Activities held for people with disabilities

More than 6,000 people with disabilities from 16 southern provinces and cities enjoyed free entry, art performances and food at a festival in the Suoi Tien Cultural Tourism Site in Ho Chi Minh City on December 2.

The event was jointly hosted by the municipal Departments of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs (DoLISA); Culture and Sports; Information and Communication to observe the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (December 3).

Nguyen Thi Lien, Deputy Director of the HCM City DoLISA said, the event, the 18th version of its kind, aims to give people with disabilities a joyful time while calling on organisations and individuals to provide assistance to the disadvantaged group.

According to the organisation board, over the past 18 years, the programme has involved around 155,000 people with disabilities from southern region.

Meanwhile, 244 wheelchairs were presented to persons with disabilities at a charity event in Cao Lanh city, the Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap to mark the occasion.

According to Huynh Duy Khuong, Deputy Director of the provincial Department of Labours, War Invalids and Social Affairs, the sector aims to ensure all social beneficiaries with disabilities will receive regular assistance and be covered with health insurance.

The sector will also promote the group’s access to socio-economic activities, thus helping them integrate into the community.

Currently, Dong Thap is home to nearly 21,000 people with disabilities, with nearly 19,000 receiving monthly allowance.

From 2013 – 2017, public agencies and mass organisations have conducted numerous activities to support the group, including vocational training courses  and rehabilitation means. Over 3,000 wheelchairs have been presented to persons with disabilities.

Eight local development projects get Japan aid

Eight Vietnamese grassroots projects in the fields of education, health and infrastructure development received about 642,000 USD in grants from the Japanese government on December 1.

Representatives of the projects attended a grant assistance signing ceremony with Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Umeda Kunio on December 1 in Hanoi.

Four of the eight projects aim to improve educational conditions for students in northern Vietnam. They will build kitchens and learning buildings for a kindergarten and two elementary schools in Lang Son, Dien Bien and Hoa Binh provinces, and provide training equipment for a vocational welding school in the Hai Phong economic zone.

Three other projects focus on upgrading two clinics of the Binh Lanh and Tam Da communes in the central province of Quang Nam and northern province of Tuyen Quang respectively, and providing equipment for mobile health check services in central Thua Thien-Hue province.

The last project sets out to upgrade an inter-communal route that passes the Ia Blu Commune in the Central Highlands Gia Lai province.

Speaking at the ceremony, Ambassador Kunio said that the variety of the projects in terms of fields and locations will contribute to the comprehensive development of Vietnam.

“The Japanese government hopes that it will help increase the effectiveness and meaning of social projects at the grassroots level through the Grassroots Grant Assistant Programme in Vietnam,” he said. “I personally hope that these projects will open up a bright future, not for one but for many people.”

Established in 1992, Japan’s Grassroots Grant Assistance Programme has supported 600 grassroots projects in Vietnam, with Official Development Assistance (ODA) totaling 50 million USD.

Two grassroots human security projects in the central Thua Thien-Hue and Quang Binh provinces received 72,400 USD from the programme last month.

CPV delegation attends dialogue with world political parties in China

A delegation from the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) is taking part in a high-level dialogue between the Communist Party of China (CPC) and world political parties in Beijing from December 1-3.

The delegation is led by Phan Dinh Trac – Secretary of the CPV Central Committee, Chairman of the CPV Central Committee’s Commission for Internal Affairs and deputy head of the Central Steering Committee for Anti-Corruption.

Speaking at the event on December 2, Trac highly valued the CPC’s initiative to organise the dialogue, saying that it actively contributes to building strong political parties in the world.

He introduced the renewal policy of the CPV, which defines economic development as a central task and building a pure and strong Party as a key mission.

These tasks are of vital significance to the success of the revolutionary career, he stressed.

According to Trac, the Vietnamese party also determines corruption as one of the great risks threatening the existence of the Party and the socialist regime. Therefore, fighting corruption, degradation in political thought, morality and lifestyle, and “self-transformation” and “self-evolution” among Party officials and members is an important, regular and urgent but difficult, complicated and long task, he noted.

