Key domestic events of the past week

(Baonghean.vn) - The opening of the fourth meeting of the 12th Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam; three Chinese nuclear power plants located near Vietnam; proposals to increase the retirement age to 60 and 62; heavy rains and floods in Central Vietnam causing severe damage to lives and property;... are some of the prominent domestic events of the past week.

1 - Fourth Conference of the Central Committee of the 12th Party Congress

Overview of the opening ceremony of the Conference. (Photo: Tri Dung/VNA)

In accordance with the work program for the entire term, the Fourth Plenum of the Central Committee of the 12th Party Congress was solemnly inaugurated in Hanoi on the morning of October 9th. General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong presided over the meeting.

At this Conference, the Central Committee discussed and gave opinions on the socio-economic situation in 2016, the projected socio-economic development plan for 2017; a number of major policies aimed at reforming the growth model, improving the quality of growth, labor productivity, and the competitiveness of the economy; effectively implementing the process of international economic integration, maintaining political and social stability in the context of Vietnam's participation in new generation free trade agreements; strengthening Party building and rectification, preventing and repelling the decline in political ideology, morality, and lifestyle, the manifestations of "self-evolution" and "self-transformation" within the Party, and a number of other important issues.

In his opening remarks at the Conference, on behalf of the Politburo and the Secretariat, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong suggested several important issues for the Central Committee to discuss, consider, and decide upon.

2 - Conference on the implementation of the national target program for the period 2016-2020.

The Prime Minister believes that support should be geared towards enabling people to lift themselves out of poverty, rather than simply providing handouts.

Speaking at the conference, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc assessed that poverty reduction efforts have been highly effective. In 1993, 58% of households nationwide were poor, but by 2015, this figure had decreased to 4.25% according to the old criteria. If calculated according to the multidimensional poverty standard, by the end of 2015, the poverty rate was 9.88%, equivalent to approximately 2.33 million households. The Prime Minister affirmed that this achievement was thanks to the leadership of the Party, the management of the State, and the strengthening of the people's trust in the Party's leadership.

Drawing on lessons learned from poverty reduction efforts over the past five years, the Prime Minister noted that some localities still have inaccurate poverty identification practices and a "rotational" system for confirming poor households. Furthermore, some local officials have abused poverty reduction policies, negatively impacting the effectiveness of the effort. This includes cases where officials with income falsely claim to be poor households to receive assistance.

To help the poor escape poverty sustainably, the Prime Minister believes that support should be provided in a way that empowers people to lift themselves out of poverty, rather than simply giving them handouts.

3 - Launching the movement "Vietnamese businesses integrate and develop"

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Vice President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh presented the Saint Giong Cup to outstanding entrepreneurs.

On the evening of October 11th, in Hanoi, the Central Emulation and Commendation Council held a ceremony to launch the emulation movement with the theme "Vietnamese Enterprises Develop and Integrate"; and awarded the title of Outstanding Vietnamese Entrepreneur of 2016.

Speaking at the launch of the emulation movement, on behalf of the Government and the Central Emulation and Commendation Council, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc stated: Currently, Vietnam has nearly 600,000 operating businesses, with over 91,000 new businesses established in the past nine months alone. This is a positive sign, demonstrating that the Government's policy of improving the investment and business environment, encouraging entrepreneurship, innovation, and business development has gradually taken effect, creating confidence in business, and striving to have over one million businesses nationwide by 2020, with significantly improved operational quality.

At the ceremony, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and other Party and State leaders presented the title of Outstanding Vietnamese Entrepreneur of 2016 and the Saint Giong Cup to 100 outstanding entrepreneurs for their contributions to development and international integration.

4 - Workshop on the context and feasibility of salary reform

Scientific workshop on the context and feasibility of salary reform.

On the afternoon of October 12th, the Ministry of Interior organized a scientific workshop on the context and potential for salary reform. The workshop aimed to refine salary policies for officials, civil servants, public employees, and the armed forces in accordance with Conclusion No. 63 of the 7th Central Committee Conference (11th term) on "Some issues concerning the reform of salary policies, social insurance, preferential allowances for meritorious individuals, and reform orientations until 2020".

Opinions at the workshop suggested that wage policies affect the motivation of workers and that the general minimum wage cannot be used as a basis for calculating salaries for officials, civil servants, and members of the armed forces. Starting from the minimum wage does not solve the problem because when the minimum wage increases, the deductions based on salary also increase. Increasing the minimum wage is not based on increased labor productivity but on projected GDP growth and the consumer price index, linking the minimum wage to the social security system, creating pressure on both businesses and the state budget, while not actually improving workers' incomes.

5. Three Chinese nuclear power plants are located near Vietnam.

The locations of three of China's nuclear power plants are near the Vietnamese border.

Following the commissioning of three Chinese nuclear power plants near Vietnam, the Ministry of Science and Technology announced it will negotiate with China on early warning systems in case of incidents and install several monitoring stations in the area.

Three nuclear power plants in southern China have recently commenced commercial operation: Fangcheng (Guangxi) with a capacity of 1000 MW, Changjiang (Guangdong) with 600 MW, and the 650 MW unit of Xiangjiang (Hainan Island). These plants are all located near the northern border with Vietnam, with Fangcheng being the closest, only 50 km from Mong Cai, Quang Ninh, and less than 500 km from Hanoi.

Despite being a new generation of safe technology, China's construction of numerous nuclear power plants, especially its plans to expand into areas bordering Vietnam, has caused concern among many domestic experts. According to a nuclear safety expert, nuclear accidents are extremely dangerous because they release radiation over vast areas. Therefore, Vietnam needs to strengthen monitoring and implement timely solutions in the event of an accident, while also establishing a mechanism for regular communication with China.

6 - Will propose increasing the retirement age to 60 and 62

Illustration.

