RoK-Vietnam relations to grow further: RoK NA Speaker’s advisor

RoK President Moon Jae-in (fifth from left) attends the ground-breaking ceremony of the Vietnam-RoK Science and Technology Institute in March 2018 

Special Advisor to the Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea (RoK) Hahn Choong-hee has voiced his belief that the RoK-Vietnam relations will grow further in all aspects.

Granting an interview to Vietnam News Agency correspondents in Seoul on the threshold of an official visit to the RoK by National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan from December 4-7, Hahn Choong-hee said that since the bilateral diplomatic ties were set up in 1992, the two countries have witnessed rapid development in their relations, from trade, investment and economics to culture and people-to-people exchanges.

For the RoK, the diplomatic relationship with Vietnam is one of the most important relations in the region at the strategic level, he affirmed, recalling the Vietnam visit by RoK President Moon Jae-in last March as another important milestone in the bilateral ties.

Agreeing with Vietnamese Ambassador to the RoK Nguyen Vu Tu’s remark on the “family” relationship between Vietnam and the RoK in his recent meeting with the RoK’s NA Speaker Moon Hee-sang, the advisor noted that tens of thousands of Vietnamese people are working and living in the RoK, while many Koreans, including politicians and entrepreneurs, also want to visit Vietnam to seek cooperation and business opportunities.

Hahn Choong-hee suggested both sides continue taking advantage of similarities in their traditions and cultures to develop the strategic cooperation and high-level dialogue, as well as collaborating with each other to invest in a third partner in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

He proposed intensifying cultural cooperation to bring the two countries’ young generations closer and enhance mutual understanding so as to further foster the bilateral relations.

He also expressed his hope that more and more universities in Vietnam will open Korean-language classes and vice versa.

Regarding the role of the two legislative bodies in strengthening the bilateral ties, the advisor took note of the exchange of many visits recently, notably the Vietnam visit by the RoK top legislator last year and the upcoming visit by the Vietnamese NA Chairwoman.

Many RoK parliamentarians hope to meet and work with Vietnamese NA deputies, politicians, entrepreneurs, and researchers, he stated, suggesting both sides organise visits more regularly to offer chances for the two legislatures to tighten cooperation in issues of shared concern such as sustainable development, climate change response, institution building, and the implementation of millennium development goals.

December’s work needs to provide springboard for 2019: PM

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc at the Government's monthly meeting 

Work to be done in December needs to ensure socio-economic goals set for 2018 are accomplished or exceeded to create a springboard for the implementation of 2019 plan, said Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

At the Government’s regular monthly meeting for November held in Hanoi on December 3, the Government leader said over the past 11 months, ministries and sectors proactively took prompt and proper countermeasures against complicated global economy effects.

Production and business performance has been faring well and businesses have had stronger confidence in the country, creating favourable conditions for the future socio-economic development, he said.

Localities, ministries and sectors, however, should not become neglectful, he said, adding that they need to drastically implement set measures and solutions during which office heads need to heighten their responsibility, administrative disciplines enhanced, administrative reform sped up, and existing problems addressed.

“Localities, ministries and sectors have to work to persistently safeguard the country’s strategic interests,” the leader said.

He noted that all innovative ideas and technology applications that bring wealth for the country and people are welcomed and encouraged, saying this issue should be a focus of works to be done in not only December, 2018, but also in the whole 2019.

The work required to be implemented in December included the refining of a draft of Resolution 01 of the Government (Resolution 01/CP), which, the PM said, needs to reflect “a high determination and a revolutionary spirit of the Government” in accomplishing tasks and plans outlined for 2019.

“The lowest GDP growth rate should be 6.8 percent,” he requested, asking those involved in compiling Resolution 01/CP to have solutions to unlocking bottlenecks in socio-economic development while achieving a higher growth rate than that of 2018 with secured macroeconomic stability and growth quality.

“What people want from us is the quality of growth and the handling of social problems,” the leader said, asking ministries and sectors to “think out of the box” and step up technology application in all aspects of life.

