HCM City leaders warmly welcome Overseas Vietnamese back home for Lunar New Year celebration

HCM City leaders award certificates of merit to 19 people with outstanding achievements in overseas work and contributions to the city. 

HCM City leaders held a reception yesterday for a delegation of 800 Overseas Vietnamese (OV) from 26 countries and territories on the occasion of Tết 2019 (Lunar New Year).

On behalf of the city government, Nguyễn Thiện Nhân, secretary of HCM City Party Committee, extended his warmest greetings to the OV community, while applauding their contributions to the development of the country and HCM City in particular. 

Nhân said the city would continue to foster reforms, industrialisation and the modernisation process, and international integration.

He expressed his hope that 800 overseas Vietnamese at the meeting would enhance solidarity, treasure traditional cultural identity, and serve as a bridge to connect Việt Nam and their host countries.

Nhân said: “HCM City has made great efforts to resolve urgent issues of the city such as traffic congestion and flooding, as well as climate change adaptation.” 

“The city wants to continue to receive contribution from the OV community to develop the project of building smart urban areas,” he said.

Speaking at the meeting, Nguyễn Thành Phong, chairman of the city People’s Committee, attributed the city’s socio-economic achievements in the past years to the significant contributions from the OV community. 

The OV community is “an integral part of and a resource for development of the country,” he noted.

The number of OV residing in Việt Nam has been increasing over the years. In 2018 more than 420,000 OV came through Tân Sơn Nhất airport.

In recent years, OV have returned for not only to visit relatives but for investment. 

In 2018, OV sent home US$15.9 billion worth of remittances, of which HCM City accounted for $5 billion. Seventy per cent of the remittances were used for production and business purposes, Phong noted.

More than 400 intellectuals and expatriates have returned to work in Việt Nam for long periods. Nearly 200 intellectuals have cooperated with universities, high-tech zones and hospitals for their projects.

Nearly 3,000 companies owned by OV have been granted business registration licenses, with charter capital of over VNĐ45 trillion. 

Each year more than 30,000 young OV visit their hometowns and find business opportunities with start-up projects, according to Phong.

Phong expressed his hope that the OV community would continue to join efforts with the Party, Government and residents of the city to implement the city’s socio-economic objectives in 2019.

At the meeting, members of the OV community expressed their delight at the country’s development.

Peter Hồng, vice chairman of the Association of Overseas Vietnamese Businesses, said returning to their homeland has always been a special joy for all OV, especially on the occasion of Tết. 

“The achievements in many fields of the whole country in general and HCM City in particular can help to attract more OV to develop the city.”

Impressed with the city’s robust development, Dr Đặng Lương Mô, an Overseas Vietnamese in Japan, shared his enthusiasm in contributing to developing smart city. 

He said that OV wanted to contribute to developing the city to become a smart city, which is an economic leader of the country, helping to achieve wealth, democracy, fairness and civilisation. 

At the meeting, the city People’s Committee rewarded 19 individuals, including many businesspeople and intellectuals, who contributed to the city’s development in the 2016-2018 period.

On this occasion, a photo exhibition themed “HCM City welcomes overseas Vietnamese to celebrate Lunar New Year 2019”, showcased hundreds of photos about the city’s development.

The meeting is a traditional cultural activity held annually in HCM City to welcome OV back home for the traditional biggest holiday. 

It is also an opportunity for them to meet and share experiences.

The meeting was organised by the City Party Committee, the People’s Council, the People’s Committee and the Việt Nam Fatherland Front Committee. 

Hanoi seeks Netherlands’ cooperation in urban waste treatment

Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Chung (R) receives Dutch Ambassador to Vietnam Elsbeth Akkerman 

Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Chung received Dutch Ambassador to Vietnam Elsbeth Akkerman on January 25, during which they discussed measures to enhance bilateral cooperation in handling urban waste and turning it into a source of energy.

The Dutch diplomat thanked Hanoi authorities for their timely and much-needed coordination with the Dutch embassy over the past.

She said that the Dutch Development Bank FMO had agreed to fund a project on turning waste into energy in Vietnam and hoped that Hanoi would grant it an investment licence.

For his part, Chung voiced his wishes that Hanoi and the Netherlands will continue expanding collaboration in fields that the latter holds strength in, such as renewable energy, smart city building, trade, and food processing.

He also affirmed his backing for the project on turning waste into energy, adding that it will be carried out once the Dutch group can prove its investment capital.

Deputy PM makes FDI fact-finding tours of Hai Phong, Bac Ninh

Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue speaks at his working session in Hai Phong 

Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue visited the northern city of Hai Phong and Bac Ninh province on January 25 to explore the foreign investment situation as well as acquire the localities’ related proposals.

The tours aim to help with completing a project on “orientations to refine institutions and policies to raise the quality and efficiency of attracting and using foreign investment till 2030” that will be submitted to the Political Bureau. 

According to Deputy PM Hue, FDI contributed 13.6-14 percent of Vietnam’s State budget and around 20 percent of GDP. FDI has helped increase investments for development; improve production and growth in prioritized sectors; sharpen the national economy’s competitiveness; speed up economic shifting; renovate technology and equipment; boost export strategy; and create jobs for labourers.

Chairman of the Hai Phong People’s Committee Nguyen Van Tung said the draft project needs to make deeper analysis of new circumstances to draw foreign resources.

He raised difficulties facing the city during the process of attracting foreign investment, including the management of foreign investors and the making of mechanisms that conforms to international norms while ensuring the efficiency of State management.

He suggested adopting strategies and planning schemes in which foreign investment have to meet requirements on environmental protection, protect labourers, ensure social interests, and bring in high technology.

