Political News Headlines 8/4 Deputy PM attends 2014 Boao Forum for Asia Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam will attend the 2014 Boao Forum For Asia (BFA) Annual Conference to be held in China’s Hainan province from April 8-11. The 2014 forum, themed “Asia's New Future: Identifying New Growth Drivers", has brought together 1,500 delegates from many countries including Australia, the Republic of Korea, Kazakhstan, Laos, Namibia, Pakistan, Israel, Iran and Russia. The delegates will concentrate on discussing economic reforms toward sustainable growth amidst global economic fluctuations. Dozens of panel discussions will be held dwelling on Asian economic outlook in 2014, global supply chain shifting, the competitiveness of Asia and emerging markets, international economic cooperation, information technology trends, climate change, environmentally friendly urbanization, and maritime cooperation. The Boao Forum for Asia was formally inaugurated in February 2001 which is a non-profit international economic forum for leaders from government, business and academia in Asia and other continents to share their vision on the most pressing issues in this dynamic region and the world at large. Participating in the forum, Vietnam wants to maintain the growing ties with China, learn about foreign experience in building a balanced and equitable development model, and increase economic and trade cooperation with participating countries, as well as between Vietnam and China and its localities. Deputy PM Dam will make a speech at the opening ceremony of the meeting on April 10. Vietnamese, Lao parties hold 2nd theory conference The second theory conference between the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) opened in Vientiane, the capital of Laos, on April 7. The Vietnamese delegation to the two-day event is led by Dinh The Huynh, Politburo member, Secretary of the Party Central Committee, head of the committee’s Commission for Popularisation and Education and President of its Theory Council. The Lao delegation is headed by Chueang Sombounkhan, Secretary of the LPRP Central Committee, head of the committee’s Commission for Propaganda and Training, and President of the Lao National Council for Social Sciences. Addressing the event, Huynh noted this conference focuses on improving the leadership and combat strength of the Party in the one-ruling party context in Vietnam and Laos , a fundamental, long-term and urgent issue for both Parties. “In the context of the two countries’ comprehensive acceleration of the renewal process and international integration, the leading role of the Party must be affirmed, and its leadership and combat strength must be improved,” he stressed. “It is a decisive factor for the stability and sustainable development of each country on the path of socialism,” he added. This is not only the responsibility and political determination of the Party and Party building efforts of the entire Party and its committees, organisations and members, but also the responsibility of the whole political system and all people, he stated. Once a ruling party, it must ceaselessly improve its stuff and brainpower as well as thoroughly grasp and creatively apply the scientific and revolutionary theory of Marxism-Leninism so as to successfully address issues emerging from renovation, integration and development, he said. The Party must maintain its nature as a true revolutionary party with self-defence strength, he said, adding that the improvement of its leadership and combat strength requires regular attention to Party building in combination with educating Party officials and members on morality and lifestyle, and tightening discipline within the Party. According to Huynh, the reality of Party building in the renewal process in Vietnam has required the renovation of the leading method of the Party for the State and society, the realisation and promotion of democracy in the one-ruling party context, and regular self-renovation and reshuffles of the Party to boost social innovations and fulfil its ruling role. In his report, Chueang Sombounkhan affirmed the improvement of the leadership and combat strength of the LPRP as a ruling party is a decisive factor for the success of the renovation process and national development in Laos. The most fundamental issue for the Party is to put forth sound policies, make timely adjustments to fit the reality and persist with its strategic objectives, he said. He emphasised the need to promote the Party’s role and capacity in turning its guidelines into the State’s policies and laws as well as instruct State agencies to implement them in a serious and effective manner. The improvement of the Party’s leadership and combat strength is always associated with renovating leading methods, implementing the principle of centralised democracy, and regularly strengthening the system of Party organisations from central to grassroots levels together with the development of the Party in both quantity and quality, he noted. NA delegation visits Laos A delegation of the Vietnam National Assembly’s Ethnic Council led its chairman Ksor Phuoc is on a working visit to Laos from April 5-9. The delegation was received by Pani Zathotou, Chairwoman of the Laos’ National Assembly and Phanduangchit Vongsa, President of the Lao Front for National Construction. Ksor Phuoc reviewed the results of talks with the Lao Front for National Construction and spoke highly of recent cooperation between the two countries through exchange visits, experience sharing and policymaking for ethnic people. Cooperation programmes have proved effective, helping the two sides better perform their functions, promote the exchange of information, and draw lessons in the areas of mutual concern. They agreed to increase exchange visits and work closely with relevant agencies to monitor the implementation of cooperation agreements relating to ethnic affairs, further strengthen programmes and projects on economic development in ethnic people-inhabited regions of the two countries. The Lao leaders briefed the delegation on their country’s socio-economic development and expressed hopes that the two sides will continue boosting cooperation and sharing experience in ethnic affairs, so as to promote solidarity and long-lasting friendship between Laos and Vietnam. Paris seminar on Dien Bien Phu Victory Legendary Vietnamese General Vo Nguyen Giap and 60 years of the Dien Bien Phu Victory (1954-2014) were the focal point of a recent seminar held at the Museum of the Museum of Living History in Montreuil in the Paris outskirts. Attendees included historian Alain Ruscio, former correspondent of L’Humanite newspaper in Vietnam from 1978-1980, former French ambassador to Vietnam Claude Blanchemaison, French war veterans, Communist Party of France members and French friends who have feeling for Vietnam. The event reviewed the results and significance of the nine-year war resistance against the French colonialists which ended with the resounding Dien Bien Phu battle victory. Alain Ruscio explained the historical background of the Dien Bien Phu campaign and highlighted the role played by General Giap in the campaign which concluded French colonial rule, marking a turning point in the struggle for independence and decolonisation around the globe in the 20th century. Despite its predominance in troop strength and weaponry, the French army was defeated as it underestimated the Vietnamese people who spared no efforts to safeguard their country’s independence and freedom. Recalling his meetings with General Giap, Blanchemaison described him as a plain man who loved French literary works and the values of the French Revolution in 1789. Participants also emphasized the role of other Vietnamese officials such as Le Duc Tho and Nguyen Thi Binh who made significant contributions to the signing of the 1973 Paris Accords, ending the war and restoring peace in Vietnam. They also touched upon Vietnam’s post-war development and the two nations’ joint efforts to develop a sound Vietnam-France for decades which culminated with the signing of a strategic partnership agreement during Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung’s trip to France in 2013. Deputy PM reviews SOE restructuring Deputy Prime Minister Vu Van Ninh yesterday worked with Ha Noi's leaders to check on the progress of equitisation and re-organisation of State-owned enterprises in the city. Emphasising the significance of the work, Ninh noted that despite Ha Noi's great efforts in the past, the city had yet to tackle all the shortcomings and obstacles in the process of restructuring State-run firms. Ha Noi should promptly report all the encountered difficulties to the Government for timely policy adjustment, while charting out specific plans for each enterprise in order to complete equitisation by 2015, he pointed out. He noted that the city should pay more attention to land issues during the privatisation process of state-run farms for ensuring effective land utilisation. According to Chairman of the municipal People's Committee Nguyen The Thao, the city has drawn many useful lessons during the implementation of the work for better performance. The city was setting up a Steering Committee to direct the reforms of enterprises, he reported. According to a city report, 30 local firms were restructured in 2013. The city plans to reshuffle 45 other enterprises during the 2014-2015 period and withdraw its state capital from 74 others, stated the report. VFF President meets with Chinese, Chilean ambassadors Viet Nam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee's President Nguyen Thien Nhan received outgoing Chinese Ambassador Kong Xuanyou yesterday, hailing the diplomat's contributions towards boosting ties between Viet Nam and China. Kong reiterated that he will continue to do his level best to further deepen friendship and cooperation in a bid to consolidate the traditional ties between the two countries in the future. On the same day, Nhan also met Ambassador of Chile Fernando Urrutia, who asserted that his country was keen on boosting bilateral ties with Viet Nam to greater heights to match the cooperation potential between the two countries. Nhan categorically stated that the VFF was ready to beef up multifaceted partnership with the country and suggested that the Inter-Governmental Committee