Political News Headlines 15/5 Party Central Committee adopts culture resolution The ninth meeting of the Party Central Committee (11th tenure) wrapped up yesterday (May 14) in Ha Noi with an agreement to issue a new resolution on developing Vietnamese culture.   The closing ceremony of the 9th conference of the Party Central Committee.  After 15 years of implementing a resolution by the fifth meeting of the Party Central Committee (eighth tenure), cultural institutions had been formed and people's cultural lives had become richer, participants agreed. However, they also pointed out that in comparison with other fields like politics, economics, defence, security and external relations, the achievements of the cultural sector remained modest. Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong said that economic growth should be accompanied by cultural development. Outlining future directions for the sector, he suggested developing the Party's viewpoints on culture enrichment mentioned in the 8th Party Central Committee's fifth meeting resolution. Because culture was the spiritual foundation of society as well as an important internal source of strength for sustainable development, it should receive as much attention as economics, politics and society, the Party leader argued. "The culture that we are building is a modern one with a strong national identity, which unites the diverse cultures of Viet Nam's ethnic groups and bears the typical characters of nationality, humanity, democracy and science," he said. The Party Central Committee also gave opinions on the drafting of important documents to be submitted to the 12th Party Congress. They agreed on the drafts of a Political Report and a report on socio-economic orientations and missions for the 2016-20 period. General Secretary Trong said some major issues needed to be clarified during the preparation of documents for the 12th Party Congress. In terms of economics, the documents should provide thorough insight into the implementation of the Party's directions on sustainable socio-economic and environmental development as set by the Party's 11th Congress. They should clarify the adjustment of targets and policies to prioritise reining in inflation, stabilizing the macro-economy, maintaining a suitable growth rate and ensuring social welfare, he said. Economic restructuring, as well as the definition of new resources and driving forces for the country's development, also needed to be addressed in detail. Along with issues of labour, security, social order and safety, it was necessary to assess the growing gap between rich and poor and the implementation of social policies, he said. The Party leader stressed that in the context of complicated and unpredictable developments in the world and the region, such as the current East Sea situation, special attention should be paid to national defence and security. The documents should set out policies and measures to maintain independence, sovereignty, national security, territorial integrity and an environment of peace and stability, he added. Specific measures to improve the strength of the Party and the political system were also needed. Trong concluded by calling on the entire Party, people and army to be clear-sighted and strengthen solidarity to safeguard national independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity while maintaining an environment of peace and stability for national construction and development. Azerbaijan President to visit Viet Nam President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev will pay a state visit to Viet Nam from May 18–20 at the invitation of President Truong Tan Sang, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced yesterday. According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Azerbaijan president will be accompanied by business executives from 50 leading companies of Azerbaijan. A business forum will be co-organised by the Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Azerbaijan Embassy in Viet Nam on May 19. Both state leaders are expected to address the event. Viet Nam, Malaysia intensify crime-fighting bond Minister of Public Security General Tran Dai Quang and visiting Malaysian Minister of Home Affairs Dato' Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi held a working session in Ha Noi yesterday. During the session, they agreed to continue enhancing collaboration in security and police work and alternately organising annual deputy-ministerial level meetings. They will also start working on agreements on extradition and the transfer of sentenced persons. The signing of a MoU on co-operation to prevent transnational crimes is expected to be completed later this year. Minister Quang highly valued the Malaysian high-ranking delegation's visit to Viet Nam, describing it as an important milestone in co-operation that contributed to deepening the friendship and strategic partnership between the two countries. He hoped that the ministries' affiliation would develop further, ensuring national security in each country and thus contributing to peace, stability and development in the region and the world at large. Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi praised Viet Nam's achievements in politics, economics and culture as well as the outcomes of co-operation between the two ministries in recent years. He also hoped bilateral ties would continue to develop, strengthening the traditional friendship and co-operation between the two countries. French Rear Admiral stresses stability in Asia Rear Admiral Pascal Ausseur, Director for Asia and Pacific at the French Defence Ministry’s General Directorate for Armament, has stressed that stability and development in Asia will contribute to bringing prosperity and security for the world. He made the statement at a meeting with reporters in Hanoi on May 14. Responding to queries on the ongoing tensions in the East Sea caused by China’s action, the Rear Admiral said that the European Union had issued a statement expressing its concern over the Chinese act. France is one of the countries involving in drafting the statement, he said, adding that France, like the European community, wish that related parties seek to solve the matter through peaceful measures. The rear admiral noted that most of France’s trade exchange comes from Asia, including those go through the East Sea. So, security in the region will have impact in terms of both economics and safety for