Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung will attend the 26 th ASEAN Summit in capital Kuala Lumpur and Langkawi city, Malaysia from April 26-27.

The 25 th ASEAN Summit took place in capital Nay Pyi Taw of Myanmar on November 11-13, 2014. It adopted a Declaration on the ASEAN Community’s Post-2015 Vision, a Declaration on Strengthening the ASEAN Secretariat and Reviewing the ASEAN Organs, and a Joint Statement on Climate Change.

Founded in August 1967, ASEAN consists of 10 member countries, namely Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Laos, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

PM meets with security volunteers fighting in southern battlefields

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung met with representatives from the liaison committee of public security cadres who fought in southern battlefields during the country’s American resistance war on April 21 on the occasion of the 40 th anniversary of National Reunification Day (April 30).

During the meeting, PM Dung affirmed that the Party, State and people continually respect and appreciate those who sacrificed their lives for the country’s liberation and reunification cause, including those working in public security forces.

He hailed the committee for its organisation of practical programmes and activities to promote and uphold its performance.

The PM said Vietnam reaped remarkable achievements in national defence and construction over the last four decades.

However, he also noted that the country must also overcome difficulties and challenges to strengthen its Party, promote the country’s socio-economic development and improve people’s living conditions.

He called on members of the committee to continue contributing their efforts to realising the country’s development targets.

In the past, over 11,000 public security officials volunteered to fight in the southern battlefields. They contributed to building political power, launching movements and protecting revolutionary bases. The force also effectively assisted military campaigns and expanded librated areas.

Over 900 members of the force laid down their lives while hundreds were injured or suffered from Agent Orange exposure. Their service contributed meaningfully to the victory on April 30, 1975 which reunified the country.

PM comments on farmer union’s support initiatives

The Vietnam Farmers’ Union (VFU) put forth a number of support initiatives to Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung during a working session in Hanoi on April 21, some of which won his approval.

They included the proposed construction of State-owned large-scale farm produce warehouses, renewed standards for impoverished and nearly-impoverished households and additional funding for the Central Foundation for Farmers and collective economic models.

The VFU also suggested upgrading vocational training and support centres for provincial farmers’ associations.

Representatives from ministries and agencies offered ideas on providing workforce training and increasing product values.

The PM said the government has asked units concerned to check with existing farm produce warehouses before giving assistance if needed, adding that the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs is working on a set of new poverty and near-poverty standards which is expected to be applied by 2016.

He also agreed with the VFU to join a trade promotion programme for 2015-2020.

According to VFU President Nguyen Quoc Cuong, the union has worked effectively in counselling and vocational training, launched various emulation campaigns and partnered with farmer and international organisations in the region and the world.

However, he admitted a number of shortcomings, including limited funding for agriculture and rural areas, weak connectivity among farmers and the use of sub-standard fertilisers and animal feed harming production and farmers’ lives.

Speaking highly of achievements made by the VFU in 2014 and the first quarter of 2015, the PM said the VFU Central Committee should continue working closely with ministries and agencies to fulfil its assigned tasks.

It was also asked to partner with the government towards achieving common socio-economic goals for 2015 with the VFU playing a significant role in uniting and encouraging farmers to increase their incomes and build new-style rural areas.

The goal is to increase the output and competitiveness of farm produce, mandating the use of technological innovations and shifting to other crops besides rice, the leader said.

On the occasion, he also asked for improved farmer livelihoods, increased supervision over Party and State policies on agricultural production and all possible support for farmers.

Flaws must be addressed to upgrade infrastructure: PM

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has requested infrastructure development mechanism and policy flaws be addressed to promote State management and prevent corruption and wastefulness in this field.

He made the remark while chairing a national teleconference in Hanoi on April 21 reviewing the implementation of Resolution No.13-NQ/TW on building synchronous infrastructure systems to turn Vietnam into a modern industrialised country by 2020. The resolution was issued by the Party Central Committee on January 16, 2012.

The Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) reported that the implementation of the resolution has reaped encouraging results and elevated infrastructure.

A number of transport projects were completed, improving domestic and international connections such as Ho Chi Minh City-Trung Luong and Noi Bai-Lao Cai Highways, Thang Long Boulevard, and Terminal T2 of Noi Bai International Airport. Other projects, especially those in key economic regions, are being accelerated.

While more investments were poured into energy projects, completed irrigation works helped foster agricultural activities, the ministry said, noting the expansion of information technology, education and healthcare facilities.

Infrastructure development has also been largely supported by business funding and people, it added.

At the conference, PM Nguyen Tan Dung said developing a synchronous infrastructure system is one of the strategic breakthroughs pivotal to the country’s rapid and sustainable growth. The outcomes over the past years have greatly contributed to socio-economic development, improved livelihoods and ensured security-defence.

He asked relevant ministries and localities to call for private funding, optimise the use of existing finances and ensure project quality. Meanwhile, localities must mitigate lingering problems in site clearance and compensation for land reclamation.

The leader also told the MPI to estimate infrastructure building expenses funded through the State budget, the Government bonds and official development assistance to inform a spending plan for the next five years.-