Category: Politics

Hanoi: Directive No. 27-CT/TW, which has recently been issued by the Politburo regarding the enhancement of the Party’s leadership over thrift practice and wastefulness prevention, has received strong support from public opinion to effectively fight wastefulness at its root, an evil that is as harmful to society as corruption.

The policy to encourage thriftiness and prevent wastefulness is not a new one. President Ho Chi Minh once affirmed that frugality is one of the virtuous qualities of a revolutionary.

‘Corruption is harmful, but wastefulness is sometimes even more harmful. It is more harmful than corruption because it is more common,’ the late leader had said.

Over the years, thrift practices and wastefulness combat have received great attention from the Party and State. The 6th National Party Congress defined the way for comprehensive national reform with economic reform being the core, during which thrift practices and wastefulness control is a significant part. The Party has considered frugality as
a major policy that must be applied in all production, construction and consumption activities.

In 1987, the Council of Ministers issued a decision on thorough frugality practicing. In 1993, the 9th National Assembly adopted a resolution on thrift practices and wastefulness and corruption prevention. In 1998, the 10th National Assembly Standing Committee released an ordinance on thrift practices and wastefulness combat. The same year, the Government issued a decree specifying the implementation of the ordinance.

In 2005, the 11th National Assembly passed the Law on Thrift Practice and Anti-Wastefulness. The 3rd session of the 10th Party Central Committee released a resolution on strengthening the Party’s leadership over corruption and wastefulness prevention and control.

The efforts have produced positive changes. A report from the National Assembly’s supervision team over the implementation of policies and laws on thrift practices and wastefulness combat in the 2016-2021 showed that the policies have resu
lted in more effective mobilisation and use of human, material and financial resources, tightened management and use of state budget and other state resources, along with more streamlined state apparatus and substantial administrative reform.

Resources for many stagnant projects have been revoked, including nearly 100,000 hectares of land, while many economic cases causing serious losses of state capital and assets have been strictly handled.

However, in reality, thrift practice and wastefulness combat activities have still seen a lot of shortcomings and limitations, according to the report, citing an incomplete report from ministries, sectors and localities showing that in 2016, there were 1,448 projects lagged behind schedule. The figure was 1,962 projects in 2021, including important national projects and key projects.

Wastefulness has been found in the social life and become common in many areas and many localities, causing a waste of thousands of billions of VND.

At a meeting with voters on the thres
hold of the 5th session of the 15th National Assembly, NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue stressed that wastefulness even causes greater losses than corruption.

Wastefulness is clearly causing unpredictable consequences and creating invisible barriers in socio-economic development. More seriously, wastefulness and corruption are threats to efforts to turn Vietnam into a developed and high-income country by 2045 as set by the 13th National Party Congress’s resolution.

This is the reason that the Politburo has issued Directive 27-CT/TW, in which the Politburo underlined the need to consider frugality as the behavioural culture of every official, Party member, public servant and every citizen, especially leaders and managing officials.

Through the directive, the Politburo asked for special attention to areas prone to loss, waste, and negativity such as bidding, auction, management and use of land, resources, credit, and asset management, public investment, the use of state capital and assets in enterprises.

Particul
arly, with the issuance of Directive 27, the Politburo emphasised the need to thoroughly deal with problems in key national projects, projects using ODA, and inefficient BOT and BT projects that cause great losses, as well as weak commercial banks and halted projects, thus revoking assets to serve socio-economic development.

With the directive, wastefulness is expected to be stopped at the root./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Hanoi: President Vo Van Thuong joined representatives of intellectuals, scientists, and artists nationwide in a gathering held in Hanoi on February 29, stressing the importance of promoting their role in national construction and defence.

Talking to the 210 outstanding representatives at the event held on the occasion of the new lunar year, President Thuong acknowledged the considerable contributions by intellectuals, scientists, and artists in various fields to the country’s significant achievements in 2023.

By doing their jobs, they have helped improve the quality of human resources; given advice and feedback for perfecting the Party’s guidelines and the State’s policies and laws; obtained many accomplishments in their specialised areas; and contributed to digital transformation in many fields, the improvement of labour productivity and production – business performance; thereby helping better people’s life quality and ensure social security.

Many of them are bright examples of working, learning, researc
hing, creating, and dedicating to the nation. Many have also earned international recognition and won the public’s love, President Thuong said.

Highlighting Vietnam’s tradition of respecting talents and intellectuals, he noted the Party and State have always paid special attention to developing the contingent of intellectuals, scientists, and artists while providing the best possible conditions for them to grow and contribute more to national development.

The continuation of building, developing, and bringing into play their major role in national construction and defence is a critically important task in both short and long terms, he remarked.

Given this, the State leader asked all-level Party committees, agencies, and organisations in the political system to thoroughly grasp and continue effectively implementing the Party’s resolutions on intelligentsia, science – technology, education – training, culture, literature, and arts; improve the awareness of the role and importance of intellectuals, scientists
, and artists; and actively institutionalise the Party’s guidelines to create a favourable environment for them to promote their role in national development.

