Political News Headlines 18/5 PM Dung to attend World Economic Forum on East Asia Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung will attend the World Economic Forum on East Asia 2014 (WEF- 2014) and pay a working visit to the Philippines from May 21-22. The visit is made at the invitation of Philippine President Benigno Aquino and WEF Chairman Klaus Schwab. Issues tabled for discussion at the annual WEF on East Asia 2014 themed" Leveraging Growth for Equitable Progress” will cover growth for equitable progress, promoting growth models towards sustainable development and regional connectivity. PM Nguyen Tan Dung is expected to deliver a speech at the opening ceremony and attend a number of discussions. He is also scheduled to hold talks with the Philippine President, pay a courtesy visit to Philippine senior leaders and lay a wreath at President Ho Chi Minh’s Monument at ASEAN Park. PM asks for more efforts in ensuring security, order Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung on May 17 issued a direction urging ministries and localities nationwide to continue applying comprehensive measures to reinforce social security and order. He chaired a meeting on the issue with Hanoi authorities and representatives of ministries and sectors on the day. In the 203/TB-VPCP direction, the PM asked for more efforts to resolutely put an end to illegal protests and stringently deal with those who incite the crowd to violence. Ministries and localities should advise the public not to participate in illegal demonstrations but lending a helping hand to maintain social order and safety and making practical deeds to safeguard the nation’s sacred sovereignty, the PM said. “The Vietnamese Government and local authorities are determined to take all necessary measures in accordance with the law and the country’s international commitments to ensure absolute safety and security for foreign agencies, businesses and people in Vietnam,” the leader stressed. The message must be relayed to diplomatic agencies, international organisations and foreign investors in the country, he said. The PM lauded the ministries and localities for their prompt and effective implementation of his 697/CD-TT issued on May 15 regarding the issue. Currently, almost all the affected businesses have resumed their operations. UAE, Vietnam hold first political consultation Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Phuong Nga visited the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and conducted the first political consultation with his UAE counterpart Khalid Ghanim Al Ghaith from May 14-15. During the visit,  Nga was received by Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and Minister of Economy Sultan Mansouri. The UAE side spoke highly of Vietnam’s achievements in national construction and development, expressing confidence in the country’s potential and future development and affirming it places great importance on    strengthening all-around cooperation with Vietnam. The two sides informed each other about the socio- economic situation in their respective country and hold extensive discussion on measures to promote future cooperation. They agreed to conduct regular exchange of visits at all levels, facilitate enhanced exchanges between businesses and actively implement agreements reached at the 2nd session of the Intergovernmental Commission between the two countries held in Abu Dabi in April 2014. They are set to bring bilateral trade to US$5.5-6 billion by 2015, bolster cooperation in trade, investment, labour, agriculture, culture and tourism and continue mutual support at international forums. Diplomats exchanged views on regional and international issues of common concern in which Deputy FM Nguyen Phuong Nga briefed on the recent complicated developments in the East Sea. The UAE shared its view with Vietnam on the settlement of all disputes by peaceful means on the basis of respect for international law. The two sides consented to continue maintaining political consultations between the two foreign ministries. President Ho Chi Minh’s birthday marked in Laos, Cambodia The Vietnamese community in Cambodia on May 16 hosted a meeting in Phnom Penh to celebrate late President Ho Chi Minh’s 124th birthday anniversary (May 19). Addressing the event, Chairman of the Overseas Vietnamese Association in Phnom Penh Huynh Minh Phu recalled the life and revolutionary career of President Ho Chi Minh, stressing that Ho Chi Minh symbolizes the bloc of great national unity and his thoughts are still considered a lodestar lighting the way for the country's revolutionary cause to win  from one victory to another .The Vietnamese Party and State’s great national unity policy regards overseas Vietnamese communities as an integral part of the national. On the same day, the Nguyen Du Kindergarten, Primary and High School in Vientiane launched a contest on the life and career of late President Ho Chi Minh in observance of his birthday. The contest was one of the school’s important activities during the year to highlight President HCM’s great contributions to the Vietnamese and Lao revolutions, said the school’s rector Truong Van Tai. It also gave the school’s students a chance to better their understanding about the great President who sacrified his whole life for national liberation and people’s happiness  and his remarkable contributions to boost the special relationship between the two countries. Besides, the students also joined art performances, showing their love towards the homeland. NA Standing Committee ends session with bauxite projects The National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee wrapped up its 28th session on May 17 following discussion on the socio-economic, security and defence efficiency of Tan Rai and Nhan Co bauxite projects in the Central Highlands. The two pilot projects to exploit bauxite to produce aluminium, invested by the Vietnam National Coal- Mineral Industries Group (Vinacomin), are the first of their kind in Vietnam. Tan Rai factory was handed over to the investor on October 1, 2013. The NA Standing Committee’s members raised the question about how to reduce the dependence on foreign experts in mastering the technologies imported for the projects and transport impacts on regional roads. Delighted by initial outcomes of the use of technology turning red mud, released during the exploitation of bauxite, into steel, NA Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung requested that the investors and concerned agencies step up researching the method economically and scientifically for wider application. According to Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai, the projects have initially contributed to the economic development of Lam Dong and Dak Nong provinces where they are underway. He said the Government’s calculations show that the projects generate incomes as aluminium price in the world is forecast to rise. The Deputy PM also clarified issues relating to environmental protection and expertise and technologies of the projects. AO victims’ association denounces China’s act The Vietnam Association for Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin (VAVA) on May 17 raised its voice to oppose China’s illegal placement of a