Weekly press digest – April 14-20
PM promises best support to fisheries sector
The Government will issue a decree offering more support to the country’s fisheries sector, putting it on a fast and sustainable road to growth, PM Nguyen Tan Dung has promised.
Speaking at a conference on the development of the seafood industry in the central city of Da Nang on April 15, PM Dung called for closer State management and better policies, particularly in credit, insurance, export and infrastructure, for fishermen.
He said new partnerships should come up, such as cooperatives and trade unions, in order to create a value chain.
The Government will do its best to facilitate trade and expand the seafood market, he confirmed.
VN establishes fisheries surveillance force
Viet Nam has set up a fisheries suveillance force (FSF) to ensure the fishing law enforcement at sea.The force is also tasked to monitor and manage fisheries resources in a sustainable manner, as well as ensuring safety for vessels and fishermen.
The force made debut in the central coast city of Da Nang on April 15 at a ceremony held by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development(MARD).
VN withdraws hosting of ASIAD
PM Nguyen Tan Dung has decided to withdraw from hosting the 18th Asian Games (ASIAD-18), which is slated for Ha Noi in 2019, according to the Prime Minister’s Office on April 17.
The Office released the conclusion on the hosting of ASIAD-18 of the PM who assigned relevant agencies to work with the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) and relating partners on the option of withdrawing the hosting of the event.
While the country has no experience in organising big sports events like ASIAD, the hosting has not been prepared thoroughly, accordingly to the conclusion.
ASEAN ministers seek to promote cultural identity
Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh has called on ASEAN Cultural Ministers to introduce initiatives to build the grouping’s cultural identity, develop the cultural industry and properly exploit heritage examples for economic development and poverty reduction.
Addressing the 6th meeting of the ASEAN Ministers Responsible for Culture & Art (AMCA) in Hue city on April 19, Minh stressed that ASEAN needs to draw up a culture and art development strategy beyond 2015 after the ASEAN Community is formed, with a particular focus on improving people’s enjoyment and involvement in culture-art innovation.
It is necessary to expand cooperation and connectivity between culture and art institutions and universities within ASEAN to share experience and improve the quality of education, he said.
President receives US Senate President Pro Tempore
President Truong Tan Sang has lauded the US’s commitment to strengthening its long-term cooperation for peace, stability, cooperation and development in the Asia-Pacific.
At the April 18 reception for US Senate President Pro Tempore Patrick Leahy and his entourage in HaNoi, President Sang confirmed that Viet Nam attaches much importance to the development of its ties with the US, always seeing the country as its top partner.
He said the time is ripe for the two countries to bolster their partnership as they are sharing a string of bilateral, regional and global interests in terms of economics, the maintenance of regional peace and stability, climate change issues and anti-terrorism.
VN, UK talk financial cooperation
Deputy PM Vu Van Ninh on April 15 (local time) visited the City of London, one of the world’s leading financial centers to spur financial linkups.
Meeting with Lord Mayor of the City of London Fiona Woolf, Deputy PM Ninh said that Viet Nam hopes to learn from the City of London to develop the financial system in a transparent manner and mobilize resources particularly via the PPP model.
For her part, Ms. Fiona Woolf also wanted to share experience and boost cooperation in restructuring the banking system.
PM issues anti-measles telegram
PM Nguyen Tan Dung on April 16 sent an important telegram asking ministries, agencies and localities to take new tough measures to combat the spread of measles and minimise fatalities.
The Health Ministry is responsible for timely diagnosing and providing treatment for infected cases to reduce fatalities.
PM Dung also asked for adequate supply of vaccines, drugs and medical equipment to save measles patients and control the spread of the disease.
Leaders of provinces and centrally-run cities were requested to work closely with the Health Ministry to take necessary quarantine measures, give measles vaccination to high-risk groups, and grant financial assistance to patients in need.
NA committee discusses 2012 budget, casino business
Members of the National Assembly Standing Committee on April 17 focused their discussions on reviewing the 2012 State budget balance and the issuance of a decree on casino business activities.
They agreed with the Government’s report on the budget issue, saying that ministries, agencies and localities performed well in their budget collection, planning and spending.
According to the Government report, budget revenue exceeded the estimates set by the NA by 1.9%, ensuring resources for State management, the implementation of socio-economic development goals and maintenance of defence and security.
Hue Festival 2014 wraps up with grand closing ceremony
The 2014 Hue Festival officially concluded this evening after nine days of animated festivities in Hue city, central Thua Thien–Hue province, leaving deep impressions in the hearts of domestic and foreign tourists.
The festival, the eighth of its kind, was an exemplary cultural and arts event imbued with the cultural identities of Viet Nam and Hue during the nation's active and enthusiastic global integration.
The biennial festival, which took place from April 12-20, attracted the participation of approximately 2.4 million people, entertaining them with a colourful and bustling atmosphere that resulted from the nearly 100 performances put on by 66 artist delegations from 38 countries.
About 230,000 tourists stayed in hotels, representing a 25% increase over the 2012 event. 100,000 of these were foreign tourists from 115 countries and territories around the world.
A wide range of activities were held during the nine-day festival, including the 6th Meeting of the ASEAN Ministers responsible for Culture and Arts (AMCA 6), the International Dance Festival, the 2014 International Food Festival, the Ao Dai Festival and the 'Dem Phuong Dong' (Orient Night) fashion show, among others.
Viet Nam’s First Book Day launched
April 21 was designated as Viet Nam Book Day, aiming to highlight the importance of books and reading culture.
A launching ceremony was held on April 19 in Ha Noi to announce a decision of the PM.
The event looks to raise awareness of all social strata, especially youth, about developing the habit of book reading.
Remediation of dioxin contamination begins at Da Nang airport
Vietnamese Deputy Defense Minister Nguyen Chi Vinh and US Senate President Pro Tempore Patrick Leahy on Saturday launched a thermal treatment system of a dioxin remediation project at Da Nang airport.
The US$84 million project was funded by the US Government and aimed at cleaning up 73,000 cubic meters of dioxin –contaminated land in the central city.
Addressing the launching ceremony, Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh highlighted the great significance of the project.
The event showed the due attention and invaluable support of the US in general and Senator Leahy in particular in assisting Viet Nam in resolving post-war issues.
A Vietnamese confirmed missing in RoK ferry disaster
Five-year-old girl Kwon Ji-yeon, the youngest passenger saved from a ferry disaster off the Republic of Korea’s coast on April 16, has been confirmed as a child of the Vietnam-RoK multicultural family.
According to the Vietnamese Embassy and the police from Busan city, Kwon Ji-yeon’s mother is Phan Ngoc Thanh, born in 1985 in the southernmost province of Ca Mau . Thanh got married and naturalised in the RoK last July under the name “Han Yun Ji”, with two children: the 6-year-old boy Kwon Hyuk-kyu and Kwon Ji-yeon./.
