Government News 21/6 HCM City voters raise concern over Thu Thiem project   Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan answers voters' queries Thu Thiem new urban area was a “hot” topic in a meeting between Politburo member and Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan and voters in the city’s District 2. Voter Nguyen Hong Thai expressed concerns over several dubious matters related to the Thu Thiem new urban area, from legal issues, coercion to compensation and resettlement.  According to Thai, many land owners have their land reclaimed coercively, though they have sufficient legal documents. However, compensation is not enough to buy a resettlement apartment. They even spent an addition of at least 3 million VND (131 USD) per sq.m to buy resettlement apartments. Voter Le Thi Lan said that local residents have completely obeyed the Party’s policies and the State’s law related to the project. However, numerous serious mistakes, including unreasonable coercion of local authorities, have occurred. Meanwhile, voter Nguyen Thi Hong Loan said that her house was also reclaimed, although it is located at Workers’ Housing Estates which are owned by the State and lies outside the planned boundary of the new urban area. “The resettlement through house lease is not fair as well,” she added. Over the past 10 years, local people sent hundreds of petitions to authorities from the municipal to the central levels, but all fall into silence, said voter Nguyen Duc Tu. Voter Nguyen Dinh De stressed the need for the Government Inspectorate to continue clarifying violations at the urban, including the responsibility of the city’s leaders in the previous tenures in directing the implementation of the project. Replying voters’ queries, Nhan affirmed that all houses which are located out of the planned boundary of the project will not be reclaimed. His idea immediately won local residents’ applause. Saying that he had met several people affected by the project before this meeting, Nhan shared concerns of the locals, and hoped that they will back the city’s policies. The city’s leader affirmed that he will continue meeting with Thu Thiem residents until a suitable solution is found. Nhan said many people are living in unsettled houses. The municipal authorities are seeking measures to end the situation and bring people to resettlement areas, he stressed. Ho Chi Minh City considers the project as a top priority to be handled in the time ahead, he said, adding that the Government Inspectorate has recently made draft inspection results which were sent to related agencies for completion before July 15 as directed by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc. HCM City enhances trade cooperation with Philippines   Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Le Thanh Liem (R) receives Under-Secretary for the Industry Development and Trade Policy Group of the Philippines Ceferino S.Rodolfo  The working visit by Under-Secretary for the Industry Development and Trade Policy Group of the Philippines Ceferino S.Rodolfo to Vietnam, including Ho Chi Minh City, will help intensify bilateral trade and investment cooperation. The statement was made by Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Le Thanh Liem at his reception for Rodolfo on June 20. Appreciating the growing Vietnam-Philippines Strategic Partnership, Liem said that the two countries are expanding collaboration in the fields they hold potential and coordinating closely at regional and international forums, especially within the framework of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). He expressed his belief that a business conference between the two countries to be held in the city will be a success, contributing to promoting partnership between their enterprises. Rodolfo affirmed that his visit aims to tighten cooperation between Philippine and Vietnamese businesses, including those from Ho Chi Minh City. The Philippines attaches importance to its ties with Vietnam and wants to step up collaboration with the country, including trade and investment ties with the southern hub, he added. As of May 2018, Ho Chi Minh City had 34 Philippine-invested projects with a total capital of nearly 26 million USD. The country ranked 36th among 96 nations and territories pouring capital into the city. Last year, two-way trade hit 676 million USD, an annual rise of 6 percent. NA Vice Chairwoman meets voters in Son La   National Assembly Vice Chairwoman Tong Thi Phong  The issuance of the Law on Cyber Security is sound and essential to prevent risks to cyber security, protect national sovereignty and interests, and ensure legitimate rights and interests of organisations and individuals.  National Assembly Vice Chairwoman Tong Thi Phong made the statement during her meeting with voters in Van Ho district in the northern mountainous province of Son La on June 21, given that risks to cyber security safety are increasing, especially in the context of the fourth Industrial Revolution. She stressed that all issues are considered thoroughly to avoid affecting personal freedom. At the meeting, voters in Van Ho district asked the legislature, ministries and Son La province to provide specific guidance to carry out policies and mechanisms supporting poor districts, allocate capital for the district to implement several urgent projects to soon complete infrastructure of its administrative centre such as a road from National Road No.6 to the district centre, a district general hospital, and the district’s boarding school for ethnic students. They also urged authorised offices to suggest the Electricity of Vietnam invest in a road section connecting Tan Xuan commune with Thanh Hoa province’s Muong Lat district so as to facilitate the travel of the two districts and boost their socio-economic development. Acknowledging voters’ ideas, Phong assigned the Son La deputy delegation to classify petitions to submit to authorised agencies for consideration and settlement. On this occasion, Phong and provincial leaders granted gifts to 10 policy beneficiaries in Van Ho district. Vice President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh active in Laos   Vice President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh (L) and Chairwoman of the National Assembly of Laos Pany Yathotou  Vice President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh and Chairwoman of the National Assembly of Laos Pany Yathotou expressed their delight at closer ties between the two legislatures during a meeting in Vientiane on June 20.  