Government News 14/4 Ambassador presents credentials to Samoa Head of State Ambassador Nguyen Quoc Dung recently presented his credentials to the head of the Independent State of Samoa, Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi, officially becoming a non-resident Vietnam Ambassador in Samoa. At the credentials presentation ceremony, the Vietnamese diplomat extended the regards from President Truong Tan Sang to Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Him Efi and briefed his host about the achievements in socio-economic development and international integration Vietnam has recorded over recent years, as well as targets and strategies for national development in the future. Dung affirmed the Government and people of Vietnam’s recognition of high importance to fortifying the friendship and cooperation with Samoa and suggested the two countries seek appropriate measures to bolster bilateral cooperation in specific fields- economics, trade, agriculture, tourism and people to-people exchange. Tamasese Him Efi, in turn, hailed Vietnam’s accomplishments in socio-economic development and international integration and voiced his nation’s desire to help bilateral relations grow further in the time ahead. He also conveyed his regards to President Truong Tan Sang and other Vietnamese leaders and wished Ambassador Nguyen Dung successful terms in Samoa. On the occasion, Dung paid also courtesy visits to Lupe-soliai Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Finance Minister of the Independent State of Samoa and met with foreign and trade officials. Politburo member visits Vietnamese Embassy in Laos, Lao-Viet Bank Politburo member Le Hong Anh visited the Vietnamese Embassy in Laos and the office of Lao-Viet Bank in Vientiane on April 12, when he was there for the traditional local festival Bun Pi May. It was part of the working visit of Anh, who is also a permanent member of the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat, to Laos between April 11 and 13. Talking to officials and staff at the embassy, Anh stressed their significant role in fostering the traditional friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the two Parties and Governments, as well as their people. He requested that the embassy continue its support and protection for overseas Vietnamese in Laos, enabling them to integrate well into local communities and preserve their cultural values. At the Lao-Viet Bank, the Politburo member expressed his delight at the 15-year development of the lender, hailing it proof of successful cooperation between the two countries. He expressed his hope that the bank will continue to serve as a bridge between Vietnamese investors in Laos and vice versa, allowing their projects to remain on schedule. The Lao-Viet Bank, founded on June 22, 1999, is a joint venture between the Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam (BIDV) and the Banque Pour Le Commerce Exterieur Lao Public (BCEL). It currently headquarters in Vientiane and has three services units, and seven branches, including two branches in Vietnam. Politburo member Le Hong Anh also visited the city’s monument to late Lao President Souphanouvong. PM pledges more funding for drought measures in Ninh Thuan Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung agreed with additional funding for the central province of Ninh Thuan to counter the local drought effects while working with local authorities on April 13. Since the 2014 summer-autumn crop, most local areas have dried due to El Nino impacts with nearly 4,000 households in six districts facing water shortages. Farmers have halted the sowing of 6,100 hectares of the winter-spring crop—or 30.27 percent of the total area—while around 300 domestic animals have died, posing a risk of epidemics and hunger in poor and ethnic minority areas. Given such conditions, the government donated 300 tonnes of rice and 40 billion VND (1.9 million USD) to buy water, food and new crops for affected families. The drought is predicted to last through mid-September. Expressing concern over lingering drought in the central and Central Highlands provinces, the PM asked Ninh Thuan to continue assisting locals, including food and water, to minimise losses. He also cautioned against forest fire risks and requested local coordination with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in post-drought production recovery. Provincial authorities asked for Government support in accelerating the construction of the Tan My water reservoir and launching similar models this year. Presenting difficulties in the locality, representatives from ministries and agencies also called for financial assistance in upgrading and building counter drought facilities in Ninh Thuan. The PM generally consented to socio-economic development proposals during the session. He said Ninh Thuan boasts a large area with high levels of wind and sun, favourable conditions for animal livestock, fruit cultivation and industrial trees with high economic value. Earlier, he made a field trip to a mobile water supply site in Dong Day village, Phuc Trung commune, Bac Ai district, one of the hardest hit during the dry season. Vietnam, China exchange growth experience Head of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for External Affairs Hoang Binh Quan shared Vietnam ’s growth experience with a delegation from the Development Research Centre (DRC) of the China State Council, led by President Li Wei, during their meeting in Hanoi on April 13. The Chinese delegation are visiting Vietnam to exchange experience in economic development and national reform as well as seek stronger economic and trade cooperation between the two