NA discusses revising Civil Code, civil rights

Top lawmakers agreed that it was necessary to have a regulation on protecting civil rights through an authorised agency when discussing the revised Civil Code on October 15.

Speaking at the discussion session on the fourth day of the on-going 42th National Assembly’s Standing Committee meeting, the National Assembly (NA) deputies said that the move would help institutionalise the national Constitution's regulations on protecting and ensuring human rights and citizens' rights.

The revised Civil Code, one of the most important laws in Vietnam's legal framework, is expected to be approved at the upcoming month-long 10th National Assembly meeting by the end of this month.

The standing committee deputies also agreed that gender transformation would be conducted following laws and transgender individuals had the right and obligation to register for changes in personal records as well as personal rights in accordance with their gender under relevant laws.

At the meeting on October 15, lawmakers decided to drop the stipulation that the full name of an individual must not exceed 25 letters, saying that the regulation limited human rights.

Debate was heated when discussing the interest rate in contracts for property loans as the law compiling board proposed keeping the basic interest rate for reference while the examining board wanted to use the fixed interest rate instead.

Some others proposed to use the re-financing interest rate, inter-bank interest rate, Government bond interest rate or interest rate of some large commercial banks for reference.

Chairman of the NA's Finance and Budget Committee, Phung Quoc Hien, said that using the fixed interest rate was a good choice but also noted that in case of high inflation, the leaser would suffer losses due to currency devaluation. 

Meanwhile, Deputy Minister of Finance Dinh Trung Tung disagreed, saying that the previous civil codes ratified in 1995 and 2005 all used the basic interest rate.

Tung agreed with Hien on the point that using a fixed interest rate would not be flexible in the case of increasing inflation but the law cannot follow.

Facing different opinions, NA Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung asked the compiling board and the examining board to carefully consider and discuss further before submitting to the NA meeting.

People-to-people diplomacy requires new conception

Participants at a conference hosted by the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) discussed how to reform and develop people-to-people diplomacy in the context of international integration in Hanoi on October 15. 

In his remarks, VUFO President Vu Xuan Hong affirmed that people-to-people diplomacy was an important part of international relations, since it meant the mobilisation of those at home and abroad for the cause of national construction and defence. 

Over the past 65 years, the association has made big strides, contributing significantly to diplomatic work, the Doi Moi (reform) process, national construction and defence, Hong said. 

Carrying forward its achievements, the association has expanded its international friendship and improved the efficiency of diplomatic activities in the spheres of peace, solidarity, friendship and cooperation among citizens, Hong noted. 

Apart from accelerating the mobilisation of donations, the association has worked to manage the operation of non-governmental organisations, he said. 

Vu Mao, former head of the National Assembly’s Committee for External Relations and President of the Vietnam-Cambodia Friendship Association, said in his speech that international integration required a new conception of diplomacy and people-to-people diplomacy, as well as renovations in their operations. 

He stressed the need to increase scientific research and theory-building on people-to-people diplomacy, and better mobilise the involvement of overseas Vietnamese in national construction and defence, boosting cooperation between Vietnam and other nations. 

At the conference, Chairman of the Vietnam-US Society Nguyen Tam Chien described Vietnam’s diplomacy as comprehensive in the new period. 

He suggested the country diversify and improve the efficiency of its people-to-people diplomacy, so it could consolidate the country’s position in the world arena on the basis of sustainable and rapid development, as well as settle challenges facing national security and sovereignty. 

The conference heard nearly 20 reports, which all focused on ways to boost people-to-people diplomacy amid international integration.-

Vice President asks for Lao NA’s support of Vietnamese investors

Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan asked Lao National Assembly (NA) Vice Chairman Saysomphone Phomvihane if the Lao legislative body would back adjustments to certain laws supporting Vietnamese investors during a meeting in Vientiane on October 16. 

Vice President Doan also urged the Lao NA to create favourable conditions for the Vietnamese community to apply for Lao citizenship and permanent resident permits. 

She spoke highly of the role that the Lao NA plays in the country’s construction, development and law-building. She also expressed her belief that the Lao people would fulfill all targets set at the ninth Party Congress and successfully organise the 10th congress in 2016. 

The two sides affirmed that the two Parties, States, NAs and peoples always attached much importance to and gave the highest priority to fostering the countries’ traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive co-operation. 

The relationship was a priceless treasure and a vital aspect of the nations’ development, they said. 

Both sides expressed pleasure at growing bilateral ties in all fields, including close co-ordination between the two legislative bodies, especially during the recent organisation of regional and international inter-parliamentary events. 

Vice President Doan lauded the fruitful outcomes of Lao NA Chairwoman Pany Yathotu’s visit to Vietnam for the 132 nd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union in late March and early April this year. 

The two sides also agreed on the need to continue exchanging high-ranking delegations and increasing meetings between top legislators, strengthening collaboration between the two NAs in supervising and creating favourable legal conditions for joint projects. 

