Category: Politics

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

– Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son received Chinese Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Nong Rong, who is also Secretary General of the China – Vietnam Steering Committee for Bilateral Cooperation, in Hanoi on February 5.

The host expressed his delight at the sound development and historic achievements of the two countries’ relations since the visit to China by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong in late October 2022 and the trip to Vietnam by Party General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping in December 2023. Read full story

– Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang hosted a reception in Hanoi on February 5 for Archbishop Marek Zalewski, the first Resident Papal Representative in Vietnam.

Highlighting the growing ties between Vietnam and the Holy See, Hang noted the positive developments fuelled by high-level visits and exchanges. She specifically pointed to the approval o
f operating regulations for the Resident Papal Representative and the Office of the Resident Papal Representative in Vietnam during President Vo Van Thuong’s 2023 visit to the Holy See as a crucial milestone. Read full story

– The National Wage Council has proposed to the Government a 6% increase in the regional minimum wage, equivalent to 238,000 VND per month on average, starting from July 1.

The increase, which was agreed by all 16 members of the council after two negotiation sessions in 2023, was suggested in the context that more than 18,300 new businesses were established and return to the market each month, and the number of orders rose quarter by quarter. Read full story

– The index of industrial production (IIP) in January fell 4.4% month on month but still went up 18.3% year on year, reported the General Statistics Office (GSO).

In particular, the processing – manufacturing sector expanded 19.3% from a year earlier, contributing 15.1 percentage points to the overall growth. Read full story

– Th
e northern port city of Hai Phong is rolling out measures to make breakthroughs in the development of economic zones (EZ) and industrial parks (IP) to attract more foreign direct investment (FDI).

The city plans to build 15 more IPs with a total area of over 6,200 hectares. To date, the construction of two has been approved by the Prime Minister, covering nearly 1,200 hectares. Read full story

– The Department of Transport of Lao Cai province and the Yunnan provincial Department of Transport have decided to resume an irregular passenger transport route between Gejiu of China and Sa Pa of Vietnam.

According to Director of the Lao Cai Department of Transport Nguyen Quoc Huy, the route was operated from July 20, 2018 to late 2019, and suspended from 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Read full story

– The Vietnam National University, Hanoi ranked 649th in the latest Webometrics Ranking of World Universities 2024, placing at the 11th position in Southeast Asia and 140th in Asia.

In terms of impact rank, the
VNU, Hanoi entered the top 500 for the first time, ranking at the 495th position. Read full story

– When Tet (Lunar New Year) comes, hospitals in Ho Chi Minh City are often decorated with flowers to encourage the spirit of their employees and patients who have to stay at the hospitals during the Vietnamese people’s biggest and longest festival.

This year, the floral arrangements were designed to stretch along major pedestrian zones at hospitals like Cho Ray, Tu Du, and Children’s Hospital 2, bringing a cheerful vibe to every corner. Read full story

– After five years of restoration and upgrade, Kien Trung Palace in Hue Imperial Citadel (Dai Noi) is set to open its door to visitors during the upcoming Lunar New Year (Tet holiday).

The palace, built between 1921 and 1923 under the reign of King Khai Dinh (1885-1925), once served as the living and working space of Bao Dai (1913-1997), the last king of the Nguyen Dynasty (1802 – 1945). Read full story./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Hanoi: Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang hosted a reception in Hanoi on February 5 for Archbishop Marek Zalewski, the first Resident Papal Representative in Vietnam.

Highlighting the growing ties between Vietnam and the Holy See, Hang noted the positive developments fueled by high-level visits and exchanges. She specifically pointed to the approval of operating regulations for the Resident Papal Representative and the Office of the Resident Papal Representative in Vietnam during President Vo Van Thuong’s 2023 visit to the Holy See as a crucial milestone.

Underlining Vietnam’s commitment to this progress, Hang assured Zalewski of full support from Vietnamese agencies, toward the shared goals of strengthening ties between Vietnam and the Holy See, and the Holy See and the Vietnamese Catholic Church, and fostering national development as well.

