Vietnam News Today (March 25): National Assembly to scrutinize Government’s Performance, elect New Leaders
	Vietnam News Today (March 24): Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union solemnly marks 90th anniversary
	Vietnam News Today (March 23): Top leader holds phone talks with Japanese PM Suga

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang (Photo: VGP)

Vietnam demands China end violation of Vietnam’s sovereignty in East Sea

China must end its violation of Viet Nam’s sovereignty in the East Sea, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang said in response to a reporter’s question about Viet Nam’s position regarding Chinese ships operating at the Bai Ba Dau (Whitsun Reef) in Viet Nam’s Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago.

At a regular press conference of the ministry on March 25, the spokesperson stressed that Viet Nam has sufficient legal grounds and historical evidence to affirm its sovereignty over Truong Sa in accordance with international law.

She went on to say that as a coastal country and a member of the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), Viet Nam is entitled to sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction over waters established in accordance with the UNCLOS, as reported by VGP.

“The operation of Chinese ships within the territorial waters of Sinh Ton Dong island in the Spratly has violated Viet Nam’s sovereignty and the UNCLOS’s stipulation on the operation of foreign vessels in the territorial waters of coastal nations, ran counter to the spirit and content of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), and complicated the situation which is unfavourable for the process of negotiations between the ASEAN and China on a Code of Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (COC),” the spokesperson stressed.

Viet Nam demands that China respect Viet Nam's sovereignty, implement the UNCLOS with good will, seriously comply with the DOC, especially the obligation of self-restraint so as to not complicate the situation and to create a favourable environment for the COC negotiation, thus contributing to the maintenance of peace, security, stability and legal order at sea in the region, Hang said.

76 candidates self-nominated for 15th National Assembly

Among the candidates running for seats in the 15th National Assembly (NA), 205 have been nominated by central agencies, along with 803 put forward by local organisations and units, whilst 76 are self-nominated.

Law makers participating in the ongoing final session of the 14 legislation on March 25 heard a report detailing the results of the election of deputies to the 15th NA and the People's Councils at all levels for the 2021 to 2026 term since the establishment of the National Election Council (NEC) until March.

During his speech, Nguyen Hanh Phuc, chief of the NEC’s Office and Secretary General of the NA and Chairman of the NA’s Office, said that the nomination of candidates for the upcoming elections of deputies to the 15th NA and all-level People’s Councils for the 2021 to 2026 tenure has now been finalized.

Most notably, the 21-member NEC features a chairperson along with four vice chairpersons.

The NEC also approved a resolution to specify the number and list of constituencies, along with the number of legislators who will be elected in each constituency of provinces and cities, he noted. Indeed, the selection of candidates will proceed with caution and in accordance with regulations.

As reported by VOV, during the course of related consultative conferences, attention was duly paid to increasing the number of female, young, non-Party, and ethnic minority candidates, along with those with excellent professional backgrounds. Earlier the second consultative conference reached an agreement regarding a preliminary list of candidates who have been nominated for upcoming elections which are scheduled to get underway in May.

The number of candidates running for seats in the legislature now stands at 1,084, a figure which is 2.17 times higher than the number of deputies to be elected.

A third consultative conference will be held as a means of providing a shortlist of eligible candidates for the elections of deputies to the NEC, Phuc added.

Vietnam, Chile talk ways to reinforce comprehensive partnership

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Chilean President Sebastian Pinera discussed a score of specific measures to promote the Vietnam-Chile comprehensive partnership during their phone talks on March 24 as both nations are celebrating the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties (1971-2021). PM Phuc told the Chilean President that bilateral relations have enjoyed strong development over the previous five decades, while also voicing the country’s desires to continue deepening the relationship between both sides, especially in terms of economics, trade, and investment.

In response, President Pinera affirmed Chile’s recognition of the great importance of its traditional relationship with the nation, praising the Vietnamese Government’s efforts to contain the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and maintain economic growth.

The two leaders also agreed on a range of measures aimed at boosting the time-honoured friendship and comprehensive partnership that exists between both sides in the future. This includes maintaining the regular exchange of high-level delegations, implementing frequent co-operative mechanisms in an effective manner, and ramping up multilateral and inter-regional trade co-operation frameworks amid the global economy and trade being negatively impacted by the pandemic.

They also reached a consensus on the need to enhance connectivity between various ministries, sectors, localities, and enterprises of both countries in order to bring make the most of the opportunities brought about by the Vietnam-Chile Free Trade Agreement which become effective in January 2014, VOV said.

Celebrating 70th anniversary since Uncle Ho presented famous poetry to youth volunteers

A grand ceremony was held at the Na Tu Youth Volunteer Historical Site in Cam Giang Commune, Bach Thong District, Bac Kan Province on March 25 to mark the 70th anniversary of Uncle Ho giving the famous poetry to the youth volunteer force.

The event, held by the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union in coordination with the Vietnam Former Youth Volunteers’ Association and Bac Kan Province authorities, was attended by Politburo member cum Head of the Party Central Committee for Mass Mobilisation Truong Thi Mai.

(Photo: NDO)

Speaking at the ceremony, Politburo member Mai emphasised that the event at Na Tu on March 28, 1951 has gone down in the history of the force forever. Four short verses contain Uncle Ho's deep feelings and belief in the youth volunteers, as well as reflecting his strategic vision and great thought about the force.

Following his teachings, over the past 70 years, the force have constantly tried their best to overcome arduous challenges and bring the determination and creative spirit of the youth to the cause of national liberation, construction and defence, NDO reported.

Vietnam confirms three new COVID-19 cases

Three Vietnamese were confirmed positive for COVID-19 on Thursday, raising the national caseload to 2,579.

All the latest patients are Vietnamese, including one repatriated from the U.S.

Specifically, patients 2577-2578 are residents Ngu Phuc Commune, Kim Thanh District, Hai Duong Province.

Patient 2579 is a 44-year-old woman in the Mekong Delta province of Vinh Long.

(Photo: VNE)

She flew from the U.S. to Japan and then took a flight to Ho Chi Minh City on March 22.

Among the national patient tally, 2,265 have recovered and exited hospitals while 35 others have been reported dead.

Viet Nam is placing 36,480 people under medical surveillance and quarantine, of whom 485 are being kept at hospitals and 18,343 at concentrated quarantine sites.

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