Government News 6/4 Conference seeks to reform VFF organization, operation   The reform of organisation and operation of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) and other socio-political organisations in Vietnam was spotlighted at a conference in Hanoi on April 6. Mai Van Chinh, deputy head of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Organisation said that in the past 30 years, along with achievements, the VFF has shown a number of shortcomings. Its organizational structure is large but unveils ineffectiveness in some assigned fields. This requires the VFF and socio-political organisations to continue renovating and completing their structures to suit the political, economic, cultural and social situation in the new period, he said. Chinh pointed out that the organization and operational methods of the VFF and socio-political organisations has yet been researched thoroughly in theory and practicality. He noted that the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Organisation has implemented a one-year project on renovating the organization model and operational methods of the VFF and other socio-political organisations with the engagement of many scientists and management officials. Participants at the event gave their ideas on theoretical and practical issues related to the work, while analyzing new circumstances and new requirements in the field. They also defined orientations, targets, principles and major solutions to renovating the organization model and improving the operational efficiency of the VFF and socio-political organisations. President of the VFF Central Committee Tran Thanh Man said the ideas gathered during the conference are significant, helping the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Organisation in advising the Politburo and the Party Central Committee in personnel work. NA Vice Chairwoman receives former IPU Secretary General    NA Vice Chairwoman Tong Thi Phong (R) and former Secretary General of the Inter-Parliament Union (IPU) Anders Johnsson National Assembly (NA) Vice Chairwoman Tong Thi Phong hosted a reception for visiting former Secretary General of the Inter-Parliament Union (IPU) Anders Johnsson in Hanoi on April 5. The Vietnamese legislator praised contributions made by the former IPU leader, saying that his knowledge of international law and parliamentary diplomacy helped promote the development of international parliament diplomacy, and the sharing of experience among IPU member nations. She also highlighted the close cooperation between the Vietnamese NA and the IPU for nearly four decades, affirming that the partnership brought remarkable achievements. Support and cooperation provided the IPU in general and the former IPU leader helped the Vietnamese legislature compete its responsibility towards the international community, she stressed, adding that Vietnam always respects his sentiments and assistance for Vietnam. In reply, Johnsson said he hopes for more visits to Vietnam in the future so he can continue sharing his experience and knowledge related to parliamentary diplomacy with the Vietnamese NA. Vietnamese defence minister stresses importance of MCIS    General Ngo Xuan Lich The Moscow Conference on International Security (MCIS) has been an important forum contributing to maintaining and promoting peace, stability and security in Asia-Pacific and the world, said Vietnamese Defence Minister General Ngo Xuan Lich. Addressing the seventh MCIS in Moscow, Russia, on April 5, General Lich talked about multilateral mechanisms in Asia-Pacific and collective actions against emerging challenges and threats. He said the region is facing potential risks to its stability, with global issues, including traditional and non-traditional security challenges such as the nuclear issue on the Korean peninsula, territorial water sovereignty disputes, weapons of mass destruction, racial and religious conflicts, terrorism, cyber security, natural disasters, diseases and adverse impacts of the fourth industrial revolution, among others. “However, we would be optimistic about good things brought about by multi-class, multi-sector cooperation trend, both bilateral and multilateral,” he said. The officer cited the fruitful bilateral relations between Vietnam and Russia in the region, along with cooperation mechanisms led by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) like the East Asia Summit and the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM+) to clarify his views. Efforts made by a single country cannot address such challenges but it requires connectivity and joint efforts of the entire region, with the army playing the key role, he stressed. General Lich also applauded Russia’s contributions to regional peace and stability over the past time, particularly within the framework of the ADMM , calling on the country to carry forward its role in Asia-Pacific, step up cooperation and friendship with the ASEAN member countries, and work with the group to maintain the balance in the region, prevent conflicts and wars and reduce the arms race, contributing to maintaining regional peace, security and stability. He affirmed that Vietnam persistently pursues the policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralisation and diversification of international relations, and being a trust-worthy friend and partner of all countries, and a responsible member of the international community.  