NA Standing Committee convenes 8th session

The 8th session of the National Assembly Standing Committee opened in Hanoi on May 4.

In his opening speech, NA Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung stated that the two-day session will focus on discussing preparations for the third sitting of the 13 th National Assembly and issues relating to State budget and Government bonds.

On the first day of the event, the NA Standing Committee discussed the allocation of 5.5 trillion VND worth of Government bonds for irrigational projects and adding new projects to the list of projects using Government bonds in the 2012-2015 period.

Committee members also discussed the Government report on specific targets, tasks, time of implementation and resources for component projects of the 2011-2015 National Target Programme.

They commented on the mapping of the NA law building programme in 2013 and adjustments to the programmes in 2012 and the whole 13 th tenure.

On the second day, the committee plans to discuss a project to continue modernising and improving the quality and efficiency of NA operations and consider the adoption of a resolution on the implementation of policies for people who rendered services to the nation.

Party leader meets Hanoi voters

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong on May 4 met with voters in the Hanoi districts of Ba Dinh and Hoan Kiem to discuss the National Assembly’s upcoming third session, scheduled to open on May 21, and hear their opinions and complaints.

At the meetings, voters agreed that supervision needs to be enhanced through Q & A sessions and hearings at NA committees, contributing to improving efficiency and effectiveness of NA operations.

Many voters said they want the NA to renew the methods of keeping contacts with voters, improve the efficiency of supreme supervision and ensure the quality of law making and the prompt execution of promulgated laws.

They gave opinions on urban order management, traffic safety and congestion, land use and management, the quality of tertiary and preschool education, job generation, prices, medical services, food safety and hygiene, environmental protection and the rich-poor gap.

On fighting corruption, the voters valued measures and efforts by the Party and State, saying that the anti-corruption agency should be independent and corruption cases should be solve in a timely and drastic manner.

They hailed the issuance of the Party Central Committee’s Resolution 4 on urgent issues regarding Party building and said the resolution is expected to be implemented seriously, creating drastic changes in reality.

General Secretary Trong held frank discussions with voters on issues of concern and took note of their opinions and recommendations.

He affirmed the Party’s high resolve to carry out the resolution and stressed that the entire Party, society and political system must become involved in this task.

Deputy Prime Minister meets Lao guest

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on May 4 hosted a reception for Lao Minister of Industry and Commerce Nam Viyaketh on his working visit to Vietnam.

Deputy Prime Minister Phuc affirmed that the Vietnamese Government always attaches importance to the special friendship with Laos , adding that that Vietnam will continue to further strengthen its comprehensive cooperation with Laos, especially in economics and trade.

He also asked the Lao minister to facilitate investment and business activities of Vietnamese enterprises in Laos .

Minister Nam Viyaketh said that his visit to Vietnam aims to foster trade cooperation with Vietnam and affirmed that the Lao Government will continue providing favourable conditions for Vietnam ’s enterprises to invest in Laos .

He informed Phuc about the results of his working meetings with Vietnamese ministries and sectors, which set a target of US$1 billion in bilateral trade turnover between Vietnam and Lao this year and $2 billion by 2015.

The Lao minister highly valued Vietnam ’s enterprises for their contributions to Laos’ economic growth and the implementation of social welfare activities and poverty reduction in the country.

State President sends condolences to Russia

President Truong Tan Sang on May 4 extended his condolences to Russia President Dimitri Medvedev over the terrorist bomb attack in the country’s Dagestan region.

The two blasts took place on May 3, killing about 14 people and leaving at least 120 wounded.