Domestic news highlights last week

1. Funeral, memorial service and burial of former Prime Minister Phan Van Khai according to State funeral protocol

The funeral of former Prime Minister Phan Van Khai begins at 8:00 a.m. on March 20.

On the morning of March 20, at Thong Nhat Hall, Ho Chi Minh City, the Party Central Committee, the National Assembly, the President, the Government, and the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front solemnly held a funeral for comrade Phan Van Khai, former member of the Politburo, former Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

Also on the morning of March 20, in Hanoi, more than 30 domestic and international delegations and hundreds of Hanoi residents visited the late Prime Minister Phan Van Khai at the International Conference Center, No. 11 Le Hong Phong.

Next,On the morning of March 22, the memorial service for comrade Phan Van Khai, former member of the Politburo and former Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, was solemnly held according to the State funeral protocol at Thong Nhat Hall, Ho Chi Minh City.

2. South Korean President Moon Jae-in pays official visit to Vietnam

The official welcoming ceremony for South Korean President Moon Jae In took place on the morning of March 23 at the Presidential Palace, chaired by President Tran Dai Quang.

At the invitation of President Tran Dai Quang, President of the Republic of Korea Moon Jae In and his wife paid a State visit to Vietnam from March 22-24, 2018.

This is the first official visit to Vietnam by South Korean President Moon Jae-in. The visit takes place in the context of the increasingly positive development of the Vietnam - South Korea strategic cooperative partnership with regular high-level exchanges and contacts. South Korea is one of Vietnam's leading economic partners, the leading partner in investment, and the second in development cooperation, trade, and tourism.

3.Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov visits Vietnam

Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov signed the document. Photo: VTC News

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov visited Vietnam on March 22-23, at the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh.

Mr. Lavrov's working trip to Vietnam took place right after Russia held its 7th presidential election, with Mr. Putin winning.

The Russian Foreign Minister held talks with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh and met with a number of other leaders. The two sides discussed the current status and prospects of the Vietnam-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership.

4. Prosecution of former Deputy Governor of the State Bank Dang Thanh Binh

Mr. Dang Thanh Binh.

On March 22, the Supreme People's Procuracy issued and served an indictment to prosecute Mr. Dang Thanh Binh, former Deputy Governor of the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV), and his accomplices for the crime of lack of responsibility causing serious consequences related to the major case of Pham Cong Danh and his accomplices losing 9,000 billion VND at Dai Tin Bank (the predecessor of Construction Bank, VNCB).

At the State Bank, Mr. Dang Thanh Binh was assigned to be in charge of the State Bank's Inspection and Supervision Agency, the Legal Department, and to assist the Governor in directing the restructuring of six weak banks according to the government's project, including VNCB.

5. Mr. Dinh La Thang accepts responsibility as the head of the 800 billion case.

Defendant Dinh La Thang asked to "take responsibility" for the PVN loss of 800 billion VND.

On the afternoon of March 20, defendant Dinh La Thang and his accomplices in the case of the Vietnam Oil and Gas Group (PVN) losing 800 billion VND when investing in Oceanbank continued to answer questions from the defense attorney.

Affirming that PVN followed procedures, defendant Thang said that the group had signed a document and sent it to the Prime Minister and relevant ministries. With the consent of the authorities, the Prime Minister agreed to let PVN contribute capital to Ocean Bank.

The defendant born in 1960 said all investment decisions in Oceanbank were made after receiving written consent from the Prime Minister.

6.Fire in luxury apartment building in Saigon, 13 dead, 28 injured

The scene of the fire that killed 13 people.

At around 1:30 a.m. on March 23, a fire suddenly broke out in the basement parking lot at Block A of Carina Plaza apartment building (Ward 16, District 8, Ho Chi Minh City) and then spread and flared up fiercely. This serious fire left 13 people dead and 28 injured.

Regarding the cause of the fire, Director of Ho Chi Minh City Police Phan Anh Minh said: "Through preliminary information, the cause of the fire was from the basement, an unidentified vehicle caught fire, possibly due to the vehicle's electrical system or it is not excluded that there was an installation to cause an explosion..."