should help to raise two-way trade to a higher figure in the coming time. US, Viet Nam begin annual Naval Engagement Activity The US Navy and the Viet Nam People's Navy began the annual Naval Engagement Activity (NEA) yesterday. The event began with a welcome ceremony for the USS John S McCain (DDG 56) and USNS Safeguard (T-ARS-50) at Da Nang's Tien Sa Port today. This is the fifth consecutive NEA Vietnam to be held and the 10th year that US Navy ships have called on the port of Da Nang. The USS John S McCain last visited Da Nang in 2010 as part of the inaugural NEA Vietnam, which helped mark the 15th anniversary of the normalisation of diplomatic relations between the US and Viet Nam. Speaking to reporters on the pier, Captain Paul Schlise, commodore of Destroyer Squadron Seven, emphasised that NEA Viet Nam and the many port visits by US Navy ships over the past decade are key examples of growing navy-to-navy cooperation. "Each year, NEA Viet Nam builds mutual trust and understanding, provides a key venue to address shared maritime security priorities and concerns, and develops our ability to operate with confidence in the maritime domain," said Schlise. NEA Viet Nam focuses on non-combatant professional exchanges in military medicine, search and rescue, diving and salvage and shipboard damage control. It is also an opportunity to develop relationships that will serve both navies for many years to come through ship tours, 7th Fleet band concerts, sporting events and community service projects. Approximately 400 US Navy Sailors and civilian mariners are participating in NEA Viet Nam 2014. The participating units include the USS John S McCain, the USNS Safeguard with embarked Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit, the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit Five, staff from Destroyer Squadron Seven and Commander, Task Force 73, and the US 7th Fleet Band, Orient Express. As scheduled, the US 7th Fleet Band Orient Express will perform at Da Nang Technology College along with a sporting exchange today. The band will also perform at a public concert at the city's Pham Van Dong Park from 6pm to 8.30pm tomorrow. Commander of Logistics Group Western Pacific Rear Admiral Cindy Thebaud; Commander of Destroyer Squadron Seven Captain Paul Schlise; the Captains of USS John S McCain and USNS Safeguard; and US Consulate General Deputy Principal Officer Robert Ogburn will represent the US delegation during the six-day visit. Lao leaders receive NA ethnic affairs delegation A delegation from the National Assembly Council of Ethnic Affairs led by its Chairman Ksor Phuoc was received by Lao NA Chairwoman Pani Zathotou and President of the Lao Front for National Construction (LFNC)’s Central Committee Phanduongchit Vongsa in Vientiane on April 7. Phuoc congratulated the Lao people on their reached achievements and on their country’s traditional Bunpimay festival. He informed Lao leaders of the outcomes of his delegation’s talks with the LFNC, during which, he said, the two sides highly valued their practical cooperation, especially in their exchanges of visits and experience. Both agreed to work closely with relevant agencies to supervise the implementation of signed agreements on ethnic affairs and promote socio-economic development projects and programmes in mountainous and ethnic minority areas along the two countries’ border, Phuoc added. The Lao leaders expressed their hopes that the two countries will continue fostering cooperation and experience sharing in issues related to ethnic affairs, contributing to nurturing the two countries’ special friendship. The Vietnamese NA delegation is in Laos from April 5-9.- Vietnamese, Lao localities boost cooperation The central province of Quang Tri and its neighbouring Lao province of Salavan have signed a 2014-2016 cooperation agreement on politics, economics, culture and education. At their talks in Quang Tri province on April 7, leaders of both sides affirmed to continue strengthening connections in all fields as well as creating conditions for border localities and businesses to meet and exchange experience. They agreed to work together in researching each province’s advantages and potential to propose suitable cooperation plans in order to contribute to their socio-economic development and special friendship. Both also agreed to coordinate closely with the two countries’ ministries and agencies to build La Lay international border gate along their border line to serve international development and integration. The two provinces will further intensify the sharing of information and experience, as well as the collaboration between their external relations offices, military units and border guard stations in dealing with issues related to unregistered marriage, civil status registration and naturalisation. During the talks, the two sides also reviewed the results of their 2011-2013 cooperation agreement. The document created favourable conditions for both sides to support each other in education, human resources training, trade, health and border marker planting, they said. On this occasion, Quang Tri province was awarded with Laos’ Labour Order, third class. VNA/VOV/VNS