Over the past time, with the high determination of the CPV, Vietnam has attained positive outcomes in preventing, detecting and dealing with corruption cases, he said, adding that anti-corruption mechanisms have been continuously built and completed while measures against corruption have been implemented synchronously.

The Vietnamese official also praised China for its enormous achievements obtained recently under the leadership of the CPC with General Secretary Xi Jinping being the core, especially in Party building and corruption combating.

Earlier, in his opening address on December 1, CPC General Secretary Xi Jinping proposed developing a new model on cooperation among political parties. He affirmed that the CPC is willing to boost dialogue, exchanges and cooperation with other political parties around the world.

Autistic kids benefited from special library

A library was established in Ho Chi Minh City to make it easier for local autistic children to integrate into society. It has catered for the demand for such a service.

A lack of reading and playing spaces designated for autistic children has created a huge obstacle in helping the group integrate into society. Thus such a library is a friendly environment to help autistic children open their hearts and interact with other people.

A parent of an autistic kid shared: "First of all, it is a playground. Secondly, it is a place where they have friends to interact with, which is especially important to these special kids."

Le Thanh Tuy Vi, a volunteer revealed that volunteers' work is to instruct autistic kids through games to know how to do teamwork and talk to other people and their peers.

The library offers a space and designated document system which suits the demand of autistic children between six and 20 years old.

According to Dang Thuy Hong, founder of the Library, the library was established to address the lack of a reading space for the kids. Besides a book library,​ they also hope to build an equipment library so that parents can teach their children.

Besides benefiting the kids, the library also provides parents with books and documents on raising autistic kids, which are rare and expensive in Vietnam. It also creates an environment for them to share experience in the field.

A playground for autistic children to meet and develop while receiving more love is what this special library aims to do.

The model is expected to be expanded so that the community will have a more open and sympathetic view of people with autism.

National awards honour contribution of volunteers

Seven individuals and eight organisations dedicated to volunteering movements in Vietnam were honoured at a ceremony held in Hanoi on December 2. 

The ceremony, in coincidence with the National Volunteer Festival 2017 was jointly organised by the Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union (HCYU), Vietnam Youth Federation Central Committee and the United Nations Volunteer Programme.

The national volunteer award was launched in October and received 100 nominations. 

Addressing the award event, HCYU Secretary Nguyen Phi Long said the voluntary movement, initiated by the HCYU in 2000, has involved 16 million volunteers with activities covering various aspects.

He expressed his hope that the awarding will inspire Vietnamese youths to make greater contributions to the national development.

The National Volunteer Festival 2017 presents an opportunity for Vietnamese youths to share experience and raise their sense of responsibility towards society, Long added.

Young people from across the country shared experience and good practices in voluntary activities during the festival in response to the UN International Volunteer Day (December 5).

Russia vows to share complaint settlement experience with VN

Russia has pledged to share with Vietnam experience in dealing with citizens’ complaints and denouncements as well as issues related to the protection of their legitimate interests.

The Russian side made the commitment during meetings and working sessions with a visiting delegation from the Vietnamese National Assembly’s Committee for People’s Aspirations led by its head Nguyen Thanh Hai.

During their stay in Russia from November 25 to December 2, the Vietnamese delegation worked with several committees of the State Duma (Lower House) and the Federation Council (Upper House), Governor-Generals of Russia and Saint Petersburg city, as well as the department for people’s aspirations and the committee for external affairs of Saint Petersburg city.

Hai exchanged views with her hosts on the meeting with voters, the handling of citizens’ complaints and efforts to ensure the interests of people with land reclaimed and the rights of women, children and other vulnerable groups.

Noting Russia’s experience in legislation and human rights protection is useful for Vietnam, she expressed her wish that the visit would contribute to further boosting the relationship between the two parliaments.

Hanoi meeting marks Int’l Day of Persons with Disabilities

A meeting took place in Hanoi on December 2 in celebration of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (December 3), drawing the participation of more than 300 disabled people in the capital and surrounding localities.

