Press digest – October 28

PM Dung holds talks with Indian counterpart

Viet Nam and India reaffirmed commitments to developing their strategic partnership across the board in the coming time.

The agreement was reached on October 28 during talks between PM Nguyen Tan Dung and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi during his official tour to the South Asian country.

PM Modi reiterated that India considers Viet Nam as an important pillar in its Look East Policy.  

PM Dung hailed the greater role India is playing in the region and the world.

The two sides were unanimous in major orientations and measures to develop the bilateral ties in a practical and efficient manner, especially in the areas of politics, economics, national defense, security, science and technology.

Regarding the East Sea issue, the two sides acknowledged the importance of maintaining peace, stability, security, freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea.

India pledges to back VN’s military modernization, security

Indian PM Narendra Modi highlighted that India considers the cooperation in national defense with Viet Nam as one of its most important pillars.

The Indian Government chief made the announcement at a press conference following the talks with his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Tan Dung.

Mr. Modi underlined that India commits to supporting Viet Nam in modernizing its national defense and security by expanding existing training programs, which were laid down as the important foundation; deploying joint excercises and boosting cooperation in the industry servicing national defense.

Both PM Dung and his Indian counterpart underscored that the two countries have pursued their consistent policies of giving respect for the maintainance and development of their traditional ties and strategic partnership.

PM Nguyen Tan Dung meets with Indian leaders

Viet Nam continuously treasures its traditional friendship and strategic partnership with India, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung told Indian leaders during his visit to the country from October 27-28.

In New Delhi, the Vietnamese Government leader met with President Pranab Mukherjee, Vice President and Chairman of the Indian Parliament’s Rayja Sabha (Upper House) Hamid Ansari, Speaker of the Lok Sabha (Lower House) Sumitra Mahajan, and Minister of Exteral Affairs Sushma Swaraj.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung left New Delhi on the October 28 evening (Viet Nam time), concluding his official visit to India.

NA leader receives Tanzanian President

National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung confirmed the legislature’s commitment to enhancing the comprehensive cooperation between Viet Nam and Tanzania during a reception for Tanzanian President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete in Ha Noi on October 28.

The Chairman expressed his gratitude for Tanzania’s support for Viet Nam during its struggle for liberation in the past and its current national construction.

Deputy PM asks for job market database

Over 1.2 million workers secured new jobs domestically, while more than 91,000 were employed internationally between January and October, according to the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs.

By September 30, nearly 402,000 people registered as unemployed, the Ministry reported to Deputy PM Vu Duc Dam at a working session in Ha Noi on October 28.

The nation is now home to 1,421 vocational training centres, which enrolled 623,000 students for this year’s courses.

SBV to lower deposit & short-term lending interest rates

Since October 29, the State Bank of Viet Nam (SBV) will lower the interest rate ceiling in VND from 6% to 5.5% per year for short-term deposits (1-6 months long), said SBV Deputy Governor Nguyen Thi Hong.  

In addition, the SBV will also cut short-term lending interest rates in VND from 8% to 7% per year. The U.S dollar deposit rates will be slashed, from 1% to 0.75% per year.

The news was announced by  the SBV on October 28 at its regular press conference.

VN condemns terrorist attacks in Egyptian Sinai Peninsula

Viet Nam condemns the terrorist attacks on the army barracks in the north of Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula on October 24, which left many dead and injured, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Le Hai Binh said.

VN ranks first at ASEAN Skills Competition

Viet Nam won 15 gold, six silver and six bronze medals, ranking first at the 10th ASEAN Skills Competition that wrapped up in Ha Noi on October 28.

It was followed by Indonesia with nine golds and Malaysia with eight gold medals, according to the organising board.

The six-day competition drew about 300 young workers, under the age of 22, from 10 ASEAN member countries competing in 23 occupational skills and two performance skills.

Viet Nam ranks 7th in Asia in number of internet users

Viet Nam had more than 33 million Internet users at the end of 2013, constituting 37% of the nation’s total population, according to the Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC)’s White Book.

The statistics in the White Book revealed that Viet Nam ranked third in terms of total number of internet users in Southeast Asia, seventh in Asia and 18th in the world.

The number of internet users rose more than 2 million in 2013 to 33.1 million compared to the prior year, making the nation one of the top 10 fastest growing countries in Asia and 18th in the world.

AmCham forecasts VN - US two-way trade at US$34.9 billion in 2014

The American Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (AmCham) has raised its forecast of Vietnam - US two-way trade revenue to US$ 34.9 billion in 2014 in its latest report released on October 27.

The report, which provides an update of the Viet Nam - US trade status by August 2014 and provides a forecast on two-way trade revenue up to 2020, seemed optimistic to increase its forecast for Viet Nam's export revenue to the US.

Binh Duong runs trade surplus in ten months

The southern province of Binh Duong recorded a trade surplus of more than US$ 2.3 billion during the first ten months of 2014.

According to the provincial General Statistics Office, exports fetched more than US$ 12.7 billion, a year-on-year rise of 15.2%. Of which, over US$ 10.5 billion was generated by foreign investors, up by 16.2% compared to the same period last year.

(Source: VGP/VOV/VNA/Nhandan)