Social News 6/11 Vietnamese, Chinese youth start 16th friendship meeting The 16th Vietnam-China Youth Friendship Meeting is underway from November 4-9 in anticipation of the visit of Xi Jinping, Party General Secretary and President of China to Vietnam. The meeting is organised by the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union (HCYU) Central Committee. A Chinese youth delegation of 200 people led by Qin Yizhi, the First Secretary of the Communist Youth League of China, is scheduled numerous activities in Vietnam, including a visit to President Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and Ho Chi Minh Presidential Palace Historical Site, meetings with students from the Vietnam National University and FPT University, and Vietnam-China cultural nights in Hanoi and Quang Ninh. Youth representatives from the two countries will exchange experience in issues of shared interest, for example, the “new-style” rural area development and volunteer programmes, young entrepreneur cooperation, and youth media in educating the younger generation. The annual Vietnam-China Youth Friendship Meeting aims at educating the younger generation on the traditional ties between the two parties, states and their people, exchange experience in Youth Union activities and increase mutual understanding, especially in history, culture, politics and socio-economy. The event was firstly held in 2000 in China and it has since then been organised in rotation. Hanoi cracking down on overloaded vehicles There has been a reduction in overloaded vehicles in Ha Noi, but more measures were needed to completely control them, said experts at a conference on managing overloaded vehicles by September held in Ha Noi on Tuesday. Chief inspector of the Ha Noi Department of Transport Tran Dang Hai said that by the end of September, city transport inspectors discovered more than 3,700 violators, handed out fines of nearly VND25 billion (US$1.1 million) and withdrew 860 driving licences. The transport inspectors worked with the city police and local authorities to use five mobile weighing stations on main roads. Deputy chief inspector of the department and also head of the weighing stations, Cao Van Hiep, said that the five weighing stations were in operation all day and night. The department assigned inspectors to be on duty along small roads and shortcuts around the weighing stations to prevent overloaded vehicles from evading them. More than 1,800 overloaded vehicles were discovered by the five weighing stations by September this year, he said. But the police and inspectors did have some difficulties. Nguyen Thanh Hai, deputy head of the traffic police division under the city police, said that the fine for vehicles transporting goods was calculated by doubling their normal capacity, but many vehicles were overloaded by 200-500 per cent compared with their real capacity. The fines were not strong enough for all violators, he said. Nguyen Xuan Trung, deputy director of the Ha Noi Construction Material Joint-Stock Company, said that with present transporting fees, enterprises made little profit. He proposed the Ministry of Transport and concerned organisations raise transporting fees so that enterprises would perform better and therefore stop overloading vehicles. Nguyen Xuan Lam, deputy director of the Road Management Department No 1, suggested putting weighing stations at tollbooths at Ha Noi's gateways. Most gateways in the city have tollbooths. If the weighing stations were put there, inspections would be more effective, he said. Chief inspector Hai said that the department would issue badges and trading permits to enterprises and individuals who need to transport goods. The department will withdraw these badges and permits from violators from the beginning of next year, creating another deterrent to overloading, he said.  Contest on national history and culture launched for Vietnamese students An online contest on the country’s history and culture was launched on November 4 in Hanoi, targeting high school students nationwide. Entrants should register to create an account to compete at the contest, at http://www.tuhaovietnam.com.vn before selecting one of the two categories: individuals and videos. In the individual category, each competitor will enter four rounds dealing with questions on the country’s historic events, revolutionary locations, Vietnamese men of culture and national heroes, and the country’s achievements during the national Doi Moi (Renewal) process. Meanwhile, the video and clip category is open for individuals or a group of less than five students. Speaking at the press conference to announce the event, Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union Central Committee (HCYU), Le Quoc Phong said that the contest aimed to raise the interest of Youth union’s members on the subject of history, thus encouraging their national pride and responsibility in constructing and defending their motherland. The contest was launched as part of a co-ordination programme between the HCYU and the Ministry of Education and Training in the 2015-2016 academic year. Toyota Vietnam awards scholarships to students Toyota Motor Vietnam (TMV) held a ceremony on November 4 in Vinh Phuc province to grant 65 scholarships, worth 6 million VND (about 