Social News 29/5 Hotline set up for electricity customers Seven million customers in 21 southern cities and provinces, except for HCM City, can now call the hotline 19001006 to submit complaints or request electricity registration and galvanometer attachment services. The hotline is available 24 hours a day, according to Nguyễn Phước Đức, deputy general director of Southern Power Corporation. “By calling the hotline, utility workers can stop by each household. Customers are not required to prepare photocopied household papers, identity cards or house ownership certificates as they did before,” Đức said. Customers will be immediately informed if there is any additional fee, and complaints will be handled in the shortest possible time. Dead whale buried in Nghe An   Authorities and locals in Dien Thinh commune, in Dien Chau district of central Nghe An province buried a dead whale weighing around 7 tonnes, on May 27. The 10m long whale was found in the morning when it was floating 2 nautical miles off the Dien Thinh coast. It was then towed to the mainland by two fishing boats and one fisheries surveillance ship. Previously on May 25, a 15m long, 15 tonne whale stranded on the coast of Dien Thinh was rescued and safely released back to sea. Whales are considered holy by Vietnamese fishermen and many fishing communities worship whales in local temples with festivals held to pray for good catch and safety at sea. Hà Nội workers call for social housing Building social housing for workers and improving infrastructure at industrial zones were among issues raised by more than 300 workers at dialogues with Hà Nội authorities on Thursday. At the meetings, held at the Bắc Thăng Long industrial zone in Đông Anh District of Hà Nội, representatives from businesses proposed the city invest in building social housing for workers near industrial zones to rent or buy on hire-purchase at reasonable prices, particularly in areas with a high density of workers. They stressed that this was an urgent need as most workers came from other localities or from low-income rural areas. They currently have to rent houses far from work with high rent, water and electricity fees. Many workers proposed municipal authorities invest in building infrastructure, including kindergartens, schools, hospitals and supermarkets so living conditions of workers and their families would improve. They also recommended upgrading deteriorated infrastructure at industrial parks such as roads and water drainage systems and proposed authorities handle other issues relating to environment, social insurance and administrative procedures. Chairman of the Hà Nội People’s Committee Nguyễn Đức Chung said he would instruct relevant agencies to gradually handle issues raised by the workers. He also publicised a hotline number, 0903407319, to receive complaints from workers.   “I will work with local authorities and management agencies of industrial zones to support workers and deal with their recommendations,” he said. Activities staged for a greener Việt Nam A series of activities focusing on the environment was held in the central province of Thanh Hóa’s Vĩnh Lộc District yesterday. The event was jointly organised by Panasonic Việt Nam and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment’s Environment Administration as well as the provincial People’s Committee.   Under the programme, Panasonic Việt Nam grew 20,000 trees for Vĩnh Lộc District, which is home to the Hồ Citadel, raising the total number of trees granted to provinces across the country over the past three years to 70,000. The “Panasonic for a green Việt Nam” programme not only aims to create a green space but also helps mitigate greenhouse gases and responds to climate change in these areas, according to a press release. The company also presented 300 solar-powered lanterns to the Như Thanh and Quan Sơn districts, which still have no access to electricity. Also, a class on the environment was organised inside the Hồ Citadel complex for 100 students from Vĩnh Lộc District’s Vĩnh Tiến Secondary School. A programme encouraging local residents to exchange used batteries for Panasonic’s green batteries was also held. Deputy PM urges finishing drafts on laws Deputy Prime Minister Trịnh Đình Dũng called for co-ordination among ministries and sectors to reach a consensus on draft documents for the revised Investment and Enterprise laws. While chairing a meeting in Hà Nội on Thursday to review the work, the Deputy PM highlighted goals set by the Government related to improving the national investment and business environment. It was necessary to create favourable conditions for businesses and individuals to access resources to promote production and business, he stated. He praised ministries and sectors for their work to implement Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc’s guidelines, saying that Governmental decrees had been drafted on schedule. He urged ministries to resolve issues related to drafting legal documents for the enforcement of the revised Investment and Enterprise laws, asking for the harmonization of the interests of the State, enterprises and people. The drafts would need to be completed within the time set by the Government and Prime Minister and be high quality, he noted. Ministries and sector