Category: Politics

Guangxi: Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son and Secretary of the Party Committee of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of China Liu Ning discussed measures to further promote relations between Vietnamese ministries and agencies, and Guangxi province of China at their meeting in Chongzuo city on April 3.

Son, who is paying an official visit to China, affirmed that the Vietnamese Party and State always support and facilitate cooperation between Vietnamese localities and their Chinese counterparts, including Guangxi.

The minister suggested the two sides focus on implementing high-level common perceptions and major outcomes gained during the visit to China by General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong in October 2022, and the visit to Vietnam by General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and President of China Xi Jinping in December 2023.

Vietnamese ministries, agencies and localities, and Guangxi should maintain and raise
the efficiency of their existing cooperation mechanisms, step up friendship, conduct theory exchanges and share experience in Party building, social management and economic development, he continued.

Son asked Guangxi province to facilitate customs clearance at border gates, especially for Vietnamese agricultural products, and speed up the construction of border gate infrastructure.

At the same time, the two sides should enhance railway and road connectivity, and work to raise mutual understanding and friendship between the two countries’ people, especially younger generations, he said.

Son stressed the need for the two sides to closely coordinate in land border management in line with three legal documents on the land border and relevant agreements that Vietnam and China had previously signed.

Liu, for his part, expressed his support for Son’s proposals, and affirmed that Guangxi province attaches importance to friendship exchanges and mutually beneficial cooperation with Vietnamese ministries, agencies
and localities.

The two sides should maximise their potential, strengths and reciprocity in cooperation, he noted./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Hanoi: The Party Central Committee (PCC)’s Inspection Commission convened its 39th meeting in Hanoi on April 2 and 3, during which it looked into disciplinary measures against the Party Civil Affairs Committee of the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA) and some relevant Party organisations and members.

Implementing a decision made at its 37th session, the Inspection Commission decided to remove Nguyen Hong Minh, former Secretary of the Party Committee and former Director General of the MoLISA’s Directorate of Vocational Training, from all of his Party positions.

It also issued warnings against the Party Committee of the Directorate of Vocational Training for the 2010-2015 and 2015-2020 tenures, and Nguyen Ngoc Phi, former member of the Party Civil Affairs Committee and Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs; Duong Duc Lan, former Secretary of the Party Committee and former Director General of the Directorate of Vocational Training; and Pham Quang Phung, Secretary of the
Party Cell and Director of the Department of Planning-Finance under the MoLISA.

The Inspection Commission reprimanded the Standing Board of the MoLISA’s Party Committee for the 2015-2020 term, and Truong Anh Dung, Secretary of the Party Committee and Director General of the Directorate of Vocational Training.

It proposed the Politburo and the Secretariat of the Party Central Committee consider and discipline the MoLISA’s Party Civil Affairs Committee for the 2011-2016 and 2016-2021 terms, Dao Ngoc Dung, member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Party Civil Affairs Committee, and Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs; Pham Thi Hai Chuyen, former member of the Party Central Committee, former Secretary of the Party Civil Affairs Committee, and former Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs; and Huynh Van Ti, former member of the Party Central Committee, former member of the Party Civil Affairs Committee, and former Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs.

At the
meeting, the Inspection Commission also mulled over the case of the Party Civil Affairs Committee of the People’s Court of Kon Tum province, and some concerned Party organisations and members.

It gave a warning against the Party Civil Affairs Committee of the People’s Court of Kon Tum province for the 2020-2025 term, and Do Thi Kim Thu, Secretary of the Party Civil Affairs Committee and Chief Judge of the People’s Court of Kon Tum province.

Nguyen Tien Tang, member of the Party Civil Affairs Committee and Deputy Chief Judge of the provincial People’s Court, was reprimanded. The Inspection Commission opined on reports proposing the issuance of disciplinary measures against some members of Party organisations in Quang Ngai, Vinh Phuc, Dak Lak and Binh Phuoc provinces.

It proposed the Politburo and the Secretariat of the Party Central Committee consider and discipline Le Viet Chu, former member of the Party Central Committee, former Secretary of the provincial Party Committee, former Secretary of the Party Ci
vil Affairs Committee and former Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee of Quang Ngai province.