The leader asked ministries and sectors to focus on providing sufficient amount of commodities for people in the upcoming Lunar New Year festival 2019, especially gifts and financial assistance for those who rendered services to the nation. He mentioned to the tasks of ensuring traffic safety and fighting crimes, trade frauds and smuggling.

He pointed to the need to ensure supply and demand of the market and credit capital to meet the national economy’s needs in the last month of the year, reiterating the request to stringently tackle “loan sharks”.

He also repeated the functions and tasks of a special working group headed by Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh to inspect the slow handling of denunciations lodged by businesses and people at localities.

According to the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the macroeconomic situation remained stable since the beginning of the year. 

The consumer price index in November fell by 0.29 percent, the lowest in nine months. 

Trade surplus hit 6.8 billion USD while there were over 121,000 newly-established firms with a total registered capital of 3.4 quadrillion VND (146.2 billion USD) during the 11-month period while nearly 32,000 enterprises resumed their operations. 

More than 14 million foreign tourists arrived in Vietnam in the past 11 months, up 21.3 percent. 

Vietnam, RoK seek ways to intensify mutual trust

Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung (L) and RoK PM Lee Nak-yon 

Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung and the Republic of Korea’s (RoK) Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon agreed on measures to enhance mutual trust and understanding between Vietnam and the RoK, thus boosting the bilateral relationship in a more effective and comprehensive manner. 

They reached the consensus during their meeting on December 3 as part of Deputy PM Dung’s visit to the RoK from December 2-6. 

The two sides consented to maintain regular high-level visits and meetings, and step up result-oriented cooperation in such areas as diplomacy, national defence, and security. 

They will also strengthen bilateral trade and investment ties, aiming to bring two-way trade to 100 billion USD by 2020. 

Deputy PM Dung highly appreciated the RoK’s consideration of Vietnam as the top priority in its New Southern Policy and affirmed that Vietnam will continue to treasure its relations with the RoK. 

He suggested the two sides bolster their coordination in order to create conditions for Vietnamese agricultural products to access and gain a firm foothold in the RoK; improve the competitiveness of Vietnamese goods; support Vietnamese startups; intensify technological transfer; and develop Vietnam’s support industry in an effort to reduce its trade deficit with the RoK.  

The official called on the RoK to continue with its non-refundable aid as well as development and preferential credits to Vietnam, while effectively implementing labour agreements between the two sides.   

Dung lauded the RoK’s investment projects in Vietnam, as well as Korean businesses’ increased investment in Vietnam in spheres like the support industry, auto manufacturing, electronics and semi-conducting, energy and renewable energy, infrastructure development in industrial parks, smart city building, and agricultural modernisation. 

The Vietnamese Government stands ready to create the best possible conditions for RoK enterprises to invest in large-scale infrastructure projects through the public-private partnership (PPP) model, such as the North-South Expressway, and participate in the equitisation and divestment of state-owned enterprises, he stressed. 

On this occasion, Dung applauded the RoK Government’s facilitation of visa grants to Vietnamese citizens and appealed to the Korean side to pay more attention and provide further support towards ensuring the rights and interests of Vietnamese in the country, especially Vietnamese nationals married to local spouses. 

For his part, PM Lee Nak-yon said Dung’s visit is crucial to promoting the bilateral relationship and praised the cooperation achievements the two countries have recorded in the 26 years since diplomatic ties were set up. 

The RoK Government attaches importance to the strategic cooperative partnership with Vietnam, he said, noting that he will instruct relevant ministries and agencies of the RoK to successfully realise agreements reached by the two countries, in order to elevate the bilateral relationship to a new height. 

The same day, Deputy PM Dung hosted a reception for Chairman of the RoK’s ruling Democratic Party (DP) Lee Hae-chan, during which he thanked the Korean party for supporting the development of the win-win relations with Vietnam. He hoped that the party will continue its assistance in bolstering Vietnam-RoK ties, with a focus on enhancing cooperation between the two parties and considering the signing of collaboration deals. 

Lee stressed that he and the DP have always treasured and will further their relations with the Communist Party of Vietnam, contributing to strengthening bonds between the two nations.

