Category: Politics

Hanoi: Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang received Chairman of the Committee on International Trade (INTA) at the European Parliament Bernd Lange in Hanoi on January 18.

Affirming that the EU is a partner of leading importance in Vietnam’s foreign policy, the host official applauded the positive results of Vietnam’s cooperation with the EU as well as members of the bloc.

He called on the EU and its member countries to continue sharing experience and giving financial, technological, and capacity building assistance in climate change response and energy transition to help Vietnam realise the commitment to net zero emissions by 2050 and secure green and sustainable development.

The Deputy PM asked Lange, with his role and prestige, to raise an important voice to promote the 10 remaining EU members’ ratification of the EU – Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) so as to step up equal and mutually beneficial investment ties.

Quang also suggested his guest help persuade the European Commission to re
move the ‘yellow card’ warning for Vietnam’s seafood exports on the basis of the recognition of Vietnam’s efforts against illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

Recalling the negotiation on and signing of the EU – Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), Lange stressed that the deal is successful in terms of both political and economic aspects for both sides, helping the Southeast Asian country gain a growth rate many EU members dream about.

He held that Vietnam and the EU boast stable and trustworthy relations and sound cooperation in multiple areas with many agreements inked, so both sides need to work closely to continue developing this relationship in a more intensive and extensive manner in the future.

With regard to the issue of IUU fishing, he spoke highly of Vietnam’s efforts over the recent past, particularly in monitoring fishing vessels and perfecting the legal corridor, and recommended the country promote law enforcement in its localities./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Hanoi: The amended Land Law, freshly passed at the 15th National Assembly (NA)’s 5th extraordinary session, introduces numerous new elements, focusing on five groups of issues, a legislator said at a January 18 press conference on outcomes of the session.

In his response to queries regarding the revised law, Phan Duc Hieu, permanent member of the NA Economic Committee, elaborated that the first group include provisions aimed at better protecting the legal rights and interests of land users, such as the expansion of land-use rights for Vietnamese citizens, including those residing abroad, and land policies for ethnic minorities.

The second group involves facilitating people and businesses’ access to land, like those specifying land recovery for socio-economic infrastructure development as well as production and business activities. This means land is taken back only when absolutely necessary. Additionally, it expands regulations related to land-use agreement mechanisms, land-use purpose changes for existing
land users, land fund expansion, and land funds for small- and medium-sized enterprises, among others.

The third group focuses on enhancing the efficiency of land use, while the fourth deals with land finance, and the last is about improving the effectiveness and efficiency of state management, including various reformative provisions to streamline administrative procedures and provide convenience for citizens.

As heard at the press conference, chaired by NA General Secretary and Chairman of the NA Office Bui Van Cuong, the extraordinary session completed its entire agenda after 3.5 days of work.

Adopted at the event were the amended Land Law, amended Law on Credit Institutions, the resolution on specific mechanisms and policies for implementing national target programmes, and the resolution on the use of the central budget’s common reserve for the 2021-2025 period’s mid-term public investment plan for ministries, central agencies, localities, and the Vietnam Electricity./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Hanoi: An international seminar was held in Hanoi on January 18, reviewing the 50-year relations between Vietnam and Japan and putting forth visions and new orientations to strengthen the bilateral ties.

Jointly held by the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics (HCMA) and the Japanese Embassy in Vietnam, the event is part of the activities to celebrate the 50th founding anniversary of the Vietnam – Japan diplomatic ties (1973 – 2023).

Addressing the event, Nguyen Xuan Thang, HCMA President and Chairman of the Central Theory Council, highlighted the long-lasting relations between the two nations, which were established on the foundation of cultural and historical similarities, and affinity among the people of the two countries.

He said that the Vietnam – Japan relationship is vivid evidence of persistent efforts and perseverance to overcome difficulties and challenges, paving the way to build a good model of a relationship with increasingly similar interests, growing comprehensive cooperation, and deepen
ed strategic trust.

From the Investment Agreement signed in 2003, just five years later, the two countries upgraded it to an economic partnership agreement, creating a solid legal basis for promoting extensive cooperation across fields.

