Vice NA Chairwoman meets OV teachers from Thailand

Overview of the meeting 

National Assembly Vice Chairwoman Tong Thi Phong on February 8 hosted a reception for a delegation of former Vietnamese teachers who live  in Thailand.

Underscoring that the Party and State highly values the contributions of the Vietnamese community abroad, including those in Thailand, to national growth, Phong stated that the Party and State consider the community an indispensable part of the nation and an important driving force for development.

She said the Party and State pay great attention to creating optimal conditions for Vietnamese abroad to settle down, integrate into local society, promote national culture and join hands to develop the country.

Phong expressed her hope that Vietnamese teachers and the Vietnamese community in Thailand will continue maintaining the use of Vietnamese language and promote the image of Vietnamese nation and people to the world.

Representatives of the delegation showed their delight at Vietnam’s progress.

They affirmed that the Vietnamese community in Thailand will continue fostering solidarity and maintaining the use of Vietnamese language. They will also work hard to contribute to the nation.

Vietnam, Lao diplomats meet in Washington ahead of Tet

Staff of the two embassies at the meeting

The increasingly strong development of the Vietnam-Laos friendship was highlighted at a recent meeting between the two countries’ diplomats in Washington DC, the US. 

The event is an annual activity between the Vietnamese and Lao embassies in the US on the occasion of Vietnam’s traditional Lunar New Year (Tet) festival, reflecting their close relationship. 

Vietnamese Ambassador to the US Pham Quang Vinh and his Lao counterpart Mai Sayavongs updated each other on the development of their countries, and expressed their joy at the success of the Vietnam-Laos Friendship Year 2017 and flourishing bilateral relations. 

They lauded cooperation between the two diplomatic agencies last year, affirming that they will further promote relations through mutual support and joint organisation of activities. 

Ambassador Mai Sayavongs wished all staff of the Vietnamese Embassy a successful and happy New Year.

PM presents Tet gifts to poor ethnic households in Dak Nong

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc in Dak Nong 

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc visited and presented 200 gifts to the poor and policy beneficiaries in Dak Song district, the Central Highlands province of Dak Nong on February 9 ahead of the upcoming traditional Lunar New Year (Tet) festival. 

On the occasion, the Central Committee of the Red Cross Society granted 100 gifts to the poor and Agent Orange victims in the district. 

Speaking at the event, PM Phuc underlined the Party and State’s policy of caring for ethnic minority groups, policy beneficiaries and households in need. 

He asked authorities of Dak Song district and Dak Nong province to ensure a warm Tet for local residents and pay attention to poverty reduction. 

Earlier, the PM visited and presented Tet gifts to heroic Vietnamese mother Chau Thi Nghe, 94, in Duc An town, Dak Song district.

Dak Song is now home to more than 79,000 people with 12 ethnic groups, mostly relying on agriculture. It has seven national-standard schools and 485 policy beneficiaries. The rate of poor households exceeds 10 percent while the rate of poor ethnic minority households accounts for more than 30 percent.

HCM City officials commemorate war martyrs

HCM City officials commemorate war martyrs (Source: http://plo.vn)

A delegation of representatives from the Party Committee, People’s Council, People’s Committee, Vietnam Fatherland Front and armed forces of Ho Chi Minh City paid tribute to war heroes and fallen soldiers at the city’s war martyr cemetery on February 9.

This is an annual activity of the city’s administration on the occasion of the traditional Lunar New Year festival to express gratitude to those who sacrificed their lives for national independence and freedom, and made contributions to national development.

The delegation, led by Politburo member and Secretary of the municipal Party Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan, also offered incense and flowers at the city cemetery.

Similar commemoration ceremonies are taking place across the country as Tet is approaching, in line with the time-honoured tradition of worshipping ancestors and honouring those who made contributions to the nation.

HCM City: Authorities appreciate contributions of int’l agencies

Scene at the meeting (Source: qdnd)

The Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee on February 8 held a meeting with foreign countries’ representative agencies in the city to foster friendship and cooperation.

On behalf of municipal authorities, People’s Committee Chairman Nguyen Thanh Phong thanked consulates, non-governmental organisations, foreign businesses and international friends for their contributions to the city’s development.

The leader said he believes the support will continue, helping HCM City grow and expand international cooperation.