Receiving President of the Korea Foundation Lee Si-hyung, Dung spoke highly of the foundation’s implementation of the Next Generation Leaders Programme and several other cultural exchange programmes. He suggested the organisation expand its cooperation with Vietnam in the time ahead. 

Lee, for his part, said that he will maintain and design more programmes for Vietnamese officials at all levels to study and exchange development experience in the East Asian country.

Dung also visited the Vietnamese Embassy and met with the Vietnamese community in the RoK. Lauding the contributions made by Vietnamese nationals towards developing relations with the RoK, he underlined that the Vietnamese Party and Government always see overseas Vietnamese as an integral part of Vietnam, who have played an important part in fostering cooperation and friendship between Vietnam and foreign countries across the five continents, including the RoK.

Working with Vietnamese scientists who are working and studying in the RoK, Dung said that the scientists have played a starring role in helping the homeland catch up with the Fourth Industrial Revolution. 

He noted that the Party and Government have worked to complete the legal framework, facilitate Vietnamese scientists’ activities in foreign countries and attract international experts to join sci-tech activities in Vietnam. 

“The Party and Government want to work alongside young scientists who not only hold the potential of the future, but are the best resources at present and the prospective owners of the country,” he added. 

Vietnam treasures cooperation with OECD: Deputy PM

Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue (R) and Director of OECD’s Multi-dimensional Country Review (MDCR) office Jan Rielander 

Vietnam attaches great importance to its cooperation with the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in terms of both bilateral and regional frameworks, Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue told an official from the OECD. 

During a reception for Director of OECD’s Multi-dimensional Country Review (MDCR) office Jan Rielander in Hanoi on December 3, Deputy PM Hue praised the OECD for its response and coordination with Vietnam in holding conferences and workshops in the APEC Year 2017 in Vietnam.

He highlighted the practical development of Vietnam-OECD cooperation and the active results of the bilateral cooperation plan for 2016-2020, while praising the OECD for its support for Vietnam in reviewing the country’s development policies. 

He suggested that the OECD continue supporting and giving policy-related advice to Vietnam in the fields of climate change and adaptable agriculture, science-technology, and education-training; and in helping Vietnam build a roadmap to implement the minimum standards of base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS).

The Deputy PM applauded the OECD for providing the preliminary proposal for the development of a MDCR for Vietnam, asking the organisation to help Vietnam call for support from OECD member nations in implementig the report. 

Vietnam is preparing to build a socio-economic development strategy for after 2020, Hue said, adding that the development of a MDCR will effectively support the process of policymaking in Vietnam. 

For his part, Jan Rielander expressed his appreciation of Vietnam’s role and position in the Southeast Asia and Asia Pacific regions as the country became a member of the OECD in 2018. 

OECD is working with many countries, including Vietnam, to carry out the development of the MDCR towards giving recommendations and measures to governments so as to promote the development of their people, prosperity, and peace. 

The implementation of the report will start in 2019, he said. 

Deputy PM Hue and Jan Rielander agreed to promote the implementation of the MDCR in Vietnam as soon as possible.

Leipzig delegation seeks investment opportunities in Hanoi

Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Chung (R) and First Mayor of Leipzig city Torsten Bonew 

Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Chung welcomed a delegation from the German city of Leipzig in Hanoi on December 3, who are in the capital city to learn about opportunities for cooperation, investment, and trade.

The delegation, led by First Mayor Torsten Bonew, took the opportunity to give technical assistance on the management of wastewater quality, worth 100,000 EUR to Hanoi.

Chairman Chung briefed the guest on the capital city’s recent socio-economic development, saying that Hanoi is a large city with an area of over 3,000sq.m and a population of 7.6 million. With rapid urbanisation, Hanoi is facing significant challenges like water and air pollution, as well as traffic congestion.

In its five-year socio-economic development plan (2016-2020), the city has taken on numerous programmes focused on urban development, water resource improvement, and clean water supply, including the Duong River Surface Water Treatment Plant project using German technology. The plant was put into operation last October, supplying 150,000cu.m of water per day.

