Political News 30/7  Cabinet meeting: Vietnam’s economy keeps on track July continues to see positive socio-economic development, the Ministry of Planning and Investment reported to the regular Cabinet meeting which opened in Hanoi on July 30. The report noted that inflation remained under control with the rise in consumption price index (CPI) kept at low level; interest rates, foreign exchange rates and market were stable; and exports and services maintained good growth. The disbursement of capital sources including FDI and ODA was at a good pace, while the industrial sector, particularly the manufacturing and processing industries, continued its recovery. At the opening session, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung asked Cabinet members to discuss major issues relating to economic restructuring, GDP growth, macro-economy and solutions for smooth operations of businesses. He also required them to brainstorm over solutions to achieve the target of 5.8 percent GDP growth for this year and to remove difficulties for businesses. In addition, he urged relevant ministries and agencies to closely work together to carry out measures ensuring safety for over 1,500 Vietnamese guest workers in Libya. During the two days of sitting, Cabinet members will also debate some draft laws on special consumption tax, labour hygiene and safety, maritime and island environment and resources, and military service. Steering board talks preparations for IPU-132 Preparations for the 132nd General Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) scheduled for next March in Hanoi are underway with good progress, the State Steering Board for IPU-132 said at its second meeting in Hanoi on July 29. The theme for the IPU-132 has been approved at the March meeting of the IPU General Assembly, which will focus on Parliament’s role in water use and management. The event is expected to gather over 1,300 delegates from 160 countries worldwide. Chairing the meeting, National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung who also heads the steering board emphasised the importance of the IPU-132 in the country’s external activities. He said the steering board should use the event as an opportunity to promote the image of the Vietnamese nation to the international community. PM meets acclaimed local mathematician Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung yesterday met Professor Ngo Bao Chau, the first Vietnamese to win the Fields Medal, the highest professional honour a mathematician can attain, and the Education Dialogue Group. Dung praised the contribution of scientists to national development, including Chau's contribution to the Viet Nam Institute for Advanced Study in Mathematics. He said this had helped to promote a love for maths among Vietnamese students. He said the Government was strongly implementing a master plan on Education and Training Reform and urged Chau and the Education Dialogue Group to continue to provide consultancy and opinions to help complete education development policies. Dung said the Government would continue to provide favourable conditions for further development of the Viet Nam Institute for Advanced Study of Mathematics. Chau said the institute had developed well in the three years it had been established, particularly in helping improve scientific research by Vietnamese mathematicians. On the same day, Dung had a working session with the Viet Nam Union of Science and Technology Associations. He praised the practical contributions of the union to national development and asked ministries, localities and the union to increase co-operation in scientific research and criticism. Dung said it was important to boost international co-operation, encourage private investment in science and technology, and increase communication in this field. He said it was essential to enhance the role of scholars in modernising industrialisation and increasing the competitiveness of all sectors. The PM added that education, training, science, and technology were the nation's top priorities and the driving force for national growth. Vietnam attends Venezuelan United Socialist Party’s congress A Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) delegation attended the third national congress of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) recently held in the capital Caracas. The congress, which kicked off on July 26, drew the participation of 985 delegates representing over 7 million PSUV members across the country and more than 70 foreign delegations. Nguyen Tuan Phong, deputy head of the CPV Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations, conveyed the committee’s message of congratulations to PSUV President Nicolas Maduro. The presence of the Vietnamese delegation contributed to the success of the congress, said Maduro, who expressed hope for tightened friendship, solidarity and cooperation between the two countries and parties. During its stay in Venezuela , the delegation had meetings with Foreign Minister Elias Jaua and General Secretary of the Communist Party of Venezuela Oscar Figuera. It also attended a ceremony marking the 60 th birth anniversary of late President Hugo Chavez, and met with several international delegations participating in the congress. Lao Cai asked to focus on infrastructure building Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has emphasised the need for the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai to focus on building infrastructure system, especially in transportation, in order to boost its socio-economic development. Working with key provincial leaders in Hanoi on July 29, PM Dung urged Lao Cai to improve its investment environment and enhance its competitiveness, thus attracting more investment. He asked the province to utilise its advantages and potential, especially in service, tourism, border trading, mining and agriculture, to successfully fulfil its set socio-economic targets. At the same time, the locality should speed up the national target programme on building new-style rural areas in line with upgrading rural infrastructure and supporting farmers in boosting agro-forestry, applying advanced technology in production and expanding markets for local products, he said. Meanwhile, special attention should be paid to reducing poverty and bettering social welfares for locals, while ensuring defence, political security and social safety and order in the locality, building a borderline of peace, friendship, cooperation and development, contributing to protecting the national sovereignty, he said. PM Dung also reiterated Vietnam ’s