PM: Vietnam treasures strategic partnership with Japan

Vietnam treasures its strategic partnership with Japan and considers Japan an important and long-term partner, said Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) presents a souvenir to Fumio Kishida, Chairman of the Policy Research Council of the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan

PM Phuc made the remark while receiving Fumio Kishida, Chairman of the Policy Research Council of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) of Japan, in Hanoi on May 4. 

The PM stressed that since its inception 45 years ago, Vietnam-Japan relations have recorded comprehensive, strong and practical growth in all fields, while political trust between the two nations stays at high level. 

He thanked Kishida for his contributions to the bilateral ties when he worked as Foreign Minister and Secretary-General of the Japan-Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Alliance, expecting that Kishida will continue his support to the bilateral cooperation.

For his part, the Japanese official said he was happy to see that Japan has become a leading foreign investor in Vietnam again with a record number of over 1,700 businesses investing in the Southeast Asian country.

Praising Vietnam’s economic growth of 6.81 percent last year, he said Japan wants to contribute to the country’s infrastructure development, including urban railway projects in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

Japanese companies are very interested in the Vietnamese market, Kishida said, adding that Vietnam and Japan should strengthen their cooperation in regional and international matters.

PM Phuc said the room for bilateral collaboration remains large, suggesting the countries enhance political trust by increasing the exchange of delegations, particularly high-level delegations, and deepening ties between their parties and parliaments.

He suggested the two sides coordinate in organizing activities to celebrate the 45th founding of diplomatic ties in 2018, and increase people-to-people and cultural exchanges between their localities to boost mutual understanding.

Having thanked Japan for its effective support to the Vietnamese economy via its official development assistance (ODA), PM Phuc said Vietnam attaches importance to the funds and spares no efforts to carry out its ODA commitments with Japan.

He went on to say that Vietnam wants to continue using Japanese ODA in building major infrastructure projects and training human resources in response to climate change.

The government leader hoped that Japan will maintain its position as the top foreign investor, and invest more in the local supporting industry, new energy,  processing industry, and high-tech agriculture.

The PM recommended the two countries push up bilateral trade, and asked the Japanese side to assist Vietnam in improving the quality of goods and logistics services, and create favourable conditions for Vietnamese fruits and aquatic products to enter the Japanese market.

PM Phuc and Kishida also spent time discussing the maintenance of security, peace and stability in the region.

LDP official: Vietnam’s development important to Japan

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh (R) receives Chairman of the Policy Research Council of the Japanese Liberal Democratic Party Fumio Kishida on May 4 

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh hosted a reception in Hanoi on May 4 for Chairman of the Policy Research Council of the Japanese Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Fumio Kishida, who said Vietnam’s development is important to his country and regional connectivity.

Deputy PM Minh expressed his delight at the strong, comprehensive and practical development of the Vietnam-Japan extensive strategic partnership, noting that the two countries’ political trust has been increasingly reinforced through frequent meetings between their leaders, especially five mutual visits by senior leaders of the countries in 2017. Economic cooperation has continued its vigorous development trend and is a highlight in bilateral relations, he said.

The Deputy PM appreciated Japan’s support for socio-economic development and competitiveness improvement of Vietnam through official development assistance (ODA) and fruitful investment projects.

Minh and the Japanese delegation also exchanged in-depth opinions about Japanese ODA-funded projects in Vietnam. The host affirmed the Vietnamese Government’s consistent policy of effectively and reasonably using ODA capital.

For his part, Kishida noted with satisfaction the thriving Vietnam-Japan relations over the past 45 years, including increasing meetings between their senior leaders.

He spoke highly of Vietnam’s economic development achievements, noting that Japan is ready to continue supporting Vietnam to boost socio-economic development, including building high-quality infrastructure, training manpower, and increasing Japanese investments in the Southeast Asian nation.

At the meeting, the two sides also exchanged views on international and regional issues of mutual concern, including the Korean Peninsula situation and the East Sea issue.

Kishida highly valued Vietnam’s successful organisation of the APEC Year 2017 and its meaningful contributions to global trade liberalisation and maintenance of multilateral trade regimes.

He also thanked Vietnam for its close and active cooperation in the negotiations and signing of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), hoping that the two sides will speed up internal procedures so that the deal can take effect soon.