drilling rig in Vietnam’s continental shelf and exclusive economic zone in the East Sea, A statement issued by the VAVA read that from May 2 China illicitly stationed the Haiyang Shiyou-981 drilling rig, accompanied by a fleet of vessels, including armed and military ones, in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone. The Chinese ships rammed and deliberately fired water cannons at Vietnam Fisheries Surveillance and Coast Guard ships, leaving many Vietnamese ships damaged and fisheries surveillance officers injured. The association said it absolutely concurs with the Party and State’s viewpoint of dealing with the disputes by peaceful means in line with international law, and strongly backs the Vietnam Fisheries Surveillance and Coast Guard forces to continue protecting the nation’s sacred sovereignty. As war victims, over three million Vietnamese AO victims clearly understand the value of peace and desire to coexist peacefully with other people around the world, including the Chinese, said VAVA Chairman Nguyen Van Rinh. The association called on war victims, people, organisations and peace-loving forces all over the world to further support Vietnam’s battle to protect peace and justice. Binh Duong asked to learn from recent social disorder President Truong Tan Sang on May 17 made a fact-finding tour of foreign-invested firms in the southern province of Binh Duong where workers were incited to violence by bad individuals, triggering social disorder and damage to investors’ assets. At his working session with the provincial authorities, President Sang reaffirmed the country’s consistent policy of acknowledging foreign investment as an inseparable part of the national economy. President Sang said he is regrettable that the incident caused losses to both investors and workers and affected not only the economy but also businesses’ trust, ordering Binh Duong to withdraw lessons. The province needs to work to help these investors quickly resume their operations, while exerting its utmost efforts to regain their confidence, he said. Local authorities reported that local workers as angry at China ’s illegal placement of its oil rig in Vietnam ’s waters took to the streets to protest. They were incited or forced by some extremists to destroy property of enterprises and resist on-duty officials. Binh Duong mobilised forces to arrest and punish the law breakers, while sending teams to enterprises to assess losses. It vowed to employ all measures for the incident not to be repeated. President Sang visited the Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Park No.1, where he called at the Hong Kong-invested Esquel Group, which has employed 5,000 workers. The group’s production has been interrupted due to the incident. Meeting workers at their workshop, the President stated that patriotism should be shown by activities to raise productivity and join hands with the Party and State in strengthening the national economy. Earlier, he met voters in district 4 of Ho Chi Minh City where he confirmed the nation’s unchanged policy to protect the national sacred sovereignty over its sea and islands and protest China ’s illegal placement of its Haiyang Shiyou-981 in Vietnam ’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf. He underscored that it is crucial to enhance solidarity and take peaceful measures to preserve the national interests on the basis of international law. Responding to the voters’ concern about responsibilities of ministries and localities’ leaders in corruption cases, President Sang affirmed that the Party and State are determined to strictly deal with the cases, especially the serious ones. He also urged voters to promote their role of supervising and reporting corruption to authorised agencies. China stops violating Vietnam’s sovereignty: protesters Overseas Vietnamese around the world have continued holding activities to raise their voices against China’s illegal deployment of its oil rig and a flotilla of ships, including armed and military vessels, to Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf. About 200 expatriates in Cambodia on May 16 held a meeting in the capital Phnom Penh to protest China’s violation of Vietnam’s sovereignty. Over the past days, the Vietnamese in Cambodia have showed their anger at China’s provocative act while expressing their support for the government’s peaceful approaches to the issue, Chairman of the Vietnamese Cambodian Association Chau Van Chi said at the meeting, which took place in order. The protesters later issued a statement demanding China unconditionally and immediately remove its oil rig and surrounding vessels out of Vietnam’s waters, and abide by international law and conventions while affirming Vietnam’s sovereignty over Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spatly) archipelagoes. They also voiced their willingness to join their fellows at home to protect the country. Meanwhile in France, nearly 2,000 Vietnamese and peace-loving people in the country took on Paris streets on May 16 to show their irritation at China’s perverse act. They marched through Trocadero Square in Paris downtown, carrying the Vietnamese flag and banners in Vietnamese, English, French and Chinese that asked for China’s withdrawal of its oil rig out of Vietnam’s waters and respect of international law. “We condemn China’s violation of Vietnamese sovereignty as it went against all the agreements it did sign. We hope that the international community will support our struggle for justice,” said Le Trung Tinh from the protest organising board. He added that the Vietnamese abroad always stay united with those at home in the protection of national sovereignty. Helene Luc, Honorary President of the France-Vietnam Friendship Association, who was among French friends taking part in the protest, said she totally opposed China’s invasion of Vietnam’s waters by placing its oil rig deep inside the country’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf. She reiterated that the association has issued a statement demanding China stop its provocative actions in the East Sea and take the oil rig out of Vietnam’s waters. China itself joined the 1982 United Convention on the Law of the Sea and signed the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) with ASEAN member countries but its current actions are totally contrary to its commitments as well as the policies of peace and cooperation as it agreed to do with Vietnam, she underscored. Meanwhile, Andre Mendras, who is the first French person granted with the Vietnamese nationality, condemned China’s attacks targeting the Vietnam Coast Guard. China’s move is not only meant for Vietnam’s sovereignty, but also the freedom of navigation in the East Sea, said Andre Mendras, who is also known as Ho Cuong Quyet by Vietnamese name. “As a Vietnamese and a French national, I have to protect international law,” he added. The same day, the Vietnamese people in localities across France such as Strasbourg, Montpellier and Toulouse also held rallies. At the same time, the Vietnamese in Mexico voiced objections against China’s illegal act. Ambassador to Mexico Le Thanh Tung has launched a campaign to support the Vietnam Fisheries Surveillance and Coast Guard.- Source: VNA/VNN/VOV