Social News 6/3 Some private clinics delay fee hikes   A number of private clinics in HCMC have held fees steady though fee hikes are allowed as of Tuesday. Trans-Asia Hospital said it has not revised up fees. Saigon-ITO Hospital has no plan to increase fees. Pham The Dong, chairman of Saigon-ITO Hospital, said fee increases depend on policies of private clinics. Dong said fee hikes are not appropriate at this time but the hospital would review and increase fees from early July this year. Tuesday saw many hospitals increasing fees by 30-50%. Public hospitals can add on-duty and surgical allowances to fees paid by patients. Higher fees include salaries of doctors at nine central-level hospitals, namely Bach Mai, Cho Ray, Viet-Duc, Central Obstetrics Hospital, central oral and dentomaxillofacial hospitals in Hanoi and HCMC, Endocrinology Hospital, Central Ear Nose & Throat (ENT) Hospital and Central Eye Hospital. Higher fees will apply at the remaining healthcare facilities from July 1 this year. The new fees apply to medically insured patients while people without insurance coverage are still subject to the old fees. Pham Luong Son, head of the Health Insurance Policy Department under the Vietnam Social Insurance, said people without health insurance can still pay the same fees as before for they are given time to learn about the benefits of health insurance. British Council to host int’l meet on creative hubs in town The British Council has said it will host an international “Creative hub-making” conference in HCMC on March 7 and 8. The conference is a practical response to the first ever report mapping Vietnam’s creative hubs that was launched by the British Council in December 2014. The report identified nearly 40 hubs in Vietnam and highlighted their significant contribution to the local communities. These hubs make art and culture more accessible and provide spaces for homegrown creative enterprises to thrive. The conference will be an opportunity to identify and grow a Vietnamese creative hub ecology and network potential while providing skills training ranging from how to attract investment and generate income to growing the hub community and collaboration and digital development. It is expected that the event will help boost the management capacity of hub founders in Vietnam, inspire new ideas, stimulate entrepreneurship and build valuable links between Vietnam, the UK and other East Asian countries. The British Council has invited five experienced, diverse and UK-based creative hub-makers to share their learning and skills with their Vietnamese counterparts at the conference. The conference is scheduled to last from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on the two days at ADC Academy, MH Building, 728-730 Vo Van Kiet Street, District 5. Hub founders and managers interested in participating in the conference con contact the organizer at lan.dang@britishcouncil.org.vn. Company chairperson arrested for fraud The northern Bac Ninh Province's investigation police have prosecuted a 46-year-old woman for fraudulently appropriating assets through an apparent pyramid scheme. Nguyen Thi Thu, a resident of Lieu Giai Ward in Ha Noi City's Ba Dinh District, was chairwoman of the Bac Ninh-based Viet Phat Development and Trading Investment joint-stock company‘s management board (Vipha Viet Nam). Initial investigations by Bac Ninh Province Police found that Thu and several assistants set up a supplementary product multi-level trading network across the province, luring 500 local people. The company had not been granted a licence for multi-level trading. The company was discovered to have appropriated VND20 billion, investigators said, while the total amount involved was believed to be even more. Thu's multi-level trading system established many agencies, expanded their network by using deposits from new sales agents towards old ones and by replicating that in four districts of Gia Binh, Luong Tai, Thuan Thanh and Que Vo. Thu's measures to attract new members included offering retail commissions, turnover bonus and bonus for group leaders, besides tours for clients, which attracted many local residents. Thu spread false information that several senior state officials and press agency's editors were involved in her company, aiming to lure more clients. The local people paid hundreds of millions of dong to join the company, taking money from their savings and on loan from the bank, but they never received any commission as Thu had promised. Bac Ninh Province Police are investigating the case. Hanoi police confiscate fake military equipment in shops Hanoi City police in co-ordination with market management forces yesterday seized a large quantity of fake military equipment being sold in the city's shops. Police reported hundreds of pieces of military equipment had been confiscated from six shops on Le Duan Street, including police force and military issued shoes and uniforms, military issued belts and police caps and canes. Over 200,000 kids in HCMC receive free polio vaccine The Department of Health in Ho Chi Minh City yesterday started a campaign to give kids below 5 year old free polio vaccine. As per the plan, toddlers in districts 12, Go Vap, Hoc Mon, Thu Duc, Binh Chanh, Tan Phu and Binh Tan have chance to receive free polio vaccine Under the campaign, it is scheduled that more than 200,000 children will receive polio vaccine in preschools and local medical centers. The campaign has two phases; the first one starts from March 1 to 9 and the second is from April 10 to 12. Dr. Le Hong Nga, head of the Planning Ward of the municipal Preventive Medicine Center said that before Vietnam used OPV vaccine which has three tubes, yet,  medical experts in the world supposed to be unnecessary to take three; therefore this time children will take two tubes of vaccine and they will receive one more in the National Expanded Immunization Program. The campaign is the final phase that the city gives polio vaccine to kids below 5. Along with free polio vaccination campaign, the city will conduct measles-rubella immunization.  