Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam received more than 2.6 million international visitors in the first seven months of the year, a year-on-year increase of 10.6 percent, according to the General Statistics Office (GSO).

Foreign tourists to Vietnam mainly came from Thailand, the US, Japan, the Republic of Korea (RoK), the Philippines, China, France, Singapore and Malaysia.

International arrivals from the Philippines, Thailand and Singapore rose sharply over the same period last year with 55 percent, 41.6 percent and 27.5 percent, respectively, while those from China, the RoK and Japan decreased.

To fulfill its target of welcoming 5 million international tourists this year, the tourism sector will simplify international travel business procedures and strengthen land tourism cooperation with its neighbours Laos and Cambodia , Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Tran Chien Thang said.

The sector plans to coordinate with airlines and enterprises to organise tourism promotion activities and diversify tourism products, he added.

It will also continue investment in upgrading infrastructure and training human resources in an effort to improve service quality, thus increasing the number of tourists with long-time residences.

Currently, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is preparing for the 2009 ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF 2009) scheduled to be held in Vietnam from January 5-12. One of the major activities is building a website providing tourism information on Vietnam.

This will be the first time Vietnam hosts such a large-scale event in the framework of ASEAN tourism cooperation, Thang said, adding that the ATF is considered a big opportunity for Vietnam to promote tourism and expand tourism cooperation with other regional countries.

During the ATF 2009, the ASEAN Tourism Ministers’ Meeting, the ASEAN Tourism Ministers’ meeting with dialogue countries and the ASEAN Tourism Fair will be held.

Vietnam is expected to welcome around 1,500 international delegates during the next year’s ATF, including representatives of 400 travel agencies from key markets in Northern America, Europe and Northeastern Asia.

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HCM City (VNA) – Fifty young overseas Vietnamese (OV) from 14 countries are on a four-day summer camp in Ho Chi Minh City.

The camp, which began on July 23, is being held to give OV youth an opportunity to learn about the country’s history and culture through tours of and visits to a number of provinces in the Southern region.

The second and third generation OV will visit centres for orphans and disabled children, tour the Can Gio biosphere reserve and historical sites in HCM City, and also learn traditional music instruments.

Nguyen Phuong Linh, 17, from Germany, said this was the second time she had attended the annual summer camp in Vietnam. She said she wanted to learn business administration and return to Vietnam to work after completing her studies.

The City Committee for OV (COV) Chairman Phan Tham said the committee organised the camp with the HCM City Communist Youth Union to help young OV learn more about their homeland and join local youth in charity and voluntary activities.

In addition to support from the municipal People’s Committee, the camp also received financial assistance from local businesses and mass organisations

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Hanoi (VNA) - The Administrative Reforms Consultancy Council and the Prime Minister’s Administrative Reforms Taskforce made a debut in Hanoi on July 16.

The taskforce has been entrusted to manage and coordinate the work of collecting statistics of procedures among ministries, provinces and cities, set up a complete database on administrative procedures and issue administrative and application forms to the public on the internet.

The 15-member consultancy council, set up by the Government Office, will act as aide to the taskforce. It is comprised of renowned policy scholars, leaders of business and production associations, whose industries and services make up high proportions of the national economy such as textiles and garment, leather shoes, coffee and banking. Its line-up includes domestic business executives and representatives from commercial agencies of the US , the EU and other countries.

Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Sinh Hung emphasised at the debut that administrative reforms would be a decisive factor for the success of Vietnam ’s integration process.

It is because the administrative procedures make up a connection between ordinary people and State administrative agencies, explained the Deputy PM.

He called for greater efforts to be made to streamline administrative procedures in order to remove barriers that stand on the way of economic development and benefit both ordinary people and business circles.

US Ambassador Michael W.Michalak praised the Vietnamese Government’s great efforts in administrative reforms as a long-term vision in the interest of its citizens.

He also pledged to do more to help Vietnam fulfill its project on simplifying administrative reforms related to State management fields for the 2007-10 period called Project 30.

He also said the US embassy in Hanoi would help Vietnam improve the competence of public employees working for State management agencies.

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Hanoi (VNA) – More than 80 young overseas Vietnamese from 24 countries and territories will visit their homeland for a summer camp from July 18-August 2.

Director of the Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs (COVA) Nguyen Thanh Son told a press briefing in Hanoi on July 10 that the summer camp “Journey to homeland’s heritage sites” aims to improve the youth’s understanding about the Vietnamese history and tradition.

Son said during the summer camp, first launched in Vietnam in 2004, the young overseas Vietnamese will visit well-known sites around the country including Ha Long Bay, the Royal Palace and Citadel in Hue , as well as Hoi An ancient town and the Cu Chi tunnels outside of Ho Chi Minh City .

On their journey across Vietnam , the youth will also call on and present gifts to poor students who have made outstanding performances in school as well as heroic Vietnamese mothers who lost their children during battles against foreign invaders.

They will attend an online exchange programme called “Immortal Flowers” in central Ha Tinh province to mark the day when 10 girls died at the Dong Loc, the most important junction on the North-South supply line during the American War, 40 years ago.

