Public security organisations receive highest honour

– National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong on August 15 presented the Sao Vang (Golden Star) and Ho Chi Minh orders, the highest and second highest state decorations, to public security organisations.

Chairman Trong also presented the titles “Hero of People’s Armed Forces” and “Labour Hero” to organisations and individuals in the sector during a ceremony held by the Ministry of Public Security in Hanoi to launch a patriotic emulation movement in response to late President Ho Chi Minh’s appeal 60 years ago.

The legislative leader said during the war as well as peace time, police forces have been always loyal to the Party and the nation, wholeheartedly serving the people despite difficulties and hardships.

While calling on all policemen to warmly respond to the emulation movement, Minister of Public Security General Le Hong Anh also said the public security sector will follow President Ho Chi Minh’s ethics, trying to build a contingent of pure and strong employees.-

Sympathies with Vietnam’s losses from floods

Lao Prime Minister Bouasone Bouphavane on August 15 cabled a message of sympathy to his Vietnamese counterpart, Nguyen Tan Dung, over serious losses in property and human from recent floods in northern mountainous area.

President of the Council of State and Government of Cuba Raul Castro Ruz extended condolences to State President Nguyen Minh Triet and Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung on August 12.

In a message to President Nguyen Minh Triet, Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom on August 13 expressed her sympathy over the great losses from the floods in Lao Cai and Yen Bai provinces. She also sent her deep condolences to the bereaved families.

Floods had by the end of August 13 left 125 dead and 38 missing in Vietnam ’s northern mountainous provinces, according to the Central Steering Board for Flood and Storm Control.-

RoK medical team provides cares for poor people

A 26-member team from the Chung Buk Medical Association, the Republic of Korea (RoK), on August 14 and 15 visited Long Dien district, the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau .

They coordinated with the provincial Health Department to provide medical checks-up and medicines to poor people in the district.

According to the team’s head Yoon Chang Kyu, this was the team’s second visit to Vietnam . He expressed his hope to pay more visits to Vietnam to help the poor.-

East Meets West celebrates 20-year operation in Vietnam

Da Nang (VNA) – The East Meets West (EMW) Foundation marked the 20th anniversary of its operation start-up in Vietnam on August 15, announcing it doled out 55 million USD for charity activities during the period.

Focusing on education, health care, safe water supply and infrastructure, the US non-government organisation helped build 300 schools nationwide that accommodate over 42,000 students.

With part of the sum, EMW provided free dental care services for more than 60,000 children and brought safe water to around 150,000 locals living in 100 villages and communes.

It also financed construction and upgrading of hospitals and universities in almost all major cities in the country.

EMW Country Director in Vietnam Mark Conroy said his organisation has accumulated experiences and achievements, as well as a vision to actively operate for Vietnam’s future – a prospect much brighter than what it expected 20 years ago.-

Gov’t orders punishement on profit seekers from food shortage in flood-hit area

Lao Cai (VNA)- Deputy Prime Minister Truong Vinh Trong warned of tough punishments against any attempts to escalate commodities’ prices in flood-hit areas during his visits to Lao Cai and Yen Bai provinces on August 15.

He said “Administrations and people have to share efforts and promote the fine tradition of ‘Friend in need is friend in deed’ to overcome aftermaths of the natural disaster.’”

Trong instructed local authorities to spare no efforts to prepare for the approaching new school year.

“Efforts should be made to repair classrooms and prepare desks and tables for schools. Administrations should mobilise communal houses, pagodas and people’s dwelling houses for ethnic minority children to resume study in replacement of damaged schools,” he said.

He also asked local administrations to restore traffic as soon as possible to ensure the traffic flows along highways and major roads, and evacuate victims to safer places.

The Deputy Prime Minister said huge efforts should be made to bring production to normal conditions in the shortest possible period so as to further bind the people to their homeland.

He inspected flood damage and visited and presented gifts to victims rescued from the disaster who are now under medical treatment at the Bao Yen hospital in Lao Cai province and several victim families in Yen Bai province.

Tropical storm Kammuri, that slashed northern mountainous provinces on August 8, killed 79 and seriously injured 53 others in Lao Cai province and left 41 dead and 27 injured in Yen Bai province.–

Relief aid to flood victims going on-Gov’t makes huge decision

Hanoi (VNA)- The Prime Minister on August 15 decided to allocate almost 221 billion VND from the State hedge budget to help flood-hit provinces, mostly in northern mountains.

The aid will be used to compensate the bereaved families, provide supplies, help repair dwelling houses, schools and medical stations and restore infrastructure.