Both sides spoke highly of the sharing of information and expertise between the two legislatures’ units as well as effective cooperation in their external activities, especially at regional and global parliamentary forums such as the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly and the Inter-Parliamentary Union.  The Vice President suggested working closely together to refine legal regulations in each country as well as oversee law enforcement, supporting necessary changes to mechanisms, policies and laws to boost bilateral trade and investment.  Yathotou, for her part, said amidst complicated developments in the region and the world, the Vietnamese and Lao Parties, States, parliaments and people need to strive to uphold long-standing ties, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation in the fields of politics, diplomacy, national defence-security, economy, trade, investment, culture, education and people-to-people exchange.  She lauded the new NA House of Laos as a meaningful gift of the Vietnamese Party, State, NA and people, an invaluable symbol and heritage of the Vietnam – Laos special solidarity.  Host and guest agreed to accelerate the construction of the building to ensure its quality and progress.  Meeting with President of the Lao Women’s Union (LWU) Central Committee Inlavan Keobounphan the same day, Thinh highly valued ties between LWU and the Vietnam Women’s Union in the cause of promoting gender equality, women emancipation, health care for women and children, and especially educating young generations about maintaining and upholding the tradition of bilateral special solidarity.  On the occasion, she congratulated Keobounphan on being awarded the Independence Order, second class – a noble distinction of the Vietnamese State in honour of her contributions to bilateral ties.  In the morning the same day, Vice President Thinh laid a wreath at a monument dedicated to unknown martyrs in Vientiane, visited Thatluang pagoda, and presented five sets of computers to a gifted boarding school for ethnic students under the National University of Laos. The school was built in 2006 using non-refundable aid from the Vietnamese government.  In the afternoon, she visited headquarters of the Star Telecom company – a joint venture with Vietnam’s military-run telecom provider Viettel. It is now the most modern Internet 4G service supplier with nearly 3 million subscribers, accounting for 52 percent of market share in Laos.  Meeting Vietnamese nationals in the embassy, Thinh presented 80 gifts from the National Fund for Vietnamese Children to outstanding Vietnamese students in the country. Bac Lieu urged to tap wind power potential   National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan (front, centre) and leaders of Bac Lieu province pose for a photo Bac Lieu should pay attention to the development of wind power to become the first to capitalise on the clean source of energy in the southwestern region, advised National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan.  Meeting with local authorities on June 20 during her working trip to the province, the top legislator praised local development and acknowledged the Mekong Delta province’s difficulties such as weak socio-economic infrastructure and climate change impacts.  She said a national highway is planned to reach Can Tho by 2021 and Bac Lieu after that, suggesting the province upgrade current roads to ensure traffic safety while waiting for the new route. Ngan recommended the local authorities closely follow the Party’s guidelines and Government’s policies and resolution on economic development, particularly the private sector.  Bac Lieu should capitalise on its potential for growth and encourage the private sector to do better in the fields of their strength like aquatic farming and fruit tree planting. Highlighting its potential for sea tourism and long-time practice of the art of Don Ca Tai Tu (southern folk music), she said Bac Lieu should combine economic development and the preservation of traditional values. Regarding the fact that the province has 16 out of 49 communes meeting the standards for new-style rural areas, Ngan stressed it does not need to complete the rural building work one year ahead of schedule. Apart from infrastructure construction, creating livelihoods for residents via facilitating the establishment of local businesses is also needed, she said. The NA chief said Bac Lieu should set a goal to reduce its poverty rate to 3 percent from the current 8.43 percent, with attention paid to the rate of households becoming poor again after escaping poverty and the implementation of preferential policies targeting ethnic people and those living in mountainous and remote areas. Local economic development must take into consideration people’s benefits, she said, asking the authorities to boost communications campaigns to raise public awareness of the Party’s policies and the State’s laws. The same day, Ngan paid a visit to the high-quality shrimp farming complex of the Viet – Uc Seafood Corporation, which spans 315 ha in Hiep Thanh commune, Bac Lieu city. It is set to become a concentrated material area for production and processing for export, contributing