Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) welcomes his Nepalese countepart K P Sharma Oli in Hanoi on May 11 (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam and Nepal on May 11 issued a joint statement on the official visit to Vietnam by Prime Minister of Nepal by H.E K P Sharma Oli. The following is the full text of the joint statement: “1. H.E. K P Sharma Oli, Prime Minister of Nepal and his spouse paid an official visit to Viet Nam from 9 - 13 May, 2019 at the invitation of H.E. Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Prime Minister of Vietnam. Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli was accompanied by his spouse Radhika Shakya, Minister for Foreign Affairs Hon. Pradeep Kumar Gyawali, Advisors to the Prime Minister, Members of Parliament and high ranking government officials. A business delegation also accompanied the Prime Minister of Nepal. 2. The official welcoming ceremony was solemnly held at the Presidential Palace on 11 May 2019. After the welcoming ceremony, Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli held talks with … [Read more...] about Vietnam, Nepal issue joint statement
Vietnam living standard survey
European firms upbeat about free trade pact with Vietnam
European firms upbeat about free trade pact with VietnamBy Thanh Thom Representatives of European companies attend a seminar to review the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement in Brussels this week – PHOTO: VNA HCMC – Nine out of ten European companies want the European Union-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) to be implemented next year, or as soon as possible thereafter, according to a report released by the European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (EuroCham). EuroCham disclosed the information at an event in Brussels, Belgium on Monday during the release of its latest report, “The EVFTA: Perspectives from Vietnam,” together with amfori and BusinessEurope. This launch event, with 70 participants, is part of a EuroCham mission to the European Parliament and European Commission to push for a quick ratification of the EVFTA. EuroCham’s report includes the results of a new survey of the Chamber’s members, who were asked how the EVFTA will affect … [Read more...] about European firms upbeat about free trade pact with Vietnam
Vietnam boosts traditional friendship with Africa
President Tran Dai Quang’s state visits to Ethiopia and Egypt from August 23-29 have created new momentum for bilateral relations between Vietnam and the two countries, and opened new opportunities for effective cooperation between Vietnam and African nations. Vietnam (L) and Ethiopia ink agreement on visa exemption for diplomatic and official passport holders The two trips, made at the invitation of Ethiopian President Mulatu Teshome and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, have recorded positive outcomes regarding the exchange of content between all sides, successful documents signed, as well as President Quang’s sideline activities. At the end of the visits, Vietnam and the two countries issued joint statements chalking up major orientations to boost bilateral ties in the future. Vietnam, Ethiopia bring relations to new height In Ethiopia from August 23-25, President Tran Dai Quang held talks with Ethiopian President Mulatu Teshome and also had separate … [Read more...] about Vietnam boosts traditional friendship with Africa
Presidents of Vietnam, Ethiopia hold talks
Presidents Tran Dai Quang and Mulatu Teshome in Addis Ababa on August 23 (Photo: VNA) Addis Ababa (VNA) – During their talks in Addis Ababa on August 23, President of Ethiopia Mulatu Teshome described the State visit to his country by President Tran Dai Quang as a particularly important political event. The host said President Quang is the first head of State of Vietnam to visit Ethiopia since the two countries set up diplomatic ties in 1976. He expressed his belief that the visit will create a new momentum for bilateral relations in the time ahead. President Quang congratulated Ethiopia on its impressive strides which have turned the country into an example of economic development in Africa with an average growth rate of 10 percent over the past decade, considerably improving its people’s living standards and opening up many prospects for cooperation with various countries around the world, including Vietnam. He highly valued Ethiopia’s role and active … [Read more...] about Presidents of Vietnam, Ethiopia hold talks
Qatar National Bank names Vietnam as Asia’s newest ‘tiger’ economy
A range of indicators recorded in the first six months of 2018 demonstrated the booming Vietnamese economy. Its gross domestic product (GDP) grew 7.1 percent year on year, the fastest since 2011. The output of Vietnam’s manufacturing sector increased 13.1 percent on year. According to QNB analysts, the manufacturing boom fueled exports to annually surge 20 percent in the period compared to the 17 percent increase posted for the entire 2017. Vietnam's GDP grew 7.1 percent year on year, the fastest since 2011. Photo: chinhphu.vn The bank attributed manufacturing and export success to Vietnam’s ability to attract a large volume of foreign direct investment (FDI) into sectors like garment, footwear and electronics. FDI inflows in the Southeast Asian country also boomed, with total value estimated at 13 billion USD in the first half of this year, an annual increase of 11 percent. The GDP figure for 2017 was about 220 billion USD, according to the latest data … [Read more...] about Qatar National Bank names Vietnam as Asia’s newest ‘tiger’ economy
