Party leader’s visit to RoK marks new stage in bilateral ties
The recently-concluded visit by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong to the Republic of Korea (RoK) marks the opening of a new stage of development with bright prospects in the two countries’ relations, said a Vietnamese official.
This is also an occasion for the Communist Party of Viet Nam to enhance its relation with political parties in the RoK, first of all the ruling Saenuri party, in order to strengthen the political foundation of bilateral ties.
Most importantly, the two sides adopted a seven-point joint statement, which put forward major orientations and measures to step up cooperation in politics, diplomacy, trade, investment and security and defence.
Four cooperative agreements were signed during the visit, including a credit programme worth US$ 12 billion to assist prioritised development projects in Viet Nam.
The Communist Party of Viet Nam and the Saenuri also inked a document on cooperation for the 2015-2016 period on the basis of their 2011 Memorandum of Understanding.
PM: Drastic measures needed to realise GDP growth target
PM Nguyen Tan Dung requested drastic measures be taken to achieve a gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate of 5.8%this year at the Government’s regular meeting on September 29-30.
He pointed out an array of economic problems, including weak aggregate demand, great bad debt, slow disbursement of investment capital, budget imbalances, and several uncompetitive sectors.
Highlighting the rapidly increasing government debt, the Cabinet leader ordered Finance Minister Dinh Tien Dung to review public and bad debts, and propose solutions to the situation.
He called upon relevant agencies to implement urgent and comprehensive measures to attract more investment in industries, agriculture, services, tourism, and infrastructure, particularly in rural areas, and to increase the export of Vietnamese goods to potential markets.
PM Nguyen Tan Dung has pointed to equalization as a breakthrough solution in restructuring State-owned enterprises to form more effective businesses.
Gov’t cracks down on illicit tobacco trade
The PM has issued an instruction asking ministries, agencies and localities to strengthen the fight against illicit trafficking of cigarettes.
The illegal trading, transportation and storage of imported tobacco have occurred seriously across the country especially in provinces and cities like Quang Tri, Tay Ninh, Long An, Dong Thap, An Giang, HCMC, Ha Noi, Da Nang, Hai Phong and Quang Ninh.
The problem has seriously damaged the domestic production and affected people’s health.
Agencies urged to launch campaign against trafficking
Deputy PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc has asked the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) and the People’s Committees of central-governed provinces and cities to launch a crack-down on smuggling and trade frauds from now to the lunar new year festival.
Deputy PM Phuc asked the agencies to monitor market managing forces at all levels to detect, prevent and crack down groups engaged in transporting contraband goods, conducting trade frauds and trading fake and poor-quality commodities, particularly cigarette, fertilizers and helmet.
Deputy PM Pham Binh Minh pays official visit to US
US State Secretary John Kerry announced that the US was partially lifting its ban on the sale of lethal arms to Viet Nam during talks with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh in Washington on October 2.
Deputy PM and FM Pham Binh Minh visited the US on October 1-2 at the invitation of US State Secretary John Kerry.
During their talks, the two officials expressed their delight at the progress made in Viet Nam-US relations, especially since the establishment of the comprehensive partnership in July 2013.
VN, Canada agree to enhance cooperation
Viet Nam and Canada have agreed to strengthen cooperation in various fields, including economics, trade, science and technology, and education.
The agreement was reached during the talks between Deputy PM, FM Pham Binh Minh and Canadian FM John Baird as part of Mr. Minh’s official visit to Canada from September 29-30.
Deputy PM, FM Minh affirmed that Viet Nam attaches importance to developing comprehensive, stable and long-term relations with Canada.
He suggested that the two countries should boost the exchange of delegations at all levels, asking Canada to create favorable conditions for the Vietnamese community to successfully integrate into the host country.
NA Standing Committee concludes 31st session
The 31st session of the 13th National Assembly Standing Committee (NASC), chaired by NA Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung, concluded on October 2 after ten days of sitting.
Before the closing session, NA deputies discussed the draft State Budget Law (revised), and stressed the need to institutionalize the principles related to finance and State budget stipulated in the 2013 Constitution while amending the law.
