Domestic news highlights last week

The Government held its regular meeting in April.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc speaks at the meeting. Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA

On the morning of May 3, under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, the Government held its regular April session.

Besides assessing the socio-economic situation in April and the first four months of the year, the main content of the meeting is to review and complete draft laws and documents expected to be submitted to the 5th session of the 14th National Assembly, which will open in mid-May.

In his opening speech at the meeting, assigning tasks to Government members, the Prime Minister requested to resolutely not allow delays in drafting laws in preparation for the 5th session of the National Assembly.

The Prime Minister frankly criticized the slow quality and progress of drafting laws submitted to the National Assembly. “This Government puts institutional issues first,” the Prime Minister emphasized, and asked the Ministry of Justice and leaders of ministries and branches to learn from experience, review and have specific solutions to overcome this situation.

Immediately after the Prime Minister's opening speech, the Government listened to the leader of the Ministry of Justice report on the results of law and ordinance making in 2018 and the situation of promulgating documents detailing the implementation of laws and ordinances in the first four months of 2018.

"Unification of the Country" Flag Raising Ceremony at Hien Luong Bridge

"Unification of the Country" Flag Raising Ceremony at the Hien Luong - Ben Hai National Special Relic Site (Quang Tri).

On April 30, at the Hien Luong - Ben Hai National Special Relic Site, Quang Tri province solemnly held the "Unification of the Country" flag-raising ceremony to celebrate the 43rd anniversary of the complete liberation of the South and national reunification (April 30, 1975 - April 30, 2018) and the 46th anniversary of the liberation of Quang Tri province (May 1, 1972 - May 1, 2018).

Attending the event were comrades of the Party Central Committee: Thuan Huu, Editor-in-Chief of Nhan Dan Newspaper, Deputy Head of the Central Propaganda Department, President of the Vietnam Journalists Association; Nguyen Van Hung, Secretary of the Quang Tri Provincial Party Committee; representatives of leaders of ministries, branches of the Central Government, Quang Tri Province; veterans who fought in the Quang Tri battlefield in the past, and a large number of local people.

The flag-raising ceremony was solemnly held at the historic flagpole where for 21 years the army and people of the whole country have protected the flag as if protecting the heart of the Fatherland. In the solemn atmosphere and the background music of the national anthem, the red flag with a yellow star was raised to the top of the historic Hien Luong flagpole, representing the pride of the nation, the belief, will and invincible strength of the Vietnamese revolution, the brilliant color of the history of the struggle to build and defend the Fatherland.

The Flag Raising Ceremony is an occasion to honor the feats of arms of the army and people across the country that created the great victory of the Spring of 1975, bringing the country back together… This is also an occasion for everyone to review the memories of a heroic and tragic time, to honor the immortal feats as well as to express deep gratitude for the great sacrifices of previous generations, and at the same time, to educate the revolutionary tradition for the younger generation to strive to build a country worthy of their ancestors.

In a solemn atmosphere, the red flag with yellow star was raised on top of Hien Luong flagpole, opening the cultural, physical training and sports activities to celebrate the Day of complete liberation of the South, national reunification and the Day of liberation of Quang Tri province.

Sa Pa town will be established on the basis of maintaining the current boundary of Sa Pa district.

On the afternoon of May 4, the People's Council of Lao Cai province, term XV, held its 6th (extraordinary) session, passing a Resolution on adjusting the administrative boundaries of commune-level units of Sa Pa district to prepare for the establishment of Sa Pa town in Lao Cai province.

After listening to the reports of the member units of Lao Cai Provincial People's Committee, the delegates of Lao Cai Provincial People's Council voted to pass the Resolution on adjusting the administrative boundaries of commune-level units of Sa Pa district.

Accordingly, the People's Council of Lao Cai province has 100% agreed on the establishment of Sa Pa town on the basis of maintaining the current administrative boundaries of Sa Pa district with a total natural area of ​​681.37 km2 and a population of 61,498 people, including 16 commune-level administrative units (10 communes, 6 wards), a reduction of 2 administrative units compared to present.

Thus, according to the plan, 6 wards will include: Sa Pa, Ham Rong, Phan Si Pang, Cau May, O Quy Ho and Sa Pa; 10 communes are: Ngu Chi Son, Muong Hoa, Lien Minh, Thanh Binh, Hoang Lien, Muong Bo, Trung Chai, Ta Van, Ban Ho, Ta Phin.

Remove all Party positions, consider removing National Assembly delegate Phan Thi My Thanh

The Secretariat decided to discipline comrade Phan Thi My Thanh by removing her from all positions in the Party. Photo: VNA

On May 4, 2018, at the Party Central Committee Headquarters, the Secretariat met to consider the proposal of the Central Inspection Committee in Submission No. 111-TTr/UBKTTW, dated April 27, 2018, on the proposal to consider and take disciplinary action against comrade Phan Thi My Thanh, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Head of the National Assembly Delegation of Dong Nai province.

The violations and shortcomings of Ms. Phan Thi My Thanh are very serious, causing resentment among cadres, party members and people, negatively affecting the reputation of the party organization and individuals. Pursuant to Regulation No. 102-QD/TW of the Politburo on disciplinary action against violating party members, the Secretariat decided to discipline Ms. Phan Thi My Thanh by removing her from all positions in the Party; requesting the Party Delegation of the National Assembly to direct the implementation of processes and procedures for considering the dismissal of Ms. Phan Thi My Thanh from the National Assembly in accordance with the provisions of law.

UNESCO recognized the art of Bài Chòi in Central Vietnam as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity.

Bai Choi art performance program at the ceremony. Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA

On the evening of May 5, in Quy Nhon city, Binh Dinh province, a ceremony was held to receive the UNESCO certificate recognizing "The Art of Bài Chòi in Central Vietnam" as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity.

Attending the ceremony were Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam, leaders of several ministries and branches, international guests, and a large number of people from Binh Dinh and the Central provinces.

Under the witness of Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Mr. Michael Croft, Chief Representative of UNESCO Office in Vietnam, awarded the certificate of recognition of "The Art of Bài Chòi in Central Vietnam" as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity to representatives of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and representatives of 9 provinces and cities with Bài Chòi art.

The art of Bài Chòi is an important cultural activity in the village community, meeting the entertainment and art enjoyment needs of the community. The stories in Bài Chòi are moral lessons, expressing the love of homeland, community cohesion and life experiences of the people, and at the same time have high educational value.

Bài chòi is popular and is an indispensable spiritual food for the working people, and wherever it goes, this type of culture is welcomed by the public and is easy to participate in. The melody of Bài chòi is deep and high, the singing and performing style is attractive, and has a high collective spirit.

Clarifying the responsibility of overloaded tree-carrying trucks on the road