Author: malaysiang

Hanoi: President of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL) Nguyen Dinh Khang shared VGCL’s outstanding activities at the second conference of the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) Presidential Council held in Sao Paolo, Brazil from March 1-2 (local time).

Khang, who is also WFTU Vice President, said in his speech on March 1 that under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the VGCL has reaped important achievements in its tasks of representing, caring for and protecting trade union members and workers. It also successfully held the 13th National Congress for the 2023-2028 tenure last year, which aligned with working orientations set at the 18th World Trade Union Congress.

He also outlined the VGCL’s 2024 action plan to realise the Resolution adopted at its 13th National Congress and continued efforts to follow orientations in the WTFU’s Rome Declaration 2022.

The VGCL is always an active and responsible member in WFTU’s activities, working closely with member organisations to p
rotect the workers’ rights and interests, he said.

The conference brought together nearly 100 delegates from 32 countries and territories representing 105 million workers worldwide.

Participants adopted the 2024 action plan and resolutions showing solidarity with the Cuban and Palestinian people.

On March 3 morning (local time), the Vietnamese delegation held talks with the WFTU’s leaders to discuss and reach consensus on scheduled cooperation contents.

WFTU Secretary General Pampis Kyritsis, once again, reaffirmed the VGCL’s important role and position within the organisation.

They also held talks with the Central of Workers of Brazil (CTB) and engaged in bilateral meetings to consolidate and expand relations with WFTU’s member trade union organisations, especially those in American region./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Quang Ninh: The Ha Long Carnival 2024 will be a highlight among 186 tourism promotion programmes and events to be held in the northern province of Quang Ninh this year, during which a drone light show will be performed over UNESCO-recognised Ha Long Bay for the first time.

According to the provincial People’s Committee, the Ha Long Carnival is slated for the National Reunification Day (April 30) and May Day holidays at the Ocean Park in Bai Chay ward of Ha Long city, bringing together thousands of domestic and foreign artists.

First held in 2007, the annual event, set to promote the values of the world natural heritage of Ha Long Bay, has offered a familiar and favourite venue to both local residents and tourists.

This year’s festival should promote the values of the Yen Tu – Vinh Nghiem – Con Son, Kiep Bac heritage complex, whose dossier has been submitted to UNESCO to seek the world heritage tittle, as well as the typical values of Quang Ninh, the committee said.

The committee noted that there will be n
early 50 cultural, sport and tourism programmes and events at provincial, national and international levels in the province in the second quarter of this year.

Such activities are expected to help Quang Ninh fulfill its yearly target of luring at least 17 million tourists, including 3 million international visitors, and earning 39.1 trillion VND (1.5 billion USD) from the tourism sector.

Ha Long Bay was recognised as the world natural heritage site by UNESCO twice, in 1994 for its globally outstanding aesthetic values and in 2000 for its geological – geomorphological values.

The recognised area covers 434 sq.km and consists of 775 limestone islets of all sizes – one of the core factors of the heritage’s values./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Melbourne: Overseas Vietnamese in Australia have expressed their optimism about stronger cooperation between the two countries, especially after the ongoing official visit to Australia by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.

The Vietnamese government leader is in Australia for the ASEAN – Australia Special Summit and the official visit to the Oceanian country.

Tran Ba Phuc , Chairman of the Vietnamese Business Association in Australia and Vice Chairman of the Business Association of Overseas Vietnamese, said he and others have been delighted as Vietnam’s position in the international arena has been raised and respected by the international community.

He also emphasised the fruitful diplomatic and trade ties between the two countries, saying the two-way trade is expected to be fostered in the time ahead, particularly after the PM’s visit, as they boast great potential for stronger cooperation.

Phuc also expressed his hope that the visit will be a success, helping to deepen the Vietnam-Australia strategic partne
rship, and that the bilateral diplomatic and economic relations will make greater strides.

The Vietnamese community in Australia shares the wish to contribute to the development in the homeland, he affirmed.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the Business Association of Overseas Vietnamese Peter Hong, who has lived in Australia for more than 40 years, said he and many Vietnamese nationals in Australia are looking forward to the PM’s visit.

Vietnam’s elevated position and reputation in the world, especially in the Asia-Pacific, has raised the confidence among the Vietnamese community in Australia in the Party’s and the State’s leadership, he said.