It was also necessary to foster partnerships and share experiences in law-making, while continuing to promote mutual support at regional and international parliamentary forums, they said. 

Also on October 16, Vice President Doan laid a wreath at the monument of unknown martyrs in Vientiane . She then visited the School for Gifted and Ethnic Minority Students, a present from the Vietnamese Government that became operational in 2007 with nearly 500 students, and a vocational training centre for women with disabilities.

Kien Giang urged to develop tourism as economic spearhead

The southern province of Kien Giang should develop tourism as its local economic spearhead, while cooperating with other localities in the Mekong Delta in socio-economic development.

Speaking at the province’s 10th Party Congress on October 16, Politburo member and permanent member of the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat Le Hong Anh suggested Kien Giang pay heed to developing its marine economy – especially sea and island tourism.

It is necessary to expand export markets and expedite the implementation of projects to deal with climate change and sea level rise, he said.

He urged local authorities to facilitate the completion of the Phu Quoc Economic Zone project and develop Phu Quoc island district into a tourism hub, which is expected to create new momentum for development in the province and the whole Mekong Delta region.

The province should pay more attention to improving the living standards of people in the border, island, remote and ethnic minority areas, while consolidating defence and security, and maintaining political stability, social order and safety, he noted.

Kien Giang was told to build border lines of peace and friendship with Cambodia, particularly bordering Cambodian provinces, to boost socio-economic development and safeguard the nation’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

According to a political report delivered at the congress, the province’s economy recorded annual average growth of 10.53 percent. In 2015, its per capita income reached over 2,500 USD, twice that of 2010.

Kien Giang has boosted investment in tourism, especially on Phu Quoc island, to post a 17.79 percent increase in the number of tourists and a 43 percent rise in revenue per year.

The sea-based economy accounts for 75.6 percent of the local gross domestic product (GDP).

The province has completed many key projects such as the Phu Quoc International Airport, roads to Phu Quoc and Hon Tre islands, and the Cai Lon and Cai Be bridges.

More than 97 percent of local households are connected to the national grid and more than 96 percent use clean water.

The locality has attracted more than 38 foreign direct investment projects worth over 2.92 billion USD, meaning it ranks second in the delta.

The poverty rate has fallen to 2.73 percent, and more than 33,000 people have been given jobs annually.

People’s Public Security Force devotes to national successes: PM

The People’s Public Security Force has contributed significantly to Vietnam’s achievements over the last five years, Politburo member and Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung said at the Central Public Security Party Organisation’s sixth congress. 

Opening the congress in Hanoi on October 16, General Tran Dai Quang, Politburo member, Secretary of the Central Public Security Party Committee and Minister of Public Security, said despite complex developments in the region and the world during the last five years, the force’s Party Committee has succeeded in fulfilling goals and missions set in the resolution from the Central Public Security Party Organisation’s fifth congress. 

The two-day event, attended by 369 delegates representing staff and Party members of the Central Public Security Party Organisation, will review achievements and shortcomings in the implementation of the Party Organisation’s fifth congress resolution while setting up goals and missions for the 2015 – 2020 term. 

It will also examine the Central Public Security Party Committee’s leadership between 2010 and 2015 and give opinions on draft documents to be submitted to the 12th National Party Congress, slated for early next year. 

In his speech, PM Dung said the force has been completely faithful to the Party, Fatherland and people. It has made active and accurate forecasts and proposed a number of solutions and strategies regarding security, order and socio-economic development to the Party and State, thus helping safeguard national security and sovereignty. 

The force has employed comprehensive measures to ensure social security and order, defeat sabotage plots from hostile forces and guarantee complete safety for important political events, he added. 

According to the PM, the Public Security Force has been cooperating effectively with ministries, sectors and localities, especially the People’s Army, to step up the ‘All People Protect National Security’ movement. It has also made improvements in the solidification of the Party and People’s Public Security Force. 

Underlining major opportunities and challenges facing the country, region and world currently, the Government leader called for national unity to optimise accomplishments, remove flaws and weather difficulties to build and firmly safeguard the socialist nation of Vietnam. 

He told the Central Public Security Party Committee to reinforce the force’s complete faith to the Party. The committee should also increase the quality of situation analyses and forecasts, strengthen political security and social order, and fight terrorist and riot schemes, ultimately assuring national security in order to serve the country’s international integration and development. 

The Central Public Security Party Organisation must focus on building the Party and a pure, strong and capable Public Security Force, he noted. 

The leader also requested that the force expand cooperation with foreign security, intelligence and police forces and organisations on crime and terrorist prevention. It should also learn from its partners’ experience, take part in regional and global security mechanisms, and actively engage in solving global security issues. 

Better international cooperation would also help the Public Security Force prevent sabotage schemes and intensify Vietnam’s relations with other nations, PM Dung stated.-

VNA