Press digest – May 8

Grand ceremony salutes Dien Bien Phu victory

A grand ceremony saluting the 60th anniversary of Viet Nam’s victory at Dien Bien Phu, which ended French colonial rule in the country, was held in Dien Bien Phu city in the northwestern province of Dien Bien in the morning of May 7.

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, former Party General Secretaries Le Kha Phieu and Nong Duc Manh, State President Truong Tan Sang and former State President Tran Duc Luong were present at the celebration, among other distinguished guests.

In his speech, President Sang expressed gratitude to late President Ho Chi Minh and late General Vo Nguyen Giap, the first Commander-in-Chief of the Viet Nam People’s Army for their roles in the triumph at Dien Bien Phu. He also offered heartfelt thanks to the war heroes who sacrificed their lives for victory at Dien Bien Phu.

The President stated that the victory is an everlasting epic that extols the tradition of the nation’s glorious history, the sound leadership of the Communist Party of Viet Nam and President Ho Chi Minh, the aggregated strength of national unity and the determination to fight for national independence and freedom of the people and army.

Nation celebrates Dien Bien Phu victory

A delegation of Vietnamese leaders led by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong offered incense to war heroes resting at the A1 Hill Cemetery in the northern mountainous province of Dien Bien on May 7, coinciding with the 60th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu victory.

The incense offering ceremony reflects the deep gratitude of Vietnamese leaders and people to the heroes who devoted their lives to the triumph, which put an end to French colonial rule in Viet Nam.

Dien Bien Phu victory celebrations make global headlines

Global mass media on May 7 gave wide coverage of Vietnamese people’s heroic struggle against French colonialists in Dien Bien Phu 60 years ago, acknowledging the victory as an important landmark in the history of the world’s national liberation movement.

France 24 front-paged an article, portraying images of Vietnamese war veterans offering incenses to their comrades who laid down their lives in Dien Bien Phu six decades ago.

According to the paper, the Vietnamese Government and people held a number of events to mark the occasion, including a grand meeting in Dien Bien City. Hundreds of wreaths were laid at monuments to pay tribute to soldiers who sacrificed their lives during the Dien Bien Phu battle.

The paper also described the failure of the Dien Bien Phu battle as the historic mistake of the French military in Indochina in the 20th century.

Chinese ships intentionally crash Vietnamese vessels in continental shelf

China has deployed as many as 80 ships, including seven military ones, and even aircraft to the area where the drilling rig HD-981 (Hai Yang Shi You 981 deep sea rig of China) was installed illegally in Viet Nam’s continental shelf.

The information was released by Rear Admiral Ngo Ngoc Thu, vice commander of the Viet Nam Marine Police at the international press conference in Ha Noi on Wednesday afternoon.

He said that Chinese ships intentionally crashed into and caused damages to the vessels of the Vietnamese marine police and fisheries surveillance force right in Viet Nam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf though the Vietnamese forces exercised restraint over the perverse acts of Chinese ships.

The rear admiral also showed footage provided by the Vietnamese fisheries surveillance force of a Vietnamese boat being besieged by Chinese ships during a clash. Mr. Thu said six Vietnamese people have been injured.

National projects calling for foreign investment listed

PM Nguyen Tan Dung has approved a list of 127 national projects which call for foreign investment from now to 2020.

The projects are categorized into five areas: technical infrastructure, social infrastructure, agriculture, processing and preserving and production-service.

They include 51 technical infrastructure projects, 20 in social infrastructure category, 44 projects in agriculture, fishery and forestry, 8 engaged in processing and preserving, 4 in production-service sectors

Viet Nam Integrity Alliance makes debut

The Viet Nam Integrity Alliance made its debut on May 7 in Ha Noi, creating a foundation for enterprises, organisations and experts to enhance mutual support in promoting standards of integrity in all fields, while implementing anti-corruption initiatives.

The alliance was introduced during a meeting of more than 100 representatives of enterprises and leaders of the chambers of commerce of Europe (EuroCham), Canada (CanCham) and Australia (AusCham) in Viet Nam, as well as the British Business Group Viet Nam (BBGV).

Established on the basis of a voluntary and unbinding commitment, the alliance targets a business environment of transparency, equality and fairness.

Europe Days shows kick off

The annual Europe Days programme will rendezvous with the Vietnamese people, proposing a fascinating journey through the European cultural scene, with a series of diverse cultural and intellectual activities.

Set to provide a bridge for cross-cultural exchange, the month-long Europe Days 2014 programme will open a window into the richness of the European Union's various cultural traditions through inspiring performances.

Organised by the Delegation of the European Union to Viet Nam in collaboration with the embassies of EU member states and European cultural centres, the event will be officially opened on May 9 with a jazz concert featuring the Bavarian Youth Jazz Band.

Death sentence upheld for Vinalines ex-boss

The appeal court on May 7 upheld the death sentences of former Chairman of the Viet Nam National Shipping Lines (Vinalines) Duong Chi Dung and former Vinalines General Director Mai Van Phuc for embezzlement.

In addition, the two were sentenced to 18-years imprisonment for intentionally violating State regulations on economic management causing severe consequences.

The court also rejected the appeal of Tran Huu Chieu, former Vice General Director of Vinalines, and Tran Hai Son, Director of Vinalines Ship Repair Co. Ltd, who were sentenced to 19 years and 22 years, respectively, behind bars on the same charges.

At the same time, the court kept the sentences of seven years in prison to Mai Van Khang, a member of the Vinalines project management board, and Le Van Duong, a former official at the Viet Nam Registry, for intentionally violating State regulations on economic management causing severe consequences./.

(Source: VOV/VGP/VNA/Nhandan)