Other activities they will join include another online programme called “Singing about my Motherland” in central Quang Nam province and visit the Truong Son M artyrs' C emetery in central Quang Tri province on the Fallen Combatants’ Day (July 27).

According to Son, following the annual summer camp, a second meeting of young Vietnamese people and students who are living in the country and in European countries will take place in Moscow from August 9-13.

As part of the event, around 200 participants will discuss the Party’s and the State’s policies toward overseas Vietnamese and activities to strengthen the relationship between Vietnamese youth in and outside the country.

The participants will also attend a number of cultural exchange programmes, art performances and sports events and take sightseeing tours in Moscow .

The first meeting between young Vietnamese in and outside the country took place in the Czech Republic in 2007, drawing participation of 200 people.

Statistics released by the COVA showed that there are 3 million Vietnamese people living in 90 countries and territories.

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Hanoi (VNA) – Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Cao Viet Sinh on June 21 informed that the country is likely to attain a gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate of between 6.6-6.7 percent in the first months of this year.

The rate helps ensure the targeted growth for the whole year of 7 percent set by the National Assembly, the Deputy Minister added.

He quoted preliminary statistics that the country attracted 31.6 billion USD in foreign investment in the reviewed period, as against 21.3 billion USD of the whole 2007.

The official said the figure proved that foreign investors remained confident in Vietnam ’s social and political stability and qualified human resources.

Also in six months, the country earned 29.7 billion USD from exports, a year-on-year increase of 31.8 percent.

Consumer price index increased only 2.2 percent in June.

Farmers nationwide have harvested a bumper winter-spring crop, bringing agricultural growth to nearly 3 percent.

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Hanoi (VNA) –Former Prime Minister Vo Van Kiet died of serious illness on June 11 at the age of 86.

In a special announcement issued on June 12, the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee, the National Assembly, the State President, the Government and the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee said the death of former PM Kiet was a loss to the Party, State and people of Vietnam .

Vo Van Kiet was a former Politburo member of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee, and used to work as an advisor to the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee. He was also a deputy of the seventh, eighth and ninth National Assembly.

Kiet had received the Sao Vang (Golden Star) Order, the State’s highest distinction, for his immense contributions to the Vietnamese revolution in the past 70 years.

A State funeral will be held to honour former Prime Minister Vo Van Kiet.

Mourning services for the former PM will be held in Ho Chi Minh City , Hanoi and Vinh Long (his home province), on June 14 and 15.

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Berlin (VNA) – A senior Party member said the Vietnamese in Russia, the Czech Republic and Germany have made marked contributions to the construction and development of their homeland.

Hoang Xuan Cu, member of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and Secretary of the Party Committee of Central Agencies, spoke to Vietnamese communities during his visits to the three European countries from May 22 to June 2.

While meeting with the Vietnamese societies and students in Russia , the Czech Republic and Germany, Cu said overseas Vietnamese have helped boost friendship between Vietnam and their adopted countries.

He spoke highly of the Vietnamese communities’ cultural and economic activities, including ones to assist one another to stabilise lives and work and preserve cultural tradition and national identity.

During the meetings, overseas Vietnamese proposed for the Party’s and the State’s policies to help them better integrate into the foreign societies and contribute to national development.-

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Hanoi (VNA) – Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Khiem said Vietnam is willing to join the international community in assisting Myanmar to overcome the aftermath of Nargis cyclone.

Deputy PM Khiem told an international conference for Nargis cyclone victims in Yangon on May 25 that the country has so far mobilised close to 300,000 USD to assist Myanmar.

He said the funds raised are a result of the prompt response from government, social and mass organisations in Vietnam to give a helping hand to Nargis cyclone victims in Myanmar and earthquake victims in Sichuan province in China.

He also said Vietnam will send a medical mission to Myanmar and join in the ASEAN-managed aid mission and emergency rapid assessment team.

“International community should help Myanmar for a humanitarian purpose and give the highest support to the ASEAN-managed aid mission,” Deputy PM Khiem said, adding that Myanmar should also do more to receive international community support.

The Deputy PM met with Myanmar PM Thein Sein to share experiences in coping with natural disasters and affirmed Vietnam’s willingness to assist Myanmar to overcome difficulties.

The international conference on assistance to Nargis victims drew representatives from 49 delegations of countries, territories, United Nations organisations and donors.

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The government leader was chairing a live-televised teleconference on socio-economics with leaders from eight localities, namely Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, the cities of Hai Phong, Da Nang and Can Tho and the provinces of Nghe An, Khanh Hoa and Dak Lak.

The teleconference, the first of its kind televised across the nation, is a step to cut state budget allocated to organise meetings, reduce crowds and save time.

The PM told the four-hour conference that in the first four months of this year, Vietnam maintained high economic growths, with foreign direct investment increasing by 41 percent and export by 27.6 percent over the same period last year.

Inflation rose 11,6 percent in the period but it has been on the downtrend, registering a 2.38 percent rise in January, 3.56 percent in February, 2.99 percent in March and 2.2 percent in April.