Vietnam advocates handling disputes, including East Sea dispute, by peaceful measures on the basis of international law and regional commitments, he said. The seventh MCIS took place from April 4-5 under the theme “Middle East outlook after eradication of ISIS in Syria”. More than 850 delegates from 95 countries attended the event. Vietnam, Laos seek to enhance religious cooperation   At the talks (Source: http://www.nhandan.com.vn) Chairman of the Government Committee for Religious Affairs (GCRA) of Vietnam Vu Chien Thang and Chanthavong Senamathmonti, Vice President of  the Lao Front for National Construction (LFNC) Central Committee held talks in Vientiane on April 5 to discuss ways to foster religious cooperation between the two countries. During the talks, the two sides updated each other on the religious situation in their respective country. Thang highlighted the special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos, saying that the bilateral relations have been increasingly consolidated and deepened across fields in a more practical and effective manner. Vietnam is a multi-religious country and the Vietnamese State always respect and consistently implements policies to ensure freedom of belief and religion, equality and solidarity among different religions; and creates favourable conditions for religious activities, thus promoting unity among religions, he stressed. For his part, Chanthavong Senamathmonti affirmed the Vietnamese delegation’s visit contributes to tightening the special friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the two Parties, State and people of Laos and Vietnam. He thanked the GCRA for its cooperation and support for the LFNC in recent years, while hailing the achievements of cooperation between the two agencies. Following the talks, the two sides signed the minutes on the implementation of a cooperation agreement between the two agencies in the 2018-2020 period. Thang is leading a Vietnamese delegation on a working visit to Laos from April 5-9 at the invitation of the President of LFNC Central Committee. Symposium spotlights national protection war in southwestern border    A ceremony to rebury the remains of Vietnam's voluntary experts and soldiers who laid down their lives in the national protection war in the southwestern border Leading experts and scientists of Vietnam gathered at a symposium in Ho Chi Minh City on April 5 to look into some issues about the war defending the country in the southwestern border. The event was organised by the Vietnam Association of Historical Sciences, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities under the Vietnam National University - HCM City, and the HCM City Association of Historical Sciences. In the opening remarks, Chairman of the HCM City Association of Historical Sciences Prof. Dr Vo Van Sen affirmed that Vietnam’s move came from the legitimate demand for self-defence. Facing the provocation of the Khmer Rouge genocidal regime in the southwestern border, Vietnam exercised utmost restraint and showed the goodwill and the wish for peaceful and friendly cooperation between the nations. That Vietnam’s voluntary soldiers came to Cambodia to perform the international duty was necessary to prevent the recovery of the genocidal regime, which was confirmed by Cambodian leaders later, he noted. More than 50 reports sent to the symposium and opinions of experts and scientists clarified the necessity and inevitability of the war protecting Vietnam in the southwestern border (1977 – 1979). They made clear that the war (before January 7, 1979) and Vietnam’s international mission in Cambodia (1979 – 1989) are two different issues which had different historical backgrounds, causes and developments but were logically connected. At the event, participants also proved that the war in the southwestern border was directly linked with the national protection war in the northern border, and that the fights greatly changed Vietnam’s international relations and affected the country’s post-war situation. Assoc. Prof. Dr Tran Ngoc Long, former Deputy Director of the Military History Institute of Vietnam, said these historical events should not be considered as two separate fights but they should be called the “war to protect the Fatherland in the two ends of the border”. Many other participants said the national protection war in the southwestern border happened as fast as a self-defending counter-attack of the Vietnamese armed forces. Assoc. Prof. Dr Ha Minh Hong from the University of Social Sciences and Humanities said it was a just war and obtained many successes of national and international significance, including defeating the war machine of the Khmer Rouge, annihilating the genocidal regime, firmly protecting the country’s border, and helping Cambodia to revive its revolution. The workshop also analysed many aspects regarding the background, causes and developments of the national protection war, the art of military and diplomacy of Vietnam, and lessons from the fight. NA supervises management, use of State capital, assets in enterprises   Vice Chairman of the NA Phung