Domestic news highlights last week

1. General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong visits the French Republic and Cuba

French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong on March 27. Photo: VNA

At the invitation of French President Emmanuel Macron, on the morning of March 25, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong and a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation left Hanoi for an official visit to the French Republic.

The official visit to France by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong is the first high-level meeting between the two countries since France had a new President and takes place on the occasion of the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations (1973-2018) and 5 years of strategic partnership between the two countries (2013-2018). This is also the first visit by the General Secretary to Western Europe during the 12th Congress term.

The two leaders reviewed the honor guard at the Revolution Palace in the capital Havana on the afternoon of March 29. Photo: Reuters

On the morning of March 28 (local time), after successfully concluding his official visit to the French Republic, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and the high-ranking delegation left Paris for a state visit to the Republic of Cuba at the invitation of First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba, President of the Council of State and the Council of Ministers Raul Castro.

This State visit to Cuba by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong is the first high-level meeting between the two countries since the death of leader Fidel Castro, taking place at the time of the first historic generational leadership transition in Cuba.

This is also the first visit of the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam to the Latin American region after the 12th National Party Congress.

2.National Assembly Chairman attends IPU-138 and officially visits the Netherlands

National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan and the high-ranking delegation of the Vietnamese National Assembly attend the plenary session of the Conference. Photo: Trong Duc/VNA

On the morning of March 24, National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan and the high-ranking delegation of the National Assembly of Vietnam left Hanoi to attend the 138th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly and related conferences in Geneva, Switzerland, at the invitation of IPU President Gabriela Cuevas Barron and to pay an official visit to the Kingdom of the Netherlands at the invitation of Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Kingdom of the Netherlands Khadija Arib.

The participation of the Vietnamese delegation at IPU-138 continues to affirm the commitment of Vietnam and the Vietnamese National Assembly to always be an active and responsible member of the international community and the IPU forum; to strengthen the presence and contribute to enhancing the position of the National Assembly in particular and Vietnam in general in the international arena; to promote and protect Vietnam's close interests, to consult international views and to express the national viewpoint on common global concerns.

Taking place in the context of Vietnam and the Netherlands celebrating the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations and moving towards a strategic partnership, the visit of the National Assembly Chairman to the Netherlands is of great significance in consolidating and further strengthening the friendship and multifaceted cooperation with the Netherlands.

3.Opening of GMS 6 and CLV 10 Summits in Hanoi

The Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) within the framework of GMS 6 and CLV 10 opened this morning in Hanoi. Source: The World and Vietnam

The 6th Greater Mekong Subregion Summit (GMS 6) and the 10th Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam Development Triangle Summit (CLV 10) officially opened in Hanoi on the morning of March 29.

This is one of the three largest multilateral events held in Vietnam in 2018. Taking place from March 29 to 31, the event is expected to attract more than 2,000 delegates, 200 corporations, businesses and 150 journalists.

The 6th GMS Summit, themed “Promoting 25 years of cooperation, building an integrated, sustainable and prosperous GMS”, aims to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the establishment of GMS cooperation; and to determine the direction for cooperation to build a prosperous, integrated and sustainably developed Mekong region.

4.President Tran Dai Quang talks on the phone with Russian President Putin

President Tran Dai Quang held talks with Russian President Putin at the Kremlin in July 2017.

On March 28, President Tran Dai Quang had a phone call with President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin.

President Tran Dai Quang congratulated President Putin on being re-elected by the Russian people as President of the Russian Federation; expressed his belief that under President Putin's leadership, the Russian Federation will continue to be stable, develop, and affirm its prestige and position in the international arena; highly appreciated the President's personal good feelings for Vietnam and believed that the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Vietnam and the Russian Federation will have stronger, more solid, and more effective developments in all fields, meeting the interests of both sides, and actively contributing to peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.

5. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc chaired the national conference on natural disaster prevention and control.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc speaks at the Conference. Photo: VGP/Quang Hieu

On March 29, chaired by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, the National Conference on Natural Disaster Prevention and Control (PCTT) comprehensively and deeply assessed the natural disaster situation; the current status of prevention, response and overcoming of consequences; existing problems and shortcomings as well as proposed comprehensive solutions to solve urgent and long-term problems that will occur.