should make necessary studies and amendments after the legal documents are approved or issued, he said. The revised Investment and Enterprise laws, which will take effect on July 1, are hoped to improve the country’s investment environment. They were designed to respect and uphold business freedom while focusing on equal treatment between domestic and foreign investors to ensure compliance with international treaties Việt Nam has committed to. The Investment Law features administrative overhauls, including cutting the time to process foreign investment registration applications to 15 working days from 45 days as well as raising the responsibility of investors through deposit requirements and equipment quality appraisals. New points in the Enterprise Law include business registration certificates with information regarding business codes, headquarters addresses and legal representatives. It also abolishes requirements on professional certificates, shortens business registration timelines, adds criteria for State business executives and requests the release of transparent information from firms with State capital up to international standards. TV show to feature classic songs, showcase composers A new music series of Giai Điệu Tự Hào (Proud Melodies), produced by Việt Nam Television, will be broadcast starting today with  highlights being performances of Vietnamese classic songs. The first show of the 2016 series will feature the life and career of composers Văn Cao (1923-95) and Phạm Duy (1921-2013), who were close friends. Seven of their songs will be performed by singers Hà Anh Tuấn, Mỹ Linh and Hà Quang Thắng. The music series presents classic songs, remixed with sound and lighting effects. Producers also recreate the historical context when the songs were composed. This helps audiences have a feeling of living during the era of the songs. Ten artists, journalists and people working in various fields are invited to attend the council of commentators. After each song, they share their opinions about the performance and personal memories related. The first season of Giai Điệu Tự Hào won Best Show of the Year during the 10th Dedication Awards last year. New photos depict changing city life New vitality and changes in three big cities of Việt Nam are showcased at a photo exhibition which opened yesterday in Hà Nội. Photographers from the three sister cities of Hà Nội, Huế, and HCM City displayed 100 coloured and monochrome photos depicting daily life, changes in society, new urban development, and portraits of local people. The exhibition is a result of the art photo festival in the three cities, during which local photographic artists’ associations selected the best new photos to display. “The festival introduces visitors to a glimpse at the changing life in these cities, through the lens of photographic artists,” said Đặng Đình An, chairman of the Hà Nội Photographic Artists Association. “It’s also a chance for us to exchange and learn from each other. At the same time, visitors can admire the beauty of life in three cities, each one different from the others.” An remarked that the entries expressed the discoveries of photographers. They found new things, new perspectives, and changes arising in society. Besides new construction which changes a city’s face - like Nhật Tân Bridge (Hà Nội) - the photographers also found new emotions in old places, like the Royal Citadel in Huế. Photographing people never grows old for photographers. They captured daily life in three cities, cultural and art activities of the young and old, and the production processes of all walks of life. The first festival was organised in 1978 in HCM City, then moved to Hà Nội and Huế. In the 2000s, the festival was discontinued, for some reason. Photographic artists associations from the three cities have tried to revive the annual festival since 2011. The show will run until June 5 at the Exhibition House, 29 Hàng Bài Street, Hà Nội. National month for child safety launched in Ha Long A ceremony was held in the northern province of Quang Ninh’s Ha Long City on May 28 to kick off the national action month for child safety. In his opening remark, Vice President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh said more communication campaigns are needed to enhance family, school and societal responsibilities in providing a safe environment for children. Thinh underscored education and heavy fines imposed on offences as important safety precautions. Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Long said Quang Ninh is focusing on preventing child drownings this summer. Many classes offering swimming, and self-protective lessons have been organised, he noted. At the ceremony, the National Committee for Traffic Safety granted 400 helmets and ten scholarships to local children, while the National Fund for Vietnamese Children gave out 50 gifts and 11 hearing aids. The fund has raised nearly 11 billion VND (495,000 USD) after the event. The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs announced on May 25 that June has been earmarked for a string of programmes to protect children from accidents and injuries. Dang Hoa Nam, Director of the ministry’s Department of Child Protection and Care, said all 63 provinces and cities nationwide have readied