Politics

☕ Afternoon briefing on July 19

The following is a brief review of the day’s events as reported by the Vietnam News Agency.

☕ Afternoon briefing on July 19

Hanoi (VNA) - The following is a brief review of the day’s events as reported by the Vietnam News Agency.

- After the Politburo released a notice on Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong’s health and Politburo member and State President To Lam’s taking charge of the work of the Party Central Committee, Politburo and Secretariat, Party members and people across the country have affirmed their absolute confidence in the Party leadership and State management.

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Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong joins residents of Thuong Dien village, Vinh Quang commune, Vinh Bao district in the Great National Solidarity Festival of Hai Phong city on November 15, 2017. (Photo: VNA)

On July 18, the Politburo issued a notice stating that due to the need to continue prioritising intensive health care for the General Secretary while ensuring the overall management of the Party Central Committee, the Politburo, and Secretariat, on the basis of the working regulations of the 13th Party Central Committee, Politburo, and Secretariat, for the immediate future, the Politburo assigns To Lam, Politburo member and State President, to take charge of the work of the Party Central Committee, Politburo, and Secretariat with responsibilities and power as provided by the Politburo. Read full story

- Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh called for more drastic efforts and resolve to accelerate the digital transformation that has contributed to creating new motives for the nation development while chairing the Government’s hybrid conference with leaders of ministries and sectors and chairmen of the People’s Committees of the centrally-run cities and provinces on July 19.

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PM Pham Minh Chinh calls for all-out efforts to bolster digital transformation. (Photo: VNA)

PM Chinh, who is also Chairman of the National Committee on Digital Transformation, pointed out five focuses for digital transformation, namely developing digital human resources, citizens, skills and talent; prioritising resources for the development of digital economy and Government; branching out digital infrastructure in a comprehensive, rational and effective manner; digitalising and applying artificial intelligence in management; and completing mechanisms, policies and institutions for digital transformation towards enhanced decentralisation. Read full story

- Vietnam shared ideas on specific steps that parliaments can take to promote the implementation of sustainable development goals (SDGs), especially Goals No. 16 on peace, justice and strong institutions, and No.13 on climate change, at the United Nations High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) held in New York from July 16-18.

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An overview of the United Nations High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development. (Photo: VNA)

The Vietnamese delegation, led by Vu Hai Ha, member of the Party Central Committee and Chairman of the National Assembly (NA)'s Committee for External Relations, held that the world has faced many difficulties and challenges, slowing down the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, with many SDGs lagging behind scheduled. Read full story

- Cuban Minister of Justice Oscar Manuel Silvera Martínez has called on the Vietnamese Ministry of Justice to support and share experiences with its Cuban counterpart in applying information technology and digital transformation in law-making and judicial management, as well as in inspection and review of legal documents.

During a meeting with Deputy Minister of Justice Dang Hoang Oanh who is leading a Vietnamese delegation to Cuba from July 17 – 19, the Cuban official thanked the Vietnamese ministry for its goodwill and determination in supporting and sharing useful experiences with the Cuban ministry. Read full story

- Vanxay Tavinyan, Vice Chairman of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee’s Commission for Propaganda and Training, has emphasised the epochal significance of the 1954 Geneva Agreement on the Cessation of Hostilities in Vietnam, as well as the role of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) in the signing of the document.

In an interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency (VNA), Tavinyan, who is also Editor-in-chief of Pasaxon Newspaper of Laos, said the signing marked a milestone during the Vietnamese people’s long, arduous resistance war in the 20th century. Read full story

- Deputy head of the Party Central Committee's Commission for External Relations Truong Quang Hoai Nam and Secretary-General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Kao Kim Hourn have compared notes on matters regarding the bloc’s cooperation and connectivity, as well as Vietnam’s engagement in the grouping.

At their meeting in Jakarta on July 18, Kao Kim Hourn spoke highly of Vietnam's attaching importance to ASEAN and prioritising its engagement in the bloc. Read full story

- Vietnam and Thailand have emerged as the two fastest-growing e-commerce markets in Southeast Asia, according to a report recently released by OpenGov Asia, a content platform dedicated to sharing ICT-related knowledge and information to better serve citizens and customers.

The report highlights Vietnam’s ascent past the Philippines to become the third-largest e-commerce market in the region./. Read full story

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