Questionable

Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Trần Hồng Hà. — VNA/VNS Photo Viet Nam News HÀ NỘI — Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Trần Hồng Hà continued to answer questions on land and environmental issues during a question-and-answer session at the National Assembly on Tuesday. Some deputies said the ministry has put many measures in place to deal with environmental pollution but it persisted in many localities, seriously affecting the life and livelihood of people, who are now asking for initial and long-term solutions to address the issue. Hà said environmental pollution in general and environmental pollution along rivers was one of many key problems at present, but pollution caused by rubbish from factory waste discharge, industrial zones and traditional craft villages, among others, was the most urgent issue. He said a number of measures, including clearly defining the responsibilities of each locality with regard to their own waste … [Read more...] about Minister fields questions about land, environment issues

NA faces questioning over oil refinery project, health (10-06-2005) HA NOI — The Government recently was plied with questions about the feasibility of the country’s first-ever oil refinery as the National Assembly opened a televised debate on the troubled Dung Quat project. Addressing the session, chaiman of the National Assembly (NA) Science, Technology and Environment Committee Ho Duc Viet admitted that inadequate research, failure to bring in money, and poor organisation had affected the project. The project has, as a result, been delayed for seven years, costing the country millions of dollars. The refinery, to be built in central Quang Ngai Province, was approved by the NA in 1997 and originally scheduled to go on stream in 2002. But it has been haunted by a series of mishaps ranging from the withdrawal of foreign partners, financial problems, the Asian financial crisis and other technical issues. Industry minister Hoang Trung Hai told the NA that the … [Read more...] about NA faces questioning over oil refinery project, health

Deputies question economic growth report (26-11-2005) Construction work proceeds on the dam site of the Ba Ha River Hydroelectric Power Plant. — VNA/VNS Photo The Lap HA NOI — Planning and Investment Minister Vo Hong Phuc was questioned about the quality of economic growth; allegedly poor plans for investment; and a Russian tourist company chaired by an overseas Vietnamese that had lost its domestic partners more than VND100 billion in the National Assembly yesterday. Deputy Do Trong Ngoan, Bac Giang Province, said that the optimistic report about the quality of economic growth delivered by the minister did not match reality. Examples of less-than-successful economic projects could be found in the processing of sugarcane; offshore fishing; the growing of Japanese tea and hybrid rice. But in reply, the minister said the "quality of economic growth for the entire country could not be judged by one or two specific examples." Sugar mills at Ky … [Read more...] about Deputies question economic growth report

Ministers questioned over ODA, car taxes (16-06-2006) Bai Chay Bridge is currently one of the most important public works in the country. — VNA/VNS Photo Nguyen Dan ha noi — National Assembly deputies questioned Government ministers on a wide range of issues yesterday, most notably the use of official development assistance (ODA) funds and import duties on used cars. Deputy Do Trong Ngoan of Bac Giang Province asked Minister of Planning and Investment Vo Hong Phuc about the complaints of some foreign donors over Viet Nam’s slow disbursement of ODA resources and inadequate efforts to control corruption. Phuc replied that, at the recent Consultants Group Meeting in Nha Trang, international donors expressed satisfaction that ODA funds were being used effectively. Although many were more closely scrutinising their projects in the country, they affirmed that ODA influxes into Viet Nam continue to rise. "The disbursement of funds is slowest at the … [Read more...] about Ministers questioned over ODA, car taxes

NA questions Government ministers on thorny issues (25-11-2006) HA NOI – The National Assembly began its three-day question and answer session yesterday, focusing on several thorny issues such as corruption at some government agencies, too many traffic accidents and other matters related to socio-economic development. Yesterday’s session had Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment Mai Ai Truc and Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Cao Duc Phat answer questions from NA Delegates. Transport Minister Ho Nghia Dung was the first minister in the hot seat, answering questions about bribery in the granting of transport licenses and the large death toll across the nation due to traffic accidents. Thanh Hoa Province deputy Le Thi Nga asked the minister about instances of corruption at certain road management offices, where government officers took bribes for the granting of transport licences, required for starting transport businesses. The minister … [Read more...] about NA questions Government ministers on thorny issues