In 2014 and 2015, the city has implemented measles-rubella vaccination for children from one to 14 years old. The city will continue to inject measles-rubella vaccine for the group of children from 16 and 17 year old. Trading in military equipment is banned under the law. The shop owners will be penalised according to the law, based on the volume of military equipment found in their possession. Taxi crash kills one, injures child A 60-year-old woman was killed and a two-year-old child seriously injured after they were hit by a taxi yesterday afternoon in Ha Noi's Ba Dinh District. The accident happened when a Thanh Nhan cab lost control in front of number 431 Hong Ha Street and struck a wall across the street, hitting the woman and child who were playing outdoors, according to witnesses. It took about two hours to extricate the woman's body from between the car and the wall. The injured child was taken to hospital immediately. Initial investigations revealed that the driver did not own the taxi he was driving. He is said to be a vehicle attendant somewhere near the scene of the accident. He borrowed the cab for a drive and caused the accident. Police are investigating. Hanoi reports first meningitis case Ha Noi's first meningitis patient has come out of coma and is recovering well, Nguyen Trung Cap, deputy head of the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases' emergency ward, said. The 30-year-old man from Ha Noi's Bac Tu Liem District had high developed fever, headache, nausea and blurred vision since Saturday. He was diagnosed with meningococcal meningitis at a local hospital and was then transferred to the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases on Monday. The patient was isolated and treated, and tests showed that he had meningococcal meningitis, Cap said. "After the treatment, the patient is fully conscious and afebrile. He can walk around and feed himself," he said. Cap said the meningococcal disease is caused by the Neisseria meningitidis bacterium. The bacteria can be carried in the throat and sometimes, for reasons not fully understood, can overwhelm the body's defences, allowing the infection to spread through the blood to the brain. If not treated in time, the disease progresses and the patient can die, he said. Cap said the meningococcal infection progresses so rapidly that anybody who develops symptoms such as sudden high fever, stiff neck and excessive sensitivity to light should go the hospital for examination and treatment as soon as possible. Vaccination is one of the best preventive measures for the meningococcal disease and people can go to medical stations to be vaccinated against meningitis, he said. When the first cases of meningitis are recorded, the preventive medicine centre should take the responsibility of supervising people who come in contact with the patient and take measures to ensure that the disease does not spread to the surrounding areas. Girl’s life saved by continuous blood-filtering technique Head of the Intensive Care Unit Dr. Dang Thanh Tuan yesterday said that doctors had save the life of a nine-year-old girl whose hearts sopped beating three times. The little girl, a native of the southern province of Tay Ninh is a victim of traffic accident. She was suffering multi injuries and her life was threatened and even her heart stopped beating three times. At first she was taken to a medical clinic in Trang Bang District of Tay Ninh Province. Because her condition was serious, the medical soon transferred her to the General Hospital in Cu Chi District. Scan image showed that the little girl have brain edema and right liver contusion and much blood in abdomen. Accordingly surgeons performed an operation to remove blood in her abdomen. She was infused more than 3 liter of blood. During recuperation, her heart stopped beating 2 times and doctors made concerted efforts to save her and then tranfered her to the Children Hospital No. 1 in Ho Chi Minh City on February 8 for further treatment. Her condition was still bad; accordingly, doctors had a meeting and they arrived at the final conclusion to use continuous blood filtering as last choice to save her life. Doctors’ efforts to save the little girl were awarded as her condition improved much after the second filtering. After 20 day treatment, her health was stable. Psychologists in the hospital had talks to her to help her regain psychological stability. Vietnam, UK to hold skills training conference A high level conference on global changes and solutions to develop Vietnam’s skills strategy will be held in Hanoi on March 7 within the framework of the partnership between the UK and Vietnam’s Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs, the British Embassy in Hanoi announced. The conference will focus on global trends in vocational education and the challenges being faced by Vietnam and other developing