The Inspection Commission also suggested the Politburo and the Secretariat of the Party Central Committee consider disciplinary measures against Pham Hoang Anh, Permanent Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Vinh Phuc province; and Doan Huu Long, former member of the provincial Party Committee, former Secretary of the Party Committee and former Director of the Department of Health of Dak Lak province; and Dang Gia Dung, former member of the provincial Party Committee, former Secretary of the Party Committee and former Director of the Department of Construction of Dak Nong province, as well as Ma Ly Phuoc, member of the provincial Party Committee and Deputy Head of the provincial Party Committee’s Board for Mass Mobilisation of Binh Phuoc province for their wrongdoings.

For the cases relating to permanent members of the Party Committees of Cao Bang province and Can Tho City, the Inspection Commission
asked them to carry forward their achievements, and seriously review, draw lessons and promptly correct their wrongdoings and shortcomings in leadership as pointed out.

Similar requests were also made for the Standing Board and permanent members of the Party Committee of Quang Tri province./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

HCM City: Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States and International Organisations of the Vatican, will visit Vietnam from April 9-14 at the invitation of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Vietnam, the office of the conference announced on April 3.

According to Chief of the office Archbishop Giuse Dao Nguyen Vu, this will be the first Vatican Secretary for Relations with States-level visit to Vietnam. During the visit, Archbishop Gallagher will meet with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son, representatives of the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Government Committee for Religious Affairs.

He planned to visit the Hanoi-based National Children’s Hospital, which has had medical cooperation with Rome’s Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital since 2005.

Archbishop Gallagher will celebrate the Mass at designated cathedrals in Hanoi, Hue and Ho Chi Minh City; and meet with members of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Vietnam before wrapping up the
visit./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Hanoi: The following is a brief review of the day’s events as reported by the Vietnam News Agency.

– Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on April 3 demanded ministries, sectors, and localities resolutely not surrender to difficulties but keep persistence in the set targets.

He made the request while chairing the Government’s regular meeting for March and a teleconference with the 63 provinces and centrally-run cities to discuss the socio-economic situation in the first quarter and set tasks for Q2.

– Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai had a meeting with US Trade Representative Katherine Tai in Boston on April 2 (local time), as part of his US trip for the Vietnam Executive Leadership Programme (VELP).

Khai highlighted Vietnam’s consistent policy of building an independent and self-reliant economy in association with active, extensive, and effective international integration.

– The Vietnam-Hungary comprehensive partnership has grown soundly across various sectors, with the countries’ parliamentary cooperation
thriving on both bilateral and multilateral fronts, stated Vice Chairman of the National Assembly (NA) Tran Quang Phuong at his recent talks with Márta Mátrai, First Deputy of the Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly, in Budapest.

The Vietnamese legislator took the occasion to propose both sides maintain exchanges of high-level delegations and specialised committees, enhance mutual cooperation and support at multilateral forums, and coordinate the implementation of agreements signed between the two parliaments during the visit of Vietnamese NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue to Hungary in 2022.

– The Ministry of Information and Communications has set a target of increasing the usage of Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) to 65-80% by the end of this year, bringing Vietnam into the top 8 for IPv6 usage in the world.

Converting to IPv6, the most recent version of the Internet Protocol, is critical to ensure address resources for Internet development and connection with new services such as Internet of Things, c
loud computing and 5G/6G networks, the ministry said.

– The total revenue from the retail sales of goods and consumer service in March was estimated at 509.3 trillion VND (20.3 billion USD), up 0.5% month-on-month and 9.2% year-on-year, according to the General Statistics Office (GSO).

In the month, the retail revenue of food and foodstuffs rose by 11.6%, household appliances and tools 16%, garment 10.1%, accommodation and catering services 15.8%, and tourism and travel services 66.1% against the same period last year.

– The General Statistics Office (GSO) reported a decade-high number of new businesses established nationwide in the first quarter, reaching 36,224.

Taking into account enterprises resuming operation, the number reached 59,848.

– The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism on April 3 launched the 2024 stimulus programme, with discounts of 10-60% on various tourism products and services.

