Press digest – June 11

Int’l lawyers association releases resolution on East Sea issue

The International Association of Democratic Lawyers (IADL) adopted a resolution on the escalating violence in the East Sea at a press conference in Ha Noi on June 11.

The resolution stated that on May 2, China placed an oil rig at 15 degrees 29 minutes 58 seconds north latitude and 111 degrees 12 minutes 06 seconds east longitude, completely within Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf.

IADL demands China clarify legal basis of its placement of the rig Haiyang Shiyou-981 in Vietnam’s waters, deployment of vessels and aircraft to the rig’s vicinity, along with its provocative acts such as ramming and firing water cannons at Vietnamese ships.

It calls upon China, as a UN member and a permanent member of the UN Security Council, to completely respect and observe the UN Charter and behave in line with its status as a major country in maintaining regional and international peace, stability and security.

Gov’t issues action program on education innovation

The Government has recently released the Action Program to realize Resolution 29-NQ/TW, dated November 4, 2014 on fundamental and comprehensive innovation in education and training.

The Resolution aims to support the country's industrialization and modernization in the course of developing its socialist-oriented market economy and boosting its international integration.

The action program clearly defines key tasks and major measures for the Government to direct ministries, agencies and localities to build their action plans in favour of the realization of Resolution 29.  

VN resolutely demands China withdraw rig, ships

Ambassador Le Hoai Trung, Head of the Permanent Representative Mission to the UN on Tuesday told international correspondents in New York that Viet Nam resolutely demands China withdraw its oil rig and all ships from Viet Nam’s waters.

Up to now, China has still refused dialogue and the refusal is “provocative” and creates serious concern, the diplomat stressed.

China has deployed more than 100 ships, including military ones to guard the illicit rig installed well within the exclusive economic zone and continental shelf of Viet Nam while accusing the country of intentionally disturbing and ramming Chinese ships.

Public debts under control

The Ministry of Finance (MoF) has always controlled public debts and will supervise domestic and foreign loans to prevent waste, said Minister Dinh Tien Dung.

Public debts have not changed much over the past few years. The public debt-to-Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ratio was maintained at 51.7% in 2010, 50% in 2011, 50.8% in 2012 and 53.4% in 2013.

The ratio remains below a safe limit of 65%.The central government debt now is 44% of the country’s GDP, lower than the safe threshold of 55% allowed by the NA.

Hoi An to issue tourist cards

Hoi An and the UNESCO office in Hanoi plan to develop a tourist card to replace entrance-tickets used to enter the old section of the ancient city.

Pham Thi Thanh Huong, a UNESCO official, said the idea was proposed at a recent meeting on tourism promotion.

Huong said there is a need to fully explain to the public and tourists that the need for entrance tickets is tied to restoration work.

"About 90% of tourists do not know that entrance tickets to the old town and destinations are compulsory, or why," she said.

Ba Na named among 10 amazing cable cars worldwide

The Travel page of UK newspaper The Telegraph has named the Ba Na cable car on its list of ten amazing cable cars around the world.

The Ba Na site boasts the longest one-line cable car in the world (5,771 m), the largest difference in height between departure and destination (1,369 m), the longest non-stop cable (11,585 m), and the world’s heaviest cable rolls (141 tonnes).

In 2009, Ba Na Hills opened the first cable car route, setting two world records as the longest and highest non-stop cable car system.

All riot-affected businesses return to business in Binh Duong

All the businesses damaged by disturbances in southern Binh Duong province last month have resumed their normal production, and 98 percent of workers have returned to work, the provincial People’s Committee announced on June 10.

Local enterprises suffering from damage recovered swiftly with support from the province in rebuilding facilities or renting alternative production facilities in nearby industrial parks.

UK firm Laird opens first plant in VN

London-based Laird, a global technology business on wireless communication and smart systems, launched its first manufacturing facility in the northern province of Bac Ninh, on June 11, to expand its presence throughout Asia.

The newly-established plant will bolster Laird’s global design and manufacturing capabilities. It is expected to better serve manufacturers of smart phones, portable electronics and other devices in Vietnam.

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