countries. How Vietnam can seize the opportunities to continue to develop successfully towards 2020 and beyond will also be discussed. To be opened by Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam and Lord Puttnam, the UK’s Trade and Cultural Envoy to Vietnam, the conference is expected to hear from officials of the Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs, British education experts, consultants from PricewaterhouseCoopers, key policy makers, senior businesspeople, and representatives from education and vocational training institutions. In its announcement the British Embassy Hanoi said that the world is rapidly changing. “By 2030 we will need 50 per cent more energy, 40 per cent more water, and 35 per cent more food. The global population is ageing rapidly and more people than ever are living in cities.” Vietnam is entering a new era of international integration given the formation of the ASEAN Economic Community and new free trade agreements, such as the TPP and the EU - Vietnam FTA. “Having the right skills will mean that Vietnam is best placed to adapt to and benefit from these developments and be an attractive place for firms from all countries to invest,” according to the announcement. With improvements to education and vocational training being a key strategic objective of the government’s ten-year socioeconomic development strategy for 2011 to 2020, there is a consensus that improving the quality of the workforce will be critical to continuing Vietnam’s economic modernization and sustainable development. The conference will be followed by a British Council sponsored event on March 8 - the second in a series of national seminars held in support of partnerships between UK and Vietnamese colleges to establish quality assurance tools and mechanisms at vocational training colleges in Vietnam under the British Council’s International Skills Partnership. Office of National Assembly marks 70th founding anniversary National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung proposed that the Office of the National Assembly make good preparations for the upcoming elections of the 14th National Assembly and People’s Councils for the 2016-2021 term. The NA Office also received the Ho Chi Minh Order for its excellent achievements in national construction and protection, Ha Noi, March 2, 2016 - Photo: VNA Mr. Hung made the point on March 2 in Ha Noi at the celebration of the 70th founding anniversary of the National Assembly. The event also drew the attendance of former Party General Secretary and National Assembly Chairman Nong Duc Manh and former NA Chairman Nguyen Van An. The top legislator praised the important contributions of the NA Office in general and its staff to law building, supervision, and decision making. To successfully accomplish its assignments, Mr. Hung advised the Office to improve the quality of the contingent and operation. The NA Office also received the Ho Chi Minh Order for its excellent achievements in national construction and protection./. Liquid gas tanker truck overturns A truck carrying 17 tonnes of liquid gas overturned yesterday at noon while traveling downhill on Hai Van Pass in the central city. No serious injuries or death were reported, but the truck was slightly damaged. The truck driver, Phan Van Dien, 37, of Da Nang tried to avoid hitting a motorbike at the downhill turn and lost control of the truck. Four fire trucks and a team of firemen were called to cool down the tank of liquid gas. President presents Friendship Order to Russian President of the Supreme Court State President Truong Tan Sang on March 2 presented the Friendship Order to President of the Supreme Court of Russia Mikhailovich Lebedev for his dedication to the development of the two nations’ court sectors. Viet Nam attaches importance to the assistance of the Russian Government and people for Viet Nam during its national development, he affirmed, highlighting that the Viet Nam-Russia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership have gained a number of achievements in all fields, including cooperation in justice. He expected that the cooperative relationship between the two Supreme Courts will be further promoted in the future, especially in the context of intensive international integration and Viet Nam regarding justice reform as a key task for justice agencies. The Russian President of Supreme Court confirmed that the two sides consented to strengthen delegation exchanges at all levels and advocate the cooperation between two nations’ provincial courts, adding that the Russian Supreme Court will help Viet Nam in justice training. Two Thai passengers arrested at Noi Bai airport Customs officers at Noi Bai International Airport on March 4 arrested two Thais for illegally storing a small gun and bullets in their baggage. One woman, Phositthiphan Sumalee, 39, and one man, Phositthiphan Rachasak, 42, arrived at the airport at 2:17pm on a Qatar Airways flight from Bangkok, Thailand. Customs officers found the gun while checking their luggage. They had not informed the customs officers about the gun. The case is under further investigation. CNG-fuelled buses take to HCM City streets An environmentally-friendly bus route No. 33 from the An Suong Bus Station in Hoc Mon district to Vietnam National University-Ho Chi Minh City in Thu Duc district was launched this week. Fifty-two buses on the route all run on compressed natural gas (CNG). At the inauguration ceremony, the city's Saigon Transportation