Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (fourth from left) and heads of delegations to ASEANAPOL 39

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on September 18 hosted a reception for heads of delegations to the 39th ASEAN Police Chiefs (ASEANAPOL) Conference taking place in Hanoi.

He said the Vietnamese Party, State and Government pay attention to expanding collaboration with international friends in diverse areas.

As Vietnam was elected as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the 2020 – 2021 tenure, and the country will be ASEAN Chair in 2020, the Vietnamese Government encourages the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security and public security force in particular to boost cooperation with police of foreign countries, especially with those from ASEAN, dialogue partners and international legal enforcement agencies concerned in the fight against trans-national crimes, he said.

According to the PM, ASEANAPOL has been playing an active role in international cooperation in fighting trans-national crimes and maintaining peace in the region over the past nearly four decades.

He asked ASEANAPOL member countries to enhance their joint work on investigating and uncovering trans-national crime cases, share professional expertise with high sense of responsibility and mutual trust for the sake of a united and prosperous bloc.

The leader wished that ASEANAPOL 39 would give feasible solutions to improve the efficiency of cooperation among ASEAN police in the near future.

The Vietnamese government and public security force will make utmost efforts to ensure the best business environment, contributing to security, progress and prosperity in the region and the world, he said.

General Muhammad Tito Karnavian, Chief of the Indonesian National Police, attributed Vietnam’s success to sound directions of the government and progress in maintaining security and social safety and order.

He said via ASEANAPOL mechanism and regional security maintenance, ASEAN member states will find it easier to develop their economies. 

Sympathy to Thailand over damage caused by storms

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has extended sympathy to his Thai counterpart Prayut Chan-o-cha over great losses in humans and property caused by storms Podul and Kajiki and subsequent floods in Thailand’s northeastern, central and northern regions.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh also sent a message of sympathy to Thai Minister of Foreign Affairs Don Pramudwinai.

The Straits Times reported that as consequences of the two tropical storms, since late last month, over 400,000 households and more than 3,000 sq km of plantations in the regions have been damaged.

The total economic losses are not immediately known, but according to Thailand’s Industry Ministry, damage to factories has amounted to an estimated 133 million baht (4.3 million USD).

Politburo member Vo Van Thuong visits Kazakhstan

Politburo member and head of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Information and Education Vo Van Thuong (L) and Chairman of the Mazhilis of the Kazakhstan Parliament (lower house) Nurlan Nigmatulin

Politburo member and head of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Information and Education Vo Van Thuong has led a Party delegation to visit Kazakhstan from September 16 to 18.

During his trip, Thuong attended a series of meetings with high-ranking officials of the ruling Party, Government and parliament of Kazakhstan, including First Deputy Chairman of the ruling Nur Otan Party Bauyrzhan Baibek; Chairman of the Mazhilis of the Parliament (lower house) Nurlan Nigmatulin; Secretary of State Marat Tazhin; First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Mukhtar Tileuberdi; and leaders of the Communist People's Party of Kazakhstan (KNPK).

The Kazakhstan officials affirmed that based on a memorandum of understanding on cooperation signed between the Communist Party of Vietnam and Nur Otan Party in November 2018, the visit will create an important momentum in consolidating and reinforcing the friendship and collaboration between the two countries and their ruling parties.

Both sides took the occasion to discuss measures to enhance such ties in the coming time.

They said bilateral politic relations have grown robustly over time via exchanges of high-level visits and mutual support and coordination at the UN and international/regional forums.

They added that the two countries’ economy-trade-investment cooperation is also making progress, particularly after a free trade agreement between Vietnam and the Eurasian Economic Union, of which Kazakhstan is a member, took effect in October 2016.

The sides, however, stressed bilateral trade still falls short of potential, requiring Vietnam and Kazakhstan to invest more efforts to exploit the strength and the needs of each other.

Talking about international/regional affairs, Thuong informed the Kazakhstan side on the current complicated developments in the East Sea. He affirmed Vietnam’s consistent stance of resolving disputes at sea using peaceful measures in line with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Kazakhstan officials expressed their concern over the situation and supported Vietnam’s stance, for ensuring security, safety, as well as free navigation and overflight in the waters.

