PM should also call referendums - proposal

The Vietnam Lawyers’ Association has proposed the Prime Minister be entitled to propose referendums before the National Assembly (NA) discusses the draft law on referendum at its upcoming ninth session scheduled to open on May 20.

Earlier, the association, which is assigned to play a part in the drafting of the law, suggested the NA Standing Committee, the State President, the Government or at least one third of the NA members have the right to call a public poll. Besides those in the first option, the second option states that the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee can propose a referendum.

However, the association in a recent document said that the Prime Minister should be added to the list of those able to propose a referendum.

In its recent comment on the draft law, the Government suggested the draft law should give the Prime Minister the authority to propose a referendum as the Government leader is responsible for policy and law enforcement and operation of the national executive system.

According to the Government, the draft law should make clear three issues. First, the law must ensure there will not be discrimination between public polls for the Constitution and for other matters.

Second, the draft must regulate that referendum results have absolute value for issues put forth. Third, the Government suggested that ballot boxes could be brought to district people’s committees for checking instead of having them checked immediately after the polls.

Besides, the Government said the list of citizens allowed to take part in public polls should be considered; for instance, those under arrest but official charges against them have not announced by competent courts are allowed to take part in referendums.

The referendum law highlights citizen power and ensures that all people can contribute to decisions on important issues of the countries.

According to the draft, the issues made available in public polls should be related to revisions to the Constitution, national defense, human rights, citizens’ fundamental rights and obligations.

Vietnam, San Marino share experience in education, culture, youth

A delegation of the Vietnamese National Assembly’s Committee for Culture, Education, Youth, Adolescents and Children led by its Deputy Head Le Nhu Tien is on a working visit to San Marino to strengthen cooperation between the two legislative bodies.

On May 11, Tien was received by Mario Venturini, Head of the San Marino Parliament’s Commission for Constitutional and Institutional Affairs, Public Administration, Internal Affairs, Civil Protection, Relations with the Township Councils, Justice, Education, Culture and Cultural Goods and University and Scientific Research.

During the meeting, the two sides exchanged experiences in education, culture, information, youth and sports.

The Vietnamese official demonstrated interest in San Marino’s education system and laws, vocational training and policies to conserve tangible and intangible cultural heritage, saying Vietnam can learn from these experiences to improve its education system.

The host expressed his thanks for the country’s warm reception at the Inter-Parliamentary Union’s 132nd Assembly, held in Hanoi in March.

He said his country pays special attention to education and training as well as caring for young generations and promoting cultural and historical values as a key element to protect the country’s cultural identity and independence.

The same day, the Vietnamese official also had a working session with Minister of Culture and Education Giuseppe Maria Morganti.

The Republic of San Marino is a microstate surrounded by Italy, situated on the Italian peninsula on the northeastern side of the Apemnine Mountains. The country is just over 61 sq.m with an estimated population of about 32,000.

Singapore agrees to share anti-corruption experience with Vietnam

Singapore is willing to share its experience in detecting, handling and preventing corruption with Vietnam , Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc was told at working sessions with Singaporean officials.

During his ongoing visit to Singapore as a guest of the “Friends of Lee Kuan Yew” programme, Deputy Prime Minister Phuc held talks with representatives from Singapore ’s Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Law, Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) and Public Service Commission.

The two sides discussed in-depth measures to combat corruption as well as law-building and enforcement.

Deputy PM Phuc confirmed Vietnam ’s determination to eradicate corruption to maintain political stability and economic development.

The leader noted that the fight against corruption is associated with building a state of law, reforming the State administration and improving the efficiency of the whole political system.

He said Vietnam hopes to learn from Singapore’s experience in building an effective corruption control system.

He proposed Vietnamese and Singaporean administrative reform agencies push ahead with signing a cooperation agreement in the foreseeable future.

Visiting the Vietnamese Embassy in Singapore , Deputy PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc asked the staff to play a more active role in promoting the strategic partnership between the two countries as well as actively supporting businesses to penetrate foreign markets.

He also visited Singapore Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister of National Security Teo Chee Hean, and paid tribute to the late Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew.

Public security minister greets Cambodia interior official

Minister of Public Security General Tran Dai Quang hosted a reception for Cambodian minister of state at the Ministry of Interior Teng Savong in Hanoi on May 11.

He thanked Cambodia ’s Government and Ministry of Interior for assisting and increasing coordination with Vietnam in the fight against crime as well as land border demarcation and border defence.

The host said he hopes the two ministries will continue to implement effectively their signed cooperation agreement and promote affiliation to combating cross-border crime, human trafficking, drug trafficking, along with human resources training.

He also showed his pleasure at the relations between the two ministries, which have been strengthened over the past time, helping ensure social order and safety, and serve the international integration in each country.

For his part, Teng Savong highlighted the sound cooperation between the two countries and the two ministries in particular, which is expected to deepen the bilateral traditional friendship and neighbourliness.-

Yunnan Governor welcomed in Hanoi

Deputy Foreign Minister Ho Xuan Son received Governor Chen Hao of Yunnan province, China in Hanoi on May 11.

The host praised the positive progress in coordination between Vietnamese localities and Yunnan, urging improvements to existing cooperative mechanisms.

He went on to note that both sides should strengthen their bilateral engagement in advantageous sectors including trade, transportation, tourism, agriculture and education.

Vietnamese and Chinese localities need to work closely in sustainably utilising their shared water sources and in implementing Vietnam-China border management documents, Son said.

Agreeing with his host, Chen Hao stated that his province is willing to collaborate with Vietnam to boost cooperation in all fields, contributing to developing the comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and China.

Yunnan shares more than 4,000 kilometres of border lines with Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam.-

Dien Bien collectives awarded with Lao Friendship Order, Medal

Six collectives in the northern mountainous province of Dien Bien have been awarded the Friendship Order and Medal of Laos for fostering comprehensive cooperation between the two Parties, governments and peoples.

