Weekly press digest – July 14-20

Meeting discusses draft political report for 12th Party Congress

A meeting was convened in Ha Noi on July 19 to discuss the draft political report of the 11th tenure Party Central Committee (PCC) for the 12th Party Congress.

The meeting was chaired by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and saw the participation of members of the report’s drafting board, including State President Truong Tan Sang, National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung, Politburo members and PCC Secretaries.

Politburo member Dinh The Huynh, also PCC secretary, head of the PCC Commission for Communication and Education and deputy head of the Party report’s drafting committee, delivered a report with a detailed outline and plan on composing the Party’s report.

After that, the drafting board’s members discussed and contributed ideas about the 12th Party Congress’ subjects and directive guidelines, as well as the political report’s contents and structure.

Ceremony marks 60th anniversary of 1954 Geneva agreement

A ceremony was held in Ha Noi on July 18 to mark the 60 th anniversary of the Geneva Agreement (July 20, 1954-2014) – a significant milestone in the national struggle for indendence and freedom.

The agreement on ceasefire in Viet Nam was an important step forward in the country’s struggle for liberation, affirming Vietnamese people’s desire for peace, national independence, sovereignty, unification and territorial integrity, he said.

The document created a legal foundation and a spiritual encouragement, as well, for Vietnamese people to win victory in their struggle for complete national liberation, added President Sang.

VN determined to safeguard sea and island sovereignty: PM

Viet Nam is always determined to struggle for nation’s sacred sovereignty via collective strength and appropriate measures in accordance with international law, said PM Nguyen Tan Dung when presiding over the Government's thematic meeting on law building.

Leaders of the Ministries of National Defence and Foreign Affairs reported on the latest developments regarding China’s illegal rig placement in Viet Nam’s waters.

PM Dung underlined that Viet Nam always attaches importance to the fine friendship and cooperation with China on the basis of mutual equality, respect, benefit and development. 

Viet Nam stands ready to work with China and related sides to negotiate in a peaceful manner and resolve the issue in the East Sea in accordance with international law, he stated.

PM requests open and transparent petrol prices

PM Nguyen Tan Dung on July 15 in Ha Noi had a working session with leaders of the Ministries of Finance and Industry and Trade on management of petrol prices in the first half of 2014 and orientations for the rest of the year.

Over the past six months, the two ministries coordinated to adjust the domestic price in a flexible manner in accordance with the market mechanism and use financial instruments to rein in rising prices. 

Since the beginning of the year, the two ministries have permitted petrol retailers to adjust prices 10 times following the world market. 

Action program on sustainable economic development issued

The Government has recently released an action program to implement the Party Central Committee’s resolution on rapid and sustainable economic development. 

The resolution was passed at the 4th plenum of the 10th Party Central Committee on some major guidelines and policies for rapid and sustainable economic development after Viet Nam becomes a member of the World Trade Organization. 

The action program was composed on the basis of reviewing, updating and supplementing contents and tasks when Viet Nam is carrying out the Socio-Economic Development Strategy (2011-2020) which chiefly focuses on economic restructuring, growth model transformation, and comprehensive international integration. 

Government discusses law construction

The Government convened a Cabinet meeting on law-building work on July 16 and 17 under the chair of Prime Minister, Nguyen Tan Dung.

The Cabinet heard reports about draft amendments and supplements to the Government Organisation and Accounting Law, as well as draft laws on Local Authority Organisation, Population and Legal Document Promulgation.

PM directs response to Storm Rammasun

PM Nguyen Tan Dung issued a Telegraph asking ministries, agencies and localities to focus on coping with Storm Rammasun.

Accordingly, the provincial and municipal People’s Committees and related ministries, agencies and localities postponed unnecessary meetings to cope with the storm, closely follow the happenings of the storm and launch synchronously measures to limit damages.

WB President Jim Yong Kim visits VN

The World Bank President, Jim Yong Kim met with Party General Secretary, Nguyen Phu Trong, State President, Truong Tan Sang and PM Nguyen Tan Dung on July 17 during his working visit to Viet Nam.

Vietnamese leaders valued WB’s effective assistance to the development of Viet Nam over past years and hoped to receive further support from the bank in the country’s reform process.

On this occasion, Kim and State Bank of Viet Nam Governor, Nguyen Van Binh signed an agreement on providing the country with a total of US$876 million for five projects.

VN pledges effective use of Japanese ODA

The Vietnamese Government always attaches importance to and make every effort to effectively use the official development assistance (ODA) from Japan, Viet Nam’s largest bilateral provider of the source.

The statement was made by Foreign Ministry Spokesman Le Hai Binh in Ha Noi on July 18 in response to reporters’ question on Viet Nam ’s view on the Japanese Foreign Ministry’s press release related to ODA provision for Viet Nam.

“We applaud and highly value the Japanese Government’s active assistance for Viet Nam ’s socio-economic development through ODA provision,” Binh said.

China releases Vietnamese fishermen

China freed 13 Vietnamese fishermen who were seized earlier and they returned home safely.

The Chinese side confiscated one of two seized boats and all fishing tools of the two vessels. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Vietnamese representative agencies in China would continue to work with the Chinese side to resolve the case satisfactorily.

ASEAN strongly condemns downing of Flight MH 17

ASEAN member States on Sunday condemned the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight  MH 17 in Eastern Ukraine on July 17.

They expressed their shock at the tragic deaths of 298 people of multiple nationalities on board the airline.

Typhoon Rammasun kills at least four in VN

Four people were killed and two others are missing after  powerful storm Rammasun swept through the Northern Viet Nam.

The information was released on Sunday at the meeting of the Central Steering Committee for Flood and Storm Prevention and Control.

Of the death toll, three people were thunderstruck in Lao Cai province and one was killed in Lang Son.

Torrential rains caused widespread flooding in Lang Son, bringing all daily activities to a halt.

Quang Ninh was the most affected locality but complete statistics are not available yet.

(Source: VGP/VOV/VNA/Nhandan Online)