Weekly digest – July 23-31

Re-elected State President sworn in

With a majority of vote, Mr. Tran Dai Quang was re-elected as State President of Viet Nam in the 2016-2021 tenure.

Mr. Quang got 485 votes (accounting for 98.18%) out of 487 NA deputies present at the plenary session on July 25 to keep his post as the State President in the next five years.

He was officially sworn in as State President, swearing to be loyal to the nation, people and the Constitution and promising to intensify efforts to effectively fulfill entrusted tasks.

Re-elected PM’s messages at swearing-in ceremony

Legislators of the newly-formed National Assembly on Tuesday re-elected Mr. Nguyen Xuan Phuc as Prime Minister of Viet Nam in the tenure 2016-2021 with 485 approval votes, or 98.18%.

At the swearing-in ceremony which took place after the election, PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc pledged to be absolutely loyal to the Fatherland, the people, and the Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, and to make all-out efforts to fulfill the duties assigned by the Party, State and people.

PM Phuc committed to improving the efficiency of State-owned enterprises, reforming administrative procedures, and creating an environment conducive to business development, especially private, small and medium enterprises.

Party, State leaders pay tribute to heroic martyrs

A delegation of high-ranking Vietnamese leaders laid wreaths and paid tribute to heroic martyrs at the Monument to Heroic Martyrs in Ha Noi on July 27 on the occasion of the 69th National War Invalids and Martyrs’ Day.

Delegates expressed their gratitude to martyrs who bravely struggled and sacrificed for the national liberation, independence and freedom and happiness of people.

They then paid tribute to President Ho Chi Minh at his Mausoleum.

Legislature approves appointment of DPMs, Cabinet members

With 97.37% of approval votes, the 14th National Assembly on July 28 adopted a Resolution ratifying the Prime Minister’s proposal on appointing Deputy Prime Ministers for the tenure 2016-2021.

The legislators also voted to approve the Government chief’s appointment of Ministers and other Cabinet member.

Deputy PM meets foreign ministers on AMM 49 sidelines

Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh had separate meetings with foreign ministers from other countries on the margins of the 49th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM 49) in Laos.

At a meeting with Thailand’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Don Pramudwinai on July 25, the diplomats gave positive evaluations on the new progress in the two countries’ strategic partnership and agreed to convene a joint committee meeting at the end of 2016 to discuss concrete measures to improve cooperation efficiency.

Earlier on July 24, Deputy PM Pham Binh Minh had a bilateral meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea (RoK) Yun Byung-se after attending the 6th Mekong-Republic of Korea (RoK) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.

At a meeting with Australian Minister of Foreign Affairs Julie Bishop, the two sides expressed their delight at the remarkable strides in various fields in the two countries’ comprehensive partnership, and agreed to maximiseefforts to bring the bilateral relations to a new height.

VN protests Taiwan’s violation of Spratly

Viet Nam resolutely protests the visits of Taiwanese officials to Ba Binh (Itu Aba) feature area and demands Taiwan not to repeat those violations and contribute to maintaining peace and stability in the East Sea, said Foreign Ministry Spokesman Le Hai Binh.

Spokesperson Binh made the point on July 28 in responding to a reporter’s question on Viet Nam’s stance on the Taiwanese officials’ visits.

All activities carried out by foreign sides in these areas without Viet Nam’s permission are illegal,” stated the Spokesman.

Typhoon Mirinae causes one death in HN

Typhoon Mirinae, the first hitting Viet Nam this year, on July 28 slammed into Ha Noi, Hai Phong City, Thai Binh, Nam Dinhand Quang Ninh Provinces, causing strong winds, flooding numerous streets, destroying cars, and collapsing 537 trees.

According to the Road and Railway Traffic Police Division of Ha Noi, the typhoon killed one person and injured five others in Ha Noi's outlying Phu Xuyen district.

The typhoon also triggered power outages in Thai Binh, Nam Dinh, Ha Nam, Thanh Hoa and Ninh Binh provinces, and floods and landslides in mountainous provinces.

By Thuy Dung