People’s question time as NA faces public session (27-11-2006) HA NOI — Saturday’s National Assembly (NA) session heated up as authorities debated construction, finance and education policies. During the live broadcast of the NA’s question-and-answer session, Construction Minister Nguyen Hong Quan and Finance Minister Vu Van Ninh were grilled by deputies about public housing under the State’s urban planning programme. The problem centres on official State residences and State-owned houses, which include large villas in Ha Noi and HCM City. Under the Law on Housing, the Government is required to supply officials with a temporary home. Once the cadres leave their post, they have three months to either return the property or buy it from the State. Deputy Nguyen Minh Thuyet from Lang Son said there was growing public discontent about these houses and asked the finance minister how he proposed to solve the price and transparency issues. The finance minister … [Read more...] about People’s question time as NA faces public session

Nation questions Czech visa ban (19-11-2008) HA NOI — The Czech Government’s decision to temporarily cease granting visas to Vietnamese citizens was not in keeping with the two countries’ high-level agreement and traditional co-operative and friendly ties, said Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesman Le Dung yesterday. He made the remarks when asked about Viet Nam’s response to the Czech Government’s decision to temporarily stop granting visas to Vietnamese until the end of the year. "Viet Nam and the Czech Republic have a traditional friendship and fine co-operation in many fields, clearly proven by their high-level official visits, and exchanges between ministries, branches, localities and people," Dung said. "The Vietnamese community in the Czech Republic has made active contributions to the development of society there, and acts as a friendly bridge between the two nations," he added. "We hope that the Czech Government will reconsider the decision, Viet Nam … [Read more...] about Nation questions Czech visa ban

PM replies to NA questions on graft, poverty alleviation (20-11-2009) Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung answers questions from NA deputies. — VNA/VNS Photo Nguyen Dan HA NOI — Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung yeserday gave frank replies to National Assembly deputies on the hot issues of corruption, hunger and poverty reduction, and government performance. The PM was speaking during the final day of the question and answer session in Ha Noi yesterday. After presenting a report on the main development issues - restoring economic growth, controlling inflation and solving pressing social problems - he answered questions on 15 issues from 11 deputies. Another 11 deputies will have their questions answered in writing due to limited time at the meeting. Dung said corruption had always topped the National Assembly’s agenda and that the Party and Government had made great efforts to stamp it out. He was replying to deputies Le Van Cuong from central Thanh Hoa and … [Read more...] about PM replies to NA questions on graft, poverty alleviation

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Cao Duc Phat answers questions from NA deputies. —VNA/VNS Photo Nguyeân Dan HA NOI — National Assembly deputies questioned the value of allowing foreign investors to lease Viet Nam's forests yesterday. They also discussed ways to help rice farmers earn an adequate profit during a question-and-answer session with Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Cao Duc Phat. Deputy Le Nhu Tien, central Quang Tri Province, argued that allowing foreign investors to lease 300,000ha of forest land for 50 years would do more harm than good. "Farmers lack land for both agriculture and forests and many people are unemployed," he said. "Leasing forest to foreign investors is a narrow-minded policy." The deputy also asked if the practice complied with Viet Nam's laws and regulations governing national security, the environment and natural resources. Deputy Nguyen Van Tuyet, northern mountainous Yen Bai Province, asked when ministry teams … [Read more...] about NA deputies question practice of leasing forests to foreign investors

The 2.01km-long cable-stayed Cao Lãnh Bridge crossing Tiền River in the Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta province of Đồng Tháp opened to traffic on May 27. It is expected to create favourable conditions for trade activities between the delta’s provinces and southern economic hubs as about 10,000-20,000 vehicles cross the bridge daily. — VNA/VNS Photo Huy Hùng Viet Nam News HÀ NỘI — Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc sent a document answering a question of National Assembly deputy Lê Công Đỉnh regarding measures to foster regional connectivity. During a question-and-answer session of an ongoing National Assembly meeting last month, NA deputy Đỉnh from Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta province of Long An said regional connectivity remains slow. Overlaps in planning, infrastructure connectivity, in attracting investment and pollution impose significant impacts on the development of the country. He raised the question of whether regional connectivity is in need of a leader to directly order … [Read more...] about PM responds to NA deputy’s question on regional connectivity