Mechanical Corporation (SAMCO) transferred 23 CNG busses for the 19-5 Transport Co-operative. Tran Quoc Toan, SAMCO general director, said the buses were part of a project to manufacture 300 CNG buses, assigned by the municipal People's Committee. CNG buses are environmental friendly and suitable for public transport in modern urban areas, Toan added. At the event, Huynh Thanh Dat, deputy director of Vietnam National University-HCM City said that bus route No.33 will help 30,000 students and university's staff travel to school. The cooperative spent 63 billion VND (2.83 million USD) to buy 23 of the total 52 CNG buses, according to Nguyen Van Trieu, director of the 19-5 Transport Co-operative. Le Hoang Minh, deputy director of the HCM City Transport Department, said the city was deploying a project to invest in 1,680 new buses to replace 1,318 old buses on routes that began 13 years ago. Minh has told the cooperative to increase the quality of customer service, especially staff attitude towards customers. Earth Hour 2016: Small actions make big influence Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City on March 5 kicked off the 2016 Earth Hour which promotes how a small individual action can make a big influence this year. The launch marked the start of a series of events in response to Earth Hour across the nation throughout March. The “Lights off” ceremony, will take place at August Revolution Square in Hanoi from 20:30 – 21:30pm on March 19. Small actions like switching off electrical appliances when they are not in use, economical use of water or planting a tree, will deliver powerful messages to the community, Deputy Director General of the General Department of Energy Nguyen Viet Son said. This year’s event calls on the whole community, notably the youth, to save electricity in an attempt to change climate change. Earth Hour has been attended by more than 25,000 youths and volunteers nationwide since it was first launched in Vietnam in 2009. More than 1,000 businesses and organisations across the country have agreed to join the campaign. It is the eighth year Vietnam has joined the global Earth Hour campaign. The country saved 520,000 kWh of electricity worth 850 million VND or approximately 40,000 USD last year.- Concert for International Women's Day launched A concert titled “Yellow daisy” in honoring of women will take place at Hanoi Opera House on March 5-6. The event aims to celebrate International Women's Day on March 8. The musical night has the participation of well-known singers, Thanh Lam, Tung Duong, Ngoc Son, Quang Dung and others, together with People’s Artist-director Tran Binh and artists of the Vietnam Contemporary Art Theater. The event is regarded as a special gifts for all women & honoring their role, achievements and contributions in various fields. Winners of film-making competition on gender discrimination announced The winners of a film-making competition to call for joint efforts to eliminate gender discrimination – part of the “How abnormal” campaign launched by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the UN Development Programme (UNDP) – were announced in Hanoi on March 4. Speaking at the awards ceremony, UN Coordinator in Vietnam Pratibha Mehta emphasised that through the films, gender stereotypes were reflected clearly, and double standards set for men and women, boys and girls were also brought to light. She called on people to commit to generating new normal conceptions for a more equal and fairer society. She quoted a UNDP report on female leadership in Vietnam as saying that there are few Vietnamese women holding high-level positions in the Government. Women hold only 9 percent of ministerial-level positions or equivalent, and 8 percent of deputy ministerial-level positions or equivalent. The film making competition received over 50 entries from December 21, 2015 to January 29, 2016. “Con yeu me” (I love you, Mom) by film-maker Nguyen Phuong Phi won first prize, while the runner-up was Ngo Thuy Trang with “Hay de con giup cha” (Let me help you, Dad) and third place went to Nguyen Hoang with “Co lap” (Isolation). The “How abnormal” campaign, which runs for seven months and launched last December, will use a string of films which demonstrate how things would change if men and women reverse roles in society – to raise viewers’ awareness of gender. World Bank surveys coastal road construction in Thai Binh World Bank (WB) representatives held a working session with authorities of the northern province of Thai Binh on March 4 to explore the possibility of funding a coastal road linking Thai Binh with the provinces of Nam Dinh, Hai Phong and Quang Ninh. The 44.5km road, built at an estimated 5.7 trillion (259 million USD) is expected to ramp up transport infrastructure and shorten travelling time from Thai Binh to international seaports, airports and coastal economic zones. Scheduled for 2016 and 2017, the road runs through Thai Binh’s Thai Thuy and Tien Hai districts. It is considered to be crucial to Thai Binh’s economic development, particularly in the marine-based economy and service industry. The road is part of the third trans-Vietnam route after National Highway 1 and the Ho Chi Minh route which stretches over 3,000km from north to south. Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Hong Dien hoped that the WB will add the project to its list of funding recipients for the next five years. Earlier in the morning, the WB delegation made a fact-finding trip to Tien Hai and Thai Thuy districts. Vietnam promotes working rights of people with disabilities Vietnam and Australia jointly organised an international seminar on creating employment opportunities and favourable working conditions for people with disabilities in Geneva, Switzerland, on March 3. The event is part of activities on the sidelines of the 31st regular session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) from February 29 to March 24. Participants at the seminar included the UNHRC Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities and representatives of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the Pacific Disability Forum and many non-governmental organisations and countries. Addressing the opening ceremony, Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister Ha Kim Ngoc stressed the need for a legal framework to ensure access to employment opportunities and favourable working conditions for people with disabilities. He called for improvements of infrastructure facilities and means of public transport to meet the need of the disabled as well as educational and vocational training support for the disadvantaged group. The Vietnamese diplomat highlighted Vietnam’s continuous and utmost efforts to ensure the rights of people with disabilities, who account for 7.8 percent of the country’s population. Meanwhile, participants shared their views on the challenges facing the group in exercising their right to work, including access to employment opportunities and discrimination at workplaces. The ILO representative laid emphasis on the role of employers in handling the situation. Other international representatives mentioned measures to exploit the capability of the targeted group. They underlined the need for developing a legal framework and incentives to support the disabled, while enhancing public awareness of their working rights. Also on the sidelines of the UNHRC session, Deputy Minister Ngoc had bilateral meetings with Guatemala Foreign Minister Carlos Rau Monrales Moscoso, Australian Special Envoy for Human Rights Philip Ruddock, and Japanese Deputy Foreign Minister Masakazu Hamachi. Bilateral cooperation, particularly in human rights promotion at international multilateral forums including the UNHRC, was among the themes of discussion at the meetings. Women’s economic power fostered to advance AEC development The 2nd ASEAN Women Entrepreneurs Forum, titled “Fostering women entrepreneurs in advancing the AEC development”, was opened in Hanoi on March 4. The two-day event is organised by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The forum involves discussions on the potential of female entrepreneurs as well as their pressures and solutions to support them and foster their contribution to the socio-economic development of their home country and ASEAN as a whole. It will also share initiatives and experience in improving women’s economic power. In her opening remarks, Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan hailed the significance of the forum for the development of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC). Women entrepreneurs within the region should work together to enhance competitiveness and business links in order to take full advantages of regional integration, she added. Doan also stressed the need for businesswomen to offer practical advice to governments of ASEAN nations in policy-making. For his part, ASEAN Secretary-General Le Luong Minh said female business players should be more active in tackling challenges and applying advanced technology. They also need to take part in more environment protection activities, he noted. Policy dialogue on gender equality A policy dialogue on gender equality was held in Hanoi on March 4 with the participation of 100 representatives from ministries, sectors and non-governmental organisations, and experts at home and abroad. Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA) Pham Thi Hai Chuyen reiterated the Vietnamese Party and State’s policy of ensuring gender parity and human rights for women and girls. The event would create an opportunity for participants to exchange views on a more effective implementation of the national strategy on gender equality, an action programme on gender equality, and a social-economic development plan towards sustainable development goals in the country from now to 2020, she said. UN Resident Coordinator in Vietnam Pratibha Mehta said in 2015, leaders across the globe gathered in New York to ratify the UN sustainable development goals. President Truong Tan Sang underlined Vietnam’s efforts to implement measures that would abolish gender gaps in all fields, she added. Mehta said she hopes the country will double its efforts to implement the national strategy and action programme on gender equality. Deputy head of MOLISA’s department on gender equality Hoang Thi Thu Huyen noted that labourers aged above 15 years numbered 54.61 million in 2015, 48.3 percent of whom were women. The proportion of female business players was 24.9 percent, up 0.5 percent against 2013. She highlighted priorities to promote gender equality, such as building and perfecting law and policy, organising activities towards the election of female deputies to the 14 th National Assembly and the People’s Councils at all levels for the 2016-2021 tenure, and enhancing communication campaigns in the field. Increasing scientific research and international cooperation on gender equality and women’s