Festival celebrates 78th year of Vietnam Fatherland Front

Party General Secretary Nong Duc Many said solidarity was essential to overcoming challenges, at a festival in Hanoi on Nov. 16 celebrating the Great National Solidarity.

President Nguyen Minh Triet was also present at the festival to commemorate the 78 th year of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (formerly the Vietnam National United Front).

Speakers at the festival reviewed the nation’s tradition of solidarity and assessed the implementation of a movement mobilising citizens to unite and build a more cultured lifestyle in residential areas, as well as the Day for the Poor. Individuals and organisations recognised for their achievements in the patriotic emulation movement were also commended.

Gifts were also presented to heroic mothers, the elderly, revolutionary veterans and poor households.

Speaking at the ceremony, Manh lauded the spirit of solidarity to build a more cultured life in residential areas and localities, the efforts to enhance care for those credited with merits in nation-building and defence and the good examples in building happy families and bringing up children.

Solidarity is a precious tradition of Vietnam, Manh said. With solidarity and all-out efforts, positive changes have been made in curbing inflation, stabilising the economy, ensuring social welfare, and achieving steady and sustainable growth, he added.

He urged officials at all levels to take part in the festival because it was a good chance for them to listen to the people’s ideas and wishes and to better understand the people’s strength.-

Ca Mau improves drainage, water supply systems

The Mekong delta province of Ca Mau has poured 300 billion VND (17.6 million USD) in upgrading the drainage and water supply systems of Ca Mau city.

Under the Italian government-funded project, over 30 inner roads will be upgraded to secure the operation of the city’s drainage and water supply systems, which were built for a century and have been seriously degraded.

The project, expected to finish in the first quarter of 2009, is one of dozens of major projects in preparations for the city to transfer from urban of third grade to second grade by 2010.-

Tax law revised to meet WTO requirements

– The revised Special Consumption Tax Law, which was approved by the 12 th National Assembly on Nov. 14, contains major changes to regulations related to tax payers and tax rates imposed on several products.

Finance Minister Vu Van Ninh said the amendment to the law aims to ensure accordance with Vietnam ’s WTO commitments, two years after the country joined the organisation, and to catch up with socio-economic development and create new revenue streams for the State budget.

The revised law, to take effect on April 1 next year, adds vehicles of less than 24 seats, tobacco products, motorbikes of 125cc or higher, airplanes and private yachts to the list of taxation.

Regarding automobiles, the Finance Ministry said that in recognition of the fact that the overuse of fossil fuels has become a hot global issue, it is necessary to impose tax levels in accordance with engine capacity to promote the use of less fuel and to curb environmental pollution. The current tax rates on automobiles are based on the number of seats.

While raising the rate of tax levied on cars with a high engine capacity, the revised law stipulates low tax levels to be applied to cars that use environmentally-friendly fuels.

Among the types of business to be subjected to a raise in tax rates is golf, with golf services now taxed at 20 percent, double the current rate.

The Finance Ministry explained that the change is made taking into account the present situation where many localities follow each other in building golf courses that only serve a tiny portion of the population, resulting in less acreage for farming and negative impacts on the environment.

The revised law also officially states that commodities that are exported from or imported to non-tariff areas, and used in and transported between these areas will not be subjected to special taxes.

In accordance with WTO commitments, the revised law also applies a single tax level to alcoholic drinks containing 20 percent of alcohol or more, as well as beer, regardless of its type of packaging.

The regulations that apply to alcoholic drinks will come into force from January 1, 2010 to allow alcohol producers time to make the necessary changes to their production activities.-

Vietnam steps up comprehensive cooperation with Turkey, Egypt

– A Vietnamese delegation led by the Minister of Industry and Trade, Vu Huy Hoang, attended the fourth sessions of the Vietnam-Turkey and Vietnam-Egypt Joint Committees from November 2-12.

At the session of the Vietnam-Turkey Joint Committee, which took place in Ankara , the two sides agreed to create an action plan for 2008-2010 that will focus on strengthening bilateral trade and investment promotion activities in an effort to increase two-way trade to 1 billion USD by 2010.