countries. Quan, who is also a member of the Party Central Committee, said that regular exchange between strategic research bodies of both countries will make positive contributions to realising agreements reached by senior leaders of the two countries, fostering the sustainable growth of the Vietnam-China relations. Lauding Vietnam ’s achievements and development experience under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam , Li Wei, who is also a member of the China Communist Party’s Central Committee, expressed his hope for closer coordination with Vietnamese counterpart agencies in development research. Earlier on the same day, the DRC delegation was welcomed by Vuong Dinh Hue, member of the Party Central Committee and Head of the Committee’s Economic Commission. The two sides agreed that the potential cooperation opportunities between development studies agencies of Vietnam and China are extensive. Both sides are facing difficulties and challenges during their reform and open-door process, they noted. Currently, Vietnam is the second largest partner of China among ASEAN member countries and China is Vietnam’s largest trade partner. As such, both sides should increase information sharing and experience in economic development strategy research for their mutual benefit and to promote mutual understanding and trust between the two Parties and States, they said. They concurred that closer collaboration between the Vietnamese commission and research centres of the Vietnam ’s Ministry of Planning and Investment with the DRC will enhance the bilateral partnership, especially in economics, trade and investment. During their stay, the Chinese delegation also met with Nguyen Chi Dung, Party Central Committee member and Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment. Algeria looks to cement relations with Vietnam The traditional ties between Vietnam and Algeria have received continual stimulus by strengthening relations between the two governments, parliaments, civil organisations, state officials and youth, Spokesperson for Algeria’s National Liberation Front (FLN) Said Bouhedja told the Vietnam News Agency. He emphasised 2015 marks a number of Vietnamese major events, such as the the late President Ho Chi Minh’s 125th birthday , 61 years since the Dien Bien Phu victory and the 40 th anniversary of Southern Liberation and National Reunification. He went on to express his hope that the country would move forward to claim new victories and consolidate its position worldwide. He said Algeria will launch activities on the occasion of the Vietnamese major celebrations as a demonstration of their solidarity with the people of the Southeast Asian nation. Bilateral trade turnover between Vietnam and Algeria reached a record 370 million USD in 2014, up 30 percent from 2013. Most of the value came from Vietnamese exports, including 135 million USD worth of coffee, 95 million USD worth of phones and parts and 28 million USD worth of rice. Algerian exports to Vietnam stood at only 800,000 USD. The two countries have set a target of 1 billion USD in trade by 2020 and an increase in the number of Vietnamese skilled workers and technicians working in Algeria to 1,500-2,000. Vietnam hopes to send 1,000 workers to the African country this year. Revised statistics draft law discussed Experts and State officials commented on a draft of the amended statistics law during a workshop held in Da Lat city in the Central Highlands’ province of Lam Dong on April 13. Their discussion revolved around a number of major points, including the law enforcement scope, number differences among agencies, national statistics criteria and comparisons between domestic and international statistics. Associate Professor Dr. Tran Quoc Toan said the low quality of official information is partly attributable to a shortage of criteria reflecting the quality, outcomes and competitiveness of the entire economy and industrialisation in Vietnam, together with inadequate national data and the sector’s failure to meet global standards. In addition, different scopes, calculation tools and sources have led to a gap in figures between national and local statistics and between the General Statistics Office (GSO) and other ministries. According to Deputy Chairman of the National Assembly (NA)’s Economic Commission Mai Xuan Hung, the draft, consisting of 9 chapters and 77 articles, is slated for submission at the 9th NA session. Lao New Year rite held for Vietnamese Politburo member The Central Committee of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party held a traditional Lao Baci ceremony for Le Hong Anh, Vietnamese Politburo member, on April 13 during his working visit to Laos on the occasion of the country’s traditional New Year. The Baci ceremony has been practised in Laos for centuries, often during Laos’ New Year (Bun Pi May) festival, where white or orange strings are tied around people’s wrists to wish them good luck and prosperity for the New Year. Anh, who is a member of the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat, extended his best New Year wishes to Lao leaders and people and thanked them for their warm reception. Earlier, the Vietnamese official received Governor of Laos’ Savannakhet province Suphan Keomisay, during which he appreciated the effective cooperation between the province and Vietnamese localities and expressed his hope for closer ties to intensify the Vietnam-Laos special solidarity. He also confirmed that Vietnam will exert every effort to coordinate with Laos to maintain bilateral ties. The same day, he visited the Star Telecom Company, a joint venture between the Lao Asia Telecom and the Vietnam Military Telecom Group Viettel. VNA