He underlined the need to develop both the quantity and quality of intellectuals, scientists, and artists, particularly leading experts in key areas; train high-skilled manpower; nurture talents of literature and arts; and inspire their patriotism and devotion to the nation.

In particular, it is necessary to exercise democracy, respect the freedom of thought and creation, promote professional ethics, and create optimal conditions for them to bring into play their wisdom and creativity. Besides, efficient mechanisms are needed to enable them to give advice and feedback about the Party and State’s policies to help with the country’s fast and sustainable development in the new period, according to President Thuong.

He expressed his belief that Vietnamese intellectuals, scientists, and artists both at home and abroad will contribute to the Fatherland in
their own ways and join hands in enhancing the great national solidarity and the fine values of the Vietnamese culture and people, thereby contributing to national development, prosperity, and happiness./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Hanoi: Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on February 29 sent a letter of congratulations to his Cambodian counterpart Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet on the country’s successful organisation of the Senate election for the 5th term.

The election was held in the form of non-universal suffrage at 33 polling stations in eight regional constituencies across Cambodia on February 25. Its official results are set to be announced on April 2./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Hanoi: Tu Chinh reef (internationally known as Vanguard Bank) is part of Vietnam’s continental shelf and its sovereignty is established in full in accordance with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982), stated the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ spokesperson Pham Thu Hang on February 29.

Hang made the statement at the ministry’s regular press conference in response to reporters’ queries regarding China’s recent deployment of coast guard ships to operate in Vietnam’s Tu Chinh reef area.

She underlined that Vietnam’s stance on Tu Chinh reef is consistent and has been repeatedly affirmed.

Vietnam resolutely opposes all actions that violate Vietnam’s sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction over maritime zones which are established in full in conformity with international law, especially the UNCLOS 1982, she stated.

Hang emphasised that Vietnam has and will persistently protect its legitimate rights and interests at sea through peaceful methods in line with international la
w./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Geneva: Ambassador Mai Phan Dung, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the United Nations (UN), World Trade Organisation (WTO), and other international organisations in Geneva, Switzerland, on February 29 presented his credentials to Director-General of the United Nations Office in Geneva Tatiana Valovaya.

At the meeting with the UN official, Dung affirmed that Vietnam will always be an active and responsible member of multilateral forums, especially the UN, through effective and substantive contributions in all aspects.

He highly appreciated the role of Valovaya, the first woman to hold the position of Director-General of the UN Office in Geneva, and thanked the office in general and the official in particular for always creating favourable conditions to connect and support Vietnam in multilateral diplomatic activities.

For her part, Valovaya congratulated the Vietnamese Ambassador on his new position at the UN, expressing her appreciation for Vietnam’s role and cooperation with the UN in general as wel
l as cooperation between the permanent mission of Vietnam and her office in particular in many fields, especially sustainable development.

Valovaya emphasised that Vietnam is always a trusted partner, an active member, and has many important contributions to implementing UN missions as UN Secretary-General António Guterres affirmed in his meeting with Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son on the sidelines of the 55th High-Level Meeting of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) on February 26.

Valovaya expressed her deep impression of Vietnam and its people during her first visit to Vietnam in October 2023. The official said she wants to continue cooperating with Vietnam on many other projects in the coming time.

Dung thanked Valovaya for her good assessments and sentiments for Vietnam and said he will try to continue promoting the cooperation between Vietnam and the UN during his term, especially when Vietnam is serving as a member of the UNHRC for the 2023-2025 tenure and running for re-electi
on as a member of the council for the 2026-2028 tenure./

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Sydney: Relations between Australia and Vietnam are moving towards a new height after the two countries celebrated the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic ties last year, opening a new chapter to deepen the strategic partnership, said Australian Governor General David Hurley.

Hurley made the remarks during a reception on February 28 for Vietnamese Ambassador to Australia Pham Hung Tam who came to present his credentials Governor General.

The host said that he hopes Australia and Vietnam maintain the current momentum of their relationship to strengthen bilateral cooperation, expand collaboration and exchange in regional and international issues, and promote common interests for peace, stability, cooperation, and prosperity in the region.

He believed that Ambassador Tam would make contributions to expanding and deepening the two countries’ cooperation in such fields as politics, economy, security, defence, education, tourism, and people-to-people exchange.

For his part, Tam conveyed the greetings of Presid
ent Vo Van Thuong and other senior Vietnamese leaders to the Australian Governor General and his spouse.

Tam expressed his belief in the bilateral relations’ strong development in cooperation pillars and prospects for cooperation in new fields such as digital economy, green economy, energy transition, and climate change response.

He affirmed that he will do his best to contribute to promoting good relations between Vietnam and Australia for the benefit of the two countries’ people, and for peace, cooperation, and development in the region./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency