Government News 6/2 Deputy PM receives AIA Chairman and CEO   Mark Edward Tucker, Chairman and CEO of the AIA Group Limited was honoured at a reception on February 5 by Deputy Prime Minister Vu Van Ninh. At the event, Deputy PM Ninh applauded Tucker and the AIA for its contribution to Vietnam’s economic growth and stability, stating that the company has become both a strategic and financial investor in the Vietnamese market. He also called on the AIA, with its vast financial resources to participate in more projects to develop the nation’s infrastructure and contribute to the social welfare of its citizens, affirming the Vietnamese Party and State’s commitment to create preferential investment opportunities for it. Mr Edward Tucker in turn expressed his delight at the fine advancement of Vietnamese economy in all fields and said he definitely wants to participate in more projects to develop infrastructure. He said he favoured investing in government bonds and life insurance contracts. During the function, the Deputy PM and AIA leader discussed matters ranging from restructuring state owned enterprises (SOEs) to how the drop in oil prices has positively impacted production inVietnam. The Deputy PM underscored the State and Party’s commitment to equitize all SOEs such as international ports, banks and major groups and stressed the need to change management methods to increase the efficiency of production and business activities. Deputy PM welcomes Woori Bank leader Vietnam consistently looks to create favourable conditions for foreign investors, including enterprises from the Republic of Korea (RoK), to achieve effective business operation in Vietnam. Deputy Prime Minister Vu Van Ninh made the statement during a reception for Vice President of Woori Bank Tae Seung Sohn on February 4. At the meeting, the Deputy PM underscored the strong development of the strategic partnership between Vietnam and the RoK, providing a mechanism for Korean investments and development assistance to make substantial contributions to Vietnam’s socio-economic progress. He hailed Woori Bank’s business enlargement in Vietnam, supporting enterprises from Vietnam and the RoK and sharing its experience in bank restructuring with Vietnamese partners. Woori Bank, which first expanded to Vietnam 18 years ago, is broadening its investment in and financial support for Vietnamese businesses to boost trade cooperation between the two countries, said Vice President Tae Seung Sohn. He added that Woori Bank, the second largest bank in the RoK, intends to establish a 100 percent foreign owned bank in Vietnam. Vietnam, New Zealand to deepen bilateral ties Bilateral ties between Vietnam and New Zealand have been growing across sectors in recent years, despite the geographic distance between the two nations. Secretary of the municipal Party Committee Pham Quang Nghi made the statement at a reception for a visiting delegation from Wellington, New Zealand in Hanoi on February 4. He noted that coordination between the nations still has untapped potential and called on Wellington to share its experience in urban management and development, education, and response and adaptation to climate change with Hanoi. Head of the delegation, Wellington Mayor Celia Wabe Brown hailed the bilateral ties between the two countries as well as the two capital cities. She said Wellington is willing to offer training in the English language, state management for Hanoi authorities, and workforce caliber, among others. Trade between Vietnam and New Zealand reached 187 million USD in 2001, increasing to 750 USD million USD in 2012 and 723 million USD in 2013. The figure is expected to reach 1 billion USD by the end of 2015. Vietnam and New Zealand set up their diplomatic ties June 16, 1975.- Mexico vows to foster ties with Vietnam Mexico will accelerate the signing of the agreement on establishing the a joint Committee for bilateral trade and industry cooperation between Mexico and Vietnam. Speaking at a reception for Vietnamese Ambassador to Mexico Le Linh Lan on February 3, Mexican Minister of Economics Ildefondso Guajardo Villarreal affirmed that Mexico pledged to coordinate with the Vietnamese Embassy to boost its economic, trade and cultural cooperation with Vietnam and prepare for the 40 th founding anniversary of the diplomatic ties in 2015. He hailed the achievements Vietnam has made in recent years, highlighting the country’s contributions to negotiations on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement expected to be signed by the end of this year. For her part, the Vietnamese diplomat stressed the need for high-level exchanges between the two countries to foster multi-sector cooperation, especially in economics and trade. She suggested the ministry’s Trade Promotions Agency (ProMexico) establish an office in Hanoi to boost their trade and investment, among others. Trade between Vietnam and Mexico was estimated at 2.17 billion USD in 2014, up 34 percent from 2013. PM urges rural growth plan through 2020 Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has urged the prompt design of a 2016-2020 new-style rural area building programme to be added into documents of Party congresses at all levels. Addressing a video conference on the 2014 programme outcomes and orientations for the next five years, the PM asked ministries to review development policies for agriculture, farmers, and rural areas to make timely adjustments. Policies enhancing the application of science and technology to agricultural production need greater attention, he said, describing the policies as a critical component for the renovation of the sector. Additionally, it is necessary to focus on increasing measures to encourage and support enterprises investing in agriculture while strengthening the coordination between farmers and businesses, he continued. The Government leader also requested better vocational training policies for rural labourers, together with improved preferential credit access for farmers, especially those in mountainous and remote areas. The PM suggested that ministries and localities seek out financial resources for the programme and integrate the building of