Participating businesses have already signed Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) to ensure a comprehensive
range of discounted options. The programme, with nearly 100 travel agents, accommodation and dining facilities, shopping venues and entertainment centres taking part, will be officially introduced to tourists at the upcoming Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Festival slated for April 4-7 at 23/9 Park in District 1.

– The 17th International Processing and Packaging Exhibition and Conference (ProPak Vietnam 2024) opened in Ho Chi Minh City on April 3.

The three-day event attracts 310 exhibitors from 30 countries and territories, including India, the Republic of Korea, China’s Hong Kong, Singapore, Spain, and the US. It also features a number of international conferences, seminars, and technical sessions.

– The Vietnam International Trade Fair (Vietnam Expo 2024), one of the leading international trade exhibitions in Vietnam, kicked off in Hanoi on April 3, attracting 480 enterprises from 15 countries and territories worldwide.

The 33rd event of this kind features nearly 600 pavilions, up 20% compared to the figure l
ast year.

– The Metro Line 1 (Ben Thanh – Suoi Tien) in Ho Chi Minh City is expected to start commercial operation in October this year, according to the Ho Chi Minh City’s Management Authority for Urban Railways (MAUR).

Addressing a meeting on April 2 of the municipal People’s Committee to review socio-economic situation in the first quarter, Nguyen Quoc Hien, deputy head of MAUR – the investor of the project, said 98% of the workload on the metro line has been completed and six task groups to prepare for the official operation of the urban metro line are underway. ./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Hanoi: Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on April 3 demanded ministries, sectors, and localities resolutely not surrender to difficulties but keep persistence in the set targets.

He made the request while chairing the Government’s regular meeting for March and a teleconference with the 63 provinces and centrally-run cities to discuss the socio-economic situation in the first quarter and set tasks for Q2.

Officials highlighted the continued socio-economic recovery in March with results last month higher than in January and February and the Q1 performance faring better than the same period last year in most areas.

However, they also pointed out certain difficulties and challenges, including those facing production and business activities, the inflationary and foreign exchange pressure, latent risks in the financial and monetary markets and the banking system, the shortage of filling materials for road construction in the southern region, and life hardships facing some people.

Mentioning some key tasks and solu
tions for the coming time, PM Chinh emphasised the demand for exerting efforts to reach the growth target of 6.5% for 2024.

He ordered ministries, sectors, and localities to stay determined to address every difficulty and challenge, implement tasks and not to lower their guard, and protect the cadres who think big and act bold for common interest. They also need to keep the determination to improve the investment and business climate, tackle difficulties, facilitate production and business activities, and ensure people and enterprises truly gain benefits. Besides, they should show the determination to make all-out efforts to secure the best possible results in 2024.

At the same time, the PM asked for ensuring the comprehensive, drastic, and effective implementation of the tasks and solutions set by the Party Central Committee, Politburo, key leaders, National Assembly, and Government. He ordered ensuring macro-economic stability, major balances of the economy, and inflation control; ensuring the healthy dev
elopment and transparency of markets like the real estate and capital ones; and ensuring sufficient conditions for implementing the new salary regime from July 1.

In addition, it is also important to ensure social welfare; security and safety; the fight against corruption, other negative phenomena and wastefulness; along with independence, sovereignty, and territorial unity and integrity.

Besides, the Government leader also asked ministries, sectors, and localities to promote economic growth in all fields during which traditional growth drivers must be renewed and new drivers boosted. Economic shift should be promoted towards green transition, digital economy, circular economy, knowledge-based economy, sharing economy, and emerging sectors. They were requested to promote the mobilisation of all social resources for development investment, the facilitation of production, business and job creation, and the settlement of outstanding problems and prolonged projects.

He demanded the three strategic breakthrough
s on institutional perfection, comprehensive and modern infrastructure development, and human resources development be promoted. Ministries, sectors, and localities need to promote external activities, international integration, the consolidation of Vietnam’s stature and prestige in the world, as well as the capitalisation of international treaties and agreements of high-ranking leaders. Promoting national digital transformation is also a crucial task mentioned by the PM.