266 USD) each, to outstanding students from ten universities in the northern region. This was part of a scholarship programme organised by the Toyota Vietnam Fund (TVF) for outstanding students majoring in technique, mechanical engineering and environment across the country. This year, Toyota Vietnam will grant a total of 115 scholarships worth 690 million VND (over 30,000 USD) in total to students from 16 universities. On October 29, TMV presented scholarships to 13 students at two universities in the central region. Meanwhile, 37 students in the southern provinces are expected to receive scholarships on November 10. Besides scholarships, engines and motor systems for lectures have been provided for the universities as part of the programme. Launched 18 years ago, the programme has contributed to developing human resources for the Vietnamese industry in general and the auto industry in particular, said TMV General Director Yoshihisa Maruta. TMV has so far granted 1,879 scholarships to outstanding Vietnamese students and donated more than 22 million USD to social activities in the country. Urban green growth promoted The Week of Urban Green Growth Vietnam 2015 was launched on November 4 in Hanoi as part of the activities to celebrate the Vietnam Urban Day (November 8).  Speaking at the ceremony, Deputy Minister of Construction Phan Thi My Linh stressed the importance of both economic and environmental targets in urban green growth in order to ensure sustainable development.  It is necessary to adjust urban growth models and develop strategies, implementation roadmaps and measures for each city, she noted.  According to Linh, the construction sector has so far implemented comprehensive measures in many fields towards green growth.  After the Green Growth Strategy was issued in 2013, the Ministry of Construction together with the Association of Cities of Vietnam (ACVN), the Vietnam Urban Planning and Development Association (VUPDA) launched the programme on developing urban green growth across the nation.  As of October, Vietnam had had 788 cities with the urbanisation rate of 35.2 percent. The average economic growth in urban areas is between 10-15 percent, almost doubling the figure of the nation.  They have also contributed 70-75 percent of the total national GDP. More than half of which comes from the five centrally-run cities, namely Hanoi, Hai Phong, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City and Can Tho. Conference seeks to promote Khmer language learning How to improve the quality of Khmer ethnic language teaching and learning was the main topic of a conference in the Mekong Delta province of Tra Vinh on November 4. The event, jointly held by the National Assembly’s Council for Ethnic Minority Affairs, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Vietnam and Tra Vinh University, drew nearly 100 international experts, representatives from the Ministry of Education and Training (MoET) and local officials. In her remarks, the council’s Vice Chairwoman Trieu Thi Nai said the Khmer language is now being taught to over 70,000 students in the nine Mekong Delta cities and provinces of Tra Vinh, Soc Trang, Ca Mau, Bac Lieu, Hau Giang, Can Tho, An Giang, Kien Giang and Vinh Long. However, she said, Khmer language teaching and learning are facing a range of barriers such as poor facilities and equipment, unqualified teachers and the lack of textbooks. Participants underlined the need to review the professional ability of Khmer language teachers in order to promptly organise training courses for them. They suggested the MoET build a project on correcting textbooks for elementary and secondary students while compiling others for high school students. More investments should be poured into upgrading learning and teaching facilities and equipment, they added. Tra Vinh University is the only education institution in Vietnam offering college, university and post-graduate training programmes on the culture, language and literature of the Khmer ethnic group. Sustainable power supply needs different energy sources: conference Vietnam needs to tap different sources of energy to ensure sustainable electricity supply with reasonable prices, heard a conference in the central city of Da Nang on November 4. Delegates at the event, themed “Orientations for Vietnam’s sustainable power sector,” also suggested the country take a more active part in the regional electricity market. Hailing Vietnam’s adequate power supply, Axel van Trotsenburg, World Bank’s Vice President for East Asia and the Pacific Region, said the problem lies in how to meet the future power demand with the Government’s commitments to cutting greenhouse emissions in the context of climate change. Vietnam has a high rate of renewable energies with hydroelectricity making up 42 percent of the country’s total capacity, higher than that in many nations worldwide, he said, suggesting the country further tap its wind and solar potential in service of the industry. Anita Marangoly George, Senior Director of the World Bank Group’s Energy and Extractive Industries Global Practice, proposed Vietnam promote effective competitiveness and investment inflows from the State and private sectors to ensure financial sustainability. Speaking at the