However, the PM said, the four-month period saw a high trade deficit of 29.3 billion USD, up 71 percent year-on-year. Reducing trade deficit is a major and hard task for ministries, agencies and localities in the time to come, he stressed.

The PM asked leaders from the above-mentioned cities and provinces to take drastic measures to curb inflation, stabilise the macro economy, ensure social welfare and maintain sustainable growth.

Cities and provinces nationwide should speed up their production, key infrastructure works and export, reduce trade deficit and ensure sufficient financial supplies for production, he said.

The government leader requested that localities cut spendings on power, petrol and the organisation of events, adding that in the future the Government will apply teleconferences as it is a fast, efficient and economical way of working with localities.(VNA)

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Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam is determined to create a more favourable investment environment for foreign investors, including those from t he Republic of Korea (RoK), said President Nguyen Minh Triet.

The President made the statement in Hanoi on April 22 while receiving RoK National Assembly Speaker Lim Chae-jung who is on an official visit to Vietnam at the invitation of his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Phu Trong.

President Triet said Vietnam always welcomes investors from the RoK and is keen to learn from the RoK’s experience in overcoming difficulties to develop into an industrialised country.

The President acknowledged the visit to Vietnam by the RoK National Assembly Speaker as an important step in boosting mutual understanding and relations between the two countries.

He affirmed that Vietnam supports the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula and hopes to see further development in the relations between the two parts of the peninsula.

Speaker Lim also said he hoped for stronger relations between between Vietnam and the RoK, highlighting mutual trust as an important factor in this process.

The two countries should actively work to boost understanding of each other’s history and culture to provide a basis for consolidating their trust in other areas such as trade and investment, Lim said.

The RoK top legislator said that his country appreciated the global economic integration process of Vietnam and hoped Vietnam will continue to expand its friendship and cooperation with the RoK.

He noted that the increasing position of the RoK in the list of foreign investors in Vietnam proved the increasing popularity of the Southeast Asian country’s market as well as of the ties between the two countries.

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New York (VNA) – Vietnam would like to see further enhancement of UN relations and cooperation with regional organisations including ASEAN to promote peace, stability and development in the world, said a Vietnamese representative to the UN Security Council.

At the UN Security Council’s Debate on Peace and Security in Africa in New York on April 16, the President’s Special Envoy and Standing Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam Pham Binh Minh said he was very supportive of the initiative to hold the debate. It was a suitable response to the fast and complex changes happening in the world and the increased challenges arising from both traditional and non-traditional security issues at regional levels, he noted.

Minh emphasised the need for cooperation between the UN and relevant regional organisations in solving conflicts in hot spots, especially in Africa.

“Recent experiences in Asia, Africa and Latin America underscore the growing importance of regional organizations as partners of the United Nations in the prevention, management and settlement of conflicts as well as in peacebuilding and stabilization processes,” he said.

Deputy Minister Minh said that the Security Council should assume primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security, while regional organizations, owing to their most immediate connection to local particularities, are well positioned to detect and understand the root causes and threats of armed conflicts and find peaceful solutions to those problems.

Minh spoke of the success of the African Union (AU) and sub-regional organisations in peacebuilding, reconciliation and reconstruction process in Africa.

He welcomed the adoption of the November 2006 Declaration on enhancing cooperation between the United Nations and AU in the area of capacity building for AU.

Minh highlighted ASEAN’s achievements and contributions to peace and security in the region and the world.
The Deputy Minister commended the Observer status recently granted to ASEAN in the UN General Assembly. He also noted the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation between the UN and ASEAN would provide an important framework to further enhance UN-ASEAN relations and cooperation.

“As a brother and friend of Africa, a member of ASEAN, Vietnam has been always at the forefront of any efforts aimed at strengthening the partnership for peace and development between the two organizations. We look forward to further promoting these efforts in the interest of peace, security and development in Asia, Africa and the world,” Deputy Minister Minh said.

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Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam will take the monthly Chair of the United Nations Security Council in July, a Vietnamese senior diplomat said on April 8.

Vietnam has quickly caught up with the intensity and methods of the Council despite only officially working as a UN Security Council non-permanent member since January 1 this year, the Head of the Foreign Ministry’s Department for International Organisations Le Hoai Trung said.

At all the council’s meetings, Vietnam has persisted in defending the principle that any action of the UN Security Council must be pursuant to the UN Charter, international laws and in respect of independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of all nations.

Vietnam has presented a positive attitude to world conflict and crisis settlement while working hard to strengthen the role of non-aligned countries at the UN Security Council, Trung said.

He noted that those contributions have helped broaden the country’s international ties and lift its position in the international arena.

In April, the UN Security Council is scheduled to hold around 30 meetings that will discuss issues relating to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , the combat against terrorism concerning Taliban and Al Qaeda and small-capacity weapons.

The UN Security Council also plans to organise a high-level debate on how to enhance the relationships between the UN and regional organisations, especially the African Alliance, in maintaining peace and international security.