themselves to join the action month. According to the Health Ministry, between 2010 and 2014, every day there were approximately 580 children facing a host of incidents, from electric shocks and burns to traffic accidents and drownings. These have become the top causes of disabilities for children. The rate of accidents occurring among children in Vietnam is about eight times higher than that in developed countries, with fatalities most commonly caused by traffic accidents and drowning. Farmers get zero-interest loans to send children to school 120 poor families in the Mekong Delta provinces of Long An and Tien Giang were granted zero-interest loans worth 20 million VND each to help their children pursue education. The loan, presented by GreenFeed Vietnam JSC and Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper on May 28, is part of an initiative supporting farmers to send their children to schools. Initiated in 2010, the programme has so far provided 50 billion VND (2.25 million USD) in loans for 1,860 households across 15 provinces and cities nationwide. Each beneficiary in the two provinces obtained a 2-year-term loan valued at 20 million VND (900 USD) and a free coupon of animal feed worth 3 million VND (135 USD). Ngo Thi Dao, a resident in Long An’s Can Duoc district who benefited from the initiative for 2013-2015, said it helped her family to develop their pig farm and pay for her child’s education. She said she paid off the loan after two years and is about to build a new house. The same day, the organising board of the programme also gave out 120 gifts, each worth 1 million VND (45 USD), for local students. National External Information Service Awards 2015 presented A total of 70 best works of the National External Information Service Awards 2015 were honoured at a ceremony in Hanoi on May 28. There are six first prize winners, 13 second prize winners, 18 third prize winners, and 33 consolation prize holders in five categories: print newspaper, online newspaper, radio broadcasting, television broadcasting and press photo. This is the second time the awards have been organized by the Party Central Committee’s Information and Education Commission and the Central Steering Committee for External Information Services. The Vietnam News Agency (VNA) submitted 181 entries this year, of which 15 won prizes. The work “August-September 1945, the historic turning point of the Vietnamese nation” by Huu Ngoc from the VNA’s French-language newspaper Le Courrier du Vietnam, and the multi-media work “Vietnam’s development after 70 years” by a group of reporters from VNA’s electronic newspaper VietnamPlus won two first prizes. As the only news agency in Vietnam, the VNA has 10 units providing external information services which made the agency the nation’s leading external information channel. According to the organising board, the awards this year received 737 entries from domestic and foreign press and media agencies, a 43 percent increase from last year. They included 319 entries in the category of print newspaper, 158 in the category of online newspaper, 56 in radio, 103 in television and 68 in press photo. The entries were created in 11 languages: Vietnamese, English, French, German, Russian, Chinese, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, Lao and Bulgarian. Entrants varied remarkably, including professional and amateur journalists from domestic press agencies, foreign journalists, ambassadors, experts, researchers, and Vietnamese expatriates. In particular, there are 15 entrants who are foreign journalists, directors, politicians and scholars. Entries also came in a great many varieties of genres and contents, which covered all aspects of the country’s political, economic, cultural and social life, and outstanding events in Vietnam, the region and the world in 2015. They also introduced the great achievements made in the “Doi moi” (Reform) process and national development and defence; promoted images of Vietnamese land, culture, and people to the world; timely and vividly communicated the Party’s guidelines and the State’s policies and laws; refuted fabricated information and distorted arguments on Vietnam; and provided detailed information on domestic and international issues of public concern such as sea and island sovereignty, borders and territory, ethnic and religious affairs, democracy and human rights. Speaking at the awards ceremony , Politburo member and permanent member of the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat Dinh The Huynh congratulated the individual and group prize winners and declared the second National External Information Service Awards 2015 a success. He stressed that at present, external information services are benefitting from numerous new opportunities while also facing an array of difficulties and challenges. Hence, the agencies providing external information services need to continue raising awareness about the importance of the work, regularly renovate and improve the efficiency of the services offered, and push forward with the implementation of the Politburo’s Strategy for the Development of External Information Services in the 2011-2020 period, so as to help promote Vietnam’s prestige and standing, and win over the assistance of the international community and