to turning Bac Lieu into a hub of Vietnam’s shrimp industry. The NA Chairwoman also visited a coastal wind power plant in Vinh Trach Dong commune, Bac Lieu city, the biggest energy project in the locality. The plant became operational in early 2018 with a total capacity of 99.2 MW. As part of her working visit to Bac Lieu, Ngan visited and gifted local policy beneficiary families. Cambodian Deputy PM visits historical sites in Binh Phuoc   Cambodia’s Deputy Prime Minister Tea Banh visits a relic site in Binh Phuoc province on June 20  Cambodia’s Deputy Prime Minister Tea Banh has affirmed that Vietnam’s wholehearted assistance during wartime helped Cambodia defeat the Pol Pot genocidal regime and regain peace. Deputy PM Tea Banh, who is also Minister of National Defence, made the remarks during his talk with local residents in Loc Tan and Loc Thanh communes in Loc Ninh district as he visited several historical sites in southern Binh Phuoc province on June 20 to mark 41 years of “the path to overthrow the Pol Pot genocidal regime.” The Cambodian delegation called at places where Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen hid his weapons, met the first Vietnamese person who led him to local militia and enjoyed his first meal in Vietnam 41 years ago. Deputy PM Tea Banh thanked the Party Organisation, administration and people of Binh Phuoc in general and Loc Ninh district in particular for building a communal house in Thanh Tay hamlet with funding donated by PM Hun Sen, and preserving his keepsakes at the house. These are important keepsakes of the Cambodian people during their struggle to topple the Pol Pot genocidal regime for the country’s revival, he said. Secretary of the Party Committee of Loc Ninh district Tran Thi Anh Tuyet congratulated the Cambodia leaders and people on the 41st anniversary of “the path to overthrow the Pol Pot genocidal regime.” She also affirmed that fine relations between Vietnam and Cambodia as well as between Binh Phuoc and Cambodia’s border provinces will be lasting forever. Before visiting the historical sites, Deputy PM Tea Banh had a talk with military officers, officials and people of Vietnam and Cambodia. PM meets veteran journalists on revolutionary press day   Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (front, fourth, right) and representatives of press agencies pose for a photo at the meeting in Hanoi on June 20  Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc met with veteran journalists and leaders of media agencies across the country in Hanoi on July 20 on the occasion of the 93th anniversary of the Vietnam Revolutionary Press Day (June 21). The PM highlighted that over the past 93 years, under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the Vietnam revolutionary press has been a major force playing an important role in the field of ideology and culture. The sector has achieved great progress over the past years and made significant contributions to the revolutionary cause of the Party as well as the national construction and defence, he said. The Government leader praised the press sector for reporting on the domestic and world situation in a full and timely manner, covering all aspects of life and society and discovering new factors and effective models in various fields. The media has honoured good examples and countered wrongful arguments and distorted information, contributing to fighting corruption, wastefulness, protecting the national sovereignty, promoting external relations, and combating degradation in morality and lifestyle, thus strengthening social consensus, noted the PM. Accompanying the cause of renewal and national development, the Vietnam revolutionary press has developed diverse media forms, including printed newspaper, radio, television, e-paper, and multimedia, he said. With a strong force of nearly 850 media agencies and more than 18,000 reporters having press cards, and a Vietnam Journalists’ Association with more than 22,000 members, the Vietnam revolutionary press has been a vanguard force on the ideology battlefield. Many journalists have set bright examples in devoting their life for the national construction and defence. “We are deeply moved by the many journalists who died or get injured while performing their job in peaceful time, most recently Dinh Huu Du from the Vietnam News Agency who died when covering flood and storm situation in Yen Bai,” stated the PM. He also expressed hope that media agencies will show better performance in implementing their tasks of communications assigned by the Party, State and people.  PM Phuc stressed that the current domestic and world situation requires journalists to continue renovating and exerting more efforts in order to keep their role and position in guiding public opinion and contributing more to the national construction and defence in the new period. In the context of deeper international integration of the country and strong development of the information and communication technology, media staff should quickly get access to new communications technology and methods. “The press, in any forms, should be sharp-witted and keep updated on new technology,” he added. Zimbabwe, Vietnam should build on traditional ties: President   Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa  (R) and Vietnamese Ambassador to South Africa and Zimbabwe Vu Dang Dung   Zimbabwe and Vietnam should further promote their traditional relationship and gradually turn it into special cooperative ties, especially in trade, investment and education, Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa has said.  The Zimbabwean leader made the suggestion during a reception on June 19 for Vietnamese Ambassador to South Africa and Zimbabwe Vu Dang Dung when the Vietnamese diplomat presented his letter of credentials to him. At the meeting, Mnangagwa affirmed that his country and Vietnam are always comrades and brothers in their struggles for national liberation in the past and in the process of national construction and development at present.  For his part, Ambassador Dung conveyed President Tran Dai Quang's invitation to visit Vietnam to the Zimbabwean President. He said that Vietnam always cares about the stability and development of Zimbabwe, and wished the country success in its upcoming general election.  The Vietnamese diplomat informed the host about the outcomes of his meeting with Zimbabwean Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Sibusiso Moyo on June 18.  Accordingly, Zimbabwe supports Vietnam’s candidacy for a non-permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council in 2020-2021. It also backs Vietnam’s stance that all disputes in the East Sea should be solved by peaceful means through negotiations and diplomatic and legal processes, with full respect for international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (1982 UNCLOS), and the strictly enforcement of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties (DOC), towards the early conclusion of the Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).  The two sides agreed to hold negotiations towards the signing of an agreement on visa exemption for diplomatic and official passport holders of the two countries; and consider granting visa at border gates for Vietnamese tourists.  The Vietnamese Ambassador suggested upgrading the bilateral cooperation mechanism between the two countries’ foreign ministries from the Working Group level to the deputy ministerial level Partnership Forum to foster the bilateral ties. Vietnam, Japan to bolster parliamentary ties, promote CPTPP   Chairman of the National Assembly’s Committee for External Affairs Nguyen Van Giau (left) and Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono.  Chairman of the National Assembly’s Committee for External Affairs Nguyen Van Giau visited Tokyo on June 19 and 20 to tighten cooperation with the Japanese legislature on a range of issues, including economic ties and the ratification of the CPTPP.   The official had working sessions with Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the Japanese House of Representatives Yasuhide Nakayama, Foreign Minister Taro Kono, and Cabinet minister in charge of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) Toshimitsu Motegi during the stay.  During the meetings, both sides shared the view that the bilateral relationship is developing fruitfully within the framework of the extensive strategic partnership, for peace and prosperity in Asia.  They took note of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s visit to Vietnam on the occasion of his attendance at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in 2017, the official visit to Vietnam by Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko last year and the most recent visit to Japan by President Tran Dai Quang in May 2018.  The two sides agreed to reinforce the friendship and comprehensive cooperation in the time to come.  Giau underlined that the bilateral economic-trade cooperation is at its best ever, with Japan being the top economic partner of Vietnam.  Two-way trade exceeding 33.4 billion USD in 2017, and Japan’s direct investment in Vietnam, at over 9 billion USD, made up 25 percent of the total foreign direct investment (FDI) poured in the country that year.  As of the end of 2017, Japanese investors had run 3,700 FDI projects worth 50 billion USD, he said, noting symbolic projects like Can Tho and Nhat Tan bridges, and projects on upgrading Noi Bai and Tan Son Nhat international airports.  Apart from the enhanced collaboration in education, training, employment and people-to-people exchange, the bilateral legislative ties have also been stepped up, as reflected through high-level visits by leaders of the two legislatures, exchanges between parliamentarians, and mutual support at multilateral inter-parliamentary forums.  The Japanese side said the legislative ties have become an important factor contributing to the comprehensive cooperation. Japan also affirmed support for stronger cooperation with Vietnam, with attention paid to economy, trade and high-quality personnel training.  Japanese officials expressed their backing of the viewpoints and stance of Vietnam and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) regarding the East Sea issue, emphasising the need to maintain freedom, security and safety of navigation and aviation on the basis of respect for international law.  Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the Japanese House of Representatives Yasuhide Nakayama described Giau’s visit as a new step forward in maintaining and developing the bilateral legislative ties and concretising agreements reached by leaders of the two legislative bodies in 2015 and 2017.  Regarding the CPTPP, the two sides agreed that the signing of the deal is an important event bearing great significance for curbing the spreading trend of trade protectionism.  They said the ratification and implementation of the agreement is expected to create a strong boost for regional and global trade.  Giau lauded the pioneer role played by Japan, the second country to ratify the deal, and asked Japan to share its experience with Vietnam in the ratification process and provide technical support for Vietnam in implementing the pact.  Foreign Minister Taro Kono appreciated Vietnam’s efforts and Vietnam-Japan cooperation during the process of negotiation and signing the CPTPP, and stressed the importance of free trade and free navigation in the region and the world.  The Vietnamese NA official also discussed with his Japanese hosts the role of the parliament’s committee for foreign affairs in supervising the implementation of bilateral agreements and international deals to which both countries are members. VNN