Political News Headlines 5/5 ASEAN+3 seek ‘stronger bonds' The Finance Ministers of 10 ASEAN member countries and Japan, China and the Republic of Korea (ASEAN+3) met on Saturday in Kazakhstan, aiming to boost co-operation in Asian bond markets to help prevent a recurrence of the Asian currency crisis. The event took place on the sidelines of the annual meeting of the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The financial ministers and central bank governors are also expected to address concerns about an economic slowdown in emerging economies in the wake of the US Federal Reserve's tapering of its large-scale asset purchases. The financial chiefs are likely to confirm the need to help businesses procure funds and increase transactions in local currencies. They will do this by expanding a credit guarantee capacity for corporate bonds through a fund known as the Credit Guarantee and Investment Facility. They are expected to endorse a decision made last November to more than double the credit guarantee limit to us$1.75 billion. As massive outflows of US dollar-based capital triggered the 1997 to 1998 Asian currency crisis, the development of resilient local currency bond markets has been a long-term challenge in the region. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations consists of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam. Party chief meets Ha Noi voters Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong met voters last Saturday ahead of elections for National Assembly deputies in Ha Noi's Ba Dinh and Hoan Kiem districts prior to the 13th NA's seventh session.   Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong met voters in Ha Noi's Ba Dinh District on Saturday.  The voters voiced their concerns regarding anti-corruption and misuse of funding while praising the recent adoption of a resolution to renovate education and training by the Party Central Committee. On learning that an array of legal documents will be adopted at the seventh session to cement the 2013 Constitution, they suggested the materials should mirror reality. Many voters expressed their concerns over the effectiveness of law enforcement and punishment involving corruption cases, saying the National Assembly should improve regulations relating to investigations, prosecutions and trial procedures. Regarding the resolution to renovate education and training, voters said it should target the core and goals of education, not just the surface of the problems. The Party leader welcomed voters' contributions to economic, political and social issues. He also collected their opinions and proposals which will be reviewed and dealt with by deputies in Ha Noi and presented before the law-making body. The Party chief stressed that the National Assembly had made progress in renovating its activities to affirm its role as the highest representative body of the people. He also noted more needed to be done to realise the 2013 Constitution. The General Secretary agreed with voters that improvements were needed to supervise ministers' promises. The 13th NA's seventh session will take place from May 20 to June 24. Condolences sent to Afghanistan over landslide President Truong Tan Sang on May 4 sent a message of condolences to his Afghan counterpart Hamid Karzai over a deadly landslide in the northeast part of the country. The same day, Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh also conveyed his sympathies to his counterpart in Afghanistan Zarar Ahmad Osmani. Much of Aab Bareek village in the Afghan province of Badakhshan was swallowed on May 2 by a fast-moving tide of mud and rock that sweep down the hillside and left almost no trace of 300 homes. According to news agencies, Afghan Government officials have put the current death toll at 300 people and warned it could rise by hundreds more, after initial reports suggested that as many as 2,500 people may have died. VFF leader extends greetings to Buddhist dignitaries Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan extended his greetings to Buddhist dignitaries, monks, nuns and followers inside and outside the country on the occasion of Buddha's 2,558th birthday. In his letter, Nhan wished success upon the 2014 United Nations Day of Vesak, which is to be hosted by the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in northern Ninh Binh province next week. He said the event is a chance to honour Lord Buddha's teachings, such as mercy, intelligence, reconciliation, respect and the development of sustainable harmony in peace, friendship and amity. He added the VFF wishes the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha to promote its traditions and gradually make Vietnam one of the international Buddhist centres. This, he said, will contribute to promoting solidarity, friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and other countries, contributing to peace, stability and cooperation in the region and the world. Moscow Duma delegation visits Ho Chi Minh City Chairwoman of the HCM City People's Council Nguyen Thi Quyet Tam on April 29 welcomed a delegation from the Moscow City Duma.   Chairwoman of the HCM City People's Council Nguyen Thi Quyet Tam and head of the Moscow delegation Sviatoshenko Vladimir Alekseyevich.  Tam expressed her delight to receive the delegation, especially as the city is celebrating the 39 th anniversary of Liberation Day on April 30. She stressed that her city and Viet Nam as a whole always remember the great support from the people of the former Soviet Union and Russia for the country's struggle for liberation and national construction. HCM City has established its ties with many Russian localities, including Moscow, Tam said, noting that the two sides still hold advantages to further boost cooperation in economics, trade, security and defence. Head of the Moscow delegation Sviatoshenko Vladimir Alekseyevich said that his group's visit aims to intensify the connections between Moscow and Ho Chi Minh City. He suggested the two sides regularly organise delegation exchanges and boost experience sharing and cooperation in not only economics, legislative affairs, and culture, but also Party building. Lao official hails Dien Bien Phu Victory Laos’ Deputy Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism Bounguen Sapouvong has hailed the Dien Bien Phu Victory as a vivid symbol of the special solidarity and friendship as well as the great military alliance between Laos and Vietnam. In an article written on the occasion of the Dien Bien Phu Victory’s 60th anniversary, the Deputy Minister said 60 years after the event, the Lao people, like other peace-loving nations in the world, still talk about it with awe and pride. Dien Bien Phu is a victory not only of the three Indochinese countries but also of all oppressed nations in the world, he said. Bounguen Sapouvong stressed that Dien Bien Phu victory is the result of the heroic resistance war of the Vietnam People’s Army under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam and the great President Ho Chi Minh, adding that the world people will also always bear in mind the name of General Vo Nguyen Giap and his outstanding contribution to the victory. The Lao people will always remember the invaluable support that the Vietnamese Party, State and people have given to Laos’ struggle for national salvation in the past as well as in the current national development and defence, the Lao official wrote in the article. He noted that his ministry, in coordination with the Laos National Television, the Vietnamese Embassy in Laos and Vietnam’s Cinema Department, will organize a week of film screening on Dien Bien Phu in Vientiane and Savannakhet province from May 5-11. Source: VNN/VNS/VNA