Zalewski, for his part, thanked the Vietnamese agencies for their support during his tenure as Non-Resident Special Envoy to Vietnam, and wished that V
ietnam will continue facilitating his activities in his new role to fulfill the mission entrusted by Pope Francis.

He also vowed to contribute to further increasing high-level contacts and dialogues in the spirit of cooperation and mutual understanding, thus solidifying relations between the Holy See and Vietnam as well as the Vietnam Catholic Church./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Hanoi: The following is a list of selected news summaries reported last night by the Vietnam News Agency.

– President Vo Van Thuong has offered incense in commemoration of some late Party and State leaders and visited several former leaders in southern localities on the occasion of the upcoming Lunar New Year (Tet) Festival and the 94th founding anniversary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (February 3, 1930 – 2024).

President Thuong offered incense to commemorate late President Le Duc Anh and late President of the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam Nguyen Huu Tho who used to hold the positions of State Vice President, Acting State President, Chairman of the National Assembly, and Vice Chairman of the State Council. Read full story

– President Vo Van Thuong on February 5 visited the Guard High Command and the Mobile Police High Command under the Ministry of Public Security and inspected their combat readiness on the occasion of the Tet (Lunar New Year) Festival.

He asked the guard force to be well
aware of their tasks of ensuring security and safety for Party and State leaders, as well as national and international events in Vietnam, and activities of Vietnamese leaders abroad. Read full story

– Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on February 5 visited the Traffic Police Department under the Ministry of Public Security and extended Lunar New Year (Tet) greetings to officers and soldiers of the traffic police force across the country on the occasion of its 78th traditional day and the upcoming Tet festival.

The event was also connected to various traffic police stations nationwide, with nearly the participation of 12,000 officers and soldiers of the traffic police force, and leaders of police units at all levels. Read full story

– The Ministry of National Defence on February 5 held a virtual event connecting with the Vietnamese forces engaged in the United Nations peacekeeping mission on the threshold of the upcoming Lunar New Year (Tet) festival.

The event facilitated a connection between Hanoi’s Milita
ry Radio and Television Centre, Ho Chi Minh City’s 175 Military Hospital, and key UN peacekeeping missions, including the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA), the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), the UN Peacekeeping Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) and the UN headquarters in the US. Read full story

– Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang has urged the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), ministries, agencies and localities to prevent fishing vessels from encroaching on foreign waters and take stringent measures against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing activities.

While chairing the 9th meeting of the National Steering Committee for IUU Fishing Prevention and Control in the southern province of Kien Giang on February 5, Quang, who is also head of the committee, suggested bringing serious violation cases to People’s Courts for trial as a deterrent measure. Read full story

– The Vietnamese and Chinese coast guard forces conducted a joint patrol in
the border maritime area between Mong Cai City, the northern province of Quang Ninh and Dongxing city, Guangxi province of China on February 5.

The patrol aimed to fortify coordination in the fight against crime and law violations, particularly during the upcoming Lunar New Year (Tet) festival. Read full story

– Aero K, an airline of the Republic of Korea, and Da Nang city’s Tourism Department on February 5 evening held a ceremony to launch a new route connecting the RoK’s Cheongju to the central city of Vietnam.

According to the Korean carrier, Da Nang is the first city in Vietnam that Aero K has chosen to operate regular flights from Cheongju to Da Nang with a frequency of one flight every day. The first flight is scheduled to depart from Cheongju at 10:05 pm on February 5 and land in Da Nang at 00:45 am the next day. The return trip departs from Da Nang at 2:15 am on the same day. Read full story

– A surge in consumer demand, particularly after the Kitchen God’s Day, has recorded through Hanoi, with a
notable uptick ranging from 20-30%, reported a working delegation of the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the municipal People’s Committee following their inspection on February 5.

Supermarkets and businesses, which anticipated an increasing demand in the run-up to the Lunar New Year (Tet) Festival, have strategically formulated plans and inked contracts to augment the supply of goods by an average of 7-25% compared to the same period last year. The focus was primarily on essential goods, particularly food and groceries. At retail points, the inventory has increased by 15-40% to satiate demand, with 90% of the products being of Vietnamese origin. Read full story

– A 6.5kg hawksbill sea turtle that was accidentally caught by a local man was released back to the sea off the coast of the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau on February 5.