overseas Vietnamese communities, ultimately creating favourable conditions for the cause of national development and defence. Outstanding works among the prize winning entries will be selected to be published in foreign languages to serve external information work. Northwestern region intensifies ties with diplomatic missions abroad Leaders of the Steering Committee for the Northwestern Region and regional localities have expressed their hope that the heads of Vietnamese diplomatic missions abroad will help promote the potential and advantages of the region in trade, investment and tourism to the world. At a meeting in Yen Bai province on May 27, they requested diplomats introduce potential businesses and investors to the region and create favourable conditions for regional provinces to access official development assistance (ODA) and aid from non-governmental organisations (NGO). The diplomats were also asked to facilitate the exports of northwestern enterprises to their host countries. The heads of diplomatic missions, who are undertaking their duty in the 2016-2019 tenure, vowed to tighten connections in investment, culture and people-to-people diplomacy between their host countries and northwestern localities. Over the past years, the northwestern region has enjoyed positive economic growth. In 2015, its Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) grew 8.63 percent annual per capita income averaged 27.4 million VND (1,224 USD), up from 12.4 million VND in 2010. Last year’s state budget collection exceeded 30 trillion VND, 2.5 times higher than that of 2010. The proportion derived from agricultural production was 20.4 percent, down 12.3 percent from 2010. Regional provinces are also stepping up cooperation with Laos and China, and gradually expanding their partnership with Japan, the Republic of Korea and the European Union. By last year, the region attracted over 4 billion USD in ODA, 9 billion USD in foreign direct investment and 160 million USD from NGOs. The same day, the diplomats had a working session with leaders of Yen Bai province. Vietnam-Singapore industrial parks promote social responsibility Staff of the Vietnam-Singapore industrial parks (VSIP) group, across six localities nationwide took to the street on May 28 to clean the local environment, as part of the group’s programme on promoting businesses’ social responsibility. In Binh Duong, 400 staff took part in cleaning two local primary schools – Tan Phuoc Khanh A in Tan Uyen town and Tan Binh in Di An town. The VSIP Group has also sponsored more than 2.2 billion VND (99,000 USD) for the two schools to build new toilet facilities and other infrastructure. Similar activities have also taken place in Bac Ninh and Hai Phong in the north and in Quang Ngai and Nghe An in the central region of the country. The VSIP Group is a joint venture between Vietnam and Singapore. After operating for 20 years, the group has established seven industrial parks in the six localities spanning a total area of more than 6,150 hectares. It has so far attracted 8.5 billion USD from 616 investors and created 159,000 jobs. The group has consistantly contributed to local communities via its work on improving infrastructure, sponsoring education facilities, building houses for needy families and setting up communal clinics. Talks on President Ho Chi Minh’s thoughts held in Laos Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos Nguyen Manh Hung has recently been invited as the main speaker at a talk on late President Ho Chi Minh at the Lao Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment on May 27. The talk was part of activities in Laos to mark the 126th birth anniversary of the late Vietnamese President (May 19, 1890). At the event, Ambassador Hung highlighted the revolutionary life and career of the late President, who is the great teacher of the Vietnamese revolution, the beloved leader of the Vietnamese nation and an outstanding activist of the international communist and national liberation movements. The ambassador stressed that it was President Ho Chi Minh together with Lao Presidents Kaysone Phomvihane and Souphanouvong who laid the foundation for the special solidarity between the people of the two nations. The special ties have become a valuable heritage for the two countries, the rule for the existence and development of each country’s revolution and an important resource for their national construction and defence, he said. Lao Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Sommat Phonselna expressed thanks to the Vietnamese Ambassador for his sharing of the President Ho Chi Minh’s thoughts and morality. Through the talks, officials and staff from his ministry have gained a deeper understanding of the late Vietnamese President as well as the special relationship between Vietnam and Laos, he said. Cooperative alliance, ILO work to boost employment, poverty reduction The Vietnam Cooperative Alliance (VCA) and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Country Office for Vietnam have inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to ultimately promote employment and poverty reduction. The MoU is on building and effectively implementing strategies to promote employment and eliminate poverty, support the transfer of labour in the informal