Government News in Brief Icelandic President to visit Vietnam President of Iceland Olafur Ragnar Grimsson will pay a State visit to Vietnam from November 3-6 at the invitation of President Truong Tan Sang. Vietnam and Iceland established diplomatic relations on November 15, 1996. Iceland does not currently have any diplomatic representation in Vietnam. Condolences to Pakistan, Afghanistan over quake tragedy President Truong Tan Sang on October 28 sent messages of condolences to President of Pakistan Mamnoon Hussain and President of Afghanistan Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai over the huge losses of human life and property in the two countries caused by the devastating earthquake on October 26. Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung extended his sympathies to his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif. On the same day, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh cabled messages of sympathy to Sartaj Aziz, Adviser on Foreign Affairs to the Pakistani Prime Minister and the Afghan Foreign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani. A powerful 7.5 magnitude earthquake ripped across Afghanistan and Pakistan on October 26, killing 370 people. Vietnamese, French communist parties hold theoretical workshop Delegates from the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and the French Communist Party (PCF) discussed opportunities and challenges in international integration and realising sustainable development goals in Vietnam and France during the two parties’ second theoretical workshop in Hanoi on October 28-29. Politburo member Dinh The Huynh – who is Secretary of the Party Central Committee, head of its Commission for Popularisation and Education, and Chairman of the Central Theoretical Council – and PCF National Secretary Pierre Laurent chaired the event. Under its consistent policy on international integration, Vietnam has stepped up relations with foreign partners and actively engaged in multilateral mechanisms, especially the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the United Nations (UN), Huynh said. The country has also improved the efficiency of international cooperation in economics, culture, society, defence and security, contributing to national industrialisation, modernisation and sustainable development, he added. Through the workshop, the two communist parties will share valuable experience in international integration to more effectively implement policies in the field as well as reinforce their traditional friendship and solidarity and contribute to the enhancement of the Vietnam-France strategic partnership. The PCF National Secretary hailed the mechanism of the theoretical workshop, which he said serves as a bridge for the two sides to exchange information and increase cooperative ties. The function is hoped to provide deeper analysis on the relations between the two countries, and the Asia-Europe rapport, thus helping drive the Vietnam-France strategic partnership forward and increasing solidarity between the two parties and peoples, Laurent added. Binh Phuoc, Cambodia’s Kratie province step up co-operation The southern province of Binh Phuoc and northeast Cambodian province of Kratie need to exchange more experiences to develop their economies, Binh Phuoc Provincial People’s Committee Vice Chairman Tran Ngoc Trai said at a working session on October 27. The meeting was held for a delegation from Kratie province led by deputy governor Va Thol. The two sides briefed each other on socio-economic development in their localities, focusing on protecting the environment, vocational training and sustainable poverty reduction. In the past few years, the two provinces have completed border marker programmes, helping ensure security and order near the borders. Binh Phuoc province has given support to the Cambodian locality in healthcare and agriculture. Kratie province has helped Vietnam search for and repatriate 2,254 remains of martyrs. Va Thol wanted the provinces to tighten co-operation in economics, society, security and defence. He said he hoped Binh Phuoc province would share practical experiences in developing the economy and maintaining border security. On the occasion, the Cambodian delegation studied Binh Phuoc’s effective models in waste treatment, human resource training and other areas. Overseas Vietnamese community - integral part of the nation The State of Vietnam considers overseas Vietnamese communities, particularly those in the US, an indispensible part of the nation, said Ambassador Pham Quang Vinh. At meetings with Vietnamese expats as part of his tour of the State of California where the largest number of Vietnamese people in the US are living from October 16-24, the diplomat called on them to support each other to consolidate their positions in their host society. Vinh said he hopes his visit would encourage the expatriates to tighten their bonds with the homeland. He said he believes after seeing Vietnam’s changes and achievements with their own eyes, the overseas Vietnamese would have an objective view of the country. In response, representatives from the Vietnamese community affirmed