Press digest – November 20

ASEAN Summit to promote regional connections

PM Nguyen Tan Dung will attend the 27th ASEAN Summit and other related meetings in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on November 21-22, aiming to contribute to boosting closer links within the bloc.
The Vietnamese leader will have separate meetings with leaders of other countries on the sidelines of the event to deepen bilateral relations.

During the gathering, leaders from ASEAN member nations will sign documents related to the formation of the ASEAN Community, which is said to be an important turning point, opening a new chapter in the process of development and connection among the group’s member countries.

Country to continue developing rural trade

Deputy PM Hoang Trung Hai has agreed to continue the implementation of a decision by the PM on developing trade in rural areas in 2010-2015 towards 2020.

Accordingly, approximately VND9,126 billion (US$419 million) will be invested in developing trade in rural areas to see all communes have standard markets and fulfill markets’ upgrade, reparation and construction; and 80% of towns have medium and small-scaled distribution organizations by 2020.

According to the MOIT, so far 63 provinces and cities have had plans on developing infrastructure for rural trade; pilot models on consuming agricultural products and supplying agricultural materials have facilitated cooperatives, farm owners and farmers in production and consumption; market managers’ awareness has been improved and infrastructure of rural markets has been invested and innovated.

Malaysia, VN agree on closer strategic partnership

Deputy PM and FM Pham Binh Minh and Malaysian Foreign Minister Anifah Aman have agreed on initiatives to further bilateral strategic partnership across politics, economics, national defence-security and labour.

Their meeting took place on the sidelines of the 27th ASEAN Summit and related meetings held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Deputy PM Minh hailed Malaysia for its responsible and active contributions to ASEAN as the bloc’s Chair, given that the common ASEAN Community is to be established.
Both sides discussed accelerating the signing of the 2015-2018 Action Plan as well as the agreements on extradition and transfer of sentenced prisoners, and a governmental-level memorandum of understanding on rice trade.

VN, Czech Republic boost trade links

A Viet Nam-Czech business forum was held  in Ho Chi Minh City as part of President of the Senate of the Czech Republic Milan Stech’s official visit to Viet Nam.

The function, co-hosted by the Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and the Czech Chamber of Commerce, aimed at creating opportunities for Vietnamese and Czech enterprises to further links in trade and investment.
The forum brought together 50 Vietnamese firms and 15 Czech enterprises operating in the fields of chemicals, insurance, mechanics, construction, medical equipment, and automation.

VN-Laos trade fair to open in December

The 2015 Viet Nam-Laos trade fair will be held in Pakse city, Champasak province, Laos from December 22-27, the Sai Gon Giai Phong (Liberated Saigon) newspaper reported, quoting an announcement of the Defense Ministry’s Economics Department.

According to the announcement, the event is part of Viet Nam’s national trade promotion programme in 2015 and one of a series of economic and political activities to celebrate 60 years of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP), and the 40th anniversary of Lao National Day.

Viet Nam’s 175 Military Hospital will hold free medical check-ups and give away medicines for impoverished people in the framework of the event.

MoU signed to bolster VN-Cuba multifaceted ties

The 33rd meeting of the Vietnam-Cuba Inter-governmental Committee wound up in Ha Noi on November 19 with a memorandum of understanding (MoU) inked to enhance bilateral cooperation across the board.

During the three-day event, the two sides reviewed the implementation of agreements reached at the 32rd meeting last year and worked out solutions to existing problems. 
They determined feasible scopes of cooperation for the next year on the basis of their respective potential and demand and priorities set in the mid-term bilateral economic agenda between 2015 and 2020. 

Quang Ninh prepares for largest ever VN-China Trade Fair

The 10th edition of the Vie Nam-China Tourism and Trade Fair, December 16-22, will kick off at Mong Cai City in Quang Ninh Province with over 230 exhibitors showcasing their wares in 300 stalls.

The organizers said the fair – the biggest ever – will showcase a vast array of products including agricultural items, fish and seafood, machinery and equipment, household electronics and handicrafts.

The fair will also feature seminars and workshops along with booths touting Quang Ninh Province and the surrounding region as a great travel destination and place to invest and do business.

(Source: VGP/VOV/VNA/Nhandan)

By Ngoc  Van