Kazakhstan’s Lower House Speaker to visit Vietnam

Speaker of the Kazakh Parliament’s Lower House Kabibulla Dzhakupov will visit Vietnam and attend the 132nd Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly.

The March 27-31 visit is made at the invitation of the National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung, announced the NA’s Committee for External Affairs.

Vietnam and Kazakhstan established diplomatic relations in 1992.

The sides have signed several important cooperative documents in various realms during the 2011-2013 period, including agreements on animal quarantine and protection, investment encouragement and protection, tourism cooperation and judicial assistance in civil and trade sectors.

Vietnam aids Cambodia to build military school

The Engineering High Command of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) inaugurated the Vietnamese-funded building for the management board of the Decho Sapper School in Kampong Cham province on March 23.

Once operational, the Decho School will be the first facility in Cambodia to provide training for the country’s engineers, especially in high-demand fields such as weapon and equipment maintenance and ordnance clearance.

The school is being built at a total cost of about 1 million USD funded by the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence, including 300,000 USD provided for the initial phase.

At the inauguration ceremony, RCAF Commander-in-Chief General Pol Saroun appreciated the Vietnamese ministry’s assistance to the RCAF, adding that the Decho School is a demonstration of the traditional cooperation between the two armies.

He continued to say that Cambodia continually recognises and appreciates the Vietnamese Government and voluntary soldiers’ support in liberating his country from the Khmer Rouge genocidal regime.

The officer said the increasing collaboration in border security protection, border demarcation, and joint patrols at sea illustrate the Cambodian Government’s efforts to work with Vietnam in developing their friendship and multi-faceted connection.

Under a recently signed 2015 cooperation protocol, the Vietnam People’s Army will provide basic construction aid for the RCAF with an expected disbursement of around 4 million USD.

Workshop promotes gender equality in politics

A workshop was held in Hanoi on March 23 to seek measures to promote gender equality in political activities.

The event was organised by the National Committee for the Advancement of Women in Vietnam in conjunction with Oxfam in Vietnam, the Centre for Studies and Applied Sciences in Gender-Family-Women and Adolescents (CSAGA), and the Centre for Education Promotion and Empowerment of Women (CEPEW).

It focused on updating gender equality-related issues in Vietnam and rolling out solutions to realise the goals of the National Strategy on Gender Equality for 2011-2020 on enhancing female participation in managerial and leadership positions, aiming to narrow the gender gap in politics.

Participants analysed the involvement of women in elected bodies and recent initiatives providing training for key female personnel working in politics.

Statistics reported at the workshop revealed the rate of women in political entities remains low resulting from limited public awareness of gender equality and the role of women, especially in rural and remote areas.

Attendees suggested it is necessary to enhance trainings for leadership of Party committees at all levels and managerial officials in the coming time.

They also stressed the need to intensify communication efforts to raise public awareness of gender equality both broadly and in politics and continue to build a strategy for training core female personnel serving in the government and sectors.

Vietnam, Thailand bolster judicial cooperation

The Vietnamese and Thai Ministries of Justice have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for cooperation in legal and judicial affairs.

The document, reached by Vietnamese Justice Minister Ha Hung Cuong and his Thai counterpart Paiboon Khumchaya during talks in Hanoi on March 23, highlighted the commitments of both sides to mutual support and cooperation in advantageous fields.

The two ministries will share experience in legal and judicial reform; support one another at regional and international forums; and coordinate in improving laws on the execution of civil verdicts, informing citizens of laws and regulations, addressing disputes outside the court system, and enhancing the capacity of judicial officials.

The ministers agreed to work together to realise and implement the MoU efficiently.

During his one-day stay in Vietnam, the Thai Minister also visited Minister of Public Security Tran Dai Quang.