conference, Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai affirmed that Vietnam always sticks importance to power development in an attempt to meet demands for socio-economic development, national defence and security, daily activities and national energy security. According to him, over the past two decades, a total of 10 million Vietnamese households have gained access to electricity, mainly through rural electrification as part of the poverty reduction programme. The official urged the power sector to continue its renovation efforts by outlining a rapid and sustainable development strategy and integrating deeply into the world economy. He stressed the need for managing power prices under the market mechanism to encourage the involvement of different economic sectors, including the foreign-invested one, in the industry and the economical use of electricity. To further spur the sector’s growth, the Deputy PM proposed closely combining the power market with coal and petroleum industries, increasing energy-saving solutions and accelerating rural electrification to bring power to almost all rural households by 2020. A report presented at the conference showed that the national power system has a total capacity of over 37,000 MW. The sector is expected to produce and import 164 billion kWh this year. The gap of power consumption between Vietnam and other regional countries was narrowed over the past decade, the report said. Quang Nam: 13 suspension bridges put to use Some 13 suspension bridges were put into service in flood-prone mountainous areas in the central coastal province of Quang Nam from November 3.  They were constructed under the Ministry of Construction’s project on building suspension bridges in 28 provinces in the north, central and Central Highlands regions. The bridges, from 60 to 120 metres in length, were built with reinforced concrete and cable systems made from load bearing materials. They were constructed near schools, clinics and disadvantaged regions. The province also made repairs to 44 suspension bridges in the locality, and built other new bridges and sewers to ensure traffic safety during flood season. In the second phase of the project, which starts in 2016, the Ministry of Construction will arrange capital for Quang Nam province to build an additional 59 suspension and concrete bridges. Da Nang police return lost property to Korean tourists Police in Hai Chau District in the central city of Da Nang on Wednesday returned lost property to a Korean couple who visited the city for their honeymoon two day earlier. The police handed over 1.8 million Korean won (US$1,590) and $600 in cash to Lee Kyung Sooe, 30, at an event held at their office at the presence of Le Anh, Chairman of Hai Chau District People’s Committee. Lee told the police that what the police recovered was all of the money she and her husband brought along for the trip to the central city. The police retrieved the money the Korean couple left on a car several hours after they reported the case to the police via an employee of a hotel in the city on Monday. The couple took a car to a hotel on Pham Van Dong street and then to Novotel hotel after arriving at Da Nang International Airport. They got into the hotel and realized that they had left their wallet with all the money in the car. The foreign couple immediately informed to the guard of the hotel, and the man then reported the case to the police of Thach Thang Ward. Several hours later, the police found the driver of the car and recovered the wallet. Hai Chau District People's Committee on Wednesday awarded VND10 million ($450) for the police in Thach Thang Ward for quickly taking back the property of the foreign visitors. According to Hai Chau District chairman Le Anh, Da Nang is a tourism city, so any problems involving with tourists should be prioritized by the police. "The police need to be always affable and enthusiastic in helping travelers to help promote the tourism sector of the city, Anh added. Scholarships presented to 300 poor students in Hoa Binh Some 300 scholarships, each worth 2 million VND (89.6 USD), have been given to impoverished students in the northern province of Hoa Binh.  A scholarship granting ceremony was held on November 3 by provincial Department of Education and Training, study promotion association and the Republic of Korea’s Phoenix Golf Resort Co. Ltd in Vietnam. Addressing the event, RoK Consul General Park Sang Sik congratulated local students on their study’s performance, hoping that the scholarships will encourage them to further their study results. During 2010-2015, the Phoenix Golf Resort Co. Ltd has awarded 1,700 scholarships worth over 2.7 billion VND (120,980 USD) to students in Hoa Binh province. Vietnamese, Japanese labour federations share practices The Vietnam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL) and Japan’s Federation of National Service Employees’ Union (KOKKO-ROREN) shared practices to improve personnel capability on November 3.  In the meeting between VGCL Vice President Nguyen Thi Thu Hong, who is also President of the Vietnam Labour Union, and KOKKO-ROREN President Kanachi Okabe, the two sides also exchanged ideas about their structural models and discussed their fields of work.  