Apartment buildings in Hoang Mai District’s Phuong Liet Ward, Ha Noi. Old dilapidated buildings are putting the safety of residents at risk and damaging the image of the city. — VNA/VNS Photo Tuan Anh

Delays in repairs to old apartment buildings that were previously marked for renovation across Ha Noi and HCM cities are threatening the safety of hundreds of residents.

In Ha Noi, Trinh Huy Thuc from the Housing Department of the Ministry of Construction said 20 apartment buildings had so far registered for renovation although applications from many buildings had been rejected.

But even buildings that have had there renovation permits approved have yet to see any action. "Dilapidated buildings such as those in Giang Vo and Thanh Cong, which have gained approval for renovation, continue to face delays due to issues of resident rights and urban planning," said Nguyen Quoc Tuan from the Ha Noi Department of Construction.

Meanwhile to the south, 100 old apartment buildings are in urgent need of renovations. More than 2,000 households must move to make way for the renovations of 100,000sq.m of apartment living space but to date, inaction has prevented timely implementation of the plan.

Venting her frustration at the delay, Nguyen Thi Ngan from District 5 said: "Over the last year, more than 200 households suffered from rubbish, stinky smells and waste."

The stairwell banister had been broken for some time and large cracks had started to appear in the walls, added Ngan. Upon inspection, many fire hazards were found to be present in the building and residents reported serious leaks throughout the wet season.

Thuc attributed the delays in renovations to an imbalance between the protection of investor’s and resident’s rights: "It is not fair to solely focus on investor’s ownership rights while ignoring resident’s rights to improvement and renovation."

But delays in administrative procedures and investor inaction had prevented even the prerequisite resettlement from taking place, Tuan said, adding: "We must first zone new residential areas before we can repair the apartment blocks."

VNS

Ambassador Supradip Chakma talked to Viet Nam News on the occasion of Bangladeshi National Day today.

We welcome you as the new Bangladeshi Ambassador to Viet Nam. Can you tell our readers about the achievements in bilateral ties between Viet Nam and Bangladesh in recent years?

Ambassador Supradip Chakma

Bangladesh maintains excellent bilateral relations with Viet Nam based on long traditional and historical ties. Soon after its independence in 1971, Bangladesh followed with keen interest and supported Viet Nam’s struggle. There was a strong nation-wide movement of the Bangladeshi people in support of Viet Nam’s fight for liberation. Bangladesh was the first country in South Asia and the second in Asia to recognise and establish diplomatic relations at ambassadorial level with the Provisional Revolutionary Government of the Republic of South Viet Nam. On February 11, 1973, Viet Nam and Bangladesh officially established diplomatic relations.

Bangladesh attaches great importance to consolidating and developing its multifaceted bilateral relations with Viet Nam. However, relations should be strengthened based on the strong historical commonality of the past. It should be mentioned that since the assumption of the present democratic Government under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, a look east policy encompassing the ASEAN nations has been emphasised. The two countries have maintained effective co-ordination in regional and international fora and exchanged views on important bilateral or international issues of mutual interest.

Through the exchange of high level visits, the two countries’ relations have become even stronger and closer. It’s true that the existing relations would be further strengthened if the expected top-level visit from Viet Nam could be realised or the same could be arranged from Bangladesh in future. Framework co-operation agreements such as the JEC, although overdue, are awaiting a date to be signed by Viet Nam. Signing of a cultural co-operation agreement is in the final stage and hopefully the signing of this co-operation agreement will further enhance our relations. A significant number of agreements/MOUs between the two countries have also been concluded.

In the meeting with Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, you said that Bangladesh wanted to boost co-operation with Viet Nam in agriculture and aqua-culture. Are there any relevant co-operation activities in these fields in the coming time?

Bangladesh National Monument for Martyrs of 1971. — Photo Courtesy of the Embassy

Agriculture plays a vital role in Bangladesh’s economy. About 60 per cent of the population are directly or indirectly involved in it. Even in our export basket, its contribution is very significant. So agriculture is important as it is in Viet Nam. Bangladesh is definitely interested in sharing Vietnamese experiences to further increase its production. Official and private teams are regularly visiting from Bangladesh to share Vietnamese experiences. A team from the Ministry of Water Resources recently visited Viet Nam to study preparatory water management – a basic element of the agricultural sector.