9th VFF National Congress convenes first working session

At the first working session of the 9th National Congress of the Vietnam Fatherland Front

The first working session of the 9th National Congress of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) was held in Hanoi on September 18 to look into a work reviewing report and preparations for the opening ceremony of the congress on September 19 morning.

Truong Thi Mai, Politburo member, Secretary of the Party Central Committee and head of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Mass Mobilisation; Tran Thanh Man, Secretary of the Party Central Committee and President of the VFF Central Committee, and 1,300 delegates attended the event.

The delegates heard the report reviewing the operations of the VFF Central Committee, the Presidium and the Standing Board of the VFF Central Committee for the 2014-2019 term.

Hau A Lenh, Vice President and Secretary General of the VFF Central Committee, said over the past five years, the VFF Central Committee, the Presidium and the Standing Board have renewed their management and implementation of solutions, and worked hard to perform their role and responsibility for great national unity bloc building.

They have paid more attention to connecting the Party and State with people, and optimising resources to effectively fulfill front tasks, he said.

During the eighth tenure, the VFF Central Committee convened ten meetings to discuss and decide major matters, issued programmes and resolutions on the implementation of key tasks and solutions, and encouraged people from all walks of life to join hands in realising the targets of socio-economic development, and ensuring national defence and security, and foreign affairs, the official stressed.

Meanwhile, the Presidium has played an active role in law building and presented opinions of voters and people at the National Assembly’s sessions, Lenh said.

He also highlighted efforts of the Standing Board of the VFF Central Committee in new-style rural area and civilized urban building, as well as the attention the board has paid to remote, border and island areas, and victims of natural disasters.

Their activities have contributed to promoting the great national unity bloc and encouraging people of all social strata to engage in implementing major tasks, he said.

The report also pointed out limitations in the operations of the VFF Central Committee, the Presidium and the Standing Board regarding their response to some pressing and newly-emerging issues, law building, social supervision and feedback.

On this occasion, the Presidium of the eighth VFF Central Committee launched a SMS campaign to collect funds in support of the poor.

Writing contest on President Ho Chi Minh launched in Indonesia

A writing contest on President Ho Chi Minh’s visit to Indonesia 60 years ago launched

The Embassy of Vietnam in Indonesia and Radio the Voice of Vietnam’s channel for external news service (VOV5) on September 18 launched a writing contest on President Ho Chi Minh’s visit to Indonesia 60 years ago.

The contest is an activity marking the 60th anniversary of the 10-day historical visit of the late Vietnamese President to Indonesia in 1959 as well as towards the 65th founding anniversary of Vietnam-Indonesia diplomatic ties (December 30, 1955-2020).

According to the organisers, the event, which runs until October 17, is designed for VOV5’s audience in Indonesia, especially politicians, scholars, researchers, journalists and young people who have reserved special sentiments for Vietnam.

Entries of the contest should focus on the visit of President Ho Chi Minh, the friendship between the President and Indonesian President Sukarno and the Vietnam-Indonesia strategic partnership.

The winner will receive a cash prize worth 1 million rupiah (nearly 70 USD) and a gemstone painting featuring President Ho Chi Minh, along with a trip to Hanoi to attend a seminar marking 60 years since the President’s trip to Indonesia, which is scheduled to take place later this year.

Seychelles treasures ties with Vietnam: President Faure

Vietnamese Ambassador to Mozambique and Seychelles Le Huy Hoang (left) presents his credentials to President of Seychelles Danny Faure.

Seychelles always treasures and wishes to promote friendship and cooperation with Vietnam, President of Seychelles Danny Faure said on September 17.

At a reception for Vietnamese Ambassador to Mozambique and Seychelles Le Huy Hoang, who came to present his credentials, in Victoria capital city, the President hailed achievements Vietnam has recorded in reform and international integration.

He called on Vietnam to continue sharing its experience with Seychelles in economic development, investment expansion and the development of small-and medium-sized enterprises.

The leader expressed his hope that the two countries will step up cooperation across spheres, and optimise their strength in tourism, telecommunications, fishery and maritime economy.

For his part, Ambassador Hoang affirmed that Vietnam attaches importance to developing the friendship with Seychelles.

