PM to witness FTA signing, visit African, European countries

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung will attend the signing ceremony on the free trade agreement between Vietnam and the Eurasia Economic Union in Kazakhstan, and pay official visits to Algeria, Portugal, and Bulgaria from May 29 to June 6.

The attendance and visits will be made at the invitations of Kazakh PM Karim Massimov, Algerian PM Abdelmalek Sellal, Portuguese PM Pedro Passos Coelho, and Bulgarian PM Boyko Borissov.-

Vietnamese Defence Minister visits India

Vietnamese Defence Minister General Phung Quang Thanh is paying an official friendly visit to India from May 23 to 26 at the invitation of Indian Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar.

The visit is to share views on international and regional security issues of each country and discuss measures to lift up bilateral defence collaboration to a new height.

NA discusses amendments to Civil Procedure

The National Assembly (NA) deputies on May 24 discussed in groups some amendments to the Civil Procedure Code presented at the ongoing 9th session of the 13th National Assembly.

Deputies debated Article 4 of the draft amended Civil Procedure Code, which regulates that the court cannot refuse requests to resolve civil cases by citing the absence of a law to apply.

Some deputies recommended that the drafting committee should carefully study this issue because in Vietnam, legal precedent is not a source of law. The People's Court must handle cases on the basis of constitutional provisions and laws.

Le Thi Nga, a deputy from Thai Nguyen province, said this should not be regulated in the draft amended code as it will create troubles for the court in resolving cases.

However, some deputies observed that this provision is necessary because it will ensure the institutionalisation of constitutional provisions regarding the court's judicial performance.

Deputy Phung Van Hung from Cao Bang province said the amended provision aims to protect the rights and interests of citizens and increase the accountability of judges who must find solutions to all cases.

When there is no law to apply, the court can base its conclusions on legal precedents, customs, and the common rule of law, he noted.

Deputies also discussed articles regulating the application of legal precedent and the participation of the People's Procuracy in the court.

While many deputies agreed it is necessary to amend the Civil Procedure Code, some suggested that the drafting committee should thoroughly review and amend and supplement only necessary points. They should also explain the reasons for amendments and supplements in order to overcome the shortcomings of the existing regulations.

Lawmakers also discussed the draft Law on Animal Health and heard a report on the Law on Temporary Detention and Arrest.

Vietnam-Russia friendship association’s anniversary marked

Major milestones in the Vietnam-Russia Friendship Association’s development over the past 65 years were reviewed at a ceremony in Hanoi on May 23.

The event saw the presence of Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai, Chairman of the Vietnam-Russian Friendship Association Dao Trong Thi, Minister-Counsellor at the Russian Embassy in Hanoi Vadim Vladimirovich Dublicov.

Chairman Thi and Russian Minister-Counsellor Dublicov expressed their belief that the association continues promoting its role as a bridge connecting the two countries’ people, fostering the traditional friendship and comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and Russia.

On the occasion, the organising board presented prizes to winners of the contest on the 65th founding anniversary of the Vietnam-Russia diplomatic ties which was launched by the Association and the Voice of Russia.

The Vietnam-Soviet Union Association was founded on May 23, 1950, right after the former Soviet Union established diplomatic ties. After 1991, it changes its name into Vietnam-Russia Friendship and Association.

Deputy Defence Minister meets Australian defence official

Deputy Defence Minister Nguyen Chi Vinh on May 22 received First Assistant Secretary of the Australian Defence Department’s International Policy Division, Scott Dewar, who is on a working visit to Vietnam.

At the meeting in Hanoi, Sen. Lt. Gen. Vinh noted Vietnamese-Australian relations have enjoyed rapid and effective developments in various spheres, including defence.

The two countries should intensify cooperation in training personnel, ensuring maritime security, fighting terrorism and sharing their experiences in United Nations peacekeeping forces, he said.

Sharing Vinh’s views on the expansion of defence ties, Dewar said Australia will continue deepening collaboration in this area with Vietnam while exchanging information on regional security.-

Friendly exchange marks Vietnam-Spain diplomatic ties

The Vietnam-Spain Friendship Association and the Spanish Embassy in Vietnam held a friendly exchange in Hanoi on May 22 to celebrate 38 years of the two countries’ diplomatic relations.

Chairman of the Vietnam-Spain Friendship Association - Deputy General Director of the Vietnam News Agency Nguyen Hoai Duong expressed his pleasure at the growing relations between the two countries since they established bilateral diplomatic ties in 1977 and a strategic partnership in 2009.

He emphasised that this has benefited the two nations and peoples not only in economics and trade but also culture, tourism and education.

The association has made great contributions to bilateral relations by organising a number of activities under various forms to promote the friendship and cooperation with Spanish partners, he said.

The chairman added that in 2015, the association will further expand friendship and cooperation exchanges, especially with the Spanish Embassy in Vietnam .

He said he hopes the Spanish Ambassador to Vietnam will actively work with the association to enhance friendly gatherings and cooperation in the fields of mutual interests.

Ambassador Alfonso Tena Garcia highly valued the cooperative programmes between his country and Vietnam, noting that the bilateral cooperation has been developing in various fields such as politics, economics, culture and education.

He noted some important cooperative programmes that are underway such as the construction of the Noi Bai – Lao Cai highway; the bus systems in Hai Phong and Hanoi; and underground routes in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi.

The ambassador recalled that last year, the two countries signed a number of cooperation agreements in aviation transport, criminal extradition and transfer of sentenced prisoners.

He revealed that the energy Repsol group is making plans to invest in Vietnam.

Two-way trade between Vietnam and Spain reached 2.5 billion USD in 2014, a year-on-year increase of 20 percent.

VNA