You are aware that Bangladesh is among the most vulnerable countries physically and economically due to climate change? As an agricultural country, climate change has adversely affected our economy, as mighty nature does in Viet Nam. Erratic floods, cyclones or droughts are interrupting our agricultural growth and ultimately economic development. As climate change seriously affects both our agriculture and fisheries sectors the two countries should co-operate and exchange experiences.

Bangladesh has more than two million workers abroad. Can Bangladesh share with Viet Nam the experience in training workers for labour export since Viet Nam also has an abundant number of human resources?

You rightly mentioned that Bangladesh is a human resources rich country. It provides a major source of foreign exchange earnings. The basic character of a Bangladeshi is flexible, hard working and easily trainable. Bangladesh, being a British colony in past, meant that we can communicate in English. This is an added advantage for Bangladeshi workers abroad. The Bangladesh Bureau of Manpower Employment and Training is continuously working to increase skilled manpower. With the advantage of speaking English, it is concentrating on developing the ICT sector to build a digital Bangladesh. In this regard, we should mention that private and public universities run English language programmes for local and foreigners where a number of Chinese participate. So, this is one of the avenues which Viet Nam is now concentrating and Bangladesh may easily co-operate.

What fields does the Bangladesh Government encourage Vietnamese investors to invest in? What favourable conditions are foreign investors offered when doing business in your country?

The Vietnamese business community should be aware that despite all odds, Bangladesh is making great strides in socio-economic development. It has made remarkable progress in socio-cultural, political and educational development, the empowerment of women and economic emancipation of the masses. Having a huge population, the economy of Bangladesh, continues to grow at about six percent with upward export growth and an increased inflow of remittances even last year, and for over the last decade.

It is undeniable that despite the excellent political relationship between the two countries, trade has not matched the expectations of both sides. The amount of two- way trade is very minimal compared to our country’s populations. Both countries have much to offer each other and can be complimentary to each other. Bangladesh offers lucrative incentives and facilities for expanding trade and investment in mutually beneficial areas, especially in pharmaceuticals, ready made garment and textile, leather, ceramics, frozen food, ship building, light engineering, ICT, and agro-based industries. Bangladesh exports to Viet Nam jute and jute goods, leather, urea fertilizer and pharmaceutical items and imports agro-machineries, agri-products and construction materials from Viet Nam. To accelerate and expand business relations, frequent exchange of both public and private sectors, especially members of the two apex bodies of the Chamber of Trade, Commerce and Industries is imperative to bolster trade and investment.

Bangladesh is determined to develop from traditional low cost manufacturing to the value chain, developing knowledge-based high technology and modern industries. Rapid industrial growth in recent years has been seen through our EPZ, FTZ and other business locations, with the economy changing through it’s easily accessible sea, air and land ports which connect business hubs regionally and internationally. Bangladesh offers lucrative incentives and facilities as fiscal, non-fiscal and structural development including tax holidays, concessionary taxes, duty free imports of machinery and raw materials, avoidance of double taxation and 100 per cent foreign equity allowed, unrestricted exit policy, full repatriation of capital, etc.

I welcome the business community of Viet Nam to visit Bangladesh to see the magnanimity of economic activities in Bangladesh. It is a huge consumer market with 150 million population for many Vietnamese investment and products. Many regional investors and exporters see Bangladesh as suitable place for investment and export. Many ASEAN and regional countries have availed the incentive offered by Bangladesh and many are on the queue.

Do you have any plan to further boost cultural exchanges between the people of the two nations ?

Bangladesh and Viet Nam may create more favourable environment for the development of long-term co-operation in the field of culture through the cultural exchange programmes in accordance with the Cultural Agreement signed between the two countries.

