Government News In Brief Parties’ connections pivotal to Vietnam-Azerbaijan relationship   Le Hong Anh (R) and Mubariz Gurbanli at the meeting The New Azerbaijan Party (YAP) treasures its ties with the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and considers the relationship as pivotal to the solidification of the two countries’ links, a YAP senior official said on December 9. YAP Deputy Executive Secretary Mubariz Gurbanli, who also chairs Azerbaijan’s State Committee for Work with Religious Organisations, made the remark at his meeting with Politburo member and Standing Member of the CPV Central Committee’s Secretariat Le Hong Anh in Hanoi. He informed the host about the recent situation of his country and the YAP and affirmed Azerbaijan’s incessant support to Vietnam. Azerbaijan treasures its traditional amity and cooperation with Vietnam and considers the latter as a leading partner in Southeast Asia, he said. For his part, Le Hong Anh welcomed the YAP delegation’s visit, noting that it is a good opportunity for the two ruling Parties to exchange information and experience in Party building work and country governance. High-ranking visits between the YAP and CPV will help extend the two countries’ relations, he added. He stressed Vietnam treasures its relationship with traditional friends, including Azerbaijan, expressing pleasure over the growing connections between the two countries in various spheres, particularly oil and gas. Also on December 9, the YAP delegation had talks with CPV officials led by Chairman of the CPV Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations Hoang Binh Quan. The two sides briefed each other on their respective Parties and nations’ situation and discussed experience in the Party organisation and building. They agreed to continue information and delegation exchanges to intensify the two Parties’ linkages and the political foundation for the countries’ friendship and cooperation. At another meeting the same day, the YAP delegation and Vietnamese National Assembly Vice Chairman Uong Chu Luu agreed that relations between the two legislatures have been strengthened, especially through the establishment of the Vietnam-Azerbaijan inter-parliamentary friendship group. The parliaments’ affiliation, particularly through delegation exchanges, is important to learn each other’s expertise in lawmaking and supervisory activities. During their stay in Vietnam, the YAP delegation also had working sessions with officials of the Hanoi municipal Party Committee, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union’s Central Committee, and the Vietnam – Azerbaijan Friendship Association. Japanese upper house leader concludes Vietnam visit President of the House of Councillors of Japan Yamazaki Masaaki concluded his Vietnam visit on December 10. While in Vietnam from December 7-10 at the invitation of National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung, the Japanese upper house leader held talks with NA Chairman Hung, paid courtesy calls to Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and President Truong Tan Sang, and met with Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and head of the Party Central Committee’s Organisation Commission and Chairman of the Vietnam – Japan Parliamentary Friendship Group To Huy Rua. In talks and meetings, both sides agreed to foster ties between the two legislatures and the bilateral strategic partnership for the interests of the two peoples. Yamazaki Masaaki pledged that the House of Councillors of Japan and he himself will make further efforts to nurture the Vietnam-Japan strategic partnership. In the coming time, both countries agreed to maintain high-level visits between the two legislatures and exchanges between young lawmakers while working closely together on issues of shared concern and at regional and global forums. During his stay, the Japanese upper house president also attended a ceremony celebrating the 82 nd birthday of the Japanese Emperor (December 23) hosted by the Japanese embassy. Cambodian Senate President greets Vietnamese lawmaker President of the Cambodian Senate Say Chhum on December 9 hosted a reception for Chairman of the Vietnam National Assembly’s Committee for External Relations Tran Van Hang who is in Phnom Penh to attend the eighth Plenary Session of Asian Parliamentary Assembly (APA). At the meeting, Say Chhum spoke highly of the Vietnamese delegation’s participation at the event which is hosted by Cambodia for the first time. The host expressed his thanks to the Vietnamese Party, State, people and army for their support for Cambodian people during the past wars and the current national construction and development. He affirmed the traditional solidarity and friendship between the two countries will be enhanced and further develop in the future. For his part, Hang noted Vietnam’s gratitude for Cambodia’s cooperation in all fields, including assistance to the Vietnamese legislature, and support for the Vietnamese residents in Cambodia. The Vietnamese delegation will do its utmost to contribute to making the APA session a success, he promised. The ongoing Plenary Session of the APA attracted delegates from 19 regional countries, observers and international organisations. During the three-day event, the regional lawmakers will discuss and exchange views on political, economic and social affairs, among others. Hung Yen constituents meet local NA deputies Voters in the northern province of Hung Yen have called on the State to pay more attention to agriculture and rural areas, improve the enforcement of policies towards veteran revolutionaries and toughen measures against environment pollution. They raised the issues during a meeting in early December with the province’s delegation of National Assembly deputies, while expressing their satisfaction with the outcomes of the recently-closed NA session. Constituents from An Thi district asked the Transport Ministry to accelerate work on approach roads running through the district to the Hanoi – Hai Phong highway, repair drainages and local roads damaged during the highway’s construction, and crack down on the discharge of untreated waste water into Cuu An river by factories in Pho Noi industrial park. Residents in Tien Lu and Phu Cu districts appealed for the State support for farmers in restructuring crops and animal breeding, build large-scale model rice fields, ensuring farm produce consumption, and upgrading irrigational works. They said poor communes need assistance in building new-style rural areas and proper policies are needed in support of female workers and officers at the grassroots level. At the same time, constituents from Khoai Chau and Kim Dong districts suggested building research centres for plant varieties, better managing farming materials while providing more care for the poor, the elderly and those who rendered service