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Ha Noi (VNA) – In addition to six religions and 16 religious organisations recognised by the State, the Government Committee for Religious Affairs has recently granted certificates for religious activities to 13 religious organisations, including six newly-established religions.

Nguyen Huu Oanh, Deputy Director of the Government Committee for Religious Affairs made the statement at a press conference in Ha Noi on February 21.

He said that in Tay Nguyen (the Central Highlands), more than 90 percent of congregations of the General Confederation of the Viet Nam Protestant Church (Southern region) and nearly 200 congregations of other Protestant sects have been recognised and received certificates for religious activities.

The official said that besides local Buddhist basic and intermediate-level schools, four Buddhist Institutes of the Viet Nam Buddhist Sangha are in effective operations. According to statistics from 40 out of 64 provinces and cities nationwide, last year, more than 4,300 people had finished and 9,000 other have been attending religious training courses.

Many religious books have also been published. In 2007, the Religion Publishing House produced 620 book titles for different religions, with 1.2 million copies, 180 other publications with 97,500 copies, and 30,000 bibles in the Bana, Ede and Gia Rai ethic languages. It also plans to publish bible in the H’Mong language.

About 70 percent of religious establishment have been granted land-use certificates. Religious rituals and ceremonies have been held in the country, especially celebrations of Buddha’s birthday, Christmas and Easter. Some religions have held congresses according to their charters and statutes.

About external relations activities of the Government Committee for Religious Affairs in 2007, Oanh said the committee welcomed and worked with a delegation of Vatican , a delegation of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom. It also regularly met with representatives of foreign embassies to exchange information and provide them with exact information about the religious activities and implementation of religious policies in Viet Nam .

Representatives of religions in Viet Nam attended international religious forums, such as the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) interfaith dialogue in China , and the Asian-Pacific interfaith dialogue in New Zealand , he noted.

A number of Vietnamese religious dignitaries also visited the US last year and some foreign religious delegations came to Viet Nam , Oanh added.

Reporter: As President, what is your view of the international community’s response to Viet Nam's message, “Peace, friendship, co-operation and development” that was delivered by Viet NamCommunist Party and State representatives during their travels throughout last year?

President Nguyen Minh Triet: “Peace, friendship, co-operation and development,” is the message Viet Nam wants to send the world. We want to befriend all nations based on the principle of respect for independence, sovereignty and self-determination. Our diplomacy shows that the message is highly appreciated. Many countries and international organisations have shown their trust and confidence in Viet Nam. They are willing to share their experiences, support and encourage Viet Nam.
The major diplomatic achievements of last year were Viet Nam's election as a non-permanent member of the Security Council; the strong commitment of international donors to the provision of Official Development Assistance, ODA, and the rapid increasing in the flow of the Foreign Direct Investment, FDI.
As a result, Viet Nam’s international prestige and status have risen strongly.
The international community acknowledges Viet Namas a safe, attractive destination of dynamic economic development. They have expressed their affection and admiration for the country and want to co-operate, exchange and share their experiences with us.
These achievements are the sum of successes achieved over many years and include the years of struggle for national liberation and the present struggle for national construction.

Reporter: How would you describe Viet Nam's socio-economic achievements one year after admittance to the World Trade Organisation?

President Nguyen Minh Triet: The country’s economy underwent comprehensive development last year. The Asian Development Bank lists Viet Nam among the regional countries with the highest economic growth. The FDI and ODA committed by international donors was a record and much higher than 2006.
The people’s living conditions were stabilised and continued to improve. This improvement applies to most rural dwellers despite difficulties that included increases in the consumer’s price index and low agricultural productivity in regions afflicted by natural disasters.
The success can be attributed to the effort of the entire society together with the Party and Government’s policies that encourage farmers to expand commodity production to generate more income.
The effort was decisive to the success of the nation.
Advanced science and technology from beyond Viet Namis necessary, but if we don’t have the capacity to absorb it, the potential advantage will quickly slip away and could become a hurdle to progress. We have passed through the first year of WTO membership – a year that was filled with difficulties and challenges.
We’re happy and proud of these great achievements, but we must not become self-satisfied and subjective.
Many difficulties and challenges are ahead. We’ve recorded high economic growth, but the rate is not really stable. Our national reserves are limited and economic competitiveness weak. The global rise in the cost of oil and gold has had an immediate impact on the economy. The impact is less for countries with strong economies. This makes it imperative to identify our weaknesses and limitations to devise ways to overcome them.

Reporter: GDP growth last year was the highest for the decade but the urban-rural gap widened. Will the Party and Government initiate new measures to narrow it?

President Nguyen Minh Triet: Urban-rural disparities face many countries during development. The Party and Government have, and will, continue to work to reduce poverty and provide education, health care and rural development.
It will maintain traditional culture to the benefit of the entire society as well social benefits in the effort to minimise the gap between the rich and the poor.
We’ve been successful in the fight against poverty and this is acknowledged and appreciated by the international community. But it's an on-going task. We’ll continue with development but pay more attention to quality in the immediate future. I'm convinced that with the combined effort of the Party, the State and the entire society – together with the support and help of kind-hearted inside and outside the country as well as international organisations, the national poverty-reduction programme will attain even more success. Our people’s living conditions will be improved.

