Political Headlines January 15 Condolences collected for Sharon The Israeli Embassy in Ha Noi has opened a condolence book for who passed away last Saturday. The book will remain open until the close of business today at the embassy on Nguyen Thai Hoc Street. Sharon died at the age of 85, never regaining consciousness after suffering a brain hemorrhage in January 2006. He served as Prime Minister from 2001 to 2006. Viet Nam, Spain enhance bilateral ties National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung hosted a reception in Ha Noi yesterday (Jan 14) for visiting First Vice President of the Spanish Senate Juan Jose Lucas Gimenez. National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung (R) receives First Vice President of the Spanish Senate Juan Jose Lucas Gimenez in Ha Noi yesterday. Hung said that the visit would contribute to consolidating bilateral ties and promote their strategic partnership. He spoke highly of the position and role of Spain and its Senate in Europe and said that he hoped the two legislative bodies would strengthen the exchange of all-level delegations. He also took the opportunity to invite the Senate's leaders to participate in the 132nd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union to be held in Viet Nam in early 2015. Gimenez affirmed that his visit aimed to not only consolidate the two countries' fine relationship but also seek measures to boost their bilateral co-operation. He said that he backed Vietnamese businesses' investment and penetration into the Spanish and European markets and hoped Viet Nam would support Spain in its bid for election to the United Nations Security Council, affirming that his country would co-ordinate closely with Viet Nam at international forums and in issues of mutual concern. The same day, the guest held talks with NA Vice Chairman Huynh Ngoc Son, during which they pledged to do their utmost to intensify the two countries' friendship. Son stressed that Viet Nam always attached importance to its partnership with Spain and hoped that Spain would contribute to boosting negotiations for a free trade agreement between Viet Nam and the European Union. The two sides agreed to strengthen experience in lawmaking and high-technology application in order to raise the effectiveness of their legislative activities. They also reached consensus to continue to promote their consultation mechanisms and support each other at multilateral forums, including the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the Asia-Europe Parliamentary Partnership Meeting, for peace, national liberation, development and social progress. Dominicans hope to deepen ties A visiting Dominican official said that his country wanted to promote and expand traditional solidarity, friendship and co-operation with Viet Nam, especially in economics, trade and investment. United Left-wing Movement Party General Secretary and Minister for Regional Integration Affairs Miguel Mejia meets with Le Hong Anh (L), Politburo member and permanent member of the Communist Party of Viet Nam Central Committee's Secretariat in Ha Noi yesterday. United Left-wing Movement (MIU) Party General Secretary and Minister for Regional Integration Affairs Miguel Mejia made the statement while meeting with Le Hong Anh, Politburo member and permanent member of the Communist Party of Viet Nam (CPV) Central Committee's Secretariat in Ha Noi yesterday, Jan 14. For his part, Anh applauded the two Parties' signing of a co-operation agreement, considering it an important foundation for them to deepen their co-operation in the time ahead. Earlier, the Dominican delegation held talks with a CPV delegation led by Hoang Binh Quan, head of the Party Central Committee's Commission for External Relations. The two sides discussed measures to effectively implementing the contents of the agreement as well as compared note on regional and international issues of common concern. Vietnam pursues self-reliant foreign policy Vietnam’s foreign policy is founded on principles of independence, self-reliance, peace, and cooperation, Chairman of the National Assembly Office Nguyen Hanh Phuc has said. Addressing the 22nd Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF) meeting in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, on January 14, Phuc noted Vietnam is also committed to being a reliable and responsible member of the international community. He pointed out that territorial and natural resource disputes have been on the rise in recent years, and international integration is posing a number of non-traditional challenges that need to be resolved diplomatically and peacefully. The National Assembly of Vietnam has fulfilled its task on parliamentary diplomacy, creating a favourable environment for national development, firmly defending national sovereignty and territorial integrity, raising the country’s position globally, and contributing to the struggle for peace, national independence, democracy and social progress in the world, he concluded. During the meeting, the Vietnamese and other 26 member delegations discussed a wide diversity of issues spanning economics, politics, security, development, and the environment. The Vietnamese delegation also met on the sidelines with representatives from Mexico and Japan, examining issues of mutual concern. As an APPF founding member, the Vietnam National Assembly has actively participated in its forums since 1992. APPF is a place for parliamentarians to discuss important and urgent issues, evaluate the impact of economic growth and regional and global integration, and encourage regional cooperation at all levels in the fields that concern countries. It members are: Australia, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, the Republic of Korea, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Micronesia, the US, Fiji, the Philippines, Indonesia, Marshall archipelago, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Mexico, Mongolia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Russia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Boosting Vietnam-Malta diplomatic ties Vietnamese ambassador to Italy and Malta Nguyen Hoang Long made a fact-finding tour of Malta on January 14-15 to prepare for the 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries. He met with President George Abeta, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, and Foreign Minister William Vella. He handed over the Vietnamese Prime Minister and Foreign Minister’s messages of congratulations to the Malta leaders on the 40th anniversary of the diplomatic ties, expressing belief the friendship and cooperation between the two countries will be further developed into the future. The Malta leaders proposed both countries increase cooperation in various areas, primarily in economics, trade, investment, culture, and education-training. They voiced their support for both sides’ planned activities to mark 40 years of diplomacy in 2014. Ambassador Long worked with relevant Malta agencies to define celebration programmes for this year, including a Vietnam Cultural Week in Malta, a Vietnam-Malta business forum, and delegation exchanges. Japan supports industrialisation Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh suggested that Viet Nam and Japan increase co-operation in science and technology activities and human resources training. Speaking to the visiting Japanese Minister in charge of Ocean Policy and Territorial Issues Yamamoto Ichita in Ha Noi yesterday, Minh also urged the implementation of Viet Nam's industrialisation strategy within the two countries' co-operation framework. Yamamoto added that Japan always attached importance to its strategic partnership