Political News 14/7 Norway Foreign Minister to visit Vietnam Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs Borge Brende will pay an official visit to Vietnam from July 15-17 at the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh. Both sides will discuss measures to boost bilateral cooperation, especially in economics, trade, investment, and in the areas of Norwegian strength such as maritime, shipbuilding, oil&gas, and renewable energy generation. They will also exchange views on regional and international issues of mutual concern, as well as ways to strengthen coordination at international and multilateral forums. NA Standing Committee to focus on law building Law building will top the agenda of the 29th session of the National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee, which is scheduled to open in Hanoi on July 14. The committee will discuss the building of a draft law on election of deputies to the NA and People’s Councils, as well as give comments to bills on citizens’ identification and civil status. Draft revised laws on the organisation of the People’s Court and the People’s Procuracy and real estate business will be tabled together with a bill on the management and use of State capital in production and business, and draft amendments to the Law on Vietnam Civil Aviation. Also at the event, the committee will assess the outcomes of the 7th session of the 13th NA and discuss initial preparations for the next session. Vietnam concerned about Israel-Palestine escalating violence Vietnam is deeply concerned about the seriously escalating violence between Israel and Palestine and calls on the parties to refrain, immediately cease violence and soon find out a peaceful solution through negotiations. The statement was made by Foreign Ministry spokesman Le Hai Binh on July 12 in response to a media question about the escalation in the Gaza Strip. Conflict escalation in the Gaza Strip through air strikes between Israel and Hamas has sparked grave concern from the international community. According to the Palestinian Health Ministry, since July 8 Israeli air strikes have injured more than 900 people including two thirds civilian casualties, mostly children, women and the elderly. The dire shortage of medical services in Gaza has led to a hospital overload, it said. Earlier on July 11, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he would not lower his head to international calls to stop military operations in response to rocket fire from the Gaza Strip. In reply to reporters at a recent Defence Ministry press briefing in Tel Aviv, Netanyahu said that no international pressure can prevent Israel from attacking terrorists. Friendship Group calls for peaceful settlement of East Sea issue Any dispute over the East Sea should be resolved through peaceful negotiations on the basis of respect for international law. The affirmation was made by Venezuela-Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Group (VVPFG) President Oscar Figuera at a meeting with Vietnamese ambassador Ngo Tien Dung in Venezuela on July 10. Mr. Figuera expressed hope that on the basis of good traditional relationship between Vietnam and China, the East Sea disputes between the two countries should be resolved peacefully, avoiding armed conflict in order to maintain regional stability and ensuring freedom and safety of international navigation in the East Sea. At a working session with the VVPFG, ambassador Dung handed over a Memorandum of Understanding on China’s illegal placement of drilling platform Hiyang Shiyou-981 in Vietnam’s excusive economic zone (EEZ) and continental shelf. Earlier, the Vietnam Embassy in Venezuela had sent a diplomatic note and the MoU to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Assembly Committee on International Relations, a number of social and political organizations and the media of Venezuela to inform about the related East Sea situation. Japan helps NA Office improve capacity The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in collaboration with the National Assembly (NA) Office of Vietnam launched a project in Hanoi on July 11 aimed at strengthening the NA Office’s capacity. The two principal goals of the project are to provide training for NA staff in Japan and install state-of-the-art equipment to increase the capacity of the NA Library. The total cost of the project is estimated at JPY130 million (VND27 billion), of which VND976 million comes from the Vietnamese government. Vice Chairman of the NA Office Nguyen Si Dung emphasized that the project is one of Japan’s collaborative activities in support of the Vietnamese legislature. He added that the key contents of the project will contribute to improving the NA Office in the implementation of the 2013 Constitution. Vietnam attends UN social council meeting A Vietnamese delegation led by Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen The Phuong attended an annual ministerial meeting of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) in New York , the US , from July 7 – 11. The event discussed ways to deal with ongoing and emerging challenges so as to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Opening the session, ECOSOC President Martin Sajdik called upon all countries to continue reasling their MDGs commitments. He stressed that poverty, inequality and issues relating to sustainable development, public governance and the role of law in development need more in-depth discussions among ECOSOC member nations. In a report on MDGs, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said although many of the goals are about to be fulfilled, the implementation level varies among countries and regions. He appealed for building a comprehensive post-2015 development programme which needs to cover economic, social and environmental aspects, the three pillars of sustainable development. At the session, Deputy Minister Phuong delivered a speech sharing Vietnam ’s experience in meeting MDGs and conveying its policy of combining green growth, social welfares and environmental protection. He said in the post-2015 development agenda, the UN needs to focus on solving common challenges such as ensuring peace and stability, dealing with climate change impacts, and creating an international economic climate that is more favourable for developing countries. The official reiterated Vietnam ’s pledge to engage in the progress in an active, proactive and responsible manner. The Vietnamese delegation also shared other developing countries’ concern over the middle income trap and highlighted closer cooperation in disaster and climate change prevention and mitigation. Set in 2000, the MDGs include eradicating extreme poverty and hunger; achieving universal primary education; promoting gender equality and empowering women; reducing child mortality; improving maternal health; combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases; ensuring environmental sustainability; and developing a global partnership for development. UN member nations have pledged to meet all the goals by 2015. About 200 Vietnamese people in Hiroshima and neighbouring localities in Japan on July 13 took to the street to protest China ’s illegal placement of its drilling rig Haiyang Shiyou-981 in Vietnam’s waters. Leaders extend greetings to France on 225th National Day State President Truong Tan Sang on July 13 sent a greeting message to his French counterpart Francois Hollande on the occasion of the 225 th National Day of France (July 14). On this occasion, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and Deputy Prime Minister cum Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh also extended their greetings to French Prime Minister Manuel Valls and Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius.-VNA Hanoi ready to partner with cities globally: official Hanoi is always ready to be a trustworthy friend and partner to capitals and cities globally, Deputy Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Ngoc Tuan has said. It is the Vietnamese diplomatic representative agencies that have spread the image of Hanoi as an attractive investment and tourism destination, he further said at a July 11 meeting with ambassadors and consulate generals who are going to undertake missions abroad for the 2014-2017 tenure. He informed them that the capital’s economy expanded by 7.4 percent in the first six months of this year, driven by a 14.4 percent growth in exports. The inflows of foreign direct investment hit 583 million USD, up over 30 percent year-on-year. Hanoi is in partnership with over 100 capitals and cities, regionally and globally. It is also a member of major international organisations. Tuan expressed his hope that the diplomats will help Hanoi expand its networking chances, especially with partners active in trade and tourism. On behalf of the diplomats, Ambassador to Belgium and head of the Vietnam Mission to the European Union Vuong Thua Phong vowed to spare no efforts to connect Vietnam, and Hanoi in particular, with countries around the world.- Source: VNA/VOV/VNN