VietNamNet Bridge – The ministries, agencies and localities should continue promoting the combined strength of the entire political system to fight terrorism, maintain political stability and ensure social order and safety.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung made the statement at a meeting in Hanoi on November 22 to review the five-year implementation of a Prime Ministerial decree on terrorism prevention.

The meeting heard a report on the implementation of the PM’s Decree issued in 2007 for the 2007-2012 period presented by Deputy Minister of Public Security Lieutenant. Gen. To Lam, head of the ministry’s Steering Anti-Terrorism Committee.

Speaking at the event, Dung praised anti-terrorism achievements recorded by ministries, agencies and localities, as well as feats made by the armed forces, in particular the People’s Police and the People’s Army in the five-year fight.

He said that they have thwarted all hostile forces’ terrorist and sabotage schemes, and activities targeting the Vietnamese revolutionary cause.

He also pointed out advantages, risks and challenges to the fight against terrorism in particular, and the national construction and defence in the coming time.

PM Dung asked the ministries, agencies and localities to thoroughly grasp and properly implement the decree, considering it a central task closely connected to their entrusted political duties.

They should grasp the situation, actively prevent and thwart all terrorist and sabotage schemes and activities by hostile forces and other criminals. They should be ready to deal with threats while building a specialized force that can cope with all possibilities, he added.

The Government leader asked the ministries, agencies and localities to popularise and educate patriotism, national consciousness, responsibilities and obligations to protect national security, and help people understand the major challenges to national defence in the new situation, such as terrorism, sabotage and political riots.

He said that relevant agencies should pay attention to preventing e-criminals that use information technology and the Internet to sabotage the State and instigate turbulence.

PM calls for science-technology development policies

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung asked the National Council for Science–Technology Policy to perfect policies related to science and technology in 2013 as a move to encourage firms to apply advanced technologies to improve their competitiveness.

He made the request at the first plenary session of the 2012–16 tenure of the National Council for Science–Technology Policy in Hanoi on November 22.

The council firstly needs to focus on researching mechanisms and policies for science–technology activities and also building those that offer incentives to scientists, Dung said.

He praised the Council for working out institutional tools to bring science and technology to life and spur socio-economic development.

In its 2009–13 tenure, the Council held five fact-finding trips to 15 cities and provinces nationwide to learn about their science-technology activities and policy impacts on their socio-economic development.

Apart from that, the Council has hosted talks and seminars with domestic and foreign scientists as well as with businesspeople to garner their opinions and comments.

From now until 2016, it will join in commenting amendments and supplements to the Law on Science and Technology, the Law on Technology Transfer and the Law on Atomic Energy and also give opinions on projects under the Government and the Ministry of Science and Technology’s working programmes.

It will work closely with the Ministry of Science and Technology and relevant agencies to study policy impacts on science and technology activities, and policies to develop a contingent of personnel and attract more investors in the field.

Renewing mechanisms and policies on science and technology development helps turn science and technology into a direct production force and a key driving force for the country’s higher growth in the new period, said the PM.

VNN/VOV/VNA