Reporter: 2008 has been described as the pivotal year for Viet Nam's five year socio-economic plan to 2010. What are our advantages and disadvantages?

President Nguyen Minh Triet: The achievements of the past 20 years of doi moi (renewal), including those of last year, have fostered a firm foundation as well as confidence, unity and happiness among the people in the programme of national construction and development.
We have enjoyed many new advantages but also faced many difficulties and challenges in the process of global economic integration and international co-operation. The most critical threat would be subjective, rather than objective thinking. In addition, there could be hidden factors that could have a negative impact on economic development, despite continued economic growth in the region and the world.
As a result, the entire Party, the people and the armed forces must seize all opportunities and overcome all difficulties and challenges to meet the key targets set for in the five year plan to 2010 this year.
Immediate tasks include: The mobilisation of all resources for development investment while trying to raise the competitiveness and sustainability of the economy and surpass the bench mark of a “low-income developing country” in 2008.
Quicker administrative reform and intensification of the fight against corruption and waste and foster the practice of thrift.
The satisfactory resolution of issues relating to culture, society and environmental protection.
The firm protection of national sovereignty, political security and law and order.
Be active and pro-active in international economic integration and co-operation.

Reporter: The acquisition of land for industrial and urban development has led to the loss of land by farmers and continuous petitions. In your opinion, what is at the heart of the issue and what measures can the Party and State take to settle it?

President Nguyen Minh Triet: It's inevitable that a proportion of agricultural land will be lost in industrial development. This has affected the lives of some farmers. In some places, land acquisition and compensation has not been done in a transparent way. This has created anxiety among the people and prompted petitions.
The Party and Government’s policies are to have good planning that is made public. When planning, we have to think thoroughly about land use, which is to be used for industrial development, urban development or agricultural production. When farmers are re-settled, we have to ensure that the conditions must at least match those they have left in all aspects of culture and spirit, schools and hospitals. It is also important to provide vocational training and create jobs for farmers who have lost their land. Compensation is only one of the many factors. More important is to provide facilities for work, study and health care in the place where people live.
If we do this well, I think the people will be happy.

Reporter: What do your view of the progress made with judicial reform during the last year?

President Nguyen Minh Triet: Viet Nam Communist Party Political Bureau Resolution 49 NQ/TU dealing with the "Judicial Reform Strategy to 2020” has been executed nationwide. It's a long-term strategy. Central and local Judicial Steering Committees have developed road maps for implementation of the resolution. The immediate priorities are the continuation and perfection of supplementary rules and regulations for existing laws; the promotion of legal supervision; court procedures; the role of lawyers at court hearings and the capacity building of judicial staff.
We have to provide training that will consolidate the competency of judicial staff and make them aware of the importance of work ethics.
We should review existing legal documents to ensure they meet requirements.

Reporter: What are your thoughts about the fight against corruption last year?

President Nguyen Minh Triet: With the high determination of the Party and Government and the full participation of the whole political system and the active support of the people, I must say the fight against corruption has achieved some initial success. Many corruption cases have been exposed and duly punished. As the result, we have restored the people confidence in our resolve to fight against corruption.
In order to prevent and step by step to push back corruption and waste, the Central Steering Board, the Viet Nam Fatherland Front and other organisations have co-ordinated to encourage and facilitate conditions for people to get involve in the fight.
Corruption prevention and combating is the work of all sectors and the entire society. It is one of the important tasks of all agencies, enterprises and organisations, so the leaders must be in the forefront and take specific and practical plans of actions. Offices and units are cells of the society. So if the fight is well carried out in each unit, it will effectively contribute to the common fight against corruption.

Reporter: Overseas Vietnamese abroad have contributed sizeably to the cause of national construction and development. On the occasion of the Lunar New Year, do you want send any message to them?

President Nguyen Minh Triet: Overseas Vietnamese abroad is an integral part of the Vietnamese nation. They have contributed to our country’s great achievements over the last decades. The Party and Government’s policies and guidelines have always embraced Vietnamese people living inside and outside the country and want the latter to further contribute to national construction and to share opportunities and challenges facing the country.
Promising opportunities have presented to our homeland – Viet Nam. We need to mobilise all resources for development. It is my wish that Vietnamese living abroad will join hand with your fellow countrymen at home to contribute your knowledge and strengths that are within your ability to make a strong and powerful Viet Nam with a strong international profile.
For young Overseas Vietnamese, I want you to enhance the fine traditions of the old generations and cultivate in yourselves a pride of the nation and always turn your hearts to the homeland.
I wish you many successes in your lives so that in the future you can contribute more to the country. The Party and Government will do all what they can to facilitate conditions to seal the bond between you and the homeland.
On the occasion of the Lunar New Year (the Year of the Pig), I would like to extend to all Vietnamese living and working abroad the best season greetings. Enhancing the national tradition of patriotism, indomitable revolutionary spirit, hard working, creativity and dynamism, in entering the year 2008 the whole Party, people and armed forces are resolved to create new motivation and new successes.
We’re determined to follow the path of industrialisation and modernisation and pursue the renewal process so that our country will be soon lifted from the list of less-developed countries to reach our goal of “a prosperous people, a strong nation and an equal, democratic and civilised society.”
(CPV/VNA)

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Ha Noi (VNA) – A leading government official has applauded the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)’s decision to set up a representative office in Viet Nam , saying that the establishment would help make bilateral cooperation more efficient.

