Viet Nam News HÀ NỘI — Vietnamese shares advanced on Wednesday on foreign investors’ purchases for listed commercial banks. The benchmark VN-Index on the Hồ Chí Minh Stock Exchange rose 0.18 per cent to close at 908.18 points. The southern market index fell 0.49 per cent on Tuesday. The HNX Index on the Hà Nội Stock Exchange inched up 0.13 per cent to end at 102.67 points. The northern market index bounced back from a 0.80 per cent drop on Tuesday. Foreign purchases for listed commercial banks boosted the stock market on Wednesday. Foreign investors bought total net value of VNĐ58.9 billion (US$2.53 million), focusing on Vietinbank (CTG), Sacombank (STB) and TPBank (TPB). The three bank stocks gained 3.8 per cent, 3.4 per cent and 2 per cent, respectively. The banking sector index was up 0.6 per cent, data on vietstock.vn showed. “I am optimistic the stock market will perform well in the first quarter of this year and as … [Read more...] about VN stocks rebound on bank purchases
PM lauds sea, ocean governance within WEF framework
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc at the meeting (Source: VNA) Davos (VNA) – Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc lauded efforts in sea and ocean governance in his address at the world leaders’ meeting on taking action for the ocean in Davos, Switzerland, on January 23, the first event within the framework of the World Economic Forum (WEF)’s Annual Meeting 2019. He called for creating breakthroughs in the field, including effectively pooling and allocating resources to cope with serious challenges arising from climate change and rising sea water, and support countries hardest hit by the changing climate. The PM suggested establishing an open public-private partnership forum on climate change response and marine ecological environment protection in order to facilitate experience sharing, technological transfer and attract businesses’ involvement to marine environment protection. Amid the fourth industrial revolution, he proposed that the WEF should work … [Read more...] about PM lauds sea, ocean governance within WEF framework
Work on Sri Lanka on Hanoi Ceramic Road unveiled
Work on Sri Lanka on Hanoi Ceramic Road unveiled (Source:en.nhandan.org.vn) Hanoi (VNA) - A mural, depicting Sri Lanka's most stunning natural and cultural beauty, was unveiled on January 22 on Hanoi’s Ceramic Road. The art work, which is 12 metres long and 1.6 metres high, was adapted by artists from Tan Hanoi Art Company from the outline of the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau to ceramic material and implemented within a month, reported Nhan Dan newspaper. The centre of the painting is an image of the stone fortress, also known as the "lion rock" of Sri Lanka, which has been recognised as a world heritage by UNESCO. The work also features a peacock, Ceylon panther and the daily life of Sri Lanka. Addressing the inauguration ceremony, painter Nguyen Thu Thuy, who masterminded the ceramic mural project, said that she was very proud and touched when international friends and the public give special affection for the Hanoi Ceramic Road. The Sri Lankan Embassy is the first … [Read more...] about Work on Sri Lanka on Hanoi Ceramic Road unveiled
Foreign diplomats contribute to Vietnam’s success: Deputy PM
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh has said foreign diplomats and heads of international organisations contributed to Vietnam’s socio-economic development in 2018. Meeting with the diplomatic corps in Hanoi on January 23, the Deputy PM thanked them for their contributions to promoting friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and countries as well as international organisations around the world. He highlighted the country’s achievements in the year, saying that despite formidable challenges, Vietnam fulfilled 12 socio-economic criteria set for the year, with GDP reaching 7.08 percent -the highest level recorded since 2008. Regarding external affairs, he said that the 61 high-level visits in 2018 made the friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and foreign countries develop into a more extensive manner. In 2019, Vietnam will … [Read more...] about Foreign diplomats contribute to Vietnam’s success: Deputy PM
New Year gifts to Lao, Cambodian, Mozambican students in Thai Binh
Vice Chairwoman of the provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Thi Linh (Source: VNA) Thai Binh (VNA) – The People’s Committee of northern Thai Binh province on January 23 presented nearly 450 gifts to Lao, Cambodian and Mozambican students who are studying at the Thai Binh University of Medicine and Pharmacy, each worth 250,000 VND (10.8 USD), on the occasion of the upcoming lunar New Year. The recipients include 281 Lao, 163 Cambodian and 4 Mozambican students. Speaking at the event, Vice Chairwoman of the provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Thi Linh said the upcoming Lunar New Year festival will afford students a chance to learn about the Vietnamese tradition, thereby fostering friendship and solidarity between the Vietnamese State and people and fellows from Laos, Cambodia and Mozambique. She asked the provincial chapter of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations to offer all possible support to the foreign students as well as promote … [Read more...] about New Year gifts to Lao, Cambodian, Mozambican students in Thai Binh