Mr. Pham Minh Huan, Deputy Minister of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, confirmed that the proposal to adjust and increase the retirement age was raised again in the amendment and supplementation of the Labor Code and is expected to be submitted to the National Assembly in 2017. According to Mr. Huan, this draft is currently being reviewed by experts and relevant units at workshops and posted on the Ministry's website.

The proposed retirement age for civil servants and public employees is expected to increase from 55 to 60 for women and from 60 to 62 for men. The Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs stated that the reason for this increase is to avoid the collapse of the social insurance fund and to address Vietnam's aging population.

Earlier on October 4th, at the regular government press conference for September 2016, in response to a question about the government's stance on the proposal to raise the retirement age for workers, Minister and Head of the Government Office Mai Tien Dung also emphasized: "Raising the retirement age for workers is an inevitable trend and has been implemented in many countries. The retirement age in our country has been regulated and maintained for a long time, and many factors have changed since then, including the improved health and life expectancy of the people (over 73 years old)."

7 - Recognition of 703 professor and associate professor titles in 2016

703 educators were recognized with the titles of professor and associate professor in 2016.

The Chairman of the State Council for Professor Titles signed Decision No. 55/QD-HDCDGSNN recognizing the achievement of professor and associate professor titles in 2016.

According to this Decision, in the 2016 recognition round, 65 educators nationwide were recognized as meeting the standards for the title of professor, and 638 educators met the standards for the title of associate professor. Among them, Associate Professor Dr. Tran Dinh Thang of Vinh University was the youngest person to be considered for the professorship in this round.

Associate Professor Dr. Tran Dinh Thang was born in 1975 in Thanh Chuong district and has spent many years teaching at Vinh University. In 2012, he was promoted to associate professor and is currently the Deputy Head of the Department of Chemistry at Vinh University.

In particular, in 2016, the Office of the State Council for Professor Titles granted special recognition to Professor Dao Van Lap - in the field of Physics, teaching at the Center for Optical and Quantum Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology, Australia.

Illustration.

According to the Ministry of Finance, on October 10th, the Ministry temporarily allocated 3,000 billion VND to four localities to compensate people affected by the marine environmental incident. By the end of yesterday, the aforementioned temporary allocation had been transferred to the accounts of the four localities.

According to Mr. Dao Xuan Tue, Deputy Director of the State Budget Department of the Ministry of Finance, to ensure the fastest and most convenient money transfer process, the Ministry of Finance has instructed localities to establish accounts independent of the state budget. Once the compensation recipients are clearly identified, the money transfer process is very quick, transparent, and clear.

"The compensation process is carried out openly and transparently, from identifying eligible recipients at the commune level to delivering the compensation results to each affected individual," Mr. Dao Xuan Tue affirmed.

9 - Floods in central provinces cause many deaths and disappearances.

Floods have submerged many villages in central Vietnam. (Illustrative image)

Due to the impact of heavy rains and floods since October 12, 2016, the provinces of Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, and Quang Tri experienced widespread and complex rainfall. Floods on rivers rose rapidly and flowed fiercely, causing landslides on embankments and washing away roadbeds in several sections along a 200 km stretch of the North-South railway line, resulting in serious traffic congestion. Many sections of National Highway 1 and the Ho Chi Minh Highway in Quang Binh and Ha Tinh provinces were deeply flooded; and some water transport vessels broke their anchors and drifted out to sea.

Quang Binh province suffered the most severe damage from the floods. According to a quick report from the Standing Office of the Provincial Steering Committee for Flood and Storm Prevention and Control and Search and Rescue, as of 5 PM on October 15th, the province had 12 deaths and missing persons, and 13 injured. Road and rail transport routes through Quang Binh province were paralyzed.

In Nghe An province, from the night of October 14th to the morning of October 15th, heavy and prolonged rain caused flooding in Vinh city and the districts of Hung Nguyen, Nam Dan, Nghi Loc, Anh Son, etc. Rainfall measured in many areas exceeded 338 mm. The heavy rain submerged approximately 200 houses, flooded and paralyzed roads, and caused thousands of vehicles to break down along the way. Rising floodwaters swept away a student in Nam Dan district and a man in Yen Thanh district.

In Ha Tinh province, continuous heavy rain has caused severe flooding in many areas. Huong Khe district suffered the most damage, with almost all communes deeply submerged. The communes of Phuong My, Hoa Hai, Huong Thuy, Huong Giang, Gia Pho, Loc Yen, and Huong Do have been isolated. In Ha Tinh city, roads such as Ly Tu Trong, Nguyen Cong Tru, Tran Phu, Dong Que, Nguyen Huy Tu, Nguyen Bieu, Nguyen Du, and Ha Ton Muc are deeply flooded, making them impassable for vehicles.

10 - Ministry of Health responds to allegations that its Director is involved in spirit medium rituals.

Images circulating online allegedly show Mr. Tac performing a ceremony.

On October 11th, Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Viet Tien stated that the Ministry of Health had received a petition from Mr. Pham Van Tac, Director of the Personnel and Organization Department, regarding an article published on November 9th by several media outlets titled: "Spirit medium rituals to seek promotion."

After investigating the matter, the Ministry of Health concluded that Mr. Pham Van Tac's organization of a thanksgiving ceremony at Bao Loc Temple dedicated to Saint Tran was a personal and family matter, unrelated to the work of the health sector.

The article states that the thanksgiving ceremony was held from 12:00 to 17:30 on Saturday, which is a day off and outside of the officially mandated working hours.

Regarding personal religious beliefs, which are permitted by the State, the Ministry of Health requests that the press report truthfully and objectively in accordance with the law, avoiding any impact on the reputation and honor of individuals in the healthcare sector, with the goal of protecting and improving public health.

Peace

(Synthetic)