Furthermore, Hanoi has partnered with Germany’s Watch Water company to produce Redocy 3C to treat pollution in rivers and lakes, while also installing more than 100 air monitoring stations to take appropriate measures, and using vacuum sweepers of Germany’s Hako group, Chung said.

First Mayor Bonew said during its development, Leipzig experienced challenges similar to Hanoi at present. With its experience in environmental pollution treatment and climate change adaptation, Leipzig wants to cooperate with Hanoi to overcome the difficulties, towards achieving sustainable development.

Bonew said that during the visit, the Leipzig delegation focuses on fields like wastewater treatment and clean water supply via solar-powered machines, tertiary training cooperation, and the exchange of vocational training teachers.

First Mayor Torsten Bonew invited Hanoi Chairman Nguyen Duc Chung, along with other city leaders and representatives of Hanoi companies and businesses to attend the Leipzig Fair in 2019.

RoK’s Lotte Group wants to expand investment in Hanoi

Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Chung (R) and Lotte Chairman Shin Dong-bin

Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Chung had a working session on December 3 with the Republic of Korea’s Lotte Chairman Shin Dong-bin on the group’s business results in 2018 and its plan to expand investment in the capital city in the time to come.

According to Shin, Lotte has injected 40 trillion VND (1.71 billion USD) in its projects in Vietnam and created around 20,000 jobs for local workers. In addition, the group has supported Vietnam in human resources training and startup projects. Some Lotte scholarships have been granted to Vietnamese excellent students since 2008, while Vietnamese startups have received assistance from the group from 2016.

Lotte is carrying out a number of large projects in Hanoi, including Lotte Mall in Tay Ho district, he said, expressing his hope that they will be welcomed by local residents.

Lotte has huge potential to bolster investment in Vietnam, especially in the hospitality sector, he underlined, describing Hanoi as a credible market when the hotel reservation rate at Lotte Centre reached 98 percent and 100 percent on December 3-4.

Hailing Lotte’s activities in Hanoi, Chung affirmed that the corporation has made significant contributions to the city’s social welfare projects and created favourable conditions for Vietnamese agricultural products to hit the shelves of Lotte Mart chains in the RoK.

Briefing Shin on Hanoi’s economic development, he said that this is the eight consecutive years Hanoi has recorded rosy growth, with gross domestic products rising 8.56 percent against the previous year. 

The city is working to put forth administrative reforms to facilitate business of both domestic and foreign investors, including those from the RoK, he stressed, wishing that Lotte will continue expanding its business in the locality.

“Hanoi stands ready to coordinate and remove bottlenecks for the firm to ensure its effective operation in the city”, Chung affirmed.

Deputy Defence Minister hosts delegation of Japan self-defence forces

Deputy Minister of National Defence Sen. Lieut. Gen. Phan Van Giang (right) and Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF) Rear Admiral Yoshihiro Goka. (Photo: qdnd.vn)

Deputy Minister of National Defence Sen. Lieut. Gen. Phan Van Giang hosted a reception for a delegation of the Japan Self-Defence Forces and the Sasakawa Peace Foundation in Hanoi on December 3.

The Japanese delegation, led by Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF) Rear Admiral Yoshihiro Goka, was in Vietnam for a defence exchange between the two countries.

Giang, who is also Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army, spoke highly of the long-standing relations between Vietnam and Japan.

Over the past 45 years since the two nations set up diplomatic ties, bilateral relations have grown remarkably thanks to political trust and cooperation in multiple areas, including politics, economy, security-defence, agriculture, culture, sports and tourism, he said.

Such strong bonds have laid a basis for significant progress in Vietnam-Japan defence ties, which have become a key pillar of bilateral relations, Giang said.

Goka, for his part, thanked Giang for the reception, saying he believed that the friendship and cooperation between Japan and Vietnam in general and between the two defence ministries in particular will expand further in the coming time.

Duke of York welcomed in Ho Chi Minh City

Secretary of the Party Committee of Ho Chi Minh City Nguyen Thien Nhan (R) and Duke of York, Prince Andrew 

Secretary of the Party Committee of Ho Chi Minh City Nguyen Thien Nhan on December 3 hosted a reception for Duke of York, Prince Andrew, who is on a working visit in the city. 