advancement is also essential, she added. At the dialogue, Vietnamese ministries, sectors and UN representatives pledged to further support each other to ensure an equitable society for women and girls. Hanoi’s Party chief requests improving workers’ well-being Secretary of the Hanoi municipal Party Committee Hoang Trung Hai called for improving the well-being of workers in the city while visiting industrial and processing parks in the outlying district of Dong Anh on March 4. Visiting and presenting gifts to workers at Kim Chung housing project, Hai took note of their needs, including the construction of nurseries, financial aid for home purchase or rent, infrastructure upgrades, as well as security and safety. He took the occasion to ask ministries and agencies to ensure wages and insurance for workers are in line with law, to protect their legitimate rights and benefits. The city’s leader requested the municipal Party Committee’s action plan on continuing to build a Vietnamese working class during the industrialisation and modernisation process is effectively executed, and also the resolution on strengthening Party and trade union building in non-State businesses – towards improving their working efficiency. He promised that any suggestion will be considered and submitted to the municipal Party Committee. As home to 140,000 people working for industrial parks, Hanoi is devising plans to meet at least half of their demand for housing. Binh Dinh workshop discusses green growth strategy The Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) hosted a workshop on March 5 in Binh Dinh on building green growth strategies and action plans for the central provinces of Binh Dinh, Phu Yen and Khanh Hoa. The event drew leaders of the three central provinces and representatives from the Government Office and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Experts from MPI presented plans and approaches in building green growth action plans for the localities, and reported initial results of the process in several provinces and cities nationwide. MPI Deputy Minister Nguyen The Phuong said the ministry has worked with donors such as the United Nations Development Programme and the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) to build instructions related to public investment for green growth and climate change adaptation. Many localities, ministries and sectors have built green growth action plans in connection with economic restructuring, thanks to the great support provided by the international community and development partners in the field, he noted. According to the official, local authorities of the central provinces of Ha Tinh, Ninh Thuan and Binh Thuan cooperated with the MPI’s Department of Science, Education, Natural Resources and Environment to outline provincial-level action plans. Vietnam’s green growth strategy is being deployed from 2014-2020, which is a process that aims to perfect the structure of economic institutions by using natural resources efficiently, improving the competitiveness of the economy, adapting to climate change, reducing poverty and ensuring sustainable economic development. Hanoi hosts WFTU Presidential Council's meeting A meeting of the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) Presidential Council opened in Hanoi on March 5, discussing measures to ensure job and stable living standard for employees. In his speech delivered at the two-day event, President of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL) and WFTU Vice President Dang Ngoc Tung said the federation is the largest international agency of trade unions, representing workers and trade unions worldwide. The development of the organisation is a forceful evidence for workers across the world in fighting for peace, stability, equality and solidarity, Tung noted. He stressed that the VGCL is always an active and responsible member of the WFTU, and that it is making every effort to ensure the rights and benefits of workers. Tung said he believes that the conference will help turn the ideas and resolutions of the federation into practical actions, thus contributing to furthering the role and prestige of the WFTU in addressing global issues related to workers. WFTU General Secretary George Mavrikos said the WFTU has officially launched activities towards the upcoming 17 th World Trade Union Congress to be held in South Africa in this October . Representatives of trade unions from the WFTU’s member nations were informed about preparations for the Conference and debated operational plans for 2016. Established in Paris in 1945, the WFTU represents 92 million trade unionists in 126 countries. Lao official praises Vietnamese procuracy’s support Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Thongloun Sisoulith has affirmed that support provided by the Vietnamese Supreme People’s Procuracy for his country will help Laos successfully host the upcoming 10th ASEAN - China Procurators General Conference. During his reception for a visiting delegation from the procuracy led by Deputy Procurator General Tran Cong Phan in Vientiane on March 4, the Lao official highlighted the effective cooperation between the two countries’ supreme procuracy bodies in recent times. He said the visit will contribute to tightening between the two agencies’ ties, expressing his hope that the bodies will continue to mutually assist one another. Phan reported the delegation’s working outcomes in Laos over the last two days, to the host, saying