Hanoi (VNA) – The first-round meetingof the joint working group on Vietnam-Cambodia border gates was held in Hanoion January 9.
The Vietnamese delegation was headed by DeputyForeign Minister and Chairman of the National Border Committee Le Hoai Trung,while the Cambodian side was led by Minister of State at the Ministry ofInterior Sok Phal.
The meeting took place in the spirit offriendship, sincerity and mutual trust.
The two sides evaluated the current operation ofthe border gates on the Vietnam-Cambodia land border.
They agreed that development of the border gateshas contributed to promoting economic, trade, service, and investmentactivities between border provinces, thus improving the lives of people inshared border areas.
Further improvement of the border gates isneeded to meet the increasing cross-border exchanges of goods and peoplebetween Vietnam and Cambodia, they said.
The two sides agreed to seek ways to develop asystem of land border gates in line with the real development situation in eachlocality as well as in accordance with law and development plans of each country.
The immediate task is coordinating to conductbilateral surveys of opening and upgrading pairs of border gates as proposed bythe two countries within the framework of the 9th and 10th conferences oncooperation and development of Vietnamese and Cambodian border provinces.
The two sides agreed to ask for theirgovernments’ permission to jointly draft an agreement on border gates andregulations on the management of Vietnam-Cambodia border gates, which aims toreinforce and develop the bilateral traditional friendship, and promote cross-bordertrade exchanges.
The Vietnamese side will soon give Cambodia thedraft version of this agreement for studying.
The second-round meeting of the joint workinggroup will be held in the second quarter of 2020./.
Vietnamese Minister of Transport Nguyen Van The and Cambodian Minister for Public Works and Transport Sun Chanthol made a fact-finding trip to Moc Bai – Bavet border gate to seek ways to reduce congestion in customs clearance of goods and passengers there.
A Vietnam – Cambodia model border market was inaugurated and handed over to Cambodian authorities in Memot district of Tboung Khmum province on December 24.
The Vietnam – Cambodia Friendship Association (VCFA) convened a meeting in Hanoi on December 26 to review the association’s performance in 2019 and plans for 2020.
The Vietnamese Government’s Committee for Religious Affairs and the Cambodian Ministry of Cults and Religion opened a four-day meeting in Vietnam’s An Giang province on January 7 to share experience in the fields under their remit.
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.
At the meeting (Photo: VNA) 
