Political News 31/10 Hai Duong receives national honour President Truong Tan Sang yesterday (Oct 30) conferred the Independence Order (second class) upon Hai Duong city to celebrate its 210th founding anniversary.   President Truong Tan Sang yesterday conferred the Independence Order (second class) upon Hai Duong city to celebrate its 210th founding anniversary.  In 1804, under the reign of the Nguyen Dynasty's King Gia Long, the main town of Hai Duong was moved from Mao Dien, in today's Cam Giang district, to Han village where the major citadel Thanh Dong was built. Today the 19th century citadel, once called Thanh Dong, is Hai Duong - a city consisting of 21 communes and wards and a population of 187,000. The city received the award for excellent accomplishments achieved in recent decades. Located in the heart of the northern economic region, Hai Duong enjoys an annual growth rate of 10 per cent. It is home to 3,200 companies, three industrial parks and five industrial clusters with 150 projects that provides 40,000 jobs. At the ceremony, Sang asked local authorities and residents to review the city's socio-economic achievements and shortcomings in order to sustain its growth. Viet Nam, Myanmar bolster military ties Chief of the General Staff of the Viet Nam People's Army, Senior Lieutenant General Do Ba Ty, met the Chief of Staff of Myanmar Air Force, General Khin Aung Myint yesterday. Ty, who is also Deputy Defence Minister, noted that relations between the Viet Nam People's Amy and the Myanmar Armed Forces had recently progressed, with more regular exchanges of delegations at all levels. Armed forces from both countries deepened their partnership in personnel training, the defence industry and sharing information on search and rescue operations. General Khin Aung Myint said that since Myanmar was focusing on enhancing its defence strength, the country's armed forces and air force in particular wished to receive more support from Viet Nam. VN, Lao veterans reunite in Ha Noi More than 300 former Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and military experts who fought in Laos during the war against the French and the Americans met in Ha Noi yesterday (Oct 30) to mark the 65th anniversary of their day to remember. More than 300 former Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and military experts who fought in Laos during the war against the French and the Americans met in Ha Noi yesterday.  As part of an agreement between the Vietnamese and Lao Parties, States, armies and peoples, a command unit of the Vietnam People's Army was sent to Laos to join its fight for national liberation from 1945-1975. During the 30 years, generations of Vietnamese overcame numerous hardships with their Lao comrades, resulting in the success of the Lao revolution. Nearly 35,000 Vietnamese soldiers died on Lao soil, while 60,000 returned home as war invalids. Deputy Defence Minister Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Thanh Cung said that even though many years had passed, the effort remained a proud milestone. Lao Deputy Defence Minister, Senior Lieutenant General Chansamon Channhalat agreed that the special military alliance had stood the test of time. NA Chairman greets IT experts The National Assembly feels application of information technology (IT) will provide fresh momentum for socio-economic development, NA Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung said yesterday. NA Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung has a reception for delegates to the Asian-Oceania Computing Industry Organisation conference on Information and Communication Technology which ended today in Ha Noi and the central city of Da Nang.  Hung was speaking at a reception for delegates to the Asian-Oceania Computing Industry Organisation (ASOCIO) conference on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) which ended today in Ha Noi and the central city of Da Nang. He expressed the hope that the delegates would continue to promote the application of information technology in all sectors. He noted that IT applications have touched all aspects of life in Viet Nam, including farming, in recent years. NA leader receives ASOCIO ICT Summit 2014 delegates National Assembly (NA) Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung confirmed that the NA wholeheartedly backs the strengthening of the application of information technology in socio-economic development in Vietnam. In a reception on October 30 for delegates to the Vietnam ASOCIO ICT Summit 2014, which is currently taking place in Hanoi and the central city of Danang, he asked for their continued support in enhancing the application and development of IT in Vietnam in the future. Noting that Vietnam’s IT was booming, he said the industry affected almost all parts of society, including agriculture. It has fuelled economic growth and supported the management of the State, he said. The NA Chairman said the summit provided a chance for participants to exchange information on and experience in expanding the application of IT in various fields, including transport, healthcare, economics and institutions. The delegates briefed their host on the outcomes of the summit, during which they developed a joint vision for ICT as a new growth method, opportunity and fundamental basis for national development in each country, as well as the shortest path to prosperity. The four-day event, organised annually by the Asian-Oceanian Computing Industry Organisation (ASOCIO), focussed on ICT as a new paradigm for socio-economic development and agricultural restructuring. This is the second time Vietnam hosted the summit, the largest ICT event in Asia and Oceania. Established in 1984, ASOCIO’s 29 members and guest members comprise more than 10,000 ICT companies and account for approximately US$350 billion of ICT revenue in the region. Vietnam active in global peacekeeping Vietnam’s participation in the UN peace-keeping missions since last June demonstrates the country’s serious and long-term commitment to contribute more to the maintenance of international peace and security. Ambassador Nguyen Phuong Nga, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN made the remarks at the fourth committee of the 69th session of the General Assembly on “Comprehensive review of the whole question of peacekeeping operations in all their aspects”. The diplomat said the success of UN peacekeeping operations requires strict adherence to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and universally recognised guidelines, including respect for national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and non-interference. She suggested employing peaceful means to address disputes and conflicts in a sustainable and comprehensive manner as well as ensuring safety and security for peacekeepers. She assured that Vietnam looks forward to working with other troop-contributing countries, the UN and other partners in a bid to ensure strong, effective UN peacekeeping missions, and contribute to durable peace around the world. Vietnamese delegates attend Indonesian Golkar Party’s 50th anniversary A Vietnamese Communist Party delegation attended the Indonesian Go lkar Party ’s 50th anniversary celebrations in Jakarta on October 28. Over 10,000 politic al supporters and representatives from other political parties attended the ceremony to mark the party’s founding half a century ago. Vice head of the Office of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee (CPVCC), Bui Van Thach, presented congratulatory telegrammes from the CPVCC to the Golkar Party’s Chairman Bakrie. Bakrie pledged to boost the ties between the two parties as a contribution to the strategic partnership between Vietnam and Indonesia. As part of the visit, the Vietnamese delegation attended meetings with the President of the Lower House and the Vice President of the Upper House of Indonesia. Since its establishment in 1964, the Party has played an important role in the country’s development and become the second biggest political party in the Indonesian parliament. Chief of General Staff meets Myanmar Air Force chief Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army, Senior Lieutenant General Do Ba Ty, had a meeting with the Chief of Staff of Myanmar Air Force, General Khin Aung Myint, in Hanoi on October 30. Ty, who is also Deputy Defence Minister, noted that relations between the Vietnam People’s Amy and the Myanmar Armed Forces have recently progressed, with more regular exchanges of delegations at all levels. Armed forces from both countries deepened their partnership in personnel training, the defence industry and search and rescue information sharing, he said. On his part, General Khin Aung Myint stated that since Myanmar was focussing on enhancing its defence strength, the country’s Armed Forces and Air Force in particular wished to receive more support from the Vietnam People’s Army. Source: VNN/VNS/VNA/VOV