Press digest – July 11

Vietnamese, Greek communist parties boost relations

The Communist Party of Viet Nam (CPV) wants to maintain and enhance relations with the Communist Party of Greece (KKE), creating an important political base for a bilateral rapport.

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong made the remark while receiving KKE General Secretary Dimitrios Koutsoumpasin Ha Noi on July 11 as part of the guest’s ongoing visit to VietNam from July 9-15.

Regarding the East Sea issue, the KEE General Secretary affirmed the significance of respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of each nation, supporting the settlement of any disputes through peaceful methods and in accordance with international law, including the 1982 UNLOS.

PM receives Lao minister, Chinese group chairman

PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc had a meeting in Hanoi on July 11 with Lao Minister and Chairman of the PM’s Office Phet Phomphiphack, who is on a working visit to Viet Nam.

The leader also requested the Vietnamese Government’s Office and the Lao PM’s Office effectively implement the two neighbors’ cooperation agreements, including the 2016 cooperation plan between the Governments.

Also on July 11, PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc received Jin Baofang – Executive Chairman of JA Solar, noting that the Vietnamese Government highly values the Chinese group’s solar panel production project in Vietnam.

13th NASC convenes last session

The 13th National Assembly Standing Committee (NASC) convened its last session on July 11 in Ha Noi.

NA Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan announced that during two days of sitting, the NASC planned to comment on the preparation for the first session of the 14th National Assembly scheduled for July 20; the program on law and ordinance building in 2017 and adjustments to the 2016 law and ordinance building program; and the supervisory plan of the NA and the NASC in 2017.

In addition, the NASC would discuss a Government’s report on the implementation of the socio-economic development plan and State budget in the first half and second half of 2016; and the apparatus of the Government in the 14th tenure.

Disbursement of public investment projects accelerated

The Government has recently issued Resolution 60/NQ-CP on key tasks and solutions to speeding up the implementation and disbursement of the 2016 public investment plans.

Under the new resolution, economic growth fetched only 5.52% in the first half, higher than those in the 2012-2014 period but lower than the same period last year and the preset goal of 6.7% for 2016.

The Government attributed the decline to slow implementation of public investment projects (meeting only 30% of the target), complicated investment and construction procedures, as well as weak cooperation among ministries, agencies, and localities.  

VN asks Thailand to search for missing Vietnamese fisherman

The Embassy of Viet Nam in Thailand has asked Thailand to actively search for the missing Vietnamese fisherman after the recent attack.

During a meeting with officials from Naval Zone 2 of Thailand’s Royal Navy on July 11, Nguyen Hai Ngoc, First Secretary at the Embassy of Viet Nam, underlined the search for this fisherman, saying it is a humanitarian issue.

Mekong Delta region projected to face serious saltwater intrusion by 2030

Nearly a half of the Mekong Delta region would be badly hit by saltwater intrusion within the next 14 years.

The news was announced on July 11 by the Ministry of Planning and Investment at a working session of the South West Steering Committee on its performance in the first half of 2016.

According to the report, the saltwater intrusion would get worse if hydroelectric dams in the upper reaches of the Mekong rivercontinue to store up water, leading to water shortages in the downstream.

VN motorcycle sales up for first time since 2012

Viet Nam’s motorcycle market has seen an increase in its sales for the first time since 2012, reaching 1.4 million vehicles in the first six months of 2016.

The figure represented an 8% increase from the same period last year. Honda Viet Nam (HVN) made up 70% of the market with the sale of 1.9 million units.

By Thuy Dung