Border guards in Phuoc Thuan border station in Xuyen Moc district organised the release. Read full story./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Hanoi: The recent article penned by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, entitled ‘Proud and confident under the Party’s glorious flag, determined to build a Vietnam more prosperous, powerful, civilised, heroic with a fine and long lasting culture’, has ignited a surge of pride in the glorious Party, the great President Ho Chi Minh and the heroic Vietnamese nation, contributing to strengthening public trust in the Party’s leadership and the bright future that awaits the country and its people.

Col. Nguyen Van Thuc, former inspector from the Air Defence-Air Force under the Vietnam People’s Army, said the article has provided an objective and comprehensive evaluation of the achievements and lessons that the Party, country and people have attained throughout historical stages.

Through scientific and compelling arguments, Party chief Trong asserted that since its establishment, the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) has always been steadfastly loyal and creatively applying and creatively applied Marxist-Leni
nist ideology to the specific conditions of Vietnam, in order to continue advancing the country towards socialism in line with the inevitable trend of the times, he said.

He highlighted the decisive role of the CPV’s leadership in steering the country through the renovation process and ensuring national development in the right direction towards socialism. Party building and rectification work are also of utmost importance, he said, considering them a key task with vital significance for both the Party and the socialist regime.

According to Thuc, “wealthy people, strong nation, along with a fair, democratic and civilised society’ are closely interconnected goals that complement each other, serving as a foundation, condition and prerequisite for the others.

The cause of renovation and development of a market-oriented socialist economy have brought about positive results for Vietnam over the past nearly four decades. Transforming from a poor and backward country, Vietnam has emerged as one of the middle-inco
me countries, achieving impressive poverty reduction results and increasingly improving its position on the international stage.

At the beginning of the country’s renovation in 1986, Vietnam’s GDP was around 8 billion USD, ranking 9th out of 10 countries in the ASEAN bloc. Thanks to reform, the economy has experienced relatively high growth, reaching 2.56% in 2021 while many economies around the world suffered negative growth. The figure rose to 8.02 in 2022, significantly higher than the planned 6-6.5%.

In 2023, it exceeded 5%, a remarkable feat compared to regional and global counterparts. For the first time, Vietnam’s GDP hit 430 billion USD, ranking third in ASEAN and among the top 40 largest economies globally, and the top 20 economies in terms of trade and foreign investment attraction.

In recent documents, the CPV has affirmed that the theory of socialism and the path to socialism in Vietnam are increasingly clearer.

The Party chief’s article demonstrates that the path to socialism chosen by the Pa
rty, President Ho and the people is correct and infuses a renewed vigor into the collective efforts of the entire Party, people and army’s to successfully achieve the set goals, Thuc concluded./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Hanoi: President Vo Van Thuong on February 5 visited the Guard High Command and the Mobile Police High Command under the Ministry of Public Security and inspected their combat readiness on the occasion of the Tet (Lunar New Year) Festival.

He asked the guard force to be well aware of their tasks of ensuring security and safety for Party and State leaders, as well as national and international events in Vietnam, and activities of Vietnamese leaders abroad.

The leader emphasised the need for the public security sector to work harder to build the truly pure, strong, regular, elite and modern guard force by 2025, meeting requirements and tasks in the new situation.

The force should better perform forecasts, take solutions to prevent both traditional and non-traditional security risks early and from afar, regularly hold exercises, and optimise science-technology products in their jobs.

A firm legal corridor is needed to facilitate the operation of the force, he said, suggesting special policies towards the gua
rd force and the supplement of cutting-edge equipment to help them complete their assigned tasks.

The President urged the force to step up cooperation with others and international collaboration, and pay more attention to personnel training.

Visiting the Mobile Police High Command, President Thuong underlined the force’s important role in safeguarding national security and social order and safety, and hailed its outstanding performance over the past time.

He pointed out challenges in 2024, with the increasingly complex and sophisticated operations of crimes, which create higher security requirements for police and public safety. In any circumstances, security and social order and safety must be firmly guaranteed to prevent and combat crimes, serve socio-economic development and maintain a peaceful and stable environment in the country, he requested, asking the mobile police to increase training and maintain their combat readiness.

He suggested upgrading material facilities and raising the spiritual life o
f soldiers and officers, ensuring that all of them enjoy a happy New Year festival.

The President also asked the Party Committee of the Mobile Police High Command to continue with Party building and rectification, and further promote the campaign on studying and following President Ho Chi Minh’s thought, morality and lifestyle./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Hanoi: Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has asked the Commission for Management of State Capital at Enterprises (CMSC) to build and implement future development strategies for State-owned groups and corporations under its management, with a view to better clarifying their role in leading, motivating and promoting the growth of other economic sectors.

Speaking at a working session with the commission and 19 groups and corporations under its management in Hanoi on February 5, PM Chinh instructed that the commission should focus on removing legal obstacles to create a favourable legal framework for the SOEs, while intensifying supervision and power control.

He required that the SOEs must pay more attention to investment in development with clear focus and priority, and restructure their administration, finance, input materials and fields of operation in line with the development trends.

The CMSC and the 19 State-owned groups and corporations must strictly follow conclusions and resolutions of the Party Centra
l Committee, the National Assembly and the Government in implementing their goals and tasks for 2024, the PM said, adding that the groups and corporations must operate in line with the socialist-oriented market mechanism. Last year, the total revenue of the 19 groups and corporations reached nearly 1.13 quadrillion VND (46.34 billion USD), equivalent to 105.15% of the yearly plan.

Their combined pre-tax profit hit 53.25 trillion VND (excluding Vietnam Electricity) was equal to 166.09% of the 2023 plan and 110.92% compared to the same period in 2022. The groups and corporations paid 79.25 trillion VND to the State budget, reaching 199.96% of the plan for the year and equivalent to 120.22% of the figure recorded in the same period of 2022.

Particularly, of the 19 groups and corporations, 15 completed and surpassed their revenue plans, 16 reached and exceeded their pre-tax profit plans, and 16 completed and surpassed their State budget payment plans.

However, PM Chinh pointed out that the firms have shown a n
umber of shortcomings, including limited development investment, inadequate contributions to the GDP compared to asset values, and modest business and investment efficiency.

He demanded that ministries, sector and the CMSC coordinate closely to promptly handle problems related to the enterprises.

At the same time, the PM emphasised the need to prevent and combat corruption, negative phenomena and group interest, and improve the living conditions for labourers.

He also reminded the groups and corporations of the need to ensure the supply of electricity, coal, petrol, and materials for production industries as well as transportation activities and national security and defence./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Hanoi: Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on February 5 chaired a working session with the Commission for Management of State Capital at Enterprises (CMSC) and 19 groups and corporations under the commission’s management to look into their production and business plans for 2024 and measures to promote socio-economic development investment in the year.

PM Chinh highlighted contributions from the 19 groups and corporations to the country’s overall success in 2023, but underlined that the country’s socio-economic development tasks for 2024 are much harder than those for 2023, requiring more efforts from ministries and sectors, including the CMSC.

Although they are small in number, State-owned groups and corporations hold large resources, assets, and capital, serving as an important force of the Party and State, the PM stressed, adding that along with economic development, the groups and corporations have actively participated in ensuring social security.

The Government leader asked leaders of ministries, sectors
as well as the groups and corporations to analyse and assess their performance in 2023 and propose tasks and solutions to promote business and production in 2024, thus contributing to boosting socio-economic development this year and following years.

Particularly, they were requested to review and propose any necessary changes to institutions, mechanisms, policies and laws to enhance the operational efficiency of the groups and corporations.

Last year, the total revenue of the 19 groups and corporations reached nearly 1.13 quadrillion VND (46.34 billion USD), equivalent to 105.15% of the yearly plan.

Their combined pre-tax profit hit 53.25 trillion VND (excluding Vietnam Electricity) was equal to 166.09% of the 2023 plan and 110.92% compared to the same period in 2022. The groups and corporations paid 79.25 trillion VND to the State budget, reaching 199.96% of the plan for the year and equivalent to 120.22% of the figure recorded in the same period of 2022./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency