Weekly press digest – May 5-11

PM attends ASEAN 24th Summit in Myanmar

PM Nguyen Tan Dung has joined leaders of other member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to discuss the development of the bloc at its 24th Summit, which opened in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar on May 11.

In his opening remarks, Myanmar President U Thein Sein, who is chairing the summit, underscored that solidarity and unity are the strengths needed to ensure the successful building of an ASEAN Community of peace and prosperity by 2015.

He said the association should work out a roadmap with clear orientations for ASEAN Community before 2015 to adapt to global changes.

Peace, stability in East Sea under serious threat, says PM

PM Nguyen Tan Dung highlighted that the peace, stability, security, safety and freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea, the common concern of ASEAN, the region and the world, is under serious threat.

The Vietnamese PM made the remark on May 11 at the 24th ASEAN Summit in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar.

In his keynote speech, PM Dung shared a series of viewpoints on ASEAN’s key issues, including the ASEAN Community Roadmap, the future of ASEAN Community and the bloc’s foreign relations.

Among the above issues, PM Dung especially stressed on regional peace and security and recent complicated and serious developments in the East Sea.

PM Dung announced that since May 1, 2014, China has deployed 80 armed and military ships and aircrafts to accompany China’s drilling rig which was illegally installed in Viet Nam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf. The Chinese ships fired water cannons at and intentionally crashed into the Vietnamese vessels, leading to property damage and human injuries.

PM Dung said that Viet Nam has extremely exercised self-restraint, expressed goodwill and used all channels of dialogues and contacts with all Chinese levels to object and demand China immediately withdraw the oil rig as well as armed and military vessels from Viet Nam’s sea. However, China has not met the legitimate requirements of Viet Nam. China even slandered, imputed the blame to Viet Nam and continued to enhance violations in an increasingly dangerous and serious manner.

Viet Nam attaches special importance to, always spares no effort to maintain and strengthen the fine friendship with China. Viet Nam always hopes to work with China to resolve disputes via peaceful measures on the basis of international law, equality and mutual respect for the sake of the two countries, in favor of regional and international peace and stability. Viet Nam totally opposes violation actions and is determined to protect the national sovereignty and its legitimate rights in accordance with international law, said PM Dung.

ASEAN foreign ministers concerned over East Sea tension

Foreign ministers of the members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on May 10 voiced their concern over the escalating tension in the East Sea, and called on the parties concerned to exercise self-restraint.

In a statement, the ministers also reaffirmed the importance of maintaining peace and stability in the region as well as the bloc’s six-point principles on the East Sea.

ASEAN Foreign Ministers expressed their serious concerns over the on-going developments in the East Sea, which have increased tensions in the area.

“They urged all parties concerned, in accordance with the universally recognised principles of international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), to exercise self-restraint and avoid actions which could undermine peace and stability in the area; and to resolve disputes by peaceful means without resorting to threat or use of force.

VN demands China withdraw from continental shelf

Deputy PM, FM Pham Binh Minh on Tuesday made a phone call to Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi after China illegally deployed a drilling rig and vessels in the oil and gas lot 143 belonging to Viet Nam’s continental shelf since May 1.

Deputy PM, FM Minh stressed that China’s unilateral deployment of the drilling rig HD-981 and a large number of vessels, even military ones, in this area is illegal, runs counter to the international law and practices, seriously violates Viet Nam’s sovereignty over Hoang Sa archipelago and sovereign right and jurisdiction over Viet Nam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf.

This act negatively impacts mutual political trust and cooperation aspects between the two countries and hurts the Vietnamese people’s sentiment.

Party Central Committee convenes 9th session

The Communist Party of Viet Nam Central Committee (CPVCC) convened its ninth session in the morning of May 8 in Ha Noi.

The event will deal with reviewing the implementation of the Central Resolution No. 5 (term XI) on promoting advanced Vietnamese culture with strong national identity, the Party election regulations and the Draft on documents submitted to the 12th Congress of the Party.

The participants will also review the implementation of the non-organization of the People’s Councils at districts and wards and other crucial issues.

Parade celebrates Dien Bien Phu victory

A milatry parade took place on May 7 in Dien Bien city, marking the 60th anniversary of Dien Bien Phu victory.

The event was jointly hosted by the Party Central Committee, the State President, the Government, the National Assembly, the Viet Nam Fatherland Front and the People’s Committee of Dien Bien.

It attracted the attendance of war veterans and youth volunteers who served in Dien Bien Phu campaign.

Lao Deputy PM Asang Laoly, Cambodian Deputy PM Men Samon and General Secretary of Mexico 's Labour Party Senator Alberto Anaya Gutierrez and international guest delegations also joined the event.

Addressing the opening ceremony, on behalf of the Party and State, State President Truong Tan Sang affirmed that “Dien Bien Phu victory is an immortal epic of Vietnamese people. It was attributed to the glorious tradition of the country under the sound leaership of the Communist Party of Viet Nam and great President Ho Chi Minh, the strength of the national unity bloc and the determination of our army and people to fight for national independence and freedom.”

UN Day of Vesak a success

The 2014 UN Day of Vesak successfully wrapped up in the northern province of Ninh Binh with the adoption of a statement highlighting three sustainable development pillars.

The four-day event gathered nearly 1,500 delegates from 95 countries and territories worldwide and more than 20,000 domestic and foreign Buddhist monks, nuns and followers.

Addressing the closing ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc affirmed that the UN Day of Vesak in Viet Nam has become a cultural festival full of national and international solidarity with a message of peace and love on the basis of Buddha’s thought.

He expressed his wish that through this event, the solidarity among countries will be boosted for more practical actions for peace, cooperation and progress of the mankind.

He said he believes that the international community’s fine aspirations reflected in the Ninh Binh Statement will be realised.

VN, US sign nuclear agreement

Vietnam and the US on May 6 officially signed a bilateral agreement on using nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, which marks an important step in the trusted partnership between the two countries in the realm.

Minister of Science and Technology Nguyen Quan and US Ambassador to Vietnam David Shear inked the accord, which is called the 123 Agreement.

This pact was initialed by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh and the US Secretary of State John Kerry on October 10 last year as part of the 23 rd ASEAN summit in Brunei.

The 30-year deal will open up great prospects for both countries to expedite specific cooperation projects in radiation application and the development of nuclear power for the socio-economic growth of each country, said Minister Quan.

WB agrees US$106 mln fund for Vietnamese healthcare

The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors has approved a 106-million USD credit package to help Viet Nam’s health sector improve its management competence and training programmes.

The credit for the Health Professional Education and Training for Health System Reforms Project is hoped to better the capability of primary healthcare teams at grassroots level and help newly-graduated doctors, nurses and other health practitioners improve the skills relevant to the current health needs of the population.

The project is also expected to provide almost 1,300 primary healthcare teams in 15 provinces across the country with comprehensive training and equipment to better address the healthcare needs of their communities.

It will also strengthen health management training and improve the policy-making of the sector’s human resources./.

(Source: VOV/VGP/VNA)