The 12th Party Central Committee’s sixth meeting opened in Hanoi on October 4, expected to discuss the socio-economic and financial-budgetary situation in 2017 and draft a socio-economic development plan for next year.

 Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc spoke highly of Bulgarian Ambassador Evgueni Stefanov Stoytchev’s dedication to boost the Vietnam-Bulgaria relations when the outgoing ambassador came to bid farewell to him on October 4. 

 Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has said Vietnam will do its best to foster ASEAN-India strategic partnership in its role as the current coordinator of ASEAN-India ties and a close friend of India. 

 Minister-Chairman of the Govenrment Office Mai Tien Dung said disciplining Secretary and Chairman of Da Nang City will not affect the APEC economic leaders’ week scheduled from November 6-11.

Ambassador Pham Thi Kim Anh highlighted the role played by education in reducing social inequality while speaking at the 72nd session of the UN Social, Humanitarian and Cultural Affairs Committee in New York on October 3.

A Vietnamese delegation attended the first meeting of the Asian Parliamentary Assembly’s Executive Council in Phnom Penh, Cambodia from October 1-4, which attracted nearly 200 delegates from 30 member countries. 

Vietnam encourages its businesses to boost investment in Cuba in the fields of consumer goods production and agriculture, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc told Cuban Minister of Foreign Trade and Investment Rodrigo Malmierca Diaz.

 The Party, the Government and political apparatus as a whole is committed and determined to fight corruption, said Minister - Chairman of the Government’s Office Mai Tien Dung.

 National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan has applauded the State Audit Office of Vietnam (SAV) for its contributions in fighting corruption and waste.

 Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong has urged the Governments of Vietnam and Laos to work out measures to increase two-way trade and boost connectivity in economy, transport infrastructure and energy. 

 The organising committee of the 26th Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF-26) made its debut at a ceremony in Hanoi on October 3. 

Deputy Minister of Defence and Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army Sen. Lieut. Gen. Phan Van Giang on October 3 held talks with Indian Chairman of Chiefs of Staff Committee and Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Sunil Lanba.

 President Tran Dai Quang has told Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith that Vietnam always treasures and gives top priority to preserving and developing the Vietnam-Laos special solidarity. 

 Credit should be given to priority areas, especially high-tech agriculture, export, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and start-ups. 

The 12th Party Central Committee opened its sixth plenary session in Hanoi on October 4.

 New draft amendments to the Fisheries Law will allow lease of sea surface areas to be used as collateral for bank loans.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc was worried about the slow disbursement of public investment capital while chairing the government’s regular meeting in Hanoi on October 3. 

Vietnam and Myanmar would continue fostering comprehensive cooperation between their armed forces and work together towards effective outcomes, following the official visit of Minister of Defence Ngo Xuan Lich to Myanmar from October 1-3.

 Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Phung Quoc Hien has advised caution in amending the Law on Public Investment, saying that adjustments are necessary but must not be made hastily, lest the legal system be disrupted.

The Vietnam-Cuba Inter-Governmental Committee convened its 35th meeting on October 2, under the chair of Vietnamese Minister of Construction Pham Hong Ha and Cuban Minister of Foreign Trade and Investment Rodrigo Malmierca Díaz.