Soft drinks set to give Vietnam very hard time
Vietnam has been put on high alert over its consumption of sugary drinks, which has skyrocketed over the last 15 years, experts said at a conference on Friday. They based their warnings on results of a global survey done by the World Health Organization (WHO). Truong Tuyet Mai, deputy director of the National Institute of Nutrition, said that Vietnamese people are forecast to consume over 5 billion liters of sweetened drinks in 2018, a surge of almost nine times against the year 2000, and the figure is estimated to reach 11 billion by 2025. In 2016, sugary drinks sales in Vietnam reached four billion of liters, according to a survey by British market researcher Euromonitor International, which found instant tea and soft drinks were the best-selling beverages. The survey also found that the sweetened beverage market has been rising fast in Vietnam, with an annual growth rate of 9.2 percent. “Soft drinks are a top pick by adults and children but the fact is that sweetened beverages … [Read more...] about Soft drinks set to give Vietnam very hard time
Non Nuoc Cao Bang named second global geopark in Vietnam
A view of Ban Gioc Waterfall, which is part of Non Nuoc Cao Bang Global Geopark (Photo: VNA) Paris (VNA) – Non Nuoc Cao Bang Geopark in the northern border province of Cao Bang was recognised as a global geopark by the UNESCO Global Geoparks Council in Paris on April 12. This is the second UNESCO-recognised Global Geopark in Vietnam after Dong Van Karst Plateau, which was recognised in 2010. Non Nuoc Cao Bang is about 300km from Hanoi capital city. It covers more than 3,000 sq.km. in the districts of Ha Quang, Tra Linh, Quang Uyen, Trung Khanh, Ha Lang and Phuc Hoa and part of Hoa An, Nguyen Binh and Thach An districts. The geopark is home to fossils, ocean sediment, volcanic rocks, minerals, and especially karst landscapes, which can give researchers an insight into an over-500-million-year history of the Earth. It is also well known for rich biodiversity and many indigenous fauna and flora species. Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung said the … [Read more...] about Non Nuoc Cao Bang named second global geopark in Vietnam
Limited education opportunities hinder social mobility in rural Vietnam: Oxfam
Rural Vietnamese residents are failing to climb the social ladder because many families stay in the agriculture sector for generations, according to an Oxfam report released last week. As many as 79 percent of agricultural workers in 2004 were still working in the sector in 2008, and that figure rose to 83 percent from 2010-2014, the research found based on national data and surveys taken in 2016. Fewer than 8 percent of agricultural workers moved to the industry or service sectors during either period. The “Social Mobility and Equality of Opportunity in Vietnam” study, which is the first to look at people’s perception of social mobility in Vietnam, aims to analyze the trends and factors involved in changing social statuses in society, with a focus on the role of education. It collected data from the Vietnam Household Living Standards Survey (VHLSS, 2004-2014) and conducted questionnaires with 600 families and 85 in-depth individual interviews in Lao Cai Province in … [Read more...] about Limited education opportunities hinder social mobility in rural Vietnam: Oxfam
Report highlights Vietnam’s social mobility
Two H’mong ethnic minority women in the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai’s Bac Ha district (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) - Social mobility in Vietnam is lagging behind its economic growth over the last decade, as the country’s poor still lack access to learn new skills and gain better jobs. A new report "Social Mobility and Equality of Opportunity in Vietnam: Trends and Impact factors” launched by Oxfam on March 29 highlighted the problem and the threat it poses to the country’s sustainable growth. The report consolidates data from the Vietnam Household Living Standards Survey 2004 -14 and interviews with about 700 people over the last two years in three provinces of Lao Cai, Nghe An and Dak Nong in the north, central and Central Highland regions, respectively. Social mobility is defined as a change in the social status of an individual or household. Social mobility can refer to a change an adult experiences as compared with his/her parents … [Read more...] about Report highlights Vietnam’s social mobility
Minimum wage far below the cost of living
>> Law makers call for future removal of minimum wage >> Ministry proposes higher minimum wage >> Minimum wage up, income down The current minimum wage can only cover about 65% of labourers’ basic living standards, according to a new survey. The current minimum wage can only cover about 65% of labourers’ basic living standards. The Institute for Workers and Trade Unions, a department under the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour, just released a survey on the minimum wage in relation to the living standards of labourers.The survey indicated that 35.6% of interviewees said that their income cannot cover their expenses; 44.7% said they had to keep a tight budget in order to ensure their daily needs; 17.9% said that their incomes are just sufficient for their expenses. Only 1.9% said they made an adequate income, and were able to save.The survey, conducted from April to … [Read more...] about Minimum wage far below the cost of living