Press digest – November 10
PM receives new Portuguese and Serbian Ambassadors
PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc separately received Portuguese and Serbian Ambassadors Francisco Assis Morais Cunha Vazpatto and Slobodan Marinkovic who have recently begun their working terms in Viet Nam.
The host leader expressed his pleasure at the fine relations between Viet Nam and Portugal while greeting Mr. Francisco Assis Morais Cunha Vazpatto, Portuguese Ambassador to Thailand and Viet Nam (resident in Thailand).
He cited the two-way trade turnovers having surged over the past years, reaching nearly US$ 400 million in 2015.
Legislators approve medium-term public investment plan
With 89.88% of "yes" votes, the National Assembly on November 10 passed a resolution on medium-term public investment plan for the 2016-2020 period with a total maximum budget of VND 2 quadrillion (US$ 89.56 billion).
Out of the total budget, VND 1.12 quadrillion will be sourced from the central budget (including VND 300 trillion of foreign investment and VND 820 trillion of domestic capital – VND 260 trillion from Government bonds and VND 250 trillion from State divestment from enterprises. Localities will contribute VND 880 trillion.
Chinese officials attend NA sitting as observers
A Chinese high-ranking delegation led by Zhang Dejiang, member of the Politburo Standing Committee and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, attended as observers a sitting of the 14th National Assembly’s second session in Hanoi on November 10.
In her welcome speech, NA Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan said the visit is of significance to further deepening traditional friendship and political trust between the two Parties, States and people of Viet Nam and China, as well as promoting cooperation between the two legislatures.
Investigators asked to uncover economic, corruption cases
Investigators should focus on bringing into light major economic and corruption cases that have caught public concerns, President Tran Dai Quang said.
He made the request at a working session with the investigation agencies under the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of National Defence and the Supreme People’s Court in Ha Noi on November 10.
Agro-forestry-fishery export to fetch US$ 31 billion
Viet Nam was forecast to earn US$ 31 billion from shipping agro-forestry-fishery products abroad in 2016, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD).
At a press conference held in Ha Noi on November 9, the MARD predicted that agro-forestry-fishery exports would pick up 1.2-1.4% and enjoy a trade surplus of US$ 8 billion.
VN opposes Indonesia’s force use against its fishermen
Viet Nam strongly protests the use of force by Indonesia’s functional forces against Vietnamese fishermen and their fishing vessels, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Le Hai Binh said on November 10.
He made the statement in reply to a reporter’s query on VietNam’s reactions to the case involving Indonesia’s naval ship 632 that on October 21 chased and shot at two Vietnamese fishing boats, injuring three of 13 fishermen on board, with one later died due to serious sustained wounds.
The fishing boats, coded BV 92658TS and BV 92659TS, were operating in the overlapping waters in the exclusive economic zone that is being delineated by Viet Nam and Indonesia.
Localities urged to promote external information service
Local officials must heed the importance of external information work amidst rapid and complicated changes in regional and world situations and strengthen the guidance, monitoring and inspection of activities in the field, a Party official in charge of the work said.
Addressing a conference on November 10 reviewing external information work in northern cities and provinces, deputy head of the Steering Committee for External Information Work Pham Van Linh also required local administrations to ensure budget for the work.
Local textile, garment businesses face difficulties in 2017
The textile and garment sector will continue facing challenges in 2017 due to fierce competition by other major exporters such as China, India, Bangladesh and Pakistan while global demand is forecasted to slow down.
Le Tien Truong, General Director of the National Garment and Textile Group (Vinatex) said textile and garment exports to the US and the EU will also be under negative impacts as consequences of Brexit and the US President-elect Donald Trump not supporting TPP.
Therefore, the sector anticipates its export growth rate at just 5-7% if there are no appropriate policies, Truong said.
Belgian Week in VN
Belgian Week 2016 in Vietnam is scheduled to take place in Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City from November 12-19 with various cultural activities.
Organised by the Belgian Embassy in Viet Nam, the event aims to highlight achievements in bilateral ties and map out future collaboration.
Jazz pianist Jef Neve is set to perform at the official reception marking Belgian “King’s Day” on November 15 at the Temple of Literature in Ha Noi, and at the Opera House in HCM City on November 18./.
(Source: VGP/VOV/VNA)