to the nation. The NA deputies pledged to submit the recommendations and feedbacks to the NA, the government, ministries and agencies concerned for consideration. Vietnam’s 70-year human rights achievements highlighted Vietnam’s achievements in ensuring human rights over the past 70 years came under spotlight at a seminar held by the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics (NPA) in Hanoi on December 9. Speaking at the event, NPA Director Ta Ngoc Tan underlined that the Party and State of Vietnam have pursued the consistent policy and goal of striving for the people and human rights throughout the national people’s democratic revolution and the Doi Moi (renovation) and international integration process. He noted the fact that the 2013 Constitution devotes 36 out of its 120 articles to human rights and fundamental rights and obligations of citizens. For the first time in Vietnam’s constitutional-making history, the Constitution prescribes that “the State ensures and promotes the people’s ownership; recognizes, respects, protects and ensures human rights and rights of citizens,” he said, adding that the stipulation is in line with international human rights standards and has its root in the essence of human rights and the nature of Vietnam’s socialist regime. Deputy Foreign Minister Ha Kim Ngoc said Vietnam has enhanced international cooperation in human rights in a serious and open-minded manner, thus significantly contributing to ensuring basic rights and freedom of Vietnamese citizens. He noted that the country has joined most major international treaties in human rights and actively work to fulfil relevant international commitments, stressing that through the cooperation, Vietnam has made positive contributions to establishing human right values on both regional and global scales. Reports presented at the seminar analysed Vietnam’s achievements in human rights over the past 70 years in various areas, helping bring a life of comfort and happiness for each Vietnamese citizen. Participants affirmed such achievements, which they said have been proven through the country’s legal documents which cover all issues regarding human rights and citizens’ rights, and through the enforcement of Party and State policies to actualize human rights in all areas of social life. To further promote and protect human rights, Vietnam should prioritise building and completing its legal system on human rights and citizens’ rights in line with new principles and regulations of the 2013 Constitution, they said. They also suggested improving education and communication work in the field. Celebrations for 88th National Day of Thailand The Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) hosted a ceremony in Ho Chi Minh City on December 9 celebrating the 88th anniversary of the birth of the Thai King and the National Day of Thailand (December 5). At the function, Truong Hoang, Chairman of the city’s Vietnam-Thailand Friendship Association hailed the development of bilateral relationship over the past time, especially the upgrade of their ties to a strategic partnership in 2013. He said the association in coordination with the Thai Consulate General and Thai Business Association in the city has hosted a number of cultural exchanges, not to mention a line-up of activities slated for next year to celebrate the 40 th anniversary of diplomatic ties. Thai Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City Panpimon Suwannaponge, for her part, said the Thai community will continue working closely with the VUFO chapter in the city to nurture friendship between the two peoples. Two-way trade between Vietnam and Thailand has grown 10-13 percent annually and is expected to hit 20 billion USD by 2020. Thailand has become the top trade partner of Vietnam among ASEAN member states. Thailand is currently the 10th largest investor in Vietnam with 374 projects. Youth forum promotes Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam friendship Young people from Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam (CLV) gathered in the southern Lao province of Champasak for the annual CLV youth forum that kicked off on December 9. As part of the 10 th Meeting of the Joint Coordination Committee of the CLV Development Triangle Area, the event aims to enhance friendship and traditional cooperation between regional youths. The forum, the sixth of its kind, is significant to the realisation of the joint statement on cooperation in the CLV Development Triangle Area signed by the Prime Ministers of the three countries in November 2014. Major issues debated at the forum include young people’s role in preserving and upholding traditional cultural values, the preparation of high-quality human resources ahead of the formation of the ASEAN Community and youths’ participation in eco-tourism in combination with poverty reduction. The event offers an opportunity for regional young people to express their views on issues of shared concern and roll out feasible measures to promote their collaboration. The participants agreed to increase the exchange of ideas and cooperation models between young businesspeople in order to turn plans into pragmatic actions. Within the framework of the two-day event, an exchange of young entrepreneurs from the three countries will be held along with a goods exhibition, a tourism fair, and camping activities. Reception held to mark Vietnam- Cuba diplomatic ties Cuban Ambassador to Vietnam Herminio Lopez Diaz held a reception for Vietnamese officials and the diplomatic corps in Hanoi on December 9 to mark the 55th anniversary of Vietnam-Cuba diplomatic ties. The event was attended by National Assembly Vice Chairwoman and President of the Vietnam- Cuba Friendship Association Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ha Kim Ngoc, Deputy Minister of Construction Le Quang Hung, Lieutenant-General Pham Hong Huong, deputy chief of General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army, among others. At the ceremony, NA Vice Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan expressed her delight at the significant changes and development the two Parties and peoples have made. She said the special traditional relations hold considerable potential for trade and investment cooperation between two nations. For his part, the Cuban Ambassador extended his sincere thanks to Vietnam for its support over the past five decades. He said he hopes the two countries will continue their efficient bilateral cooperation while promoting and expanding collaboration in a variety of fields. On December 2, 1960, the Cuban and Vietnamese Governments established their diplomatic relationship, ushering in a new chapter of their friendship. Bilateral cooperation has been expanded in numerous sectors such as agriculture, industry, construction, trade, investment, culture, education, science and technology. VNA