POLITICS IN BRIEF 15/8

August 15, 2009
Vietnamnet

Mr Manh (R) shook hand with the NZ ambassador. (Photo: VNA)


Party leader receives outgoing NZ ambassador

Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh received the outgoing New Zealand ambassador to Vietnam, James Kember, in Hanoi on August 14.

Mr Manh expressed his pleasure at the growing ties between Vietnam and New Zealand recently and said that Vietnam wants to further strengthen its friendship and cooperation with New Zealand, both bilaterally and multilaterally.

He thanked the ambassador for his practical contributions to developing friendship and multi-faceted cooperation between the two countries.

Vietnam joins countries to cope with oil spills
The Prime Minister has ratified a plan to implement a joint statement and a framework programme between Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand on oil spill response in the Gulf of Thailand for the 2009-2015 period.

The Prime Minister has ratified a plan to implement a joint statement and a framework programme between Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand on oil spill response in the Gulf of Thailand for the 2009-2015 period.

The plan aims to build a better sea environment and resource management system, train human resources, and assess the risks involved in oil spill prevention, preparedness and response within Vietnam’s waters.

Under the plan, Vietnam will also work with Cambodia , Thailand and related individuals and organisations to cope with and clean up oil spills in the Gulf of Thailand to mitigate environmental pollution in conformity with the regulations defined in the joint statement and the framework programme.

The plan will cover five missions relating to oil spill preparedness and response jointly implemented by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the Ministry of Transport, the National Committee for Search and Rescue and the Vietnam Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam).

Vietnam supports Myanmar's efforts for reconciliation
A Vietnamese representative to the United Nations has voiced Vietnam's support for Myanmar's efforts to achieve democratisation and national reconciliation.

Ambassador Le Luong Minh, Head of the Vietnamese Delegation to the UN, made the confirmation in an interview with Vietnam News Agency after the UN Security Council (UNSC) on August 14 released a statement on the Myanmar situation, expressing “deep concern” about the sentence given to Aung San Suu Kyi. Myanmar’s opposition leader received an extended detention of 18 months under house arrest.

Ambassador Minh reiterated that Vietnam has been consistent with its stance of non-interference in the domestic affairs of a sovereign country.

He noted that to bring their country out of instability, the Myanmar Government and people have been implementing a seven-step democratisation and national reconciliation roadmap, which has gained support from ASEAN, the UN and the international community.

“Vietnam supports the Myanmar Government and people’s efforts to follow the aforementioned seven-step roadmap,” Ambassador Minh said, emphasising the country’s backing of ASEAN and the UN’s cooperation and assistance to Myanmar towards democratisation and national reconciliation for re-establishment of stability and development.

The ambassador also emphasised the country’s support for the UN General Secretary’s intermediary role in this issue and affirmed that Myanmar’s future lies in the hands of its people.
Tuyen Quang urged to fully tap potential
The northern mountainous province of Tuyen Quang should make the best of its potential, with priority given to agriculture, livestock breeding, aquaculture, rubber plantation, forestry and tourism, said Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.

Working with provincial authorities during a visit on August 14, Mr Dung said Tuyen Quang should apply technological advances in agro-forestry and fisheries to increase output and the quality of products and help farmers earn stable incomes.

He urged the province to iron out snags in business and production and effectively implement government measures to prevent an economic slowdown.

He asked the province to develop its industries, especially hydro power, mining, paper and building materials. To this end, Tuyen Quang should offer more investment incentives in all economic sectors while keeping environmental pollution in check, he said.

The PM instructed the province to better implement poverty reduction programmes and increase the quality of education and training by developing its system of vocational schools.

At the working session, Mr Dung and ministers responded to proposals made by provincial authorities concerning road projects, irrigation works and a railway route linking Thai Nguyen, Yen Bai and Tuyen Quang provinces, and adjustments to the administrative boundary of several districts.

Over the past three years, Tuyen Quang has achieved a GDP growth rate of 13 percent. Last year, its per capita income reached nearly VND9 million, double the 2005 figure.

Great national unity encouraged
A conference was held in Hanoi on August 14 to review the results of implementing a Party resolution on promoting the combined strength of national great unity bloc to achieve a goal of a prosperous people, a strong country and an equitable, democratic and civilised society.

Truong Tan Sang, a permanent member of the Party Central Committee Secretariat, noted that over the past five years, under a banner of national unity, a great source of strength has been constituted, helping Vietnam to fulfil many important national goals. The country has maintained political stability, achieved relatively high economic growth and created a broad consensus in society, thereby elevating its status in the world arena.

He asked delegates to focus on creating a new driving force behind great national unity to consistently reflect the nature of socialism in Vietnam, where power belongs to the people and the interests of the people are paramount.

A number of delegates proposed that the Party add the phrase “the people enjoy” to the existing motto “the people know, the people discuss, the people do and the people inspect” to make it more realistic.

They stressed the need to strengthen a worker-peasant-intelligentsia alliance to form the core of the great national unity bloc.
VietNamNet/VOV