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Sinh Hung made the remark in Ha Noi on January 16 while meeting with the visiting IFAD President Lennart Bage.

Deputy PM Hung thanked the UN in general and the IFAD in particular for their assistance to Viet Nam ’s efforts in poverty reduction and socio-economic development.

He said Viet Nam would make full use of the benefits brought by IFAD-funded projects as well as international organisations’supports to improve living standards for local people.

Lennart spoke highly of the achievements made by the Southeast Asian country in the improvement of living conditions, particularly for those in poor rural areas. He said Viet Nam was a good example in carrying out development activities.

After the meeting, in the witness of Deputy PM Hung, Lennart signed an agreement with a representative from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to establish an IFAD office in Viet Nam .

Agreements on a non-refundable aid of 300,000 USD for Viet Nam’s rural development strategy and a 35 million USD business development programme for poor rural people in the Mekong Delta province of Ben Tre and the northern mountainous province of Cao Bang were also signed by the IFAD president and representatives from the Ministries of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Ministry of Finance.

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Under the theme of “Vietnam: Asia’s Rising Star,” an international conference on Vietnam’s economic policy that convened in Hanoi on January 8 has provided a rare opportunity for high-level entrepreneurs to have specific discussions with key Vietnamese policy-makers about the prospects of investment and economic development in Vietnam.

The business round-table with the Government of Vietnam is being participated by Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and representatives from the leading global companies.

Within its framework, there will be a round-table discussion between Government representatives and high-ranking executives from global companies, a meeting between foreign and domestic entrepreneurs, an exhibition and an award-giving ceremony.

The conference is a special event which allowed Vietnamese and foreign entrepreneurs to compare notes with State leaders, the Prime Minister and other Government Ministers on issues of mutual concern.

The Vietnamese Government introduced its policies to major companies, which are currently doing business or planning to invest in Vietnam while further promoting mutual understanding between the Vietnamese Government and entrepreneurs, which plays an essential role in attracting foreign investors and boosting the domestic business development.

Vietnam has maintained an average economic growth rate of 7.5%/ year. Over the past three years, the growth rate was 8.0% and is predicted to hit between 8.5-9% in 2008.

The country also reached an export growth rate of 18%/year and approximately 22%/year over the past three years.

Notably, the economy and technical infrastructure and people’s living standards have improved remarkably with a per capita income of 2007 posting a ten-fold increase over the 1988 figure and the number of poor households down to below 15%.

Positive changes have been seen in the cultural and social areas while political security and social order and safety have been maintained, thus promoting Vietnam’s international position.

Vietnam is considered to be a dynamic market economy with a wealth of prospects for development and a safe and attractive destination for foreign investors, said Prime

Since 1993, more than 50 bilateral and multilateral donors have provided a total of 42 billion USD in ODA for Vietnam on a year-on-year increase basis.

At the Consultative Group Meeting in December 2007, donors pledged to provide 5.4 billion USD worth of ODA in 2008, the highest figure so far. In 2007, Vietnam attracted 9,500 FDI projects with total registered capital of more than 100 billion USD from 80 countries and territories in the world.

PM Dung emphasized that year 2008 marks an important transitional year in the five- year period (2005-2010). The Vietnamese Government has identified five key tasks: to obtain a 9% economic growth rate and better performance on social targets; to improve the living standards of people in remote and mountainous areas, ethnic minority groups and natural disaster-prone areas along with reducing the number of poor households to 11-12%; to make strong progress in socio-economic infrastructure development and human resources training; to accelerate administrative reform and complete institutions; and to strengthen anti-corruption and wastefulness and thrift practice.

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New York (VNA) – Viet Nam has been well prepared to participate in all activities of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), a senior Vietnamese diplomat said on January 1.

Ambassador Le Luong Minh, head of the Vietnamese delegation to the UN and representative of Viet Nam to the UNSC, made the statement during an interview with the Viet Nam News Agency.

Viet Nam officially assumed its responsibility of a non-permanent member of the UNSC as of January 1 along with four other countries representing different continents and regions.

“On January 2, we will participate in the first activity of the UNSC – a political coordinators’ meeting to discuss the council’s working programme in January 2008,” Minh said.

The diplomat said Viet Nam had been preparing for a term in the UNSC for 10 years since it registered its candidacy for a non-permanent seat on the council. Preparatory activities have been pushed up over the past year since the group of Asian nations agreed to nominate Viet Nam as the only regional candidate.

He further said that to gain more operational experiences at the UNSC, Viet Nam has consulted all council members, including those which have served recent terms. The country has also participated in all activities of the council as an observer over the past one month and a half, he said.

