Hanoi asks for more vigilance against terrorism

The capital city's steering committee for preventing and fighting terrorism held a conference yesterday to boost the implementation of the Law on Terrorism.

The conference also provided information on the Penal Code, with the anti-terrorism adjustments and supplements issued in 2009.

Representatives from city's local authorities and those from related sectors that have services and organisations in Ha Noi, have been provided concrete guidelines for the implementation of the law.

These sectors include districts and communes with key economic and industrial zones, large hospitals, universities and culture and sports centres, as well as railway stations and major bus stations.

At the conference, speakers from the public security ministry (MoPS) presented key points of the law, including the ASEAN convention on terrorism and the law on fighting and preventing terrorism, approved by the National Assembly in June 2013 and put into effect in October 2013.

The law was formulated based on the government and party's institution, with goals to maintain national security and social safety in the doi moi era.

The MoPS also held a conference in January to review the police sector's performance in detecting and preventing sabotage or terrorist acts in 2014, and to discuss the tasks for 2015.

MoPS Minister General Tran Dai Quang called on police forces in Ha Noi to be more alert to prevent acts from hostile forces, both at home and abroad.

The police force should focus on preventing foreign special agencies' activities that are aimed at planting their agents in Vietnamese agencies, collecting State secrets, or causing psychological wars that serve their interests, Minister Quang said.

All police units must closely coordinate with military and other forces to fulfil their tasks of maintaining social safety and order.

The public security units should also step up actions against wrong and distorted allegations from hostile and reactionary forces, as well as prevent and fight psychological wars launched by such forces, General Quang said.

Vietnam attends regional forum to counter extremism

An ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) on fighting extremism was convened in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on March 25.

The event was co-hosted by Malaysia and Japan and designed to evaluate methods to counter extremism based on the experience of ARF participating country members.

The event included over 100 delegates including policy makers, lawyers, scholars and senior commissioned officials working in anti-terrorism from 20 countries.

Senior Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen The Cuong from the Hanoi Police led the Vietnamese delegation.

The event was organised as Malaysia chairs the ASEAN this year and a part of the host’s commitment to the Hanoi Plan of Action to carry out the ARF Vision.

The outcomes from the meeting will be presented at the 22 nd ARF meeting, scheduled to open in Malaysia in the third quarter this year.

US war veterans visit Viet Nam

President of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) Vu Xuan Hong welcomed a delegation from the US Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) in Ha Noi yesterday.

At the reception, Hong said Viet Nam and the US have seen remarkable progress since the normalisation of bilateral diplomatic relations 20 years ago, and especially after the two countries elevated their ties to a comprehensive partnership in July 2013.

Hong said he hoped the guests' visit would help them understand more about Viet Nam, its external affairs policies and its relations with the US, ultimately leading them to seek further co-operation with the country.

The VFW is also expected to join humanitarian aid in Viet Nam, he said.

John Biedrzycki, senior vice commander-in-chief of the VFW, said he had a positive impression of the country, people and culture of Viet Nam. He hoped to increase understanding between the two countries during his first-ever visit to Viet Nam, and foster co-operation between the two governments in searching for US soldiers who went missing during the war.

Vietnamese leaders extend condolences on Germanwings crash

Vietnamese leaders extended their condolences to their German and Spanish counterparts on March 25 over the crash of a Germanwings plane the day before.

State President Truong Tan Sang sent condolences to German President Joachim Gauck and Spanish King Felipe VI while Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung conveyed his sympathies to German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh offered his sympathies to German Foreign Minister Frank Walter-Steinmeier and Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo.

An Airbus A320 operated by Germanwings crashed on March 24 in a remote part of the Alps in southern France, killing all 150 people on board, including many German and Spanish nationals.-

Vietnamese, Lao women vow to enhance bond

The Vietnamese and Lao Women’s Unions vowed to improve the effectiveness of their future cooperation activities during the high-ranking Lao women’s delegation visit to Vietnam.

