help to raise product prices.

The Law on Cooperatives was issued in 2012. Cooperatives are an economic connection model in which members voluntarily cooperate to support one another and work to meet market demands.

Ngan asked local authorities to help residents access and implement this law as to help with the sustainable development of agriculture.

At the meeting, local citizens also called for stricter punishments for corrupt officials.

In terms of this issue, the NA Chairwoman said that at the recent sixth session, the parliament approved the law amending and supplementing some articles of the Anti-Corruption Law. The revised version includes regulations enabling people to monitor the anti-corruption work, along with stipulations on the protection of and rewards for whistleblowers, she said.

The mechanism for corruption prevention and control has been further specified in this law, she said.

Also on November 26, Chairwoman Ngan and other deputies of Can Tho met with people in An Phu ward of Ninh Kieu district. Meetings between legislators and voters are regular activities before and after each session of the NA.

Vietnam Fatherland Front delegation visits China

VFF President Tran Thanh Man (L) shakes hands with Chairman of the Beijing Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference Ji Lin 

A delegation from the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee led by its President Tran Thanh Man is paying a working visit to China from November 25-30.

The visit is made at the initiation of Wang Yang, member of the Politburo Standing Committee and Chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference.

On November 26, the Vietnamese delegation visited the headquarters of the Beijing Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference.

Receiving the delegation, Chairman of the committee Ji Lin introduced the functions and tasks of the agency, including the organisation of courses for its members to learn about the guidelines and policies of the Chinese Party and State.

Man, who is also Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee, shared Vietnam’s experience in uniting the people and encouraging them to build new-style rural areas and civilised areas, reduce poverty sustainably and improve capacity amid international integration, as well as in raising the role of political consultation, social supervision and criticism. 

The two sides noted with pleasure the positive development of Vietnam-China ties over the past time, with increasing exchanges between their agencies, including the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and its Beijing Committee with the Vietnam Fatherland Front and its Hanoi chapter.

Earlier on November 25, the VFF leader had a meeting with the staff of the Vietnamese Embassy and representatives of the Vietnamese community in China.

PM Mahathir hails partnership between Malaysia, Vietnam firms

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad (standing, second, left) witnesses the signing of the contract on November 25 

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad have commended the cooperation between Malaysian and Vietnamese businesses in general and between Ri-Yaz Hotels and Resorts, and the Alphanam Group in particular.

PM Mahathir made the remarks while witnessing the signing of a contract between Ri-Yaz Hotels and Resorts and the Alphanam Group in Kedah, Malaysia, on November 25. 

Under the terms of the contract, Ri-Yaz Hotels and Resorts will manage Altara Suites and Altara Residences, the luxury hotel and apartment brand of the Alphanam Group in Vietnam.

The PM held that the enhancement of cooperative ties between the business communities would contribute greatly to Malaysia-Vietnam relations, especially in economy.

He also voiced his belief that Vietnam would reap breakthrough development in the coming time thanks to the industriousness of its people, among others.

Established in 1995, Alphanam is a multi-sectoral economic group. It has invested in almost 20 hotel projects and cooperated closely with the world’s leading hotel management groups, including Ri-Yaz Hotels and Resorts.

The cooperation between the Alphanam Group and Ri-Yaz Hotels and Resorts is expected to contribute to the development of Vietnam’s tourism sector and Vietnam-Malaysia relations in general.

Top legislator affirms Party, State’s strict stance on corruption

Chairwoman of the National Assembly Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan meets with voters in Can Tho city (First from left). 

Chairwoman of the National Assembly Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan has affirmed the strict stance of the Communist Party of Vietnam and the State on corruption during a meeting with voters in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho on November 26. 

Explaining to voters the content of the revised anti-corruption law, one of nine laws adopted by the NA during its recent 6th session, the top legislator said how to handle officials and Party members’ incomes and assets of unclear origin is a new and complicated issue, which attracted great interest and triggered debate among NA deputies. 

She underlined the Party and State’s consistent and clear stance that corruptive acts must be punished while the legitimate rights and interests of citizens will be protected. 

She took note of voters’ proposals on health checks for people who have joined health insurance for more than five years and pledged to mention the recommendation when the law on health insurance is tabled for revision. 

Local voters praised the improved quality of law making work and the effectiveness of the NA’s operation at the freshly-concluded 6th session. Their opinions focused on outstanding issues in the city, including health insurance, food safety, training in universities and employment for graduates, the environment and investment in infrastructure in the Mekong Delta.