Highlights of domestic events this past week

(Baonghean.vn) - General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong paid an official visit to the Lao People's Democratic Republic; President Tran Dai Quang attended APEC 2016 in Peru and visited Italy and the Vatican; Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc attended the 9th CLV conference; From 2017, those who own motorcycles without proper registration will be fined; ... these are some of the prominent domestic events of the past week.

1 - General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong pays an official visit to the Lao People's Democratic Republic.

General Secretary and President of the Lao People's Democratic Republic Bounnhang Vorachith invited General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong to review the honor guard.

On the morning of November 24th, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and the high-level Vietnamese delegation arrived in Vientiane, the capital of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, beginning an official friendly visit at the invitation of General Secretary and President of the Lao People's Democratic Republic Bounnhang Vorachith.

This is General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong's first foreign visit since being elected General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam at the 12th Congress. The visit demonstrates the high regard that the Party, State, and people of Vietnam attach to the special, comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos.

Following that, at the Presidential Palace in Vientiane, the General Secretary and President of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, Bounnhang Vorachith, presided over the official welcoming ceremony for General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong with protocols reserved for heads of state.

Immediately after the welcoming ceremony at the Presidential Palace, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong held talks with General Secretary and President of the Lao People's Democratic Republic Bounnhang Vorachith. Following the talks, the two leaders witnessed the signing of seven cooperation documents between the two countries.

2 - President Tran Dai Quang attended APEC 2016 in Peru and visited Italy and the Vatican.

President Tran Dai Quang and the heads of delegations pose for a group photo. (Photo: Nhan Sang/VNA)

On the morning of November 18th (Vietnam time), President Tran Dai Quang and his wife, along with a high-level Vietnamese delegation, arrived in Lima to begin their participation in the 24th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit Week at the invitation of Peruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynsky. Greeting the delegation at Military Airport No. 2 were representatives of the Peruvian government and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Vietnamese Ambassador to Brazil and Peru, Nguyen Van Kien, and embassy staff.

APEC 2016 marked the first year of implementing several long-term strategies on quality growth, restructuring of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and services cooperation. Under the theme "Quality Growth and Human Development," the conference focused on promoting four main priorities: regional economic integration and quality growth, regional food markets, human capital development, and modernization of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises.

Following this, on November 21st, at the invitation of Italian President Sergio Matarela, President Tran Dai Quang and his wife, along with a high-level delegation from Vietnam, departed today for a state visit to Italy, including a visit to the Vatican. This visit holds special significance in strengthening the strategic partnership between Vietnam and Italy.

3 - Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc attends the 9th CLV conference.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and prime ministers of other countries at the opening of the conference.

At the invitation of the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, Samdech Techo Hun Sen, on the morning of November 23, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc led the Vietnamese delegation to attend the 9th Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam Development Triangle Regional Summit (CLV9). The summit took place over two days (November 23-24) in Siem Reap, Kingdom of Cambodia.

Over the past 17 years, the CLV Development Triangle has proven to be a highly effective cooperation mechanism among the three friendly neighboring countries of Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam. The development triangle's GDP growth reached 9-10% in 2016, higher than the average growth rate of all three countries.

The CLV cooperation mechanism has affirmed its indispensable role in the development triangle region and for the entire territories of Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc held important meetings with Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen and Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith.

4 - Closing of the 2nd session of the 14th National Assembly

The 14th National Assembly concluded its second session after 26 working days.

After more than a month of work, the second session of the 14th National Assembly concluded on the morning of November 23rd.

In the closing session, with a majority vote, the National Assembly passed the Resolution on interpellation and answers at the 2nd session, and the Resolution on continuing to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the national target program for building new rural areas in conjunction with restructuring the agricultural sector. In addition, during this session, the National Assembly completed most of the tasks set out for this session.

In her closing remarks at the session, National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan stated that after more than a month of diligent, serious, and responsible work, the National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam had completed the work program of its second session with many important contents. The National Assembly demonstrated a spirit of innovation, unity, creativity, and action for the benefit of the people and the country, frankly discussing and contributing many opinions reflecting the thoughts and aspirations of voters and the people nationwide in the work of lawmaking, deciding on important national issues, and exercising supreme oversight.

5 - The National Assembly passed a resolution severely criticizing Mr. Vu Huy Hoang.

The National Assembly has requested the addition of legal documents to address violations by civil servants and public employees, even after retirement.

This is the content mentioned in the Resolution on interpellation and answers to interpellation passed by the National Assembly on the morning of November 23.

Specifically, regarding the internal affairs sector, the National Assembly requires the effective implementation of the personnel downsizing plan, linked with the rational restructuring of the organizational apparatus and the civil servant workforce; and the development and strict implementation of a personnel downsizing plan according to the roadmap until 2021 as required by Resolution No. 39-NQ/TW of the Politburo.

The National Assembly severely criticized Mr. Vu Huy Hoang, Minister of Industry and Trade during the 2011-2016 term, before the National Assembly and voters nationwide for his violations in personnel management during his tenure, which caused serious consequences, negatively affected the prestige of the Party, the State, and the Ministry of Industry and Trade, caused public outrage, and drew questions from many National Assembly deputies.

The Standing Committee of the National Assembly, the Government, and law enforcement agencies are tasked with further investigating and handling the matter in accordance with the law.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade has experienced significant changes in its personnel and staffing.

Accordingly, the number of departments was reduced from 35 to just 28. Specifically, the General Department of Energy was split into one department and two divisions; the Division of Mountainous Region Trade Market was merged into the Domestic Market Division; the Chemical Department, the Light Industry Division, and the Heavy Industry Division were merged into the Industry Department; and the Finance Division was dissolved, with parts transferred to the Planning Division and parts to the Enterprise Development and Innovation Division.

In addition, the Human Resources Development Department (formerly separated from the Personnel and Organization Department) has been merged back into the Personnel and Organization Department; the Emulation and Commendation Department and the Southern Affairs Department (formerly the Ministry of Industry and Trade's representative office in Ho Chi Minh City) have been merged into the Ministry of Industry and Trade's Office; the Regional Departments KV1, KV2, KV3, and KV4 have been merged into two departments: Europe, America, and Asia-Africa; the International Cooperation Department has been merged into two departments: Asia, Africa, and Europe-Africa; and the two research institutes (Trade and Industrial Policy) have been merged into one institute.

At the same time, the Ministry will also establish a Trade Defense Department to align with the trend of integration. The Market Management Department will be upgraded from a separate Department to a General Department of Market Management, while the remaining Departments will remain unchanged.

7 - From 2017, those who own motorcycles without proper registration will be fined.

(Illustrative image - Source: Internet)

From January 1st, 2017, according to Article 30 of Decree 46, traffic police will fine individuals between 100,000 and 200,000 VND, and organizations between 200,000 and 400,000 VND, for owners of motorcycles, mopeds, and similar vehicles who fail to register the transfer of ownership (changing the vehicle owner's name in the vehicle registration certificate to their own name). This applies even to cases of "gifts, donations, allocations, transfers, and inheritance of property".

According to Circular 15 of the Ministry of Public Security, when registering a vehicle transfer within the same province, citizens need to bring the following documents: a vehicle transfer registration form with a commitment from the current vehicle user, and confirmation of the current vehicle user's permanent address from the commune-level police where the user resides; proof of payment of vehicle registration tax; proof of vehicle ownership transfer from the person named in the vehicle registration certificate and proof of vehicle ownership transfer from the last seller; and the vehicle registration certificate.

In case of a lost vehicle registration certificate, the reason must be clearly stated in the vehicle transfer and registration application form.

8 - Announcement regarding the Lunar New Year holiday in 2017

(Illustrative image - Source: Internet)

Accordingly, officials, civil servants, and employees of administrative agencies, public service organizations, political organizations, and socio-political organizations will have a Lunar New Year holiday from Thursday, January 26, 2017, to Monday, January 30, 2017 (i.e., from the 29th day of the 12th lunar month of the Year of the Monkey to the 3rd day of the 1st lunar month of the Year of the Rooster).

Since January 28th and 29th, 2017 (the first and second days of the Lunar New Year) fall on Saturday and Sunday, which are regular weekend days off, civil servants and public employees will take compensatory leave on January 31st and February 1st, 2017 (the fourth and fifth days of the Lunar New Year). Therefore, during the Lunar New Year holiday, civil servants and public employees will have 7 consecutive days off, from January 26th to February 1st, 2017 (i.e., from the 29th day of the 12th lunar month of the Year of the Monkey to the 5th day of the 1st lunar month of the Year of the Rooster).

Agencies and units implementing the above holiday schedule must arrange their working departments appropriately to ensure continuous work and provide good service to organizations and the public. Agencies and units that do not follow a fixed Saturday and Sunday holiday schedule should base their holiday arrangements on their specific programs and plans, in accordance with the law.

Peace

(Synthetic)