The event was co-organised by the National Committee for Persons with Disabilities (NCPD) and the Hanoi Association of People with Disabilities.

Speaking at the meeting, Deputy Minister of the Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs and NCPD Vice President Dao Hong Lan said Vietnam is one of the countries with a high rate of people with disabilities in Asia-Pacific with nearly 8 million disabled people, or 7.8 percent of total population, including 1.2 million children.

Most of the Vietnamese disabled face difficulties in their lives, especially those who are Agent Orange/dioxin victims, she added.

Over the past time, Vietnam has issued many policies and action programmes to improve the living standards for this group. Thanks to these, people with disabilities have been provided with social allowances, housing, education, health care, vocational training, employment and preferential loans.

However, support has yet come to all people in need, she said, adding that many disabled persons have failed to access job opportunities and social services.

The meeting offers a chance for State agencies, organisations and individuals to accompany people with disabilities, sharing love and responsibility with them, she noted.

This year’s International Day of Persons with Disabilities takes the theme of “Transformation towards Sustainable and Resilient Society for All”.

Congratulations to Lao leaders on National Day

Top leaders of Vietnam on December 1 sent messages of congratulations to their Lao counterparts on the nation’s 42nd National Day (December 2).

Congratulatory messages from General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong, President Tran Dai Quang, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, and National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan were delivered to General Secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party Central Committee and President Bounnhang Vorachith, Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith, and National Assembly Chairwoman Pany Yathotou.

In the messages, the Vietnamese leaders highlighted the continuous development of the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two Parties, States, and people of Vietnam and Laos. 

They congratulated the Lao people on their huge achievements in the cause of national protection and construction under the leadership of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party over the past 42 years.

The Vietnamese leaders also expressed their belief that the Vietnam-Laos, Laos-Vietnam Friendship and Solidarity Year 2017, which celebrates the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations and 40 years since the signing of the Vietnam-Laos Treaty on Amity and Cooperation, will mark a milestone in the glorious development paths of both nations.

The same day, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh cabled a congratulatory message to Lao Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith. 

Head of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations Hoang Binh Quan also extended a message of congratulations to his Lao counterpart Sunthon Xayachack.

Condolences over death of former ASEAN chief

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh on December 1 sent a message of condolences to Thai Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai over the death of Surin Pitsuwan, former ASEAN Secretary General and former Foreign Minister of Thailand.

Surin, who was Secretary General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) from 2008-2013, died of a heart attack at a Bangkok hospital on November 30 at the age of 68.

He served as Thailand's foreign minister from 1997-2001.

Australia Awards Scholarship recipients to start studies in Australia

Fifty-two Australia Awards Scholarship recipients will soon leave Vietnam to undertake postgraduate studies at an Australian university of their choice. 

Australia Awards are prestigious international scholarships and fellowships funded by the Australian Government. Since 1973, Australia has worked with Vietnam to provide scholarships to outstanding Vietnamese students, helping Vietnam to build its human resources. The new scholars are the latest of over 6,000 Vietnamese students who have received Australian Government scholarships.

“This remarkable group of young and talented students will soon enjoy a world-class education and great life experience in Australia. However, what they do and achieve during their studies in Australia is only the first step in their success. The most important thing is that upon their return to Vietnam they will use the knowledge and skills acquired in Australia to contribute to the development of Vietnam and mutually beneficial linkages between our two countries,” Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Craig Chittick said. 

The Australian Government actively encourages and supports people with disabilities, from disadvantaged rural areas and from ethnic minorities to participate in the Australia Awards. As a result, this group of awardees includes three people with disability and four from ethnic minority groups.

“The Australia Awards Scholarship will empower me to fulfill my dream. As a visually impaired person, I understand the challenges people with disability must overcome to realise their full potential and live productive lives. Thus, after I return home to Vietnam, I intend to use my knowledge and experience in Australia to establish a centre to provide mental health counselling services for people with disability and other vulnerable groups,” commented Huynh Huu Canh, who will study for a Master of Social Work at Flinders University. 