they always kept a close eye on the homeland. Highlighting Vietnam’s achievements in various fields, especially its relationship with the US and higher international position, the expatriates voiced their wishes to contribute more to the country’s development. The overseas Vietnamese said they were keen to expand co-operation with businesses at home in the context of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement. The two sides also spoke about the State’s policies towards Vietnamese people abroad, the East Sea issue, and challenges and opportunities created by the TPP deal. While in California, Vinh met with the US state’s Governor Jerry Brown, Mayor of San Francisco Edwin Lee and Los Angeles Deputy Mayor of Economic Development Kelli Bernard. He had working sessions with businessmen, who said they were interested in investing in Vietnam and suggested the country help SMEs from the US penetrate the market, particularly in agriculture, tourism and e-commerce. The ambassador also visited the staff of the San Francisco Chronicle, one of the most long-standing newspapers in California. Vietnam, Laos reiterate solidarity, cooperation Vietnam will do its utmost together with the Party and the State of Laos to consolidate the traditional friendship in a deeper, more effective and practical fashion, Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Uong Chu Luu said on October 27. During a reception in Hanoi for officials from the Lao Committee for Peace and Solidarity led by its President Khamphan Simalavong, Luu hailed recent people-to-people diplomatic activities between the two countries, especially the close cooperation between the Vietnam Committee for Peace and the Lao Committee for Peace and Solidarity. He said the visit has contributed to strengthening the traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos. For his part, the Lao official updated his host on the outcomes of the talks between the two committees, saying that they discussed a number of issues related to domestic, regional and international situations, including measures to enhance the committees’ cooperation efficiency in the coming time. He said he hopes the two agencies will continue nursing the fruitful cooperation in the future. The Lao guests are in a visit to Vietnam from October 26-30. Committees work to promote solidarity in Vietnam, Laos The Vietnam Peace Committee (VPC) and the Lao Committee for Peace and Solidarity (LCPS) are hoped to tighten their cooperative ties and contribute to the maintenance of peace, stability in the two countries as well as in the region and beyond. Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) Don Tuan Phong made the remark while receiving LCPS President Khamphan Simmalavong in Hanoi on October 27. He congratulated the Lao Party, State and people on their past achievements, pointing to the impressive economic growth of 7.5 percent despite global economic downturn. For his part, Lao official hailed Vietnam’s attainments over the past seven decades, especially during the 30 years of national reform, under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam. He also extolled the achievements that the VUFO and the VPC have gained over 65 years, which, he said, contributed to raising Vietnam ’s position in the regional and international arenas. During bilateral talks on the same day, the VPC and the LCPS agreed to enhance their sound cooperation via increasing delegation exchanges, experience sharing, and people-to-people activities. The Lao official is visiting Vietnam from October 26-30. Lawmakers discuss draft law revisions Lawmakers discussed revisions to a number of draft laws during the ongoing 10th session of the 13th National Assembly in Hanoi on October 27. They commented on the draft amendments and supplements to some articles of the Law on Added Value Tax, the Law on Special Consumption Tax, and the Law on Tax Management. Deputies also talked in groups about the draft Law on professional soldiers and national defence employees. They heard reports on the draft resolution on regulations for NA’s meetings (revised) and the draft Law on Administrative Procedures (revised). On October 28, the deputies will discuss reports on prevention of corruption, crimes and law violations as well as work of the People’s Supreme Procuracy and Chief Judge of the People’s Supreme Court. Senior officials discuss ways to reinforce Vietnam-Cambodia ties Vietnamese and Cambodian senior officials met in Ho Chi Minh City on October 27 to explore measures consolidating the countries’ solidarity, friendship and cooperation. The meeting was co-chaired by Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung and Cambodian Ministry of Interior Secretary of State Prum Sokha. It was also attended by the Vietnamese Ambassador and Consul Generals in Cambodia, the Cambodian Ambassador to Vietnam and Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City, and representatives of relevant ministries, sectors and localities. The two sides reviewed outcomes of the collaboration between Vietnamese and Cambodian border provinces since the seventh meeting on their cooperation and development in March 2012. They