The VGCL and KOKKO-ROREN established ties in 2012 and have seen three delegation exchanges since then. They have agreed to ramp up information exchanges, seminars and training courses, as well as support each other at international forums.  The Japanese federation is considering providing funding for these training courses. World Vision to help Hoa Binh's vulnerable children World Vision International will support Hoa Binh Province in improving children's welfare, especially vulnerable children, as part of the second stage of a project agreement signed today in the province. The US$1.5-million project will be implemented in four communes of Yen Thuy District -- Lac Sy, Lac Duong, Lac Hung and Huu Loi -- from October 2015 to September 2018. The project will focus on activities in the fields of education, nutrition, child protection and capacity building, besides child sponsorships and livelihood. The most vulnerable children, such as orphans, abandoned and disabled children, those living in poor families and school dropouts, will be involved in World Vision's interventions. World Vision will collaborate with local authorities to support children in improving their academic results and life skills to protect them from being abused, exploited and injured. Children below five years of age will be provided nutrition intervention measures through integrated models such as nutrition clubs for mothers and livelihood development for parents. Previously, the project's first stage, with nearly $3 million in investment, benefited more than 31,000 people, including nearly 6,000 children in Yen Thuy District during the 2011-15 period. Beside Yen Thuy, World Vision works in Lac Son and Mai Chau districts. The organisation has invested more than $5 million in community development work in the three districts, which has benefitted about 63,000 people since it started its projects in Hoa Binh in 2008. In 2015 particularly, about three million Vietnamese children have benefited, directly and indirectly, from World Vision's programmes and projects. World Vision currently operates 40 area development programmes and 16 special projects in 15 provinces across the country.  Three students drown in pit Three seventh-grade students of Tran Nhan Tong Secondary School in Khanh Hoa's Dien Khanh District have drowned after falling into a pit at a construction site on Monday, police said. The three students fell into a 30m-long and 2m-deep pit when they stopped to play by the roadside after school, the police said yesterday. The pit, which had been dug by a road construction firm, was filled with water because it had rained earlier. However, the construction agency had not placed any danger warning for local residents. The police are investigating to identify the responsibility of the agency. Rescue teams spent several hours searching for the bodies of the victims.  HCM City confronts drug addiction head-on Drugs addicts from across HCM City will gather at social protection centres before undertaking compulsory detoxification and rehabilitation, Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Pham Thi Hai Chuyen said. Chuyen made this statement yesterday while responding to a request by Do Van Duong, a representative voter from HCM City to continue a resolution on drug issues in the city. She said the MoLISA had suggested the government extend the implementation of Resolution 77/2014, Clause 3, Article 5, on the management of drug addiction in HCM City. The government had agreed to continue gathering non-residential drug addicts at social protection centres before sending them to others centres for detoxification and rehabilitation, according to the minister. The suggestion would be placed before the current National Assembly meeting for approval, Chuyen said. Resolution 77, which was put into effect last December, had effectively helped improve the city's social security by controlling the number of drug addicts, a report from the HCM City authority has revealed. The number of criminal cases including robbery and housebreaking had decreased since a total of 5,400 addicts were put under management in social protection centres after nearly a year of implementing the resolution, according to the report. Vietnam needs greater efficiency of energy sources Greater energy efficiency, expansion in renewables, and increased power trading in Asia could help Vietnam meet an expected 7-10% increase a year in power demand through 2030, said participants at a conference on November 4. As power demand grows, Vietnam needs to boost energy efficiency and tap into various energy sources, including coal, natural gas, wind, solar and hydropower, to ensure sustainable, reliable and affordable power supply. The country can also consider stronger participation in regional power trade. 'Vietnam has set a priority of developing the power sector to meet the demand of socio-economic development, to ensure the national security and power security, as well as to meet the demand of public consumption. Thanks to that vision and the power sector’s efforts, Vietnam’s national power grid has remarkably improved. It now can meet the socio-economic development demand with higher quality and greater reliability in power distribution,”said Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai.  Since 1990, the proportion of the population with access to electricity has jumped to 98% from 54%.  