Quoc Hien chairs the working session  A supervision team of the National Assembly (NA)  had a working session with representatives of the Government, ministries and sectors on the NA’s draft Report and Resolution on the supervision of management and use of State-owned capital and assets at enterprises and equitisation of State-owned enterprises (SoEs) from 2011 – 2016. Chairing the session, head of the supervision team and Vice Chairman of the NA Phung Quoc Hien said during the past five months implementing the supervision plan, the team had worked with nine ministries and agencies, eight localities, 12 economic groups and corporations and several SoEs. The team has also worked with the Government’s Standing Committee and heard reports on the management and use of State-owned capital and assets at enterprises and SoE equitisation from 2011 – 2016. The NA Vice Chairman said the team had produced a draft report on the supervision results and a draft resolution on the supervision work in the field, taking into account reports of ministries, sectors, localities, and local NA deputy delegations. After discussing with the Government representatives, the team is to submit the draft supervision report and draft resolution to the NA Standing Committee in April. Then the team will finalise the report and submit it to the NA at the fifth session, slated for May and June. HCM City fosters collaboration with Japan’s Aichi Prefecture    Overview of the meeting between Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Nguyen Thanh Phong and Governor of Japan’s Aichi Prefecture Hideaki Ohmura (Source: sggp.org.vn) Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Nguyen Thanh Phong met Governor of Japan’s Aichi Prefecture Hideaki Ohmura on April 5 as part of his ongoing visit to Japan, during which Phong expressed his hope that businesses of Aichi will invest more in the city. Aichi and Ho Chi Minh City should design cooperation programmes in manufacturing and production areas, including automobile, machinery and high-technology agriculture, Phong proposed. He affirmed that Ho Chi Minh City will create optimal conditions for enterprises in Japan and Aichi in particular to invest in the city. For his part, Ohmura said he hopes the Ho Chi Minh City delegation’s visit, during which a Vietnamese festival in Aichi will be held, will help foster ties between the two localities. In a meeting with Nagoya city’s Mayor Kawamura Takashi, Phong thanked the mayor for backing the Vietnamese community in Nagoya, expressing hope that he will continue supporting exchange activities between Nagoya and Ho Chi Minh City. Later the same day, Phong met with Vietnamese students in Nagoya University of Economics. He highlighted the students’ role in deepening links between Vietnam and Japan and their contributions to the homeland. He said he hopes after graduating, the students will bring their knowledge home. Phong underscored that Ho Chi Minh City always pays attention to attracting talent to work in the city to make the city an economic driving force for the country, a dynamic and modern smart city and a highlight in investment attraction and start-ups. The same day, Phong and the Ho Chi Minh City delegation visited Aichi’s agriculture experiment station to seek cooperation opportunities in high-tech agriculture. Law reform needed to ensure meaning of amnesty: NA deputies   At the plenary session  Members of the National Assembly’s Judicial Committee have agreed on the need to amend the 2007 Law on Amnesty to make it fall in line with the 2013 Constitution and other related laws, and to ensure the meaning of amnesty.  The consensus was reached during a plenary session of the committee which was held in Hanoi on April 5 to examine the draft revision to the Law on Amnesty.  Over the past ten years since the adoption of the 2007 Law on Amnesty, the State had granted amnesty to nearly 86,000 prisoners.  According to the committee, amnesty was defined a special leniency by the State, through a presidential decision to release prisoners before the completion of their prison terms or commuting sentences entirely as rewards for good behavior, or repentance as well as to encourage them to repent, reform and become useful for society. Deputies said the amnesty results over the past years showed the effectiveness of amnesty in encouraging prisoners to study, work and strive to reform. The rate of prisoners who received amnesty and re-offended was very low. However, they said the law was issued in 2007 and has revealed shortcomings and no longer matched other related laws. Chairwoman of the committee Le Thi Nga said one of shortcomings of the law was that criteria for prisoners to be granted amnesty was not tight enough so the number of prisoners getting amnesty was quite big, reducing the meaning of the policy and affecting the judgments made by judicial bodies. Some deputies agreed that the draft revision should tighten criteria to grant amnesty to prisoners to ensure fairness and the meaning of the policy. Most deputies also agreed with the change of the law to regulate the time to grant amnesty which will be made coinciding with special events of the country. At present, amnesty decisions can be issued on the occasion of special events or big holidays. VNN