Prime Minister welcomes European Parliament Vice President

1/8/2019 - 10:59:39 AM

Vietnam has always considered the cooperation between its National Assembly and the European Parliament (EP) as an important pillar of bilateral relations, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc affirmed while receiving EP Vice President Heidi Hautala in Hanoi on January 7.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) and EP Vice President Heidi Hautala (Source: VNA)

PM Phuc said that the European Union is Vietnam’s leading partner and that the bilateral relations are developing well, reflected through the maintenance of high-level meetings, thereby helping boost mutual understanding and trust.

He expressed his belief that the visit to Vietnam by the EP Vice President will contribute to strengthening the relations between Vietnam and the EU in general and the two legislatures in particular.

Heidi Hautala informed her host that, during the visit, the EP working delegation will hold working sessions with Vietnam’s relevant offices and survey the enforcement of the Voluntary Partnership Agreement on Forest Law Enforcement, Governance, and Trade (VPA/FLEGT).

Regarding the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), she affirmed that the EP will continue listening to Vietnam’s proposals in order to accelerate the ratification of the agreement.

This is a next-generation FTA, she stated, suggesting that both sides ensure firm and effective enforcement to achieve sustainable trade development.

The EU is willing to support Vietnam during the process, she added.

Appreciating the sentiments of his guest, PM Phuc said that Vietnam-EU relations hold much development potential and opportunities and, as such, the two sides should carry out specific measures, including stepping up all-level delegation exchanges and increasing the efficiency of cooperative channels concerning politics, diplomacy, economics, and development cooperation.

He voiced his hope to receive support from the EP and its Vice President to help accelerate the ratification of the EVFTA, affirming that the early enforcement of the agreement will create a new driving force and boost collaboration between the two sides, especially in economics.

Regarding illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, the PM said that, after receiving a "yellow card” warning from the European Commission, the entire political system of Vietnam has joined hands to take drastic measures to fight IUU fishing. He asked for the EP Vice President’s help in pushing the EC’s removal of the yellow card.

Regarding the VPA/FLEGT, PM Phuc said that the two sides officially signed the agreement during his working visit to the EU last October.

Vietnam’s policy is to develop the forestry sector sustainably, with the focus on developing timber processing for export and using materials legally.

He informed his guest that he had assigned the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to work with the relevant offices to accelerate the completion of the documents to be submitted towards the ratification of the agreement in the first quarter of 2019.

Vietnam hopes to receive support from the EP and its Vice President towards an early ratification of the agreement so that it can serve as a legal foundation to ensure that Vietnam’s wood and timber products exported to the EU have official origin certificates, thus bringing about greater benefits for both sides.

Source: NDO

Initial workdays of merged departments, agencies: A smooth transition

March 3 marked the first official working day for specialised agencies under the provincial People's Committee following the merger or transfer of functions and tasks from the previous agencies. On this day, the newly merged departments and agencies took proactive steps to arrange personnel, organise workflows, and implement tasks efficiently, ensuring that administrative procedures were carried out smoothly without interruption.

Kim Boi integrates organisational apparatus restructuring with political task implementation

Kim Boi district of Hoa Binh province has thoroughly implemented and adhered to Resolution No. 18-NQ/TW on restructuring the organisational apparatus of the political system towards a streamlined, efficient, and effective direction, ensuring no disruption of work.

Da Bac works hard on streamlising political apparatus

By mid-February, Da Bac district completed a plan to streamline its organisational apparatus and personnel work, marking a milestone in efforts to promote restructuring towards a leaner, more efficient organisational system, closely following directives from the Party Central Committee’s Resolution No. 18-NQ/TW, and Conclusion No. 121-KL/TW, and Resolution No. 27-NQ/TU of the provincial Party Committee and Conclusion No. 1103-KL/TU by the provincial Party Organisation’s standing board.

Kim Boi commune Party Committee develops "four-good Party cell" model

Imbued with President Ho Chi Minh's teaching "The Party cell are the Party’s grassroots foundations. A strong Party cell ensures the effective implementation of the Party’s policies and continuous progress in all tasks," the Party Committee of Kim Boi commune, Kim Boi District, has rolled out the "four-good Party cell" model. The initiative has created a positive change, enhancing the leadership capacity and fighting spirit of Party organisations and their members.

Hoa Binh province discusses key socio-economic development plans

The Standing Committee of the Hoa Binh Provincial Party Committee convened on February 27 to discuss key socio-economic development plans, with Party Secretary Nguyen Phi Long chairing the meeting.

First meeting of Party committee of Hoa Binh Party agencies

The first meeting of the Party committee of Hoa Binh Party agencies for the 2020-2025 period was held on February 26.alternate member of the Party Central Committee and Secretary of the provincial Party Committee Nguyen Phi Long attended the event.