Nhan spoke highly of Andrew’s good sentiments towards HCM City and said his visit has contributed to developing the bilateral ties between Vietnam and the UK, covering cooperation in economy, trade and education-training. 

The official congratulated Andrew on being presented Vietnam’s Friendship Order and urged him to make more contributions to the Vietnam-UK relationship. 

Nhan wished that the UK will share its experience and encourage local businesses to invest in HCM City in the areas of their strength.

For his part, Andrew affirmed that his visit to Vietnam aims to strengthen bonds and expand all-round cooperation with the Southeast Asian country.

He stressed that 2018 is an important milestone in the bilateral relations as both countries are celebrating the 45th anniversary of their diplomatic ties. In addition, it offers opportunities for both sides to develop practical cooperative progammes, including those in economy and trade between the UK and Ho Chi Minh City. 

The UK is in top trade and investment partner of the Vietnamese southern hub. During January-July, two-way trade reached 476 million USD. The European country has registered 556 million USD in 146 projects in the city.

NA Chairwoman leaves for official visit to Republic of Korea

Chairwoman of the National Assembly Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan 

Chairwoman of the National Assembly Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan left Hanoi on December 4 morning for a four-day official visit to the Republic of Korea (RoK) at the invitation of Speaker of the RoK National Assembly Moon Hee-sang. 

Joining the delegation were Chairman of the NA Committee for External Relations Nguyen Van Giau; Secretary General of the NA and Chairman of the NA Office Nguyen Hanh Phuc; Chairman of the NA Committee for Deputy Affairs Tran Van Tuy; Chairwoman of the NA Committee for Justice Le Thi Nga; Minister of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs Dao Ngoc Dung and Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh, among others. 

The visit is of significance as it signals the importance Vietnam has attached to the strategic cooperative partnership with the RoK as well as its wish to elevate the relationship to a new height. 

Through the visit, Vietnam wants to affirm its support for the RoK’s New Southern Policy and the implementation of the cooperation agreement between the two legislatures, thus developing legislative ties both bilaterally and multilaterally. 

Vietnam and the RoK established diplomatic ties on December 22, 1992. They set up their comprehensive strategic partnership in August 2001, and lifted the ties to the level of strategic cooperative partnership in October 2009.

The bilateral political and diplomatic relations are strong, which is reflected through regular high-level visits and meetings.

In 2006, an agreement on cooperation between the two legislatures was signed, an important legal document for both sides to develop their friendship and cooperation.

The nations also established important security-defence cooperation mechanisms, including a security dialogue and defence dialogue at the deputy ministerial level.

The RoK is currently one of Vietnam’s most important economic partners, ranking first in terms of investment, and second in development cooperation, trade and tourism.

Two-way trade jumped from 500 million USD in 1992 to 61.5 billion USD in 2017, of which 14.8 billion USD came from Vietnam’s exports, up 30 percent from the previous year, and 46.7 billion USD from the Southeast Asian country’s imports, a year-on-year increase of 45.3 percent.

The two countries are working to raise the turnover to 100 billion USD by 2020.

Vietnam, China deepen agricultural cooperation

Vietnam and China have reached consensus on further bolstering agricultural cooperation.

Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Tran Thanh Nam on December 3 had a meeting with Chinese Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Qu Dongyu, during which they expressed their delight at the sound collaboration between the two ministries across the fields of plantation, husbandry and aquaculture.

Discussing measures to develop agriculture and rural areas in both nations, they agreed to set up a ministerial dialogue mechanism every six months besides the annual meeting of the Vietnam-China joint committee on agricultural cooperation.

The same day, Nam had a working session with the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) which is responsible for supervising animal and plant quarantine and food safety. 

During his talks with Deputy Customs Commissioner-General Zhang Jiwen, Nam hailed efforts made by both sides in opening the Vietnamese agricultural market, and affirmed that the Southeast Asian country always focuses on accelerating agro-forestry-fishery trade with China.

Vietnam is working to develop brand names for its agricultural products to ensure that more quality goods will be consumed in the Chinese market, he said, hoping that the GACC will create favourable conditions for more Vietnamese farm produce to enter the market.

