GOVERNMENT IN BRIEF 21/2 Review of social welfare policies recommended Policymakers should review assistance policies carefully to support Viet Nam's long-term comprehensive poverty reduction and growth strategy, the Central Steering Committee on Sustainable Poverty Reduction suggested.   The meeting, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Vu Van Ninh, was held in Ha Noi yesterday. The meeting, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Vu Van Ninh, was held in Ha Noi yesterday (Feb 20) to contribute to a government draft report on the implementation of legal polices on poverty reduction in the 2005-12 period and evaluate the results achieved in 2013. A report presented by the Ministry of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs revealed that the country saw an annual average poverty rate reduction of 2 per cent and a 5 per cent fall in disadvantaged districts and communes from 2005 to 2012. In 2013, 621,000 poor households were provided with preferential loans for production development, and 13 million disadvantaged and ethnic people were granted health insurance cards, according to the report. The poor had full access to preferential policies, thus helping reduce the poverty rate and improving their living conditions, it added. However, the achievements were unstable, especially in mountainous and ethnic minority populated regions, where the number of poor households accounted for 50 per cent of the country's total, noted the report. Ninh also asked related ministries to reach a common view on developing suitable policies to ensure sustainable poverty reduction and strengthen people's awareness on the topic. Meanwhile, localities should apply the policies in a creative and effective manner based on their own socio-economic conditions, he said. Australia aids restructuring effort Australia will provide AUD2.5 million (US$2.25 million) through the Restructuring for a More Competitive Viet Nam initiative, according to a statement made by visiting Australian Minister of Foreign Affairs Julie Bishop on Wednesday. "These reforms will help Viet Nam meet its commitments under its regional and international trade agreements, and lift Viet Nam's economic competitiveness to boost its regional and global trade," the release said. The Restructuring for a More Competitive Viet Nam initiative builds on the successes of the Beyond WTO Programme, under which Australia provided $8.6 million to help Viet Nam benefit from its accession to the World Trade Organisation in 2007. VN, US boost humanitarian ties Viet Nam and the United States said they would boost co-operation in humanitarian activities at a meeting between Viet Nam Red Cross Chairman Nguyen Hai Duong and American Red Cross Vice President Harold Wayne Brooks in Ha Noi yesterday, Feb 20. The two societies will continue to focus on disaster response and prevention; climate change adaptation; institutional development, the disabled and war victims support; HIV/AIDS prevention; first aid; and traffic safety. VNN/VNS/VNA