NA leader meets with voters to underscore education strategies

National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung has stressed the targets for building open education, as well as standardising, modernising and democratising the education system.

He was speaking at a meeting with voters at Vinh University in the central province of Nghe An yesterday where he said about the resolution of the 8th Plenum of the 11th Party Central Committee on the basic and comprehensive education and training renovation.

Meeting industrialisation and modernisation requirements within the context of a socialist-oriented market economy and international integration is a very important task that opens up a new chapter in the country's education and training.

The Party and State have set goals to make drastic changes to the quality and efficiency of education and training to better serve the nation's construction and defence and meet people's demand for learning, he noted.

As a key educational institution of the northern central region, Vinh University should pay more attention to skill training and international training cooperation, he added.

The NA leader also urged the university's faculties to intensify the research and application of advanced technologies to increase productivity and incomes for farmers.

Taking the floor, staff and students at the university expressed their pleasure at the outcomes of the recently-ended sixth session of the 13th National Assembly, especially the adoption of the amended Constitution, an important political-legal document that facilitates the country's development.

They also asked local authorities to promote the role of training establishments and scientific research agencies and implement the Party's guidelines and the Government's socio-economic development policies.

They also urged the NA to support raising salaries and allowances for teaching staff.

Activities mark Vietnam People’s Army anniversary

Various activities were held across the country to celebrate the 69th anniversary of the Vietnam People's Army, which falls on December 22.

The Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee, People's Council, People's Committee and Fatherland Front Committee organised a meeting on December 17, gathering more than 600 retired senior military officers and Heroes of the People's Armed Forces, in the presence of Politburo member and Secretary of the municipal Party Committee Le Thanh Hai.

Delegates reviewed the glorious tradition of the Vietnam People’s Army over the past 68 years and set plans for 2014.

The meeting was among a series of events to mark the founding day of the Vietnam People's Army (December 22, 1944) and the 24rd celebration of the Whole People’s Defence Festival Day (December 22, 1989-2013).

*On the same day, Tay Bac University and the National Border Museum jointly organised an exhibition entitled ‘Vietnam’s Hoang Sa and Truong Sa – Historical Evidence’ featuring maps, historical documents, books and writings collected by domestic and international researchers and scholars.

The five-day exhibition was organised to provide nearly 10,000 lecturers and students of Tay Bac University with an opportunity to learn more about the historical and legal evidence proving Vietnam’s centuries-old sovereignty over Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos.

* Also on December 17, the Border Guard High Command of southern An Giang province, in co-ordination with the provincial Fatherland Front Committee, launched a fundraising campaign to help needy soldiers. All proceeds will be used to build 40 social houses.

Vietnam, Japan Communist Parties exchange theoretical issues

Officials of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and the Communist Party of Japan (CPJ) convened their fifth theory talks in Tokyo, Japan on December 16.

The Vietnamese delegation to the event was led by Dinh The Huynh, Politburo member, Head of the CPV Central Committee's Commission for Education and Popularisation and Chairman of the Central Theoretical Council. The host side was led by former Chairman of the CPJ Fuwa Tetsuzo.

Fuwa Tetsuzo warmly welcomed the Vietnamese delegation, and said he believed the talks will further strengthen friendship and traditional cooperation between the two Parties and people.

In his introductory speech, Dinh The Huynh emphasised the CPV continues to refine theories on socialist construction in the country with regard to national characteristics and global development.

He also highlighted several initial and practical lessons learnt in the renovation process under the CPV's leadership over the past nearly 30 years.

The talks are scheduled to last until December 18.

Deputy PM: VN prizes ties with Laos

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has said the Vietnamese Party, State and people always attach importance to strengthening and enhancing the special and faithful ties between Viet Nam and Laos.

Deputy PM Phuc, who is also Chairman of the Viet Nam–Laos Cooperation Sub-committee, made the remark while meeting with Lao Party General Secretary and President Choummaly Sayasone, Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong and National Assembly President Pany Yathotu in Vientiane yesterday, Dec 17.

He briefed the Lao leaders on the outcome of the 36th Viet Nam-Laos Inter-governmental Committee, which took place earlier the same day, saying that both sides were pleased with their work together in economics, culture, education, science and technology during the year.

Delegates also frankly pointed out limitations in several fields of bilateral co-operation and put forward measures to address the issues as soon as possible, he added.

The Lao leaders said that bilateral co-operative ties would be further developed in all fields this way, especially in economics, investment, trade and human resources training.

They pledged to create favourable conditions for Vietnamese enterprises to do business in the country.

At the 36th session of the Viet Nam-Laos Inter-governmental Committee for Economic, Cultural, Educational, Scientific and Technological Co-operation that convened in Vientiane yesterday, they also agreed to build stronger ties in all areas, giving priority to agreements reached by high-ranking Party and State leaders.

Setting specific tasks for the coming year, they agreed to continue implementing their 2008-15 economic co-operation agreement and expand bilateral trade by 20 per cent in 2014.

They also pledged to work in close partnership to ensure sustainable use of water resources in the Mekong River.

Earlier, reviewing 2013 activities, the two sides agreed that joint statements and agreements have been implemented well.

The officials also agreed that the two countries had co-operated effectively at regional and international forums.