They agreed that the revised Constitution has created an important legal platform for State budget operations, and for amending the draft law. However, some important guidance in the Constitution have not been institutionalized in the draft.
VN aims to reduce yearly poverty rate by 1.5%
The rate of households living under the poverty line in VietNam is expected to remain below 5% in 2015 and fall by about 1.5% annually until 2020.
Speaking at a seminar on poverty reduction in the southern region, Do Manh Hung, Deputy Chairman of the National Assembly’s Committee on Social Affairs, said the rate of poor districts would fall below 30% and the rate of poverty relapse would continue to drop.
Viet Nam had made drastic achievements in poverty reduction during the past decades, he told the seminar participants.
ODA disbursement rises by 10% in nine months
The disbursement of official development assistance in the first nine months of this year is estimated to reach US$4.1 billion, a 10% year-on-year increase, according to the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI).
Of the total ODA capital, the committed prioritised capital reached US$ 3.519 billion, including US$ 3.459 billion of borrowed capital and US$ 60 million of non-refundable aid, equivalent to 76% of the total amount of the same period last year.
Ha Long Bay named in world’s greatest coastline list
Ha Long Bay of Viet Nam has been selected as one of the 12 greatest coastlines in the world by US travel website WhenOnEarth.
WhenOnEarth said that a popular coastal destination in northeastern Viet Nam, Ha Long Bay features many tropical plants and animals, floating fishing villages, and unique formations of eroded limestone, including a multitude of small islands and huge caves.
Government bonds fetch VND 5 trillion
The Ha Noi Stock Exchange (HNX) organised an auction for government bonds issued by the State Treasury, including bonds with five-, ten- and fifteen-year terms, mobilising a total of VND 5 trillion (US$ 238 million).
Fifteen bidders signed up for VND 5.12 trillion worth of 5-year bonds, seeking annual interest rates of 5-6.3%. In the end, bonds worth VND1 trillion were sold at interest rates of 5.05%.
Ten bidders registered for VND3.979 trillion worth of 10-year bonds, seeking annual interest rates of 6-8%. Bonds worth VND2 trillion were sold with an interest rate of 6.28% per year.
VN’s economic recovery steady but below potential: NFSC
The Vietnamese economy is making steady recovery but the pace is still below potential, according to the National Financial Supervisory Commission (NFSC).
The commission stated that in order to achieve the growth target of 5.8% for the whole year, the Government should introduce measures to boost demand and encourage private investment, in addition to an overall economic restructuring effort.
The commission said low aggregate demand and bad debt were the two factors restraining private investment.
VN jumps five places on 2014 global innovation ranking
Viet Nam is ranked 71th among 143 countries on innovation, up five notches from the previous year, according to a report by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).
The Global Innovation Index (GII) report, co-published by WIPO, the European Institute for Business Administration and Cornell University, said Viet Nam ranked fourth in the ASEAN region with a score of 34.89.
Petrol prices reduced by VND150 per liter
Petrol prices were brought down by VND150 per liter from 3pm on September 30, the sixth consecutive reduction over the last two months, Viet Nam National Petroleum Group (Petrolimex) has announced.
Accordingly, RON 92 petrol was traded at a new price of VND 23,560 per liter from VND 23,710 per liter, while the price of RON 95 dropped to VND 24,160 per liter from VND24,310 per liter.
The prices of mazut and kerosene were cut by VND 240 per kg and VND320 per liter respectively. Kerosene currently costs VND 21,350 per liter, from VND21,670 per liter.
Hoang Sa, Truong Sa exhibition opens in HCM city
Over 250 documents, maps, photographs and objects are on display at an exhibition launched in Ho Chi Minh City on October 3.
The exhibits, collected by the Naval Brigade 125, the VietNam News Agency, Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper and a number of local organizations, are grouped into three main topics on Viet Nam’s sovereignty over sea and island. These are Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos in maps, protecting Vietnamese sea and island sovereignty, and Hoang Sa and Truong Sa today.
The exhibition features numerous ancient maps produced in Viet Nam and abroad affirming that Hoang Sa and Truong Sa belong to Viet Nam./.
(Source: VGP/VNA/VOV/Nhandan)
Đăng ký: VietNam News
