Weekly digest – December 21-27

Party Central Committee wraps up 13th meeting

The 11th Party Central Committee has decided to convene the 12th National Party Congress in Ha Noi from January 20-28, Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong announced.

The announcement was made at the closing ceremony of the 13th plenary session of the Party Central Committee on December 21.

VN, Cambodia fulfill nearly 90% of land border delimitation

The inauguration of markers No.30 and No. 275 and the road connecting two checkpoints of the Le Thanh – O Yadav international border gate manifests the determination of the two nations’ leaders and people in completing land border demarcation work for a shared border of peace, friendship, cooperation and sustainable development.

PM Nguyen Tan Dung made the statement while attending the inauguration of the border marker No. 30 and the road connecting two checkpoints of the Le Thanh (Gia Lai province) - O Yadav (Cambodia’s Rattanakiri province) international bordergate on Saturday morning.

PM Dung said nearly 90% of border demarcation and landmark planting between the two countries has been completed, which will facilitate border management, exchanges, cooperation and mutual support in all fields, especially economy, trade, investment and tourism between Gia Lao and Cambodia’s province of Ratanakiri as well as between the two countries.

Vietnamese, Chinese legislatures sign cooperation agreement

Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Chinese National People’s Congress (NPC) Zhang Dejiang signed a cooperation agreement between the two legislative bodies in Beijing on December 24.

The agreement provides a legal foundation for the two sides to conduct cooperative activities in the future.

The two legislatures will intensify information exchanges on work procedures of each body as well as laws and materials to keep lawmakers informed in line with legal regulations of each side.

First turbine of Lai Chau hydropower plant begins operation

PM Nguyen Tan Dung on December 23 attended a ceremony to mark the inauguration of the first turbine at Lai Chau hydroelectricity plant.

The VND35,700 billion plant has total capacity of 1,200 MW, the third largest hydropower plant built on Da River. The other two plants are Hoa Binh hydroelectricity plant (capacity of 1,920 MW) and Son La hydroelectricity plant (capacity of 2,400 MW).

Speaking at the event, PM Dung stressed on the importance of the three national-level plants for national socio-economic development, security and defense, flood control, and water supply in dry season.

VN, Laos sign cooperation agreements

Viet Nam and Laos have signed a number of agreements, including the bilateral cooperation agreement for the period 2016-2020, agreement on bilateral cooperation plan for 2016, and plan for education and training cooperation for 2016.

These agreements were reached on the occasion of the 38th meeting of the Viet Nam-Laos Intergovernmental Committee in Vientiane, Laos on December 27.

At the meeting co-chaired by Deputy PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Lao Deputy PM Somsavad Lengsavath, both sides agreed on major orientations and tasks for bilateral cooperation in the next five years, including effective realization of the signed agreements, enhancement of high-level delegation exchanges and contacts, improvement of the existing cooperation mechanisms, and acceleration of cooperation at international forums.

Christmas greetings come to Catholics, Protestants nationwide

Best wishes have been extended to Catholic and Protestant dignitaries and followers nationwide amid the jubilant Christmas atmosphere. 

On December 24, a delegation from the Steering Committee for the Southwestern Region led by its deputy head Le Hung Dung visited religious establishments in the Mekong Delta province of Hau Giang. 

Leaders of the provincial Party Committee, People’s Committee and Fatherland Front also visited Catholics and Protestants across the locality on this occasion. 

HCM City has new Chairman

PM Nguyen Tan Dung has approved the election of Mr. Nguyen Thanh Phong as Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee in the tenure 2011-2016.

The PM has also approved the election of Mr. Le Van Khoa, former Head of the municipal Department of Industry and Trade and Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu, former Chairwoman of the City’s Labor Union as Vice Chairpersons of the municipal People’s Committee.

By Thuy Dung