Government News 15/5 Vietnamese gov’t pledges to promote sustainable development Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam said that the Vietnamese government supports the business community to improve its productivity, competiveness and sustainable development. He made the statement at the Vietnam Sustainable Development Business Forum 2015, held by the Vietnam Business Council for Sustainable Development (VBCSD) under the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry in collaboration with the British Council of Vietnam. The forum aimed to inform enterprises and relevant parities of new areas and trends relating to sustainable development as well as highlight and discuss customs, solutions and sustainable business models in the world and in Vietnam. Dam praised the VBCSD for actively implementing Resolution 19/NQ-CP dated March 18, 2014 by the government for enhancing investment and the business environment. VCCI Vice Chairman Vu Duc Khuong said in the context of economic difficulties and increased international integration, besides improving competitiveness, Vietnamese enterprises need to take advantage of their strengths to expand production. They also needed to find new paths and seize opportunities provided by the sustainable development trend around the world. British Deputy Minister of Equality Baroness Thornton said Vietnam should be proud of the progress it has achieved in promoting and developing sustainable business models. She stressed the importance of having a favourable policy environment and business support for social enterprises. Former President Triet receives 50-year Party membership insignia The Binh Duong provincial Party Committee held a ceremony on May 14 to present the 50-year Party membership badge to former Politburo member and State President Nguyen Minh Triet. Speaking at the ceremony, member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Binh Duong provincial Party Committee, Mai The Trung, spoke highly of former President Nguyen Minh Triet’s devotion to the nation since he joined the revolution and his leading role in the Youth Union, Secretary of the Party Committee of Song Be province (now Binh Duong), Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City’s Party Committee, and State President. In all positions, former President Nguyen Minh Triet showed his outstanding leadership and the virtues of a Party member and successfully accomplished the tasks assigned to him by the Party, State and people, Trung added. Former President Nguyen Minh Triet expressed his pride in and his gratitude to the Party and affirmed that he will always uphold the revolutionary spirit and responsibility of a Party member to serve the Party and the people. The former President also pledged to contribute opinions to Binh Duong provincial leaders for socio-economic development. Vietnam’s efforts to promote gender equality spotlighted Vietnam’s Vice State President Nguyen Thi Doan highlighted the country’s important steps towards ensuring gender equality, increasing the position and promoting creativity of women at the opening ceremony of the 25th Global Summit of Women in Sao Paulo, Brazil on May 14. Doan also emphasised Vietnamese women’s contributions to the country’s economic development, particularly in economic restructuring and growth model transfer. Regarding challenges facing global women, the Vietnamese official stressed the importance of strengthening gender equality policies and strategies, increasing women’s role as well as efforts to improve knowledge and skills. She called on the summit to support Nepalese women who have been seriously affected during the two recent earthquakes. Along with the 50,000 USD aid by the Vietnamese Government, the Vietnamese delegation to the summit will donate additional 10,000 USD to Nepalese women. At the opening ceremony, Vice President Doan was presented with the Global Women’s Leadership award for her efforts to raise the role of women and her contributions to connecting Vietnamese female entrepreneurs with others in the world. Established in 1990, the Global Summit of Women is held annually to boost female participation in and contributions to global socio-economic development, especially in business. This year’s three-day event has drawn nearly 1,000 delegates from 63 nations and territories across the world. Also on May 14, the Vietnamese Vice President met Chairman of the Communist Party of Brazil Renato Rabelo, during which she confirmed that the Communist Party of Vietnam wishes to continue intensifying cooperation with the Brazilian party to further develop and deepen the Vietnam-Brazil comprehensive partnership. She thanked the Brazilian people for supporting Vietnam, affirming her country continually attaches importance to developing its comprehensive partnership with Brazil – its largest trade partner in Latin America. The host, in turn, declared that Brazil considers Vietnam an important partner in the Asian-Pacific region and hopes for strengthened collaboration between the two parties in the future. Both sides exchanged opinions on regional and international issues of mutual concern. Chairman Renato Rabelo supported Vietnam’s stance of