Deputy PM Minh affirmed that, as the coordinator for ASEAN-Japan relations, Vietnam will coordinate closely with Japan to strengthen cooperation between ASEAN and Japan in a result-oriented manner. He also called on Japan to support Vietnam’s ASEAN Chairmanship in 2020.

Party official: CPV-LDP cooperation crucial to Vietnam-Japan ties

Politburo member and Chairman of the CPV Central Committee’s Organisation Commission Pham Minh Chinh (R) welcomes Chairman of the LDP’s Policy Research Council Fumio Kishida on May 4 

Cooperative relations between the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) of Japan play a very important role in promoting political trust and cooperation between the two countries, Politburo member, Chairman of the CPV Central Committee’s Organisation Commission Pham Minh Chinh has said.

Chinh, who is also Secretary of the CPV Central Committee and President of the Vietnam-Japan Parliamentary Friendship Group, had a meeting with Chairman of the LDP’s Policy Research Council Fumio Kishida, who is on a working visit to Vietnam, in Hanoi on May 4.

Chinh highly valued Kishida’s role as Foreign Minister of Japan in the past as well as Chairman of the LDP’s Policy Research Council and Secretary General of the Japan-Vietnam Friendship Association at present when he has been working to enhance relations between the two countries as well as between the two ruling parties.

The year 2018 marks the 45th founding anniversary of Vietnam-Japan diplomatic ties, and Vietnam is doing its utmost to organise meaningful and effective celebrations, he said.

The Vietnamese official noted the cooperation between the Vietnam-Japan Parliamentary Friendship Group and the Japan-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentary Alliance has been developing fruitfully. Vietnam will increase exchanges between the countries’ people as well as young and female parliamentarians in the time ahead, he said.

Sharing the view on flourishing bilateral ties, Kishida expressed his hope that as Chairman of the Vietnam-Japan Parliamentary Friendship Group, Chinh will continue supporting connections between the two countries and their parliamentarians.

He also asked his host to help provide more favourable conditions for Japan to effectively implement its investment projects in Vietnam.

Vietnam seeks Japan’s experiences in environmental protection

President of the Vietnam-Japan Friendship Parliamentarians’ Group Pham Minh Chinh (R) shakes hands with Japanese Deputy Minister of Environment Arata Takebe, who is also Deputy Secretary-General of the Japan-Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Alliance 

Politburo member Pham Minh Chinh, President of the Vietnam-Japan Friendship Parliamentarians’ Group, hosted a reception in Hanoi on May 4 for Japanese Deputy Minister of Environment Arata Takebe, who is also Deputy Secretary-General of the Japan-Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Alliance.

Chinh, who is also Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee (CPVCC) and Chairman of the CPVCC’s Organisation Commission, said he was happy to see that relations between the two countries’ parliamentarians and the Vietnam-Japan Friendship Parliamentarians’ Group and the Japan-Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Alliance have been nurtured through many generations.

He said Vietnam-Japan ties have enjoyed strong development with increasing trust between high-ranking officials of the two countries, adding that close cooperation between the two nation’s friendship parliamentarian groups in recent years has brought in successes. 

The two sides have jointly organised various cultural exchange activities in both countries and lifted up their voice in fostering bilateral cooperation in key areas, including economy, trade, investment, agriculture, security, defence and education-training, he added.

Chinh also expressed his hope that Japan will share experiences in environmental protection to assist Vietnam’s sustainable development, as well as provide support in researching and forecasting the impacts of environment and climate change to the country’s growth.

For his part, Arata Takebe said the two countries have been cooperating fruitfully in many fields. 

He affirmed that Japan is willing to share experiences to help Vietnam handle social and environmental issues during its development process.

NA Chairwoman meets voters in Can Tho city

National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan speaks at the meeting with voters in An Binh ward, Ninh Kieu district, the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho 

National Assembly (NA) Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan on May 4 met with constituents in An Binh ward, Ninh Kieu district, the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho.

The voters were briefed on the planned agenda of the 14th NA’s 5th session and a report on Can Tho NA deputies’ activities since the conclusion of the legislature’s 4th session.

The NA leader heard comments and queries from seven local voters, and voiced her agreement with answers given by Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Vo Thanh Thong regarding questions on the city’s social-economic affairs.

Concerning a comment on renewing textbooks by Cao Van Tu, a local resident, Ngan said the NA had organised a Q&A session for the Minister of Education and Training, while the State had assigned an expert council to compiling the textbooks.

