Print article

Press digest – September 24

September 25, 2014 7:44 AM GMT+7

State President calls for stronger cooperation between VN, Belarus

President Truong Tan Sang received the Belarusian Chairman of the State Security Committee Valery Vakulchik at the Presidential Palace on September 24.

During the meeting, Vakulchik expressed his delight at the development of the traditional ties between Belarus and Viet Nam.

The Belarusian Chairman of the State Security Committee also conveyed greetings from Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko to President Truong Tan Sang.

VN, Belarus hold talks on security cooperation

Viet Nam, Belarus agreed to boost their security cooperation in the future during a meeting between Vietnamese Public Security Minister Tran Dai Quang and Belarusian Chairman of State Security Committee Valery Vakulchik in Ha Noi on September 24.

The two sides agreed to increase high-level delegation exchange visits to share experience in fighting transnational organised crime such as terrorism, cybercrime, and illegal migration. The two sides also highlighted the measures taken to ensure the safety of their respective representative organisations and individuals, and protect the legitimate rights of Vietnamese and Belarusian citizens living in the two countries.

Singapore’s Emeritus Senior Minister wraps up visit to HN

Former Prime Minister and Emeritus Senior Minister of Singapore, Goh Chok Tong, concluded his visit to the capital city of Ha Noi on September 24, during which a stronger Vietnamese-Singaporean strategic partnership was formed.

The four-day visit, made at the invitation of Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, aimed to boost the bilateral ties between the two countries.

During his visit, the Senior Minister met with Vietnamese Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, President Truong Tan Sang, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and Politburo member and Secretary of the Ha Noi Party Committee Pham Quang Nghi.

The two sides agreed to enhance cooperation on finance and tourism.

Singapore is willing to share its expertise and support Viet Nam to develop its banking system, to access loans to upgrade infrastructure and to increase the quality of human resources.

CPI reaches 7-month record high

Viet Nam’s consumer price index (CPI) for September saw a month-on-month increase of 0.4%, the highest level over the last seven months, according to the General Statistics Office (GSO).

The GSO attributed the surge to the rising tuition fees at universities and colleges in accordance with the PM’s approved roadmap.

September’s CPI posted a year-on-year surge of 3.62% and up 2.25% against December, 2013.

In the January-September period, CPI picked up 4.61% against the same period last year.

Specifically, nine out of the 11 groups of commodities calculated experienced rising costs including education (6.38%); restaurants and food (0.22%); garments and textiles (0.32%); medicines and medical services (0.23%).

VN prioritizes fight against climate change

Viet Nam always prioritizes cooperative activities to respond and adapt to climate change, said Deputy PM, FM Pham Binh Minh.

Deputy PM Minh made the remarks on September 23 (local time) in New York at the one-day UN Climate Summit which drew the attendance of nearly 120 world and senior leaders.

He affirmed that Viet Nam set orientations to cut greenhouse gas by 8-10% against the level of 2010 and reduce energy consumption per unit of GDP by 1-1.5% per year.

The country is considering the Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) with specific contributions on greenhouse gas cuts, adaptation to climate change and commits to working with the international community and partners to speed up the negotiations for a global deal at the 21st Conference of the Parties on Climate Change scheduled in Paris in 2015.  

“Viet Nam Days in Netherlands” launched in The Hague

Viet Nam Days in the Netherlands” was kicked off on September 23 (local time) in The Hague.

Addressing the launching ceremony, Deputy PM Hoang Trung Hai highlighted the significance of the bilateral ties especially following the establishment of the strategic partnership on climate change, water management, agriculture, and food security.

The event is expected to strengthen mutual understanding among people and business communities; promote exchanges and cooperation among ministries and localities of the two sides, said Deputy PM Hai.

VN-EU free trade pact could boost GDP 15%

The potential payoff from the EU-Viet Nam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) that could be concluded and ratified as early as 2014 is an estimated 10-15% boost in GDP along with a concurrent expansion of Vietnamese exports by 30-40%. 

The information was unveiled by Maylis Labayle, Advocacy Manger of European Chamber of Commerce (Eurocham) at a seminar in Ha Noi on September 24, discussing opportunities and challenges in the EU market.

Vietnamese Ambassador elected Chair of WIPO Coordination Committee

The General Assembly of the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) passed a vote to elect Vietnamese Ambassador Nguyen Trung Thanh, Viet Nam’s permanent representative to the United Nations, the World Trade Organisation (WTO), and other international organisations, as the new Chair of the WIPO Co-ordination Committee during its 54th session on September 23.  

Viet Nam strongly supports the WIPO in its innovative efforts to protect intellectual property worldwide and address newly arising problems, Ambassador Thanh said in his speech at the 54th series of meetings of the Assemblies of the Member States of WIPO.

Viet Nam Fashion Fair 2014 opens in Ho Chi Minh City

More than 200 enterprises joined the opening of the 2014 Viet Nam Fashion Fair (VIFF 2014) at the Tan Binh Exhibition and Convention Centre in Ho Chi Minh City on September 24.

Themed ‘Shining Vietnamese Fashion’, the exhibition’s approximately 300 stalls are showcasing the garment and textile industry’s latest product ranges, as well as new collections for the new fashion season.

Famous brand names such as Viet Tien, Nha Be, Duc Giang, May 10, Hoa Tho and Hanosimex have all scheduled special displays during the event.

HN invests US$1 million to restore Ba Kieu temple

Ba Kieu temple in Ha Noi will undergo restoration under a project worth VND 23.2 billion (roughly US$ 1.1 million) sourced from the city’s budget.

The project will be implemented during the 2015 -2016 period to consolidate the temple’s foundations, re-render its surface, replace the roof and restore original decorative patterns.

The project is part of the Ha Noi city authorities’ effort to safeguard downgraded historical, cultural, religious, architectural and artistic constructions in the capital whose values were recognised by the State./.

(Source: VGP/VOV/VNA)