sector, and develop a sustainable and inclusive economy and business climate. It was signed by VCA Chairman Vo Kim Cu and ILO Country Director Chang Hee Lee in Hanoi on May 27. Chang Hee Lee said the MoU signing is an important step to foster employment, income growth and poverty reduction, especially in remote and rural areas of Vietnam. Despite strong growth over the last few years, some regions in Vietnam, particularly remote and rural areas, still record high poverty rates. The cooperation between the VCA, which has 13 million members, and the ILO is important to addressing that problem, he noted. The same day, the VCA chairman and Antje Regitz, a programme director of the German Cooperative and Raiffeisen Confederation (DGRV), signed another MoU on comprehensive cooperation – partnership. Accordingly, DGRV will give advice to and help improve the capacity of the VCA and other partner organisations in building an institutional framework that is strong enough for the sustainable development of cooperatives in Vietnam. Tay Ninh: second border commune declared new rural area Thanh Dong commune in Tan Chau district has become the second border commune in the southern province of Tay Ninh to receive new-style rural area status. Addressing a ceremony to grant the title to the locality, Pham Hung Thai, head of the provincial Party Committee’s Information and Education Commission, described the recognition as a pride and a huge task for the communal Party Committee, authorities and people. It demonstrates great efforts made by a mountainous border commune like Thanh Dong over the past years, he said, stressing that how to keep the status is an even harder job. Vice Chairman of the Thanh Dong People’s Committee Nguyen Tan Minh, said the commune has nearly 3,900 hectares of natural land with five hamlets which accommodate close to 9,300 people, who mainly live on agricultural production and other services. With a fund of more than 122 billion VND (5.49 million USD) sourced from the State budget, businesses and local people, Thanh Dong has met all 19 criteria set for a new-style rural area. Tay Ninh has 16 out of 82 communes recognised as new-style rural areas. The province will strive to raise the figure to 22 this year. The national target programme on building new-style rural areas was initiated by the Government in 2010 and sets 19 criteria on the development of infrastructure, the improvement of production capacities, environmental protection, and the promotion of cultural values. The country aims to have half of communes nationwide meeting all the requirements by the end of 2020. Dong Nai’s Vietnam-RoK friendship association set up The Friendship Association of Vietnam-Republic of Korea (RoK) in the southern province of Dong Nai was established on May 27 with 90 members. Pham Minh Dao, Director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, was elected as the Association’s chairman. Addressing the event, Consul General of the RoK in Ho Chi Minh City Park Noh Wan said that the association’s foundation will help boost ties between the two countries. Through the association, the RoK and Dong Nai will organise cultural exchange activities as well as further strengthen cooperation in industry, creating more favourable conditions for RoK investors in the province. On the occasion, RoK businesses operating in Dong Nai presented 100,000 USD and handed over 8 classrooms and scholarships to the province. Dong Nai currently is home to around 260 RoK projects with a total investment of 5 billion USD, creating jobs for about 150,000 of local people. Vietnamese food delights guests at event in Argentina The Vietnam Embassy in Argentina and the association of ambassadors’ wives in Buenos Aires mounted an event to promote Vietnamese cuisine at the Asian Culture House on May 27. The event was attended by representatives from local authorities and news agencies. Head of the culture house Pham Lien introduced the diversity of Vietnam’s gastronomy and eating traditions, while chef Thomas Nguyen taught participants how to make the renowned spring roll, both the fried and fresh versions. Ricardo Cuccovillo, Chairman of the Argentina Chamber of Deputies’ Friendship Parliamentarian Group with Vietnam, said he was impressed by the light and special taste of the food and sauce. Spouse of the Vietnamese ambassador to Argentina Tran Mai Huong said she hopes the event would contribute to boosting mutual understanding between Vietnam and other countries. Vietnam lacquer arts on show in Norway A Vietnamese lacquer arts and traditional handicraft exhibition has been opened in Norway’s capital city of Oslo, receiving a warm response from international friends and the local Vietnamese community. The exhibition features lacquer paintings by late well-known artist Le Cong Thanh, along with applications of the art in traditional and contemporary styles such as water puppetry, painting, interior design and fashion. Speaking at the opening ceremony, Ambassador Le Thi Tuyet Mai highlighted that the exhibition is part of a series of events to mark the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Norway (1971-2016) She also lauded the contribution of Norwegian friends and local Overseas Vietnamese in strengthening the two countries’ friendship relationship