It is worth mentioning that under the cultural exchange programmes, the cultural troupes and delegations visited each other previously. Bangladesh has invited the Vietnamese Government to participate in the 14th Asian Art Biennale Bangladesh 2010 to be held in October – November 2010.

VNS

By Vu Thu Ha

Co-ordinators of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship, the Red Shirts, have vowed to shutdown Bangkok this weekend and spread their mass protests to other provinces.

Their effort will open the third week of their campaign to have the government of prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva resign; parliament dissolved and new elections organised.

But despite their boisterous enthusiasm, it seems the young British-educated prime minister will survive.

There are sound reasons for this.

Perhaps the most important is that the government still enjoys strong support from the powerful military and the elite and their economic power.

The government – having drawn lessons from last year’s violence – now has the upper hand through the enforcement of the Internal Security Act. Enforcement of the act, re-authorised during the week - allows the security agency the right to impose curfews, set up checkpoints and restrict movement.

The key coalition partners of the prime minister and his Democratic Party have stood firm.

A unilateral attempt by pro-Red Shirt Puea Thai MPs to boycott a session of parliament yesterday fizzled for lack of support from the other parties.

The prime minister and his team are acknowledged as having governed well.

Still, the Red Shirts – mostly supporters of deposed fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawarta – seem to have learned from last April when their massive protests and ambitious plan to oust the government through disruption of the ASEAN Summit ended with military intervention after a bout of violence and chaos.

And the Red Shirts suffered the heaviest casualties.

All this does not mean that the threat of violence has evaporated; the longer the protesters are on the streets, the greater the risk a frustrated minority could break ranks and spark unrest.

Illegitimate

The Red Shirts accuse Abhisit of having taken office illegitimately through a parliamentary rather than a popular vote with the support of the military and a minority of aristocratic elite.

But the prime minister has managed to keep Thailand’s US$290- billion economy from imploding despite the Global Financial Crisis and has won public support through stimulus measures that included the distribution of cash to middle and low-income earners.

Thailand had recorded four consecutive quarters of economic contraction before Gross Domestic Product jumped 5.8 per cent year-on-year in the fourth quarter of 2009 – the fastest pace in 10 years.

The stock market surged to the 20-month high amid the swirl of the Red Shirt protests this week .

Banker magazine named the economist prime minister’s close aide, Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij, "Global Finance Minister of the Year" for his success in navigating Thailand’s trade-reliant economy through the financial crisis.

Veteran political analyst Somchai Phagaphasvivat told the Xinhua news agency that the government’s economic performance had changed the minds of some of its grass-roots opponents.

People were now more positive about it, he said.

A majority of Thais are unlikely to support political upheaval at a time crucial to total economic recovery.

So, the Red Shirts are unlikely to score an early political success.

But they may well retreat; consolidate, replan and renew their effort with more rallies in support of a general election.

The government will continue to play for time to both show people that they are legitimate and capable of managing the economy.

What Thailand now needs is calm and concessions.

Ultimately, the ballot box will have to decide the issue.

But a vote when so many people are determined not to lose would probably prove especially divisive.

Only when all Thais, from all classes, decide that their allegiance is to their nation and not to a political party will this long-lasting impasse end.

VNS

Food stalls along Tran Hung Dao Street. The city has made efforts to stamp out business activities on the capital’s pavements to make life easier for pedestrians. — VNA/VNS Photo Bui Tuong

HA NOI

Whether Ha Noi should stamp out footpath vendors and street markets and expand supermarkets headed the agenda at a Public Service conference in Ha Noi this week.

Many conference delegates said supermarkets played an important role in urban life, but if small markets were stamped out, other temporary markets would spring up, making it difficult for authorities to keep control.

This was not to mention the number of people whose livelihood depended on selling produce at such markets.

Under a plan to upgrade and develop the city’s market system until 2020, Ha Noi would have 489 markets, 162 commercial centres and 178 supermarkets.

Participants also argued that footpaths in Ha Noi had gradually lost their function for pedestrians. They were now used for business purposes such as extensions to shop showrooms and food stalls and for street vendors, parking motorbikes or repair services, they said.

