Top domestic news of the past week

14th Session of the Central Steering Committee on Anti-Corruption

The scene at the meeting. Photo: Phuong Hoa/TTXVN

On the morning of August 16th, in Hanoi, the Central Steering Committee on Anti-Corruption held its 14th session, chaired by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, Head of the Steering Committee, to review and evaluate the results of the Steering Committee's activities over the past five years and to set key tasks for the coming period; to assess the results of the first seven months of the year and to set tasks for the remaining months of 2018.

After 5 years of establishment, the Steering Committee has focused on leading and directing the acceleration of progress and the strict handling of serious and complex corruption cases that have attracted public attention; placing a number of serious and complex corruption cases under monitoring and direction at 3 levels to focus on strict handling with the principle: "No forbidden zones, no exceptions, regardless of who the person is."

Many particularly serious and complex corruption and economic cases, which have attracted significant public attention, including those that have been pending for many years, have been directed to be resolved definitively.

Concluding the meeting, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong stated that after 5 years of establishment, the Steering Committee has made many efforts and innovations in both content and methods of operation, working responsibly and seriously, and achieving many concrete results. Thanks to this, the fight against corruption has made strong progress, especially in the last two years.

Corruption is gradually being curbed, prevented, and pushed back, showing a downward trend, contributing to promoting socio-economic development, building trust among the people, and creating a positive ripple effect throughout society.

Closing of the 26th Session of the National Assembly Standing Committee

National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan delivers the closing remarks at the session. Photo: Duong Giang/TTXVN.

On the afternoon of August 13, the Standing Committee of the National Assembly completed the agenda of its 26th session.

In her closing remarks, National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan noted that the questioning session with the two ministers, including Minister and Chairman of the Committee for Ethnic Minorities Affairs Do Van Chien and Minister of Public Security To Lam, had been completed according to the planned agenda. Both ministers demonstrated a firm grasp of the issues and the situation in order to answer the questions.

At this session, the Standing Committee of the National Assembly gave its opinions on eight draft laws and conducted a thematic supervision on "The implementation of policies and laws on the management and use of foreign loans during the period 2011-2016". The Standing Committee of the National Assembly also considered and decided on many other important issues within its authority.

Opening of the exhibition "General Vo Nguyen Giap and the Thai Nguyen ATK"

General Vo Nguyen Giap visits the female communications and medical units that participated in the May 1, 1973 parade. (Illustrative photo: Vu Tao/TTXVN)

On August 17th, at the Thai Nguyen Provincial Steel Workers' Cultural Center, the Thai Nguyen Provincial Museum, in collaboration with Thai Nguyen Steel Joint Stock Company, organized the opening of the exhibition "General Vo Nguyen Giap and the Thai Nguyen ATK (Resistance Zone)."

This activity is aimed at commemorating the 73rd anniversary of the August Revolution (August 19, 1945 - August 19, 2018) and National Day on September 2nd, the 73rd anniversary of the establishment of the revolutionary government of Thai Nguyen province (August 20, 1945 - August 20, 2018), and the 107th anniversary of the birth of General Vo Nguyen Giap (August 25, 1911 - August 25, 2018).

The exhibition also provides an opportunity for officials, workers, students, and local people to visit, learn, and understand the life and revolutionary career of General Vo Nguyen Giap, the Commander-in-Chief, especially the time he lived and worked in the Thai Nguyen Resistance Zone during the years of resistance against French colonial invasion.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc chaired a meeting on the Maritime Strategy.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc speaks at the session. Photo: Thong Nhat/TTXVN

On the afternoon of August 16th, at the Government Headquarters, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc chaired a meeting with relevant ministries, agencies, and localities regarding Vietnam's Maritime Strategy.

The report presented by Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Hong Ha, as well as the opinions expressed by ministries, sectors, and coastal localities, indicate that after a period of implementing the marine strategy, the marine and coastal economy has developed comprehensively. The lives of people in coastal areas have improved.

Economic sectors such as tourism and seaside resorts, aquaculture, fishing, seafood processing, and maritime transport are growing. The socio-economic situation of coastal provinces has clearly improved. The protection of the marine environment is receiving increasing attention.

However, many difficulties and challenges remain regarding the sea and islands, especially limitations in human resources, marine science and technology, integrated and unified management capacity for the sea, and coordination mechanisms among ministries, localities, and forces at sea…

Concluding the meeting, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc highly appreciated the contributions and requested ministries, sectors, and localities to continue to leverage the potential and advantages of the sea, overcome limitations and weaknesses in each field, and implement timely solutions to achieve the goal of making Vietnam strong in maritime affairs and prospering from the sea.

In 2019, the regional minimum wage is expected to increase by 200,000 VND.

On the morning of August 13th, 15 members of the National Wage Council voted on the proposal to increase the minimum wage in 2019. They all agreed to submit to the Government an average wage increase of 5.3% compared to 2018.

Accordingly, the minimum wage in Region 1 will increase from 3,980,000 to 4,180,000 VND; Region 2 from 3,530,000 to 3,710,000 VND; Region 3 from 3,090,000 to 3,250,000 VND; and Region 4 from 2,760,000 to 2,920,000 VND. Thus, compared to the current levels, the regional minimum wage will increase by 160,000 to 200,000 VND.

At this meeting, the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor proposed a minimum increase of 6.1%, while the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) – representing employers – proposed an increase of 5.1%. Due to the remaining difference, the two sides continued discussions and agreed on an increase of 5.3% for voting.