Over the two decades, 10 million households, with 40 million people, have gained access to electricity, mainly through rural electrification under the national poverty reduction program. Few countries have achieved so much in so little time, despite challenging topography. “Vietnam has done well in providing access to electricity, with almost 100% of its population connected. Access to power has also been accompanied by improvements in operational efficiency and service quality. The key question today is how to meet future demand, while also complying with the government’s commitments to reducing GHG emission, in the context of climate change,”said Axel van Trotsenburg, the World Bank Vice President for East Asia Pacific. Vietnam has a high share of renewable energy in the total generation mix, with hydropower accounting for 42% of power generation, much higher than that of many other countries. The conference highlighted that Vietnam can further develop its solar and wind potential, but this will require improvement in the regulatory framework.  However, even if Vietnam fully taps into its potential in renewable energy, it may still not be able to fully meet future energy demand. Greater efficiency in the generation, transmission and distribution of energy will be critical.  One other area with huge potential benefits is regional power trade. The participants]also discussed low-carbon development and whether Vietnam could pursue a path of continued economic growth without an expansion in carbon emissions. A report released at the conference, Exploring a Low-Carbon Development Path for Vietnam, estimated that the low-carbon development scenario should not adversely affect economic growth in Vietnam and may instead boost growth in the long run. The report’s conclusion was based on the evidence that growth and a clean environment can be realized simultaneously and can be mutually reinforcing over time. Vietnam continues to be committed to supporting competition in the power sector and the government has set out a clear roadmap for developing the Wholesale Electricity Market, which is to be fully operational by 2021.   “To ensure the financial sustainability of the power sector, Vietnam needs to promote effective competition and ensure large public and private sector investment,” said Anita Marangoly George, Senior Director, Energy & Extractives. Vietnamese health authorities should tighten ads of nutrition supplement Vietnam’s Food Administration under the Ministry of Health have joined hands with other agencies to control nutrition supplement adverts for many years but they cannot cover the whole nutrition supplement market because there are around 10,000 nutrition supplement kinds in the market and its companies thought of many ways to advertise them. According to the Administration, in October alone, it has issued administrative fines to 40 violating companies with total amount of VND751 million (US$33,649). Along with administrative fines, inspectors withdrew 19 certificates of food safety and hygiene. Most of companies violated advertisement regulation, wrong labeling and boasted the use of nutrition supplement. For instance, last month, Tinh Tan Commercial Service Company in Ho Chi Minh City’s Tan Binh District was fined because it has imported and sold nutrition supplement Happygra containing Sildenafil substance to treat erectile dysfunction and label of the product violates the regulation. Another company fined due to violating advertising regulation is Le Huyen Trang Company located in Long Bien district in Hanoi. The company was fined VND34 million (US$ 1,523) for advertising nutrition tablets Vita G2, Omega 3 whose quality is not like registered standard with authority. Dr. Nguyen Thanh Phong, head of the Administration, since the beginning of the year, the administration has imposed administrative penalties to 216 companies which violated food safety and hygiene regulation. Total fines are VND4 billion (US$179,847) for most of violation of advertising regulation and labeling. To correct the rampant advertisement of nutrition supplement, last week the government office has issued an announcement of  Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam ordering sectors including health, information and communication, trade and science and technology to re-check regulation. The document aims to tighten control over sales and manufacture of nutrition supplement for the sake of consumer. The document said that agencies must liaise to discover violations and impose harsh penalties on those companies who intentionally breach the regulation. Media will release penalties to the public. Vietnamese, Chinese youth to foster exchanges Representatives of Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union (HCYU) and the Communist Youth League of China (CYLC) agreed on the need to boost exchanges between the two countries’ young people during their talks in Hanoi on November 5.  The talks formed part of the 16th Vietnam – China Youth Friendship Meeting, held in Lang Son province, Quang Ninh province and Hanoi from November 4 – 9.  First Secretary of the HCYU Central Committee Nguyen Dac Vinh said he hopes more friendship exchanges will be held between the HCYU and the CYLC to maximise the effectiveness of their cooperation programmes.  