The two sides also agreed to accelerate negotiations over the signing of agreements on double taxation avoidance and investment encouragement and protection while preparing for negotiations over air and sea transport agreements.

The Turkish side suggested negotiating the air transport agreement during the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Conference in Dubai between Nov. 24-27.

The two sides consented to the signing of a cooperation agreement between the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and Turkey ’s Federation of Chambers of Trade and Industry and Goods Transaction Exchange and a number of additional agreements relating to culture, sports and tourism.

Two-way trade between Vietnam and Turkey increased from 243 million USD in 2007 to an estimated 500 million USD in 2008. Vietnam ’s export turnover to Turkey is expected to reach 350 million USD in 2008 compared with 202 million USD last year.

At the session of the Vietnam-Egypt Joint Committee in Cairo , the Egyptian side made several proposals aimed at boosting bilateral cooperation in the fields of trade, seafood, renewable energies, oil and gas, pharmaceuticals, IT and tourism.

The two sides signed a number of cooperation agreements covering oil and gas, tourism, small-sized business development and the organisation of forums and fairs. They agreed to continue their negotiations over the signing of several banking and sea transport cooperation agreements.

Two-way trade between Vietnam and Egypt reached 112 million USD in 2007, doubling the previous year’s figure. The two countries expect to raise this figure to 200 million USD in 2008 and 500 million USD by 2010.

The bulk of Vietnam ’s exports to Egypt consist of computers, electronic components, pepper, coffee and seafood.-

Vietnam calls upon Iraqi parties for conciliation

New York (VNA) – Vietnam calls upon Iraqi parties to consolidate for national conciliation and political stablisation.

Vietnamese representative to the UN, Ambassador Le Luong Minh made the appeal at the Security Council Debate on the situation concerning Iraq in New York on Nov. 14
The Vietnamese representative said that “Like in any other country emerging from devastating wars, the quest for durable peace and sustainable development in Iraq should be a nationally-owned process, depending on a harmonious combination of various political, security and socio-economic parameters and requiring united efforts of all segments of the population.”

“My delegation calls upon all parties in Iraq to accord the utmost priority to national interests, renounce all potentially destabilizing acts, and jointly shoulder the national agenda of reconciliation and dialogue, political stabilization and socio-economic reforms, thus creating the most conducive environment for the provincial elections scheduled for January 2009 as well as for the country’s long-term peace, stability and prosperity,” the diplomat said.

The Vietnamese representative further said that “in order to help Iraq maximize its internal strengths and fully integrate into the world, the United Nations agencies, neighboring countries and the international community can and should play a more incisive role. In this connection, while welcoming the signing of the United Nations Assistance Strategy for Iraq 2008-2010, my delegation supports every effort of the United Nations to truly become a promoter of development, a coordinator of international contributions and a catalyst for the improvement of the living conditions of the Iraqi people.”

He went on to say that Vietnam hopes “all parties concerned will take further concrete steps to consolidate and contribute to this mutually beneficial partnership on the basis of respect for the political independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iraq .”-

Vietnam, Indonesia cooperate in anti-corruption

Jakarta (VNA) – A delegation of the State Inspectorate, led by Deputy Inspector General Le Tien Hao, wrapped up a working visit to Indonesia on Nov.15.

Hao told the press in Jakarta that his five-day visit aims at exchanging information on measures to combat corruption with Indonesia as the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) of Indonesia is very experienced in this area.

The first Indonesia visit by a Vietnamese State Inspectorate delegation was made to reciprocate the visit to Vietnam by a KPK delegation last July, he said.

KPK senior officials on Nov. 12 welcomed the visiting Vietnamese inspectors, saying that the two countries have many similarities in their struggle for national independence as well as in economic development, therefore the two sides can exchange experiences in the fight against corruption.

KPK officials noted the short but fruitful visit to Vietnam in July 2008 by KPK President Antasari Azhar.

The two sides reached agreement on annual exchange of delegations, information and documents on anti-corruption.

The Indonesian side expected to learn from Vietnam ’s experience in integration and training, while sharing with Vietnam its expertise in management and processing of data related to anti-corruption.