with Viet Nam and would continue supporting Viet Nam in implementing its industrialisation and modernisation. The host and guest agreed to efficiently carry out agreements reached during Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung's visit to Japan last month. The two sides also discussed regional and international issues of common concern and agreed to collaborate further at multilateral forums. Courts handled nearly all 2013 cases received The country's courts managed to conclude nearly 365,000 of the 395,415 cases received in 2013, according to reports from a conference hosted by the Supreme People's Court. Addressing the conference, which was held yesterday, President Truong Tan Sang commended the courts for their performance despite limited human resources, while noting that the number of cases has been increasing by an average of 10-15 per cent every year. The courts have also reduced the number of overdue cases by half, while making remarkable improvements in the mechanism of law implementation, he said. The President noted that with the revised Constitution taking effect from January 1, the courts have the task of preparing the stipulations of the revised Constitution related to judicial rights. The judicial and legal system must also conduct systematic and comprehensive research on the jurisdiction of courts and judging councils, he added. He also asked the Supreme People's Court to continue strengthening its staff's professional and ethical qualifications. Outlining the main tasks for 2014, the conference agreed to prioritise the implementation of judicial reforms in line with the Party and National Assembly's resolutions. Simultaneously, the judicial system will continue the reforms of court procedures in the quest to ensure democracy and transparency in accordance with the law. At all levels, the courts will focus on handling major cases, particularly those involving corruption, while promoting their reconciliation role in civil disputes and encouraging dialogue in administrative cases. President, VFF collaborate On the same day, the President attended a conference to review the past year's co-operation between his office and the Standing Board of the Viet Nam Fatherland Front (VFF)'s Central Committee. Participants agreed that the two offices needed to work together to address citizens' complaints. Last year, both sides strengthened national unity through meetings with overseas Vietnamese and activities to provide relief for people affected by natural disasters. They also collected public opinion on the amendments to the 1992 Constitution. Participants asked the two sides to develop production, impede economic regression, fight against corruption and ensure social welfare. Media urged to strengthen social consensus Media agencies should stand active in information activities and make more contributions to generating a social consensus in both thought and action, meeting the requirements of the national renewal. Dinh The Huynh, Politburo member, Secretary of the Party Central Committee and head of its Commission for Popularisation and Education, made the suggestion at a national media conference on January 14 in Hanoi to define the sector’s tasks in 2014. He said that journalists need to update all new features of the modern communications environment to make changes in mindset and adapt to the open information atmosphere. Media agencies should be active in controlling the information battlefield to set orientation for public opinion, he said. Regarding major tasks for 2014, Huynh said specific plans and a roadmap should be outlined with priority given to key and urgent tasks. According to a report heard at the event, in 2013, media activities faced many difficulties and challenges. However, the sector had a strong performance and showed political responsibilities. Particularly, the media positively popularised a resolution adopted during the fourth plenum of the Party Central Committee (11th tenure) on Party building and Directive 03 of the Politburo stepping up the campaign “studying and following the moral example of President Ho Chi Minh”, while helping honour outstanding individuals in national patriotic movements. The media sector made significant contributions to affirming national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and highlighting Vietnam’s desire and efforts in maintaining an environment of peace and stability as well as clarifying the Party and State’s external policies, said the report. Press agencies also promoted the image of Vietnam and introduced the traditions and cultural identity of the nation to international friends, it added. They played an important role in fighting corruption, wastefulness and other negative phenomena, while rejecting wrongful allegations by political opportunists and hostile forces, contributing to bettering the Party and State apparatus and consolidating people’s trust in the system and renewal cause. However, the report also pointed out the shortcomings of the media, such as the violations of principles and increasing commercialisation in some agencies. Meanwhile, slow press planning led to waste of resources. The coordination among management agencies and ministries, sectors and localities in the supply of information to the media remained poor and asynchronous, the report said. Participants at the event also made proposals on a number of solutions to renovate and enhance the quality and efficiency of communications, while exchanging experience in a wide range of issues. They also agreed on basic measures to implement key tasks in 2014 and following years. Accordingly, the sector will continue focusing on popularising the implementation of resolutions of the Party Central Committee and the Politburo, especially the realisation of the amended Constitution, while designing plans to reflect in an accurate and timely manner the opinions of people on the resolutions. Participants also shared the opinion that in 2014, the media should focus on updating important national events and effectively popularising issues related to the national sea and islands, and external relations, thus ensuring national independence and maintaining a peaceful and stable environment to boost development. The media will help increase social security and order as well as enhance the efficiency of external relations in the current development period, they said. The conference was jointly organised by the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Popularisation and Education, the Ministry of Information and Communications, and the Vietnam Journalists Association. Ambassador applauds Laos’ Army Day The Vietnamese army will beef up cooperation with its Lao counterpart to nurture the two countries’ great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive partnership. Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos Nguyen Manh Hung pinned the hope at a January 14 meeting with Lao Deputy Defence Minister Lieut. Gen. Chansamon Channhalt to congratulate him on the 65 th founding anniversary of the Lao People’s Army (January 20). At the meeting, Ambassador Hung lauded the achievements that the Lao army and people have gained. He said 2014 also marks numerous important events including 60 years since the Dien Bien Phu Victory and the 70th anniversary of the Vietnam People’s Army, which will create venues to recall the two nations’ glorious past and remind younger generations of their special relationship. Lieut. Gen. Chansamon Channhalt affirmed the growth of the Lao army over the last 65 years has been embedded with Vietnam’s support, vowing together with the Vietnamese army to uphold the special ties for the sake of the two peoples. VNN/VOV/VNS/VNA