Government News 15/4 HCM City promotes links with Slovak locality Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Le Hoang Quan received and held a working session with Richard Rasi, Mayor of the Slovak city of Kosice, on April 14. Reiterating the relationship between Slovakia and Vietnam over the last 65 years, Quan expressed his hope that HCM City and Kosice would boost their partnership in areas of mutual interest, especially in economics, culture and healthcare. For his part, Richard Rasi said he was impressed by the dynamic development of HCM City, the major southern economic hub of Vietnam. He also said Kosice wishes to boost investment in treating cancer and high-quality human resource training in the Vietnamese city. Slovakia is Vietnam’s second largest trade partner within Central and Eastern Europe. Trade between the two countries generated over 309 million USD in 2014. Thus far, Slovakia has poured 305 million USD into projects in Vietnam.- PM requests living essentials for farmers in dry spell Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has requested the provision of basic living essentials for locals in the central province of Khanh Hoa facing a lingering drought during its dry season. During a working session with the provincial authorities on April 14, he asked them to apply more effective models in agriculture, such as flower and grass cultivation as well as cow and sheep rearing which, he said, consume less water. Due to the drought, about 5,400 hectares of winter-spring crops are drying out, 133 of which are unrecoverable. Meanwhile, its water reservoirs are currently holding less than 10 percent of their designed capacity. The province asked for government support of 37 billion VND (1.76 million USD) to counter the effects of drought, 29 billion VND (1.38 million USD) to buy rice seeds and 1,000 tonnes of rice to feed affected households. It also appealed for assistance in building new reservoirs as a long-term measure against drought, ensuring that famers have a sufficient supply of water for production and livelihoods. The PM praised Khanh Hoa for its socio-economic achievements with a 7.11 percent growth in gross domestic product during the first quarter of this year, including over 950 billion VND (45.2 million USD) in tourism revenue, up 5.16 percent yearly. The government is willing to work with Khanh Hoa to develop tourism, he emphasised, adding that the province should make it a top priority. He also gave a nod to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development’s proposal to build a hi-tech fishery centre to serve fishermen in the coastal southern central region. Guiding the local agricultural economy, he suggested restructuring agriculture in tandem with building new-style rural areas. He urged the province to hold all-level Party Congresses on schedule towards the 12 th National Party Congress and elect a contingent of qualified staff. The leader also pledged comprehensive support for the province in combating the extreme weather. HCM City, France look towards closer cooperation Vice Chairwoman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Nguyen Thi Hong on April 14 met with a senior French official who is on a visit to explore cooperation between his country and Vietnam’s southern business hub. The growing relations between Vietnam and France have enabled the two countries to strengthen their ties in all fields, Hong told Matthias Fekl, Minister of State for Foreign Trade, the Promotion of Tourism and French Nationals Abroad under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development. Though HCM City has housed a number of French investments, its potential has yet been fully tapped by firms from the European country, she noted, adding that it is looking forward to workshops with French companies to provide them with more information about their opportunities here. The official appreciated France ’s enormous assistance in agriculture, education, and health care over the past years, stressing that the city hopes for further support in these fields in the future, especially in how to treat post-harvest fruits for global export. Matthias Fekl said he was impressed with the development of Vietnam and HCM City in particular, highlighting the expansion of the countries’ relations in various realms as well as cultural and economic exchanges between their localities. He told his host that a number of young French entrepreneurs have expressed their interest in seeking investment opportunities in HCM City . He voiced his belief that more French investments and effectively implemented projects in the time ahead will contribute to the growth of the city and Vietnam as well. France currently ranks ninth among countries and territories investing in HCM City and their two-way trade in 2014 increased by 6 percent from a year earlier. The city welcomed around 100,000 French arrivals last year. Roles of 1975 Spring Offensive headquarters highlighted A scientific workshop on the roles of the general headquarters of the 1975 Spring Offensive was held in Hanoi on April 14 on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of Southern Liberation and National