Two Steering Committees meet in Hanoi

Permanent Deputy PM Truong Hoa Binh chaired a video-teleconference of the Steering Committee for the National Program on Crime Prevention and Control (Steering Committee 138) and the National Steering Committee for Combating Smuggling, Commercial Fraud and Counterfeit Goods (National Steering Committee 389). 

Permanent Deputy PM Truong Hoa Binh (center) at the video-conference of the Steering Committee 138 and the National Steering Committee 389, Ha Noi, January 29, 2018 - Photo: VGP/Le Son

The event targeted to develop tasks for 2018 was convened on Monday in Ha Noi.

Addressing the video-teleconference, Deputy PM Binh, Head of the two Steering Committees assessed that there are heavy tasks especially in prevention and punishment of illegal smuggling and trade frauds and contribute to ensuring political security, social safety; promoting economic growth. 

Mr. Binh asked ministries, sectors, and localities to focus on outstanding achievements; point out shortcomings; and propose solutions to hot issues including prevention of trafficking in human, economic crimes, corruption, high-tech crime, cybercrime, extremely dangerous crimes, organized crimes, violence, child abuse, illegal exploitation of sand, forest destruction, poor-quality goods, and violation of intellectual property rights. 

Deputy Minister of Public Security Le Quy Vuong reported that in 2017, 52,947 criminal cases were brought into light. The number of murder cases dropped in number but increased in behaviors; showing sides of moral degradation. The problem of child abuse occurred complicatedly in various localities. Illegal trafficking in humans was put under control but Viet Nam was a hot spot in this problem. 

Regarding economic crime and corruption, a series of violations were discovered in investment, construction, finance, banking, land management, health insurance, granting for FDI projects, settlement of non-performing loans, SOEs restructuring, and BT, BOT transport projects. 

The Permanent Office of the Steering Committee 389 reported that in 2017, competent agencies exposed 225,837 infringement cases, up 1.15% against 2016. Over 23 VND trillion of tax was collected, representing a year-on-year growth of 7.17%. Over 1,600 cases were put on trial with 2,118 criminals (up 13.69% against the same period last year)./.

NA Chairwoman pays working visit to Military Zone 2 High Command

National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan in Ha Giang 

National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan lauded the Party Committee of the Military Zone 2 High Command for fulfilling its assigned tasks during a working session in the northern province of Phu Tho on January 28. 

Ngan said Military Zone 2 lies in the north and northwest of the nation - a significant strategic location with a border of more than 1,300km and 34 ethnic minority groups. 

She hailed the staff for improving their readiness for fighting, contributing to safeguarding territorial integrity and the border as well as maintaining stability in the locality.

On the occasion, she presented New Year gifts to staff of Military Zone 2, the provincial Military High Command and Brigades 297 and 604.

In the morning the same day, the NA leader visited the Border Guards’ High Command in the northern mountainous province of Ha Giang. 

As a northwestern border province, Ha Giang shares a border of more than 277km with China. 

Provincial authorities have worked with agencies and the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) chapters to improve local lives. 

Border guards have also stepped up people-to-people diplomacy, expanded ties with the neighbouring country and maintained bilateral patrols and cross-border anti-crime cooperation. 

The top legislator urged officers and soldiers to build on past achievements and care for ethnic minorities, particularly welfare beneficiaries and poor households. 

On the occasion, NA Chairwoman Ngan together with Chairman of the VFF Central Committee Tran Thanh Man, leaders of the Defence Ministry and Border Guards’ High Command presented New Year gifts to provincial border guards.

Ba Ria-Vung Tau sets up cooperation with Italian region

Diego Vecchiato, Director of Department of International Relations of Veneto, Italy hands over the MoU to Vietnamese Trade Counselor to Italy Nguyen Duc Thanh (right). 

The memorandum of understanding on the establishment of friendship and cooperation between the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau and Veneto, an Italian region, has received approval by Veneto President Luca Zaia. 

The MoU was handed over to Vietnamese Trade Counselor to Italy Nguyen Duc Thanh on the behalf of Ba Ria-Vung Tau province at a ceremony in Venice, Italy on January 26. 

Under the MoU, the two sides will undertake necessary steps to expand partnership in maritime transport, logistics, food processing, education and training, tourism, hi-tech agriculture, public management, economics and trade, science and technology, healthcare, sports, promotion of cultural heritages, environment and renewable energy.

The two sides agreed to increase information exchanges in trade and investment and the number of business delegation visits. They also agreed to encourage their businesses to participate in events and trade fairs of each side and planned to organise annual meetings to evaluate the effectiveness of their cooperation.

Veneto attached importance to developing relations with foreign partners, including those from Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Diego Vecchiato, Director of the region’s Department of International Relations told the Vietnam News Agency.

Ba Ria-Vung Tau has potential for economic cooperation with Veneto, particularly in logistics and tourism, he added, noting that the region can assist the province’s economic development and in areas of culture and universities’ partnership.

Exchange held to mark successful Vietnam-Laos friendship year

At the exchange to review the Vietnam-Laos and Laos-Vietnam Solidarity and Friendship Year 2017. 

An exchange was held by the Lao Embassy in Cambodia on January 27 to review the Vietnam-Laos and Laos-Vietnam Solidarity and Friendship Year 2017.

The event drew the participation of staff from the Vietnamese and Lao Embassies and students of both sides in Cambodia.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Cambodia Vu Quang Minh thanked Lao Ambassador Prasith Sayasith for organising such a meaningful event. He affirmed that Vietnam and Laos have a special friendship which is rare in the international diplomatic ties.

Prasith Sayasith, for his part, stressed that the exchange aimed to mark the conclusion of successful solidarity and friendship year which was organised to mark the 55th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties and 40 years of the Treaty on Friendship and Cooperation.

He congratulated staff of the Vietnamese Embassy and the Vietnamese community in Cambodia on Vietnam’s traditional new year holiday.

After the opening ceremony, participants joined in friendship competitions of badminton, table-tennis and petanque as well as enjoyed art performance and traditional cuisine.

VN keeps close watch on U.S. tax reform enforcement

PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc has recently assigned the Ministry of Finance to work with the Ministry of Planning and Investment to research the enforcement of U.S. tax reform law. 

Earlier, U.S. President Donald Trump on December 22, 2017 signed into law the most sweeping overhaul of the U.S. tax code in 31 years.

Accordingly, the two Ministries were asked to research recommendations of the PM’s economic consulting team, then report to the PM before March 1, 2018. 

The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) was assigned to work with relevant ministries and agencies to keep a close watch on response from other countries after the U.S. implemented the new law and assess possible impacts on Viet Nam for appropriate response. 

The MoIT was asked to review Vietnamese exports to the U.S., especially those with Chinese-oriented raw materials for early warnings and recommendations in case of possible application of anti-dumping tariffs./.