Deputy Prime Minister Trương Hoà Bình on Thursday said the Government would not use the State budget to settle the debts caused by 12 major projects operated poorly.

Deputy Prime Minister Vương Đình Huệ has acknowledged the Government’s responsibility in the slow budget disbursement for public investment, saying “we have the money, but we are unable to spend it.”

Việt Nam and Russia agreed to maintain and promote dynamic bilateral cooperation in all sectors, especially in trading and economic sector, aiming at bilateral trade turnover reaching US$10 billion by 2020.

Algeria and North Africa are important areas to the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) and Vietnamese audiences, VNA Director General Nguyễn Đức Lợi said during talks with the Director General of Algeria Press Service (APS) Abdelhamid Kacha in Hà Nội yesterday.

 Measures to improve the efficiency of medical check-ups and treatment, along with the State management of drug prices and provisions at medical facilities and investment in grassroots healthcare to reduce the overload at central-run hospitals were among issues addressed by Minister of Health, Nguyễn Thị Kim Tiến at a Q&A session yesterday.

The Foreign Ministry of the Republic of Korea yesterday affirmed that the country cherishes its relations with Việt Nam and wants to advance ties further.

Authorities have begun investigation to determine whether criminal offences were committed in the Đồng Tâm incident where several civil servants and police personnel were held hostage by commune residents last April.

A revitalised Government is necessary but not enough to achieve targeted economic breakthroughs. Only a thorough reform of the whole political system can do it, experts said at a conference yesterday.

Deputy prime ministers and ministers were answering questions put to them yesterday by the country’s lawmakers on issues including agricultural restructuring, cultural activity management and tourism quality enhancement.