that the visit aims to share his agency’s experience in holding the Conference with its Lao counterpart. Previously, on March 3, the supreme people’s procuracies of the two countries organised a seminar on Vietnam ’s experience in organising the 6 th ASEAN - China Prosecutors General Conference in Vientiane . Vietnamese guests also introduced their Lao counterparts to the new contents of the Law on the Organisation of People's Procuracies in 2014. On the occasion, the Vietnamese Supreme People’s Procuracy presented 50,000 USD and several devices to the Laos’ Supreme People’s Procuracy of Laos to support it in holding the Conference. Justice ministry reviews anti-corruption performance The Ministry of Justice held a conference in Hanoi on March 4 to review the 10-year implementation of the Law on Corruption Prevention and Control. Participants heard that in the period, the ministry detected and handled 22 corruption cases in agencies and organisations under its management, while attaching importance on preventive measures. The ministry has focused on inspection and settlement of complaints and denouncements over the past decade, defining the detection of corrupt behaviours as the most important stage in prevention efforts. Many agreed that the recovery of appropriated assets is important in order to enhance the efficiency of anti-corruption efforts. They urged more clear regulations and better coordination between investigative agencies, courts and verdict execution forces in this field. Bettering institutions, policy and law in the field is vital to fight against corruption, participants said, stressing the need to revise the current Law on Corruption Prevention and Control to cover both State and non-State sectors. They also suggested promulgating, revising and supplementing regulations of normative legal documents relating to corruption prevention in the direction of increasing the transparency of State agencies’ operations, clarifying the responsibility of managerial officials at different levels and ensuring the protection of whistle-blowers and corruption-related information providers. The Law on Corruption Prevention and Control was approved at the 8 th sitting of the 11th National Assembly in November 2005. It comprises eight chapters and 92 articles. Revisions and supplements to the 2005 law were made in 2007 and 2012. VFF stresses introduction of eligible candidates for general election Candidates to the 14th National Assembly and People’s Councils at all levels for 2016-2021 must be eligible in line with the law, regardless of their backgrounds, Vice President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee (VFFCC) Nguyen Van Pha told the press. Accordingly, citizens above 21 years old can run for the election if they fulfill all standards stipulated in the Election Law, the official said, adding that competent agencies and organisations, especially the National Election Council (NEC) and all-level Fatherland Fronts, will be in charge of assessing the candidates. The Law on Election of Deputies to the NA and People’s Councils prescribes that the anticipated personnel structure will be announced on the basis of the consensus reached by the NA’s Standing Committee, the VFFCC’s Standing Board and leaders of centrally-run political and social organisations. The VFFCC Standing Board will introduce a total of 21 candidates, including six religious people, Pha said. There will be three consultative conferences on the introduction of candidates. The first will focus on the structure, components and number of candidates introduced by agencies, organisations and units. The second is chaired by the VFFCC’s Presidium with the participation of representatives from the NEC and the NA’s Standing Committee. A preliminary list of candidates will be drawn up at this conference. According to Pha, the list will be sent to the candidates’ residences to collect feedback from local voters. The third consultative conference will work on a list of eligible candidates which will be presented to the NEC to be made official. The VFFCC has rolled out a plan on supervision over the election to swiftly address difficulties hindering the work at localities as well as violations of election-related laws. Inspection teams led by the VFFCC’s Vice Presidents will be established to monitor the organisation of the election at localities over three periods with the first one from March 20-April 11, the second from April 12-26 and the third from April 28-May 22. The supervisors will scan the performance of local organisations in charge of the election, candidate introduction, the collection of feedback from local voters, lists of voters and candidates, ballot casting and counting, among other duties. President listens to concern over business competition Nearly 50 National Assembly deputies representing business associations and corporations raised their concern over business obstacles during a meeting with President Truong Tan Sang in Ho Chi Minh City on March 4. A majority of deputies were worried about the competition between domestic firms and foreign rivals, saying that numerous home-grown enterprises are at a disadvantage due to insufficient capital, low productivity and lack of State incentives. Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Business Association Huynh Van Minh expressed his concern over cumbersome administrative procedures that impede business operations. A representative from Hung Vuong fisheries company said members of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Processors are facing high lending rates, making it hard for them to compete with regional rivals. In the combat against counterfeits, business representatives said local authorities are yet to be strict enough to properly deal with the problem. A number of businesses have taken recourse to police but the results remain below expectations. Participants suggested that the State should take measures to increase the number of enterprises, thereby generating jobs for local workers, partly by building more business management schools. The State leader urged businesses to be well-prepared amid current widespread economic integration. As economic drivers of the country, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City must clear any arising business hindrances, he stated. Earlier the same day, the President met constituents from Ho Chi Minh City’s district 4 and clarified their questions on security and public order, sustainable poverty reduction, climate change mitigation, island sovereignty and the crackdown on food hygiene violations. Bulgaria’s Liberation Day celebrated in Ho Chi Minh City A ceremony to mark Bulgaria’s 138th Liberation Day (March 3) was held in Ho Chi Minh City on March 4 by the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations and the Vietnam-Bulgaria Friendship Association in the city. Addressing the event, Bulgarian Trade Counselor in Ho Chi Minh City Oleg Marinov appreciated the love of people in Vietnam, and Ho Chi Minh City in particular for Bulgaria’s nation and people. He affirmed that March 3, 1878 was an important day in Bulgaria’s history, when the country restored its freedom. Vietnam and Bulgaria set up their diplomatic ties on March 7, 1950. Over the past few years, the two countries have exchanged many high-ranking delegations and signed numerous cooperation agreements, laying down a foundation for their long lasting, sustainable connections. Two-way trade has experienced an increase of 15-20 percent a year recently. President hails world trade union federation’s support President Truong Tan Sang has highly valued the strong support and solidarity of the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) to Vietnamese workers and people in the past and at present. He made the remarks at a reception for WFTU General Secretary George Mavrikos in Hanoi on March 5. Mavrikos, who is leading a delegation to attend the Presidential Council Conference of the WFTU in Hanoi on March 5-6, highlighted the close-knit and long-standing ties with the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL). He said he believes Vietnam will build on its achievements across the fields of politics, economics, culture and external relations. President Truong Tan Sang welcomed the WFTU in choosing Vietnam as the host of the conference ahead of the 17th World Trade Union Congress which will take place in South Africa in October 2016. He hailed the WFTU efforts in fighting for the protection of the legitimate rights and interests of workers around the world. The President expressed his belief that the solidarity between the working class and the federation will become stronger in the fight against poverty and slow development as well as aggressive war, arms races and climate change. The struggle is for peace, national independence, social progress, and a better life for workers around the globe, he stressed. Founded in 1945 in Paris, the WFTU comprises 92 million trade unionists from 126 countries. HCM City: Voters pin high hope on new National Assembly Voters in District 1 and 3 in Ho Chi Minh City expressed their hope that the National Assembly will be productive in its operations, including soundly performing its supervision over executive agencies in its new tenure. At their meeting with State President Truong Tan Sang in Ho Chi Minh City on March 3, they suggested decreasing the number of part-time deputies in the new tenure, reasoning a majority of them have yet to wholeheartedly work as a people’s representative due to their overwhelming managerial duties. Future deputies should also make fact-finding tours to see how voters live and grasp their wishes and needs, they stressed. They also suggested that the drafting of laws should be undertaken by independent agencies rather than being done by ministries and sectors as currently done, so as the laws could not be affected by any group’s interest. The voters also expressed their concerns about the ongoing severe drought that is wreaking havoc on production and people’s lives in the Mekong Delta, calling for the need to re-plan the agricultural irrigation system. They showed their joy at initial positive changes in parts of Ho Chi Minh City following the establishment of a hotline to deal with people’s information on social affairs, asking the municipal authorities to be proactive in discovering and addressing social problems. President Truong Tan Sang appreciated the voters’ thoughtful and constructive suggestions. He said the information on wrongdoings provided by the voters has helped the Party and State realise their weaknesses in building policies and instructing the implementation. He said he expects that HCM City’s voters will select competent deputies to represent their voice in the new tenure and continue to raise problems they face to the deputies. He pledged to continue following existing problems and making maximal efforts to address them. VNA/VNS/VOV/SGT/SGGP/TT/TN/Dantri