“Now we are ready for the task,” the ambassador asserted, adding that UNSC membership is a result of the country’s renewal and integration policy and the world’s recognition of Viet Nam ’s peace-oriented, open and responsible external policy.

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The Xinhua news on Dec 18 ran an article describing the increasing role of Vietnam in the world arena and strengthening of cooperation with other countries as the two out-standing achievements made by Vietnam in its foreign affairs during 2007.

The article said that, Vietnam’s top officials paid many official visits to overseas as well as receiving many foreign leaders over the past year. It contributed to helping Vietnam gain support and sign many social-economic agreements.

It noted that, Vietnam was well known through a series of visits but also that Vietnam was elected as a non-permanent member of the United Nations in 2008-2009 term and also officially became the 150th membership of the World Trade Organisation.

In its conclusion, the article commented that Vietnam’s diplomatic activities have been successful in portraying the country’s image abroad in 2007. (CPV)
 

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Optimistic about Viet Nam ’s rapid economic growth and accelerated reforms, foreign investors show their confidence in their success and are investing large amounts into the country.

This statement is typical of comments from many participants at a seminar titled “ Viet Nam : A rising star – Prospect for Investment and Business” held in Ha Noi on November 26.

Malaysia ’s Ireka Development Management President and Chief Executive Officer Lai Voon Hon reiterated the sentiment by saying Viet Nam ’s recent high economic growth is appealing to Malaysian investors.

Hon said Viet Nam ’s estimated gross domestic product (GDP) of 8.5 percent, per capita GDP of 1,000 USD and foreign direct investment of 16 billion USD this year – 2.5 times higher than that of Malaysia – are key factors that will fuel further flow of investment into the country.

He said Ireka’s decision to invest in Viet Nam is not just because of cultural similarities between the two nations but also because the Vietnamese government encourages and supports foreign investors.

“This is the reason for us to choose Viet Nam as an important investment destination in the future,” he said.

Hon said his firm intended to focus on infrastructure and real estate development in Viet Nam in the future.

Carlos Nascimento, Dinh Vu Development Joint Venture Company Deputy General Director, for his part said that after operating in the country for a decade he understands Viet Nam ’s strengths.

These include strategic geographical location, political stability, improved policies and business environment, he said.

Nascimento also emphasised the government’s efforts to reform investment and export activities as one of the vital factors for his company to inject money in Viet Nam .

He also said the Dinh Vu Industrial Zone (IZ) will become a “general headquarters” for steel and cattle feed producers as well as oil and natural gas depots because of its convenient location.

The IZ is located in the Hai Phong-Ha Noi-Quang Ninh economic development triangle, making it accessible for sea and railway transportation through the Ha Noi-Hai Phong-Kunming ( China ) route.

Meanwhile, General Electric Southeast Asian President Stuart Dean underlined the fact that Viet Nam ’s preferential tax policies has created momentum in wooing foreign investors.

Recent Ministry of Planning and Investment statistics show Viet Nam attracted more than 15 billion USD in foreign investments in the first 11 months of 2007, a year-on-year increase of 38.4 percent and substantially higher than the set target.

The figure is forecast to hit 16 billion USD for the overall year.-(VNA).

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Viet Nam will export its first batch of to tires for trucks and motorbikes to the EU under a contract signed with Continental AG, a German manufacturer of car tires and spare parts.

A contract on cooperation in production of tires for heavy and light trucks and motorbikes for 2008-2012 was signed between Continental AG and the Southern Ruber Industry Company (Casumina) of Viet Nam at the Asian office of Continental AG in Malaysia on November 7.

Under the 5-year contract, Continental AG will import at least 170,000 truck tires and 600,000 motorbike tires made by Casumina at a total value of 12.9 million USD a year. The export tires will be manufactured in accordance with the European standard for sales in EU countries.

Casumina has exported products to 36 countries and territories worldwide. The company has been ranked 59th among the 75 global largest tire production companies by the Rubber & Plastics News (USA). (VNA)

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National Assembly deputies adopted a resolution on major socio-economic development tasks for 2008 at their current plenary session in Hanoi on November 12. Accordingly, Vietnam aims to achieve a GDP growth rate of between 8.5-9 percent and keep the consumer price index below the GDP rate.
With 441 out of 444 votes in favour, the deputies said that the Government should adopt effective measures to fulfil the target, with top priority given to reducing the inflation rate, particularly the price of food and other essential consumer goods.

Discussing the resolution, the deputies stressed the need to maintain the country’s high economic growth, focusing on the stability, quality and competitiveness of the economy. However, they asked the Government and sectors to increase the efficiency of managerial work, step up the fight against bureaucracy, corruption and wastefulness as well as social problems, reduce traffic accidents, and improve the quality of healthcare and education services.

Later, the deputies passed a resolution on State budget estimates for 2008 with 100 percent of votes in favour.

In the afternoon, the deputies debated the draft law on Red Cross Activities. (VOV)
 

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“Vietnam will do its utmost to learn and cooperate well with other members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC),” said Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem while receiving US Assistant Secretary of State Kristen L. Silverberg in Hanoi on November 2.

