• An Giang
  • Binh Duong
  • Binh Phuoc
  • Binh Thuan
  • Binh Dinh
  • Bac Lieu
  • Bac Giang
  • Bac Kan
  • Bac Ninh
  • Ben Tre
  • Cao Bang
  • Ca Mau
  • Can Tho
  • Dien Bien
  • Da Nang
  • Da Lat
  • Dak Lak
  • Dak Nong
  • Dong Nai
  • Dong Thap
  • Gia Lai
  • Ha Noi
  • Ho Chi Minh
  • Ha Giang
  • Ha Nam
  • Ha Tinh
  • Hoa Binh
  • Hung Yen
  • Hai Duong
  • Hai Phong
  • Hau Giang
  • Khanh Hoa
  • Kien Giang
  • Kon Tum
  • Lai Chau
  • Long An
  • Lao Cai
  • Lam Dong
  • Lang Son
  • Nam Dinh
  • Nghe An
  • Ninh Binh
  • Ninh Thuan
  • Phu Tho
  • Phu Yen
  • Quang Binh
  • Quang Nam
  • Quang Ngai
  • Quang Ninh
  • Quang Tri
  • Soc Trang
  • Son La
  • Thanh Hoa
  • Thai Binh
  • Thai Nguyen
  • Thua Thien Hue
  • Tien Giang
  • Tra Vinh
  • Tuyen Quang
  • Tay Ninh
  • Vinh Long
  • Vinh Phuc
  • Vung Tau
  • Yen Bai

Weekly press digest – August 25 – 31

VGP - Party Chief’s Special Envoy visits China, EC President visits Viet Nam, and cabinet regular meeting are among notable events of the past week.

August 31, 2014 6:04 PM GMT+7

VN extends sincere thanks to int’l community

PM Nguyen Tan Dung has extended sincere thanks to foreign Governments and people, partners and friends for their valuable support and effective cooperation at a banquet held on August 28 on the occasion of the 69th anniversary of National Day of Viet Nam.

The Government chief highlighted the significant role of foreign ambassadors, charge d’affaires and representatives of international organizations in promoting their countries/organizations’ relations with Viet Nam.

Regarding security and development aspect, he emphasized that the most basic and effective way to ensure peace and stability and development for all countries is through dialogue, cooperation and mutual respect on the basis of internatinal law and common standards.

PM chairs cabinet regular meeting

PM Nguyen Tan Dung on August 27 presided over a two-day Government’s regular meeting to discuss socio-economic development in August and the first eight months.

The meeting was set to focus on the implementation of Resolution 01/NQ-CP, dated January 2, 2014 on key tasks and solutions guiding the realization of the socio-economic development plan and State budget estimate in 2014; a socio-economic report for 2014 and plan for 2015, the realization of State budget for 2014 and estimate for 2015; and the issuance of Government’s international bonds.

The Ministry of Planning and Investment reported that the socio-economic performance in the first eight months showed signs of recovery with positive outcomes, mentioning especially a GDP growth rate of 5.54%.

The GDP growth rate was forecast at 5.8% for the whole year. So far, 12 out of 14 economic norms have been fulfilled and outstripped.

Party Chief’s Special Envoy visits China

Le Hong Anh, Special Envoy of General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam, Nguyen Phu Trong paid a visit to China on August 26-27. The visit was made at the invitation of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China.

Le Hong Anh, a Politburo member and standing member of the Secretariat of the Communist Party of Viet Nam, met with Wang Jiarui, Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference.

During the meeting, Le Hong Anh pointed out that his visit aimed to hold discussions with Chinese leaders on how to restore and boost the relationship between the two Parties and the two countries in a healthy, stable and long-term manner, in order to fulfil peoples’ expectations and interests.

EC President visits VN

President of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Durao Barroso visited Viet Nam from August 25-26 after an invitation from Prime Minister, Nguyen Tan Dung.

During the visit, President José Manuel Durão Barroso held talks with Prime Minister; paid courtesy calls on General Secretary of Viet Nam Communist Party Nguyen Phu Trong, State President Truong Tan Sang; received a Degree of Doctor Honoris Causaefrom National Economics University (NEU) in Hanoi and addressed NEU students; visited Ho Chi Minh city; had a meeting with the Chairman of the People Committee of Ho Chi Minh City and met with Vietnamese and European businesses.

Both sides highly valued the exchanges and co-operation between Viet Nam and the EU at multilateral forums and international organisations; and agreed to continue co-ordinating and supporting each other on issues of mutual interest.

Viet Nam and the European Union on Monday issued a Joint Statement on the occasion of the official visit of EC President José Manuel Durão Barroso to the Southeast Asian country from August 25-26.

PM asks for reduction of conditional business lines

PM Nguyen Tan Dung has tasked inferior levels to review and cut down conditional lines of business and business conditions along with streamlining administrative procedures.

This is part of the Government’s effort to prepare amendments to the Law on Investment.

A new list of conditional lines of business and business conditions must be envisaged to support the expansion of the rights of people and enterprises to conduct business as well as the country’s current international integration in investment and trade areas.

The Government will periodically review and make public the list of conditional lines of business and conditional business for nationwide application.

Disbursed FDI surges slightly in Jan-Aug period

Disbursed foreign direct investment (FDI) was estimated at US$ 7.9 billion in the first eight months, representing a year-on-year increase of 4.5%, according to the General Statistics Office.

In the reviewed period, over US$ 10.23 billion FDI flowed into Viet Nam, down 19% against last year’s same period.

By August 20, the number of newly licensed FDI projects were 992, up 29% from a year ago, with registered capital of US$ 7.25 billion, down 2.1%. About US$ 2.3 billion was added to 349 existing projects.

Trade surplus touches over US$ 1.81 bln

Viet Nam ran a trade surplus of US$ 1.81 billion for the first eight and a half months of 2014, according to the Viet Nam Customs.

In the first half of August, the country gained a trade surplus of US$ 17 million. Total trade volume stood at US$ 12.37 billion, down 11% against the second half of July.

As of August 15, total trade valued nearly US$ 178.35 billion, representing a year-on-year increase of 12.9%.

ASEAN Maritime Forum opens in Da Nang

The 5th ASEAN Maritime Forum (AMF) kicked off in the central city of Da Nang on August 27, with representatives from all 10 ASEAN member countries.

The two-day event aimed to increase solidarity within ASEAN and promote the association’s central role in maritime co-operation and building trust in the region through negotiations and consultations, particularly in regard to ensuring maritime security and safety in the East Sea in accordance with international law, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982 and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea.

The event targeted to improve the co-ordination of humanitarian relief and disaster responses, and will also discuss how to manage and protect marine ecosystems, biodiversity and aquatic resources, and boost co-operation regarding the member states’ respective fishery sectors.

VN sees third petrol price cut in August

The retail prices of petrol was slashed by a further VND 470 per litre, the third consecutive cut in August.

Oil product importer, Petrolimex announced that it began cutting the price of a litre of RON92 petrol, the most common type of fuel for motor vehicles in Viet Nam, to VND23,740 from 12pm on August 29. Similarly, a litre of RON95 petrol is now priced at VND 24,340.

This round of cuts also see diesel and kerosene down by between VND 160 and VND 180 per litre, depending on the variety, and mazut cut by VND60 per kilogram./.