Press digest – January 22

Senior leaders hail sound VN- Laos relations
 
President Truong Tan Sang extolled the growing traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Viet Nam and Laos while receiving Lao Deputy Prime Minister Somsavad Lengsavat in Ha Noi.

The Lao Deputy PM briefed his host on the results of the recent 37th meeting of the Viet Nam-Laos Intergovernmental Committee in Ha Noi.

Both host and guest also informed each other about the socio-economic situation defense and security of their respective country as well as major landmarks in the Laos-Viet Nam relations over recent years.

The same day, Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong received Lao Deputy Prime Minister Somsavad Lengsavath and his entourage.
 
PM asks for achieving targets set for 2015
 
PM Nguyen Tan Dung underscored that ministries and sectors must firmly move towards the targets set from the beginning of the year, including a GDP growth rate of 6.2% nd an inflation rate of around 5%.

 chaired a meeting with ministries and sectors to seek ideas for macro-economic execution and management. The meeting was the first in the year implementing the PM’s  Decision 1317 pertaining to the reform of coordination mechanism in macro-economic execution and management.
 
At the conference, he instructed the macro-economy working group to pay heed to economic impacts from the country’s joining of many free trade agreements and the formation of an ASEAN economic community, the country’s retail sale system, public debts, and changes to several public service fees.
 
Petrol price experiences sharp cut

The Viet Nam National Petroleum Group (Petrolimex) reduced retail prices for a number of fuel types since 16:00, January 21.

Retail price of RON 95 petrol was slashed by VND1,900 down to VND16,270 per litre.

The reduction brought the price of A92 petrol down to VND15,670 per litre from the previous VND17,570 per litre.

Meanwhile, diesel prices were reduced by VND1,460, resulting in a cost between VND15,120 and VND15,170 per litre.

VN among top 5 countries to visit in 2015

Viet Nam has been recently voted as one of the top 5 suggested destinations for travelers for 2015, according to Malaysia’s independent newspaper, Malay Mail Online.

In addition, the central coastal city of Da Nang, which is located between the Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City, topped Tripadvisor’s list for the best destinations of 2015.
 
Celebrations to mark 40 years of VN-Germany ties

A myriad of political and socio-cultural activities will be held in Viet Nam during 2015 to mark the 40th anniversary of Viet Nam-Germany diplomatic ties (September 23, 1975 - September 9, 2015), according to the German Embassy in Viet Nam.
 
During this year, the embassy will coordinate with the Vietnamese Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to organise concerts, painting exhibitions, fairs and film screenings in Ha Noi, Ho Chi Minh City and many other localities nationwide.
 
VN supports Mozambique flood victims
 
The Viet Nam government has agreed to disburse $200,000 to support the victims of the flooding in the Southeast African nation.

The southern province of Gaza is the hardest hit region in the country with over 70,000 people displaced by the flood waters.

According to a representative from the embassy, Viet Nam’s support will focus on the distribution of foods, foodstuffs and essential items such as household kits and water purifiers to emergency centres where roughly 6,000 displaced families have been temporarily accommodated.
 
                                                                                                                             By Vien Nhu