Press digest – October 15

NA Standing Committee discusses draft law on associations

The National Assembly Standing Committee’s 42 nd session in Ha Noi concentrated its discussions on the draft Law on Associations.

Several opinions called on the bill to reflect the Party’s stance on the position and role of mass organisations, create favourable conditions for citizens to practise their rights to establish associations and bring associations’ voluntariness, self-management and sense of responsibility into play.

US religious freedom report inadequately depicts VN

Although the US Department of State’s 2014 International Religious Freedom Report acknowledges Viet Nam’s achievements in the field, it regrettably continues to highlight inadequacies and cites erroneous information about Vietnam, stated Foreign Ministry’s Spokesperson Le Hai Binh.

Binh made the statement during a regular press conference of the ministry in Ha Noi on October 15.

“Viet Nam’s constant policy is respecting and observing citizens’ rights to belief and religious as well as non-belief and non-religious freedom. This has been clarified in our Constitution and legal system and we consistently strive to make sure it is respected in reality,” he declared.

Da Nang asked to focus on Party building

The central city of Da Nang should pay special attention to building a line-up of all-level Party members with high professionalism, good virtues and strong political character to meet the locality’s development need, said President Truong Tan Sang.

The State President made the remark in his speech at the opening ceremony of the city’s 21st Party Congress for the 2015-2020 tenure on October 15.

He spoke highly of recent achievements made by the municipal Party organisation and people, stressing that as an economic centre in the central and Central Highlands region, Da Nang should take the lead in economic development, industrialisation, modernisation and international integration, thus promoting regional development.

Japan-VN Friendship Association in Hokuriku established

The Japan-Viet Nam Friendship Association in Japan’s Hokuriku region made debut in Toyama city on Wednesday.

The association will work to further enhance friendship and cooperation between the region and Japan with Vietnam through economic, trade, investment activities, cultural and educational exchanges, and human resources training.

The association members include entrepreneurs, politicians, scholars and local residents in Hokuriku.

Myanmar, VN step up anti-corruption cooperation

Government Inspector General Huynh Phong Tranh and ACM Chairman U Mya Win inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on combating corruption in Ha Noi as a result of their working session on October 15.

Accordingly, the Government Inspectorate of Vietnam and Anti-Bribery Commission of Myanmar (ACM) agreed upon six areas of cooperation, including personnel training, technical assistance, exchanging information and expertise, raising public awareness of anti-corruption and intensifying annual exchange visits.

The signing will provide a necessary legal foundation for both sides to promote information and experience sharing in anti-corruption activities.

VN takes lead in measuring multidimensional poverty: Minister

Viet Nam has taken the lead in applying a multidimensional poverty measurement approach in Asia, which is part of efforts to realise its commitments to eradicating poverty in all forms, Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Pham Thi Hai Chuyen has said. 

At a forum in Ha Noi, she said that the Vietnamese Government replaced a one-dimensional approach by the multidimensional poverty measurement method for 2016 – 2020 in last September. 

The approach, aiming to improve people’s livelihoods as well as their access to basic social services, especially health care, education, housing, clean water and information, is recommended by the international community to reduce

(Source: VGP/VNA/VOV)