President of the Melbourne Overseas Vietnamese Students’ Association Nguyen Le Ha Chi also noted her hope that the visit will open up new opportunities for the Vietnam-Australia relations, including their educational cooperation./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Hanoi: Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on March 5 asked relevant forces to maximise resources to settle the aftermath of a serious traffic accident in the northern mountainous province of Tuyen Quang, which killed five people.

The accident occurred at 1:36 am on the day in Dong Cau village, Tu Quan commune, Yen Son district, when a bus carrying passengers from Ha Giang to Tuyen Quang collided with a container truck traveling from Hai Phong to Ha Giang. Initial investigation found the truck’s driver had lost control at a turn, so the vehicle swerved to the left and hit the bus heads-on.

In a dispatch sent to the Ministers of Public Security and Transport, and the chairperson of the provincial People’s Committee of Tuyen Quang, the Government leader requested the Chairperson of the provincial People’s Committee, who is also head of the provincial traffic safety board, to mobilise doctors, drugs, equipment and materials for the treatment of the injured, while conducting necessary procedures for the deceased.

R
elevant forces should work together to find the cause of the accident, and take solutions to address problems regarding infrastructure and traffic organisation (if any) to prevent similar accidents in the future, he said, adding collectives and individuals that have committed wrongdoings must be strictly handled.

The PM also urged People’s Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities to step up communications work to enhance compliance to traffic regulations and take drastic actions to reduce traffic accidents./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

MANILA: The Supreme Court (SC) has affirmed the validity of a law enacted in 1998 allowing the government to take control of private entities engaged in the oil industry during emergencies, as directed by the President.

In its 37-page decision published online Tuesday, the SC reversed a 2013 Court of Appeals (CA) decision and said the Department of Energy (DOE) has this authority under Section 14 (e) of Republic Act 8479, also known as the Downstream Oil Industry Deregulation Act of 1998.

The provision empowers the DOE to temporarily oversee or direct the operations of private corporations within the oil industry under certain circumstances.

The SC pointed out the President’s prerogative to determine national emergencies and the propriety of delegating authority to the DOE.

Citing Article XII, Section 17 of the constitution, which allows for the takeover of privately owned businesses with public interest by the President, the court recognizes the legal foundation for such actions.

The dispute involved Pi
lipinas Shell and Petroleum Corporation (Shell), which contested the validity of Executive Order 839 issued by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in 2009.

The assailed EO mandated oil industry players to maintain petroleum product prices after tropical cyclones “Ondoy” and “Pepeng” wreaked havoc, resulting in damage to agriculture, properties and deaths.

The EO stated that Luzon was in a state of extreme emergency, ‘necessitating effective control and/or management of prices of basic goods and petroleum products by the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of Energy, respectively, in accordance with the relevant laws of the land for the duration of this emergency.’

Shell questioned the constitutionality of Section 14 (e) of the Oil Deregulation Law, which formed the basis for EO 839.

The Makati Regional Trial Court sided with Shell, declaring Section 14 (e) void, but did not rule on the validity of EO 839 due to subsequent actions by the government.

The petitioners appealed to the CA, which
upheld the decision regarding Section 14 (e) but still did not address the EO, rendered moot by the issuance of EO 845 which lifted its mandates and discontinued oil price controls.

Source: Philippines News Agency

Ben Tre: As many as 1,000 national flags and the same number of multifunctional life jackets were presented to disadvantaged fishermen in the Mekong Delta province of Ben Tre on March 5.

The flags and jackets, worth over 1.5 billion VND (60,700 USD) donated by two businesses, were handed over via the Vietnam Red Cross Society (VRC) under a programme named ‘Safety for poor, disadvantaged fishermen’.

At the event, the VRC and Ben Tre authorities also launched work on Vam Giong Mieu Bridge in An Thanh commune of Thanh Phu district as part of this programme.

The bridge, 60 metres long and 4 metres wide, will have loading capacity of 8 tonnes. It is built at a total cost of 5 billion VND funded by the Ho Chi Minh City Development Joint Stock Commercial Bank (HDBank).

Addressing the ceremony, former President Truong Tan Sang said the programme aims to improve working conditions for poor fishermen to help them continue their livelihood and contribute to the safeguarding of the maritime sovereignty.

