National ASEAN 2020 Committee convenes sixth session
The National ASEAN 2020 Committee convened its sixth session in Hanoi on October 27 under the chair of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh (standing) speaks at the event (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA)๊ – The National ASEAN 2020 Committee convened its sixth sessionin Hanoi on October 27 under the chair of Deputy Prime Minister and ForeignMinister Pham Binh Minh.
Speakingat the event, Minh, who is also chairman of the committee, laudedministries, agencies and its sub-committees for upholding the spirit of solidarityand responsiveness, actively proposing measures to cope with the COVID-19 pandemicwhile promoting cooperation initiatives within ASEAN as well as between thebloc and partners. The session was designed to review the progress of initiatives during ASEANChairmanship Year 2020 and discuss orientations for future tasks, especiallypreparations for the 37th ASEAN Summit and related meetings slatedfor November. DeputyForeign Minister Nguyen Quoc Dung, who is Secretary General of the National ASEAN 2020 Committee, saidtasks during the Chairmanship Year have basically met the schedules and requirements. He also offered proposals to help Vietnam take the lead in realisinginitiatives and outcomes of the ASEAN Chairmanship Year 2020. Representativesfrom ministries, agencies and localities vowed to make careful preparationsfor the 37th ASEAN Summit and earn the best results for the remainingtasks this year. Concludingthe event, Minh asked the sub-committees, ministries and agencies to fulfillassigned tasks before the ASEAN Chairmanship is handed over to anothercountry. Theywere also required to work with the ASEAN 2020 Secretariat on the agenda and receptionfor the 37th ASEAN Summit and related meetings and ensure theirsafety./.
Culture ministers of the ASEAN Plus Three countries, including 10 ASEAN member states and China, Japan and the Republic of Korea, have agreed to strengthen multilateral cultural and arts exchanges despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 16th ASEAN Senior Labour Officials’ Meeting (SLOM) took place via video conference on October 26, with the participation of representatives from the 10 member states and the ASEAN Secretariat.
ASEAN Today, a website based in Singapore, on October 26 ran an article entitled “Vietnam launded for efforts to combat illegal fishing”, hailing the country’s efforts in this sphere.
ASEAN Foreign Ministers on October 27 issued a statement on recent floods and landslides that caused huge losses of life and property in Southeast Asian nations.
Vietnam is deeply concerned about the escalating and complex conflict in the Middle East, which poses a serious threat to the lives and safety of civilians, as well as to regional and global peace and stability.
The Vietnamese Embassy advises the Vietnamese community living, studying, and working in Israel to strictly comply with directions from the Home Front Command and local authorities.
Lawmakers are set to vote on revisions and amendments to a broad spectrum of legal frameworks and impactful resolutions during the final week of the 15th NA's 9th session.
The State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs (SCOVA) has served as a bridge connecting and uniting the community with the homeland, becoming a trusted source of support for Vietnamese expats in times of hardship.
The programme to eliminate temporary and dilapidated houses has achieved notable results, with nearly 263,000 housing units addressed to date, including 225,000 houses inaugurated and 38,000 under construction. Thirty-eight provinces and cities across the nation have already fulfilled their targets.
Stronger efforts and determination are required to achieve and surpass the set targets, especially in the eradication of makeshift and dilapidated houses nationwide, the acceleration of public investment disbursement, and the implementation of nationally important transport projects, PM Pham Minh Chinh noted.
The trip will be made at the invitations of Chinese Premier Li Qiang and WEF President and CEO Børge Brende, according to an announcement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Long spoke highly of the dynamic, positive, and comprehensive development of Vietnam – Russia relations in recent years. He affirmed that the Vietnamese Party and State place great importance on further strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership with Russia in a substantive and effective manner, in line with the development needs of both nations.
At the conference, participants reported that the Government has so far issued 28 decrees on the delegation of responsibilities and powers between the central Government and two-tier local administrations. Several localities have already piloted the new governance model.
Reality is the ultimate benchmark for success, he said, urging drafting agencies to work out policies that foster development, reduce bureaucratic hurdles, and respect practical conditions.
Under the official dispatch signed on June 20, ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies, and chairpersons of provincial and municipal People’s Committees are requested to concentrate efforts on implementing core measures to ensure the smooth operations of the new administrative framework.
The Party chief underscored the need for the press to innovate relentlessly, evolve to keep pace with the country's development, transform into a truly professional, humanistic, and modern sector that serves the cause of the Party, the State, and the people on the path to national construction and development.
The UN Secretary-General praised Vietnam’s remarkable achievements in socio-economic development and international integration in recent years, noting that the country has emerged as a model in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), promoting international peace and security, and engaging in key UN processes.
Nghia affirmed that this is a milestone of special significance, affirming and honouring the the Vietnamese revolutionary press’s glorious tradition of 100 years of serving the revolutionary cause of the Party, serving the Fatherland, and serving the people.
The Party and State of Vietnam always attach great importance to and give top priority to the development of Vietnam–China relations. Vietnam is ready to work with the Chinese Party and State to further deepen the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership and promote the building of the Vietnam-China community with a shared future that carries strategic significance.
Under the leadership of President Ho Chi Minh and the CPV, President Cuong said, the press has been a steadfast force on the ideological and cultural front, rallying the masses to pursue national aspirations.
NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man stressed the need to accelerate the application of artificial intelligence and smart teaching equipment, innovate teaching and assessment methods, and further improve the quality of formal education.
He also pledged that the NA will promote its ongoing supervision, making sure that every promise must lead to results, and every commitment must bring about real changes.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh (standing) speaks at the event (Photo: VNA) 
