• 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 – July 21-27

July 28, 2014 8:09 AM GMT+7

PM receives former British PM Tony Blair

During a reception for former British PM Tony Blair on July 23, PM Nguyen Tan Dung said Viet Nam wanted to foster bilateral relations in politics, diplomacy, economics, trade, investment, education, training and people-to-people exchanges. He called for the UK’s continued support for Viet Nam in poverty reduction, infrastructure development and climate change response.

Tony Blair expressed his belief in Viet Nam’s long term development and praised Viet Nam’s international integration policy, economic reform and its efforts to improve the business environment for investors.

VN shows responsibility, activeness in ASEAN-EU ties

The successfully closed 20th ASEAN-EU Ministerial Meeting (AEMM-20) in Brussels on July 24 has confirmed the active and responsible role of Viet Nam as a co-ordinator of ASEAN-EU dialogue relations when it co-chaired the event for the first time.

At the event, ASEAN and the EU agreed to develop their ties into a strategic partnership. To realise the vision, both sides will increase political-security dialogue and consultation at regional and global forums, in order to further promote their voice, role and contributions to peace, stability and development in the region and the world.

On the economic front, they will lift two-way trade by boosting aviation, navigation and road connectivity, as well as resume negotiations for their free trade agreement beyond 2015.

Chief diplomat has busy tour to Poland

Deputy PM, FM Pham Binh Minh paid an official visit to the Republic of Poland on July 25-26.

During the tour, Deputy PM Minh met with Vice Speaker of the House of Representatives Jerzy Wenderlich, Deputy PM and Minister of Economy Janusz Piechociński; held talks with Polish FM Radoslaw Sikorski; delivered remarks at the meeting of Polish Ambassadors to the Asia – Pacific region; met with representatives of Polish enterprises; and visited the Vietnamese community and Embassy in Poland.

During the talks and contacts, the two sides discussed on a wide range of issues and agreed on major orientations and specific measures to strengthen the multi-faceted ties in the time to come.

Polish side said President Bronisław Maria Komorowski will visit Viet Nam in 2015 on the occasion of the 65th anniversary of diplomatic ties.

Kanagawa Prefecture proposes setting up industrial park

PM Nguyen Tan Dung on July 25 pledged to strengthen the strategic partnership with Japan during his reception for Governor Kuroiwa Yuji of Kanagawa Prefecture.

The Government chief stressed that Viet Nam supports and creates favorable conditions for enhancing links between the Vietnamese ministries, agencies and enterprises and Kanagawa Prefecture.

He also believed that the Governor’s visit to Viet Nam would help boost the bilateral ties between the two countries.

PM ratifies Central Highlands master plan till 2030

PM Nguyen Tan Dung has approved a master development plan for the Central Highlands till 2030.

Accordingly, the Central Highlands will become a trade gateway for countries in the Greater Mekong Sub-region and the East Sea.

The Central Highlands, which covers 54,641sq.km, includes the provinces of Kon Tum, Gia Lai, Dak Lak, Dak Nong and Lam Dong.

Two DNA testing facilities for war heroes to be built

PM Nguyen Tan Dung on July 25 approved the establishment of two DNA testing facilities to identify remains of Vietnamese war martyrs without adequate personal information.

Accordingly, a testing centre will be built by the Ministry of Public Security with a cost of VND285 billion (US$13.4 million) and another worth VND229 billion (US$10.7 million) by the Viet Nam Academy of Science and Technology. 

The Prime Minister also assigned leaders of the two offices to speed up related works and procedures. 

WB Director vows loans to Vietnam until 2017

The World Bank (WB) will continue providing preferential loans for Viet Nam between now and 2017, WB Country Director in Viet Nam, Victoria Kwakwa told National Assembly (NA) Vice Chairwoman, Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan in Ha Noi on July 23.

The WB attaches importance to co-operation with Viet Nam, Kwakwa said, adding that its success in stabilising the macro economy will be a lesson for countries worldwide. She hailed the NA for adopting several laws and resolutions, including a resolution on promoting sustainable poverty reduction by 2020, which she said reflects the Vietnamese government’s commitment in this regard.

FDI disbursement increases slightly

FDI sector’s total disbursement was estimated at US$6.8 billion in the first seven moths of this year, up 2.3%, according to the Ministry of Planning and Investment's Foreign Investment Agency (FIA).

In the reviewed period, foreign investors pledged to pour US$9.53 billion, equivalent to 80.1% against the same period last year.

As of July 20, 889 new FDI projects were licensed with total registered capital of US$6.85 billion while 300 other projects increased investment with an additional volume of US$2.67 billion.

National July CPI only increases 0.23%

The national consumer price index (CPI) in July increased 0.23% against the previous month and 4.94% year on year.

Of the 11 commodities used to calculate the CPI, prices of traffic reported the highest price hike rising by 0.44%, followed by housing and construction materials 0.43%, food services and restaurants up 0.26%, beverage and tobacco, garments, hats and footwear group up 0.2%.

Trade surplus touches US$ 1.39 bln

As of mid July, Viet Nam ran a trade surplus of nearly US$ 1.39 billion, according to the Viet Nam Customs.

In the first half of July, total trade turnover valued nearly US$ 11.91 billion, down 8.5% or US$ 1.11 billion lower than the second half of June.

As of mid July, exports touched US$ 76.75 billion, representing a year-on-year increase of 14.7%

International Chemistry Olympiad 2014 opens in HN

Some 291 students from 77 countries and territories gathered in Ha Noi on July 21 for the opening of the 46th International Chemistry Olympiad (ICHO46), the first of its kind held in Viet Nam.

The event, co-organized by the University of Science under the Ha Noi National University and Ha Noi National University of Education, will run through July 29. Students will sit for practical and theoretical tests on July 23 and 25, respectively.

Leaders pay tribute to President Ho Chi Minh, war heroes

Viet Nam’s top leaders on July 25 laid a wreath and offered incense at the Monument to war Heroes and Martyrs in Ha Noi on the occasion of the 67th anniversary of Viet Nam’s War Invalids and Martyrs Day (July 27).

The delegation included General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam (CPV) Nguyen Phu Trong, State President Truong Tan Sang, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung, and Chairman of the Viet Nam Fatherland Front Central Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan, among others.

Candles lit in commemoration of fallen soldiers nationwide

Candles were lit at cemeteries in major cities and provinces on July 26 in memory of fallen soldiers dedicating their lives to the nation.

The candle-lit ceremony formed part of activities commemorating the 67 th anniversary of War Invalids and Martyrs’ Day (July 27).

VN in top ten software outsourcing providers

The Vietnamese software industry has been selected as one of the top-ten software outsourcing providers of the Asia Pacific region, announced the 19th Viet Nam ICT Outlook (VIO) forum in HCM City on July 25.

Vu Trong Duong, Head of the Information Technology (IT) Department under the Ministry of Information and Communications, said Ha Noi capital and Ho Chi Minh City have been ranked 20th and 30th, respectively, as top cities providing software outsourcing in the region./.

(Source: VGP/VOV/VNA/Nhandan Online)