In 2009, Japan was the first G7 country to establish a strategic partnership with Vietnam, and also five years later, they upgraded their relations to an extensive strategic partnership for peace and prosperity in Asia.

Notably, in November 2023, the two countries issued a joint statement on the elevation of their relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership for peace and prosperity in Asia and the world, opening a new stage of development in the bilateral relations.

Thang expressed his belief that the Vietnam – Japan relations will grow stronger, deeper, and more comprehensive in the coming time.

For his part, Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Yamada Takio said that the factor that makes the relationship between Japan and Vietnam increasingly close as it is today is t
he special ties between the two countries which were formed on the basis of the historical and cultural connection.

The bilateral relations, now in the best stage ever, are becoming increasingly close, the diplomat stressed, adding that preserving and deepening this bond is a solid foundation for further elevating the relationship.

Participants analysed and discussed theoretical and practical issues in the Vietnam – Japan relations over the past 50 years, and proposed many practical recommendations and solutions to realise the visions and development orientations of the bilateral relations./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Hanoi: The official visit to Hungary by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, as part of his trip to Europe from January 16-23, is expected to contribute to consolidating political trust and deepening the Vietnam-Hungary comprehensive partnership in all fields.

Vietnam and Hungary set up their diplomatic ties on February 3, 1950. Since then, the two nations have stood side by side with and supported each other during the wartime, and in the current national building cause. Bilateral friendship and cooperation have developed well in various fields such as education and training, legal and judicial affairs, culture, sports, and people-to-people exchanges.

In recent years, their political relationship has been tightened on the basis of mutual trust and understanding, with all-level and high-level delegation exchanges held in all Party, Government, National Assembly and locality channels.

Vietnam and Hungary have also cooperated closely and effectively and supported each other at multilateral forums, especially at t
he United Nations and within the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) framework. The Hungarian government supported Vietnam to become a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the 2020-2021 term, while Vietnam backed Hungary’s entry into the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOS) for the 2011-2013 term. In addition, within the ASEM framework, Vietnam has supported Hungary’s initiative on the role of water resources in the regional sustainable development strategy, and is also ready to assist Hungary in strengthening cooperation with ASEAN and its member countries.

Hungary actively advocated the approval of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and was the first EU member state to ratify the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA).

Two-way trade reached 850 million USD in 2023, and the two countries are striving to achieve an annual trade growth rate of 10%.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Hungary Nguyen Thi Bich Thao said that bilateral trade ties are not commensurate with availabl
e potential despite the growth. She suggested the two sides increase trade exchanges to exploit their strengths, and supplement each other.

Regarding investment, as of December 20, 2023, Hungary ranked 52nd out of 144 countries and territories investing in Vietnam with 21 projects totalling 72.26 million USD.

Hungary considers Vietnam a priority partner in its international development support policy. Labour is a potential area of cooperation between the two countries. Since 2018, more than 1,000 Vietnamese people have travelled to work at factories and companies in the European nation. According to head of the Vietnam Trade Office in Hungary Tran Ngoc Ha, Hungary is currently experiencing a labour shortage, while Vietnam has an abundant, industrious and skilled workforce. He affirmed that the Vietnamese side always accompanies, creates favourable conditions and supports businesses from the two sides to promote bilateral economic and trade relations.

PM Chinh’s official visit, made at an invitation of his
counterpart Viktor Orbán, has been the first delegation exchange at the prime ministerial level between the two countries over the past seven years.

In the context of Hungary assuming the rotating President of the EU in the last 6 months of 2024, this trip is also expected to be an opportunity for Vietnam to strengthen coordination with the EU on regional and global issues, and speed up the ratification of the EVIPA./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Hanoi: The 15th National Assembly’s fifth extraordinary meeting wrapped up on January 18 morning in the presence of NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue.

In his speech at closing the session, the top legislator said the meeting completed its entire agenda in the 3.5 days of sitting, passing the amended Land Law and amended Law on Credit Institutions.

Consisting of 16 chapters and 260 articles, the revised land law specifies the land ownership regime, rights, and responsibilities of the state representing the collective ownership of the people over land. It also addresses unified land management, land use and management regimes, as well as the rights and obligations of citizens and land users regarding land within the country’s territory.