He thanked the African nation for its support to Vietnam’s candidacy as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for 2020-2021, and expressed hope that the two countries will further their mutual support at multilateral forums like the UN, the International Organisation of the Francophonie and the Non-Aligned Movement.

On this occasion, the ambassador paid a courtesy visit to Vice President and Foreign Minister of Seychelles Vincent Meriton who expressed his admiration for Vietnam’s development in many aspects.

He suggested Vietnam and Seychelles enhance cooperation at international forums.

During their meeting with Ambassador Hoang, Secretary of State for the Seychelles Ministry of Foreign Affair Barry Faure and other representatives of the ministry touched upon specific measures to boost bilateral collaboration in politics, diplomacy, economy, trade, maritime resource preservation and exploitation, tourism, agricultural development and aquaculture.

Meanwhile, Minister for Finance, Trade, Investment and Economic Planning Maurice Loustau-Lalanne hoped that the two countries would forge their trade links, and promised to facilitate the penetration of Vietnamese goods and services in Seychelles.

Businesses should utilise the strength of the two countries to intensify their cooperation, he suggested.

Principal Secretary for Tourism Anne Lafortune talked about measures to strengthen tourism cooperation between Vietnam and Seychelles, including training and promotion activities.

She urged the two countries to soon complete procedures to cooperate in navigation and aviation transportation.

Ambassador Hoang and Dao Manh Duc, head of the Vietnamese Commercial Affairs Office in South Africa and Seychelles, proposed measures to step up the bilateral economic and trade ties such as the establishment of channels providing information about exports, imports, trade fairs and delegation exchanges.

They called on leaders of local ministries and agencies to create favourable conditions for Seychelles enterprises to operate in Vietnam, and make it easier for Vietnamese goods and labourers to enter the African nation.

Vietnam, Mexico hold fifth political consultation

Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son (left) and his Mexican counterpart Julian Ventura Valero

Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son and his Mexican counterpart Julian Ventura Valero have compared notes on measures to strengthen relations between the two countries and foreign ministries.

During the fifth political consultation between the two foreign ministries in Mexico City on September 17, the officials discussed the East Sea situation, as well as regional and international issues of shared concern.

They said bilateral ties are developing fruitfully, especially in economy with two-way trade reaching 3.4 billion USD in 2018. Mexico is Vietnam’s second largest trade partner in Latin America.

Both sides agreed to increase delegation exchanges and bilateral meetings, and discussed the establishment of a suitable framework to step up bilateral collaboration.

They will also work together to improve the efficiency of existing mechanisms, especially the Joint Committee on Economy, Trade and Investment, and utilise the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) of which both Vietnam and Mexico are members, to expand bilateral economic, trade and investment links.

At the same time, they will continue to perfect legal frameworks for long-term cooperation, and promote joint projects in agriculture, national defence, science-technology, culture, sports and tourism.

The two sides agreed to coordinate to organise political, economic and cultural activities, and people-to-people exchanges towards the 45th founding anniversary of diplomatic relations next year (May 19, 1975).

They agreed on the principles of independence, self-reliance, peace and respect for international law in the settlement of regional and international issues.

They committed to supporting each other at international organisations and multilateral forums, especially the United Nations, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum and the Forum for East Asia-Latin America Cooperation, and enhancing relations between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Pacific Alliance.

During his stay in Mexico from September 15-18, Son had a working session with President of the Foreign Affairs Asia – Pacific – Africa Commission at the Mexican Senate Cora Cecilia Pinedo Alonso, Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the Chamber of Deputies Alfredo Femat Banuelos, and leaders of the Labour Party of Mexico (PT).

He also visited the Vietnamese Embassy and a photo exhibition on Vietnam, and laid wreaths at President Ho Chi Minh’s statue in Mexico City.

Vietnam, RoK enhance trade union cooperation

President of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour Nguyen Dinh Khang (left) and President of Federation of Korea Trade Unions Juyoung Kim

President of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL) Nguyen Dinh Khang has suggested the Federation of Korea Trade Unions (FKTU) increase the sharing of experience with its Vietnamese counterpart.

The two agencies should support each other in building harmonious labour relations, thus protecting the legal rights and interests of guest workers, especially Vietnamese labourers in the Republic of Korea (RoK), Khang said at a reception for FKTU President Juyoung Kim in Hanoi on September 18.