They noted the close ties maintained in enhancing national defence and security, ensuring social and political stability, maintaining territorial integrity and supporting each country's development policies.

So far this year, Laos has granted investment licences to Vietnamese businesses for 12 projects worth US$138 million, pushing Viet Nam into the leading group of investors in the country with a total of 412 projects worth over $5 billion.

As of October 2013, two-way trade between the two countries had reached $817 million.

The priority given to bilateral co-operation in human resources development by both sides was stressed at the meeting.

This year, the Vietnamese Government has granted 825 scholarships to Lao officials and students, while the Lao Government has presented 48 scholarships to Vietnamese officials and students.

Positive results have also been obtained in co-operation in transportation, science and technology, information, cultural exchanges, tourism and sports, significantly contributing to consolidating and enhancing the traditional friendship and special solidarity between the two countries, the meeting heard.

They also agreed to work closely with each other in building a common border.

At the end of the session, the two sides signed an agreement on economic, cultural, educational, scientific and technological co-operation for 2014 as well as other important documents.

VN, Poland cement legislative ties

Viet Nam considers Poland a traditional friend with whom stronger ties should be forged in many areas, National Assembly Vice Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan said yesterday.

NA Vice Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan and Deputy Speaker of the Polish Parliament Jerzy Wenderlich at the talks. (Source: VNA)

In talks held with visiting Deputy Speaker of the Polish Parliament Jerzy Wenderlich, she said the two countries should define areas with potential for strong co-operation and execute specific measures to ensure two-way trade reaches US$1 billion in the near future.

Wenderlich agreed that both sides should promote multiple-level exchanges between the two legislatures, increase meetings on the sidelines of regional and international forums, compare notes on issues of common concern.

The two senior officials agreed to work closely to manage and promote co-operation agreements signed by the two Governments, create a favourable legal environment for businesses of both sides to work together and promote bilateral trade and investment.

HCM City to further ties with northern Laos

Ho Chi Minh City will spare no effort in the time to come to intensify its cooperation with the northern region of Laos, including Saynhabuli province.

Secretary of the municipal Party Committee Le Thanh Hai made the pledge during his meeting with visiting member of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party Central Committee and Secretary of the Saynhabuli provincial Party Committee Lien Thikeo on December 17.

The host said that while HCM City has set up ties with many localities in the south of Laos, the city’s affiliation with Laos’ southern provinces remains modest due to geographical distance.

Lien Thikeo said he believes that Saynhabuli’s partnership with HCM City will be reinforced, particularly in fields of mutual concern.

He said the province has formed close links with Vietnam’s northern provinces, adding that it wishes to foster its collaboration with HCM City in the coming time.

Catholic committee meets ahead of Christmas

The Committee for Solidarity of Vietnamese Catholics (CSVC) held a get-together in Hanoi on December 17 on the threshold of Christmas.

A representative of the Government's Committee for Religious Affairs congratulates CSVC. (Photo: VNA)

Priest Nguyen Cong Danh, President of the committee, extended his best wishes to all Catholics nationwide, and called on them to engage more in the social life and activities of the Vietnam Catholic Church.

He also urged them to continue grasping the teachings “Living the Gospel amidst the heart of the Nation to serve the happiness of compatriots”, issued by the Vietnam Episcopal Council in 1980, and following Pope Benedict XVI’s teaching that a good Catholic must be a good citizen.

In its Christmas greeting letter, the CSVC expressed its wish that all religious and non-religious people will exert their efforts in economic development, charitable drives, educational and healthcare activities.

It said it believes that each Vietnamese Catholic follower will always strive to contribute to the goal of a wealthy people, a strong country, and a democratic, equitable and civilised society.

At the event, deputy head of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Mass Mobilisation Thao Xuan Sung extended his greetings to priests and clergymen and hailed the contributions of the committee.

He voiced his hope that the CSVC’s sub-committees at all levels will well maintain their social campaigns, improve their operations, better fufill secular and religious lives, and encourage followers to join hands in national construction and defence.

PM sends congratulations to German counterpart

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung on December 17 sent a message of congratulations to Angela Merkel on her re-election as Germany’s Chancellor.

The same day, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh also cabled his congratulations to new German Foreign Minister Fran-Walter Steinmeier.

China's foreign affairs office delegation visits Vietnam

Deputy Defence Minister Senior Lieut. General Nguyen Chi Vinh on December 16 received a delegation of the Chinese Ministry of National Defence’s Office of Foreign Affairs led by its Vice Chairman Maj. Gen. Ci Guowei in Hanoi.

Vinh described the delegation’s visit as a good opportunity to promote exchanges and foreign affairs cooperation in the field of defence.

He agreed upon the contents reached during a working session between the Chinese delegation and its counterpart from the Vietnamese Defence Ministry’s Department of Foreign Affairs aiming to realize the commitments by senior leaders.

Vinh suggested the two armies should promote visit exchanges between border guard, navy and marine police forces and cooperation activities as a contribution to building and fostering the traditional relationship between the two armies and peoples.

For his part, the Chinese guest voiced his determination to implement the host’s proposals for the sake of peace and stability in the region and the world.

VNN/VOV/VNS/VNA