Australia is a leading provider of scholarships to Vietnam. The Australia Awards Scholarships are part of a broader investment by the Australian Government – Aus4Skills, which includes Australia Awards Short Courses and informal learning opportunities to address knowledge and skills gaps to help Vietnam realise its aspirations to become a prosperous and socially inclusive country.

Ho Chi Minh City to promptly deploy special mechanisms for faster growth

Politburo member and Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan said the city should quickly deploy the special mechanisms and policies granted to the city for faster development. 

Speaking at the opening of the municipal Party Committee’s 15th conference on December 1, Nhan said the National Assembly’s resolution on piloting special mechanisms and policies for HCM City is of significant meaning to the city. 

He noted that the resolution is the result of thorough preparations over the past 12 years by the municipal Party organisation. 

It is time for the city to tap creativity and uphold solidarity to fuel the city’s development on the back of breakthrough policies, he said. 

Participants focused discussions on inspection work of the Standing Board of the municipal Party Committee, the five-year implementation of the action programmes on social policies for the 2012-2020 period, the Vietnam Marine Strategy 2020 and disciplinary measures against officials with wrongdoings. 

A report at the conference said the city saw an 8.25 percent increase in gross regional development product (GRDP) compared to 8.05 percent last year. Its total retail and service revenue is estimated at 920.44 trillion VND (40.9 billion USD), up 10.89 percent while exports rose by 15.1 percent to 35.2 billion USD and industrial development index went up 8.48 percent. 

The conference will last till December 2.

HCM City voters hail success of National Assembly’s 4th session

Voters in Districts 1, 3 and 4 of HCM City applauded the National Assembly’s recent 4th session, saying that the legislative body continued to reform and enhance the quality of its activities. 

At a meeting on December 1 with NA deputies representing HCM City including President Tran Dai Quang, voters in the southern economic hub noted that the people’s opinions, recommendations and aspiration have been conveyed to the NA session, and NA deputies have demonstrated their sense of responsibility in discussing issues of voters’ concern. 

Local residents also expressed their joy at the country’s achievements in socio-economic development and external relations, especially the success of the APEC Vietnam Year 2017 and the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week in Da Nang city.  

President Tran Dai Quang affirmed that the hosting of the APEC Year 2017 and the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week marked a new milestone in the country’s international integration process. He added that leaders of APEC economies acknowledged Vietnam’s role in guiding and creating a new driving force for APEC during the year. 

At the meeting, voters also raised their voice about pressing issues, including fighting corruption, the reform of the apparatus of the political system, food safety and impacts of climate change. 

Concerning the prevention and fighting of corruption, President Tran Dai Quang stressed the stance that drastic actions are needed and no one would be exception in the fight. He said one of the priorities in the field is to recover the assets appropriated by corrupted officials. 

The President informed the voters that the standing board of the Central Steering Committee for Anti-Corruption Work has adopted a plan towards completing the investigation and trial of 23 corruption-related cases of great public concern within 2017 and the first quarter of 2018.

Responding to voters’ interest in the streamlining of the political system’s apparatus, the President made it clear that the Government and relevant agencies have issued their plans of action to carry out the resolution of the 12th Party Central Committee’s 6th plenum on continuing to renew and rearrange the apparatus towards streamlined structure and better efficiency. The NA also selected the issue for its supervision programme and adopted a resolution on the outcomes. 

He pledged that the issue will be dealt with in an effective manner in line with the resolutions of Party Central Committee and the NA. 

Listening to voters’ opinions on coping with climate change and protecting the environment, President Quang required HCM City authorities to address pubic concerns through its programmes and plans, in order to achieve the goal of rapid and sustainable development.

Discussing a problem causing great public anger recently which concerns violence against and abuse of children, President Quang reiterated the consistent policy of the Party and State on child protection, care and education. 

He stressed that the enforcement of this policy and laws related to children needs to be put under stricter supervision and inspection, while State management in child-related fields must be strengthened. 

The President also urged boosting education and communication work to raise public awareness about the protection of children, and strengthen the coordination among schools, families and society as well as relevant agencies and mass organisations to better perform the task.

