Outstanding events in the country last week

(Baonghean.vn) - The Japanese Emperor and Empress officially visited Vietnam; Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc attended the flag-raising ceremony of two Kilo submarines; Regular Government Meeting in February 2017; House fire killed 4 people in Binh Duong;... are notable domestic events last week.

1. The King and Queen of Japan pay an official visit to Vietnam

Amidst the welcoming music, President Tran Dai Quang invited King Akihito to step up to the podium. Military band played the national anthems of both countries.

At the invitation of President Tran Dai Quang and his wife, the Emperor and Empress of Japan paid a State visit to Vietnam from February 28 to March 5.

The visit took place in the context of the extensive strategic partnership for peace and prosperity in Asia between Vietnam and Japan, which is developing well and comprehensively in many fields. Exchanges and contacts between high-ranking leaders, levels and localities of the two countries and people-to-people exchanges have been held regularly and closely. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has just successfully concluded his official visit to Vietnam in January 2017.

The Emperor and Empress of Japan are noble symbols of the country and the unity of the Japanese people. The Emperor and Empress of Japan only make visits on special commemorative occasions to partners with close relations with Japan. Emperor Akihito has good feelings for Vietnam and supports members of the Japanese Royal Family to increase exchanges with Vietnam.

The State visit to Vietnam by the Emperor and Empress of Japan is an important and symbolic event, a historical milestone in the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries; demonstrating Japan's affection and concern for the country and people of Vietnam; contributing to promoting the comprehensive development of the Vietnam-Japan extensive strategic partnership, enhancing understanding between the two peoples, and meeting the aspirations of the people of the two countries.

2. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc attended the flag-raising ceremony of two Kilo submarines.

Prime Minister reviews the guard of honor.

On the morning of February 28, at Cam Ranh military base (Khanh Hoa), the Navy held a flag-raising ceremony for two Kilo 636 submarines with registration numbers 186 Da Nang and 187 Ba Ria - Vung Tau.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and representatives of many central ministries, the two localities of Da Nang and Ba Ria - Vung Tau and units of the Navy attended this flag-raising ceremony.

Speaking at the ceremony, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc emphasized: Although the country's resources are still limited, with the attention of the Party, State, Central Military Commission and Ministry of National Defense, along with the modernization of a number of other forces, the Navy is given priority to modernize to become the core force to firmly protect the sacred sovereignty of the sea and islands of the Fatherland.

In recent years, the Navy has developed strongly in both force organization and weapons, including a modern submarine force with high combat power. From 2014 to now, we have put 4 submarines Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hai Phong, Khanh Hoa. Currently, 2 more ships Da Nang and Ba Ria - Vung Tau have officially entered the 189th submarine brigade to carry out training and combat readiness missions...

3. Regular Government meeting February 2017

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc speaks at the regular Government meeting in February. Photo: Thong Nhat - VNA

On the morning of March 1, the Government held its regular February meeting chaired by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

The meeting aims to assess the overall socio-economic situation in February, the first month after the Lunar New Year 2017, with many issues related to institution building, discipline, public service discipline and other social security issues.

Speaking at the opening of the meeting, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc commented that right after the Lunar New Year, agencies from the central to local levels quickly started implementing the socio-economic tasks of 2017, and there was no longer a situation of "January being a month of partying". The Prime Minister assessed that the situation after Tet was quite positive, creating an exciting atmosphere, increasing people's confidence, and contributing to the overall prestige of the Party, State and Government leaders.

The Prime Minister said that the assessments and forecasts of international agencies and organizations all said that Vietnam's economy would continue to grow well, but no assessment has yet predicted that Vietnam's economy would reach 6.7% in 2017. This is a challenge for the country's socio-economic management, the Prime Minister said. Praising the fact that after Tet, ministries and local agencies have strictly implemented the rectification of the organization of festivals and celebrations, the Prime Minister said that spring festivals have been managed more strictly than in previous years, minimizing festivals with offensive behavior.

4. Strictly handle violations of Mr. Nguyen Minh Quang and Mr. Vo Kim Cu

Mr. Vo Kim Cu and Mr. Nguyen Minh Quang.

At the Government press conference on the afternoon of March 1, regarding the conclusion of the Central Inspection Committee reviewing the responsibility of a number of former leaders of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment in the Formosa case, Minister - Head of the Government Office Mai Tien Dung said that after the announcement of the Central Inspection Committee, with the direction of the General Secretary, the Government has seriously reviewed organizations and individuals with violations related to Formosa's waste discharge affecting 4 central provinces.

Accordingly, the agencies have implemented it very seriously, the Party Committee of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has seriously reviewed, clarified responsibilities and transferred the file to the Central Inspection Committee, at the same time, announced the conclusion on the violations of the organizations and individuals whose violations were reviewed, which was agreed by the people. In other words, as the General Secretary affirmed, "there are no exceptions, no forbidden areas".

