Press digest – June 03

VN, Slovakia aim to improve court personnel training

Receiving Chief Judge of the Slovakian Supreme Court Stefan Harabin, State President Truong Tan Sang, expressed his belief that the two countries’ court sectors will press ahead with their productive partnership.

Chief Judge Harabin said his country prioritized its relations with Viet Nam, adding that he himself will talk directly to his Prime Minister on measures to concretize agreements reached during his working visit to Viet Nam, including possible provision of ODA for Viet Nam’s judicial sector.

NA Chairman talks VN-US ties with guests

National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung on June 3 welcomed a delegation from the US House of Representatives, headed by Congressman John Kline.

Chairman Hung stated that Viet Nam treasures its ties with the US and is determined to implement signed agreements in the spirit of the two countries’ comprehensive partnership.

Kline said that his delegation’s visit aims to seek and expand cooperation opportunities between the two countries’ parliaments and people. 
The guests raised their deep concerns over China’s provocative acts in the East Sea, saying that they wish the parties involved will settle the situation through peaceful means on the basis of respecting international law.

Forum held to develop coastal central region

The Coastal Central Region Sustainable Development Forum was jointly organized on June 3 by the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the World Bank and Quang Nam Province.

Speaking at the forum, Deputy PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc suggested discussion contents such as potentials and advantages of the region and each locality and difficulties in their socio-economic development.

Delegates explored the consequences of climate change and natural calamity facing the region, especially water resources, and identified priorities and breakthroughs for the region..

Chinese vessels illegally expand operation area in East Sea

Officials of the Viet Nam Coast Guard vessel 2016 was quoted by Tuoi Tre Online as saying that China may move the oil rig Haiyang Shiyou-98, illegally placed in Viet Nam’s waters, to a new location.

China also illegally widened the protection radius to 18 nautical miles, according to the newswire.

Chinese ships, including military ones, continued to intimidate Vietnamese vessels that were trying to enter as near as possible to the illicit rig to demand immediate withdrawal of the oil rig and its escort ships from the Vietnamese waters.

Exports post 15.4% increase in five months

Viet Nam raked in some US$58.51 billion from its exports in the first five months of this year, a year-on-year hike of 15.4%.

Domestic firms brought home US$19.05 billion from their exports, while US$36.39 billion was contributed by foreign-invested enterprises, a surge of 18.6 percent from the same period last year.

Two-way trade between Viet Nam and China soared in the reviewed period. Vietnamese products shipped to the market totaled about US$6.1 billion in value, or 10.5% of the total export figure, while the country spent around US$16.1 billion purchasing imports from China.

20% of Australian seafood imported from VN

Viet Nam is the third largest supplier of seafood to Australia, after New Zealand and China.

Last year, Viet Nam’s shrimp exports to the country rose by 27.5% fetching over US$128 million. Australia is the sixth largest consumer of Vietnamese shrimp, after the US, Japan, the EU, China and the Republic of Korea.

Dubai group looks to invest in VN

Representatives from the largest Dubai group, ICD, are due to make a fact-finding tour of Viet Nam to seek investment opportunities, especially in real estate in Quang Ninh province.

Dubai ICD is the UAE investment fund. It currently manages a huge property portfolio worth US$120 billion, including Emirates Airlines, Emaar, Emirates National Bank and many other companies.

Garment exports hit US$7.44 billion

Garment and textile exports increased 17% to US$7.44 billion in the first five months of this year, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

Garment producers are advised to keep a close watch on such promising markets as Thailand, Indonesia, India, Malaysia, and the Republic of Korea.

By Thuy Dung