Top domestic news of the past week

1. The memorial service, funeral ceremony, and burial of former Prime Minister Phan Văn Khải will be conducted according to the protocol of a State funeral.

The memorial service for former Prime Minister Phan Văn Khải began at 8:00 AM on March 20th.

On the morning of March 20th, at the Reunification Hall in Ho Chi Minh City, the Central Committee of the Communist Party, the National Assembly, the President, the Government, and the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front solemnly held a memorial service for Comrade Phan Văn Khải, former member of the Politburo and former Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

Also on the morning of March 20th, in Hanoi, more than 30 domestic and international delegations, along with hundreds of Hanoi residents, paid their respects to the late Prime Minister Phan Van Khai at the International Conference Center, 11 Le Hong Phong Street.

Next,On the morning of March 22nd, the memorial service for Comrade Phan Văn Khải, former member of the Politburo and former Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, was solemnly held according to the national funeral protocol at the Reunification Hall, Ho Chi Minh City.

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

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

At the invitation of President Tran Dai Quang, South Korean President 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 amidst the increasingly positive development of the Vietnam-South Korea Strategic Partnership, with regular high-level exchanges and contacts. South Korea is one of Vietnam's leading economic partners, ranking first in investment and 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 sign the document. Photo: VTC News

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

Lavrov's visit to Vietnam took place shortly after Russia's 7th presidential election, in which Putin emerged victorious.

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

4. Former Deputy Governor of the State Bank of Vietnam, Dang Thanh Binh, is being prosecuted.

Mr. Dang Thanh Binh.

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

At the State Bank of Vietnam, Mr. Dang Thanh Binh was assigned the task of overseeing the State Bank's Inspection and Supervision Department and the Legal Department, assisting the Governor in directing the restructuring of six weak banks according to the government's plan, including VNCB.

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

Defendant Dinh La Thang asks to "accept responsibility" for the PVN's 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 Ocean Bank continued to answer questions from their defense lawyers.

Asserting that PVN followed proper procedures, defendant Thang stated that the corporation had signed documents sent to the Prime Minister and relevant ministries. With the approval of the authorities, the Prime Minister agreed to allow PVN to contribute capital to Ocean Bank.

The defendant, born in 1960, stated that all investment decisions in Oceanbank were made after receiving written approval from the Prime Minister.

6.Fire at a luxury apartment building in Saigon leaves 13 dead and 28 injured.

The scene of the fire that killed 13 people.

At approximately 1:30 AM on March 23rd, a fire suddenly broke out in the basement parking area of ​​Block A of Carina Plaza apartment building (Ward 16, District 8, Ho Chi Minh City), then spread and intensified. This serious fire resulted in 13 deaths and 28 injuries.

Regarding the cause of the fire, Ho Chi Minh City Police Chief Phan Anh Minh stated: "Based on preliminary information, the fire originated in the basement, with an unidentified vehicle caught fire. It's possible the fire was caused by the vehicle's electrical system, or we cannot rule out the possibility of an intentional explosion..."