Opinion divided on feasibility of internet security law

Võ Trọng Việt, chairman of the National Assembly’s Committee on National Defence-Security, presents the NA’s review on the draft law of internet security to the NA deputies on Tuesday. - 

National Assembly (NA) deputies have raised concerns over the risk of an information access barrier to Vietnamese citizens and companies posed by the draft law on internet security.

The draft law insists on foreign service providers storing customers’ information in local servers.

On Tuesday morning, NA members gathered in the main hall to discuss for the second time the draft law prepared by the Ministry of Public Security, which is meant to ensure national security in the age of the internet.

Deputy Phạm Thị Thanh Thúy from Thanh Hóa Province opposed Article 26 of the law. It requires that all local and foreign organisations and companies, which provide internet services or own an information network in Việt Nam, must set up a representative office in the country and store their customers’ personal data as well as important data related to national security in local servers.

Thúy called for reconsideration of this regulation. Data servers of many popular internet services are located overseas, she said, adding that the world now increasingly relies on cloud server, or virtual server, to store data instead of a physical server like earlier.  

“Such requirement is hardly feasible and will create problems for the Vietnamese people to access information on the internet (if service providers fail to comply to the law),” she said.

Phú Thọ Province deputy Cao Đình Thưởng said it would be good if the law could make foreign businesses store data in local servers, but questioned the consequences if those companies, for example, the two giants---Facebook and Google---refused to do so.

“What is our solution? Will we ask them to stop providing the service?” he asked.

Nghệ An Province deputy Nguyễn Hữu Cầu, who is also the director of the provincial police department, defended the regulation regarding the establishment of a representative office. He cited Facebook, which had so far set up some 70 offices in other countries, to imply that the company could open a new office in Việt Nam.

The regulation, according to him, was “reasonable and practical”.

Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung (R) receives WB Country Director for Vietnam Ousmane Dione on May 29 

The World Bank (WB) is ready to assist Vietnam in developing infrastructure system, especially transport infrastructure, WB Country Director for Vietnam Ousmane Dione told Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung.

At their meeting in Hanoi on May 29, Deputy PM Dung and officials of the Ministry of Transport and relevant ministries and agencies, and WB experts discussed solutions to mobilise resources for and effectively implement projects to develop infrastructure, especially transport infrastructure.

Deputy PM Dung highly evaluated the WB’s support for Vietnam in infrastructure and socio-economic development, which has created firm prerequisites for sustainable development.

The Deputy PM also appreciated the WB’s proposals which were based on leading specialists’ studies. He noted that transport infrastructure in Vietnam has developed strongly but still has many shortcomings, including a lack of synchronous and high-quality infrastructure, and lax connectivity and unsuitable structure of means of transport.

Expressing the WB’s readiness to support the country, Ousmane Dione said the WB can help the Vietnamese Government design a reasonable mechanism for risk allocation in the implementation of infrastructure projects. 

The WB can also assist Vietnam in preparing projects, mobilise official development assistance for some sections of the North-South expressway, and attract private capital under the form of public-private partnership (PPP).

Deputy PM Dung shared WB specialists’ view on the need for the State to share investment risks so that businesses can focus on improving project quality and investment effectiveness.

He asked the WB to continue considering inland waterway transport, particularly in the Mekong Delta, and rail transport in Vietnam, including helping the country to prepare for a North-South express train project.

Regarding the WB’s proposed technical support for some projects, he said with its experience, the WB will surely help Vietnam promote investment quality and effectiveness.

Party ties important to Vietnam, China

Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Nguyen Xuan Thang delivers a speech at a seminar on Karl Marx’s ideology in the 21st Century and the future of socialism in the world in China. 

Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Nguyen Xuan Thang was hosted by Chen Xi, Politburo member and Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and Head of the CPC Central Committee’s Organisation Department in Beijing on May 29.

Speaking at the meeting, Chen, also President of the Central Party School, expressed his delight at the strong development of the Vietnam-China relations in recent years.

The Party and Government of China attach great importance to the ties with Vietnam and want to work with the Party, State and people of Vietnam to further consolidate and expand the partnership between the two Parties and States, he said.

He expected the two sides will continue increasing exchange of high-level visits, reinforcing political trust and fostering cooperation in multiple fields, people-to-people exchange and ties between the two Parties in the time ahead.

Thang, for his part, congratulated China on the success of the 19th CPC National Congress in 2017 and voiced his belief that under the leadership of the CPC and General Secretary Xi Jinping, the people of China will inevitably accomplish goals and tasks set forth by the congress.

He highly spoke of the progress seen in the relations between the two Parties and States in recent times, saying the Party, Government and people of Vietnam always treasure and wish to develop a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership with China.

He expected the two sides will continue well implementing agreements and common perceptions reached by the two countries’ top leaders and enhance the effectiveness of their cooperation in all fields.

Thang, who is also Chairman of the Central Theoretical Council and Director of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, has been on a visit to China.

He has joined representatives from 62 communist, workers and left-wing parties of other countries in a seminar on Karl Marx’s ideology in the 21st Century and the future of socialism in the world.

He has met with Huang Kunming, head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee; Xie Chuntao, Vice President of the Central Party School to learn about the key contents of the 19th CPC National Congress. 

Vietnamese and Chinese young officers hold exchange

A delegation of young officers from the Vietnam People’s Army have exchange with their Chinese peers in Beijing from May 27 to June 2. (Photo: qdnd.vn)

A delegation of young officers from the Vietnam People’s Army, led by Head of the Military Youth Committee of the General Department of Politics Dinh Quoc Hung, met with their Chinese peers in Beijing from May 27 to June 2.

The Quan doi Nhan dan (People’s Army) newspaper of the Vietnam People’s Army reported that the Vietnamese delegation was welcomed by Chen Pei Ling, deputy head of the Asian department under the Chinese Central Military Commission’s Office for International Military Cooperation, on May 28.

Chen expressed his belief that the delegation’s visit will help consolidate the sound friendship between the two armies.

Exchanges between young officers are significant to promoting bilateral ties, he said, noting that though the two armies have enjoyed fruitful cooperation, both sides need to hold more exchanges to enhance ties.

Hung, for his part, said the exchange is a regular activity between the two armies, serving to enhance the Vietnam-China traditional friendship and comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.

During their stay, the delegation visited the 3rd Guard Division in Beijing and the Chinese military museum.