new-style rural areas into socio-economic development plans in each locality. He also asked localities to review and adjust the specific criteria of new-style rural areas to ensure relevancy in each locality. Last year, as many as 785 communes nationwide, or 8.8 percent, fulfilled all 19 criteria of the programme; 1,285 communes reached between 15 and 18 of the criteria. The nation’s communes have satisfied an average of 10 criteria, double the 2010 average. In 2015, another 1,800 other communes, or 20 percent of total communes nationwide, are expected to become new-style rural areas. Building infrastructure, improving production capacity, constructing public works, protecting landscapes and the environment, and promoting local traditions and cultural identities are among the criteria of new-style rural areas under the programme initiated by the Government in 2010. SMEs should be proactive in operation: President President Truong Tan Sang has called upon small-and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to stay proactive, enterprising and creative in their operation to stand firm in both domestic and global economic playgrounds. At the same time, SMEs should further sharpen their competitive edge so as to keep up with the world’s development trends, the State leader said at a reception for more than 100 outstanding business players in Hanoi on February 5. He highlighted the important role of SMEs in the national socio-economic development agenda and extolled their active engagement in the Party, State, and the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee’s activities such as the campaign “Vietnamese people prioritise Vietnamese goods” and the programme on building new-style rural areas. He asked SMEs to ensure optimal working environment and higher income for their staff, while forging the linkage among businesses and concentrating on both domestic and export markets. The SMEs association should develop its network at the grassroots level and help businesses overcome difficulties, as well as developing human resources, and promoting trade and technological transfer, he further said. The President confirmed that the Party and State will continue to put forward incentives to help the players play in a favourable business environment and develop. Statistics showed that SMEs make up overwhelming 97 percent of the total 600,000 active businesses across the country. Last year, they created jobs for 3.5-4 million workers and contributed over 40 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) and 30 percent of the total State budget. However, in the light of prolonged global economic crisis, only 20 percent of SMEs has been performing productively, while 60 percent are struggling to exist and the remaining could be resolved or halt operation. To this end, businesses proposed that State place the SMEs restructuring in the national strategy equally important to the scheme on restructuring the State-run businesses, public investment, and banking system. Enterprises also appealed for more preferential policies so that they could make more effective contributions to the national target of stabilising the macro-economy, curbing inflation, increasing integration capacity and competitiveness. PM asks for effective poverty reduction efforts Poverty reduction efforts yielded encouraging outcomes in 2014, particularly in disadvantaged areas, but more practical measures are needed to make achievements more sustainable, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung highlighted at a national teleconference in Hanoi on February 5. According to preliminary reports, the number of households under the poverty line in Vietnam decreased from 7.8 percent in 2013 to 5.8-6 percent by the end of 2014. Impoverished districts saw the number of low-income families reduce to 33.2 percent from 38.2 percent in 2013. However, such outcomes remain unsustainable due to the persistently high rate of poverty relapse and a widening income gap among different regions and populations, particularly in northern mountainous areas and the Central Highlands. Meanwhile, ethnic minority groups comprise nearly 50 percent of impoverished households in the country with an average income of only one-sixth of the national figure, according to the reports. Chairing the conference, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung commended efforts by the Central Steering Committee for Sustainable Poverty Reduction as well as ministries and localities. He also discussed shortcomings in their efforts while asking the steering committee to continue overhauling related policies with a focus on ethnic minority areas. The leader told localities to summon resources for poverty elimination by engaging businesses and local communities. At the event, sectors and localities set a target rate of low-income households below 5 percent nationwide and below 30 percent in poverty-stricken districts this year. The respective figures are hoped to further fall by 1-1.5 percent and 3-4 percent annually from 2016 to 2020. They also plan to promote access to basic social services such as healthcare, education and insurance for the poor and those just above the poverty line. Participants asked the Government to increase its support for infrastructure development in coastal areas, extend credit terms for the poor, and improve labour export mechanisms for rural and mountainous regions. Party chief pays working visit to Loc Thuy commune Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong paid a working visit to Loc Thuy commune, Quang Binh province on February 5, continuing his tour to inspect Party congress preparations at grassroots level in the central region. The Party leader showed his delight learning that Loc Thuy, the homeland of the late General Vo Nguyen Giap, reduced its poor households to 3.3 percent and ensured all people are accessible to power and clean water. The living conditions of the commune’s population have been improved visibly as up to 90 percent of its labourers have regular jobs, the leader heard. Selected to hold a Party congress that can provide a model for other localities in the province, the Loc Thuy communal Party