Outstanding joint activities in 2016 include the 17th Youth Friendship Meeting in China and the third Youth Festival in Vietnam, he noted, adding that Vietnam wants to send HCYU personnel for short-term training in China, increase exchanges between HCYU and CYLC’s chapters in border provinces, and promote partnership between the countries’ young entrepreneurs.  First Secretary of the CYLC Central Committee Qin Yizhi informed the host about the delegation’s activities during the 16th friendship meeting, including sharing experience in areas of mutual interest such as the youth’s role in building new-style rural areas and volunteering movements, young businesspersons’ collaboration, and the HCYU and CYLC’s education activities for young people.  Qin shared the same view on the necessity to further exchanges between their youth and young entrepreneurs, noting that 82 of his 200-strong delegation are businesspeople who want to use this chance to foster trade activities.  He also underlined the importance of press and communication cooperation and asked for more joint activities in this sphere to enhance their youth’s mutual understanding.  At the talks, the two sides were also unanimous in strengthening affiliation in other aspects to deepen the time-honoured solidarity, friendship and close collaboration between the HCYU and CYLC and between the nations’ young generation. Books on Vietnamese Party and leaders make debut The National Political Publishing House on November 4 announced a list of books for the fourth quarter of 2015, which feature the development of the Vietnamese Party and revolution cause, life and political career of some incumbent and former Party and State leaders. The newly-published books include five volumes of the Party document complete works and works written by Party and State leaders such as Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, and former President Le Duc Anh. The books are precious material, contributing to instilling patriotism and the nation’s revolutionary tradition into Vietnamese people, especially the youth. On the occasion, the publisher introduced the book “Xi Jinping: The Governance of China” by Chinese Secretary General and President Xi Jinping ahead of his visit to Vietnam. The book, which comprises 79 speeches, writings and interviews of Xi Jinping from November 15, 2012 to June 13, 2014, is divided into 18 topics mentioning new points of views of the Chinese leader. It also includes 45 photos taken at different stages of Xi’s life, providing readers with more information about his work and life. The publication of the book in Vietnamese language is expected to not only provide readers with material for reference, but also contribute to deepening cooperation and friendship between the two Parties, States and peoples.  Statistics Law seeks data built on accuracy Deputies of the National Assembly (NA) on November 4 ​said that statistical data must be built on factors such as accuracy, entirety, punctuality and transparency as they discussed the draft Law on Statistics.  Deputy Do Van Ve told the NA that he agreed with the issuance of the revised draft Law on Statistics, in which the scope of the draft law is expanded to both State and non-State statistical activities. Ve added that the adjustment of the law also aimed to meet the demand for improving the effectiveness of the State management on statistical work. By doing so, it would help the Government to assess or forecast the economic condition as well as work out strategies for macro-economic administration so as to spur the country's economic development. The expansion of the scope of the law to all entities will help promote the development of statistical work with an aim to meet the need of organisations and individuals in the use of statistical information for their research, production and business or other legal demands. Ve said the draft law also stipulated additional specific regulations on statistical work and that the use of statistical information was adaptable. He said the statistics office was financed by the State and it aimed to provide statistical information for State agencies to conduct their assessment, forecast analysis and strategy planning and meet the demand of organisations and individuals for the use of statistical information. Ve also said he agreed with the revised law to stipulate specific deadlines and responsibilities of State statistics office to announce and disseminate statistical information so as to ensure provide information timely, accurately, scientifically and practicably. Deputy Tran Ngoc Vinh, of Hai Phong city, suggested that statistical calculation must be kept under strict discipline and follow mandatory regulations so as to provide accurate statistical information for users. Vinh said statistical works made by cities, provinces, ministries, and central statistical agencies played an important role in providing statistical data for the Government to outline planning and ministries to get actual data to make their reports. He said if inaccurate statistical data was made that would be risky. He noted that the NA wanted the revised law to stipulate regulations on statistic works strictly. Currently, the General Statistics