KPK officials said that Indonesia plans to introduce educational programme on anti-corruption and fight against corruption.

The two sides also agreed to hold the coming bilateral meetings in Hanoi in May 2009 after the international anti-corruption conference and in Bali in November 2009.-

National Assembly’s fourth session closes

Hanoi (VNA) – The fourth session of the 12 th National Assembly closed in Hanoi on Nov. 15 after 26-day sitting.

Addressing the closing session, NA Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong called for continued reform and improvement of the supervision work of NA agencies, urging NA delegations and deputies to make further progress in this work.

Chairman Trong asked the NA Standing Committee, NA Council of Ethnic Minorities and NA committees to coordinate closely with relevant agencies to implement the resolution on law and ordinance making programme in 2009, overcoming the shortcomings in 2008.

Earlier, NA deputies passed four resolutions, including one on a pilot plan on terminating the people’s councils of districts, precincts and wards, and another on law and ordinance making programme in 2009 and supplement to the law and ordinance making programme of the 12 th legislature (2007-2011). The two other resolutions are on the NA’s overseeing programme in 2009, and on question and answer activities at the fourth session of the 12 th National Assembly.

The resolution on Q & A activities said the NA requires cabinet members who had given answers at the Q & A session to take concrete measures to effectively carried out the work they had promised, and report to the NA about results of the handling of the matters questioned by the NA deputies and concluded by the NA Chairman.

The resolution assigns the NA Standing Committee, during the period between the fourth and fifth sessions of the NA, to select and hold question-and-answer session on a number of issues which were not answered directly at the session because of limited time.-

Party delegation joins international meeting in Paris

Paris (VNA) – A delegation of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV), headed by To Huy Rua, Secretary of the CPV Central Committee, joined almost 50 others across the world in an international meeting “Joining hands to build a new internationalism” in Paris on Nov. 15-16.

Participants to the meeting, which was held by the Communist Party of France (CPF), shared the same view that the internationalism was necessary in the current international circumstance and the parties should boost solidarity, cooperation, share information and experiences, as well as strengthen coordination to solve common problems and contribute to the common struggle of people in the world for peace, progress and social justice.

While in France, the Vietnamese delegation was received by CPF National Secretary Marie George Buffet, and had working sessions with Chairman of the CPF Commission for External Relations Jacques Fath and Chairman of the CPF Commission for Information Brigitte Dionnet.

French Party officials expressed their wishes to further develop relations between the two parties in order to bolster ties between the two countries.-

DPRK leader extends condolences over flood losses

Hanoi (VNA) – President of the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , Kim Yong Nam , has extended his condolences to President Nguyen Minh Triet over the losses suffered by the Vietnamese people as a result of the recent torrential rains and subsequent flooding.

In his Nov. 16 message, President Kim expressed his hope that the Vietnamese Government and its people would overcome the aftermath of the calamity and that life would soon return to normal.-

Party leader receives outgoing Chinese Ambassador

Hanoi (VNA) – Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh has received the departing Chinese Ambassador Hu Qianwen, who paid him a courtesy visit on Nov. 17, prior to completing his term of office in Vietnam .

The outgoing ambassador expressed his delight at the fact that relations between the two Parties and States have undergone significant developments in both depth and scope recently, bringing a host of practical benefits to the people of both countries.

Party leader Manh praised the Ambassador’s active contributions during his term of office in Vietnam and expressed his satisfaction at the recent developments of bilateral relations towards a comprehensive strategic partnership under the motto “friendly neighbourliness, comprehensive cooperation, lasting stability and future-oriented vision” and in the spirit of “good neighbours, good friends, good comrades and good partners”.

General Secretary Manh affirmed that the Vietnamese Party, State and people would do their utmost to implement high-level agreements to ensure that bilateral relationship becomes more efficient, in the interests of the two peoples, for peace, stability, cooperation and development both regionally and globally.

He said he hoped that, whatever new position the Ambassador takes on, he would continue in his commitment to strengthening bilateral relations.

He asked the Ambassador to convey his best regards to the Chinese Party General Secretary and State President Hu Jintao, and other Chinese Party and State leaders.-