Weekly press digest – November 10-16

State President suggests businesses enhance regional connection at APEC

State President Truong Tan Sang on November 10 attended and made a speech at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit which is themed “Enhancing regional connection: the priorities for investment, infrastructure and policies”.

The State President highlighted efforts and contributions of ASEAN in accelerating trade freedom, investment and enhancing connection in the framework of APEC and in the Asia-Pacific.

VN pushes for wide-ranging TPP deal

Viet Nam is determined to reach a comprehensive and balanced Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) deal, President Truong Tan Sang affirmed in a meeting with leaders of the 12 TPP member countries at their fifth summit in Beijing, China on November 10.

State President meets with foreign leaders

State President Truong Tan Sang had bilateral meetings with US President Barack Obama, Japanese PM Shinzo Abe, and Indonesian President Joko Widodo on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting.

President Truong Tan Sang and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping discussed deepening the Vietnam – China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership. 

PM attends ASEAN summits with partners

PM Nguyen Tan Dung attended the 25th ASEAN summit and related meetings in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar on November 12-13 at the invitation of Myanmar’s President Thein Sein.

He attended the second ASEAN-US Summit, the 17th ASEAN-China Summit and the 17th ASEAN 3 Summit on November 13.

At these summits, leaders of ASEAN and its partners agreed to further their cooperation by implementing the current action plans efficiently, accelerating economic links, trade and connectivity, narrowing development gaps and responding soundly to emerging challenges.

PM meets with US President

PM Nguyen Tan Dung on Thursday met with US President Barack Obama in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar on the sidelines of the 25^th ASEAN Summit and related meetings.

The two leaders expressed their pleasure at the progress of the relations between Viet Nam and the US, especially after the two sides set up comprehensive partnership in 2013.

PM Dung highly reaffirmed Viet Nam’s resolve to work with the US and other relevant members to beef up the process of the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement talks and praised President Obama’s role in this work.

Resolutions on socio-economic development, state budget estimate adopted

The eighth session of the 13th National Assembly adopted resolutions on the socio-economic development plan and the state budget estimate for 2015 with a majority of votes on November 10.

With 89.54% of votes in favor, the resolution on the socio-economic development plan for 2015 was passed, focusing on the enhancement of macro-economic stability and the removal of obstacles for businesses and production.

On the same day, the resolution on the state budget estimate for 2015 was approved with 88.13% of votes.

Accordingly, the budget revenue is projected at VND 921 trillion, while spending will be VND 1,147.1 trillion. This translates into a deficit of VND 226 trillion, equivalent to 5%  of GDP.

NA announces votes of confidence results

All 50 officials holding positions elected or approved by the National Assembly (NA) passed the vote of confidence during the 13th legislature’s eighth session in Ha Noi on November 15.

The confidence vote was specified in three degrees - high confidence, confidence, and low confidence. The results were announced on the same day.

The NA adopted a resolution verifying the results of the confidence vote with the approval of all 451 deputies present at the session.

Regional minimum wage to surge from 2015

Since January 1, 2015, the monthly minimum wage for employees will increase from VND 2.15 million (US$102) to VND 3.1 million (US$ 147).

These benefiting employees work for companies, enterprises, cooperatives, cooperative groups, farms, households, individuals and agencies, organizations employing laborers.

Phu Quoc asked to further develop maritime economy, tourism

Deputy PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc has urged Phu Quoc island district in southern Kien Giang province to bring into play its advantages and potential to develop the maritime economy and tourism.

The Deputy PM made the call when he announced the Prime Minister’s decision recognising Phu Quoc as a second-tier city at a November 15 ceremony in the island district.

VN to issue trans-national driving licenses

Viet Nam will issue internationally recognized driving licenses from January 1, 2015, as a member of the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic. 

The licenses will be translated into English, Russian and Chinese in addition to Vietnamese.

First sea and island database

Viet Nam has the first spatial database containing all sea and island territory, including both Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos.

The database is the outcome of a three-year project on monitoring the environmental resources of the sea and islands by remote sensing technology, which was accepted later this week.

The project set up the database of multi-temporal spatial images detailing the sea and islands of Viet Nam and established a topographic map with spatial images of Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos.

VN, Russia hold 7th strategic dialogue

Deputy Foreign Minister Ho Xuan Son and his Russian counterpart Igor V.Morgulov co-chaired the 7th meeting of the Viet Nam-Russia Strategic Dialogue on diplomacy-national defense-security in Ho Chi Minh City on November 15..

Both sides discussed measures to accelerate the bilateral relations and exchanged views on regional and international issues of common concern.

Nielsen: Vietnamese consumers upbeat about economic outlook

Viet Nam’s Consumer Confidence Index jumped three points in Q3 to 102, the highest level since late 2010, according Nielsen. 

The leading global information and measurement company recently published its Global Survey of Consumer Confidence and Spending Intentions.

Son Doong Cave ranked among top 52 places to go in 2014

Son Doong Cave, Quang Binh province has been ranked 8th out of 52 places to go in 2014 by The New York Times.

“Son Doong Cave in the Quang Binh province of central Vietnam is one of the world’s largest caves and is now, for the first time, accessible to tourists, thanks to the tour operator Oxalis," The New York Times said in its description of the cave.

(Source: VGP/VOV/VNA/Nhandan)