After years of reform, the State is now pursuing a policy of considering education and science-technology as a top national policy and prioritising investment in this field, she added.

Replying to concerns over school violence and negative interactions between teachers – students and teachers – parents, the NA leader recalled a number of relevant stories that are not in line Vietnam’s laws and traditional ethics, saying that are responsibilities of families, schools, and society in addressing the issue and in educating younger generations.

Ngan agreed with a proposal on increasing visits to localities by officials, saying it is also an activity prioritised by the Party. She said meeting voters is one of the jobs of NA deputies to better understand local people’s living conditions and aspirations, thus advising the Party and State to issue suitable legal regulations and policies.

Answering a query on the withdrawal of corrupt assets, Ngan said the NA is revising the anti-corruption law so that punishments would be imposed on right people for right violations and lost assets would be recovered.

On the occasion, Ngan revealed that the NA is completing a legal framework, under which officials with violations will bear responsibility for their wrongdoings even after quitting their positions or retiring.

Ngan informed the voters on punishments for involvements in making and trading fake goods; law-building amid global integration; and the NA’s responsibility in monitoring the enforcement of the Law on Environmental Protection.

She also mentioned the Politburo’s conclusion aiming at building Can Tho into a smart and modern city to drive growth in the Mekong Delta region.

Vietnam, China look towards closer judicial relations

Delegates pose for a group photo 

Chief Justice of the Supreme People’s Court Nguyen Hoa Binh is on a visit to China from May 3-5 at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart Zhou Qiang to boost the Vietnam-China judicial relations.

On May 3, he paid a courtesy visit to Guo Shengkun, Secretary of the Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission of the Communist Party of China, who affirmed his support for strengthened cooperation between the judiciary bodies of the two countries. He said he hopes that the ties will become an exemplary partnership.

Binh, for his part, congratulated the Communist Party of China (CPC) and Chinese people on great achievements they made over the four decades of reform, particularly since the Party’s 18th Congress. He also lauded the success of the CPC’s 19th Congress.

Vietnam always attaches great importance to the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership with China and strives to further expand the long-standing relations between the two Parties and States, the Vietnamese chief justice said.

Later on the day, Binh held talks with Zhou Qiang, President of the Supreme People’s Court, which which he briefed on what Vietnam has achieved in judicial reform in recent years. He also proposed the two sides step up their bilateral cooperation in justice, information technology application and personnel training; and exchange experience in developing a national monitoring committee, corruption combat and e-court.

Welcoming Binh to visit China, Zhou recalled the milestones in the two supreme courts’ partnership and outlined positive changes of China’s judicial system alongside challenges it is facing in the new context.

He agreed to foster and deepen the bilateral ties in exchange of judicial precedents, training of judges and application of information technology.

At the end of the talks, the two chief justices inked a new Memorandum of Understanding between their agencies to lay a foundation for increased partnership in the time ahead.

Marxism bears eternal value for world and Vietnam revolution

Nguyen Xuan Thang, Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee, Chairman of the Central Theoretical Council and Director of the Ho Chi Minh National Political Academy, speaks at the workshop. 

The scientific and revolutionary values of Karl Marx’s ideological heritage and the significance of Marxism to the world and Vietnam revolution were reiterated at an international scientific workshop held in Hanoi on May 4, on the occasion of Marx’s 200th birth anniversary (May 5). 

Nguyen Xuan Thang, Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee, Chairman of the Central Theoretical Council and Director of the Ho Chi Minh National Political Academy, stressed that the life and ideological heritage of Karl Marx have gone down in history, putting him among the greatest men of human kind. 

According to Thang, among Marx’s huge theoretical heritage, the first to be mentioned is the dialectic materialism and historical materialism, which gave the progressive humankind, especially the working class, a great tool to gain awareness about and transform the world. This meant Marx had carried out a revolution in the entire perception of the world history, as for the first time in history, development rules of human society were discovered, integrated and presented in a systematic manner. Thanks to this, humankind for the first time had a fairly complete theory on development.

Thang said utilising dialectic materialism and historical materialism in researching the capitalist mode of production, Karl Marx outlined economic rules of the capitalist society and examined capitalism from its birth through its development to its annihilation. Another great discovery of Marx is the rule of surplus value, which is considered the “cornerstone “ of Marxism as a whole.  

