GOVERNMENT IN BRIEF 30/7 Insignia marks service by former president Anh Party General Secretary and Secretary of the Central Military Commission Nguyen Phu Trong yesterday (July 29) presented a 75-year Party Membership Insignia to former President, General Le Duc Anh in recognition of his lifetime of service. Party General Secretary and Secretary of the Central Military Commission Nguyen Phu Trong yesterday presented a 75-year Party Membership Insignia to former President, General Le Duc Anh in recognition of his lifetime of service. The ceremony was also attended by President Truong Tan Sang and Minister of National Defence General Phung Quang Thanh, among others. Congratulating Anh, who is also former Minister of National Defence, former Politburo member, former Deputy Secretary of the Central Military Commission and former advisor to the Party Central Committee, Trong said that the honour was given in recognition of Anh's achievement and contributions to the nation's revolutionary cause and the development of the armed forces. Anh said he was honoured to receive the award, adding that he believed that under the leadership of the Party, the whole people and army would successfully safeguard independence and sovereignty. The same day, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung visited Anh and congratulated him, and Anh expressed his hope that the Government would exert further efforts in the national industrialisation and modernisation. PM welcomes Japanese delegation's contributions to bilateral security Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung yesterday, July 29, asked Japan to support Viet Nam in training security personnel. The PM was speaking at a reception for the chairman of Japan's National Public Safety Commission, Keiji Furuya. He applauded the outcome of talks between the Vietnamese Minister of Public Security, Tran Dai Quang, and Japanese security official Keiji Furuya and described the Japanese delegation's visit as a positive contribution to the bilateral co-operation. Viet Nam attached great importance to boosting mutually beneficial co-operation with Japan for the sake of peace, co-operation and development in the region, Dung said. Viet Nam defined co-operation on security as an important pillar in the strategic partnership, he said. He added that the Vietnamese Government was ready to support co-operative activities between the country's Ministry of Public Security and Japan's National Public Safety Commission. He also proposed intensifying delegation exchange and sharing security experiences. Keiji Furuya said his visit aimed to reinforce co-operation between Japanese and Vietnamese police, covering training personnel and sharing know-how regarding the fight against social crimes, including human abduction. Earlier, Keiji Furuya, who is also the State Minister in charge of abduction, and Minister Tran Dai Quang agreed to increase joint work against cyber crimes and terrorism. Next year, the Viet Nam-Japan deputy ministerial-level security dialogue will start discussing crime information and regional and global security issues of mutual interest. Minister Quang proposed that more Japanese experts be sent to Viet Nam's training facilities to give anti-crime lectures. He also suggested the Japanese back Viet Nam's initiatives at regional and global forums. Politburo member and Standing member of the Secretariat of the Communist Party of Viet Nam Le Hong Anh urged the two sides to gear up for the security dialogue next year. Furuya informed the Vietnamese official of working orientations between the ministry and the commission. He promised that in any position, he would develop the partnership, and links between the two nations' security agencies. Relationship with Laos to be nurtured The Vietnamese people will do their utmost to boost sustainable development of the Viet Nam-Laos special relationship for the happiness of the people and peace, development and prosperity in the region and the world. Visiting National Assembly Vice Chairman Uong Chu Luu made the affirmation while meeting with Lao Vice President Bounnhang Volachit and Prime Minister Thongsinh Thammavong in Vientiane yesterday, July 29. He briefed the hosts on the outcomes of a recent workshop on macro economic development experience, hosted by the two National Assemblies. He spoke highly of the Lao NA initiative to organise symposiums on investment co-operation between the two countries and their participation in the ASEAN Community in 2015. The Lao leaders appreciated the effective co-operation between the two legislatures, especially the successful organisation of the workshop. They thanked the Vietnamese people for the assistance they had given to Laos over the years and expressed their wish that the two sides would strengthen trade and investment ties, thus fostering their special friendship and co-operation. On Saturday, the Vietnamese delegation was received by Lao National Assembly Chairwoman Pani Zathotou. CPV delegation observes Cambodian election A Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) delegation has acted as observers of Cambodia’s national election, as part of a mission of the International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP). The Vietnamese delegation, together with other ICAPP members met with representatives of several major political parties, and observed some polling stations in Phnom Penh. ICAPP observers praised the National Election Committee (NEC) for its thorough preparation for a peaceful and orderly election, saying it was conducted fairly, freely and legally. The fifth Cambodia’s Parliamentary Election drew the participation of eight political parties with over nine million registered voters. Preliminary results indicate that the Cambodia People’s Party (CPP) has claimed victory with 68 of the 123 parliamentary seats. Bilateral co-operation with Djibouti to be promoted Two-way trade turnover between the Republic of Djibouti and Viet Nam is expected to reach between US$50-100 million in the next five years, the President of Djibouti's Special Envoy, Rachad Farah, has said. The figure reached only $4 million last year, he told Viet Nam News during his four-day visit to Viet Nam, which ended yesterday (July 29). "It's time for Djibouti and Viet Nam to promote bilateral relations, particularly co-operation in the fields of agriculture, textiles and student exchanges," said Farah. A delegation of officials and businesspeople from Djibouti are scheduled to visit Viet Nam this November to seek investment and co-operation opportunities with Vietnamese partners. "Djibouti is strong in the services sector, has a good banking system and its excellent ports benefit from the country's free trade regime. Djibouti could also serve as a transit base for Vietnamese products entering other markets in Africa, and the Middle East," said the diplomat. A co-operation agreement in education, culture and science and another agreement on economic co-operation are expected to be signed soon by both Governments. This visit included the first Djibouti Ambassador to Viet Nam, who will present his credentials to President Truong Tan Sang by November this year. "This step is expected to boost bilateral co-operations between the two countries and we also hope that Viet Nam will soon send an ambassador to Djibouti," he said. The East African country was also keen to learn from Viet Nam's experience in promoting women's role in various areas, including politics, society and economics, he added. Lai Chau urged to fully tap hydropower and mineral potential Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has asked the northern mountainous province of Lai Chau to fully tap its hydropower and mineral resources potential which is a driving force behind economic development in the entire region. Working with local authorities in Hanoi on July 29, PM Dung insisted that they should utilize the province’s advantages in agriculture, forestry and animal husbandry, especially using technological advances to turn out high-quality products. He said Lai Chau also needs to upgrade infrastructure facilities to stimulate its socio-economic development while providing its residents with sufficient social welfare, vocational training and jobs. “The Government is ready to help Lai Chau reduce poverty, so as to make it easier for the province to bridge the development gap with localities nationwide,” the Government leader said. The provincial officials said the local economic structuring initially succeeded in achieving an annual average of 12.3 percent from 2004- 2012, and 13.84 percent from 2011-2012. Seeded food output in 2012 exceeded 177,000 tonnes, 1.6 times more than in 2004. Meanwhile, industrial production rose 3.5 times over 2004 and 1.36 times over 2010. Retail and service sales jumped 6.4 times and 1.7 times compared to the figures of 2004 and 2010, respectively. VNN/VOV/VNS/VNA