Political News Headlines 29/4 Ha Tinh urged to spotlight development Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong asked the central province of Ha Tinh to focus on sustainable socio-economic development. "The province should pay attention to providing vocational training for farmers, speeding up site clearance for economic and industrial zones and improving businesses' management capacity," he said while working with provincial authorities yesterday, April 28. The province needs to do more in the new-style rural building programme, as only seven of its communes meet the set criteria, he said. It also needs to take drastic measures to address poverty, he added. Trong urged Ha Tinh to focus on strengthening its Party line-up and political system and seriously implementing the Party Central Committee's resolutions. The province should define a concrete development orientation in order to ensure future prosperity, he said. According to Secretary of the provincial Party Committee Nguyen Thanh Binh, during the 2011-2013 period, Ha Tinh recorded average annual economic growth of 14.8 percent and a per capita income of VND24 million (US$1,140). Earlier, Trong paid tribute to the late Party General Secretaries Tran Phu and Ha Huy Tap in Tung Anh and Cam Hung communes. The same day, voters for National Assembly deputies in Loc Ha district met NA Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung to ask for more assistance in offshore fishing and rural development. They said local fishermen particularly needed support to buy fishing equipment and insurance. They also requested more incentives for local officials in charge of overseeing new-style rural development. The programme is in progress in 13 communes, with Thach Bang chosen as a model for this year. After three years, Thach Bang has met nine of the 19 national criteria for new productive rural communities. To meet all the requirements this year, it will come up with sustainable means to reduce poverty, including joint ventures with small and medium-sized enterprises. Hung hailed the district's success in building high-yield aquaculture areas and directed provincial authorities to help farmers with infrastructure, plant protection chemicals, marketing and epidemic control. He informed them that the NA's seventh session, opening in mid-May, will focus on putting the Constitution into practice. The legislature is improving its operations, in particular law-making and supervision, he said. That afternoon, Hung inspected the construction of several key buildings in Vung Ang economic zone in Ky Anh district, assuring investors that industrial and economic zones across the nation would soon be helped to clear procedural bottlenecks. Vietnam, UK work in agriculture, wildlife conservation The UK has hoped that collaborations with Vietnam in agriculture and the conservation of rare wildlife species would be stepped up, according to Lord De Mauley, UK Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.   Delegates watch a performance of drawing sand pictures at the Vietnam-UK Cultural Festival (Photo: VNA) He had a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai in Hanoi on April 28. The guest also informed that his Government provides about 70 billion VND (3.3 million USD) a year for Vietnam’s scientific and technological development. He expected that Vietnam will work to facilitate British goods’ presence in its market. Deputy PM Hai confirmed that the Vietnamese Government is improving the local investment environment for foreign investors, including those from the UK, to operate productively. He noted that the two countries made their goal of obtaining 4 billion USD in two – way trade in 2013 and are nearing the target of increasing the UK ’s direct investment in Vietnam to 3 billion USD. Vietnam wishes to enhance cooperation with the UK in science, technology and education-training, Hai stated. He appreciated the country’s role and initiative in preserving the wildlife and fighting illegal trade of wild animals, voicing his hope for continued support and cooperation in this field. The Vietnamese Deputy PM suggested Lord De Mauley raise his voice to support Vietnam in getting ODA for its climate change response, green technology development and scientific research. VN hopes to forge stronger ties with Mongolia Viet Nam has always attached great importance to its friendship with Mongolia and is keen to boost the relationship in a more comprehensive and practical manner. The sentiment was voiced by Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc while welcoming Mongolian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Damba Gankhuyag, in Ha Noi yesterday, who is on a working visit to Viet Nam. Phuc called on the two countries' businesses to enhance their trade exchanges and investment in order to access new co-operation opportunities. In response, the Mongolian Deputy Foreign Minister expressed optimism that Viet Nam and Mongolia will strengthen co-operation in investment and trade, focusing on areas, such as mining, tourism, agriculture, employment, and light industry, while continuing their collaboration at international forums. Vice President greets APF’s parliamentarians Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan on April 28 met with parliamentarians who gathered in Hanoi for a meeting of the Parliamentary Affairs Committee.   Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan and the parliamentarians (Photo: VNA) The Committee belongs to the Parliamentary Assembly of the International Francophone Organisation (OIF). She hailed the fruitful operation of OIF and its agencies in various fields, while thanking them for assistance to Vietnam in education and training, culture and communication, environment and sustainable development. Doan noted that as a responsible member of the Francophone community, Vietnam always treasures its ties with other member countries, holding out hopes that APF will continue a helpful consultant to OIF. On behalf of the delegation, President of the Committee Robert Aubin spoke highly of Vietnam’s contribution at the ongoing meeting as well as for the development of the Francophone community over past years. He also shared the host’s view on the necessity of fostering the popularity of the French language through more effective measures. President visits southern military units President Truong Tan Sang visited military units in HCM City and the southern province of Dong Nai yesterday on the occasion of the 39th anniversary of the liberation of southern Viet Nam (April 30, 1975-2014). Visiting the Military Zone 7 High Command in HCM City, the State leader praised its excellent performance on tasks in past years. The unit has organised defence exercises under the instructions of the Ministry of National Defence while effectively implementing mass mobilisation and foreign relations work, he said. However, he added that the unit faces challenges in preventing crimes and ensuring political stability and security in the country's economic hub. Given the current regional and international context, President Sang said the unit should anticipate factors that could cause conflict in order to plan prompt responses. He urged the zone to work with relevant localities to complete a border patrol route, thus protecting national border sovereignty. He also emphasised the need to take care of people living in border areas. Earlier, President Sang also inspected combat readiness in the city's Gia Dinh Regiment and Artillery Brigade 75 in neighbouring Dong Nai province.   Sri Lanka unveils stamps honouring Ho Chi Minh A set of stamps honouring President Ho Chi Minh was unveiled at a ceremony in the capital Colombo of Sri Lanka on April 28, as part of activities to mark the 124th birthday of the late Vietnamese leader. Speaking at the event, Vietnamese Ambassador Ton Sinh Thanh said he believes the event will not only foster bilateral postal cooperation but also move forward well-rounded ties between the two peoples and business communities. Minister for Human Resources and General Secretary of the Communist Party of Sri Lanka Dew Gunasekara said President Ho Chi Minh is the second foreign leader, after Saint Mahatma Gandhi of India that has been featured on his country’s stamps. Along with the construction of Ho Chi Minh monument in Colombo last year, the event will mark the growing ties between the two nations, he noted. On the occasion, Minister of Posts J. Kumaranathunga announced that a set of 500,000 stamps portraying the Vietnamese leader will be introduced soon. Source: VNN/VOV/VNS/VNA