PM Phuc arrives in Switzerland for WEF Davos 2019
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc arrives in Switzerland on the morning of January 23, 2019 >>> PM leaves for WEF annua meeting As scheduled, the Vietnamese PM will join other leaders to attend the opening session “Meeting of leaders on ocean action agenda” on January 23. In addition, he is going to hold meetings with a number of leaders of countries attending the WEF Davos2019. In particular, PM Phuc and WEF Founder and Executive Chairman Klaus Schwab will co-chair a dialogue with leaders of global groups on the Vietnamese economy under the theme “Promoting dynamism and innovation in the Fourth Industrial Revolution”. He is due to have a series of bilateral meetings with with leaders of various multinational corporations who are in Switzerland for the WEF Davos 2019 activities. PM Phuc’s participation in the WEF Davos Annual Meeting is the first multilateral … [Read more...] about PM Phuc arrives in Switzerland for WEF Davos 2019
VN calls on UN to facilitate compliance to resolutions on Middle East
Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy, head of Viet Nam's Permanent Mission to the UN Quy, Head of Viet Nam’s Permanent Mission to the UN made the remark during the UN Security Council’s quarterly open debate, themed “the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question”, on January 22 under the chair of the Dominican Republic, which is holding the rotating presidency of the council. The diplomat said despite efforts made by the UN Security Council and other UN bodies last year, the field situation seems to have gotten worse. The rampant and excessive use of violence still remains popular; civilians continue to be victims of conflict with the highest rate of casualties in five years; and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) is facing a budget crisis, he stated. He attributed these problems to the low respect and enforcement, even violation of the UN Security Council’s resolutions, particularly … [Read more...] about VN calls on UN to facilitate compliance to resolutions on Middle East
VN signs visa waiver agreement with Lithuania
Deputy PM and FM Pham Binh Minh and Minister of the Interior of Lithuania Eimutis Misiunas sign the visa waiver agreement for diplomatic and official passport holders between the two countries - Photo: VGP This is the 85th diplomatic passport visa exemption agreement that Viet Nam has signed with countries aiming to create favorable conditions for the bilateral exchange of delegations. Viet Nam has also had visa exemption policy for flight crew members of 18 countries and territories in the principle of reciprocity, in addition to unilaterally exempting visa for citizens of 13 nations, including Russia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Sweden, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain, Italy and Belarus, and for officials of the ASEAN Secretariat, contributing to facilitating the attraction of foreign tourists. On the occasion, Deputy PM Minh and Minister Eimutis Misiunas signed an citizen readmission agreement between the … [Read more...] about VN signs visa waiver agreement with Lithuania
Saigon, Hanoi among top 10 affordable cities in Southeast Asia
HCMC has jumped three places from last year to 6th while Hanoi has slipped one place to 8th in the Cost of Living Index 2019 formulated by Numbeo, the world’s largest database of user contributed data about cities and countries worldwide. The company says that its survey has taken into account several factors including house rents, cost of eating out, and purchasing power needed to live a comfortable life to come with a cost of living index for 20 major cities in Southeast Asia. In this year’s index, HCMC scored 38.39 points, slightly lower than Hanoi (38.93), meaning that the cost of living in Saigon is a little less than in the capital city. Davao in the Philippines was the lowest-cost city in the region, followed by Indonesia’s Bandung. The top five most expensive cities in Southeast Asia are Singapore, Bangkok (Thailand), Yangon (Myanmar), Phuket (Thailand) and Phnom Penh (Cambodia). Price of Travel, a travel cost database, in 2017 ranked Saigon the world’s … [Read more...] about Saigon, Hanoi among top 10 affordable cities in Southeast Asia
Thailand to hold general election on March 24
King Maha Vajiralongkorn (Source: straitstimes.com) Hanoi (VNA) – Thailand’s Election Commission announced on January 23 that the country’s much delayed general election to restore a civilian government will be held on March 24. This will be the first general election in the country after the military coup in 2014. In December last year, the Election Commission said the general election would be organised on February 24, but the military government expressed concern that election-related events would affect the early preparation for the coronation of King Maha Vajiralongkorn, which is slated for May 4-6. According to the plan announced by Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Kreagram in November 2018, the election was previously scheduled to take place on February 24, 2019 with 350 constituencies, while its results were to be made public two months later. On April 27, a list of 250 elected parliament members will be submitted to the royal family for approval. On … [Read more...] about Thailand to hold general election on March 24