“Vietnam has the honour to become a 2008-2009 non-permanent member of the UNSC”, the deputy PM said.

He said that the exchange of delegations and dialogues would also help promote the relationship between Vietnam and the US.

US Assistant Secretary of State Kristen expressed her delight to pay her first visit to Vietnam and affirmed that Vietnam has recorded progress in human rights, the freedom of speech and the freedom of the Internet.

She suggested that Vietnam and the US should further cooperate in order to have a better understanding of issues on which both sides have different opinions. (VOVNews/VNA)
 

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(VOV) - On the occasion of Vietnam’s becoming a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh and State President Nguyen Minh Triet gave interviews to the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) online newspaper and Nhan Dan (People) newspaper.
Party leader Nong Duc Manh affirmed that as a UN Security Council member, Vietnam will have a powerful voice and is entitled to decide important issues related to peace and international security. The country will have conditions to make practical contributions to maintaining peace and protecting the legitimate interests of all nations around the world. Dealing with the council’s affairs will pose a great challenge to Vietnam as it will participate in the process of considering, proposing and deciding on important issues pertaining to peace and international security while ensuring they are in line with the legitimate interests of all UN member nations including Vietnam. Therefore, the next two years will be a busy period of time for Vietnam.
In an interview granted to Nhan Dan (People) Newspaper, State President Nguyen Minh Triet said over the past 20 years of implementing the Doi Moi (Renewal) process, the country’s international position has been strengthened significantly.
In pursuit of the external policy of openness, independence and sovereignty aimed at diversifying and multilateralising international relations, Vietnam has actively participated in in the UN’s various activities for the sake of peace, cooperation and development. The country has effectively contributed to building policies and renewing the operations of the UN and other international organisations so that these agencies can better deal with issues related to global challenges and specific interests for the peace and development of all nations. In recent years, Vietnam has emerged as a bright example in implementing the UN’s millennium development goals (MDGs) with a focus on poverty reduction.
Vietnam has been selected as one of the typical countries to perform the “One United Nations” model, which aims to help accelerate UN reform.
This year and the succeeding years will see new steps forward in the Vietnam-UN relations through the country’s full participation in the council’s activities and its new role as a non-permanent member for 2008-2009 terms. Vietnam’s great efforts will contribute to the UN’s common achievements in ensuring a peaceful and stable world while strongly affirming the country’s position and role as an active member at the UN and in the international arena

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With 183 out of 190 votes, the UN General Assembly on October 16, elected Viet Nam as non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the 2008-09 term.

In the first round of voting, Viet Nam , Burkina Faso and Libya were elected to the non-permanent member seats. Two seats for the groups of Eastern European and Caribbean Latin American countries had to be re-voted as candidates did not win two-thirds of voting.

At the main hall of the General Assembly, representatives of many countries warmly congratulated the Vietnamese representative on the event.

Viet Nam will officially begin work in the Council from January 1, 2008, replacing Qatar , representing Asian countries, which will conclude its term on December 31, 2007. Six weeks before that dates, the Vietnamese representative and his counterparts from other newly-elected member countries will be permitted to attend all sessions of the council as observers.

In Ha Noi, while interviewed by the Vietnam News Agency after the vote, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung said "Becoming one of the 15 members of the most important agency of the largest international organisation is a great honour that also comes along with a heavy responsibility. A non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council is responsible to take a full part in the process of drafting and building the Council’s important decisions pertaining to the most important issues relating to peace and security in various regions and the world as a whole. To fulfill the task, Viet Nam will also adhere to the guidelines, goals, and principles of the UN Charter, international law in addition to actively asking for consultancy from and cooperating closely with other UN Security Council members to give out appropriate policies for the sake of the legitimate interests of all UN member countries". (VNA)

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The United States should play a leading role in promoting and ensuring a more equal and open multilateral trade system, said Deputy Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the United Nations Nguyen Tat Thanh at the second Committee of the 62nd session of the UN General Assembly in New York on October 9.

To reach that goal, it is imperative to restructure and intensify the operations of the UN economic and social system and boost relations between the UN with financial institutions and multilateral trading blocs, said Mr Thanh.

He also stressed on the need to abolish subsidies for exports of agricultural products in order to enable developing countries to access advanced technologies and expand their markets. In order to do this, Mr Thanh said, it is necessary to break the deadlock in the WTO Doha round.

An increase in capital inflows is essential for developing countries, however, the level of ODA level and financial resources remain limited and are often handicap by restrictive conditions.

Mr Thanh expressed Vietnam’s concern over the economic and financial issues that developing countries have to face and underlined the country’s determination to fulfil its Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

To address urgent global issues such as epidemics, environmental pollution, natural disasters, climate change and to reach MDGs on schedule, the international community should increase the scope of joint cooperation in areas such as the environment and financial provision for development, Mr Thanh said.

The Vietnamese diplomat also affirmed his country’s commitment to achieving its targets for preventing climate change under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Kyoto Protocol. (VOV)

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