The amended law, except for some of its specific provisions, will come into force on January 1, 2025.

Meanwhile, the amended Law on Credit Institutions comprise 15 chapters and 210 articles, will be effective from July 1 this year.

Regarding mechanisms to decentralise the manageme
nt and implementation of national target programmes, the top legislator stressed that the NA unanimously approved a relevant resolution.

This step follows the supreme supervision process by the NA at the previous meeting, towards promptly removing difficulties and obstacles to accelerate the progress and ensure the effective implementation of three national target programmes on building new-style rural areas, sustainable poverty reduction, and socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas, NA Chairman Hue said.

He suggested the Government continue to review, amend, and supplement relevant documents to ensure consistency and alignment with this resolution; and urgently allocate resources and enhance decentralisation between central and local agencies to create favourable conditions for ministries, sectors, and localities to speed up the implementation and well accomplish the programmes’s objectives.

NA deputies also scrutinised and made decisions related to financial and budget plans,
the top legislator said.

Accordingly, the legislature approved the allocation and utilisation of nearly 64 trillion VND (over 2.6 billion USD) for tasks and projects in five sectors: national defence, security, state management, science and technology, and transportation. Notably, nearly 58 trillion VND will be earmarked for 32 key transportation projects.

Along with the national projects that the NA decided to invest in since the beginning of the term, and the resolution on piloting some specific policies on investment in the construction of road infrastructure and transport facilities approved at the sixth meeting, finance- and budget-related issues decided in this session are a crucial prerequisite for expediting the implementation progress of key projects, including promoting the development of a harmonious and modern strategic infrastructure system, especially expressways, coastal roads, airports, and regional linkage projects, contributing to realising the goal of having over 3,000 kilometers of expre
ssways by 2025.

The NA acknowledges and highly valued the responsibility, effort, and close coordination demonstrated by the agencies of the NA and the Government, and relevant organisations in meticulously preparing and ensuring the thoroughness of content, thus making it easier for NA deputies to pass important and necessary matters in a short period of time to prepare and conduct the meeting, he stressed.

He urged the NA to continue upholding the spirit of proactive legislation, effective supervision, timely determination, and breakthrough development, working closely with the Government and other entities within the political system to successfully fulfill socio-economic development tasks in 2024 and the 2021-2025 period, and ensuring rapid and sustainable development of the country./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Hanoi: The amended Land Law and amended Law on Credit Institutions were officially passed on January 18, as part of the 15th National Assembly (NA)’s ongoing 5th extraordinary session.

The revised land law saw 432 out of the 477 NA deputies voting in favour, or 87.63% of the total deputies.

Consisting of 16 chapters and 260 articles, this law specifies the land ownership regime, rights, and responsibilities of the state representing the collective ownership of the people over land. It also addresses unified land management, land use and management regimes, as well as the rights and obligations of citizens and land users regarding land within the country’s territory.

The amended law, except for some of its specific provisions, will come into force on January 1, 2025.

According to Chairman of the NA Economic Committee Vu Hong Thanh, the project holds special importance in the nations’ political, economic, social, defence, security, and environmental aspects. Largely affecting people from all walks of life a
nd business communities, it is a complex and challenging one.

Before being approved, it was presented to the NA at four sessions, two conferences of full-time deputies, and eight official meetings of the Standing Committee. It underwent adjustments and incorporated the opinions of agencies, organisations, experts, scientists, and more than 12 million public opinions.

Meanwhile, the amended Law on Credit Institutions sailed through the legislature with 450 yes votes, or 91.28% of the total NA deputies.

The law, comprising 15 chapters and 210 articles, will be effective from July 1 this year.

It outlines provisions regarding credit institutions’ establishment, organisation, operation, early intervention, special control, restructuring, dissolution, and bankruptcy. It also addresses the establishment, organisation, operation, early intervention, dissolution, and termination of activities of branches of foreign banks.

Additionally, the law covers the establishment and operation of representative offices in V
ietnam of foreign credit institutions and other foreign organisations engaged in banking activities. It further regulates the handling of bad debts and collateral assets of bad debts held by credit institutions, branches of foreign banks, and organisations fully owned by the State with the functions of buying, selling, and handling debts./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency