Press digest – April 22

President calls for enhanced Asian-African connectivity

Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang called upon Asian and African countries to enhance their connectivity for global peace and stability on the basis of respecting international law during his speech at the first plenary session of the Asian-African Conference.

The leader shared the difficulties and challenges currently facing many Asian and African countries, especially terrorism; armed conflicts; sovereignty disputes; intimidation; poverty; disease; climate change; energy, food and water security; and economic inequality.

He underlined that Viet Nam continually prioritizes deepening the friendship, solidarity and cooperation with Asian and African countries and thanked them for their material and spiritual support during the fight for national independence in the past and current development.

VN hopes for early conclusion of TPP talk with US

PM Nguyen Tan Dung expressed hope for early conclusion of negotiations with the US on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (PPP) deal while meeting US Trade Representative Michael Froman.

The PM noted that the two sides have made long steps forward in the spirit of straightforwardness, sincerity, constructiveness, good will and cooperation.

Sharing hope for early TTP talk conclusion, Froman said the US keeps a consistent view on balanced interests while accepting certain exceptions, giving a transitional period for Viet Nam in realizing the pact’s commitments. The US is willing to offer capacity building and technical assistance to Viet Nam in implementing the TPP, he said.

Directive on strengthening implementation of finance, State budget tasks

The PM has issued a Directive on strengthening the implementation of finance and State budget tasks in 2015.

The Directive aims to cope with the decrease in the State budget revenue due to the reduction in the oil and gas price and maintain the State budget balance in 2015 as ratified by the National Assembly.

Ministries, agencies and localities are required to tackle difficulties, create favorable conditions for production and manufacturing and improve competitiveness for businesses as well as effectively restructuring the economy, transforming growth model, boosting exports and controlling imports to strive for the set economic growth rate of 6.2%.

New laws contribute to improving business climate

Chairman of the National Assembly (NA) Economic Committee Nguyen Van Giau said the country has made a step forward in completing institutions for the market economy with the promulgation of a series of laws including the Law on Land Use, Law on Business, Law on Real Estate Trading and Law on Construction.

He underlined the transparency, specificity and up-to-dateness of the laws, saying that they facilitate business operation and economic development.

HCM City attracts US$1.2 bln in overseas remittances

The overseas remittances to Ho Chi Minh City in the first quarter of 2015 reached US$1.2 billion, US$200 million higher than the same period last year.

As much as 74.2% of the figure was poured in manufacturing, 21.8% in the real estate sector and 4% going to senders' relatives.

The overseas remittances to Viet Nam witnessed continuous increases over the past four years from US$9 billion in 2011, US$10 billion in 2012, US$11 billion in 2013 to US$12 billion in 2014.

HN: CPI in April up 0.2%

Ha Noi’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) in April increased 0.2% compared to the previous month and 0.74% against the same period last year.

This is the second successive month The capital's CPI witnessed a slight increase, which is still lower than the same period last year (up 0.38%).

Vegetable, fruit exports up 13% in Q1

Viet Nam earned US$274 million from exporting vegetables and fruits in the first quarter of 2015, a year-on-year increase of 13%.

The nation’s vegetables and fruits exports to such nations as the Republic of Korea, Singapore and Hong Kong saw sharply increases of 100%, 300% and 230%, respectively.

The imports turnover of vegetables and fruits only attained US$53.3 million, down 42% compared to the same period last year.

By Thuy Dung