Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (Source: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – As the host of the 2018 World Economic Forum on ASEAN (WEF ASEAN 2018), Vietnam has the responsibility to work with the WEF and ASEAN to discuss important issues and plans for the development of ASEAN member countries amidst the Fourth Industrial Revolution, said Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc. This is to help realise the 2025 ASEAN Community Vision, for the interests of the entire region at large and each country individually, contributing to regional and global prosperity, the leader said in a recent article released on the occasion of the WEF ASEAN 2018 from September 11-13 in Hanoi. ASEAN has enormous opportunities to develop and promote economic links thanks to more intensive and extensive globalisation and the rapid spread of the fourth Industrial Revolution, particularly digital technology, internet of things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI) and big data, he wrote. The PM noted that WEF ASEAN … [Read more...] about PM: joining hands in building ASEAN Community amidst Industry 4.0
Confidence building group activities
THP Group CEO: No limit to human potential
“Life should not be about rumors and darkness if we dare to stand up to them,” THP Group CEO Tran Qui Thanh said. ‘The will that makes victory’ is the very backbone of the spiritual values behind the incessant development and transformation path of Vietnam’s Tan Hiep Phat Beverage Group (THP Group). As I have once said, the power hidden in each human being is unlimited and it is just a matter of whether we have enough will and determination to overcome prejudices, habits, and social norms surrounding us at every step in life, which could be hard to rise above from time to time. The fear we face when we sit down alone and reflect is when we wonder if everything we have done in life would become meaningless. Winning over yourself at such tough times is the greatest victory. We live in a world where among amazing scientific developments human beings have grown more extroverted. Exploring the universe, setting foot on other planets or amassing excessive … [Read more...] about THP Group CEO: No limit to human potential
SE Asia ministers air concerns over Beijing’s activities in disputed waters
Southeast Asian foreign ministers on Tuesday aired concerns over China's activities in disputed areas of the South China Sea, which Vietnam calls the East Sea, noting that land reclamation continued even after talks began between their 10-member bloc and Beijing to agree a code of conduct. Meeting in Singapore, the foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) welcomed the start of negotiations, while calling for restraint in activities and avoidance of any actions that may complicate the situation. "We discussed the matters relating to the South China Sea and took note of the concerns expressed by some ministers on the land reclamations and activities in the area, which have eroded trust and confidence, increased tensions and may undermine peace, security and stability in the region," Singapore's Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan said. Singapore has taken over the role of chairing ASEAN for 2018, and this week hosts meetings of the group's foreign and … [Read more...] about SE Asia ministers air concerns over Beijing’s activities in disputed waters
Vietnam’s prime minister draws attention from U.N. meeting
For the last few days, international media has repeatedlycovered the intensive agenda of Vietnam’s Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dungin New York, especially his address at the United Nations titled “TheHumanity Needs a World Free from War and Hunger.” In the role of primeminister of a nation that gone through multiple wars, said Dung, thesharings “were sweat- and blood-infused experiences.”Dungarrived in the U.S. in the context of Vietnam’s polity and economyhaving received brightened and relatively positive signals. Bad debtshave been controlled and Dung stated to the international community:Vietnam‘s aim by the end of 2015 is to bring down the bad-debt ratio tobelow 3 percent. The state bank governor has made that commitment to theNational Assembly, adding, “We believe it will be achieved.” Vietnamese Prime Minister Tan Dung delivers an address to the U.N. General Assembly on Friday … [Read more...] about Vietnam’s prime minister draws attention from U.N. meeting
The last journey
I see the small leaves of the potted plans you’ve put on the windowsill wave. And a streak of light dance on the wall. It must be the wind. The wind is blowing in from the trees outside on the streets. The Saigon streets that are lovingly shaded by gigantic trees, just like our streets, in Hanoi, of old. I hear the sound of buckets and basins echo through open space from a room downstairs, and a woman’s laughter from a room upstairs. What are our neighbour men doing in the yard at the foot of the common stairs? Aren’t they lifting the hoses to wash their motorbikes? Aren’t they raking the coal stoves to help their women boil water to make coffee to sell at the alley entrance? Isn’t life here any different from life in Hanoi before we left? Our house is too quiet. The kids have gone to school far away. You’re also on a work trip. These days the housekeeper doesn’t have to come. There’s just me left. And the mice scratching on the grating … [Read more...] about The last journey