The two sides reviewed the implementation of agreements on animal and plant quarantine, and seek measures to boost trade via border gates, ensuring mutual benefits of the Vietnamese and Chinese people.

They agreed to build a regular cooperative mechanism as well as support training and information exchanges between units of the Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the GACC.

Cambodian PM’s Vietnam visit to advance traditional friendship: official

Spokesman of the Cambodian Council of Ministers Phay Siphan 

Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen’s visit to Vietnam from December 6-8 is sure to be a success, helping enhance the traditional friendship between the two countries, according to a Cambodian official. 

Spokesman of the Cambodian Council of Ministers Phay Siphan told Vietnam News Agency correspondents that the visit takes place in the context of fruitful development of bilateral ties. 

Through the Vietnam visit and other overseas trips following Hun Sen’s re-election as Cambodian PM, the leader aims to thank foreign friends for their support to Cambodia and himself, he said. 

During his stay in Vietnam, the PM is scheduled to meet with Vietnamese leaders and witness the signing of many bilateral cooperation agreements.

The official stressed that Vietnam and Cambodia have proven the development of their ties to the world and generations of the two countries. 

Highlighting the mutual understanding, respect, non-intervention into each other’s internal affairs and fraternity between Vietnam and Cambodia, he urged the two countries and their generations to continue exchanging experience and promoting mutual understating. 

Cambodia is learning from Vietnam’s development experience, he said, stressing that the country always wants to cooperate with Vietnam, especially in economics. 

The good neighbourliness and the stance of building a common border of friendship, peace, stability and development of the two countries’ leaders have contributed to developing Vietnamese and Cambodian border provinces. 

On this occasion, Phay Siphan thanked the Vietnamese Government, State and people for their support and collaboration across various fields, including healthcare. 

He also recalled the sacrifice by Vietnamese soldiers in Cambodia, stressing Vietnam has proven the value and purity of its support to the neighbouring country. 

The official described the good neighbourliness between Vietnam and Cambodia as a model and said that the two countries will continue to work together to advance the relationship.

Vietnam and Cambodia established diplomatic relations on June 24, 1967. The two nations have regularly maintained the exchange of visits at all levels.

Vietnam has become one of Cambodia’s leading economic partners with two-way trade reaching nearly 3.8 billion USD in 2017, up more than 25 percent year-on-year. 

The two countries are striving to raise the figure to 5 billion USD in the coming years. 

Vietnam has to date invested in 206 projects in Cambodia with a combined registered capital of 3.02 billion USD, becoming among the top five foreign investors in Cambodia.  Meanwhile, Cambodia has poured 58.1 million USD into 18 projects in Vietnam.

Last year, 835,000 Vietnamese visited Cambodia while 222,000 Cambodians travelled to Vietnam.

Vietnam to take bold measures to recover stolen assets

Deputy PM Truong Hoa Binh works with related agencies. Photo: Chinh phu

The government of Vietnam has worked with related agencies to seek drastic measures to recover assets which have been stolen by state officials. 

Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh on November 29 worked with representatives from the Standing Committee of the Police Party Central Committee and the People’s Supreme Court to facilitate more systematic and timely return of stolen assets. 

Binh, who is also deputy chairman of the Central Steering Committee for Anti-Corruption, required the committee and the court to propose more measures to track down stolen assets and tackle problems in legal enforcement. 

The agencies need to have a broad range of mechanism, mostly helpful methods to recover the proceeds of corruption, Binh noted.

Both the committee and the court admitted that the difference between the money stolen and the assets returned remains huge due to legal loopholes, weak cooperation among authorities, and slow recovery process.  

Reports from the Supreme People's Procuracy showed that the return of money and assets corrupted remains modest, VND14 trillion (US$628 million) out of VND76 trillion (US$3.4 billion), accounting for 18.4%. 

Statistics given by the Police Party Committee showed that the amount of money needed to be recovered is swelling. In the first three quarters of 2018, the amount reached VND6 trillion (US$260 million).

Recovering stolen assets remains a time and effort-consuming task that Vietnam has engaged in under the support of international organizations. 

To solve the thorny issue, the World Bank and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has partnered in the Stolen Asset Recovery Initiative (StAR) to help many countries end safe havens for corrupt funds. The initiative provides practitioners with knowledge and policy tools that enhance the abilities of anti-corruption and asset recovery. 

Vietnam’s third-cycle UPR national report released

At the workshop

Vietnam has implemented 175 out of the 182 recommendations by the UN Human Rights Council’s (UNHRC) second-cycle Universal Periodic Review (UPR) which it accepted in June 2014, heard a workshop in Hanoi on December 3. 

According to Vietnam’s third-cycle UPR national report announced at the workshop, the realisation of the recommendations has exerted positive impacts across all aspects of society in Vietnam, especially in building human rights-related laws, ensuring social welfare, improving people’s living standards, and promoting cooperation and dialogues on human rights at regional and international levels. 

Since the 2014 UPR, Vietnam’s development achievements have been acknowledged by the international community, including its ahead-of-schedule completion of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the initial results of the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

Vietnam’s per capita income has increased continuously and the income of poor households has risen from between 15-20 percent. Meanwhile, the multi-dimensional poverty rate dropped from 9.88 percent in 2015 to 7.69 percent last year. 

Vietnam is one of the countries worldwide witnessing the fastest internet development pace, with more than 50 million internet users, the report said. 

The report also pointed out challenges and limitations regarding the legal framework, resources, and policies to promote and ensure human rights in Vietnam, especially those of disadvantaged groups. 

It also proposed priorities to the Vietnamese Government in the time ahead in order to ensure each resident’s improved access to fundamental rights and freedom. 

Addressing the event, Caitlin Wiesen, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Country Director for Vietnam, stressed the special significance of the implementation of the mechanisms to the UPR Working Group slated for January 2019. 

The UNDP will continue to coordinate closely with the Vietnamese Government to materialise mechanisms, thus contributing to better ensuring and promoting human rights in the country, she pledged. 

The third-cycle UPR national report, approved by the Prime Minister on October 17, 2018 and submitted to the UNHRC on October 22, 2018, was completed with the participation of 18 relevant Vietnamese ministries and agencies, said Dang Hoang Giang, chief of the foreign ministry office. 

The UPR is an inter-governmental mechanism of the UN Human Rights Council, aimed at reviewing issues related to the human rights of all UN member countries. Vietnam first implemented the UPR in May 2009. 

Cao Bang shares inspection experience with Lao inspectors

Scene at the working session 

A delegation from the Lao State Inspection Authority (SIA) had a working session with authorities in the northern province of Cao Bang on December 3, discussing experience in inspection work, corruption prevention and handling of complains and denunciation.

Their discussion revolved around the compilation of the inspection law, the inspection of state-run businesses and public-invested projects, and the relationship between provincial-level inspector agencies and the state audit agency.

The sides also delved into the matters related to tackling citizens’ complaints and popularising legal knowledge among the public.

Hoang Tien Khang, chief inspector of the Cao Bang Inspectorate, informed his guest on his agency’s performance. Accordingly, on an annual basis, it carries out more than 70 inspections and receives more than 3,500 citizens and some 1,800 petitions. However, shortcomings remain in terms of pre-inspection preparation and post-inspection works.

The head of the SIA delegation Khamphanly Phoung appreciated the outcomes of the working session. 

He said the working session contributes to enhancing the effectiveness of the collaboration between the two countries’ inspection sectors.

Thai naval vessels dock in Phu Quoc

A Thai naval vessel (Source: Internet)

Two Thai naval vessels, the H.T.M.S Rattanakonsin and the H.T.M.S Kamronsin, led by Colonel Papon Hanphaiboon, Deputy Chief of the Thai Maritime Enforcement, Zone 1, with 213 sailors docked at Phu Quoc port, the southern province of Kien Giang on December 3, beginning a friendly visit to Vietnam that will last through December 6. 

While in Phu Quoc, the delegation will pay a courtesy call to the chief of the High Command of the Naval Region 5 and join a friendly sport exchange with its officers and soldiers.