During the award ceremony held in Dien Bien on May 11, the provincial People’s Committee and the Department of Education and Training were honoured with the Friendship Order.

Other friendship medal recipients include the Pedagogy, Economic-Technical and Medical Colleges and the Dien Bien Centre for Continuing Education.

Since 2004, the province has offered quality training to 220 graduates from Luang Prabang, a majority of who have since worked for Lao administrative units or become officials.

Prior to 2000, Lao graduates studied at the Dien Bien Economic and Medical Colleges.

Since 2003, Dien Bien has trained 75-90 Lao students annually while Souphanouvong University in Luang Prabang has enrolled five others from Dien Bien.

Over the past 10 years, 560 graduates and officials from three northern Lao provinces have received training in Dien Bien.

Indian activist pays tribute to President Ho Chi Minh

Vietnam and Ho Chi Minh are the two most well-known and popular names among the people of India, President of the India-Vietnam Solidarity Committee in West Bengal Geetesh Sharma wrote in an article on the occasion of the Vietnamese late leader’s 125th birth anniversary (May 19, 1890-2015).

He recalled that Ho Chi Minh had been the focal point among the intellectuals and political activists since the latter half of the last century, particularly between fifties and seventies. “This was the period when too much was written in the various Indian languages about Ho Chi Minh, particularly in West Bengal where numerous poems and essays eulogizing Ho Chi Minh were written; Ho Chi Minh’s Works and his Prison Diary was translated into most of the major languages of India and were highly appreciated by the readers.”

Sharma went on to say that there would hardly be a person, who would be unaware of the great legendary leader of Vietnam – Ho Chi Minh or who would be unaware of the indomitable spirit and patriotism displayed by the people of Vietnam in liberating their nation from the then great powers like France, Japan and the US who were forced not only to taste defeat at the hands of the Vietnamese but who were driven out of Vietnam by its people displaying exemplary and historic unity and military strategy.

“Obviously, such a great accomplishment could not have been achieved without the inspiring leadership and personality of Ho Chi Minh and his decisive people oriented policies and strategies. Under the most able leadership of Ho Chi Minh, the people of Vietnam not only liberated their country from the clutches of colonial, fascist and imperialist powers but at the same time demolished the age-old feudal structure and emancipated the people from the feudal system prevailing in the society and its concept in a shortest period, unparallel in the history,” the activist argued.

He underlined that the people had always been the focal point of Ho Chi Minh’s thought process and his concern for the people was not confined in the geographical boundaries of Vietnam. “His goal was not only to liberate his country from the foreign rule but deep down his thoughts besides aiming at independence he dreamt of providing social equality, justice and welfare to his people. It is for this reason that besides his serious and sincere struggle against the foreign aggressors he was equally serious and sincere in his campaign and struggle against feudalist social structure as elimination of both was essential to free the people from bondage and exploitation,” Sharma wrote.

“It was the charismatic leadership of Ho Chi Minh that had its magical influence over the people of Vietnam, who were ready for any sacrifice with this hope and belief that after liberation everybody would be able to share the fruits of independence. The fact remains that after liberation the aspirations of the Vietnamese people were never belied. The biggest achievement in this process was that importance of labour was not only recognised but earned a place of distinction in the society and the feudal structure was completely uprooted.”

He described Ho Chi Minh as a symbol of austerity and simplicity and his simplicity was not to make a show off and attract people.

“Even after becoming the President of Vietnam he maintained his austere life style. Despite there being a President’s House in Hanoi, the official residence of the President, he chose to live in a hutment of the complex of the Presidential house until his death. He used the Presidential house only for official meetings or dinners with foreign dignitaries. He used to wear sandals made of old car tyres. His sandals became the trade mark of his austerity and the communist leaders, cadres, intellectuals and activists of West Bengal in particular having derived inspiration from Ho Chi Minh started wearing sandals made of old tyres,” Sharma recalled.

He also noted that Ho Chi Minh was a true and great friend of India. He considered Indo-Vietnam friendly ties to be most important and significant and received equally important and significant response from India.

Sharma recounted that Ho Chi Minh visited Kolkata thrice, in 1911, 1946 and the final visit in February 1958. His official visit as the President of Democratic Republic of Vietnam in 1958 left an everlasting impression over the people of India. He literally won the hearts of one and all by his affability, cordiality, humility and austerity. The generation that had seen him during those days still remembered him with great love, admiration and reverence.

He stressed that it was President Ho Chi Minh and Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru who had laid the solid foundation of deep friendly relations between India and Vietnam which continue till date without any deviation. He added that both the great statesmen developed emotional bonds with each other during their meetings and exchange of ideas and this fraternal mutual relation continued till their last breath.

Vietnam’s reunification day marked in Pakistan

A number of activities were held by the Vietnamese Embassy in Pakistan to mark the 40th anniversary of the liberation of South Vietnam and National Reunification Day.

The embassy screened documentaries about the milestone and penned articles published in the country’s media.

Pakistan’s “Diplomatic Focus” magazine quoted Vietnamese Ambassador Nguyen Xuan Luu as hailing Vietnam’s 1975 victory as a glorious moment in the history of the struggle for liberation and independence, opening up a new chapter for the building, development, and integration of the country.

He outlined the achievements Vietnam has made over the past 40 years, and expressed his strong belief in the success of the upcoming 12th Party Congress, which will map out socio-economic development for the 2016-2020 period.

The Vietnamese diplomat expressed delight at the continuous development of the diplomatic relations between the nations, in place since 1972, and called for both to better tap their respective potential, especially in trade and investment.

He also pledged to foster networking between the two nations, focusing particularly on boosting business connections.-