Government News 7/4 Deputy PM Phuc receives Lao Minister of Home Affairs Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister (PM) Nguyen Xuan Phuc received Lao Minister of Home Affairs Xaysi Santivong in Hanoi on April 6 during his working visit to Vietnam. At the reception, the Deputy PM asserted the determination of the two countries’ leaders in intensifying the Vietnam-Laos special relations, which have been an essential element of the revolution and development of each country. The Deputy PM highlighted that the Vietnamese Government continues to accelerate administrative reform to serve the country’s socio-economic development, thus cooperation between the two ministries of home affairs in public administration, archives and religion is a focus to the overall collaboration between the two countries. In return, the Laot Minister affirmed cooperation in the field will play an important role in building and developing Laos’ administration. Algerian ambassador considers economic ties a priority mission New Ambassador of Algeria Mohamed Berrah has said the strengthening of bilateral economic, trade and investment cooperation with a focus on fisheries and infrastructure is the top priority of his tenure in Vietnam. Meeting Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung in Hanoi on April 6, the Ambassador proposed holding business forums, trade fairs and cultural weeks to popularise their respective countries among their peoples. He said Algeria would invite Vietnam as a guest of honour at the 2016 Algiers International Fair, a prestigious event bringing together numerous countries. Algeria is willing to be a gateway for Vietnam to enter the African market, he emphasised. The ambassador advocated mutual support at international forums and organisations for the sake of peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world, as well as the settlement of disputes by peaceful means in line with international law. He also pledged visa issuance support to Vietnamese workers seeking jobs in Algeria. The PM, for his part, asked for more vibrant activities within the Inter-governmental Cooperation Committee as well as closer joint work between the Vietnamese and Algerian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, laying a solid groundwork for stronger partnership across trade, investment, oil and gas and tourism. The government leader suggested facilitating business visits, people-to-people exchange and the launch of a direct flight between the two countries. The host also hoped for more assistance to the Vietnamese community, including 500 workers, in Algeria. NA website upgraded National Assembly (NA) Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung officially launched the legislative portal www.quochoi.vn on April 6. The portal was upgraded from the existing NA website, integrating the websites of NA committees and bodies. According NA Office Chairman Nguyen Hanh Phuc, the upgrade was intended to improve the effectiveness of communication inside the NA office as well as provide the public with legal documents and information on NA activities in a timely fashion. It facilitates collaboration between NA bodies and representatives towards building an e-National Assembly. Visitors to the website are able to watch a live feed as well as recorded footage of NA meetings and working sessions. The NA portal also collects public opinions on draft bills and voter queries for NA representatives. NA Standing Committee convenes 37th session    The 13th National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee convened its 37th session in Hanoi on April 6 which will last till April 10. Addressing the session, NA Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung emphasised that the five-day working session will deal with a number of issues and discuss several important draft laws. After the opening ceremony, Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Bac Son presented a statement on the Law on Information Security project while Chairman of the NA Committee for Science, Technology and Environment Phan Xuan Dung delivered a report on preliminary investigation on the project. Committee members are scheduled to give opinions on the draft revised Penal Code, the draft revised Criminal Procedure Code, the draft Law on Information Security, the draft Law on Charges and Fees, and the draft Law amending and supplementing articles of the Vietnam Maritime Code. They are set to give feedback on draft reports on potential adjustments to the revised Law on the State Budget, the revised Law on the Organisation of the Government, the Law on Local Government Organisation, and the Law on the Election of the National Assembly and People’s Council deputies. The NASC will also hear a report on outcomes of the 132 Inter Parliamentary Union Assembly (IPU 132) and give opinions on the Government’s statements on establishment of Tam Diep City in Ninh Binh province and Ky Anh town in Ha Tinh province as well as supervision programmes of the NA and the NASC in 2016. Another report will be delivered by the Supreme People’s Court to reveal the specifics on charges of false accusation in the application of penal and criminal procedure regulations as well as compensation for wrongly accused people. Vietnam, Malaysia share anti-corruption experience Officials from the Government Inspectorate of Vietnam and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission had a working session in Hanoi on April 6 to share experience in combating corruption. The Vietnamese delegation to the session was headed by Deputy Chief Government Inspector Tran Duc Luong while the Malaysian delegation by Director of the Commission’s Investigation Division Director Mohd Jamidan Abdullah. During the event, the two sides informed one another about their inspection activities and reviewed their history of cooperation in recent years. They agreed to further exchange experience in anti-corruption and share information, professional documents and other training programmes through forums, workshops and conferences. Public education to raise awareness among the community about corruption will also be a focus. These efforts are part of a cooperation agreement on anti-corruption measures signed by the two agencies in April 2010. Accordingly, both countries pledged to share information and their experiences relating to corruption, money laundering, economic crime and trade fraud regularly and work together to settle issues. VNA