Press digest – September 17

President Sang welcomes new ambassadors

State President Truong Tan Sang met with the new ambassadors of the Republic of Sierra Leone, the Republic of Iceland, the Republic of Tunisia, the United Republic of Tanzania, the Republic of Guatemala, the Republic of Gruzia, and the Republic of Mali who presented their credentials in Ha Noi on September 17.

President Sang congratulated Sierra Leone Ambassador Vicktor Bockarie Foh; Icelandic Ambassador Stefan Skjaldarson; Tunisian Ambassador Tarel Amri; Tanzanian Ambassador Abduhrahaman Amiri Shimbo; Guatemalan Ambassador Gustavo A. Lopez Calderon; Gruzian Ambassador David Aptsiauri; and Mali Ambassador Lansina Buah Kone on their new roles as ambassadors to Viet Nam.

Gov’t speeds up capital withdrawal in SOEs

The PM has signed a decision on withdrawing capital, selling the State’s stakes, and conducting initial public offerings (IPOs) for State-owned enterprises (SOEs).

The decision comes up with some regulations on capital withdrawal in non-core businesses in the SOEs where the State holds 100% of capital.

The process of capital withdrawal must be conducted to preserve State capital at the highest level.

Deputy PM meets with US congressmen, entrepreneurs

Deputy PM Vu Van Ninh on September 16 met with a number of US congresspersons and  businesses to compare notes on measures to further push bilateral economic and trade ties based on the comprehensive partnership established in July 2013.

At the meeting, Deputy PM Ninh briefed US officials on the situation in Viet Nam and the country’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralization and diversification of relations.

Viet Nam always attaches high importance to constantly boosting cooperative relations with the US within the comprehensive partnership framework agreed by President Truong Tan Sang his US counterpart Barack Obama last year.

Deputy PM avows help for migrants

The Government called upon authorities to provide support for migrants, especially those settled in poor areas, Deputy PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc confirmed in a workshop in Ha Noi on September 17.

The event was organised to address the challenges of increased migration within Viet Nam, particularly from the north-western mountainous region to the Central Highlands, as a result of rapid urbanisation.

Incentives include the provision of farmland, water and accommodation for the displaced, as well as infrastructure improvements and poverty reduction schemes, Mr. Phuc said, adding that coordination between local authorities and agencies would be necessary to help migrants stabilise their lives.

Vietnamese Deputy PM to address UN General Assembly

Deputy PM and FM Pham Binh Minh will deliver an important speech at a high-ranking discussion during the 69th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), which was opened in the US city of New York on September 16.

The President of the UNGA’s 69th session Sam Kahama Kutesa, the Ugandan Foreign Minister, said the focus would be on the UN’s post-2015 development agenda and a number of global issues, such as climate change, regional and international security, and stability.

Meetings and discussions over the next two weeks will be attended by 144 state leaders, and 195 representatives from member and observer countries have registered to give speeches on a number of subjects from September 23–26.

VN, the Republic of Sudan sign Agreement on Maritime Transport

Viet Nam and the Republic of Sudan ratified an agreement on maritime transport on September 17.

Minister of Transport Dinh La Thang and Ambassador of Sudan to Viet Nam Sayed Altayeb Ahmed signed the agreement on behalf of their respective governments.

The agreement comprises 11 articles, focusing on the facilitation of commercial trade via the sea. Once in effect, Viet Nam and Sudan will acknowledge the nationalities and documents of each others’ ships, and implement mutually beneficial policies in their ports, free from fees and port charges.

Norway to provide more ODA for VN

Norway has pledged to continue to provide Viet Nam with official development assistance, especially in the fields of climate change response, forest protection, natural disaster prevention and education-training.

Norwegian State Secretary Morten Hoglund assured Deputy Foreign Minister Ho Xuan Son of this on the occasion of their seventh annual political consultation in Oslo, Norway, during Son’s official visit from September 15-16.

Both sides agreed to facilitate visits at all levels and jointly prepare for the upcoming visit of the Norwegian Foreign Minister.

WB project upgrades Mekong Delta cities

The second phase of a World Bank-funded project to upgrade the Mekong Delta’s urban areas was launched, benefiting the six regional cities Can Tho, My Tho, Cao Lanh, Ca Mau, Tra Vinh and Rach Gia during the 2014-2017 period.

The 7-year project comprises a total investment of US$ 399 million, with US$ 293 million in official development assistance from the WB, and the rest provided by the Vietnamese Government.

It is part of the National Urban Upgrade Programme for the 2009-2020 period, which covers 100 urban areas throughout Viet Nam.

Government’s corruption report under review

The Government’s efforts in 2014 to prevent and combat corruption were recently reviewed by the National Assembly’s Judicial Committee.

According to the report, State agencies have conducted 6,877 administrative and 150,932 targeted inspections so far, detecting violations involving VND 31.5 trillion (US$ 1.48 billion) and 3,739 hectares of land.

Agencies proposed the retrieval of nearly VND 30 trillion (US$ 1.14 billion) to the State budget, along with 2,689 hectares of land, as well as further inspections on over VND4.5 trillion (US$ 211.5 million) and 1,050 hectares of land.

Overseas investment touches US$ 19 bln

Viet Nam invested US$19 billion in 890 projects in 63 countries and territories worldwide by July this year, according to the Foreign Investment Agency under the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI).

In the January-July period, the MPI granted  investment licenses for 68 projects worth US$ 894 million in 21 countries and territories.

Most of the projects operated in the fields of mining (oil and gas exploitation), industrial tree planting, electricity production and telecom.

Third tropical storm hits northern region

Typhoon Kalmaegi, the third tropical storm this year, at 21:00 pm on September 16 hit Hai Ha and Dam Ha districts in the northern province of Quang Ninh, bringing heavy rain and whirlwinds.   

As of 6:00 am on September 17, the storm had yet caused losses of lives but collapsed six houses in Dam Ha, Tien Yen districts; blew up roofs of147 houses, damaged 20 power poles; one antenna mast; and submerged over 5,000 hectares of paddy. The material losses were estimated at VND 20 billion./.

(Source: VGP/VNA/VOV)