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Weekly digest – November 7-13

November 14, 2016 9:52 AM GMT+7

Party chief greets Chinese legislative leader

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong hosted a reception for Zhang Dejiang, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Chinese National People’s Congress who was leading a Chinese high-ranking delegation on an official visit to Viet Nam on November 9 in Ha Noi.

The Party leader spoke highly of the outcomes of earlier talks and meetings between Zhang and Vietnamese leaders, saying that the ongoing visit will help strengthen political trust, friendship and cooperation between the two countries in the years to come.

He also urged the two sides to work together to control differences on the basis of mutual respect for each other’s interests and international law, and maintain peace, stability and development trend of bilateral relations.

Development resources lay around the globe: PM says

Viet Nam’s development potential and resources lay not only in the S-shaped country but also in many other places around the globe, PM Nguyen XuanPhuc has said, implying Vietnamese expatriates who attended a conference in Ho Chi Minh City on November 12.

The meeting for overseas Vietnamese (OVs), the first of its kind held specifically for the southern city, drew 500 OVs from 35 countries and territories. It aimed to mobilize OVs’ resources for HCM City’s transformation to a growth engine of Viet Nam and a major economic and sci-tech hub in Southeast Asia. 

The Government leader appreciated OVs’ efforts and contributions to the national development and protection. 

VN, Ireland promote multi-lateral relations

PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc expected that Irish President Michael D. Higgins’ visit to Viet Nam will create a new impetus to promote the two nations’ relationship in the future at his reception for the Irish President on November 8 in Ha Noi.

He proposed the two sides accelerate delegation exchanges at all levels, facilitating to further cooperation in potential areas such as trade, investment, education and training, green technology, agriculture and sustainable development.  

Appraising Ireland’s national strategy on cooperation with Viet Nam in the 2017-2020 phase, he demanded Ireland continue its Official Development Assistance (ODA) for Viet Nam as well as assist Viet Nam in reducing poverty, responding to climate change and realizing the United Nations Millennium Development Goals.

Legislators approve medium-term public investment plan

With 89.88% of "yes" votes, the National Assembly on November 10 passed a resolution on medium-term public investment plan for the 2016-2020 period with a total maximum budget of VND 2 quadrillion (US$ 89.56 billion).

Out of the total budget, VND 1.12 quadrillion will be sourced from the central budget (including VND 300 trillion of foreign investment and VND 820 trillion of domestic capital – VND 260 trillion from Government bonds and VND 250 trillion from State divestment from enterprises. Localities will contribute VND 880 trillion.

NA fixes growth rate for 2017

The National Assembly on Monday approved the Resolution on socio-economic development plan for 2017 with the growth rate of around 6.7%.

Under the Resolution, the overall goals are to ensure macro-economic stability, create substantial changes in the three strategic breakthroughs, enhance the competitiveness and self-reliance of the economy, spur business startup among others.

Exports are expected to increase 6-7% and trade deficit is estimated at around 3.5% of the total export value while inflation will be kept at 4%.

VN opposes Indonesia’s force use against its fishermen

Viet Nam strongly protests the use of force by Indonesia’s functional forces against Vietnamese fishermen and their fishing vessels, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Le Hai Binh said on November 10.

He made the statement in reply to a reporter’s query on VietNam’s reactions to the case involving Indonesia’s naval ship 632 that on October 21 chased and shot at two Vietnamese fishing boats, injuring three of 13 fishermen on board, with one later died due to serious sustained wounds.

The fishing boats, coded BV 92658TS and BV 92659TS, were operating in the overlapping waters in the exclusive economic zone that is being delineated by Viet Nam and Indonesia.

VN, Laos, Cambodia share experience in auditing

Leaders of the State audit agencies from Viet Nam, Laos and Cambodia gathered at the seventh meeting in Ha Noi on November 8.

Speaking at the event, State Auditor General Ho Duc Phoc proposed three nations enhance cooperation in the environment to make their cooperative relations more effective.

The Vietnamese State Auditor General demanded all the nations organize cooperative auditing on the environment in the spirit of the Ha Noi Declaration adopted at the 8th Cambodia-Laos-Myanmar-Vietnam Summit (CLMV 8).

By Thuy Dung