settling disputes through peaceful negotiations and in accordance with international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The Vietnamese official also met Mayor of Sao Paulo Fernando Haddad, saying Vietnam wants to enhance its ties with the city. The mayor affirmed his city’s wish to strengthen multi-faceted cooperation with Vietnam, especially in economics, trade, investment, culture and science-technology, as well as its willingness to twin with Vietnamese localities. He expressed his intention to visit Vietnam to speed up the implementation of these targets. NA Standing Committee wraps up 38th meeting The 13th National Assembly’s Standing Committee closed its 38th meeting in Hanoi on May 14 after debating several laws for the NA’s next session and the Government’s reports regarding socio-economic and budgetary performances in 2014 and early 2015. Sitting between May 11 and 14, the Standing Committee deliberated the revised Civil Code, the Law on Referendum, and the Law on Meteorology and agreed on the necessity of having the legal documents. These laws will be submitted to the NA’s 9th session to gather more comments. They looked into the Government’s proposal on revising Article 60 of the Law on Social Insurance, which was prompted by suggestions of a proportion of workers. The Law on Social Insurance will take effect from January 1, 2016. The Government was asked to report the issue to the NA’s 9 th session. They also commented on the Government’s supplementary assessment of the implementation of socio-economic performance and State budget in 2014 as well as those activities in the early months of 2015. They agreed that in 2014 the macro-economy was kept stable, inflation controlled, and growth seen in almost sectors and industries. In the early months of 2015, the macro-economy continued its stable fashion, noted by a growth rate of 6.03 percent recorded in the first quarter and positive FDI attraction. Social welfare was ensured and external relations have been promoted. Unsustainable signs, however, emerged, the Standing Committee pointed out, citing a decline in exports and international visitors, slow State capital divestment, serious traffic and labour accidents, and a severe drought-caused water shortage. At the session, it also gave comments on the Government’s report on State budget balance-sheet in 2013, and agreed on adjustments to administrative boundary of several communes in the southern province of Tra Vinh, Hau Giang, Binh Phuoc, and Bac Lieu, the central province of Thanh Hoa and the northern province of Thai Nguyen. They approved solutions on the apparatus of the Supreme People’s Procuracy and its aide personnel and the Military Procuracy at all levels while commenting on a report featuring the practice of thrift in 2014. VN lifts transport ties with Thailand Transport Minister Dinh La Thang called for further preliminary studies of plans to open five cross-border bus routes between Viet Nam and Thailand during a talk with his Thai counterpart, Prajin Juntons, in Ha Noi yesterday. He said that the two countries developed a plan for the bus routes two month ago and invited Laos to join in efforts to make the bus routes connect the three countries. Possible routes include a route from Viet Nam's central Ha Tinh Province to Laos' Khammuon Province, and on to Thailand's Nakhon Phanom Province. Another route would go from HCM City to Phnom Penh, and on to Bangkok. The two ministers also agreed to promote coastal marine transport from the east of Thailand to the southern coast of Viet Nam. Minister Prajin Juntons said that they would organise a meeting in August between delegations from Viet Nam, Thailand and Cambodia to discuss the coastal marine transport co-operation. He said he hoped Viet Nam creates favourable conditions for vehicles from Thailand to enter Viet Nam. He also said that Thailand's Transport Ministry would consider offering support to aviation firms of both countries, particularly Thai-Vietjet Air, an airline that is 51 per cent owned by Thai Kannithi Aviation and 49 per cent by Vietjet Air. Thang said that he appreciated the transport co-operation between Viet Nam and Thailand as the two prepare for the ASEAN Community at the end of the year. For better connectivity with regional neighbors, he added, Viet Nam considers transport infrastructure a major pillar for development.  PM receives Japanese Deputy Foreign Minister Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung assured Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Nakane Kazuyuki in Hanoi on May 14 that Vietnam wants to deepen comprehensive ties with Japan for the sake of the two peoples. He continued to say that during the Mekong-Japan Summit slated for this July, Vietnamese and Japanese leaders will discuss strengthening strategic partnerships across the board, especially in politics-diplomacy, economics, trade, investment, maritime security and labour. The host also wished for Japan ’s continued supply of official development assistance (ODA) for Vietnam to develop its socio-economic infrastructure and thanked Japan for its substantial and effective ODA to the country in recent years. Kazuyuki said Japan