Political News Headlines 10/3 NA Standing Committee meets for 26th session The National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee opened its 26th session in Hanoi, giving opinions on a number of laws and ordinances for submission to the upcoming 7th NA meeting. During the 26th session from March 10-14, the NA Committee’s members will dilate on the Real Estate Business Law (revised), the Housing Law (revised), the Law on Citizens’ Identity, the State Budget Law (revised), the Law on the Organisation of the People’s Procuracy (revised) and the Law on the Organisation of the People’s Court (revised). They will also opine on the Law on Entry, Exit and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam, the revised Notary Public Law and the revised Law on Customs. To prepare for the 7th meeting of the 13th legislature, the NA Committee will also discuss the ordinance on penalty on administrative violations, the 2014-2016 allocation of additional Government bonds for projects scheduled for completion in the 2014-2015 period, the amendment and supplement of Resolution on the vote of confidence to assess the performance of officials elected or approved by the National Assembly and People’s Councils. Vietnam: Socio-economic policies must ensure people’s basic rights Socio-economic policies need to ensure all basic rights for the people and pay appropriate attention to vulnerable groups, said a Vietnamese representative at the ongoing 25th session of United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva. Addressing the session on March 6 which examined the High Commissioner for Human Rights’ report on human rights situation in 2013, Head of the Foreign Ministry’s Department for International Organisations Hoang Chi Trung acknowledged positive achievements mentioned in the report. He noted that the world is facing many difficulties and challenges in ensuring people’s rights and freedom. Ensuring and promoting human rights is first of all a duty of each nation, he said, adding that international cooperation, however, contribute effectively to this work. The Vietnamese representative also praised efforts by the international community, human rights mechanisms of the UN, the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Office of the High Commissioner in fostering dialogues and cooperation in this field, including the Universal Periodical Review (UPR). Algerian journalists commemorated in Vietnam The Algerian Embassy in Vietnam on March 8 paid a floral tribute to 15 Algerian journalists and technicians who died in a plane crash in Hanoi’s outlying Soc Son district 40 years ago. Speaking at the ceremony, Algerian Ambassador to Vietnam Cherif Chikhi remembered the lives of the reporters, who were accompanying the then President of Algeria Houari Boumediene on a Vietnam visit, when their plane went down on March 8, 1974. A memorial monument for the victims was inaugurated in October 2000 when Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika visited Vietnam. It marked an important milestone in the Vietnam-Algeria relationship, representing their friendship and solidarity in the struggles for national independence and contributing to further tightening the bilateral ties, he said. The ambassador highlighted the developing traditional friendship between Vietnam and Algeria with the increase in delegation exchanges. He expressed his belief that the relationship will continue to be consolidated and nurtured in the future. HCM City hosts conference to review 30 years of renewal A conference to review 30 years of the doi moi (renewal) process and the development of a socialist-oriented market economy was held by the doi moi steering board in HCM City on Saturday. The conference, which was chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, saw more than 30 reports from across the country tabled. Participants contributed ideas and suggestions for resolving issues facing the nation and the world. Phuc said that after 30 years of doi moi the major aspects of a socialism-oriented market economy have been put in place and gradually perfected. Economic and political reforms have helped create a democratic polity and the impetus to not only help pull the nation out of the economic crisis but also enable it to improve its socio-economic situation and turn it into a middle-income nation, he said. Thirty years of reforms have helped Viet Nam significantly eradicate hunger and reduce poverty to the appreciation of the global community, he said. The reforms have helped enhance the nation's prestige, he said. The market economy has a history of 100 years globally, but in Viet Nam, it is quite new and was developed less than 30 years ago. Because of this, Viet Nam has faced several obstacles and also made mistakes, he said, and had yet to complete the transition to a market economy. These have forced it to focus on clarifying the theories and realities related to the development of a socialist-oriented market economy, making it appropriate for the country's current conditions, Phuc said. The basic goal is to develop a market economy based on scientific principles and keep up with the current period's objective development trends to settle immediate difficulties as well as outline long-term economic development strategies for the country, he said. The deputy prime minister called on delegates to focus on the main topics like Viet Nam's general model of development of the socialist-oriented market economy and the essential factors in preparing for the country's integration into the global market economy by 2018. "The world now has many models of market-led economies with many differences," Phuc said. "Delegates should find what Viet Nam can learn from these economies for the development of the country in future. To strengthen the institutions of a market economy, he said, it was necessary to clarify certain things: Is the market an effective mechanism in which competition would be used as a motive power to mobilise and allocate resources, thus helping liberate the production force, renovate the growth model, and restructure the economy? What is the government's role in the socialist-oriented market economy? Should the Government act as a leader in developing the market to create a favourable environment for investment, business, and encouragement of competition. The private sector has proved to be one of the main forces for the country's development, he said, but wondered if there is enough evidence to show that the private sector would be an important force and a decisive factor in the country's economic development in future. Senegal praises ties with Vietnam Senior Senegal officials have valued the traditional friendship with Vietnam and expressed their desires to strengthen bilateral cooperation in various areas, especially trade and economics. The ministers of foreign affairs, trade, and energy made their proposal at separate meetings with Vu The Hiep, Vietnamese ambassador to Algeria and Senegal, during Hiep’s working visit from March 3-6. They also invited Vietnam to attend the 15th Francophone summit to be held in capital Dakar on November 29-30, 2014. While staying Senegal, Hiep met with representatives of the Vietnamese community, expecting they will continue to abide by the law of their country of residence and make a greater contribution to promoting friendship between the two countries.   Seminar discusses Vietnam’s participation in Apostille Convention Vietnam’s participation in the Hague Convention abolishing the requirements for legalisation for foreign public documents - the Apostille Convention - was the main topic of a seminar in Ho Chi Minh City on March 7. The event was co-organised by the Vietnam Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the EU Delegation to Vietnam and the European Chamber of Commerce in the country. The Apostille Convention is an international treaty drafted by the Hague Conference on Private International Law. At the seminar, participants discussed the convention’s impact on the consular work as well as Vietnam’s preparations for its membership. A representative of the Consular Department under the Foreign Ministry said Vietnam has fulfilled basic requirements to become a member of the convention. The department will publicise the convention while enhancing training for agencies engaging in consular certification and legalisation at the central and grassroots levels. Vietnam will also consult experience of the convention’s members to make better preparations, the official said. Marijn Sprokkereef from Audier and Partner Vietnam firm said joining the convention will demonstrate Vietnam’s commitments to removing red tape in administrative procedures, thus raising foreign investors’ confidence in the country, and improving its investment environment and competitiveness in the region. Participants also shared experience in legalisation issues and the implementation of the convention in EU member countries, including the electronic Apostille Programme (e-APP). VNN/VOV/VNS/VNA