WB Vice President welcomed in Hanoi

Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai welcomed visiting Vice President of the World Bank (WB) Joachim von Amsberg in Hanoi on June 2.

Hai thanked the WB for its assistance for Vietnam over the past time, saying that it is significant to Vietnam as the bank not only provides loans, but also helps Vietnam in institutional reform and sectoral restructuring.

He took the occasion to ask the WB to give Vietnam a transitional period after the up-coming end of the bank’s International Development Association-17 (IDA-17) programme for poor and under-developed countries.

Hailing Vietnam’s development achievements, Amsberg said that the WB is studying new initiatives to support the nation’s development in the time to come.

The WB considers Vietnam a typical example in using its loans efficiently, which makes it easier for the bank to persuade donors to contribute more for its development assistance programmes.

Preferential conditions of loans in the post-IDA-17 period are expected to be lower, but forthcoming negotiations between the WB and Vietnam will be conducted in the spirit of boosting Vietnam’s development, he stated.

NA debates draft revised State Budget Law

National Assembly deputies debated the draft revised State Budget Law on June 2, as part of their ongoing ninth session.

Their opinions focused on principles in the management of State budget and other State-owned financial funds, the decentralisation in controlling income sources, expenditure tasks and relations between budget levels, as well as regulations of state budget balancing.

Budget overspending, advanced payment of State budget, the settlement of increases and decreases in State budget revenues and spending compared to estimates also attracted attention.

The deputies also gave their opinions on the responsibilities and power of the NA and NA bodies, Government and Ministry of Finance, as well as People Councils and People’s Committee at all levels on State budget.

In the afternoon, the deputies worked in groups on the draft Law on Organisation of Criminal Investigation Body and Law on Temporary Detention and Custody.

HCM City, Japan’s Saitama Prefecture seek partnership opportunities

Leaders of Ho Chi Minh City and Japan’s Saitama Prefecture had a meeting in Ho Chi Minh City on June 2 to seek opportunities to boost partnerships and economic connections.

Tat Thanh Cang, Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee, briefed the guest on the current general socio-economic situation in the city as well as the city’s strengths and future development orientations.

He noted that the city is strong in industry and trade with agriculture accounting for only 1 percent of the economy. However, the city is striving to develop hi-tech agriculture with high added value, he said.

Many Japanese firms have shown interest in the sector, he added, suggesting that those from Saitama should explore investment opportunities in the field.

Cang held that economic collaboration potential between the two localities is abundant, especially in mechanical engineering, electronics, information technology, chemicals, food processing, garments and textiles and footwear.

He also proposed that apart from economic cooperation, Saitama businesses should seek high-quality human resources training, which helps provide sufficient labour sources for their projects in the city.

Saitama Vice Governor Iwasaki Yasuo said the Saitama delegation’s visit aims to set up a friendly partnership between the two localities, especially in economics.

He noted that about 80 enterprises from Saitama are currently investing in Vietnam , mostly in mechanical engineering, automobile part manufacturing, construction and architecture.

Saitama businesses strengths include automobile part making, support industry, mechanical engineering and hi-tech agriculture, Iwasaki said, expressing his hope that close ties with Ho Chi Minh City would be set up shortly.

During the meeting, the two sides agreed to create favourable conditions for enterprises of both localities to strengthen connections and affiliation in the future.

Vietnam attends 104th International Labour Conference

A delegation of Vietnamese senior executives attended the 104th session of the International Labour Conference (ILC) of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) in Geneva, Switzerland on June 1.

Ambassador Nguyen Trung Thanh, Head of Vietnam’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations and other international organisations in Geneva, joined the Vietnamese delegation to the event, which attracted representatives from governments, employers and employees from 180 member countries and territories of the ILO.

The two-week conference will focus on the realisation of the 2015-2016 ILO Programme and Budget, the transitions from the informal to the formal economy and the implementation of strategic social security objectives.

This year’s event is also a forum for delegations to engage in open dialogues on social and labour issues which remain key global priorities.

During the plenary sessions of the conference, delegations will discuss reports from the ILO Director-General on the implementation of social policy programmes.

In recent years, ILO reports have addressed issues of social welfare, social equality in the global economy and sustainable development.

Founded in 1910, the ILO became the first technical organisation to merge with the United Nations (UN) in 1946.

The annual ILC will run through June 13.