also scrutinised measures addressing obstacles and solidifying the unity, amity and all-round cooperation between border provinces and the two countries as a whole. At the function, the senior officials also finalised almost all preparations for the plenary session of the eighth meeting of the border provinces’ cooperation and development. The meeting will be chaired by Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh and Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sar Kheng in HCM City on October 28. Emulation must be bound with foreign relation work: PM Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has told the staff of the Foreign Ministry that emulation means efforts to successfully perform assigned foreign relation tasks, for the country’s interest as well as for national construction and defence. At a congress in Hanoi on October 27 to review the ministry’s patriotic emulation movement during the 2011-2015 period, the PM said the external relations and international integration must be conducted actively and proactively to significantly contribute to fulfilling the leading missions of ensuring peace and stability, enhancing friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation with foreign countries, and protecting the country’s independence, sovereignty, national unification and territorial integrity. It is necessary to carry out the emulation work in tandem with Party building and implementing the campaign to study and follow the moral example of President Ho Chi Minh, the leader said. PM Dung, who is also head of the Central Council for Emulation and Rewards, praised collectives and individuals who have made outstanding contributions to Vietnam’s foreign affairs, helping heighten the country’s role and prestige in the world arena. In his report presented at the congress, Deputy Foreign Minister Ho Xuan Son said over the past five years, the foreign relation work has been implemented in a synchronous and comprehensive manner, in a right direction and with focal points, bringing in breakthrough outcomes. During the reviewed period, Vietnam established strategic partnerships, strategic partnerships in a number of areas and comprehensive partnerships with 26 countries, including five standing members of the UN Security Council, he said. The ministry well performed its role as the advisor of Party and State leaders in guiding foreign relations of ministries, branches and localities, the diplomat added. The work has remarkably contributed to protecting the country’s sovereignty, accelerating international integration in service of national socio-economic development and elevating the country’s international position, Son said. Hai Duong asked to focus on industrial development The Red River Delta province of Hai Duong should focus on developing industry as its spearhead sector besides agriculture in order to raise local per capita income, said Politburo member and National Assembly (NA) Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung. Addressing the October 27 opening ceremony of the province’s 18th Party Congress for the 2015-2020 tenure, the NA leader praised the achievements the Hai Duong Party Organisation and people have made over the past five years, with close to 30 percent of communes meeting new-style rural area criteria. He, however, pointed out the province’s shortcomings such as slow economic growth, per capita income lower than the country’s average, weak competitiveness, ineffective management and use of land and minerals, and out-dated technology. He urged the Congress to make accurate assessment of the current development level of the province, define sectors and fields that enjoy competitive edges, as well as identify opportunities and challenges from the international integration in order to put forth comprehensive development solutions. Hai Duong should continue to step up the new-style rural area building movement with a goal of having more than 60 percent of communes satisfying criteria by 2020, he said, adding that economic growth must be coupled with socio-cultural development, job generation, social welfare and poverty reduction. Chairman Hung asked the Hai Duong Party Organisation to strengthen Party building work in term of both political thought and organisation while attaching importance to mass mobilisation to enhance relations between the Party, State and people. He expressed his hope that the Congress will select the best candidates for the new provincial Party Committee, thus leading the Party Organisation and residents to successfully implement their set objectives. A political report delivered at the congress, which will last until October 28, showed that Hai Duong recorded a stable economic growth of 7.7 percent per year and a per capita gross regional domestic product (GRDP) of 2,000 USD during the 2010-2015 period. Its economic structure has shifted on the right track with an increasing proportion of industrial sectors and a decline in the portion of agro-forestry-fishery. As many as 64 communes across the province have fulfilled all the 19 criteria set for new-style rural areas, accounting for 28.3 percent of the total communes. VNA/VNS