Deputy FM: Population work key to national development

The Government of Vietnam has always attached great importance to the population work, considering it as a key factor to the nation’s development, said Deputy Foreign Minister Dang Dinh Quy.

Quy made the affirmation at a reception in Hanoi on December 1 for Natalia Kanem, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), and UNFPA Asia Pacific Regional Director Bjorn Anderson, who have been in Vietnam to attend the 9th Asia Pacific Conference on Reproductive and Sexual Health and Rights (APCRSHR).

He lauded the UNFPA’s role, saying that the agency has helped Vietnam solve its social issues and poverty reduction, implement the UN Millennium Development Goals, train personnel, and work out policies on population, thus contributing to the country’s socio-economic achievements and improving people’s living conditions. 

The deputy minister  suggested the UN and the UNFPA in particular continue advising Vietnam on socio-economic development policies, including population issues, building the Population Law, dealing with population aging challenges and gender imbalance at birth,  and providing official development assistance (ODA) capital for Vietnam to implement their joint cooperation programmes from 2017-2021.

Vietnam is willing to work with the UNFPA to push the organisation’s priorities at the UN forum and implement population and sustainable development goals and other international commitments.

Kanem expressed her impression about significant socio-economic achievements Vietnam has made over the past 30 years of Doi Moi (Reform).

Vietnam is a typical example in completing most of the MDGs and implementing the One UN Initiative in Vietnam, she said.

The UN official spoke highly of the country’s commitment to the implementation of the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development.

The UNFPA will continue assisting Vietnam in carrying out population policies and promoting gender equality and women empowerment, thus contributing the nation’s development, she pledged.

HCM City leader congratulates Laos on National Day

Deputy Secretary of Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee and Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Thanh Phong extended congratulations to the Lao Consulate General on the 42nd National Day of Laos (December 2).

Meeting with the Lao diplomats on December 1, Phong lauded great achievements the neighbouring country has gained in national construction and development.

He stressed that Ho Chi Minh City has organised a slew of activities to mark 55th anniversary of diplomatic ties and 40th anniversary of the signing of the Vietnam-Laos Treaty on Cooperation and Friendship. The city has effectively carried out actions to realise its cooperation deals with Lao localities, making contributions to deepen the special bilateral ties, he said.

Phong affirmed that the city’s Party Committee, authority and people will do their utmost to further develop the traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries.

Lao Consul General Somxay Sanamoune, for his part, thanked Vietnamese Party, Government and people in general and Ho Chi Minh City in particular for supporting Laos in the past years.

He noted that the Consulate General will work to bolster cooperative relations between Ho Chi Minh City and the Lao localities, saying that the move will help preserve and promote the special relations between the two countries, bringing peace and prosperity for both sides.

Embassy celebrates Vietnam-US ties

The Vietnamese Embassy in the US on November 29 celebrated a fruitful year of the Vietnam-US comprehensive partnership and the success of the APEC Year 2017.

The event drew 80 guests, including Congressmen Rich Larsen and Ted Yoho, Special Assistant to President Donald Trump and National Security Council Senior Director for East Asia Matt Pottinger, and US Ambassador to Vietnam Daniel Kritenbrink, among others. 

Vietnamese Ambassador to the US Pham Quang Vinh said that 2017 is a special year for the Vietnam-US ties with the visit to the US by PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc in May and a trip to Vietnam by President Donald Trump in November.

During the visits, both sides issued joint statements affirming their determination to boost bilateral trade and cooperation in diplomacy, education, science-technology, defence and security as well as collaboration in dealing with regional matters and challenges.

The ambassador thanked the US authorities, scholars, media agencies and businesses for working closely with the Vietnamese Embassy in the US over the past years, contributing to the growth of the Vietnam-US comprehensive partnership as well as the success of the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting 2017.

At the event, representative from the US authorities lauded the role and position of Vietnam as well as the country’s development policy. They reaffirmed the US’ interest to foster the comprehensive partnership with Vietnam in all fields.

They congratulated Vietnam on the success of the APEC Year 2017, which helped foster affiliation, development and prosperity of the APEC as well as the whole region.