Government News 10/2 Deputy Defence Minister hosts outgoing Russian official Deputy Defence Minister, Senior Lieutenant General Truong Quang Khanh hosted outgoing Chief Representative of the Russian Federal Service for Technical-Military Cooperation to Vietnam Anatoly Chuprynov in Hanoi on February 9. The host expressed his appreciation for Chuprynov’s contributions to boosting the traditional friendship and comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and Russia. He also hopes that Chuprynov, in his new position, will continue enhancing the bilateral relationship. The guest pledged to foster the camaraderie between the two armies and people upon returning to his home. Party inspection commission to be enhanced Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong has expressed his desire that the Party Central Committee’s Inspection Commission will perform its functions more effectively as a part of preparations for the upcoming all-level Party Congresses. Holding a year-end working session with the commission in Hanoi on February 9, he asked for reformed working style and the eradication of weaknesses and limitations. He hailed the commission for its contributions to Party building and socio-economic development, saying that it performed well as a think-tank for the Politburo and the Secretariat and is building a disciplined, healthy, and transparent Party. The Resolution on Party building adopted by the fourth plenum of the Party Central Committee (11 th tenure) has been initially successful, which is partly due to the commission, he said. Thus far, the commission has offered consultancies on establishing 32 inspection teams on 69 Party units and designing an annual inspection programme. The commission also handled a number of complaints and denunciations, bringing violations to light and returning billions of Vietnamese dong to the State budget, lauded by the public. It ensured that offenders were disciplined in accordance with Party regulations while improving its supervision over Party organisations and members on several issues. Concluding the session, the leader urged the sector to build on its past achievements and comprehensively fulfil its tasks as assigned by the Party and people.- PM assigns socio-economic tasks to Dak Nong Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung assigned a number of socio-economic development tasks to the Central Highlands province of Dak Nong during a working session with local authorities on February 9. Dak Nong has been requested to adjust its farmland planning, especially for high-value plants such as rubber, coffee and macadamia nuts, while embracing advanced technology in production and processing. As natural and economic forests account for 48 percent of the total coverage, the Prime Minister asked Dak Nong to restructure 16 of its plantations and transfer additional forest plots to ethnic minority groups in a bid to improve their livelihoods. Directing the development of bauxite processing industry, the leader urged the province to put the Nhan Co aluminium factory into operation later this year and launch other aluminium projects. He also advised developing tourism services, especially eco-tourism, due to the region’s temperate climate. In the meantime, universal access to social welfare services is a priority, he said. Last year, the local economy grew by 12.2 percent, the average income per capita exceeded 32.5 million VND (1,500 USD), and the rate of poor households was reduced to 13.75 percent. In 2015, the locality is working towards an economic growth of over 12.25 percent, an average income per capita over 35 million USD, and a 2 percent decrease in the household poverty rate. In a working session with the management board of the Nhan Co aluminium plant on the same day, the PM suggested they learn from the success of the Tan Rai bauxite-aluminium plant in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong, adding that the government vows support the project by clearing any policy or mechanism barriers. The 650,000-tonne capacity plant was build through an investment by the Nhan Co Aluminium Jsc under the Vietnam Coal and Mineral Industries Group of over 16.8 trillion VND (800 million USD). In late January, its Engineering-Procurement-Construction contractor, the China Aluminium International Engineering Corporation, completed about 91 percent of the project’s items and the domestic contract concluded 95 percent. Fatherland Front leader pays pre-Tet visit to Phu Tho President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan presented Lunar New Year (Tet) gifts to 200 Agent Orange/dioxin victims, each worth 1 million VND (47 USD), in the Thanh Thuy and Thanh Son districts of the northern province of Phu Tho on February 9. He expressed to each of them that the Party and State continues to honour and appreciate the sacrifices they and their families made during the liberation war. He went on to request improved welfare services from local authorities. Earlier, Nhan visited and extended New Year greetings to local authorities in the Thanh Thuy district. He also offered incense and laid wreaths at Hung Kings temple and Au Co Mother temple. Poverty reduction urgent for Dak Lak: PM Reducing poverty among ethnic minority groups in a rapid and sustainable manner is a key priority for the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak, said Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung during a working session with provincial leaders on February 9. Noting the persistently high poverty ratio in the locality, especially among minority groups which sits at over 62 percent, the Government leader suggested that Dak Lak utilise its potential advantages, especially in agro-forestry, industrial plants, breeding, and processing to boost socio-economic development. The locality should call for investment and hasten the application of advanced technology in production to enhance the efficiency and quality of its products and services, he said. He also urged the province to implement more drastic measures to accelerate the construction of new-style rural areas. Specifically, additional support should be provided to locals for protecting and promoting forestry as well as improved education and healthcare services, he said. The PM also highlighted the importance of Party building and developing a political system with efficiency and integrity at its core, improving the implementation of ethnic minority and religious policies, and ensuring security and defence. According to Secretary of the provincial Party Committee Nie Thuat, the province recorded an economic growth of 8.4 percent last year, with per capita income reaching 31.4 million VND (1,475 USD) on average. So far, two communes have fulfilled all 19 criteria of the programme, while many others have completed at least 13 criteria, he said. In 2015, the province targets a 10 percent growth, a per capita income of 35 million VND (1,645 USD), a poverty ratio decrease of 3 percent, and 27,000 new available jobs, stated Nie Thuat. During his stay, PM Nguyen Tan Dung also paid pre-New Year visits to former leaders of the locality as well as a number of local artisans.- Vice President praises RoK group for support of Vietnamese children Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan has thanked Fashion Group Hyungji of the Republic of Korea (RoK) for its support of poor children in Vietnam besides its investment in the northern province of Bac Giang. At a reception for the group’s chairman Choi Byung Oh in Hanoi on February 9, the Vice President said along with the growth of the two countries’ relations, cooperation between their businesses has continuously improved. She noted that Vietnam always try to create favourable conditions for foreign enterprises, and Hyungji in particular, to expand investment in the country. Doan, who is also President of the National Fund for Vietnamese Children, discussed the nation’s 2 million children living in difficult circumstances, many of whom are Agent Orange victims, with her guest. The Party and State have carried out numerous policies and programmes dedicated to children, but she emphasised the need for the social community to build upon the existing efforts. Over the past years, disadvantaged children in Vietnam have received significant assistance from foreign enterprises, including those from the RoK, she added. The Hyungji Chairman committed to continuing support for Vietnamese children by granting 50,000 USD to the National Fund for Vietnamese Children at the reception.- VNA/VOV