and collaboration. Gunn Jurid Roset from Norway’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs praised the fruitful relations between the two nations in several spheres, including politics, economy, climate change and cultural exchanges. She also highly appreciated the embassy’s effort in promoting Vietnam’s special culture and country in the Scandinavian country. The event was jointly organised by the Vietnamese Embassy in Norway and the Vietnam Exhibition Centre for Culture and Arts. Global economic integration requires green technology: forum Increasing businesses’ capacity for technological innovation and raising the competitiveness of green technology are the keys to helping Vietnam integrate more deeply into the global economy, heard a forum in Hanoi on May 28. Speaking at the forum on technological innovation towards green development in the business circle, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Nguyen Thi Phuong Hoa said Vietnam is pursuing a green economy. With such move, the country aims to reduce poverty, ease adverse impacts on the environment, generate more jobs and ensure social equality, she said. Nguyen The Chinh, head of the Institute of Strategy and Policy in Natural Resources and Environment, underlined the need for businesses to grasp the Party’s and State’s new policies and guidelines on green economy. The official explained that there have been various incentives for enterprises to renovate technologies in order to meet targets set in the National Green Growth Strategy. With a range of amended and supplemented policies and laws, especially once Vietnam effectuates a free trade agreement with Europe and the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement, technological innovation towards a green economy is expected to be pushed forward. Statistics released by the World Bank (WB) show that Vietnam’s GDP is expected to double in the next decade, resulting in a three-fold increase in environmental pollution. The figure is forecast to increase five fold by 2025. Environmental pollution has directly affected human health with about 3 percent of GDP spent on health care in 2010. Participating businesses shared their experience in technological renovation and obstacles hindering the process, particularly in green product consumption.- Vietnam promotes anti-smoking campaign The Health Ministry and its Fund for Tobacco Harms Prevention organised a meeting to mark World No Tobacco Day (May 31) in Hanoi on May 26. Speaking at the meeting, Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Viet Tien reminded state agencies of their commitment signed with the Health Ministry last year to build a smoke-free workplace. He said each public servant should be a model of saying no to tobacco products in society. According to Head of the Administration of Medical Examination and Treatment Luong Ngoc Khue, Vietnam is among 15 countries with the highest number of smokers worldwide. Smoking can cause a host of non-communicable diseases, these diseases are the cause of more than 75 percent of fatalities in Vietnam every year, he noted. Initiated by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 1987, World No Tobacco Day has been celebrated annually to inform the public on the dangers of smoking and the tobacco business. This year, WHO is calling on countries to get ready for plain packaging of tobacco products, meaning the restricted use of logos, colours, brand images or promotional information on packaging. In response to the initiative, Vietnam has launched a national tobacco-free week that is running from May 25 to 31. Artists praised for contributing to overseas Vietnamese affairs Twenty six artists were awarded with Certificates of Merits of the Chairman of the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for their outstanding service overseas and on islands. The certificate was also granted to the Military’s Song, Dance and Music Theatre for its contribution to overseas Vietnamese affairs. Addressing the awarding ceremony on May 27 in Hanoi, Vice Chairman of the Committee Dang The Hung called on more artists to continue their contribution to forging solidarity among the Vietnamese expats. According to Hung, there are 4.5 million Vietnamese people living across 108 countries and territories around the world. Lieutenant Duong Thi Tu from the Military’s Theatre expressed her honour to perform on the Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago, the DK 1 Platform and in Thailand during traditional New Year (Tet) holiday. “I always get moved with the love overseas Vietnamese and the soldiers on the Truong Sa archipelago have for the homeland,” Tu said. People – root of mass mobilisation work: Party chief Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong has underscored the need to trust in and take care of people in order to raise the efficiency of mass mobilisation, or civic duty work. He delivered the message while addressing a conference of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Mass Mobilisation in Hanoi on May 27 to launch an action programme on the implementation of the 12th Party Congress’s Resolution and directions and conclusions on mass mobilisation issued by the Politburo and the Party Secretariat. This viewpoint on civic duty has been proven