constant stance of safeguarding the national territory in parallel with keeping normal cooperation relationship with China , asking Lao Cai to maintain and promote economic partnership and bilateral cooperation in other fields with China for mutual benefit. At the meeting, he also hailed the locality’s efforts in maintaining high economic growth, recording rapid poverty reduction and ensuring defence and security situation despite many difficulties as a mountainous and boundary province with large area and small population. According to Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Doan Van Huong, over the past 20 years, Lao Cai has secured a high growth rate at 11 percent per year averagely. Last year, the province’s economy expanded 10 times compared to that of 1991. The locality’s per capita income reached 29.7 million VND (1,414 USD), a 59.4-fold increase from the 1991’s figure, the highest number compared to other regional localities, he reported. However, he also acknowledged a number of shortcomings in the locality, including poor infrastructure system, high ratio of poor households at about 20 percent. In addition, the quality of its human resources remained poor, while the problems of women trafficking, drug smullging and uncontrolled migration remained, the official added. Entering ASEAN - a decision of historical significance Joining the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is a decision of great historical significance at both national and regional levels, Deputy Foreign Minister Pham Quang Vinh has stated on the occasion of the 19th anniversary of Vietnam’s official membership in the bloc (July 28, 1995-July 28, 2014). In an interview granted to the press, the diplomat said at the national level, the decision paved the way for Vietnam to become more integrated into the region, allowing the country to join hands in building a regional environment of peace, stability and cooperation. It also created opportunities and momentum for the country to expand cooperation not only with regional countries but also major partners and other countries in the international community, thus enhancing its status in the global arena, Vinh added. Meanwhile, adding Vietnam as its seventh member also made it possible for ASEAN to build a more united environment in the region, heading to the establishment of a 10-member community playing the central role in the regional peace, stability and cooperation, he stated. The deputy FM affirmed that ASEAN membership has created a peaceful and stable cooperative environment that Vietnam needs to conduct reform, overcome war aftermath and push regional and international integration. The country also benefits from regional support and investment, while its image and position have been elevated. Discussing Vietnam’s contribution to the bloc over the past nearly two decades, Vinh said the country has helped strengthen ASEAN solidarity and contributed to defining orientations for the current and future operation of the bloc, while working closely with other members to promote the grouping’s central role in matters related to regional peace and security, including the East Sea issue. Since entering the association, Vietnam has held several ASEAN leading positions. Three years after joining the bloc, the country chaired the sixth ASEAN Summit in 1998, and then served as Chair of the association’s Standing Committee in 2000 and 2001, he noted. Notably, Vietnam successfully performed the role of ASEAN Chair in 2010, with many important decisions of the bloc made during this year, including bringing into play the ASEAN Charter and a roadmap for the building of an ASEAN Community, promoting the grouping’s central role, especially in the maintenance of peace, stability and cooperation in the region, including the East Sea, he said. Currently, the country is working hard to make further contributions to the building of ASEAN’s post-2015 strategy. Regarding the challenges facing the region currently, the official said ASEAN is building a Community in an environment of great changes with both traditional and non-traditional challenges as well as difficulties posed by both internal factors and external impacts. In order for the grouping to rise above the challenges and complete its goals, ASEAN should reinforce its solidarity in order to make stronger voice on regional matters, he said. At the same time, Vinh also pointed to the necessity to strengthen the association’s internal strength, with a focus on ensuring the progress of the roadmap to build the ASEAN Community. Furthermore, the association should further promote its central role in all issues related to peace and security in the region, Vinh emphasised. With a system of forums concerning regional peace and cooperation, ASEAN and its partners should raise their positive and responsible voice in all fields. Specifically, in terms of the East Sea issue, the association should underline the principle of strict implementation of international law, the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea , while supporting the peaceful settlement of disputes without using or threatening to use force, he said. Meanwhile, ASEAN should also take the initiative in proposing and building regional codes of conduct so that all countries, not only those in the region but also partner nations joining partnership in Southeast Asia share and abide by these principles, the deputy FM said, adding that if ASEAN can do this, the bloc will overcome arising challenge and enhance the important role that it has played over the past years. President calls for Mekong Delta to expand production The Mekong Delta needed a breakthrough in production and business performance with agriculture as the spearhead in order to contribute to the country's sustainable economy, said President Truong Tan Sang. Sang made the statement during a working session with the Steering Committee for the Southwestern Region in Can Tho yesterday as part of his tour of Mekong Delta localities. He was told the delta's economy had expanded by 9 percent from January-June. Rice output from the last two crops reached 13.5 million tonnes while aquatic products totalled 1.4 million tonnes, up 3.7 percent. Also in the period, industrial production rose 6.6 percent to VND223 trillion (US$10.4 billion), while exports grew 11.4 percent to $5.4 billion. Total social investment hit VND99.6 trillion ($4.68 billion), a year-on-year increase of 12 percent. The committee is preparing for the 2014 Mekong Delta Economic Co-operation Forum (MDEG) scheduled for late this year in Soc Trang Province.  Source: VNS