Of the amount, 950 million VND will go to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to pay for the supply of rice, noodle and mineral water for Lao Cai province.

The Prime Minister also decided on free supply of 800 tonnes of rice taken from the national reserves to the three hardest-hit provinces.

Also on the day, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Thien Nhan launched a fund-raising campaign for flood victims on the threshold of the new school year, scheduled for early September.

The campaign raised 173.6 million VND from the ministry’s staff right on the first day.

Tropical storm Kammuri has reportedly killed 19 school students and damaged a large number of schools and teachers’ homes.

The Vietnamese embassy in China joined hands with people at home in alleviating the plight of flood victims by launching a fundraiser on August 15. The campaign received 35,800 Yuan and 2,386 USD in aid from Vietnamese press and business circles as well as overseas Vietnamese.

Donations continue nationwide with Bac Lieu province in the south having sent 300 million VND and the central province of Nghe An 250 million VND in aid to flood victims.–

Over 320 million USD of loans provided to poor students

Hanoi (VNA) – By the end of June, the Government’s credit programme for poor students had provided over 5.29 trillion VND (over 320 million USD) to some 754,000 students.

Speaking at an on-line conference on the programme held on August 15, Deputy General Director of the Bank for Social Policies Nguyen Van Ly said the programme has received the applause and support from the community after one year’s implementation.

By providing loans of 4 million VND/academic term for each beneficiary, the programme helped many poor students advance their study despite financial difficulties.

However, a survey of 103 universities, colleges and vocational training high schools showed that the credits could meet essential and study needs of only half of recipients.

Representatives from several localities suggested to raise the loans to 6 million VND per term per one in the situation of higher consumption prices.

Concluding the conference, Deputy Prime Minister and Education and Training Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan suggested several solutions to make the programme more effective.

He asked the authorised agencies and localities to re-check the lending criteria and objects to ensure the loans come to needy people.

He also said that the Government would re-consider the credit loan level and give an official decision on the issue on August 20.

The on-line conference to review one year’s implementation of the programme connected four cities of Hanoi , Can Tho, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City . It drew the participation of officials from relevant ministries, agencies, and all 63 provinces and cities nationwide.-

State President receives foreign ambassadors

– President Nguyen Minh Triet on August 15 received credentials from newly-appointed ambassadors of Cuba, Italy, Ukraine and the Czech Republic.

Talking with Cuban ambassador Fredesman Turro Gonzales after the presentation, President Triet stressed that the Vietnamese people want to maintain and lift the two countries’ relations to a new plane and the Vietnamese always understand Cuba’s difficulties.

He said during the process of international economic integration, Vietnam has attached importance to boosting relations with traditional friendly countries, including Cuba.

Ambassador Gonzales said the Cuban Party, State and people hope to further promote their special traditional relations with Vietnam.

He affirmed that the Cuban Party and State were delighted at the fine development of the two countries’ ties. Cuba’s leaders have constantly followed with keen interest in Vietnam’s economic development steps.

At separate meetings with Italian ambassador Andrea Perugini, Ukrainian ambassador Ivan Dovganych and Czech ambassador Michael Kral, President Triet was pleased at the development of relations between Vietnam and those countries.

President Triet and his guests shared the same opinion about bilateral ties over the recent past, and potential of cooperation to increase Vietnam’s cooperation with those countries, thus meeting the desires of both sides.

Vietnam wished to promote cooperation in trade, investment, education and science and technology with all countries, including those represented by the ambassadors.

The guests highly appreciated Vietnam’s achievements in national construction and expressed their pleasure to begin their term of office in Vietnam at a time when Vietnam becomes an attractive destination to foreign investors.-

Homage for South Ossetia conflict’s victims

– The Russian Embassy in Hanoi on August 15 opened a mourning book for civilians and soldiers who were killed in the recent conflict in South Ossetia.

On behalf of the Vietnamese Government, Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Quoc Cuong paid a tribute to the victims and signed in the mourning book.

Representatives from the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations, the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations, the Vietnam-Russia Friendship Association and other social organisations paid homage to the victims.-

National Day greetings to Indonesia, RoK

State President Nguyen Minh Triet and Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung on August 15 sent greetings to Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on the occasion of the 63 rd anniversary of Indonesia’s National Day (August 17).

On the same day, President Triet and PM Dung also sent greetings to President Lee Myung Bak and Prime Minister Han Seung Soo of the Republic of Korea on the 63 rd anniversary of their country’s National Day (August 15).

National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong extended his greetings to RoK speaker Kim Hyong O.