Weekly digest – January 19-25

Party, State leaders hail VN- Lao  relations

Party Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong hosted a reception for Secretary of the Central Committee of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Chansy Phosikham.

The Vietnamese Party leader highlighted recent effective cooperation between the two Commissions, expressing hopes that they will continue to work closely, sharing experience in party building and personnel and training work, as well as enhancing mutual support for implementing the Party Congress resolutions of each country.

Chansy Phosikham expressed his appreciation for the Vietnamese State and its people for their significant support to Laos in the past and currently.

Meanwhile, President Truong Tan Sang extolled the growing traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Viet Nam and Laos while receiving Lao Deputy Prime Minister Somsavad Lengsavat in Ha Noi.

The Lao Deputy PM briefed his host on the results of the recent 37th meeting of the Viet Nam-Laos Intergovernmental Committee in Ha Noi.

VN, Uruguay enhance legislative cooperation

Viet Nam wants to strengthen cooperation with Uruguay's law-making body in bilateral relations and at international forums.

National Assembly (NA) Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung made that statement at his talks with President of the Chamber of Deputies of the General Assembly of the Eastern Republic of Uruguay Aníbal Pereyra.

Mr. Aníbal Pereyra committed to tightening the relationship between the two nations and two National Assemblies, identifying Asia, including Viet Nam, as holding a strategic position in the current integration and development process.

After the talks, the two leaders signed a cooperative agreement between the two legislative agencies.
 
Vatican Cardinal Fernando Filoni welcomed
 
PM Nguyen Tan Dung affirmed the Government of Viet Nam always respects and ensures citizens’ right to freedom of belief and religion, during his reception for Cardinal Fernando Filoni, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.
 
The Government chief expressed his belief that the Vatican Cardinal’s visit to Viet Nam would help him to understand more about the country, people, religious policies and life of Catholic followers in Viet Nam.
 
Cardinal Fernando Filoni congratulated on the achievements gained by Viet Nam, saying that dialogues will make every relation better.
 
He said that the establishment of diplomatic ties betwen Viet Nam and the Holy See will become real.

PM welcomes Danish trade minister

PM Nguyen Tan Dung greeted Danish Minister for Trade and Development Cooperation Mogens Jensen, assuring him that the Government always facilitate operations of foreign enterprises, including Danish firms working in Viet Nam.

Minister Jensen, for his part, affirmed that Denmark has always valued cooperation with Viet Nam across sectors, and hopes that the upcoming Viet Nam-EU FTA will boost economic development in both countries.

The minister reiterated his willingness to continue supporting Viet Nam in climate change response, environmental protection, and green technology, and vowed to assist the Vietnamese community living in Denmark.

NA Standing Committee discusses IPU-132 organization

The National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee gave comments on the preparations for the132nd General Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU-132), which will be held from March 28-April 1, 2015.

The Ha Noi Declaration, expected to be ratified at the IPU, will be used as an official document to table to the Summit of top officials of legislative agencies in August 2015 and the United Nations in September 2015.

Forest inventory, supervision project added more capital

The PM has agreed to supplement VND319.699 billion to launch a forest inventory and supervision project in 25 provinces in the 2014-2015 phase.

The PM also decided to allocate VND495.5 billion for the Ministry of Health and other localities from the expenditure of the EU Health Sector Policy Support Program to help mountainous and disadvantaged areas to improve criteria in the five-year-plan of the health sector and reduce hospital overloads in the 2012-2020 phase.

Celebrations to mark 40 years of VN-Germany ties

A myriad of political and socio-cultural activities will be held in Viet Nam during 2015 to mark the 40th anniversary of Viet Nam-Germany diplomatic ties (September 23, 1975 - September 9, 2015), according to the German Embassy in Viet Nam.

During this year, the embassy will coordinate with the Vietnamese Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to organise concerts, painting exhibitions, fairs and film screenings in Ha Noi, Ho Chi Minh City and many other localities nationwide.
 
Petrol price experiences sharp cut

The Viet Nam National Petroleum Group (Petrolimex) reduced retail prices for a number of fuel types since 16:00, January 21.

Retail price of RON 95 petrol was slashed by VND1,900 down to VND16,270 per litre.

The reduction brought the price of A92 petrol down to VND15,670 per litre from the previous VND17,570 per litre.

Meanwhile, diesel prices were reduced by VND1,460, resulting in a cost between VND15,120 and VND15,170 per litre.

                                                                                                        By Vien Nhu