Professor Ton Gia Huyen from the Viet Nam Land Science Association said the city’s development was outstripping its management.

Huyen said the city People’s Committee’s decision to allow traders to use footpaths wider than 3m to do their business from September 2007 had created open slather with more than 2 million metres of footpaths under districts’ management.

However, head of the Ministry of Construction’s urban development management department’s planning office Tran Lan Anh said many countries permitted multiple uses for footpaths, but they needed to be kept under strict control to ensure order and security.

VNS

The apartment project in Linh Dam Peninsula in Ha Noi. The newly founded Viet Nam Housing and Urban Development Holdings Group will play an important role in stabilising and regulating the real estate market. — VNA/VNS Photo Anh Tuan

The group will play an important role in directing the country’s urban and housing development strategy, helping stabilise and regulate the real estate market.

Speaking at the meeting with members of the Board of Directors of the group held yesterday, President Nguyen Minh Triet said that the establishment of the group by the Government was designed to renew, develop and improve operational effectiveness of State-owned enterprises.

He said that the group needed to stay united in order to meet the requirements for sustainable and firm development, which would shorten the development gap between Viet Nam and other countries in the region and the world.

Co-operation among individual units of the group has already facilitated the construction of many apartment buildings and modern urban areas to meet the demand of people including those with low incomes.

Triet said that the Government and relevant offices should support HUD in terms of policies, financial mechanism, land and code of conduct so that it could fulfil its task.

The corporation is responsible for raising proposals for policies that could serve its rapid and effective development. The group must develop faster than the country’s growth rate, Triet said.

Five businesses

The group is comprised of five businesses under the Ministry of Construction, including the Ha Noi Construction Corporation (Hancorp), the Viet Nam Building Glass and Ceramics Corp (Viglacera), Bach Dang Construction Corp, the Viet Nam Water Supply, Sewage and the Environment Construction Investment Corp (Viwaseen) and the Housing and Urban Development Corp (HUD Corp).

Speaking at the debut ceremony, Minister of Construction Nguyen Hong Quan said that the group needed to develop in compliance with practical demands and foster the comprehensive strength of its strength of each member.

"This is the basis for the group to conduct large projects across the country and reach for international markets," Quan said.

It expects to reach the strategic goal of supplying 8-10 million sq.m of housing for residents through 2015.

VNS

HCM CITY

Going to extremes: A Place of Psyche, 70cmx70cm oil on canvas, by Nguyen Hung Trinh.

The insecurity and moral dilemmas that characterise modern life find abstract, surreal expression in the Time of the Human Being 4 exhibit that opened on Tuesday at the HCM City Fine Arts Association.

The exhibition features 15 of the latest works by Nguyen Hung Trinh who says he is obsessed with human destiny.

The unbounded nature of time and the limited lifetime of human beings is a theme that runs through his paintings.

"I recognise my innermost being through the colours and figures on the canvas," said the Vietnamese contemporary artist.

The image of human being is described rigidly like fossil in the paintings that also seem to deal with the conflict between light and darkness, rigidity and softness, birth and death, lust and austerity.

The artist’s implements are the canvas, his fingers, coffee spoon and knife.

For viewers, the journey swings between reality and surrealism, expressionism and abstract form. For the artist they are "an attempt to catch up with something that is not only fragile but also unknown".

The exhibition is said to be a milestone marking 20 years since the artist devoted himself to art. Since 2000 he has organised nine private exhibitions in Viet Nam and foreign countries.

Born in 1954 in Quang Nam Province, Nguyen Hung Trinh started his painting career in HCM City. He belongs to the generation of artists who emerged during the nineties when realism was losing its grip, opening up more avenues of exploration.

Besides organising the Time of the Human Being1, 2 and 3 in many places in Viet Nam, the radical reformer of Vietnamese visual arts has also held exhibitions in Australia, the US and Germany.

His latest works can be seen at the HCM City Fine Arts Association, 128A Pasteur, District 3 HCM City through April 1.

VNS