Government News 21/3 Cao Bang prepares for Vietnam-China border defence exchange   Deputy Minister of National Defence Nguyen Chi Vinh at the working session with Cao Bang authorities Deputy Minister of National Defence Sen. Lieut. Gen. Nguyen Chi Vinh has requested military units in the northern border province of Cao Bang to well prepare for the fifth Vietnam-China border defence friendship exchange programme.  During a working session with the local authorities on March 20, Vinh also asked the military units to coordinate with Cao Bang province to complete infrastructure facilities serving the event. He emphasised the need for the province to further promote people-to-people diplomatic activities in the border areas between the two nations.  The border defence friendship exchange programme will take place in Cao Bang’s Phuc Hoa district and China’s Longzhou district. It will comprise numerous activities, including a welcome ceremony for the two countries’ defence delegates, seminars, cultural and sport exchanges; a ceremony to salute demarcation markers, joint patrol on the border river; and a ceremony to launch a centre for cultural exchange and tourism promotion at the Ta Lung international border gate. People living in the border localities of Vietnam and China will also receive free health check-ups and medicines, and take part in cultural activities before the programme. In the meantime, Cao Bang will continue instructing relevant units to promote the communication work to help local people understand more about the significance of the event, while stepping up the construction progress of facilities and maintaining political security and social order in the locality. Vietnam, Malaysia eye stronger audit cooperation   State Auditor General of Vietnam Ho Duc Phoc (R) receives Deputy Auditor General of Malaysia Khalid Khan. (Source: vov.vn)  Vietnamese State Auditor General Ho Duc Phoc and Deputy Auditor General of Malaysia Khalid Khan have discussed ways to enhance cooperation and develop information technology in the audit sector.  At a working session in Hanoi on March 20, Phoc said the State Audit of Vietnam (SAV) conducted over 200 audits relating to the management and use of public financial resources and assets each year.  The SAV is focusing on IT development to serve the audit work, with an IT development strategy until 2030 being devised, he said, adding that the agency wants to learn from the NAD’s experience to build the IT development strategy.  Applauding Malaysia’s National Audit Department (NAD)’s support and sharing of experience, Phoc suggested the two agencies step up cooperation in training and exchange of professional experience, especially in operation and IT audits.  Mentioning the 14th Assembly of the Asian Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions (ASOSAI 14) slated for September 2018 in Vietnam, Phoc informed his guest about Vietnam’s preparations for the event and called on the NAD in its capacity as ASOSAI 13 Chair to assist Vietnam in organising the meeting.  For his part, Khalid Khan noted with pleasure the partnership between the NAD and the SAV, expressing his hope that the bilateral cooperation will be enhanced in the time ahead.  The NAD will increase support to and cooperation with the SAV, he pledged, saying he believes that the collaboration will benefit both sides.  The NAD will also do its utmost to help its Vietnamese counterpart to successfully host ASOSAI 14 and assume the post of the ASOSAI Chair during 2018-2021, he promised.  The same day, Khalid Khan had a working session with Vietnamese Deputy Auditor General Doan Xuan Tien to discuss Vietnam’s preparations for ASOSAI 14.  Looking into the meeting’s agenda, they agreed that major events will take place from September 19-22, with the opening ceremony scheduled for September 19.  The Hanoi Declaration is expected to be part of the meeting’s programme. As the official document of ASOSAI 14, the declaration will deliver the assembly’s important messages as well as commitments and actions of ASOSAI to the region and the world in the audit sphere.  Apart from reflecting the commitment to completing the UN’s sustainable development goals (SDGs) and handling challenges to the global environment, the document stresses the materialisation of the ASOSAI strategic plan for 2016-2021.  On this occasion, the NAD shared its experience in organising symposiums.  The two sides are scheduled to deliberate technical matters and the celebration of 40 years of the ASOSAI Charter on March 21. President Tran Dai Quang congratulates President Vladimir Putin   President Vladimir Putin  President Tran Dai Quang on March 19 sent a congratulatory letter to Vladimir Putin on his re-election as President of Russia. Earlier, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong cabled a message to congratulate the re-elected President. Vladimir Putin is set for another six years in power after winning a record election performance with 76.66 percent of the vote held on March 18. Hanoi seeks tourism cooperation with Slovak region   Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Nguyen Van Suu (R) and Governor Juraj Droba of Slovakia’s Bratislava region (Source: http://www.hanoimoi.com.vn)  Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Nguyen Van Suu and Governor Juraj Droba of Slovakia’s Bratislava region on March 20 discussed cooperation potential between the two sides, especially in the field of tourism. Suu recalled the visit of Slovak Deputy Prime Minister Peter Pellegrini to Vietnam in 2017, in which he expressed his wish for stronger cooperation with Hanoi. The visit has helped to expand cooperation between the two localities, he added. As Hanoi is undergoing rapid urbanisation, the city wants to expand cooperation with Bratislava region in various fields, including economy, culture, social affairs, diplomacy, tourism and urban development.  The official proposed the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Hanoi and Bratislava, creating a premise for closer cooperation in the future. Vietnam and Slovakia should also promote tourism cooperation, along with trade exchanges and economic development, he stressed. In reply, Juraj Droba said Slovakia and Bratislava region in particular are paying heed to Vietnam’s socio-economic achievements over the past years, as well as potential for bilateral cooperation in different fields.  The visit aims to establish a framework to deepen cooperative ties between the two localities, especially in tourism, he said. Droba also suggested the two sides arrange a student exchange programme, thus helping their citizens to enhance cultural exchanges.- Seminar features Vietnam-Czech Republic relations   A seminar featuring Vietnam’s achievements and Vietnam - Czech Republic ties was held in Prague on March 19 by the Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (KSCM) A seminar featuring Vietnam’s achievements and Vietnam - Czech Republic ties was held in Prague on March 19 by the Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (KSCM). In his speech, Vietnamese Counsellor in the Czech Republic Tran Vinh Bac briefed on Vietnam’s achievements during more than 30 years of Doi moi (renovation), especially in socio-economic development and international cooperation in 2017. He highlighted the thriving bilateral relations, saying that the two countries have maintained traditional political ties through many mutual high-ranking visits. Economic-trade and investment cooperation has been expanded, with two-way trade hitting 1 billion USD for the first time in 2017. The diplomat voiced his hope that the two nations will foster bilateral cooperation in the future, especially in tourism, labour, education and university training. For his part, Josek Skala, Vice President of the KSCM, said Doi moi is a valuable lesson for the party’s members. He said the two countries should address issues of mutual concern such as trade balance and visa procedure simplification, thus enhancing bilateral cooperation in the coming time. At the seminar, participants discussed cooperation and investment opportunities for Czech businesses in Vietnam, spotlighted in a recently-published book on Vietnam’s market. Emerging challenges and measures to foster Vietnam-Czech relations, as well as the East Sea issue were also on the agenda. Participants agreed that the East Sea disputes need to be solved peacefully in accordance with international law. An exhibition featuring 30 photos and documents on Vietnam’s sea and island sovereignty, landscapes and people was also held on this occasion. Vietnam, Russia seek to boost cultural collaboration   Vietnamese Ambassador to Russia Ngo Duc Manh The Vietnamese Embassy in Russia held a round-table seminar on Vietnam – Russia cultural cooperation in Moscow on March 20.  In his opening speech, Vietnamese Ambassador to Russia Ngo Duc Manh said the two countries are holding a series of cultural activities such as “Russian Cultural Days” and “Week of Russian Films” in Vietnam and vice versa.  Both sides have also educated young people about bilateral ties and facilitated the exchange of delegations in culture and communications, particularly the upcoming signing of the cultural cooperation programme for 2019-2020.  Participants agreed that Russian culture has taken root in the hearts of generations of Vietnamese people. Though less popular following the collapse of the Soviet Union, it has become more popular recently.  Professor Grigory Lokshin, an expert on Vietnamese studies from the Russian Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Far Eastern Studies suggested the two countries’ ministries and agencies further strive to make the two peoples closer.  Former Director of the Russian Centre of Science and Culture in Hanoi Elena Zubtsova proposed stepping up communications collaboration to raise mutual understanding.  A number of books about Vietnam and translated versions of well-known Vietnamese literary works were also introduced at the event.  Elena Chimenheva, a Vietnamese language teacher for Russian cultural officials, said many Russian people want to learn Vietnamese language now, hoping that there will be more Vietnamese school books for foreigners so students could read many Vietnamese cultural works and enjoy painting exhibitions. International media praise late Prime Minister Phan Van Khai Australian media outlets have run several articles on former Vietnamese Prime Minister Phan Van Khai after he passed away on March 17. In its article on his death, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) assessed Phan Van Khai as “an architect of Vietnam's economic rise”. Meanwhile, the The Australian newspaper stressed that the former PM was a great contributor to Vietnam’s economic growth and the country’s first prime minister to visit the United States after the end of the war. “Khai oversaw Vietnam's fastest and most stable economic growth during his nine years in office from 1997 to 2006. He signed a bilateral trade agreement with the US in 2000 and oversaw Vietnam's entry into the World Trade Organisation in 2006,” the article wrote. Earlier, when Khai was hospitalised, several Australian newspapers posted articles recalling his two visits to Australia. In 1999, the Sydney University  - Australia’s first university  - conferred a degree of Doctor of Science in Economics upon the former PM for his contributions to Vietnam’s economic and political democracy. Germany’s Deutsche Welle newspaper also reported on Khai’s death and gave readers a brief biography. “He was prime minister for nine years beginning in 1997 and ushered in an era of reform that saw Vietnam transform itself into one of Southeast Asia's fastest-growing economies,” the newspaper said. Former Politburo member and former Prime Minister Phan Van Khai passed away at 1:30 on March 17 at Cu Chi, Ho Chi Minh City, aged 85. Phan Van Khai was born on December 25, 1933 in Cu Chi district, Ho Chi Minh City. As one of the high-ranking Party and State leaders in the first phase of the country's Renewal and nation-building cause, PM Khai was active and determined to build the institution under the spirit of renewal to utilize the capacities of all economic sectors, especially the private one, together with opening door to the world and integrating internationally.  During his nearly two working terms, fundamental laws in the first phase of the Renewal and door-opening process were built. The Government chaired by PM Khai left its working-term marks by the issuance of the Business Law, the annulment of hundreds of licences, the involvement in many tough talks to negotiate Vietnam's admission to the World Trade Organization (WTO), and more. The Party and State have presented PM Khai the Golden Star Order and the 55-year Party Membership Badge (2014), in recognition of his dedications to the country's revolutionary cause. VNN