BUSINESS IN BRIEF 12/12
Vietnam, Cambodia to develop cashew farming areaThe Vietnam Cashew Association (VINACAS) is working with the Cambodian Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries to establish a cashew farming area in Cambodia that is able to produce 1 million tonnes of material cashew annually.VINACAS President Nguyen Duc Thanh unveiled the information at the association’s seminar in HCM City on December 7 to seek ways to support foreign trade of cashew between 2018 and 2019.Addressing the event, Thanh said Vietnam has remained the world’s largest exporter of cashew and seen a robust growth of the cashew processing industry in recent years. However, the domestic supplies of cashew nuts have only satisfied about 20-35 percent of the firms’ demand for materials while imports of cashew face risks from quality control and payment, he noted.Cambodia is able to produce high-quality cashew nuts thanks to good varieties and favourable weather conditions, Thanh stated, adding that … [Read more...] about BUSINESS IN BRIEF 12/12
Vietnam, Philippines find common ground over settlement of sea disputes
Vietnam, Philippines find common ground over settlement of sea disputesThe Saigon Times Daily HCMC – Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte have agreed that all disputes in the East Sea should be settled by peaceful means. At a meeting on the sidelines of the 28th and 29th ASEAN Summits and related meetings in the Lao capital of Vientiane on Tuesday, the two leaders stressed the importance of maintaining peace and security, stepping up cooperation, and resolving disputes by peaceful means in compliance with international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The leaders concurred to work together for those goals, a Vietnam Nam News Agency report said. In a speech delivered to the plenary session of the 28th ASEAN Summit, PM Phuc underlined the need for ASEAN to promote confidence-building activities, preventive diplomacy, a code of conduct in the East Sea and observance of law, especially the UNCLOS, … [Read more...] about Vietnam, Philippines find common ground over settlement of sea disputes
HCM Communist Youth Union national conference opens in HN
The 11th National Congress of the Ho Chi Minh City Communist Youth Union was opened on December 11, 2017 - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac The event drew the attendance of Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, State President Tran Dai Quang, PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc, National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, and President of the Viet Nam Fatherland Front Central Committee Tran Thanh Man.The congress is reviewing the youth union’s activities during 2012-17, and setting out targets, tasks and solutions for the next five years; amending and supplementing regulations of the HCYU charter and electing a new central committee for the 11th tenure.With eight forums and 20 group discussions, the congress will last until December 13. Under the motto “Intensifying revolutionary ideal education; building a powerful youth union; uniting and developing leading, voluntary, and creative youth for the construction and protection of the socialist … [Read more...] about HCM Communist Youth Union national conference opens in HN
BUSINESS IN BRIEF 11/12
Investments in drugstore chains turn activeFPT Retail has recently confirmed its investment in the Long Chau drugstore chain, thus lengthening the list of tech retailers that are venturing into drugstore business.The Gioi Di Dong and Digiworld that have long been known as retailers of tech products have invested into drugstore chains as well.At a meeting on business operations at the Hochiminh Stock Exchange earlier this month, FPT Retail general director Nguyen Bach Diep said the company started injecting capital into Long Chau drugstores early this year on a pilot basis and would expand its investment in this sector next year.Revenue from drugstore business operations would be included in FPT Retail’s revenue as from 2019, Diep added.News about FPT Retail’s investment in the Long Chau drugstore chain broke early this year. But when reached by the media, the company said negotiations were ongoing and that there was no official information.Some of the well-known drugstore … [Read more...] about BUSINESS IN BRIEF 11/12
BUSINESS IN BRIEF 10/12
JETRO to host Invest Japan seminar in Ho Chi Minh CityJapan External Trade Organisation Ho Chi Minh City (JETRO) and the Ministry of Planning and Investment's Foreign Investment Agency will co-organise the Invest Japan seminar in Ho Chi Minh City on December 19.The seminar aims to introduce the strengths of the Japanese market, the advantages of establishing a branch in Japan, as well as JETRO’s free support activities for enterprises in Vietnam looking to invest or establish a business in Japan.The relationship between Japan and Vietnam has improved significantly over the past years. This January, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited Vietnam. In March, the Emperor and his Empress visited Vietnam for the first time, and in June, Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc visited Japan for the second time after taking office.In terms of the economy, the number of Japanese enterprises investing in Vietnam continues to increase, while trade relations are on the rise. A growing … [Read more...] about BUSINESS IN BRIEF 10/12