Press digest – July 22

PM Dung heads to Thailand to bolster bilateral relations

Vietnamese PM Nguyen Tan Dung will be visiting Thailand tomorrow at the invitation of Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha in a bid to strengthen their bilateral relationship.

The trip will focus on a wide range of issues, including politics, security, defence, economy, trade, investment and labour, as well as co-operation between the two countries at regional and sub-regional forums.

During the visit, the two leaders will co-chair the third Viet Nam-Thailand Joint Cabinet Meeting, a macro-level bilateral co-operation mechanism used for outlining major orientations in the friendship and co-operation between the two countries.

PM Dung will also attend the Viet Nam-Thailand Business Dialogue and meet the Vietnamese community there.

WEF helps advertise VN’s images

The World Economic Forum (WEF) would closely work with Viet Nam to advertise her images at WEF conferences, affirmed WEF Managing Director Philipp Roesler.

Mr. Philipp Roesler made the point on July 22 in Ha Noi during his courtesy visit to Deputy PM Pham Binh Minh.

The guest praised the socio-economic achievements of Viet Nam over the past time and treasured the nation’s positive and effective contributions to WEF-organized conferences.

Mr. Philipp Roesler hoped that Viet Nam would run for the host of the WEF on East Asia in the next few years.

Regional steering committees meet in Can Tho

The Heads of the Northwest, Central Highlands, and Southwest Steering Committees on July 22 gathered in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho to evaluate operation in the first half of 2015.

The steering committees assessed that localities had positively worked with ministries and central agencies to ensure security, order, national defence; boost socio-economic growth; develop infrastructure; implement sustainable poverty reduction; stabilize lives for resettlement residents; and effectively combat acts of sabotage of hostile forces.

The committees proactively gave advice and proposed measures to implement scientific and technological programs in favour of sustainable poverty reduction in the Northwest; support Central Highlands provinces to develop and sell agricultural products; and boost regional connectivity in the Mekong Delta.

VN to host first Cultural Days in U.S.

Viet Nam will launch its first Cultural Days on August 8- 12 in Washington D.C. and New York City, the U.S., as part of activities to mark the 20th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries.

The event is being jointly held by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MoCST), the Viet Nam Embassy to the U.S. and Permanent Mission of Viet Nam to the United Nations.

MoCST Minister Hoang Anh Tuan is scheduled to visit the U.S. during the five-day event to boost cultural exchange between the two nations.

VN’s stock market attracts foreign investors

Viet Nam stock market has increasingly attracted international investors and absorbed over US$ 233 million of bonds in the first half of 2015, higher than the amount of US$ 128 million in 2014, according to ETF Daily News.

The ETF Daily News reported that the new regulation on foreign ownership of property is expected to stimulate the domestic stock market in the next few months.

NA seeks to improve question-answer sessions

A workshop held in the central city of Da Nang on July 22 sought ideas to improve the quality of National Assembly (NA) question-and-answer sessions, attracting over 60 delegates from NA Councils and Committees and lawmakers nationwide.

The move comes as the country is putting its new Constitution into practice, the amended Law on NA Organisation is set to take effect and the Law on Supervision of the NA and the People’s Councils is set to be approved, said NA Vice Chairman Huynh Ngoc Son while speaking at the event.

VN to work with Philippines for APEC 2015 success

Deputy FM Bui Thanh Son has assured Philippine Ambassador to Viet Nam Jerril G. Santos that Viet Nam will continue working closely with the Philippines to ensure a successful APEC Year 2015.

Son made the statement at a meeting in Hanoi on July 22 with the ambassador who handed over a letter from Philippine President Benigno Aquino III inviting President Truong Tan Sang to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum (APEC) Leaders’ Week in the Philippines in this November.

HN: CPI rises slightly in July

The consumer price index (CPI) picked up 0.18% in July and by 0.77% compared to last December, according to the Municipal Statistics Office.

Nine out of 11 groups of commodities witnessed rising prices, of which foodstuffs and dining-out services experienced a price hike of 0.13%; followed by housing, electricity, water, fuel and building materials which soared by 0.32% due to hot weather.

HCM City’s CPI picks up 0.11% in July

Ho Chi Minh City’s Consumer Price Index (CPI), an indicator of inflation growth in the city, escalated 0.11% in July from the previous month and 0.77% against the same month last year, according to the municipal Statistics Department.

Triggered by medicine and healthcare service price adjustments, the group of pharmaceutical products and healthcare services saw the sharpest rise, growing 1.36% from June.

MDB to be merged into Maritime Bank

The Mekong Development Bank (MDB) is set to merge with the Viet Nam Maritime Commercial Bank (Maritime Bank) to form an institution among the country’s five largest banks in terms of charter capital.

Within 15 days after the State Bank of Viet Nam (SBV)’s decision takes effect on August 12, both banks must publicise their merger action and complete procedures in accordance with law.

Currently, Maritime Bank’s charter capital is US$373.8 million and MDB’s is US$175.23 million, meaning the new banking institution will have a charter capital of US$549 million and total assets of US$5.28 billion.

Germany helps VN combat climate change

Viet Nam’s forests are increasingly threatened as a result of deforestation, forest degradation, fragmentation and other stresses – making them more vulnerable to changing environmental conditions.

To cope with the challenges posed by climate change the Frankfurt Zoological Society has agreed to cooperate with the General Department of Forestry on matters pertaining to biodiversity management./.

(Source: VGP/VOV/VNA)

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