He urged the two sides to continue implementing their cooperation agreement signed in 2016, maintain the exchange of high-ranking delegations and deepen collaboration between trade unions of sectors and localities.

The official said since the VGCL and the FKTU established their relationship in 1993, bilateral cooperation has yielded fruits.

They exchanged information and experience in protecting rights of labourers and ensuring gender equality, and joined hands in promoting policies to create jobs, prevent unemployment, increase social insurance and welfare, improve minimum wages and ensure safety and sanitation in the workplace.

For his part, Kim pledged efforts to protect legal rights and interests of Vietnamese workers in the RoK, and expressed his hope that the VGCL will send more delegations to the RoK to enhance cooperation between the two agencies.

Vietnam, Greece to tap cooperation in strong fields

Greek Deputy Prime Minister Panagiotis Pikrammenos (R) presents a souvenir to Politburo member and Head of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee's Economic Commission Nguyen Van Binh

Vietnam and Greece should tap cooperation in fields of their strength such as navigation, services and tourism, Politburo member and Head of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee's Economic Commission Nguyen Van Binh has said.

He made the suggestion at a meeting with Greek Deputy Prime Minister Panagiotis Pikrammenos on September 17 as part of his visit to the European country from September 14 to 18.

Trade relations between Vietnam and Greece have seen positive strides in recent years, but are not on par with potential, Binh said, noting that two-way trade hit 330 million USD in 2018.

He thanked Greece for supporting Vietnam’s bid for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council for 2020-2021, as well as the signing of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and Investment Protection Agreement (IPA).

The Vietnamese official also exchanged views with his host on the complicated situation in the East Sea in recent times, and voiced his hope that Greece will pay attention to this important shipping route.

He called on Greece to support Vietnam to address disputes in the East Sea via peaceful means, including diplomatic and legal measures, seriously implementing international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and resolutely opposing the use of force or threats to use force.

The official suggested the two sides enhance delegation exchanges to boost mutual understanding and cooperation as well as strengthen coordination mechanisms, particularly when Vietnam takes the rotary ASEAN Chairmanship and becomes a member of the UN Security Council in 2020.

For his part, Deputy PM Pikrammenos said Greece supports international freedom of navigation as well as Vietnam’s viewpoints and policies in settling disputes in the East Sea.

Greece also backs the ratification of the EVFTA-IPA, Pikrammenos said, calling on the two sides to cooperate in fields of their strengths like marine transport and tourism.

The same day, Binh had a working session with Greek Minister for Development and Investment Adonis Georgiadis, during which he highlighted the economic development situation in Vietnam and called for investment and cooperation from Greek enterprises, while Georgiadis spoke highly of the economic reform and development of Vietnam over the past time.

Earlier on September 16, Binh attended a workshop with Greek businesses to call for investment in navigation. He also met with overseas Vietnamese in Greece.

On September 18, he is scheduled to work with the Communist Party of Greece to deepen ties, and attend a business forum exploring Southeast Asia.

Fatherland Front to work harder for great national unity: leader

President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee Tran Thanh Man

The Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) will better fulfill its role in enhancing the great national unity bloc and serving as a bridge linking the Party and State with the people, VFF Central Committee President Tran Thanh Man has said.

Man, who is also Secretary of the Party Central Committee, made the remark in an interview with the Vietnam News Agency ahead of the 9th National VFF Congress in Hanoi from September 18 to 20.

He stressed that the great national unity is a strategic policy of Vietnam’s revolution and also a huge driving force for national development and defence.

During the 2014-2019 tenure, the VFF has exerted efforts to pool the strength of the whole nation to carry out socio-economic development tasks, ensure defence – security and build a strong political system. It has worked to promote social supervision and feedback and help with the Party and administration building, while playing an active part in the people-to-people diplomacy and uniting overseas Vietnamese.

The official went on to say that the VFF-initiated campaigns and emulation movements have strongly inspired people of all strata with the enthusiasm for emulation, working, creation and participation in economic development, settlement of social problems, building of new-style countryside and civilised urban areas, and poverty reduction.

Additionally, the VFF has performed well its role in representing and protecting people’s rights and legitimate interests, along with enhancing the fight against corruption and wastefulness, he noted.