He called on
sponsors to keep supporting the Ben Tre administration to assist fishermen by building houses and transport facilities in rural areas, thus facilitating travel, economic development, and wealth gap narrowing.

Vu Thanh Luu, Vice Chairman of the VRC Central Committee, noted that implemented from 2022 to 2027, the programme includes equipping fishermen with first-aid and legal knowledge, helping 50,000 deprived and disadvantaged households develop sustainable livelihoods, assisting with house repair and construction for 1,300 households, and presenting life jackets, first-aid kits and national flags to fishermen and fishing vessels.

It targets poor, near-poor, and less privileged fishermen in 291 particularly disadvantaged, coastal, and insular communes in 23 coastal provinces and cities nationwide.

In 2023, Ben Tre residents benefited from 1,000 life jackets, 40 houses, three bridges, 270 flags, 120 school bags that can be used as lifebuoys, and free health examination under the programme./.

Source: Vietna
m News Agency

Vientiane: A delegation of the Vietnam Farmers’ Union (VNFU) led by the organisation’s chairman Luong Quoc Doan paid a courtesy visit to Politburo member of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) and President of the Lao Front for National Construction (LFNC) Central Committee Sinlavong Khoutphaythoune in Vientiane on March 5.

At the meeting, Doan said the delegation’s visit to Laos aims to exchange information, share experiences in mass mobilisation work, and determine cooperation mechanisms between the association and the Lao front.

They also discussed the establishment of the Lao Farmers’ Association.

For his part, Sinlavong highly appreciated the role of the VNFU in the growth of Vietnam’s agriculture during the past time. He said that the delegation’s visit offers opportunities for Laos to learn from Vietnam’s experiences in developing the VNFU.

The same day, the Vietnamese delegation held talks with a delegation from the LFNC Central Committee led by its Vice President Khamlay Sipaseuth.

Durin
g the talks, the two sides agreed to continue promoting communications work for farmers of the two countries to understand the strategic importance and meaning of the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between Laos and Vietnam.

They will join in protecting and nurturing the good traditional relationship between the two countries.

The two sides agreed to continue promoting their cooperation and friendship and support each other in activities of the farmers’ union in particular and the development of agriculture, farmers, and rural areas in general.

At the end of the talks, the two sides signed a Memorandum of Understanding for bilateral cooperation in the 2025 – 2030 period./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Ho Chi Minh City: The Ho Chi Minh City People’s Court on March 5 began the first-instance trial on a major case involving property developer Van Thinh Phat Group, Saigon Commercial Bank (SCB) and relevant units.

Truong My Lan, Chairwoman of the Van Thinh Phat Group, stood accused of embezzlement, giving bribes, and violating regulations on banking and related activities.

Other 85 defendants, including former leaders and officials of SCB, the State Bank of Vietnam, the Government Inspectorate, the State Audit Office, were charged with embezzling property, accepting bribes, abusing positions and power while performing duties, showing the lack of responsibility causing serious consequences, violating regulations on the operations of credit institutions and banking activities, and abusing trust for property appropriation.

According to the indictment of the Supreme People’s Procuracy, Lan built a network of about 1,000 subsidiaries and affiliated companies under the Van Thinh Phat umbrella, entrusting their man
agement to relatives. Despite not holding any official position at SCB, Lan was its major shareholder, controlling between 85% and 91.5% of the shares. She and her accomplices created fake loan records to withdraw money from SCB for personal use.

From October 9, 2018 to October 7, 2022, Lan directed the creation of 916 fake loan records, appropriating more than 304 trillion VND (12.6 million USD) from SCB. The bank now remains unable to recover the sum and has accrued over 129,372 trillion VND in interest on the outstanding amount.

Lan was also accused of giving bribes to the State Bank of Vietnam inspection team to cover up her wrongdoings at SCB and facilitate the bank’s restructuring,

She also appeared as a victim in the case against Nguyen Cao Tri, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Van Lang Company and Capella Company. Tri was charged with abusing his trust to attempt the misappropriation of 1 trillion VND from Lan.

Of the 86 defendants brought to trial, 70 are in custody while 11 are on bail. Fiv
e others, including former leaders of SCB and its branches, remain wanted.

The trial is scheduled to last till April 29./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency