Political News Headlines 5/3 VN hopes for increased ties with Japan Viet Nam wished to strengthen co-operation with Japan to perfect its market economy and develop high-quality human resources and infrastructure.   National Assembly Vice Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan meets visiting Japanese Senator Professor Keizo Takemi in Ha Noi yesterday. National Assembly Vice Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan made the remark at a reception for visiting Japanese Senator Professor Keizo Takemi in Ha Noi yesterday, March 4. Appreciating Takemi's contributions to the two countries' co-operation, Ngan asked for Japan to continue its support for Viet Nam in official development assistance (ODA) projects, specifically in the medical sector. She asked the senator to call on Japanese companies to invest in pharmaceutical and medical equipment factories in Viet Nam. For his part, the Japanese guest said his visit was aimed at sharing experience in the health insurance sector, especially the control of health insurance funds and healthcare for the elderly. He promised to continue consolidating and strengthening the friendship and co-operation between the two countries and their parliaments. Viet Nam affirms consistent commitment to human rights Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh reiterated Viet Nam's commitment to ensuring and promoting human rights at the 25th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva, Switzerland. This is the first time Viet Nam has attended the event as a member of the UNHRC. Leading the Vietnamese delegation, Minh said that the country was "committed to playing its role with the highest level of responsibility" and would prove a "reliable partner." Viet Nam was willing to "work constructively on all matters related to human rights," Minh told listeners, "from social security and sustainable development to the rights of ‘vulnerable groups'". He also said the country would "try to attract more attention from the Human Rights Council to the specific needs and circumstances of developing countries facing new challenges such as climate change, environmental degradation and the exhaustion of natural resources." The Deputy PM noted that Viet Nam pursued a consistent policy of protecting and promoting human rights, considering the well-being of every person as the driving force of the national development process. "This policy not only reflects the long-cherished aspiration of the Vietnamese people, but also connotes the universality of human rights. Under this policy, the State of Viet Nam has been exerting considerable efforts in protecting and promoting human rights, as demonstrated in laws, policies and actual accomplishments," he said. Minh added that this was a precious opportunity for Viet Nam to learn good practices and experience from the international community that could help further the cause of doi moi (renewal) as well as the promotion and protection of human rights domestically. "Viet Nam stands ready to co-operate with all countries on this noble cause," Minh said. VN sends condolences over Chinese terrorist attack President Truong Tan Sang cabled a message of condolences to Chinese President Xi Jinping over the terrorist attack on March 1 at Kunming station in southwest China's Yunnan province. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh also extended condolences to Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. The brutal attack killed 29 civilians and injured another 130. Vietnam, Cambodia law-making bodies tighten ties The legislative bodies of Vietnam and Cambodia have been pledged to reinforce their supervisory role in overseeing the implementation of inked agreements covering the fields of economics, trade, investment and education. This understanding came from Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Uong Chu Luu’s March 4 meeting with a visiting Cambodia Senate delegation headed by Ty Borasy, Chairwoman of the Senate’s Committee for International Cooperation, Information and Communication in Hanoi. Luu described the guests’ visit as an important contribution to cementing the growing relations between the two countries and their law-making bodies. He emphasised the need for the two countries’ ministries and localities to collaborate to speed up land border demarcation and marker planting for mutual development. Borasy introduced to her host the delegation’s purpose of studying Vietnamese agencies’ experience in making laws and examining bills and decrees relating to external affairs. She stated that the Cambodian law-making bodies want to continue across-the-board ties with the Vietnamese side for enhanced bilateral friendship and multi-dimensional cooperation. The same day, the Cambodian guests held talks with a delegation from the National Assembly’s Committee for External Relations, led by its head Tran Van Hang. Borasy stated that the talks allowed the two committees to share their viewpoints regarding security, politics, and external relations in the region and the world at large. Both sides agreed that the two committees will maximise the efficiency of information and experience-sharing modes at multilateral parliamentary forums and visit exchanges for the benefits of their law-making organs. President sees climate change effects in Delta President Truong Tan Sang emphasised the urgent need to deal with climate change in the vulnerable Mekong Delta during a two-day tour of the region. In the southernmost province of Ca Mau, the president viewed sites severely damaged by natural disasters, such as the dyke system in the province's western coastal region. Located on 254 kilometers of coastline below sea level, Ca Mau suffers an increasing number of unpredictable landslides. If the sea level continues to rise, Ca Mau will lose about 90,000 hectares of farmland. Inspecting the Bac Lieu Wind Power Plant in Vinh Trach Dong commune, Bac Lieu City, President Sang urged investors to step up the second phase of its development, part of the government's efforts to encourage businesses to invest in green energy. In nine months of operation, the VND5.2 trillion (US$244.4 million) plant has generated more than 20 million kWh of power worth VND35 billion. The same day, President Sang visited the glasshouse shrimp farming operation of Hai Nguyen Company in Vinh Trach Dong commune, Bac Lieu City, which covers more than one hectare and has a yearly output of 50 tonnes. Working with the Steering Committee for the Southwestern Region, he noted that despite the many difficulties they faced last year, Mekong Delta localities still recorded a number of socio-economic achievements, with 9 percent economic growth and a rice output of 24.8 million tonnes, up 500,000 tonnes against the previous year. Highlighting the importance of the southwestern region, he asked the committee as well as leaders of the regional localities to make full use of the region's advantages and strengths, enhance production of agricultural products for export and improve infrastructure. He also urged the region to increase the application of science and technology to production to improve both the quality and quantity of agricultural products. Visiting Military Zone 9, the president asked officers and soldiers to promote the unit's heroic tradition and ensure regional defence. On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the People's Border Force, he visited and extended greetings to officials and soldiers at the Nha Mat border post in Bac Lieu City and Khanh Hoi border post in Hu Minh district, Ca Mau province. Vietnamese in Laos strengthen solidarity The General Vietnamese Association in Laos and the Vietnamese Embassy in Laos held a meeting in Vientiane on March 4 to strengthen solidarity in the community. Hailing the past activities of its executive board, Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos Nguyen Manh Hung suggested the general association publicise all its activities among Vietnamese expatriates. The ambassador also noted that Vietnamese Embassy in Laos and the Lao Ministry of Education and Sports were tasked to select 27 Vietnamese expatriates to send back to Vietnam for studying, as well as develop Nguyen Du high school into a bilingual Vietnamese-Lao institution in Vientiane. Acting President of General Vietnamese Association Nguyen Duy Trung said his association is actively gearing up for its second congress and encouraging nationwide chapters to get involved major festivals of the two countries. Trung also briefed on main activities that the general association has carried out after 5 months of inauguration including gift presentations for poor people and supporting Vietnamese students studying in the country. The general association also plans to increase the number of members working in education, culture, and society to further improve the association’s operational efficiency, added Trung. Vietnam attends Africa Nuclear Industry Congress Vietnam joined more than 20 countries and international organisations at the 2014 international nuclear industry congress held in Cape Town, South Africa, on February 25-26.   Among over 200 participating delegates were representatives from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), The World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO) and the European Nuclear Safety Training and Tutoring Institute (ENSTTI). They examined a roadmap, opportunities and challenges for new nuclear power programmes in Africa, legislation, technology and technology transfer, and infrastructure construction of nuclear power plants. Hoang Anh Tuan, Head of the Vietnam’s Nuclear Energy Agency, delivered a speech on the country’s nuclear power development programme. During their stay till March 4, the Vietnamese delegation led by Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Le Dinh Tien worked with the South African Ministry of Energy and a number of relevant agencies to share experience in nuclear energy development. Energy Deputy Minister Barbara Thompson noted both South Africa and Vietnam are developing countries and they all want to share experience in nuclear power development. For his part, Deputy Minister Tien said the visit provides an excellent opportunity for Vietnamese agencies and scientists to gain a better understanding of nuclear power operations in South Africa. He expressed his hope that the two sides will deeply cooperate in science and technology, particularly in nuclear energy in the future. South Africa built the first nuclear power plant in 1976 and put it into operation in 1984. VNN/VOV/VNS/VNA