to be true through the country’s long history, from feudal dynasties to the 30-year reform, as well as Marxism-Leninism, the Party chief noted. Therefore, he said, it is a must for the Party to provide full care for people’s lives and interests, and respect their right to self-mastery while building a pure Party. Although the Party and the State have exerted great efforts in improving people’s living standards, there still have been policies and actions that have failed to meet public aspirations, the Party leader admitted. It is necessary to take specific measures to ensure people’s living standards, firstly ensuring their food, clothes, health care and education, he said, adding that social equality and security are also crucial. He noted that respecting and upholding people’s right to self-mastery is the Party’s strategic guideline, and that public creativeness has been carried forward during the Party leadership. The leader urged all-level Party Committees and State agencies to encourage people’s organisations to get involved in socio-economic management, and raise their staff’s awareness of serving the public. Hailing contributions of the civic work to strengthening the national great unity bloc as well as socio-economic development, national security and defence and foreign affairs, the Party General Secretary pointed out that shortcomings and limitations still remain. He explained that the actualisation of relevant resolutions, directions and conclusions has proven effective, but the work has yet to receive adequate attention of all-level Party Committees and authorities. Addressing the event, Truong Thi Mai, head of the Mass Mobilisation Commission, said her commission has integrated the work into the effectuation of the 12th Party Congress’ Resolution. The commission has also worked as advisor in revamping the Party leadership over mass mobilisation in the context of socialist oriented market economy and international integration, especially in areas inhabited by ethnic minority groups and in religion-related issues, she said. Global start-up contest for students comes to VN A global business start-up contest is being organised for the first time in Vi?t Nam to offer high school and university students in the country a chance to win money and support for their business ideas. In HATCH! Battle Junior, participants will first go through a training workshop before making a 90-second video to pitch their business idea to judges at the 2016 HATCH! Fair to be held on October 7 and 8 in HCM City. Battle Junior, an international start-up contest for students organised by the US-based University of Dayton in Ohio, comes to Vi?t Nam for the first time. HATCH! is a resource for entrepreneurship in Vi?t Nam operating since 2012 that supports more than 100 companies and more than 10,000 entrepreneurs. The team that wins the contest -- organised jointly by the two organisations -- will get US$5,000 and advance to the second round to be held at the University of Dayton China Institute in Suzhou, China. The team will get free flights and a prize package along with mentoring through the HATCH! network of entrepreneurs and start-up coaches. If a team continues to win, it will compete in the final round at the University of Dayton in Ohio in the US in April, 2017. Island districts lack knowledgable workers Local authorities of islands in central provinces- such as Qu?ng Nam, Qu?ng Ngãi and Bình Ð?nh - are facing shortages of knowledgable officials and difficulties in calling for officials to work at local authorised agencies. Nguy?n Van An, chairman of Tân Hi?p Ward’s People’s Committee on Cù Lao Chàm island of Qu?ng Nam Province, said “We have to send officials to study in State-funded programmes, after recruiting them,” he said. The wide gap in salary between the leader and deputy leader is another big challenge. Nguy?n Van Chuong, president of Fishermen Association in Nhon Châu Commune of Bình Ð?nh Province, said he receives a monthly wage of VNÐ5.5 million (US$245), while the deputy president gets only VNÐ1.05 million ($47). Because of this, many deputy leader positions of local authorised agencies are left empty, as the low wage does not attract anyone. Nguy?n Van L?i, a resident of Cù Lao Chàm island, refused the task of being deputy head of the Tân Hi?p Commune police station. He said the main job of residents there is to go offshore for fishing, which requires many work days, so he could not be an official and a fisherman at the same time. The effort to attract workers who are island residents has also failed, so far. There are no high schools on Cù Lao Xanh island of Bình Ð?nh Province. High school students have to move to the mainland to study. And most of them stay on the mainland for higher education and jobs. The labour force also plays an important role in developing tourism on the islands. On Lý Son island, a well-known tourism spot in Qu?ng Ngãi Province, there are only ten private hotels run by residents. Nguy?n Phúc Sinh, head of the education department of Lý Son Island District, said it was difficult to invest in hotels because they could not find anyone on the island with management skills. Many wealthy families have also saved enough money to buy houses on the mainland and moved there permanently, leaving the island