committee has well prepared in terms of crafting documents and organising congresses at grassroots level. The Party General Secretary expressed hope that the Party committee, administration and residents of Loc Thuy will build on their achievements to make forward progress in socio-economic development and Party building. On the occasion, he visited and offered incense at the commemorative house dedicated to late General Vo Nguyen Giap, the legendary military leader who rendered great service and exceptional contributions to the revolutionary cause of the Party and nation. Earlier, he had a working session with authorities of Quang Tri province, and offered incense to heroic martyrs at Truong Son National Martyrs Cemetery and Road 9 cemetery. Aquatic, tourism key sectors for Quang Tri growth: Party chief Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong has asked the central province of Quang Tri to optimise its strong potential in agro-forestry, sea-based economy and tourism to boost local socio-economic development during a working session with provincial key leaders on February 5. Stressing the strategic importance of Quang Tri in the economy, security and defence of the central region and the nation as a whole, he asked the province to ensure the harmony of socio-economic growth and strong security while expanding external relations. He praised the province for good Party congress preparations at all levels, urging it to continuously implement the resolution on Party building. Emphasising the significance of personnel development in Party building, he requested the locality focus on personnel training and ensuring the quality of Party officials and members. During his trip, the Party leader visited policy beneficiary families, and offered incense to heroic martyrs at Truong Son National Martyrs Cemetery and Road 9 cemetery. Last year, Quang Tri recorded an economic growth of 6.7 percent with a GDP per capita of 29.7 million VND (1.4 million USD), an 11 percent increase from the previous year. Food production of the locality hit a record 270,000 tonnes. So far, three communes in the province have been recognised as new-style rural areas. Quang Tri’s La Lay border gate was also upgraded to an international gate, opening new development prospects for the locality. Lao officials pay Tet visits to Nghe An Officials of several Lao localities have extended their best New Year wishes to people in the central province of Nghe An. The Lao delegations paid visits to the bordering districts of Thanh Chuong, Anh Son, Tuong Duong and Ky Son, on the occasion of the upcoming lunar New Year (Tet) festival of Vietnamese, which falls in the second half of February this year. Officials of both sides shared the wish to further nurture the bilateral friendship and solidarity. Nghe An has 419.5km of borderline with three Lao provinces - Xiengkhouang, Bolykhamxay and Houphane. Over the past years, the neighbouring provinces have coordinated effectively in maintaining security and order along the borderline and boosting socio-economic development in each locality. Party founding anniversary celebrated in Argentina The Vietnamese Embassy in Argentina has held a ceremony to mark the 85th founding anniversary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (February 3). Speaking at the event, Vietnamese Ambassador to Argentina Nguyen Dinh Thao reviewed the 85 glorious years of building and developing the political organisation while highlighting the comprehensive achievements made by the Vietnamese people during the country’s renewal process in nearly 30 years under the leadership of the Party. In his speech, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Argentina (PCA) Patricio Echegaray underscored the pioneering role of the Communist Party of Vietnam in the national liberation cause and expressed his delight at Vietnam’s subsequent achievements. Cuban Ambassador to Argentina Orestes Perez hailed Vietnam’s tenacious efforts in building socialism, praising the country as a role model for perseverance in protecting socialist principles. For his part, First Secretary of the Venezuelan Embassy in Argentina Arnoldo Olivares spoke highly of the solidarity and support between Venezuela and Vietnam in their respective revolutions. He also hailed the strong relationship between the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) founded by the late President Hugo Chavez and the Communist Party of Vietnam. Exciting events mark Vietnam-New Zealand diplomatic ties The “ New Zealand – Open to the New” programme was introduced to the public during a press conference in Hanoi on February 5 with a string of events to mark the 40 th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Vietnam and New Zealand . The event aims to introduce New Zealand to Vietnamese nationals through cuisine and wine festivals; education and culture exhibitions to be held in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and central Da Nang city; and highlighting fashion cooperation projects and a “New Zealand – new horizon” contest, among others. At the press conference, New Zealand Ambassador Haike Manning said the celebration of bilateral diplomatic relations creates an opportunity for the two countries to expand their cooperation in politics, tourism, education, trade and investment. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung highlighted outstanding achievements in bilateral coordination efforts, especially in trade, education-training, and agriculture. There remains significant potential for increasing their multi-faceted partnership, Trung said, citing bright prospects from the multilateral and regional cooperation frameworks that the two countries are involved in, such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreements; the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum; and the World Trade Organisation (WTO). Vietnam hopes that New Zealand will become a more substantial partner, exchanging experience and cooperation in economics, trade, education and agriculture for mutual benefit in development and prosperity, he added. Vietnam and New Zealand established diplomatic relations in June 1975. VNA/VOV