Vietnam News Today (April 28): NA Standing Committee convenes 55th session
	Vietnam News Today (April 27): Party leader welcomes Chinese Defence Minister
	Vietnam News Today (April 26): Vietnam, China boost defence cooperation

Voters to choose 500 out of 868 candidates for 15th NA

Voters nationwide will choose 500 out of 868 candidates for the 15th National Assembly on May 23.

In accordance with the Law on the Election of Deputies to the National Assembly and People’s Councils, the National Election Council (NEC) announced the official list of candidates during a press conference on April 27.

Throughout a five-step process with three rounds of close, democratic, cautious, and non-discriminatory consultations, the list of candidates for deputies to the 15th NA and all-level People’s Councils for the 2021-2026 tenure has been finalised.

Of the candidates, who will be elected in 184 constituencies nationwide, 203 are nominated by central agencies and the remainders are introduced by localities. Nine of them are self-nominated candidates.

Female candidates account for 393 (45.28 %) of the total, while ethnic minority people are 185 (12.31 %). The number of candidates who are non-Party members is 74 (8.53 %).

Speaking at a press conference to announce the list of candidates, Bui Van Cuong, NA Secretary General, Chairman of the NA Office and Chief of the NEC Office, said of the total, 205 candidates are deputies to the 14th legislature, and 224 candidates are under 40 years old. The oldest candidate is 77 years old and the youngest, 24.

Notably, agencies under the NA and the NA Standing Committee and the NA Office have the largest number of candidates, 129; while the Vietnam Fatherland Front and its member organisations have 28 candidates; the Government and its agencies, 15; armed forces, 12; and Party agencies, 11.

Among the 665 candidates nominated by provinces and cities, 348 are women (52.33 %), 163 belong to ethnic minority groups (24.52 %), and 70 are non-Party members (10.53 %).

UNSC Adopts First Resolution Spearheaded by Viet Nam

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on April 27 unanimously adopted the Resolution on protection of objects indispensible to the survival of the civilian population.

This is the first resolution spearheaded by Viet Nam as the current non-permanent member of the UNSC for the 2020-2021 tenure.

The resolution strongly condemns attacks in situations of armed conflicts directed against civilians and other protected persons or civilian objects, and demands that all parties to armed conflict immediately put an end to such practices.

Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son hosts an in-person and online UNSC ministerial open debate on protection of objects indispensible to the survival of the civilian population, April 27, 2021 - Photo: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs

It demands that all parties refrain from attacking, destroying, removing or rendering useless objects indispensable to the survival of the civilian population; and respecting and protecting humanitarian personnel and consignments used for humanitarian relief operations.

The same day, Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son chaired an in-person and online UNSC ministerial open debate on the protection of objects indispensible to the survival of the civilian population.

Participants in the event included Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Mark Lowcock, former Australian Prime Minister and Chair of International Peace Institute (IPI) Board Kevin Rudd and Ministers and Deputy Ministers from 15 member countries of the UNSC, as reported by VGP.

President attends ceremony marking International Labour Day

The Vietnamese Party and State always give special attention and care to the working class, labourers and trade unions, President Nguyen Xuan Phuc said on April 28.

Addressing a ceremony held in Hanoi to celebrate the 135th anniversary of International Labour Day (May 1), the President said workers and labourers have continued to play an important role after 30 years of reform, noting they are the driving force in the process of national industrialisation and modernisation.

Incomes of labourers are expected to increase again and new jobs would be created in the time ahead, helping to boost the rapid, sustainable economic growth of the country, the President said.

In that spirit, he emphasised the need for the Vietnamese trade union to soon draw up an action plan in order to realise the Resolution adopted at the 13th National Party Congress, saying the plan must carry forward the core, pioneer role of workers and labourers nationwide.

President Nguyen Xuan Phuc (4th, left) and delegates witness the launch of the Workers’ Month and the Month for Labour Safety and Hygiene. (Photo: VNA)

At the same time, trade union organisations at all levels should revamp their operational methods to better care and protect legitimate rights and interests of workers, he said.

Nguyen Dinh Khang, President of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL), highlighted great contributions of the working class to the development of the Vietnamese revolution.

The VGCL has chosen the theme of “Solidarity, Creativity, Overcoming Difficulties, Development” for 2021, he said, adding that up to 245,000 initiatives were raised by workers and labourers across the country under a programme launched by the confederation, NDO reported.

Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son to visit Russia

Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son has been invited by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to visit Russia at an appropriate time and the invitation was accepted with pleasure.

According to VOV, Lavrov congratulated Son on his appointment as Foreign Minister of Vietnam at a recent National Assembly session, and expressed his belief with his wealth of experience Son will continue to lead Vietnam’s diplomacy to new success, effectively realizing the country’s foreign policy.

The Russian diplomat highly valued Vietnam’s recent foreign achievements, including successfully assuming its r

ole as ASEAN Chairman in 2020 and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for 2020 - 2021.

For his part, FM Bui Thanh Son expressed his delight at the positive development of the Vietnam - Russia relations over the years, affirming that Vietnam always attaches great importance to the comprehensive strategic partnership with the Russian Federation.

He congratulated Russia on its success in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in research and production of coronavirus vaccines for disease prevention.

The two ministers exchanged views on bilateral cooperation between the two countries and two ministries, as well as their coordination at multilateral forums, including the United Nations Security Council and ASEAN.

They expressed their desires to promote implementation of activities within the framework of the Vietnam - Russia and Russia-Vietnam Year in 2021.

Vietnam, RoK beef up diplomatic collaboration

Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son and his Republic of Korea counterpart Chung Eui-yong held their first phone talks on April 28, during which they agreed to maintain all-level exchanges, especially high-level ones, through flexible forms.

FM Chung congratulated Son on his election as Vietnamese FM, affirming to coordinate closely with him to lift the strategic cooperative partnership between the Republic of Korea (RoK) and Vietnam to a new height.

He appreciated Vietnam’s efforts to well control the COVID-19 pandemic. Affirming Vietnam is a key partner in the RoK’s New Southern Policy, he showed his belief that Vietnam will achieve its targets set out in its 2021-2030 socio-economic development strategy.

Both sides reached a consensus on stepping up close cooperation between the two foreign ministries, including in implementing activities in celebration of the 30th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties in 2022, working to achieve a goal of US$100 billion in two-way trade, promoting the relationship between the two countries’ localities and businesses, as well as in citizen protection. Both sides reached a consensus on stepping up close cooperation between the two foreign ministries, including in implementing activities in celebration of the 30th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties in 2022, working to achieve a goal of US$100 billion in two-way trade, promoting the relationship between the two countries’ localities and businesses, as well as in citizen protection.

They agreed to support and coordinate closely with each other within the regional and international cooperation frameworks such as the United Nations and ASEAN-RoK, according to VOV.

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