Press digest – December 24
NA Chairman holds talks with Chinese NPC leader
Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China (NPC) Zhang Dejiang has stated that Viet Nam and China should have lay out a strategic, comprehensive and long-term vision to materialise common consensus reached by their leaders.
During his talks with National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung in Beijing on December 24 right after the welcome ceremony, Zhang stressed the need to control conflicts and set orientations to developing bilateral ties.
He called for launching prompt negotiations towards connecting the initiatives “One Belt, One Road” and “Two Corridors, One Belt”, and conducting a feasibility study on Lao Cai – Ha Noi – Hai Phong hi-speed railway and Van Don – Mong Cai expressway.
Vietnamese NA, China’s NPC sign cooperation agreement
Chairman of Viet Nam’s National Assembly Nguyen Sinh Hung and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China (NPC) Zhang Dejiang signed a cooperation agreement between the two countries’ legislatures after their talks in Beijing on December 24.
The document will serve as a legal basis for implementing future collaboration activities between the two sides. It focuses on maintaining and increasing experience sharing in law making, supervision and anti-corruption, regularly implementing delegation exchanges, and enhancing the role of and exchanges between the two countries’ parliamentarians groups and people’s councils of border localities.
The two countries’ legislative bodies will promote the exchange of information on their respective activities and procedures and laws and other official documents in accordance with law of each country while sharing experiences in administration and financial management.
VN-Cambodia border demarcation basically completed
With the construction of markers No.30 and No.275, the border demarcation between Viet Nam and Cambodia has been basically completed, Deputy Chairman of the Foreign Ministry’s National Boundary Commission Nguyen Anh Dung commented.
The upcoming inauguration of border marker No.30 in a high-level ceremony and No.275 in a provincial-level ceremony with the presence of Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and his Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen is the result of an agreement reached on November 20 in Phnom Penh, Dung told the Viet Nam News Agency in a recent interview.
Christmas greetings come to Catholics, Protestants nationwide
Best wishes have been extended to Catholic and Protestant dignitaries and followers nationwide amid the jubilant Christmas atmosphere.
On December 24, a delegation from the Steering Committee for the Southwestern Region led by its deputy head Le Hung Dung visited religious establishments in the Mekong Delta province of Hau Giang.
Leaders of the provincial Party Committee, People’s Committee and Fatherland Front also visited Catholics and Protestants across the locality on this occasion.
Unemployment rate stays low in Q4
The unemployment rate of the working-age bracket was projected to be at a low of 2.1% in the fourth quarter.
The information was provided in Viet Nam’s workforce bulletin for the third quarter, which was released on December 24.
Also in the last three months, there was an estimated of 54.44 million people working across the country, accounting for more than 76% of the population aged above 15. The figure for the third quarter was 53.17 million people, 30.5% of which were urban residents. The proportion of urban employees slightly changed in the next quarter.
SBV hopes for 18-20% credit growth next year
The State Bank of Viet Nam (SBV) expects credit growth at 18 – 20% in 2016, the bank’s Deputy Governor Nguyen Thi Hong said on December 24.
Credit grew by 17.17% as of December 21, higher than that of the same period from 2011 to 2014, the SBV said, estimating the whole year’s credit expansion at 18%.
The bank reported that credit flowed into different fields of production and business, especially sectors prioritised by the Government. By the end of November, credit to the hi-tech industry surged by 44.78% and to agriculture and rural development by 10.8%.
PM approves new children protection program
The PM has approved the children protection program for the period 2016-2020 with a view to shield children from abuses and special circumstances.
It aims to reduce the percentage of children in special circumstances to 5% and the rate of abused children.
In addition, 90% of children in special circumstances will be supported to integrate into the communities and access to development opportunities.
Additional 11 special national relic sites recognised
The PM on December 23 decided to add another 11 historical, architectural and archaeological relics nationwide to the list of special national relic sites.
CPI hits record low amidst sound economic growth
The consumer price index (CPI) saw a month-on-month growth of 0.02% and year-on-year surge of 0.63%, marking the lowest pace over the last 14 years, according to the General Statistics Office (GSO).
The GSO reported that CPI in December increased 0.6% against the same period last year, posting the record low over the last nine years.
Consumer confidence sets new record in Asia
Vietnamese Consumer Confidence increased 2.5 points from November to a record high of 144.8 points in December, according to ANZ-Roy Morgan.
The December’s index helps finish 2015 as the highest consumer confidence in Asia for the first time.
The index is now well above its two-year average of 136.6, and is now a large 9.2 points above its figure in December 2014./.
