Government News 10/6 NA adopts resolution on law, ordinance making plans The National Assembly adopted a Resolution on the Law and Ordinance Making Programme for 2016 and Adjustments to the Law and Ordinance Making Programmes of the 13th NA Tenure and 2015 on June 9. Under the resolution, the submission of the draft law on demonstration for discussion will be delayed from the 9th session to the 11th session while the draft law on population will be removed from the 2015 programme. Meanwhile, several resolutions will be added to the NA working plan this year, including one on the lump sum payment of social insurance one year after stopping working. The draft revised law on import-export tariffs will go through the NA at the 10th session, among other adjustments. The same day, Justice Minister Ha Hung Cuong delivered a report summarising public opinions and recommendations on the revised draft Civil Code. As of May 15, approximately 8.5 million ideas and recommendations had been collected, many of which agreed that the draft Civil Code comprehensively institutionalises the Party’s viewpoints and policies defined in the socio-economic development strategy, the platform for national construction during the transition towards socialism, the strategy to improve the legal system and the judicial reform strategy. It also realises regulations of the 2013 Constitution regarding human rights, citizen rights and building a market-oriented economic mechanism. The government’s report further clarified the 10 issues of public interests, including the responsibilities of authorised agencies in protecting civil rights, individual’s personal rights, the subject of civil legal relations and the forms of ownership. During the session, NA deputies also discussed the legislature’s supervision programme in 2016. Deputies discuss nation’s economic performance National Assembly deputies have voiced concern over the current trade deficit, Government budget overspending, rising public debt, insufficient investment in infrastructure development as well as difficulty in raising production. "The Government must continue to push for more administrative reforms, step up the fight against smuggled goods and also come up with ways of helping small-to-medium sized businesses prepare for global integration," said deputy Tran Hoang Ngan from HCM City on June 8. Deputies also noted that in recent years Vietnamese exports had faced numerous challenges as the country was slow in implementing technological advances to allow them to compete better. They urged the Government to encourage businesses to invest in technological innovation - and develop support industries and co-operative models in agricultural production. "There is a gap in bargaining power between farmers and agricultural product merchants. Co-operative models could help farmers gain some negotiating power on selling their produce," said deputy Nguyen Thien Nhan from northern Bac Giang province. Addressing a question on the development of fisheries, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Van Ninh said the programme to provide fishermen with financial assistance to build steel fishing boats was moving ahead. A report from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development showed 648 new fishing boats were registered under the Government programme by the end of May. Of these, about half were steel hulled boats. Minister of Planning and Investment Bui Quang Vinh said the Law on small-to-medium sized enterprises, which would be introduced next year, would provide support for 95 percent of the total number of businesses in Vietnam. In an effort to make Vietnam a more popular destination for international tourists, the Government has been designing a programme to expand marketing activities and improve service and human resource quality for the tourism industry. It was also working on a policy to offer unilateral visa exemption for tourists from many countries. Party delegation attends Cypriot party congress A delegation of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) recently attended the 22nd congress of the Progressive Party of Working People (AKEL) Cyprus in Nicosia capital city from June 3-6. The delegation conveyed congratulations from the CPV Central Committee to the congress and gave a speech at the conference of communists, working people and progressive parties that took place as part of the congress. During their stay in Cyprus, the Vietnamese delegation, led by Deputy Head of the CPV Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations Nguyen Tuan Phong, met with AKEL General Secretary Andros Kyprianou and Head of the AKEL Central Committee’s International Relations and European Affairs Department Costas Christodoulides. Christodoulides described Vietnam’s presence at the congress as an illustration of the two sides’ solidarity and friendship and valued the CPV’s leadership experience as well as reform achievements. Regarding the East Sea, he shared the understanding of the importance of the waters and expressed his support for the peaceful settlement of disputes on the basis of international law. On this occasion, the Vietnamese side met with representatives of the 51 international delegations attending the AKEL congress and held working sessions with AEKL committees in Paralimni town and Protaras district. Party delegation welcomed by Lao leader A delegation from the Party Central Committee’s Office led by Nguyen Van Thanh, member of Party Central Committee and Head of the office, was received by Lao Vice President Bounnhang Volachith in Vientiane on June 9. Thanh briefed his host on the delegation’s talks with their counterparts from the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party Central Committee’s Office earlier the same day, noting that over recent years, the two offices have actively coordinated in all fields. The two sides have implemented various joint projects, including those to cooperate in archives and libraries and providing information technology support to Laos’ Party bodies and Kaysone Phomvihane Culture House in Savannakhet province. For his part, Bounnhang Volachith, who is also a Politburo member and standing member of the LPRP Secretariat, praised the effective affiliation between the two offices, which he said significantly contribute to the growth of the ties between the two countries. He said he hopes the offices will continue to give helpful advice to the two Politburos while increasing experience exchanges to better perform their tasks, especially as Vietnam prepares for its 12th Party Congress and the LPRP is to hold its 10 th Congress. Condolences extended over Cambodian Senate President’s decease Vietnamese leaders on June 9 sent their heartfelt condolences to Cambodia leaders and people over the passing away of President of the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) and President of the Senate Chea Sim. General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Nguyen Phu Trong, President Truong Tan Sang, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung, and Vietnam Fatherland Front President Nguyen Thien Nhan offered their deepest sympathies to Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni, the CPP’s Central Committee, the Cambodian National Assembly, the Royal Government of Cambodia, and the National Council of Solidarity Front for the Development of Cambodia. In their message, the Vietnamese leaders said the decease of Chea Sim, who is an excellent leader of Cambodia, is a great loss to Cambodia while Vietnam loses a sincere and close friend who made important contributions to the development of the traditional solidarity and friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the CPV and CPP, the two States, and peoples. They voiced their hope that Cambodia and the bereaved family will soon overcome the pain of this loss and go on with developing Cambodia into a prosperous nation. Also on June 9, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh extended condolences to Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Hor Namhong. Head of the CPV Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations Hoang Binh Quan also sent sympathy to the CPP Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations Yos Son. Condolences to Ghana over Accra blast Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh conveyed his condolences to Ghanaian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Hanna Tetteh on June 8 over the petrol station explosion. The blast was triggered by a fire erupting in a lorry terminal on June 3, which then spread to the gas station and other buildings in the capital city of Accra. Over 150 people were killed in the accident. VNA