With those two great scientific discoveries, Marx laid a firm foundation for the realization of the ideology on scientific socialism – the theory on liberating the working class and humankind as a whole from all forms of slavery, oppression, exploitation and depravity. 

Applying Marxism’s principles to the specific situation in Russia, V. I. Lenin further developed Marxism into Marxism-Leninism and brought about the success of the October Revolution in 1917.  

In Vietnam, President Ho Chi Minh also employed and developed Marxism-Leninism in a creative manner to suit Vietnam’s situation. Marxism-Leninism and Ho Chi Minh Thought have become the ideological foundation of the Communist Party of Vietnam and served as the lodestar for Vietnam’s revolution. 

The Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) has led the Vietnamese people and nation in successfully conducting a revolution, persistently pursuing the goals of national independence and socialism. From an underdeveloped country, Vietnam has now entered a period of industrialization, modernization and international integration. The country’s position and role in the regional and global arena has been rising.

 “The historic accomplishments of the more than 30 years of renewal again testify to the sustained vitality of Marxism-Leninism and Ho Chi Minh Thought, and the correctness of the CPV’s guideline on building socialism,” Thang said. 

He affirmed that Marxism and Marxism-Leninism has and will be the torch for Vietnam revolution in the new era. 

In his paper presented at the workshop, Professor-Doctor Bunthua Khuamisay from the Lao National Political and Administrative Academy said Marxism is the most complete and solid theory, which proves that the cause of humankind liberation is the cause of the working class, and the liberation of the working class is the core of humankind liberation. 

He stressed that ever since its foundation, the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party has made Marxism-Leninism its ideological and theoretical foundation, and the lodestar for Laos’ Revolution. Therefore, the research of and application of Marxism-Leninism is of utmost importance to the country.

The workshop’s organising board received nearly 100 research papers, including 26 from international scholars. The papers affirmed the scientific and revolutionary values of Marxism, laying stress on the creative application and development of Marxism in current socialist countries. They said important achievements, both theoretical and practical, in socialist countries have proved the correctness and vitality of Marxism in the present era.

Top legislator clears up concerns of voters in Can Tho

NA Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan speaks 

Chairwoman of the Vietnamese National Assembly Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan listened to opinions and proposals on various issues raised by voters in My Khanh commune, Phong Dien district, the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho, on May 4. 

At the meeting, which took place ahead of the fifth session of the 14th National Assembly slated for mid-May, the voters expressed their concern over food hygiene and safety and counterfeit products, and voiced their views on the construction of dykes along Can Tho River, pension, public health care, personnel streamlining procedures, tourism development policies and the upgrade of Lo Vong Cung (arc-shaped road) into a national historical relic site. 

Responding to proposals on building dykes along the eroded banks of Can Tho River in My Khanh commune, NA Chairwoman Ngan said a project on building dykes of Can Tho River and developing tourism is in the pipeline, scheduled to be implemented in 2019 with total investment of some 500 billion VND (22 million USD) sourced from official development assistance (ODA). 

Applauding proposals on rolling out a common set of criteria for ecological urban areas, the chief legislator said she will urge the Construction Ministry to coordinate with competent ministries and agencies to work on this issue. 

She also pledged to suggest the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development help Phong Dien district tap its potential and strength to become an ecological tourism region. 

To turn tourism into a spearhead economic sector, the locality as well as its people should improve awareness of tourism development while employing diverse methods to attract tourists, she said. 

The top legislator informed the voters that the upcoming seventh plenum of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee will look into wage and social insurance reform, including pension.

Marxism-Leninism’s role in Vietnam’s development highlighted

An overview of the seminar (Source: qdnd.vn)

Contributions of Marxism-Leninism to Vietnam’s nation building and safeguarding cause have been spotlighted at a seminar held in Hanoi on May 3 on the occasion of the 200th birth anniversary of German philosopher Karl Marx (May 5).

Seventy reports delivered at the event showed the enthusiasm and responsibility of scientists for the research, protection and development of Marxism-Leninism.

The reports focused on the historical values and significance of Marxism-Leninism, the role of Marxism-Leninism in Vietnam’s nation building and safeguarding cause, and the role of the army in protecting and promoting Marxism-Leninism.

Scientists agreed that the Marxism-Leninism’s values remain at present.

The Marxism-Leninism served as the beacon for Vietnam’s revolution for national liberation, and building of socialism.