Weekly press digest – October 13-19

Highlights of PM Dung’s European tour

PM Nguyen Tan Dung arrived in Ha Noi on October 19, ending his tour to Belgium, the European Union, Germany and Italy where he attended the 10th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Summit and visited the Vatican.

During his official visit to Belgium, PM Dung and his Belgian counterpart Charles Michel agreed to enhance trade cooperation by creating favorable conditions for the two nations’ businesses to promote prioritized areas such as seaports, logistics, transportation, green technology, high technology, aviation and space.

PM Dung and EC President Manuel Barroso have agreed that the conclusion of the Viet Nam-EU Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) will give a strong boost to Viet Nam's integration into the global economy.

PM Dung said that the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) and the EVFTA will be important political and economic pillars for the advancement of the relations between Viet Nam and the EU.

During his talks with PM Dung, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said her country attaches importance to the relationship with Viet Nam – a dynamic country with rising position in the region and the world. The two PMs expressed their pleasure at the fine developments of the strategic partnership established during the German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s official visit to Viet Nam in 2011.

In his speech at the 10th ASEM Summit, the Vietnamese Government leader said that within more than one decade of the 21st century, human beings have faced extremely severe global challenges, including the most serious economic-financial crisis in over 100 years, the earthquake-tsunami calamity in Japan, Haiyan super typhoon in the Philippines, and now the deadly Ebora virus in Africa.

In the course of cordial conversations, Pope Francis said PM Dung’s visit to the Vatican provides a good opportunity for both sides to enhance mutual understanding, thus strengthen the relations between Viet Nam and the Holy See.

The Holy See highly valued Viet Nam’s socio-economic achievements and expressed its appreciation for the country’s religious policies which have brought back numerous outcomes.

Viet Nam Association of Women Entrepreneurs makes debut

A congress was held in Hanoi on October 19 to launch the Vietnam Association of Women Entrepreneurs (VAWE), with Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Ho Thi Kim Thoa elected as the organisation’s first President.

The VAWE aims to improve the capacities and roles of businesswomen in sustainable development in Vietnam, providing a forum for them to share their experience and enhance their professional knowledge. It also protects the legitimate interests of female entrepreneurs and members of the workforce.

VN-EU joint statement on direction of concluding FTA negotiations issued

Viet Nam and the European Union have issued a joint statement on direction of concluding negotiations on the EU-Viet Nam Free Trade Agreement between the two sides.

The statement was released at the end of the talks between Prime Minister Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and President of the European Commission (EC) Manuel Barroso in Brussels on October 13.

PM approves Seaprodex equitization plan

The PM has ratified the equitization plan for the National Seaproducts Corporation (Seaprodex).   

Under the plan, the joint-stock seafood producer will inherit business fields of the parental corporation and other business activities in accordance with the law.

Seaprodex values over VND 1.48 trillion of which the State holds over VND 1.36 trillion.

The corporation currently has a total charter capital of VND 1.25 trillion. After 2015, the State will hold less than 51% of the charter capital. 

The Government planned to equitize a total of 432 State-owned enterprises in the 2014-2015 period.

Master plan on developing key central economic region approved

PM Nguyen Tan Dung has approved a master plan on developing the key central economic region to 2020, with a vision to 2030.

Accordingly, the region, including Da Nang city and Thua Thien-Hue, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai and Binh Dinh provinces, will become a dynamically developed region in a fast and sustainable manner, a momentum for the development of the northern central and coastal region, an important gateway to the sea for highland provinces, the Cambodia-Laos-Viet Nam development triangle and the east-west economic corridor.

The region is planned to reach an 8% economic growth annually by 2015 and 9% in the 2016-2020 period. The average gross domestic product per capita is expected to be VND80 million ($3,600), approximately to 1.1-1.2 times compared to the country’s average level.

Vietnamese, Chinese military officials hold talks

Defence Minister General Phung Quang Thanh held talks with Vice Chairman of the Chinese Party Central Committee’s Military Commission Fan Changlong in Beijing on October 18 before concluding his visit to China.

Regarding sovereignty disputes at sea, Minister Thanh reiterated Viet Nam’s consistent policy of addressing the issues by peaceful means in line with international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC). 

Three Mekong Delta localities boost tourism linkages

Leaders of three Mekong Delta localities of An Giang, Kien Giang and Can Tho have recently gathered in Rach Gia city to discuss ways to beef up their tourism linkages.

The event was organized by the General Department of Tourism with the support of the EU-funded Environmental and Socially Responsible Tourism Capacity Development Program (ESRT).

The three localities lie in a key tourism region of the country in accordance with the Master plan on national tourism development until 2020 with a vision towards 2030.

MoH moves to prevent Ebola outbreak in VN

The Ministry of Health (MoH) has asked local authorities to step up efforts to prevent Ebola from entering Viet Nam.

The move responded to the rising cases of Ebola infections in the world.

As of October 14, nearly 8,500 Ebola cases were recorded with over 4,000 deaths. Up to 426 medical staffs were infected of whom 241 were dead.

The MoH requested Chairmen of the provincial and municipal People’s Committees to instruct local Departments of Heath to keep a close watch on people coming in from African countries and stand ready to take action.  

Full and accurate process of supervision must be applied to suspected Ebola patients in accordance with the guidelines issued by the MoH. People coming from Ebola zones will be supervised within 21 days upon their arrival in Viet Nam.

VN hosts Asian-Oceanian ICT Summit 2014

The Asian-Oceanian Computing Industry Organization (ASOCIO) Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Summit 2014 will be held in Ha Noi and central Da Nang City from October 28-31. 

This is the 2nd time Viet Nam has hosted the largest annual forum on ICT in the Asia-Oceania region, the biggest and most important annual event for the Asian-Oceania software, IT, and communications industry.

This year’s event is expected to attract 700 domestic and international delegates, including 250 leaders from ICT associations and leading groups in 30 countries around the world.

The forum will focus on discussing strategies and solutions to promote ICT applications in implementing agriculture restructuring and creating a new rural development model.  This will ensure comprehensive competitiveness among localities, businesses and organizations in the Asia-Oceania region.

VN, Macedonia sign trade agreements

Viet Nam and Macedonia have inked agreements on investment promotion and protection, and double taxation avoidance and tax evasion prevention.

They are expected to stimulate and protect investment, and boost traditional friendship between the two countries.

The two documents were signed by Viet Nam Ambassador to Macedonia Le Duc Luu and Macedonian Deputy Minister of Finance Ardian Xhealdini in the Macedonian capital of Skopje on October 15.

Month for the Poor launched

A “Month for the Poor” was launched in Hanoi on October 17, with organisations and enterprises pledging to donate over VND 3.4 billion (US$ 162,000) to the fund for the poor just after the launching ceremony.

Chairman of the Viet Nam Fatherland Front’s Central Committee (VFFCC) Nguyen Thien Nhan emphasized that poverty reduction is not only an economic issue but also a condition to ensure political and social stability and to achieve the United Nation’s millennium goals.

While highlighting the positive outcomes of the 14-year charity campaign “Day for the Poor”, the VFF leader cited the statistics of the National Steering Committee for Poverty Reduction, which showed that 7.6% of all household nationwide still lived in poverty at the end of 2013. Therefore, stronger and more efficient assistance is needed to further reduce the poverty rate in a sustainable manner./.

(Source: VGP/VNA/VOV/Nhan dan)