commits to ODA provision for Vietnam ’s sustainable development, infrastructure and personnel training, as well as continued collaboration with Vietnam in the support industry, agriculture and urban development. Japan will work closely with Vietnam to build Cho Ray 2 hospital in Ho Chi Minh City , he added. On maritime security and East Sea issues, the guest concurred with the importance of maintaining peace, stability, security, maritime and aviation safety and freedom in the East Sea , saying it is in the common interests of countries regionally and globally. He expressed hope for parties concerned to fully and effectively realise the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea for strengthened mutual trust, exercise restraint, avoid threats or the use of force, settle differences and disputes peacefully in line with international law—including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea—towards early consensus on a Code of Conduct in the East Sea. The Japanese Vice Foreign Minister asked for an immediate end to unilateral actions, imposition and use of power to change the status quo in the East Sea.- Vietnamese, Chinese police officers meet Deputy Minister of Public Security To Lam hosted a delegation from the Chinese Ministry of Police headed by Deputy Head of the Security Guard Department Yin Zhi Shan in Hanoi on May 14. Senior Lieutenant General To Lam said he was delighted with consolidated cooperation between the two ministries as it has contributed to maintaining national security and social order in each country and serving their socio-economic development and international integration. He spoke highly of the sharing of experience in the training of security guard force between the two ministries and wished for the continuity of the work aand the exchange of cultural activities as well. Yin Zhi Shan expressed his wish that cooperation between the two sides would grow further, helping firmly protect national security and social order and strengthen the sound neighbourly friendship between Chinese and Vietnamese people. Mexican PT leader: President Ho Chi Minh – leader of the world proletarian class The late President Ho Chi Minh was not only the leader of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV), but also of the global proletarian class, stated Mexican Labour Party (PT) leader. General Secretary Alberto Anaya Gutiérez made the statement during a meeting with staff of the Vietnamese Embassy in Mexico on May 12 to mark Uncle Ho’s 125th birthday anniversary (May 19, 1890). During the event, the PT chief, who is also President of the Mexico-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentarian Group, highlighted the historic role of the CPV under the sound leadership of the late President Ho Chi Minh in the struggle for national liberation, independence and development. For her part, the Vietnamese Ambassador Le Linh Lan acknowledged the active and significant contributions made by the Mexican PT and its leader to the friendship between Mexican and Vietnamese people and parties. She also briefed the PT chie and his entourages on Vietnam’s socio-economic development as well as key activities for the anniversary at home. On the occasion, numerous books published by the PT on Uncle Ho and Vietnam’s revolution were presented to the Vietnamese Embassy. A number of talks and exchanges will also be held by the Vietnamese Embassy at a Mexican university as part of activities in the country to mark the day. Vietnam looks to sustainable infrastructure development Sustainable infrastructure development is a strategic breakthrough in Vietnam socio-economic development, said Deputy Prime Minister Vu Van Ninh at the 38th session of the Association of Development Financing Institutions in Asia and the Pacific (ADFIAP) held in Nha Trang city, central Khanh Hoa province on May 14. Vietnam has issued a resolution on the subject and implemented a number of projects to build highways, airports and seaports, develop clean energies, and afforest, he stated. The government leader also lauded practical activities launched by the ADFIAP. According to ADFIAP Chairman Pema Tshering, Asia needs around 750 billion USD to improve its infrastructure each year with focuses on transportation, telecommunications, energy, clean water supply and sanitation. Regional growth depends largely on the standards of its infrastructure, which has received significant funding from the ADFIAP, he said. The conference gathered more than 100 participants including State officials, ADFIAP representatives and business leaders. Their discussion revolved around relevant policy frameworks, sponsorships and support systems. Comments from participants urged the ADFIAP to consolidate its role and capitalise on the dynamic regional growth. A joint statement was issued concluding the session, highlighting boosting capital mobilisation and investments, strengthening sponsorship and business collaboration and developing support systems, among others. Founded in 1976, the ADFIAP aims to advance sustainable development through enhancing the financial capacity of its members; 131 institutions in 45 countries have thus far joined the organisation.- VNA