Not only "diagnosing the disease", the conference aims to respond to "heaven's disease" by discussing and proposing comprehensive solutions to solve both urgent and long-term problems to reduce damage to people and property.

The conference comprehensively and deeply assessed the natural disaster situation; the current status of prevention, response and overcoming of consequences; existing problems and shortcomings as well as proposed comprehensive solutions to solve urgent and long-term problems that will occur.

6.Mr. Dinh La Thang received an 18-year prison sentence and had to pay 600 billion in compensation.

Defendant Dinh La Thang and six accomplices in the case listen to the court's verdict. Photo: VNA

On the afternoon of March 29, the jury of the trial of Mr. Dinh La Thang and his accomplices for causing the loss of 800 billion VND at Oceanbank entered the sentencing phase.

The People's Court sentenced: Defendant Dinh La Thang (former Chairman of the Board of Directors of PVN): 18 years in prison;Defendant Vu Khanh Truong: 5 years in prison;Defendant Nguyen Xuan Liem: 20 months of non-custodial reform;Defendant Nguyen Xuan Thang: 22 months in prison;Defendant Phan Dinh Duc (former member of the Board of Directors, Board of Members of PVN): 15 months of non-custodial reform;Defendant Nguyen Xuan Son (former Deputy General Director of PVN): 30 months in prison;Defendant Ninh Van Quynh (former Chief Accountant, Head of Finance, Accounting and Auditing Department of PVN during the period 2008-2011): 7 years for Intentional Violation; 16 years for Abuse of Power and Position to Appropriate Property. The total sentence is 23 years in prison.

In addition, the People's Court ordered defendant Dinh La Thang to pay 600 billion VND in compensation, defendant Ninh Van Quynh to pay 100 billion VND, defendant Vu Khanh Truong to pay 40 billion VND, and the remaining 4 defendants to each pay 15 billion VND.

7. Consecutive fires:

-Fire at wood factory, burned down entire house in Hai Phong

Scene of the fire.

A large fire broke out at a wood warehouse on Le Thanh Tong Street, Dong Hai 1 Ward, Hai An District (Hai Phong City), burning down the wood workshop and the houses of 3 adjacent households.

Accordingly, at around 6:00 p.m. on March 29, a large fire broke out at a wood workshop on Le Thanh Tong Street (Hai An District, Hai Phong City). The fire occurred in a densely populated residential area and right next to a gas station.

As soon as the fire was discovered, people tried to put it out but failed. Because there were many flammable materials around, the fire quickly spread and flared up fiercely, then spread to three adjacent houses.

-Thanh Liet market fire, small traders cry tears of joy because they have nothing

The market was on fire.

A major fire broke out at around 2:30 p.m. on March 31 at Quang Market (Thinh Liet, Thanh Tri, Hanoi), burning down many kiosks and stalls, causing major property damage.

As of 4 p.m., authorities were still trying to put out the fire. Some merchants were able to salvage their belongings, while many others had to watch their stalls burn down in the flames.

8.The case of the 12 zodiac animal statues causing a public "storm" violates legal regulations

The nude statues of the 12 zodiac animals caused a public "storm".

Regarding the statues of the 12 zodiac animals that have caused a public uproar, on the morning of March 30, the Hai Phong Department of Tourism officially announced the inspection results.

According to the announcement, implementing the direction of the Hai Phong City People's Committee, on March 29, the Department of Tourism coordinated with the Hai Phong City authorities to inspect the scene and work with Hon Dau International Tourism Company.

At the time of inspection, the anthropomorphic statues of the 12 zodiac animals at Hon Dau Tourist Area included 123 stone sculptures, 1.8m high, placed in an area of ​​70m2...The Department of Tourism requested the People's Committee of Hai Phong City to direct competent authorities to handle violations and shorten the appraisal time to avoid causing damage to businesses.