October 2-8: Party Central Committee opens sixth session

Party Central Committee convenes sixth meeting

The 12th Party Central Committee’s sixth meeting opened in Hanoi on October 4. The meeting is expected to discuss the socio-economic and financial-budgetary situation in 2017, and draft a socio-economic development plan and financial-budgetary estimates for next year.

During the session, the members of the Party Central Committee are expected to discuss the socio-economic and financial-budgetary situation in 2017, in addition to drafting a socio-economic development plan and financial-budgetary estimates for next year. They are also set to investigate healthcare and population problems, the reform of public service institutions, and the organisation of a lean and effective political system, alongside other important matters.

The sixth session of the 12th Party Central Committee is scheduled to last until October 11.

Lao PM begins official visit to Vietnam

Laos Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith (left) meets with Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc in Hanoi on October 2. (Credit: VNA)

Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith led a Lao government high-level delegation on a visit to Vietnam from October 2-6, at the invitation of host Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

During the visit, the guest held meetings with Vietnam’s top leaders, in which they reviewed the implementation of the two neighbouring countries’ cooperation agreements, bilateral investment and trade projects, and discussed solutions to challenges in order to meet their goals.

The two sides agreed to continue high-level exchanges and visits, and to realise the agreements achieved at the 39th meeting of the Vietnam-Laos intergovernmental committee in Hanoi earlier this year, as well as the visits by Vietnamese high-level officials to Laos.

They will focus on accelerating key projects; such as the Laos National Assembly building – a gift from Vietnam to Laos, the Hanoi-Vientiane expressway, Hon La oil and gas bonded warehouse and pipeline in the central province of Quang Binh, ports in the Vung Ang Port area, and several other energy and traffic connectivity projects.

With the 2017 Vietnam-Laos friendship year, they agreed that the two countries will promote awareness programs aiming to educate younger generations on the unique friendship between Laos and Vietnam.

Vietnam elected WIPO General Assembly Chairman

Ambassador Duong Chi Dung

Ambassador Duong Chi Dung, head of Vietnam’s Permanent Mission to the UN, the WTO and other international organisations in Geneva, has been elected Chairman of the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) General Assembly for 2018-2019.

The election was made by representatives of all 191 WIPO member countries at the WIPO General Assembly’s 49th session that opened in Geneva on October 2.

Ambassador Dung was the candidate of countries in the Asia-Pacific region, which has not had any representative serving as Chairperson of the WIPO General Assembly for 12 years.

The country’s candidacy for and election as the Chair of the WIPO General Assembly are a continued demonstration of Vietnam’s multilateral foreign policy and its being a responsible and proactive member with practical contributions to the building of policies and regulations at multilateral organisations and forums.

Transport Minister becomes new Secretary of Da Nang municipal Party Committee

Politburo member and head of the PCC’s Organisation Commission, Pham Minh Chinh (left), presents the appointment decision to Transport Minister Truong Quang Nghia.

Truong Quang Nghia, member of the Party Central Committee ( PCC) and Minister of Transport, has taken office as Secretary of the Da Nang municipal Party Committee for the 2015-2020 tenure, following the Politburo’s decision announced at a conference in the city on October 7.

He has been appointed to replace Nguyen Xuan Anh, who was dismissed from the positions of Secretary of the Da Nang Party Committee, member of the municipal Party Committee’s Standing Board and Executive Committee for the 2015-2020 tenure, and member of the PCC, under the disciplinary measures adopted by the PCC at a meeting on October 6.

Anh was held accountable for the violations committed by the Da Nang Party Committee as its head. He was also found to have committed serious violations of the Party’s working regulations, which adversely affected the Party organisation’s prestige, causing upsets among officials, Party members and the people.

First tra fish fair held in Hanoi

Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung (second from left) visits the fair on October 7. (Credit: NDO)

A fair introducing products made from tra fish (pangasius) and seafood, was organised by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development at the Hanoi-based Agricultural Exhibition Centre from October 6-8. This is the first seafood fair to be held in the capital city, aiming to promote the consumption of tra fish and other seafood products in the northern region and international markets, particularly China.

The two-day fair featured nearly 100 booths of over 40 domestic and foreign enterprises. There was also a food court where professional cooks introduced visitors to the nutritious values of tra fish along with around 20 dishes made from the fish.

First foreign-owned petrol station opened in Hanoi

The opening of Idemitsu Q8, the first foreign-owned petrol station in Vietnam.

A petrol service station named Idemitsu Q8 was launched at the Thang Long Industrial Park in Hanoi, on October 5, becoming the first wholly foreign-owned petrol station to join the petrol retail market in Vietnam.

The petrol service station is operated by Idemitsu Q8 Petroleum Co Ltd, a joint venture between Japan's Idemitsu Kosan and Kuwait Petroleum International Ltd, established in 2016. The station covers approximately 6,000 m2 at the Thang Long Industrial Park which is home to many Japanese enterprises.

Idemitsu Q8 is equipped with an automated management software system allowing card payments, with a number of advanced features, and is capable of providing accurate management of fuel quantities to 0.01 litres and a detailed report of transactions for customers.

Hanoi documentary by ex-French Ambassador screened

Poster from special premiere of Mon Hanoi at l'espace. (Photo courtesy to: l'espace)

Vietnam Television broadcast the documentary Mon Hanoi (My Hanoi), directed and filmed by former French Ambassador to Vietnam Jean Noel Poirier, on VTV1 channel at 8:40 pm on October 8.

The 52-minute film is a journey through many corners of Hanoi, with interesting insights into the capital’s culture, food, architecture, traffic, and people as discovered by the diplomat. The Vietnamese voice-over in the documentary was performed by Jean Noel Poirier himself, who has learned the language since he was 20.

The screening of Mon Hanoi is one of the activities held to mark the capital’s Liberation Day (October 10). The film has received the creator’s permission to be broadcast on all channels of the Vietnam Television during one year.

Vietnamese gymnast’s new skill added to Gymnastics Code of Points

Pham Phuoc Hung performs in his favourite still rings event.

Vietnam’s veteran gymnast, Pham Phuoc Hung, has successfully performed a new skill in the men’s still rings at the 2017 FIG World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Montreal, Canada, from October 2 to 8.

Hung’s move, given a difficulty rating of E (A elements being the easiest and H elements being the hardest), has never been performed by any athlete before, therefore it has been added to the Men’s Gymnastics Code of Points by the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG), bearing the name of the Vietnamese athlete, “The Pham”.

This is the second time that the Hanoi-born gymnast has created a new element for the still rings event which has received FIG recognition. Previously, at the world competition in Glasgow, Scotland, in November 2015, Hung took the same honour by performing a pull with straight arms and body, through a momentary front lever, and through Cross to support scale, at a difficulty rating of D.