Government News 2/8 Swiss National Day celebrated in HCM City   At the celebration for Swiss National Day  The Consulate General of Switzerland in Ho Chi Minh City on August 1 organised a reception to mark the 727th anniversary of Swiss National Day (August 1). On behalf of the municipal authority, Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee Huynh Cach Mang extended congratulations to the European country, stressing that Switzerland is one of the very first western nations to set up diplomatic ties with Vietnam. The bilateral relations have enjoyed sound developments, particularly in trade and investment collaboration, he said, adding that both sides enjoy huge potential for further cooperation. He underlined that Switzerland is an important investor in Ho Chi Minh City, with 72 projects valued at 604 million USD, saying that direct flights connecting Ho Chi Minh City and Zurich, which is scheduled to commence in the end of this year, will bolster delegation exchange, tourism, and trade between the two sides. Mang affirmed that the city always welcomes and creates favourable conditions for Swiss businesses and people to study, set up and carry out cooperative programmes in various sectors, contributing to developing the bilateral ties in a deep and effective manner. Swiss Consul General Othmar Hardegger, for his part, took the occasion to recall the significance of Swiss National Day which helped turn country from a poor nation to a prosperous one. He expressed his delights at the rosy development in the relations with Vietnam over the past 47 years since the establishment of bilaterlal diplomatic ties. In the recent past, high-level visits have created foundation to bolster cooperation in economy, investment, trade, aviation, education and training, and people diplomacy. The diplomat thanked relevant authorities of the Vietnamese city for supporting Swiss citizens, businesses, and the Consulate General in increasing Switzerland’s presence in Vietnam. He said that it will enhance the bilateral ties and bring benefits to both nations.-VNA Vietnam-Singapore diplomatic ties anniversary marked in HCM City   Singaporean Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City Leow Siu Lin The People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City held a ceremony on August 1 to celebrate the 45th anniversary of Vietnam-Singapore diplomatic ties. Addressing the event, Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Huynh Cach Mang highlighted the continuous growth over the past 45 years of the two countries’ relations in all fields, especially after the ties were lifted to a strategic partnership level in September 2013. Ho Chi Minh City is proud to contribute to the fine relations through the active implementation of cooperative programmes with Singapore in various fields, Mang said. According to him, economic cooperation has been a bright spot in Ho Chi Minh City’s ties with Singapore which is the largest investor and second biggest trade partner of the city. Cooperative programmes in education, and socio-culture have been carried out effectively, thus helping nurture the bilateral solidarity and friendship. He affirmed that Ho Chi Minh City wants to further develop the relationship, particularly in trade, investment, education, culture, science and technology so as to consolidate the Vietnam-Singapore Strategic Partnership, for solidarity, friendship and interests of the two peoples and for peace, stability, and development in the region and the world. Singaporean Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City Leow Siu Lin expressed her delight at Singapore’s top position among foreign investors in the city with over 1,100 projects totalling 10.5 billion USD, mainly in real estate and infrastructure. The country wants to expand its collaboration with the largest economic hub of Vietnam to new areas such as smart technology, she said, adding that its experienced and competent businesses can cooperate with the city in developing and applying smart technologies in urban planning. She took the occasion to thank municipal authorities and offices for their support and collaboration, especially through the organisation of activities to mark the 45th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties such as a painting contest for students, and a Singapore food festival. She showed her belief that the relations between Singapore and Ho Chi Minh City will continued its progress towards a new height. Labour productivity key to Vietnam - Japan Initiative Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Kunio Umeda told the meeting Enhancing Vietnam’s labour productivity is the priority of the Vietnam – Japan Joint Initiative that aims to improve Vietnam’s investment environment, a Japanese diplomat has said. “Vietnam’s labour productivity remains low in Southeast Asia,” Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Kunio Umeda told the meeting to launch the seventh phase of the initiative in Hanoi on July 31. Vietnam needs measures to improve its labour productivity as it is key to sustainable development and international competitiveness. The Vietnam-Japan Joint Initiative was launched in April 2003 as part of joint efforts by the two governments to improve Vietnam’s investment climate and expand Japanese investment in the country. Over the past six phases, more than 470 action plans have been carried out. The seventh phase, scheduled from August 2018 to the end of 2019, aims to cover 10 items, including some left by the previous phase and new contents. Nine have been agreed by Vietnamese and Japanese agencies involved in the phase during the meeting. According to the Japanese Ambassador, the contents of the seventh phase reflect the development of Vietnam’s economy. He expressed his hope the initiative will bring positive outcomes as they aim to improve the living standards of Vietnamese people while enhancing the nation’s international competitiveness. For his part, Minister of the Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung praised efforts made by Vietnamese ministries and agencies and Japanese working groups to reach consensus on the action plan for the seventh phase. The Minister suggested the Vietnam – Japan Joint Initiative carry out the phase with a new approach and implementation method suitable with global integration. Dung also highlighted the significant achievements in growing Vietnam – Japan ties, particularly in 2018, when the two nations mark the 45th anniversary of their relations. “With the signing of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), Vietnam is becoming an attractive destination for businesses, particularly those from Japan,” Dung said.  