Hanoi: Localities across the country released millions of aquatic species on the first day of April to regenerate fisheries resources, marking the 65th traditional day of Vietnam's fisheries sector (April 1, 1959-2024). At the Tran De fishing port in the Mekong Delta province of Soc Trang, the authorities released 2 million breeding tiger shrimps. In his remarks, Vice Chairman of the provincial People's Committee Vuong Quoc Nam announced that this year, the province plans to organise three rounds of releases to improve fisheries resources. At the event, the organising committee also awarded 20 scholarships worth 1 million VND (41 USD) each to children of disadvantaged fishermen at the fishing port. With 72 kilometers of coastline and an intricate network of rivers and streams, Soc Trang boasts abundant aquatic resources. However, the local fisheries sector is facing numerous challenges, such as a sharp decline in resources due to the impact of climate change and some fishermen operating without adherence to regulations. Meanwhile, at the Ninh Kieu wharf in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho, a ceremony saw 60,000 juvenile fish of various species released into natural environments. With an extensive network of canals and ditches, Can Tho has an annual fisheries output exceeding 220,000 tonnes. However, economic and social development activities, overexploitation, pollution, diseases, and climate change have adversely affected the ecological environment, leading to a severe decline or the extinction of many precious indigenous aquatic species. According to Pham Truong Yen, Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, previously, there were only two fish release points in the city. In recent years, this activity has expanded widely across nine local districts, with over 10 tonnes of young fish released annually. On this occasion, districts in the city also arranged seven venues for releasing approximately 250,000 juvenile fish of various types. Additionally, Can Tho coopera ted with the neighbouring An Giang and Dong Thap provinces to expand the scope of the event./. Source: Vietnam News Agency
Traffic accident fatalities decline 15% in Q1
Hanoi: Traffic accidents killed 2,723 people nationwide in the first quarter of this year, a decline of 484 people or 15.1% year on year, said the Traffic Police Department. During the three-month period, 6,550 traffic accidents were reported across the country, injuring 5,246 people. Most of the accidents occurred on roadways with 6,496 accidents, killing 2,686 people and injuring 5,239 others. Railways recorded 40 accidents while waterways only 14. In the first quarter, six accidents resulting in serious consequences were reported in Quang Ninh, Thanh Hoa, Tra Vinh, Lao Cai, Thua Thien-Hue and Tuyen Quang provinces. According to the department, the number of accidents resulting in serious consequences has decreased compared to the same period last year (declining by five accidents). Meanwhile, the number of dead and injured victims also saw a downward trend. Vehicles causing the most traffic accidents were motorbikes, accounting for 56.82% of the total, followed by trucks and trailers with 19.4%. "Th e majority of traffic accidents resulted from drivers lacking attention, failure to take the right lane and violation of traffic regulations while changing direction, not maintaining following distance, or the use of alcohol,' the department said. In the first quarter of this year, police cracked down on more than 1.03 million traffic violations, a 38% increase from the previous year. Among those, 275,130 drunk driving cases faced sanctions. About 245,707 cases (accounting for 24% of the total violations) violated speed regulations, while 1,587 drivers tested positive for drugs. Traffic violations were recorded the most on roads with more than 1.02 million violations, followed by waterways with 10,479 cases. This year, police will strengthen inspections and impose stricter penalties on driving violations under alcohol or drug influence, oversized and overloaded vehicles, vehicles with expired registrations, and drivers using fake travelling documents./. Source: Vietnam News Agency
NA Standing Committee convenes law-making session
Hanoi: The National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee convened a law-making session on April 1 under the chair of NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue, with two groups of issues to be tabled for discussion. Legislators will give opinions on five draft laws to be presented at the NA's 7th session for the first review, including three amended ones - the Law on Human Trafficking Prevention and Control, the Notaries Law, the Law on Management and Use of Weapons, Explosive Materials and Support Tools, and the Trade Union Law. The NA Chairman said that for the first time, the committee will review and comment on the dossier of the Law on People's Air Defence, a new law to institutionalise the Party's viewpoint on the national defence strategy in the new situation approved in Resolution 44-NQ/TW dated November 24 last year at the eighth plenum of the 13th Party Central Committee. The NA Standing Committee will also opine on a draft resolution of the NA Standing Committee regarding job positions for full-time NA deputies and cadres and civil servants under the NA Standing Committee's management to serve the salary reform. The top legislator called the salary policy reform, to start from July 1, a critically important task, adding that following this two-day session, the NA Standing Committee will convene other meetings on the issue apart from regular sessions in April and May./. Source: Vietnam News Agency
NA Standing Committee convenes law-making session
Hanoi: The National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee convened a law-making session on April 1 under the chair of NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue, with two groups of issues to be tabled for discussion. Legislators will give opinions on five draft laws to be presented at the NA's 7th session for the first review, including three amended ones - the Law on Human Trafficking Prevention and Control, the Notaries Law, the Law on Management and Use of Weapons, Explosive Materials and Support Tools, and the Trade Union Law. The NA Chairman said that for the first time, the committee will review and comment on the dossier of the Law on People's Air Defence, a new law to institutionalise the Party's viewpoint on the national defence strategy in the new situation approved in Resolution 44-NQ/TW dated November 24 last year at the eighth plenum of the 13th Party Central Committee. The NA Standing Committee will also opine on a draft resolution of the NA Standing Committee regarding job positions for full-time NA deputies and cadres and civil servants under the NA Standing Committee's management to serve the salary reform. The top legislator called the salary policy reform, to start from July 1, a critically important task, adding that following this two-day session, the NA Standing Committee will convene other meetings on the issue apart from regular sessions in April and May./. Source: Vietnam News Agency
Dien Bien Phu Victory’s significance still relevant after 70 years: French historian