The official said for 2019-2024, the VFF will focus its tasks on further uniting Vietnamese people both at home and abroad, along with consolidating and bringing into play the great national unity bloc.

It will continue encouraging people to emulate in working and creation, thereby helping to achieve economic, cultural and social targets, firmly safeguard defence – security, and weather all difficulties and challenges.

Another important task is to push ahead with promoting democracy; representing and protecting people’s rights and legitimate interests; participating in social supervision and feedback, and corruption and wastefulness combat; taking part in the building of an incorruptible and strong Party and State; and creating favourable conditions for the people to exercise their right to mastership.

Man noted VFF committees at all levels will also step up people-to-people diplomatic activities and reinforce the Vietnamese people’s solidarity and friendship with others around the world, thus helping to expand the Party and State’s external relations and raise Vietnam’s stature in the international arena.

The committees will also boost their apparatus consolidation and operational reforms to increase their efficiency so as to meet requirements in the new period, the VFF leader added.

Master plan aims to improve ethnic minorities’ lives

Do Van Chien, Minister-Chairman of the Government’s Committee for Ethnic Minority Affairs addresses the 37th session of the NA Standing Committee on September 18

Members of the National Assembly Standing Committee on September 18 discussed a draft resolution approving a master plan on socio-economic development in ethnic and mountainous areas as well as regions with extreme difficult situation in the 2021-2025 period.

According to Do Van Chien, Minister-Chairman of the Government’s Committee for Ethnic Minority Affairs, the plan was essential to overcome shortcomings and promote the comprehensive development of ethnic minority people.

The implementation of the project will contribute to increasing incomes for people, contributing to sustainable poverty reduction and basically solving some pressing issues of people living in extremely difficult socio-economic regions, he said.

Among the 54 ethnic groups in Vietnam, 53 are minorities with more than 13 million people, accounting for 14.6 percent of the country’s population. Ethnic minorities are living in 56 of the 63 provinces and cities nationwide.

Although the ethnic minority and mountainous areas in the northwest, Central Highlands, southwestern and western central coastal regions hold a strategic position in the country’s socio-economic development strategy as well as guarantee security, they still have the lowest quality of human resources, Chien said.

He also said the regions had lowest access to basic social services and a high poverty rate.

Chien blamed this on the fact the ethnic minority people live in the border and mountainous areas with severe climate and poor infrastructure.

High costs of production and circulation of goods have made it difficult to attract social resources for socio-economic development.

The low efficiency of using investment capital and failure to exploit the potentials of the regions has also deterred their development.

Thanks to implementation of policy to support infrastructure development for ethnic minority and mountainous areas and poverty reduction models, the living standards of local residents has improved remarkably.

One such model is a fish farm built in the reservoir of the hydro power plant in Lai Chau which provides employment and salaries for a number of residents in the Than Uyen district.

In 2018, it helped see a reduction of 5 percent of the number of poor households living in poverty compared to the previous year.

By the end of last year, there were 24,195 poor households, accounting for 25 percent of the total households in the province.

In 2018, two districts, Tan Uyen and Than Uyen, were no longer on the list of the poor districts of the country.

Ha Ngoc Chien, Chairman of the NA Council for Ethnic Minority Affairs, said the majority of council members agreed with the necessity of building the master plan as mentioned in the Government’s report.

“It is essential to have a policy strong enough to attract investment in these regions, aiming at narrowing the development and income gap,” he said.

Basing on supervisory results on the implementation of policies to support socio-economic development for ethnic minority and mountainous areas in 2016-2018 period, Chien said, the project would help enhance the effectiveness of policies and investment resource of the State and society.

The total capital for the project was estimated at 335.4 trillion VND at the minimum level.

However, the NA Council for Ethnic Minority Affairsproposed the Government to clarify the foundation for resource estimate because the project failed to show list of investment.

The council also suggested the Ministry of Planning and Investment to make a report on resource assessment before submitting to the NA for approval.
The Government should make clear the State budget spending increase compared with the 2011-2022 period and how to guarantee the investment resource.

Chien said the NA Council for Ethnic Minority Affairsproposed the Government to amend the project and submit to the eight session of National Assembly for consideration.