France, he said. At the meeting, Rear Admiral Pascal Ausseur also informed the press of result of his working visit to Vietnam. Vietnamese-American community protest China’s illegal act Elders from the Association of Hung Kings Temple in San Jose city, the US state of California, have handed a letter demanding China’s withdrawal of its rig from Vietnam’s waters over to the Chinese General Consulate in San Francisco. The association is a non-political charitable organisation established by Vietnamese-American people in San Jose some 30 years ago to worship the Hung Kings – the legendary founders of Vietnam – along with other heroes in the countries’ history. The letter read that by positioning the oil rig Haiyang Shiyou-981 in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone, China once again deliberately violates the 1982 United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea (1982 UNCLOS). The elders requested China to respect the sovereignty of its neighbouring countries, abide by international laws of the sea, and immediately withdraw its oil rig from Vietnam’s waters. At their demonstration in front of the Chinese Consulate on May 12, hundreds of leaflets in English and Chinese opposing China’s act were handed out to passers-by and they expressed a supportive attitude to Vietnam. The association plans to stage sits-in on every Monday until China removes its oil rig. China on May 2 stationed the drilling rig Haiyang Shiyou-981 at 15 degrees 29 minutes 58 seconds north latitude and 111 degrees 12 minutes 06 seconds east longitude. The location is 80 nautical miles deep in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and 119 nautical miles to Vietnam’s Ly Son Island. China has deployed 86 ships of various kinds to the area. They include military, coast guard, marine surveillance, marine patrol and fisheries ships backed by rescue, transport, refuelling and fishing ships. Strengthening links with Latin America Deputy Foreign Minister Ha Kim Ngoc paid a visit to Venezuela, Colombia and Dominican Republic from May 4-12, to boost economic, trade and investment relations with the three countries. In Venezuela, Ngoc met with Minister of Energy and Mines Rafael Ramirez, Foreign Minister Elias Jaua, and leaders of the Latin American Parliamentarian Group. He also co-chaired a Vietnam-Venezuela political consultation with his counterpart Pablo Noya. At these meetings, the hosts affirmed that Venezuela attaches much importance to strengthening the comprehensive partnership with Vietnam and creates the best possible conditions for cooperation projects to operate successfully. The two sides discussed regional and international issues of mutual concern and agreed to maintain cooperation and mutual support at regional and international forums, such as the United Nations, UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), World Trade Organisation (WTO), Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), and South-South Cooperation. In Dominican Republic and Colombia, Ngoc met Dominican United Left-wing Movement (MIU) Party General Secretary cum Minister for Regional Integration Affairs Miguel Mejia. He conducted political consultations with foreign ministries, and met with leaders of economic, trade, agriculture, investment and tourism ministries of the two countries. During the meetings, Ngoc asserted that Vietnamese leaders want to foster cooperative ties with Latin American and Caribbean countries, including Dominican Republic and Colombia. The two sides emphasised that they should facilitate economic, trade and investment ties and develop cooperation projects meeting their potential and needs. They discussed issues of mutual concern, such as developing ASEAN, APEC, the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), Asia-Pacific (AP) and Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). Leaders from both countries also expressed their concern over rising tension in the East Sea and emphasised that parties concerned should resolve marine disputes peacefully in accordance with international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), without resorting to threat or use of force. PM orders strengthening security, social order Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has asked ministries, agencies and centrally-run localities to take urgent measures to ensure security and social order and dully punish extremists causing social instability. The PM’s request comes after several extremists, joining gatherings in several localities in protest against China’s illegal placement of its drilling rig Ocean-981 in Vietnam’s territorial waters, incited workers to damage properties of companies, including those owned by foreign investors, and resist against on-duty law enforcement officials. The PM described the situation as ‘serious’ as it causes social disorder and affects business production, local people’s lives, the investment environment, and the correct foreign policy of the Vietnamese Party and State. He called for effective measures in place to stabilise the situation and ensure the lives, properties and production of businesses, including those owned by foreign investors. The designated ministries, agencies and localities were required to encourage people not to lend a helping hand to extremists to carry out law-breaking activities, while uniting to maintain security and order, as well as production. They were asked to promptly take appropriate measures to help businesses resume normal operation. They were also urged to inform diplomatic corps and foreign investors of the consistent, correct policy of the Vietnamese Party and State to facilitate and guarantee foreign businesses, organisations and their lives in Vietnam in accordance with Vietnamese law and international commitments. *** The Vietnam News Agency reported that over the past few days, workers at industrial parks and export processing zones in HCM City, Binh Duong, Binh Phuoc, and Dong Nai have held rallies to protest against China’s illegal installation of its oil rig in Vietnam’s territorial waters. A number of extremists incited workers to break the gates, walls and properties of companies invested by businesses from Taiwan, China and some other countries, causing public disorder. Some even took advantage of the disorder to loot properties and set fire on factories. Measures have been deployed to protect the foreign invested companies and restore order.  Source: VNN/VOV/VNS/VNA