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Press digest – June 26

June 26, 2014 7:30 AM GMT+7

VN keen on enhancing agriculture ties with Japan

President Truong Tan Sang stressed the great potential for agricultural cooperation between Viet Nam and Japan during his meeting with Japanese Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Hayashi Yoshimasa on June 25 in Ho Chi Minh City.

He said Viet Nam, with more than 70% of the population being farmers, gives top priority to agriculture in its development strategy. However, due to outdated farming technology, Viet Nam has not been able to earn high added value from its agricultural products.

He asked the minister to continue to help Viet Nam call for more Japanese FDI projects and assist the country in developing processing technology, agricultural services and mechanisation, adding that Viet Nam highly values Japan’s official development assistance.

Hayashi said his visit aims to concretise agricultural cooperation deals reached by the two sides during President Sang’s Japan visit.

ASEAN, African countries beef up ties

A forum was held in Ho Chi Minh City to seek to promote linkages among African and ASEAN banks in the International Organisation of La Francophonie (IOF).

The trade ties between ASEAN and African countries in the IOF have progressed over the past years, of which that between Viet Nam and the Africa valued US$ 4.29 billion in 2013, representing a year-on-year increase of 22%. However, the figures are still modest in comparison with respective potentials and aspiration, requiring more efforts from the banking and business circles.

Addressing the event, Deputy PM Vu Van Ninh affirmed that Viet Nam hopes and promises to spare no effort to spur the cooperative ties between ASEAN and African countries in the IOF.

He underlined that the Vietnamese Government would create favorable ways for further cooperation with African countries in general and IOF member states in particular, open the door for business communities from the two blocs and encourage coordination among banks.

New int’l border gates to boost VN-Laos cooperation

Viet Nam and Laos on June 25 launched a new pair of international border gates linking the central province of Quang Tri and the Lao southern province of Salavan.

Serving as one of the important gates connecting VietNam and its neighbours, the upgrading of the La Lay (Quang Tri)-La Lay (Salavan) border gates to the international level is expected to help boosting cooperation and trade exchanges between the country’s central provinces and Lao, Thai and Cambodian localities along the East-West Economic Corridor.

EU pledges US$736 million in ODA for 2014

The European Union (EU) has committed EUR542 million (US$736 million) in official development assistance to Viet Nam this year, and the level of aid would also be maintained for the coming years.

The information was announced by Dr Franz Jessen, Ambassador-Head of the Delegation of the EU to VietNam, at a ceremony on June 25 to launch the Blue Book 2014, an annual report on the EU development cooperation in Viet Nam.

This year, the EU has focused on eradicating poverty among ethnic minorities, which was featured in the Blue Book 2014.

Over 30,000 patients to get Methadone treatment in 2014

As many as 30,850 drug addicts in 61 cities and provinces will use Methadone in 2014. The figure will rise to 81,047 ones by 2015.

The PM has asked the cities and provinces to guarantee the resources in infrastructure, equipment, personnel and expenditures to expand the treatment with Methadone. 

Currently, only 17,521 drug addicts are being treated with Methadone.

FDI inflows drop in first half of the year

The country attracted US$6.85 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI) in the first half of this year, down 35% as compared to same period last year.

According to the latest report of the Foreign Investment Agency, of the total US$6.85 billion, US$4.85 billion came from 656 newly-licenced projects while the remainder was from 219 existing projects, which raised their levels of capital, it said.

In a brighter spot, the period's FDI disbursement saw amodest increase of 0.9% and was estimated to touchUS$5.75 billion.

VN Day held in Nagasaki, Japan

A “Viet Nam Day” was organised for the first time in Japan’s Nagasaki prefecture on June 25, with the aim to further the Viet Nam-Japan strategic partnership in the fields of trade, investment and culture.Addressing the event, Nagasaki prefecture Governor Nakamura Hogo said that the “Viet Nam Day in Nagasaki” will give people in Nagasaki and surrounding areas a valuable opportunity to learn about Viet Nam and its business and investment environment and boost trade activities with Vietnamese partners.

Chinese vessels fiercely defend illegal rig

Up to 123 Chinese vessels on June 25 aggressively approached Vietnamese law enforcement ships to prevent them from getting close to rig Haiyang Shiyou-981 that is illegally standing in Viet Nam’s waters, reported the Viet Nam Fisheries Surveillance Department.

The Chinese vessels, including patrol, coast guard, cargo ships and tugboats, simultaneously harassed Vietnamese ships by basting sirens, chasing and driving them away, while staying ready to ram them at any time, said the department.

At 7:00-7:30, a Chinese reconnaissance aircraft was also seen flying at a height of 1,500 m above the rig before leaving, according to the department.

Meanwhile, 40 Chinese fishing vessels, supported by two coast guard ships coded 46102 and 46106, tried to stop Vietnamese fishing boats from fishing in the area near the rig, which is the traditional fishing ground of Vietnamese fishermen./.

(Source: VGP/VOV/VNA/Nhan dan Online)