without workers. In the last ten years, a large number of island families moved to the mainland. Some 56 households left Cù Lao Xanh island, while on Cù Lao Chàm island, there are only 71 families. That prevents tourism in the region from flying high. WB funds water supply and environmental sanitation project in Vietnam On May 26, the World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors approved US$119 million in additional financing for an ongoing project to respond to key urban development challenges focusing on assuring water supply and wastewater needs of selected urban areas in Vietnam. The additional financing for the Vietnam Urban Water Supply and Wastewater Project will mostly be used for a wastewater and drainage subproject for Binh Duong province. It will also cover cost overruns due to the appreciation of the US dollar, and provide technical support to the Ministry of Construction to prepare a new water supply investment in the Mekong Delta. Up to 65,872 households with 450,382 people will be connected to clean water sources as a result of the financing, and up to 312,051 urban dwellers will benefit from improved sanitation. “We are very pleased to see this additional financing approved by our Board of Directors. With this, achievements under the original project will be further consolidated and sustained, and more people in Binh Duong, in southern Vietnam, will enjoy better wastewater and drainage services.” said Achim Fock, the World Bank’s Acting Country Director for Vietnam. The additional financing includes a credit of US$50.0 million from the International Development Association (IDA), the World Bank Group’s concessional financing window for low-income countries, and a loan of US$69.0 million from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the World Bank Group’s lending arm for middle-income countries. The original project, which was approved by the World Bank’s Board in May 2011, sponsored seven water supply and seven wastewater subprojects in 10 provinces, with an average population size of 100,000 in the urban centers. Exhibition on Hoang Sa, Truong Sa opened in Binh Phuoc Nearly 100 maps, documents and publications on Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spartly) archipelagos are on display at Dong Xoai town in the southern province of Binh Phuoc. The exhibition, entitled “Vietnam’s Hoang Sa and Truong Sa: Historical and legal evidence” is jointly organised by the Ministry of Information and Communication and the provincial People’s Committee. Speaking at the opening ceremony, Deputy Minister of Information and Communication Pham Hong Hai stressed that the exhibition aims at increasing the public’s awareness and responsibility in safeguarding the country’s sovereignty over the two archipelagos. The displayed documents and materials at the exhibition are a part of the historical and legal evidence which has been collected both at home and aboard, including from China, he added. All the reproductions will be presented to the locality after the exhibition in order to continue disseminating information about the country’s sea and island sovereignty to locals. The exhibition runs until May 31. Vietnam starts online grant of international driving permit The Directorate for Roads of Vietnam yesterday said that they have officially launched the online international driving permit (IDP) granting service. The directorate’s staff is responsible for examining documents and confirming receipt of them to applicants’ emails. The service’s users will make payment online. IDP applicants need to have valid driver's licenses made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), which information is included in national database, banking accounts for online payment. The online granting is applied to international not normal drivers’ licenses. Those applying for the normal licenses still need to be present at permit granting agencies to have health check. Domestic driving license is the main database for IDP granting. Citizens can apply for IDP at www.drvn.gov.vn and www.dichvucong.gplx.gov.vn by filing in online documents and providing address to receive the IDP at home via express delivery. Vietnam strives to have 96 percent of kids attending preschool Vietnam has set a target of sending 96 percent of toddlers to preschools full-day by 2020 as per the Ministry of Education and Training’s draft of preschool growth for the period 2016-2020. Vietnam strives 30 percent of kids aged 18 month to 36 month to attend preschool (many Vietnamese parents keep their children at homes); 90 percent of kids aged three to five year old to be sent to kindergarten. Most of teachers in preschools or kindergarten were well trained. Moreover, 96 percent of toddlers will be kept in preschools full-day by 2020. Additionally, the education sector will try to reduce the rate of malnourished children and early discover kids with mild autism. In addition, the draft also outlined by 2025 the country will have 55 percent of preschools meeting national standard, the rate of kids in public schools will reache 70 percent and 30 percent left will studying in private facilities. The sector will build more 4,493 school rooms worth over VND4 trillion (US$178,746,983) across the country. VNA/VNS/VOV/SGT/SGGP/TT/TN/Dantri