During the meeting, the Japanese side made 65 policy recommendations, focusing on regulations on investment in Vietnam for foreign investors as prescribed in the Investment Law, the Law on Enterprises, the Land Law and other laws. The recommendations also cover the reform of State enterprises and the stock market, the intensification of industrialisation with international competitiveness, labour and wages, and the legal framework on the public-private partnership (PPP) model. The two sides agreed on three meetings, slated for late 2018, mid 2019 and late 2019 to review the implementation of its seventh phase. Party leader lauds information-education sector CPVCC General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong speaks at the working session General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee (CPVCC) Nguyen Phu Trong lauded achievements made by the CPVCC’s Commission for Information and Education during a working session with its key officials in Hanoi on August 1.  The session took place on the occasion of the 88th anniversary of Traditional Day of information-education sector.  The Party chief said as a think-tank of the CPVCC, the Politburo and Secretariat, the commission plays an important role in Party building in terms of politics and ideology, dissemination of Party viewpoints and guidelines, press and publishing, culture and education.  After the 12th National Party Congress and amidst rapid and complicated developments in the region and the world, the commission and information-education sector have always closely followed the Party’s guidelines, working agendas of the CPVCC, Politburo and Secretariat, scored positive achievements and made important contributions to the country’s common success, he said.  Agreeing with the commission’s report detailing its seven achievements, seven shortcomings and nine key tasks for the near future, the leader said the first task of the commission and the sector is building the Party in terms of politics and ideology, including Marxism-Leninism and Ho Chi Minh Thought, adding that theoretical research, education and dissemination are basic and important issues that decide on orientation to political thought.  According to him, though the press has developed rapidly with rich and effective contents, communications via words of mouth remain tardy while management in news on the Internet is limited.  Moreover, the fight against wrongful and distorted allegations by hostile forces is yet to rally a collective power. He said the fight against corruption, wastefulness and negative behaviors aims to continue staying on the path towards the goal of wealthy people, strong country, and democratic, fair and civilised society.  To that end, the Party must comprise the most outstanding, consistent and intellectual individuals, thus deserving a leader of the revolution and servant of the people.  He said information dissemination, building unity in Party and public consensus is a great responsibility of ideological work, meaning that it is necessary to grasp public thoughts and aspirations to offer timely explanations.  The Party General Secretary lauded the commission for establishing steering boards to step up the fight against wrongful and reactionary opinions by hostile forces, especially amidst the fourth industrial revolution with different flows of thought and information on the Internet, contributing to firmly safeguarding revolutionary guidelines, stance and nature of the Party.  The commission needs to train a contingent of officials to meet demand in the current situation, who are qualified, consistent and absolutely loyal to the Party, he said.  Party committees and authorities at all levels were also urged to join the effort. Speaking at the event, head of the commission Vo Van Thuong said the commission suggested the Politburo issue the Directive No.05-CT/TW on stepping up the campaign on studying and following thoughts, morality and lifestyle of Ho Chi Minh and documents guiding the implementation of the Directive during the tenure of the 12th National Party Congress.  The commission has also improved the quality of reports submitted to the Politburo and Secretariat, the efficiency of political ideology and paid attention to educating Party history in sectors and localities, towards gradually realising the Resolution of the 12th National Party Congress and other resolutions of the congresses of Party organisations at all levels. Positive progresses have been seen in political orientations to press and publishing activities, culture and arts, thus bringing Party guidelines and policies, and State laws into life.  Localities have paid heed to the preservation and development of traditional cultural values, traditional festivals in tandem with tourism attraction and socio-economic development.  Over the past years, Party and State guidelines and policies have also been disseminated abroad so that international friends and overseas Vietnamese communities could better understand about Vietnam.  It directed ministries and agencies to monitor the implementation of resolutions and directives regarding education-training, science-technology, environment, health care, population and social welfare. Information-education units from the grassroots to central level have oriented public opinions on issues of public concern, fought acts that took advantage of abusing democracy, human rights and religion to divide the nation and incite riots. VNN