Government News 3/4 Vietnamese, Turkmen foreign ministries hold political consultation   Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son (R) and his Turkmen counterpart Vepa Hajiev at the political consultation in Hanoi on April 2  The Foreign Ministries of Vietnam and Turkmenistan need to continue bringing into full play their positive role and maintaining consultations and regular exchanges to help step up the two countries’ ties. The view was shared by Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son and his Turkmen counterpart Vepa Hajiev at the political consultation between the two foreign ministries in Hanoi on April 2. The officials were delighted that the traditional friendship and cooperation between the two countries have enjoyed positive developments and agreed that the two countries should continue with exchanges at  all levels, high-level visits, and contacts between ministries, sectors and businesses. The two countries also need to sign documents and agreements to provide a complete legal foundation for their cooperation, while tapping on their potential for cooperation in economy-trade, education- training, culture, sports and tourism, the officials said.  They exchanged views on international and regional issues of mutual concern and shared the view of respecting fundamental principles of international law and the United Nations Charter. They affirmed  continuous coordination and mutual support at international forums, especially at the United Nations. Vietnam attends ASEANSAI conference in Indonesia   Delegates to the conference.  Deputy Auditor General of the State Audit Office of Vietnam (SAV) Doan Xuan Tien is attending a symposium of the ASEAN Supreme Audit Institutions (ASEANSAI) in Indonesia on April 2-3.  The symposium aims to raise ASEANSAI members’ awareness of the importance of sustainable development goals (SDGs) in promoting transparency, accountability and anti-corruption. It focuses on efforts to build a society of harmony, peace and integration.  Tien said the implementation of the SDGs gear towards building an incorruptible, society, reducing social vices, and ensuring social equality and inclusiveness, so to accomplish UN programmes by 2030. He called on supreme audit institutions worldwide and ASEANSAI members in particular, especially the SAV, to contribute to increasing social transparency and accountability of the Government and  organisations in the management and use of public assets, as well as the fight against corruption in the region and the world.  In his opening remarks, Indonesian Deputy Foreign Minister A.M Fachir described transparency, accountability and anti-corruption as important factors to the completion of SDGs.  Chairman of the Audit Board of Indonesia Moermahadi told Vietnam News Agency on the sidelines of the event that the SAV is a dynamic agency that has constructively integrated into the ASEAN audit sector, and shared experience as well as common tasks of the sector.  ASEANSAI was established on November 16, 2011 in Bali, Indonesia, with ten members of SAI being the ten member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), comprising Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. ASEANSAI is expected to encourage and promote good governance within the ASEAN region. Thus, ASEANSAI will focus on capacity development for SAIs of the ASEAN member states and technical cooperation in dealing with important and common audit issues in the ASEAN region. Deputy PM calls for efforts to keep core inflation at 1.6-1.8 percent   Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue has asked for more efforts to keep core inflation at between 1.6-1.8 percent in the remaining months of 2018 (Photo: www.baogiaothong.vn) Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue, who is also head of the National Steering Committee on Price Management, has asked for more efforts to keep core inflation at between 1.6-1.8 percent in the remaining months of 2018. Core inflation is the CPI exclusive of fresh food, energy and State-run health and education services. Under a recent guidance of the Deputy Prime Minister, the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) was requested to manage monetary and fiscal policies to ensure inflation control targets. The central bank needs to control currency supply and balance foreign currency sources from foreign investment, while controlling the total credit in terms of both structure and quality.  It was also urged to take measures to stablise exchange and interest rates.  The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) will work with the Ministry of Finance to manage domestic petroleum prices via the reasonable use of the price stabilisation fund, thus stablising the price of the commodity. The MoIT will be responsible for managing power price in line with the price management scenario in 2018.  It is forecast that the next nine months, price increase pressure will come mainly from market-related factors such as the price recovery of petroleum and key materials in the world market, and the  implementation of market price roadmap for public services such as health care, education and those using State budget.- Party General Secretary hosts Chinese State Councillor   General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong (R) receives Chinese State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Hanoi on April 2   General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong received Chinese State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Hanoi on April 2, voicing his hope that the official will contribute more to the countries’ comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership. General Secretary Trong congratulated China on successfully organising the 2018 sessions of the National People’s Congress (NPC) and the People’s Political Consultative Conference (PPCC) and electing the State and Government leadership for the new tenure. He also congratulated Wang Yi on being appointed State Councillor and Foreign Minister of China. He affirmed that the Vietnamese Party and State always treasure the friendly neighbourliness and sound cooperation with China, stressing that the two sides need to enhance friendship, cooperation, mutual support and common development in the time ahead. The host leader asked both sides to adhere to the common perceptions between leaders of the two Parties and countries and the reached agreements. They also need to seriously implement the agreement on basic principles guiding the settlement of sea-related issues, control disagreements well, take no actions to complicate the situation, and together make efforts to maintain peace and stability in the East Sea. For his part, Wang Yi said he is happy to pay an official visit to Vietnam and attend the sixth Greater Mekong Sub-region Summit. He also congratulated Vietnam on successfully hosting the summit. He informed his host about the outcomes of his visit and the recent sessions of the NPC and the PPCC. He affirmed that the Chinese Party, Government and people attach special importance to the relationship with Vietnam. He noted with satisfaction the new strides in all fields of bilateral cooperation, asking the two sides to continue increasing strategic exchanges and cooperation, control sea-related disagreements well, and maintain the positive trend in the two Parties and countries’ relations. VNN