Press digest – March 31

PM hosts State reception for IPU-132 participants

PM Nguyen Tan Dung held a state-level reception for participants of the 132nd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU-132) at the Central Sector of the Thang Long Imperial Citadel in Ha Noi.

National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung, IPU President Saber Chowdhury and IPU Secretary General Martin Chungong attended the party.

PM Nguyen Tan Dung said the success of the event cemented the role of the IPU in the international arena.

It’s not only the world’s largest multilateral parliamentary cooperative forum, but also contributes greatly to the United Nations in building the agenda for global sustainable development after 2015.

Swedish Speaker Ahlin begins VN visit

Swedish Parliament Speaker Urban Ahlin began his official five-day visit to Viet Nam alongside Sweden’s participation in the ongoing IPU-132.

During his visit, Ahlin will meet with high-ranking Vietnamese officials to discuss ways to promote bilateral ties via increased parliamentary exchanges and cooperation in economics, trade and higher education.

The Swedish Speaker will hold talks with National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung and pay a courtesy call on Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.

He will also have separate meetings with Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Kim Tien and Minister of Transport Dinh La Thang.

VN to cut taxes to Japanese goods to zero

Thousands of goods imported from Japan will enjoy a 0% tariff beginning April 1, according to the Ministry of Finance (MOF).

Viet Nam will reduce the tariffs for 3,234 classes of imports to 0%, in implementing the Viet Nam-Japan economic partnership agreement for the 2015-2019 period.
 
The products must be imported directly from Japan to Viet Nam and meet the rules of origin as stated in the Japan-Viet Nam Economic Partnership Agreement.
 
VIB named a leading Asian Trade Bank

The Viet Nam International Bank (VIB) will be honoured by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on April 22 as one of the top Trade Finance Banks in Asia, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) today announced.

VIB, which joined TFP in 2009, is one of the ten Vietnamese issuing banks currently in the programme that have been selected by ADB to finance import-export enterprises as well as to improve their productivity and competitiveness in the market.

On this occasion, ADB will also recognise VIB as the ‘Leading Partner Bank in Viet Nam’ for its positive trade finance results.

Japan commits $936 mln ODA to VN

Japan has committed another 112.4 billion JPY ($936.4 million) in official development assistance to Viet Nam to facilitate its socio-economic development.

The sum will be allocated to construction on the Ben Luc – Long Thanh section of the north-south expressway, the Thai Binh 1 thermo-power plant and its power transmission line, a credit project for power networks, the second stage of the Nhon Trach water supply project, water drainage and treatment in Ha Long city, upgrades to Can Tho university, and the fifth cycle of a climate change response programme.

Minister of Planning and Investment Bui Quang Vinh and Japanese Ambassador to Viet Nam Hiroshi Fukada signed a diplomatic note to this effect in Ha Noi.

                                                                                                                        By Vien Nhu