"The notification of shortcomings of former Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Nguyen Minh Quang, former Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Ha Tinh People's Committee Vo Kim Cu and a number of officials continued to be carried out in accordance with the process. The Prime Minister's directive is to continue to implement the contents according to the direction of the General Secretary, which is to review and reconsider the contents under the authority and responsibility of agencies, organizations and individuals, and if there are any violations, they will be considered and handled according to the provisions of law."

Minister Mai Tien Dung also added that the authorities are continuing to consider this issue and after the conclusion of the Central Inspection Committee, the government will handle it.

5. Expelled from the Party the former Principal and Vice Principal of Nam Trung Yen School

A child broke his leg after being hit by a taxi at Nam Trung Yen Primary School.

The Cau Giay District Party Committee Office has just announced the review and disciplinary action against party members related to the Principal and Vice Principal of Nam Trung Yen Primary School (Hanoi) sitting in a car causing an accident for students in the schoolyard, but denied responsibility.

After receiving the Party disciplinary proposal for Ms. Ta Thi Bich Ngoc, Party Cell Secretary, former Principal and Ms. Nguyen Thi Huong, former Vice Principal of Nam Trung Yen Primary School, the Standing Committee of the District Party Committee directed the review and disciplinary action against the two individuals. On February 28, the decision to handle the matter was issued, Ms. Ngoc and Ms. Huong were both expelled from the Party.

Previously, on February 20, the People's Committee of Cau Giay District held a meeting and agreed to remove Ms. Ngoc and Ms. Huong from the positions of Principal and Vice Principal of Nam Trung Yen Primary School.

Chairman of the City People's Committee Nguyen Duc Chung said that the two teachers had acted dishonestly and violated regulations when the school strictly prohibited cars from entering the school, but still instructed the security guard to open the gate to let cars in. This was the cause of the incident, affecting the spirit and body of Tran Chi Kien. The excuses and false statements have lost the trust of parents and students in the school, the education sector of the capital and the whole country.

6. House fire kills 4 people in Binh Duong

Fire scene.

The fire broke out at around 1am on February 26 at a house in an alley on 30-4 Street, in Quarter 2, Phu Hoa Ward, Thu Dau Mot City, Binh Duong Province. The house was located right in the city centre, about 1km from the Go Dau Stadium roundabout.

At the time of the accident, seeing a fire in the house, people reported it to the authorities to come to the scene.

When breaking down the door, the authorities discovered a heartbreaking scene of four victims burned to death in different locations in the house. Among them, the body of a little girl was discovered near the entrance, the woman and another baby near the bedroom, and the body of a man near the stairs.

7. Ha Van Tham and 47 accomplices appear in court

Ha Van Tham appeared in court.

On the morning of February 27, the Hanoi People's Court opened the first-instance trial of defendant Ha Van Tham, former Chairman of the Board of Directors of Ocean Commercial Joint Stock Bank (Oceanbank), and 47 other defendants prosecuted for the crimes of "Violating regulations on lending in the operations of credit institutions", "Abusing position and power while performing official duties" and "Intentionally violating State regulations on economic management causing serious consequences".

The first-instance trial panel consisted of 5 people: 2 judges, 3 people's jurors and more than 30 lawyers participating in protecting the rights and obligations of the defendants during the 20-day trial.

In particular, the court summoned and extradited Pham Cong Danh (former Chairman of the Board of Directors of Construction Joint Stock Commercial Bank) from Ho Chi Minh City to attend as a person with related rights and obligations.

In this case, Ha Van Tham and 47 accomplices were prosecuted for the crimes of Violating regulations on lending in the operations of credit institutions, Abusing positions and powers while performing official duties and Intentionally violating State regulations on economic management. The authorities determined that the total amount of money Oceanbank lost was more than 1,500 billion VND.

8. Ho Chi Minh City simultaneously 'demands sidewalks' for pedestrians

Binh Tan District launched a campaign to eliminate sidewalk encroachment.

Faced with District 1's determination to deal with sidewalk encroachment, other districts and many other places in Ho Chi Minh City have simultaneously taken action to restore urban order.

Recently, Mr. Doan Ngoc Hai - Vice Chairman of District 1 People's Committee has regularly led forces to handle the situation of encroachment on sidewalks and roadsides. Constructions of public agencies encroaching on sidewalks were demolished by the forces. Many blue-plate cars carrying city officials to meetings, drinking at night... parked on the sidewalk were also handled. Blue-plate cars 80B, 80M were also towed to the headquarters. Pubs, restaurants... encroaching on sidewalks were also fined.

To realize the dream of turning District 1 into a "miniature Singapore", the Vice Chairman of District 1 once declared that he "will not be afraid to touch", "will take off his shirt and retire", if the situation of encroachment on the sidewalk cannot be completely handled.

During the meeting, Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Nguyen Thanh Phong highly appreciated the resolute actions of the leaders of District 1. He criticized other districts for being "slow", asking local leaders to "not sit at their desks giving instructions" but to directly deal with the situation of sidewalk encroachment like District 1 did.

Peace

(Synthetic)