Paris: French historian Alain Ruscio, who has conducted many studies on Indochina and Vietnam, has hailed the significance of Dien Bien Phu Victory, saying it had a great influence on the struggle against colonialism of peoples around the world, and the historical meaning of the event remains valid today. In an interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the victory, the historian said at that time, the Indochina war was followed by people around the world, stressing that it was not merely a war between France and Vietnam but an international one. French colonies such as Madagascar, Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco and Africa closely watched the war in Vietnam with the hope that the French army would be defeated, he said. Therefore, according to him, the defeat of the French army at Dien Bien Phu was considered a victory for not only Vietnam but also all colonial peoples, opening the path to liberation for oppressed nations. Lessons learned from the Dien Bien Phu campaign are still valid today in the current context of many conflicts in the world, Ruscio said, underlining that a united nation that refuses to be oppressed will always find a way, even though it may encounter many difficulties and obstacles. He noted that during the colonial period, there were many French people who stood up against the colonial regime and oppressive acts against the Vietnamese people as well as Cambodian and Lao people. Ruscio cited many examples such as Gabriel Péri, a French Communist politician, who came to Vietnam in 1934 to express his opposition to the war in the Southeast Asian nation, or journalists Andrée Viollis, Romain Rolland and Henri Barbusse. During Vietnam's resistance war against the US, many French people also expressed their opposition to the US invasion of Vietnam. In a speech in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, in 1966, general Charles de Gaulle of France denounced US intervention in the region, saying that they would never succeed in making the people of Indochina bend. Th e French historian believes that all of this has created a very special relationship between France and Vietnam./. Source: Vietnam News Agency
Party chief’s speech on personnel shows responsibility of leader
Vinh Long: Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong's speech at the first meeting of the personnel sub-committee for the 14th National Party Congress recently has drawn great attention of officials, Party members and people, who said it showed the responsibility of the Party leader in building the Party and political system of integrity and strength. According to head of the provincial Party Committee's Commission for Organisation of Vinh Long province Nguyen Hieu Nghia, the 14th National Party Congress will be a significant milestone marking the transition of two generations of officials, from those who were born, grew up during the war and were educated in socialist countries, to those who grew up in peace and received education in different countries with different political regimes. Nghia noted that the Party chief, in his speech, highlighted the need of not missing talented and virtuous people and resolutely not choosing unqualified people for the next term, thus ensuring the existence and development of the Party. The speech provides clear orientations for the preparations of personnel for the upcoming congress, he stressed. The official said that contents of the speech will be popularised among all Party members in Vinh Long, thus ensuring consensus in awareness and action, enabling the selection of best officials for the Party congresses at all levels. Meanwhile, Standing Vice President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Vinh Long Le Hong Dao said that the committee has applied the viewpoints and directions of the Party chief as well as relevant guidelines during the process of introducing qualified and reputable officials for the VFF committees at all levels. Nghia underlined that the Party Genral Secretary Trong's speech demonstrated the responsibility of the Party leader as well as his wish to have talented and virtuous officials serving the Party, thus better caring for the people and reinforcing people's confidence in the Party./ Source: Vietnam News Agency
Vietnamese Party delegation pays working visit to Japan
Tokyo: Politburo member, permanent member of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee's Secretariat and Chairwoman of the CPV Central Committee's Organisation Commission Truong Thi Mai is leading a high-level delegation on a working visit to Japan from March 31 to April 3. The visit is taking place at a time when the Vietnam - Japan relations are growing fruitfully with the latest milestone being the upgrade of the ties to a 'Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in Asia and the World' last November. The delegation held separate meetings with Vice President of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) of Japan Aso Taro and Secretary-General of the LDP Motegi Toshimitsu, and received Governor Shuhei Kishimoto of Wakayama prefecture. At the meetings, Mai, who is also Chairwoman of the Vietnam - Japan Friendship Parliamentarians' Group, affirmed Vietnam always treasures the comprehensive strategic partnership with Japan. She expressed her readiness to cooperate with the go vernment, LDP, and various political parties and localities of Japan to deepen and enhance the bilateral relationship in line with its new position and level. To deepen the bilateral ties in the new phase, the Party official proposed both sides, especially the CPV and LDP, leverage the roles of the ruling parties in concretising common high-level perceptions and important contents stated in the joint statement on the upgrade of the bilateral relations. It is also necessary to strengthen the bilateral political relationship through high-level leaders' visits and meetings through party, state, government, parliamentary, and people-to-people channels, while promoting economic cooperation and locality-to-locality exchanges, she noted. Mai also expressed her wish that Japan would continue to pay attention to and create favourable conditions for the Vietnamese community living and working in the country. For their parts, the leaders of the LDP and Wakayama prefecture highly appreciated Mai's proposals. They sai d Japan always attaches importance to the bilateral ties, considers Vietnam an important comprehensive strategic partner in the region, and is ready to work with the Vietnamese Party and State to enhance the effectiveness of bilateral cooperation across various fields. They said the LDP is willing to promote its friendship with the CPV, as well as to support Japan's continued collaboration with Vietnam in industrialisation, modernisation, economic connectivity and cooperation in sustainable development-oriented areas and international issues. The leaders said they back the two countries' localities and people-to-people organisations to increase exchanges, enhance mutual understanding and consolidate the Vietnam-Japan friendship foundation. The Vietnamese delegation also met CPV officials and members and staff of the Vietnamese Embassy. Mai acknowledged their positive contributions and suggested them further contribute to strengthening and promoting the two nations' comprehensive strategic partnership for s ustainable development, for the interests of their people, and for peace, cooperation, and development in the region and the world./. Source: Vietnam News Agency