Reunification. The event, co-organised by the Centre for Thang Long Heritage Conversation and the Vietnam Association of Historical Sciences, was attended by commanders, veterans, scientists, and representatives from research agencies. The general headquarters of the Spring Offensive, situated in the Hanoi Old Citadel, mapped out strategies and staple directions for the struggle against the US forces. The design, construction, and operation of the headquarters were the highlight at the workshop. Historic witnesses who worked at the Citadel clarified roles and functions of the commanding tunnel and D67 House and Bunker which served as the military headquarters of General Vo Nguyen Giap during the war. The Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the Central Military Commission, and the General High Command worked for over 7,000 days and nights with more than 1,000 important meetings at the headquarters from 1965-1975. Participants at the workshop also underscored the preservation and embellishment of the revolutionary relic site in the former Thang Long Imperial Citadel, stressing the historical value of D67 House and Bunker. Tran Viet Anh, Director of the Thang Long Heritage Conservation Centre, affirmed that the workshop created an opportunity to draw out orientations and plans to increase conservation initiatives and promote the value of the Citadel. Poverty alleviation needs more support President Truong Tan Sang has asked local and international organisations and individuals to support humanitarian programmes further in efforts to help the poor and needy people overcome difficulties. Speaking at a conference yesterday to review a campaign to help poor people and Agent Orange victims in preparing for the traditional Tet (Lunar New Year), Sang praised the efforts of the Viet Nam Red Cross Society (VNRC) and local and international donors in humanitarian activities in the past. "The Viet Nam Red Cross always has been the mainstay force in humanitarian movements for the poor and Agent Orange victims that attracted participation of the Viet Nam Fatherland Front and other sectors, organisations and the business community," Sang said. The President said the party and the government have always paid a lot of attention to programmes on hunger eradication, poverty elimination, social security and care for the poor and those in difficulty. "This is a long-term and lofty task that requires the encouragement and enthusiastic involvement of the whole society," Sang said. VNRC Chairman Nguyen Hai Duong said the campaign, launched in mid-December last year, mobilised VND719 billion (US$33.4 million) to give nearly two million Tet gifts to poor families and Agent Orange victims. The campaign also helped to build 559 houses, donated 464 cows and provided health check-ups and treatment to more than 160,000 people. In 2014, the society's blood donation mobilisation movement collected more than one million blood units, an increase of 8.4 per cent compared to 2013. Of these, more than 964,000 blood units, or more than 96 per cent of the collected blood, were donated by voluntary donors. A humanitarian examination and treatment programme, jointly implemented by the society and the Young Physician Association under the health ministry, also provided health check-ups and medicines to 1,157,700 patient visits in 2014. The society mobilised more than VND3 trillion ($139.9 million) to help nearly 14 million poor households and Agent Orange victims in the country over the past 16 years, VNRC said.  Khanh Hoa urged to tap tourism potentials The central province of Khanh Hoa should fully tap into the advantages of its tourism industry as there are many aspects of the locality that could attract visitors. Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung made this request at a working session with provincial authorities on April 14 to examine the socio-economic status in the province and discuss ways to counter effects of the local drought. Speaking at the session, PM Dung praised Khanh Hoa’s efforts in the past years, noting that its GDP growth rate reached 7.11% in the first quarter of 2015. In particular, revenue from tourism reached VND950 billion (over US$43.9 million), an increase of 5.16% compared to the same period last year. Over 5,300 hectares of the winter-spring crop in the province have been affected by the drought. The local authorities also proposed the government allocate 1,000 tonnes of rice and VND60 billion (over US$2.7 million) to buy water, food and new crops for affected families. Expressing concern over the current drought in the central and Central Highlands provinces, the PM asked Khanh Hoa to continue assisting locals with necessities, including food and water, to minimise losses. The province should also make the most of its potential to develop tourism, services and maritime-based economy in a sustainable manner, he noted. He urged the local authorities to work with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to complete the construction of a major fishing centre in the province as the local seafood industry plays a significant role in the south-central regional economy and national defence and security. VNA