Office (GSO) managed by the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) was a body to help the Government in policy planning. If the GSO was an individual agency and was responsible for appraising statistical data of ministries and sectors it would improve the quality of statistical information, he said. According to the MPI, many ministries and central statistics offices publish one statistical indicator using two different types of data or GDP differences between central and local agencies that lead to discrepancy, contradiction and duplication of statistical information. These shortcomings are a result of lack of awareness of provincial leaders who only excessively care about local economic development achievements. Besides, another reason that leads to data difference is the provision of varied data, usually far from accurate, by ministries and sectors for statistics agencies, thus resulting in misleading production and business data. Another reason for the statistical difficulty is the self-contained, unshared information of ministries and sectors. Bulgarian ambassador presents gifts to kindergarten children Bulgarian Ambassador to Vietnam Evgueni Stefanov Stoytchev presented gifts to children at the Vietnam-Bulgaria kindergarten in Hanoi on November 4. The gifts including learning tools, toys and clothes made in Bulgaria are expected to bring happiness for the youngsters, he said. Rector of the kindergarten Bui Thi Kim Xuan said she hopes the Ambassador and his spouse will visit the school more often to share Bulgaria’s language and unique cultures. The establishment of the Yan Bibian classroom at the kindergarten last year is a vivid demonstration of the time-honoured friendship between the two countries. Vietnamese, Chinese patriotic personalities meet in Hanoi A get-together for Vietnamese and Chinese patriotic personalities was held in Hanoi on November 5 on the occasion of Party General Secretary and President Xi Jinping’s State visit to Vietnam.  Addressing the function, President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) Vu Xuan Hong noted his hope that the union, the Chinese People’s Association of Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) and other friendship organisations of Vietnam and China will contribute more to elevating the two countries’ relations to a new height.  Hong and CPAFFC President Li Xiaolin reviewed major activities launched by their organisations since the beginning of this year to mark the 65th anniversary of Vietnam-China diplomatic ties.  They included an exhibition featuring President Ho Chi Minh and the Vietnam-China relationship, a festival between border residents of the two countries and a meeting between patriotic personalities on the occasion of a Vietnam visit by Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli, among others.  Li informed his host that the seventh Vietnam-China People’s Forum is scheduled to be held in late November this year.  She voiced her hope that the two countries’ patriotic personalities would discuss how to consolidate the friendship and enhance pragmatic cooperation between Vietnam and China in preparation for the upcoming event.  The two sides expressed their wish that during Party Geneal Secretary and President Xi’s visit, the two countries’ leaders will make important decisions to push the bilateral ties forward, especially in the field of people-to-people exchange. Lawmakers examine ways to facilitate global trade The country's lawmakers listened to a Government report and request for approval of the Protocol Amending the WTO Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organisation during a National Assembly meeting yesterday in Ha Noi. State President Truong Tan Sang said Viet Nam's approval of the Trade Facilitation Agreement, which would be added to the WTO Agreement, once again highlighted the country's commitment to be an active and responsible member of the organisation. A number of issues that must be addressed by Viet Nam include major reforms at the country's customs agencies that aim to facilitate trade, fight smuggling and trade fraud and manage hygiene and safety standards of imported goods. In addition, the transparency and accountability of customs agencies must be improved. The NA's Committee on Foreign Affairs said that as a member of the WTO, Viet Nam's approval of the trade facilitation would serve the country's proactive approach to global integration. It would also boost the country's administrative reforms to improve the quality of customs services, which were prioritised by the Government in preparation for numerous free trade agreements, such as the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) and the EU-VN Free Trade Agreement. Also during the meeting, NA deputies discussed issues related to the country's hydro-meteorological observation network. Deputies agreed that there was a need for major investment to modernise hydro-meteorological observation facilities and focus on human resources in this particular field. Lawmakers also recommended that organisations and agencies responsible for hydro-meteorological forecasting must be held responsible and accountable for incorrect weather reports that resulted in losses to people and businesses.  VNA/VNS/VOV/SGT/SGGP/TT/TN/Dantri