Political News Headlines 23/5 Viet Nam condemns attacks in Urumqi Viet Nam has strongly condemned terrorist attacks that killed and injured 31 civilians in the city of Urumqi in China's Xinjiang region on Thursday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Le Hai Binh has said. The spokesman passed on deep condolences to the Chinese people and relatives of the victims. He said he hoped the culprits would be brought to justice. Vietnam contributes to CICA conference Vietnam has affirmed the fundamental principles of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA), according to Deputy Foreign Minister Ha Kim Ngoc. Deputy Foreign Minister Ha Kim Ngoc -- Photo: VNA Regarding the contributions of the Vietnamese delegation, led by Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan, to the fourth CICA in China’s Shanghai, Ngoc said amidst the current tension in the East Sea, which threatens the regional peace, security and stability, Vietnam’s presence at the event is necessary for several reasons. Firstly, as a positive, active and responsible member of CICA, Vietnam wishes to make contributions to the maintenance of peace, security, stability and the promotion of development in Asia. Secondly, Vietnam hopes to get the international community to understand the country’s constructive stance and viewpoints as well as its goodwill. Thirdly, together with resolutely protecting the national sovereignty, Vietnam has also exerted efforts to reduce tension and the risk of confrontation and is encouraging dialogue. The endeavours have contributed to maintaining and restoring the regional stability on the basis of international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea, as well as principles of not using or threatening to use force, he said. On the outcomes of the fourth CICA, Deputy FM Ngoc said the event reflected the participants’ wish to build an Asia of peace, stability, safety, cooperation and prosperity. The event highlighted the core principles of CICA, including the strict observation of the United Nations’ Charter and international law, the respect for independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of countries, the settlement of disputes through peaceful measures, and not using or threatening to use force against the territorial integrity of other countries. The participants also underscored the need to strictly and consistently implement the announced principles, declarations and commitments. Deputy FM Ngoc said the conference also examined the East Sea issue as peace and stability in Asia is being seriously threatened, which means peace, stability and security of the whole Asia is at risk too. The tension in the East Sea has been intensified due to China’s illegal placement of its oil rig deep inside Vietnam’s continental shelf and exclusive economic zone. Therefore, CICA’s responsible members would not ignore the issue and in reality, they all raised their voices at the event, he said. In addition, the East Sea issue has been one of the major challenges in terms of security for CICA, as the observation of CICA’s principles in the East Sea will decide the credit, position and role of the mechanism in Asia, he added. Established in 1992, CICA has 21 members and nearly 10 observers, including the United Nations, Japan and the US. China is acting as the Chair of the fourth CICA summit. Senior army officer greets Venezuelan guests Lieutenant General Nguyen Quoc Khanh, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army, received a delegation of the Venezuelan Institute of Higher Studies for National Defence in Hanoi on May 22. Lt. Gen. Khanh said that the two countries’ relations, including in defence, have flourished since they established diplomatic ties in December 1989. The Vietnamese Ministry of Defence set up an attaché office in Venezuela through which bilateral cooperation in the field will be enhanced, he added. The officer suggested more delegation exchanges be organised at various levels in order to deepen mutual understanding and seek more collaborative opportunities. He said the Vietnam National Defence Academy offers courses for foreigners and invited the Venezuelan Ministry of Defence to send its officers to study in the country. Khanh pledged that Vietnam will create the best possible conditions for international officers to visit and study in its military units and academies. In response, visiting guests said they will submit the host’s proposals to the Venezuelan Defence Minister. They noted that the Venezuelan people and army will forever stand by Vietnam in the national construction and defence. Vietnam, Ivory Coast promote cooperative ties The Ivory Coast wants to strengthen ties of friendship and comprehensive cooperation with Vietnam in line with its maximum potential for the mutual benefit of both nations. Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Phuong Nga meets Parliament Speaker Guillaume Soro The country’s leaders expressed the desire at separate meetings with the Vietnamese delegation led by Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Phuong Nga during their visit from May 20-22. Nga met with Parliament Speaker Guillaume Soro, Foreign Minister Charles Koffi Diby, Agriculture Minister Sangafowa Coulibaly, and Minister Commerce Jean Louis Billon. The hosts lauded Vietnam’s Renewal achievements, which they said together with the Ivory Coast’s reconciliation success are solid foundations for expanding bilateral cooperation. They pledged to closely coordinate with Vietnam at international forums, support and share Vietnam’s viewpoint on dealing with disputes through peaceful measures. The two sides agreed to encourage business exchange and speed up negotiations to soon sign a number of agreements including those on investment promotion and double taxation avoidance, to raise bilateral trade value to a new level, while boosting cooperation in agriculture and human resource training. They will first focus on training, expertise exchange, and technology transfer in rice production and cashew nut processing. They agreed to jointly conduct activities to mark the 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties in 2015. US welcomes Vietnam’s PSI support The United States welcomes the Government of Vietnam’s support of the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) Statement of Interdiction Principles, which it announced on May 20, 2014. A Department of State press release on May 22 said Vietnam’s decision to support and participate in the PSI demonstrates its strong commitment to stopping the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), enhancing the security and safety of global trade, and promoting a peaceful Asia-Pacific region. The United States looks forward to working with Vietnam to advance the nonproliferation goals of the PSI and its Statement of Interdiction Principles. The Proliferation Security Initiative is a global effort to stop the trafficking of weapons of mass destruction and related materials to and from states and non-state actors of proliferation concern. Launched in former US President George