Phong informed participants of local diplomatic highlights in 2017 in terms of relations establishment with foreign localities, international integration, self-promotion and resources attraction.

Singaporean Consul General to HCM City Leow Siu Lin congratulated the southern economic hub on its achievements last year, which reflected its leading role in the Vietnamese economy, stable business climate, effective policies and hard-working residents.

Lauding the relationship between the city and foreign diplomatic missions, she affirmed her commitment to working with other consuls to assist local authorities in enhancing prosperity and international engagement.

Vice NA Chairwoman meets OV teachers from Thailand

Overview of the meeting 

National Assembly Vice Chairwoman Tong Thi Phong on February 8 hosted a reception for a delegation of former Vietnamese teachers who live  in Thailand.

Underscoring that the Party and State highly values the contributions of the Vietnamese community abroad, including those in Thailand, to national growth, Phong stated that the Party and State consider the community an indispensable part of the nation and an important driving force for development.

She said the Party and State pay great attention to creating optimal conditions for Vietnamese abroad to settle down, integrate into local society, promote national culture and join hands to develop the country.

Phong expressed her hope that Vietnamese teachers and the Vietnamese community in Thailand will continue maintaining the use of Vietnamese language and promote the image of Vietnamese nation and people to the world.

Representatives of the delegation showed their delight at Vietnam’s progress.

They affirmed that the Vietnamese community in Thailand will continue fostering solidarity and maintaining the use of Vietnamese language. They will also work hard to contribute to the nation.

Vietnam, Lao diplomats meet in Washington ahead of Tet

Staff of the two embassies at the meeting 

The increasingly strong development of the Vietnam-Laos friendship was highlighted at a recent meeting between the two countries’ diplomats in Washington DC, the US. 

The event is an annual activity between the Vietnamese and Lao embassies in the US on the occasion of Vietnam’s traditional Lunar New Year (Tet) festival, reflecting their close relationship. 

Vietnamese Ambassador to the US Pham Quang Vinh and his Lao counterpart Mai Sayavongs updated each other on the development of their countries, and expressed their joy at the success of the Vietnam-Laos Friendship Year 2017 and flourishing bilateral relations. 

They lauded cooperation between the two diplomatic agencies last year, affirming that they will further promote relations through mutual support and joint organisation of activities. 

Ambassador Mai Sayavongs wished all staff of the Vietnamese Embassy a successful and happy New Year.

Evangelical Church extends Tet greetings to Hanoi Party Committee

The delegation of the Evangelical Church of Vietnam (North) (ECVN North) Executive Board was received by Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Hoang Trung Hai. (Source: Hanoimoi.com.vn)

 A delegation of the Evangelical Church of Vietnam (North) (ECVN North) Executive Board headed by Pastor Nguyen Huu Mac visited the Hanoi Party Committee on February 8 ahead of the Lunar New Year (Tet). 

The delegation was received by Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Hoang Trung Hai. 

Pastor Mac, who is also head of the ECVN North, thanked the municipal Party Committee, People’s Council, People’s Committee and Vietnam Fatherland Front for their attention to the Church as well as their strong leadership in promoting socio-economic development and improving material and spiritual life of Hanoians, including Protestants. 

He wished that the Hanoi Party Committee and authority will reap greater achievement in 2018. 

For his part, Hai lauded the Church’s work in 2017, especially its charity activities, saying the Church has actively contributed to the city’s achievements in the year. 

The official wished the Pastor, the Executive Board and the Protestants’ community a new year of good health, prosperity and success.

Vice President meets CEO of Operation Smile

Vice President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh (right) receives Operation Smile Chief Executive Officer William P.Magee

Vice President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh expressed her hope that the US organisation Operation Smile would continue providing plastic surgery for children with facial defects during a meeting with the organisation’s Chief Executive Officer William P.Magee in Hanoi on February 8.

On behalf of Vietnamese leaders and the Vietnam Children's Patronage Fund Council, Thinh praised the contribution Operation Smile has made to changing the lives of hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese children, particularly those with cleft palates and lips.

The organisation has joined hands with Vietnamese partners, including the Vietnam Children's Patronage Fund, the labour, invalids and social affairs sector at all levels, localities and hospitals nationwide to conduct numerous charity programmes and personnel training, among others.

