Weekly digest – June 15-21

State President meets journalists ahead of press day

State President Truong Tan Sang met and congratulated journalists ahead of the 90th anniversary of Viet Nam Revolutionary Press Day (June 21) in Ha Noi.

The President hoped that each revolutionary journalist would hold up the glorious tradition of the sector and fulfill their assigned tasks, connecting the Party and State with the people.

He called on them to publish up-to-date news promptly to the public and convey public aspirations to Party and State leaders.

Participants voiced their concern about the existing difficulties due to the proliferation of multimedia, particularly social media that has caused confusion over news accuracy.

Deputies agree to adopt resolution on NA inspection activities

Most deputies at the ongoing ninth session of the 13th National Assembly (NA) in Ha Noi consented to adopting a resolution on NA inspection activities in 2016.

At the 11th session of the 13th NA, lawmakers will scrutinise the implementation of socio-economic development tasks and the State budget in 2015 and early 2016 as well as discuss reports of the National Assembly, NA Standing Committee, State President, Prime Minister and top leaders of the People’s Supreme Court, People’s SupremeProcuracy and State Audit.

Deputies are also looking into addressing voter petitions at the 10th sitting of the 13th National Assembly.

VN treasures ADB support: PM

PM Nguyen Tan Dung has told outgoing Asian Development Bank (ADB) Country Director in Viet Nam Tomoyuki Kimura that Viet Nam highly values ADB’s support over the past years, especially in policy consultations, technical assistance and resource provision for the country’s growth.

During a meeting with Kimura in Ha Noi, the Government leader said Viet Nam targets rapid and sustainable economic growth with a well-controlled macro-economy.

The country will focus on economic restructuring, transforming the growth model and improving the efficiency and competitiveness of the economy, he said.

For his part, Kimura pledged that the ADB will continue walking hand-in-hand with Viet Nam during the country’s growth process.

SEA Games 31 hosting scheme to be devised

The Government Office has announced PM Nguyen Tan Dung’s conclusion at the meeting about hosting the 31st Southeast Asia Games (SEA Games 31) in 2021.

PM Dung has assigned the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) to work with relevant agencies to develop a scheme related, clarifying the number of events and their contents in line with the country’s conditions and programs of the Olympic and Asian Games.

The scheme should include training plans for the country’s competitors attending the event, he said.

VN, China cooperation steering committee holds 8th meeting

Deputy PM, FM Pham Binh Minh and a Vietnamese delegation joined the eighth session of the Steering Committee for Viet Nam-China Bilateral Cooperation in China.

At the meeting, Minh and Chinese State CouncillorYang Jiechi discussed measures to realise agreements reached during Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong’s visit to China in April 2015 and efficiently implement an action programmeon the Viet Nam-China strategic cooperative partnership in order to enhance bilateral ties.

Both sides agreed to maintain regular visits and meetings between the two countries’ high-level leaders, carry out a cooperation plan for 2016-2020 between the two Parties, and organise several exchange activities for people and youth in 2015.

Trade deficit exceeds US$3 bln in five months

Viet Nam’s total export and import turnover in May reached nearly US$28.64 billion, up 7.9% compared to the previous month.

The figure comprised an export value of nearly US$13.7 billion and an import turnover of US$14.94 billion, up 2.6% and 13.2%, respectively. It then resulted a deficit of US$1.24 billion.

With the amounts, two-way trade reached US$129.94 billion between January and May, a year-on-year increase of 12%.

The export increased 7.7% while import expanded by 16.4%, reaching US$63.45 billion and US$66.5 billion, respectively.

28th SEA Games a success for VN’s sports

The 28th Southeast Asian Games in Singapore was a success for Viet Nam’s sportsmen as they won 73 gold, 53 silver and 60 bronze medals to rank third in the medals table, exceeding the target of 56-65 golds.

According to Tran Duc Phan, Deputy Director of the National Sports Administration and Chef-de-mission of Viet Nam for the Singapore Games, the success was a result of the administration’s investment in about 50 athletes, who will aim to go further at big events in athletics, swimming, gymnastics, shooting and weightlifting.

Ca Hue recognised as national heritage

Ca Hue (traditional Hue singing) has been recognised as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage, according to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Ca Hue is said to bear similar significance to Vietnamese traditional music like don ca tai tu (Southern folk music) and ca tru (ceremonial singing) performed in the north.

Ca Hue music, also known as “the Hue tune”, is a variation of Hue royal court music. The music has lyrics with some being Hue folk songs.

Statistics show that over 10,000 Ca Hue shows are held every year for 160,000 people.

By Vien Nhu

Weekly digest – June 15-21 Related image(s)