W. Bush in May 2003, the initiative has received support from 103 countries and territories, including Russia, Canada, Britain, Australia, France, Germany, Japan, the Republic of Korea, and Norway. Thai Binh has new Vice Chairman PM Nguyen Tan Dung has approved the election of Mr. Nguyen Hoang Giang as Vice Chairman of Thai Binh Province People’s Committee in the phase from 2011-2016. NA discusses law and ordinance programme and Civil Aviation Law The National Assembly (NA) held group discussions during the 27th session of the 13 NA in Hanoi on May 21, commenting on the NA law and ordinance building programme for 2015, the adjustments in the 2014 programme, and the amendments and supplements to the Law on Civil Aviation. Reviewing the past implementation of the law and ordinance building programme, the deputies pointed out some shortcomings that needed addressing despite advances made. Many documents have not been issued in time, and so did not come into effect at the same time as the laws and ordinances, while the quality of several documents is still low and their contents are not detailed and clear. Some recommended that the NA Law Committee review all draft laws carefully, and that only bills that are really essential should be added to the law building programme for 2014 and 2015. Others suggested that priority be given to draft laws related to the implementation of the revised Constitution. Regarding the amendments and supplements to the Law on Civil Aviation, many deputies agreed that it would improve the efficiency of State management, the performance of aviation businesses and protect consumer interests. The deputies also gave opinions on provisions related to responsibilities of functional agencies in aviation activities; aviation inspection, fees and services; and aviation security and safety, among others. NA deputies debate plans for compulsory health insurance National Assembly (NA) deputies yesterday focused on discussions for whether health insurance should be mandatory for citizens and should cover the cost of treatment for child malnutrition. The comments were made at the third working day of the NA's seventh session where legislators discussed draft amendments to the Law on Health Insurance. Many deputies agreed with the regulation that the insurance should be made compulsory in a bid to ensure better healthcare coverage. Nguyen Thi Bich Nhiem from the northern province of Yen Bai, said that if health insurance wasn't compulsory, people facing higher health risks or diagnosed with deadly diseases and requiring long-term hospitalisation would need to have insurance. People who are healthy and wealthy, would not be willing to join the insurance scheme, she said. "This causes an imbalance in the health insurance system and affects how sustainable the insurance policy would be," she said. Nhiem also argued that making it compulsory to join health insurance would fulfill a humane purpose of caring for public health and having everyone share the responsibility. She urged the Government to encourage the public to join health insurance, set aside financial fund for the scheme, provide ethical standards for medical staff and boost quality of diagnosing and treating patients. She also pushed for better equipment and facilities at community medical centres and requested strict punishments for parties who failed to join the health insurance scheme. Nhiem's position was supported by Nguyen Tien Sinh from the northern province of Hoa Binh, who said that the Government needed to simplify the procedures to join health insurance, issue health insurance cards and claim the insurance after medical consultations. However, Ton Thi Ngoc Hanh from the Central Highlands province of Dak Nong expressed doubt over the possibility of a compulsory system, and said it was impossible to ask everyone to join the scheme when it was still battling problems. "What we should do first to ensure equality is to solve the existing problems to do with medical check-ups and treatments and avoid people going directly to upper-level hospitals instead of their local medical units," she said. Hanh also pushed for the addition of regulation that ensured insurance covered the cost of check-ups, consultations and treatments for children with malnutrition under six. The suggestion drew support from Ha Thi Lan of northern province Bac Giang, who said that statistics indicated that one in every three children under five years old was malnourished and underweight. The proportion equates to about 2.5 million children suffering from malnourishment, while a further 221,000 people were malnourished and underweight, she said, adding that Viet Nam was now ranked 13th highest in the world for the amount of malnourished children. "This is an alarming problem which will leave the society with many consequences and burdens," she said. "Preventing malnutrition and treating malnourished children are necessary and would benefit the country," she added. Duong Trung Quoc from the southern province of Dong Nai backed the proposal, saying that the average height of Vietnamese people was lower than those in regional countries. "Up to 30 per cent of grown-ups are bearing the consequences of a malnourished childhood," he said. "Malnutrition is a disease that needs treatment," he said. "It's unreasonable and insufficient when the health insurance does not cover treatment of malnutrition," he stressed. At a press conference the same day, the Ministry of Health briefed reporters about changes in draft amendments to the Law on Health Insurance. The draft version contained 27 amendments and supplements to update the regulations in accordance with the revised Constitution which was approved late last year. Of the changes, a regulation making health insurance mandatory is considered one of the most important. The ministry said that the regulation aimed to include all citizens in the system. At present there is no compulsion to join - and many wealthy ignore insurance. However, by including all citizens and sharing their fees, much more equality is created. The new law requires all family members to join the insurance scheme. The ministry said that the additional regulations would enhance procedures for registration. The ministry said this would help avoid confusion with health insurance cards, making sure that not just unhealthy people joined. The new amendments also provide for people in the military and public security to join the health insurance system. Previously, there was no compulsion. Disadvantaged people will automatically be included in the scheme and their fees paid by the State. The ministry argued that as the current law had no limits on the amount of medical services that could be provided, insurance payments could easily get out of control. As a result, it said, the new law provides for a basic insurance package covering essential services for emergency aid, check-up, treatment and rehabilitation. The draft amendments also carries regulations on the rates of insurance payouts, insurance for children under six and the allocation of health insurance.  Source: VNN/VOV/VNS/VNA