Vietnam will actively collaborate with and create optimal condition for the organisation to help more Vietnamese children with congenital defects, Thinh pledged.

For his part, Magee said as one of the first US NGOs to work in Vietnam, Operation Smile was committed to providing free medical services for Vietnamese disadvantaged children. 

He hopes for Vietnam’s further support for its future programmes, thus helping more children.

PM gives Tet gifts to needy workers, ethnic people in Dak Lak

PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc visits and presents Tet gifts to needy workers ​in Dak Lak. 

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on February 8 visited and presented Tet gifts to over 100 needy workers in the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak. 

The PM hailed the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour and local enterprises for taking care of local labourers, including organising Tet celebrations for poor workers.

He urged the agency to check disadvantaged workers nationwide and Dak Lak in particular to offer timely assistance for them, ensuring they will have a happy traditional Lunar New Year (Tet).

The PM also requested the confederation to develop social houses for workers and kindergartens for their children, thus sharing their difficulties.

The same day, Prime Minister Phuc also visited and presented Tet gifts to social policy beneficiaries and ethnic minority households in Kram village, Ea Tieu commune, Co Kuin district.

Ea Tieu is home to over 4,700 households in 12 ethnic people, mainly living on growing coffee and pepper trees, with the average annual income per capita of 32 million VND (1,400 USD).

The commune has 307 poor households and 546 other near the poverty line. It has completed 13 out of 19 criteria of the new-style rural area building programme.

The PM requested local authorities to ensure all residents will enjoy the traditional festival.

While in Ea Tieu commune, the Government leader also paid pre-Tet visits to Vietnamese Heroic Mothers Nguyen Thi Huong and Nguyen Thi Dom, and local former leaders.

Lao ambassador congratulates CPV on founding anniversary

Lao Ambassador to China Vandy Bouthasavong (L) presents flowers to Vietnamese Ambassador Dang Minh Khoi 

Lao Ambassador to China Vandy Bouthasavong has visited the Vietnamese embassy in China and congratulated its staff on the 88th founding anniversary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and the upcoming Lunar New Year (Tet) festival. 

During their meeting on February 8 in Beijing, Vandy Bouthasavong and Vietnamese Ambassador Dang Minh Khoi highlighted the historical significance of the formation of the CPV, saying that the event created a turning point in the development of relations between the two countries. 

The Vietnamese diplomat thanked the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party, State and people for their strong support and solidarity for the struggles for national liberation of Vietnam in the past as well as the country’s national construction and development at present. 

Meanwhile, Vandy Bouthasavong said the establishment of the CPV had great significance for the people of both countries. 

​She also expressed gratitude to the Vietnamese Party, State and people for their assistance to her country, affirming that the traditional friendship between the two nations will be maintained and developed sustainably. 

The two ambassadors showed their joy at socio-economic development achievements in each country, and the fruitful development of the bilateral relations. 

They said the success of the 40th meeting of the Vietnam-Laos Intergovernmental Committee has created a foundation for the two countries to implement cooperation plans between the two governments in 2018 and the Vietnam-Laos Bilateral Cooperation Agreement in 2016-2020. 

Ambassador Khoi suggested a series of exchange activities between the two embassies in the coming time, especially those for young diplomats and Vietnamese and Lao students studying in Beijing. 

For her part, Vandy Bouthasavong said she applauded the proposal.

Party chief hosts outgoing Chinese ambassador

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong and the outgoing Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam Hong Xiaoyong 

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong has appreciated the important contributions of outgoing Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam Hong Xiaoyong to the bilateral relations in recent years.

During a reception for the ambassador in Hanoi on February 8, the Party chief especially hailed the diplomat for his efforts to expand cooperation among sectors and localities of the two countries as well as people-to-people exchanges. 

He called on the two countries to effectively implement agreements reached by the two nations, and asked the ambassador to continue contributing to the Vietnam-China traditional friendship and strategic cooperative partnership. 

For his part, Hong Xiaoyong thanked leaders of the Vietnamese Party and State, and those from ministries, sectors and localities for their great support for him during his tenure in Vietnam. 

He expressed his impression of Vietnam’s great achievements across fields, as well as the fruitful development of the relations between the two Parties and States. 

He affirmed that China wants to together with Vietnam continue promoting political trust and practical cooperation in all fields, expanding people-to-people exchange, and reinforcing the friendship for mutual benefit and development in the interest of the two peoples.

Evangelical Church offers Tet greetings to Party commission

At the reception

A delegation of the Evangelical Church of Vietnam (North) (ECVN North) visited the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Mass Mobilisation in Hanoi on February 8 ahead of the Lunar New Year festival (Tet).

Chairwoman of the commission Truong Thi Mai said her commission highly values its relations with the ECVN North. She also congratulated the Church on developing six more organisations in northern Thai Nguyen and Yen Bai provinces.

Mai also appreciated the ECVN North executive board and Pastor Nguyen Huu Mac, head of the ECVN North, for encouraging Protestant followers and dignitaries to take part in patriotic emulation movements launched by the Vietnam Fatherland Front and socio-political organisations.

The Party official called for the Church’s continuation of support and cooperation in the mass mobilization work.

Pastor Nguyen Huu Mac said the ECVN North recorded many successful activities in 2017, thanks to the great assistance from the Mass Mobilisation Commission and relevant agencies, thereby enhancing Protestant followers’ trust in the Party’s policies and the State’s law.

He offered Tet greetings to the commission and wished them many successes in 2018.

HCMC needs support of int’l partners

The Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee held a meeting with representatives of diplomatic agencies, international and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in the city on the upcoming lunar New Year. 

Attending in the reception were the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Chairman Nguyen Thanh Phong, the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Council Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Quyet Tam, President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee in Ho Chi Minh City To Thi Bich Chau, Consuls General and representatives of foreign and organizations in the city. 

Speaking at the meeting, Chairman Nguyen Thanh Phong introduced the country’s outstanding achievements including Ho Chi Minh City in all fields last year. 

The city’s diplomatic activities in 2017 were actively implemented to ensure efficiencies and overall of diplomatic channels of Party, authorities and people as well as comprehensiveness of political, economic, culture diplomacies…

Chairman Nguyen Thanh Phong affirmed that Ho Chi Minh City made efforts to strengthen and deepen relationship with the localities having friendship and cooperation ties, twinned localities with Ho Chi Minh City. 

The National Assembly approved Resolution No. 54 about special development mechanisms and policies of Ho Chi Minh City. On November 26, 2017, the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee announced project of “Building Ho Chi Minh City to be a smart city in the period of 2017- 2020 and vision by 2025”, added Mr. Phong. 

The city leader also affirmed that support and belief of Party, State in combination with determination of the city authorities and people as well as assistance of international friends, Ho Chi Minh City will successfully carry out the resolution No. 54 of the National Assembly as well as projects relating to turn the city into a smart city and hub of living, civilization and modernity.

In order to effectively adopt the content, the city needed to receive supports of international partners and friends.

On the same day, around 100 overseas Vietnamese joined in a cultural activity to welcome the Year of the dog in Minh Tran Garden (Tan Binh district).

Earlier, more than 50 overseas Vietnamese inaugurated two rural bridges in Cho Moi district, An Giang province. 

NA Vice Chairwoman hails contributions of overseas Vietnamese teachers

NA Chairwoman Tong Thi Phong speaking at the reception (Credit: quehuongonline.vn) 

Politburo member and Vice Chairwoman of National Assembly (NA) Tong Thi Phong appreciated the contributions made by overseas Vietnamese in Thailand, particularly teachers, to the nation’s development.

At a reception in Hanoi on February 8 for a delegation of former overseas Vietnamese teachers in Thailand, NA Chairwoman Phong spoke of the highly valued State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs’ organisation of meetings for former overseas Vietnamese.

She also hailed the expatriates’ efforts in preserving and promoting Vietnamese culture and language in Thailand.

The NA Vice Chairwoman emphasised that the Party and Sate have always considered the overseas Vietnamese community as an indispensable part of the nation as well as an important resource for the country’s development.

She expressed her hopes that former teachers and overseas Vietnamese in Thailand would continue to uphold patriotism and strengthen national unity while contributing to the development of the friendship between the two countries.

Former overseas Vietnamese teachers in Thailand expressed their pleasure at the positive changes and development of the country in all fields, affirming that they will make ever greater efforts to preserve Vietnamese in their host country.