At a meeting on March 25 in Hanoi, Nguyen Thi Thanh Hoa, Chairwoman of the Vietnam Women’s Union (VWU), and Sisay Ludetmounsone, Chairwoman of the Laos Women’s Union (LWU), discussed their general situations and recent activities of the two unions.

They mentioned policies and laws on gender equality and the role of women in poverty alleviation.

The two sides also shared experience in preparing for grassroots women’s congresses ahead of the National Women's Congress.

Hoa and Ludetmounsone assessed activities implemented under the cooperation agreement for 2012-2017 with the intent to ensure the efficiency of future activities.

At a ceremony the same day, on behalf of the Vietnamese Party and State, State Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan presented the Order of Independence – 1st Class for the LWU and the Order of Independence – Second Class to the LWU Chairwoman Ludetmounsone. The Vietnamese State also awarded the Order of Independence – Third Class and the Friendship Order to a number of LVU leaders.

On the occasion, the Lao State conferred the Order of Freedom – First Class to the VWU and the Order of Freedom – Second Class to the VWU Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Thanh Hoa. Several VWU officials were also presented with the Order of Freedom – Third Class and the Friendship Order of the Lao State.

During their stay until March 28, the Lao delegation is scheduled to hold a working session with the Vietnam Women Academy on education and training as well as visit and learn about a number of economic models in the northern provinces of Ha Nam and Quang Ninh. The delegation will also be received by Vietnamese Party and State leaders.

New Qatari ambassador welcomed in Hanoi

New Ambassador from Qatar Abdullah Sultan Al-Hamar told Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung on March 25 that he is tasked with further developing bilateral ties while working in Vietnam, a significant country in Qatar’s diplomatic policy.

He revealed that investment inflow is on its way to Vietnam; the Qatar National Bank—the largest in the Middle East—will open a branch in Ho Chi Minh City on March 30 and another in Hanoi in the future, he said, adding that Qatari investors are not satisfied with their 1 billion USD-plus capital in Vietnam and are seeking more large-scale projects.

Qatar supports Vietnam’s economic reform efforts and its bid for seats in United Nations agencies, he said, pledging the country would recognise Vietnam as a market economy soon.

The PM suggested facilitating investment and trade and holding an inter-governmental meeting to broaden bilateral coordination.

Vietnam is willing to invite Qatar investors to buy stakes in equitised firms, become strategic stakeholders in major commercial banks, and vie for bids to operate airport, seaport and highway facilities in the country, he said.

The host also asked Qatar to offer additional official development assistance to impoverished areas in Vietnam as well as strengthen collaboration across labour, finance and banking.

He hoped that both sides would support one another at multilateral forums and United Nations organisations while pushing forward political and diplomatic engagements to enhance mutual understanding and trust.-

Deputy PM Minh: External affairs contribute to socio-economic development

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh has affirmed that the Hai Phong municipal Department of Foreign Affairs, together with local and central agencies, has outstandingly fulfilled assigned tasks, contributing to the socio-economic development of the country and the city.

Deputy PM Minh made the statement at a ceremony held in the northern coastal city of Hai Phong on March 25 to mark the 60th anniversary of the traditional day of the city’s external affairs.

He urged the department to promote its active role in local socio-economic development, fulfill important assigned tasks of external affairs and contribute to building a modern port city and the country’s external relations.

At the ceremony, the department received the Labour Order, second class, the recognition by the Party and the State for its contributions to national construction and protection.

During the past six decades, the department has made important contributions to forming the city’s comprehensive reforms on external affairs. It has devised a scheme on boosting external affairs in the 2010-2020 period, focusing on economic, political and cultural diplomacy, as well as work related to overseas Vietnamese.

Thanks to reforms in economic diplomatic activities, Hai Phong city has made breakthroughs in attracting foreign direct investment (FDI), becoming one of the most FDI-attractive localities in the country.

VNA/Nhan Dan/VNS