Assigning tasks to each ministry, sector, and locality, he told them to have a good grasp of the situation, make timely policy response, stay united, actively and effectively perform duties, and coordinate closely with one another to achieve the set targets./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Budapest: The Vietnam-Hungary comprehensive partnership has grown soundly across various sectors, with the countries’ parliamentary cooperation thriving on both bilateral and multilateral fronts, stated Vice Chairman of the National Assembly (NA) Tran Quang Phuong at his recent talks with Márta Mátrai, First Deputy of the Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly, in Budapest.

The Vietnamese legislator took the occasion to propose both sides maintain exchanges of high-level delegations and specialised committees, enhance mutual cooperation and support at multilateral forums, and coordinate the implementation of agreements signed between the two parliaments during the visit of Vietnamese NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue to Hungary in 2022.

The two NA’s joint organisation of legislative workshops is an effective and practical mechanism that needs to be further leveraged, Phuong said.

On the Hungarian side, Mátrai stated Vietnam stands as Hungary’s foremost important partner in Southeast Asia.

Hungary, situated a
t the heart of Europe with flexible legal frameworks, hopes to receive more investment cooperation from Vietnam, she noted.

The senior officials exchanged views on mutual concerns, with Phuong expressing a wish for the Hungarian government to support the recognition of the Vietnamese expat community, which numbers around 6,000, as an ethnic minority of the country.

As part of his trip to Hungary from April 1-3, the NA vice chairman paid a courtesy call to the speaker of the Hungarian NA, László Kövér, who affirmed that the relationship between the two NAs is one of special importance, characterised by frequent and effective delegation exchanges as well as the maintenance of a legislative dialogue mechanism for experience exchanges.

Phuong told Kövér that Vietnam wants to enhance multifaceted cooperation with Hungary, the country’s traditional friend and first and only comprehensive partner in the Central Eastern European region.

He expressed his hope for both sides to continue stepping up engagements at a
ll levels through the party, government and parliamentary channels as well as people-to-people exchanges, to further strengthen mutual political trust and understanding.

He also conveyed an invitation from NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue to welcome the Hungarian NA speaker to visit Vietnam at the earliest opportunity.

While in Hungary, Phuong also met with the chairpersons of the Hungary-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentarians’ Group and the Hungary-Vietnam Friendship Association, visited the Vietnamese Embassy, and met with representatives of some prominent associations.

At these meetings, he shared his hope to continue maintaining exchanges between the friendship parliamentarians’ groups for better mutual understanding and parliamentary cooperation in the time to come. The NA Vice Chairman also affirmed that people-to-people exchanges are an important diplomatic channel, contributing to fostering bilateral friendship./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

HCM City: Ho Chi Minh City is willing to further strengthen multifaceted cooperation with Cambodian localities as desired by leaders and peoples of the two countries, said Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Vo Van Hoan.

In his April 3 visit to extend greetings to the staff of the Cambodian Consulate General in HCM City on the occasion of their traditional Chol Chnam Thmay festival, the official congratulated the Cambodian people on their achievements, expressing his belief that under the reign of King Norodom Sihamoni and the leadership of the National Assembly and the government, the country will continue to make greater accomplishments in the coming time.

Hoan emphasised that, based on the strong development of traditional friendship, good neighbourliness, comprehensive cooperation, and long-term sustainability between Vietnam and Cambodia, HCM City always attaches importance to and does its best to preserve and promote the good relationship with Cambodia in general and its localities in pa
rticular, focusing on promoting economic, trade, and investment cooperation.

He promised to closely coordinate with the Consulate General to step up the good relationship between HCM City and Cambodian localities, contributing to strengthening the longstanding friendship between Vietnam and Cambodia.

Cambodian Consul General Chan Sorykan showed his gratitude for the support and close cooperation of the municipal authorities for his agency in recent times.

He affirmed he will make every effort to further promote the relationship between Cambodian localities and the Vietnamese southern metropolis, as well as between Cambodia and Vietnam in general, especially in the fields of trade, investment, and people-to-people exchanges, following agreements between leaders and the common aspiration of the two peoples.

The diplomat said hope that the municipal authorities will continue supporting and creating favourable conditions for Cambodian and Vietnamese businesses to explore and promote trade and investment activ
ities in each other’s markets.

The two sides are preparing plans to organise conferences to promote investment cooperation in the real estate sector and trade exhibitions between HCM City and Cambodian localities, he said./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency