Hanoi leader lauds LDS Church’s performance

Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Chung (right) on January 28 hosted a reception for Evans F.David, President of the Asia Area of the Church of Jesus Christ of Later-day Saints (LDS Church or Mormon Church) (hanoimoi.com.vn)

Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Chung on January 28 hosted a reception for Evans F.David, President of the Asia Area of the Church of Jesus Christ of Later-day Saints (LDS Church or Mormon Church). 

The municipal leader lauded annual activities held by the LDS Church, which, he said, have received the enthusiastic response of the public and contributed to socio-economic development of Hanoi, ensuring security and order in the capital city and promoting the image of Hanoians to international fiends. 

Evans F.David thanked the municipal People’s Committee for creating favourable conditions for the Church to operate and develop over the past years, and expressed his belief that the city will complete targets set for 2019. 

Hoang Van Tung, Chairman of the Interim Representative Committee of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Vietnam, said the Church has encouraged its followers to participate in the construction of the city and the country, and abide by law. 

The LDS Church was founded by Joseph Smith (1805 - 1844), its first president, on April 6, 1830 in Fayette Township, New York. 

It was then developed by Brigham Young, who migrated with the new Mormons to Salt Lake City in 1847. 

The LDS Church was brought to Vietnam in 1962, and was registered in 1967 by the South Vietnam government. After 1975, the LDS Church in Vietnam ceased operations, with most of its members migrating to other countries. Those who stayed in the country practiced the religion at home. 

In 1995, the LDS Church revived its activities in Vietnam, with two groupings formed in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Currently, the Church has nearly 1,000 followers, mostly in the two cities. 

To support Mormons to practice religion, the Interim Representative Committee of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Vietnam was officially recognised in May 2014. 

PM meets with officials in Central region

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc  and participants 

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on January 28 made a Tet visit to current and retired high-ranking officials of Party committees in the central region on the thresholds of the Lunar New Year (Tet) festival 2019. 

He also met with officers of the Military Zone 5 High Command, retired senior officials of Da Nang city, and representatives of authorities of localities from Thua Thien - Hue to Quang Ngai. 

During the meeting, representatives from the Party committees in the central region reported to the Government leader the implementation of assigned duties in 2018, as well as tasks in 2019. 

In his speech, PM Phuc briefed participants on the nation’s socio-economic performance in 2018, highlighting remarkable achievements across fields from economics, administrative reform, to anti-corruption.  

Thanks the achievements, Vietnam’s position has been improved in the international arena, he stressed. 

PM Phuc asked central localities to devise measures to ensure socio-political stability, contributing to promoting economic development, towards turning Vietnam into a developed country by 2045. 

He called on retired senior officials to continue to set examples in patriotic emulation movements, contributing to creating a spirit of exciting emulation in the localities.

Japanese navy airplanes visit HCM City

Two P-3C aircraft of the Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Force led by Lieutenant Colonel Kurishita Akihico began their two-day visit to Ho Chi Minh City on January 28. 

During their stay, Japanese officers will pay a courtesy call to the Commander of Brigade 125 under the Air Defence-Air Force Service. 

Condolences sent to Philippines over terror bombings

Outside the cathedral (Source: internet)

Party General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong sent his condolences on January 28 to Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte over the twin terror bomb attack at a cathedral in Jolo Island, Sulu province that occurred the previous day. 

The same day, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh also expressed his sympathy to Philippine Foreign Minister Teodoro Lopez Locsin.

The twin explosions happened after mass at 8am (local time), leaving as many as 20 dead and dozens injured. The victims were mostly government troops and civilians.

The bombings took place days after the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), a new law that paves the way for the creation of a wider autonomous region for Muslim Filipinos in Mindanao.

Although Muslims overwhelmingly approved the law, Sulu province, where Jolo is located, voted against the autonomous government.

The Philippine Commission on Elections had previously announced that the law was ratified following the approval of more than 1.5 million votes.

Da Nang authorities hold Tet meet with Overseas Vietnamese

OVs have contributed greatly to the socio-economic development in Da Nang city. 

Authorities of the central city of Da Nang held a Tet meeting with over 180 Overseas Vietnamese coming home for the Lunar New Year (Tet) festival on the night of January 28.

Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Ho Ky Minh asserted that the city always encourages and provides all possible conditions for expats to visit their families and do business in the homeland.

In 2018, Overseas Vietnamese sent 165 million USD in remittances to Da Nang and many of them gave support to disadvantaged people as well as brought investors to the city, Minh said.

He said he expects that Overseas Vietnamese continue assisting the city in its socio-economic development, especially in science-technology, healthcare and education.

He asked municipal agencies to simplify administrative procedures pertaining to Overseas Vietnamese to make it easier for inviting them to work in the city.

On behalf of the participating Overseas Vietnamese, Pham Ba Dung from Germany said he will work to draw more expats and introduce foreign investors to Da Nang.

New York gathering celebrates Tet

Vietnam’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations (UN) and the Vietnamese Consulate General in New York have held a get-together on the occasion of the upcoming Tet (Lunar New Year) festival. 

Vietnam’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations (UN) and the Vietnamese Consulate General in New York have held a get-together on the occasion of the upcoming Tet (Lunar New Year) festival, with the participation of nearly 400 overseas Vietnamese. 

In his remarks, Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy, head of the mission, informed participants about what the homeland has achieved in 2018. 

The most noteworthy is Vietnam’s ratification of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), it successful organisation of the World Economic Forum on ASEAN, the country’s first-ever membership of the UN Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL), and the deployment of the first level-2 field hospital in South Sudan for UN peacekeeping operations. 

Vietnam aims to boost bilateral ties with foreign countries in 2019, while stepping up multilateral diplomacy and relations with the UN, he said, adding that, the country will work harder to win a non-permanent seat at the UN Security Council for the 2020-2010 tenure, Quy said. 

He applauded valuable contributions of Vietnamese expats to the homeland as well as their support for Vietnam efforts in developing external relations.

Vietnamese, Chinese leaders exchange New Year greetings

Party General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong (right) and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping during the latter's visit to Vietnam in November 2017.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President Nguyen Phu Trong and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping exchanged Lunar New Year greetings on January 28, or the 23rd day of the last lunar month. 

In his letter, the Vietnamese leader noted with pleasure the fruitful development of the friendly neighbourliness and comprehensive cooperation between the two parties and countries. 

The two sides have maintained high-level exchanges and meetings, while enhancing collaboration across all fields, as well as people-to-people exchanges, contributing to developing the Vietnam-China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership sustainably and soundly. 

For his part, Chinese Party General Secretary and President Xi Jinping said 2018 marked the tenth anniversary of the bilateral comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership. 

The two countries have persistently promoted their traditional friendship; continuously increased exchanges, mutual trust, and support; and deepened result-oriented cooperation in various spheres. 

They expressed their hope that in 2019 – the year marking the 70th anniversary of the bilateral diplomatic ties (1950-2020) – the two countries will make greater efforts to carry forward these outcomes. 

The leaders shared the view that the two sides will step up high-level exchanges, consolidate mutual political trust, deepen affiliation across all realms, satisfactorily address existing issues, enhance friendships between people of the two countries, and make new progress in the relations between the two parties and countries. This is towards meeting the aspirations and basic interests of their people, and for peace, stability, and cooperation in the region and the world at large. 

Party General Secretary and President Trong wished China’s leaders and people a happy and wealthy New Year. 

The Chinese leader wished that Vietnamese people will reap greater achievements in reform and socialism building for the upcoming year of the pig. 

Lao officials extend Tet greetings to Nghe An province

Xieng Khouang delegation delivers Tet greetings to Nghe An province. (Photo: truyenhinhnghean.vn)

Delegations from the Lao provinces of Savannakhet, Houaphanh, and Xieng Khouang recently paid visits to the central province of Nghe An to extend greetings to local authorities and people on the occasion of Tet (Lunar New Year) 2019.

Other Tet visits were also made by leaders from Bolikhamsai province’s Xaychamphone district, Military High Command, and Houaphanh Police; as well as Vientiane province’s Military High Command. They delivered Tet wishes to Con Cuong and Anh Son districts, Nghe An province’s Military High Command, and the provincial Border Guard.

Congratulating the locality on its socio-economic achievements in 2018, the Lao guests expressed their hope that Nghe An province will continue to promote solidarity and friendship with Lao localities and organisations.

The Vietnamese central province and Laos share a border line of 419km, with many border gates like Nam Can and Thanh Thuy. The province has worked to developed cooperation with Laos’ Houaphanh, Xieng Khouang, Bolikhamsai, Savannakhet, Khammouane and Vientiane provinces. 

Officials present Tet gifts to social policy beneficiaries

Politburo member and Secretary of the Party Central Committee Vo Van Thuong  presents gifts to social policy beneficiaries in Nhon Trach district, Dong Nai province, on January 28, ahead of the Tet (Lunar New Year) festival. 

Politburo member and Secretary of the Party Central Committee Vo Van Thuong and several National Assembly deputies visited and presented gifts to social policy beneficiaries in Nhon Trach district in the southern province of Dong Nai on January 28, ahead of the Tet (Lunar New Year) festival. 

Thuong, who is also head of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Information and Education, extended his New Year greetings to local families and congratulated Nhon Trach’s Party Committee, authorities, and people on the socio-economic achievements they recorded in recent times, particularly in social welfare work. 

He reported that in 2018, the district’s industrial production and construction values exceeded 96  trillion VND (4.1 billion USD), surpassing the set target by 23 percent and up 18.61 percent year-on-year. 

The locality is home to 422 projects with the total investment capital of nearly 7.3 billion USD and generating jobs for over 105,000 labourers. 

The same day, the delegation visited and presented gifts to social policy beneficiaries in Long Thanh district and Bien Hoa city. 

Also on January 28, Tran Thanh Man, Secretary of the Party Central Committee and President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee, paid a pre-Tet visit to social policy beneficiaries and poor households in the northern mountainous province of Thai Nguyen. 

On the occasion, the official paid tribute to 60 martyrs of Company 915 from the 91 Bac Thai youth volunteer team at their memorial house.