FDI has accounted for over 30 percent of total development investment of Hai Phong. In 1993-2018, industrial zones and the Dinh Vu-Cat Hai Economic Zone have attracted 311 FDI projects with total registered capital of 13.58 billion USD.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the Bac Ninh province Nguyen Tu Quynh proposed the Government soon amend the laws on investment, enterprises, construction, housing, land, environmental protection, intellectual property, and bidding towards unifying regulations on authority pertaining to deciding investment plan, approving investment plan and approving projects to enable localities to carry out administrative procedures smoothly and save time for businesses.

As by 2018, Bac Ninh had lured about 1,300 FDI projects totalling 17.2 billion USD, ranking sixth in the country. Most of the projects went to the manufacturing industry, which accounted for 92.8 percent of the investment capital. So far, 34 countries and territories have invested in the province.

Deputy PM Hue said trade agreements joined by Vietnam are offering new opportunities and foreign investors expect that policies in the country would be consistent and implemented stringently.

The tours will help perfecting mechanisms and policies on attracting and using FDI till 2030 for the National Assembly to revise the Law on Investment and the Law on Enterprises, and also for providing a basis for the Political Bureau to issue a themed resolution on foreign investment, which will serve as a guideline on the role and position of foreign investment in the country, he said.

Party official hosts US Trade Representative delegation

Politburo member and Head of the Party Central Committee’s Economic Commission Nguyen Van Binh (R) and Karl Ehlers, Assistant US Trade Representative for the Office of Southeast Asia and the Pacific

Politburo member and Head of the Party Central Committee’s Economic Commission Nguyen Van Binh received an US delegation, led by Karl Ehlers, Assistant US Trade Representative for the Office of Southeast Asia and the Pacific, in Hanoi on January 25.

At the meeting, the delegation informed host of their trip in Vietnam, including working sessions with the ministries of Industry and Trade, Foreign Affairs, Public Security, and with the State Bank of Vietnam.

In response, Binh commended contents and outcomes of these meetings. 

The official said the Vietnam – US comprehensive partnership has grown toward effectiveness and practical outcomes across all fields, also in regional and global aspects.

He affirmed that the Vietnamese Party and State value relations with the US, considering the country one of Vietnam’s top partners, particularly in economic and trade cooperation.

Bilateral trade jumped from 450 million USD in 1994 to over 60 billion USD in 2018. In many consecutive years, the US has been Vietnam’s biggest export market, while Vietnam has been among the US’ highest-growth export markets.

For his part, Ehlers expected Vietnam and the US to further strengthen their economic and trade ties in the future.

People diplomacy, NGOs critical to Vietnam’s foreign relations: Deputy PM

Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung meets representatives of the foreign diplomatic corps and NGOs in Vietnam 

Vietnam places great importance to the people diplomacy and the role of non-governmental organizations (NGO) in its foreign policy, stated Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung at a New Year gathering in Hanoi on January 25 of representatives of the foreign diplomatic corps and NGOs in Vietnam.

Dung said that the people diplomacy and NGOs have become an important factor in boosting cooperation and trust among countries and nations, helping make relationships deeper, stable and sustainable.

Vietnam has received precious support from the peace-loving community during the resistance wars as well as national re-construction and international integration, he noted, adding that in the current time, international friends and NGOs have still accompanied Vietnam during the poverty reduction and socio-economic development, as well as in implementing the Millennium Development Goals and the current Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).

“We have seen your footprints in most remote areas, together with us, to bring stable life and livelihood to the needy, especially for the most vulnerable groups, ensuring that no one is left behind,” he underscored.

No single country is able to deal with traditional and non-traditional challenges such as climate change, poverty and epidemics, he said, stressing the need for multi-sectoral cooperation among public, private and non-state sectors, as well as closer coordination at the international level to deal with specific matters.

With their experience, resources and partnership network, NGOs can join hands in tackling socio-economic problems in each locality and community in Vietnam, said the Deputy PM.

He affirmed Vietnam’s wish to foster cooperation with international organizations, pledging to create optimal conditions for them to operate in Vietnam for inclusive and sustainable growth, heading to the completion of the SGDs.

On the occasion of the upcoming traditional New Year of Vietnam, Deputy PM Dung extended wishes to ambassadors, chargé d’affaires and representatives from international organizations and NGOs in Vietnam.

He also lauded the operational outcomes of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) in 2018, making important contributions to common development of the country.

On behalf ofdiplomatic corps in Hanoi, Venezuelan Ambassador Jorge Rondon Uzcategui congratulated Vietnam for the country’s achievements in national construction and development. He expressed his wish that Vietnam will sustain its economic growth and gain more successes in its external relations.

The diplomat said he hope that the upcoming Year of the Pig will be a year of happiness, harmony, dialogue and common interest.

PM concludes visit to attend WEF Davos 2019

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (L) meets Swiss President Ueli Maurer 

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc left Davos, Switzerland, on January 25 afternoon (local time), wrapping up his four-day visit to attend the annual conference of the World Economic Forum (WEF) 2019.

Earlier, he met with executives of leading international groups in finance and infrastructure such as Visa, Generali, Bank Julius Baer, and the Development Bank of Japan.

He informed them that Vietnam enjoyed a GDP growth rate of 7.1 percent in 2018 – the highest level it has gained in 10 years, with its macro-economy and monetary market stabilized, inflation curbed, the business and investment environment improved.

Most of the executives spoke highly of Vietnam’s economic and financial achievements, believing that the Prime Minister and the Government will continue carrying out more drastic measures to stabilize the financial sector and create a better environment for enterprises to maintain their business and investment in the country.

On the sidelines of the WEF Davos 2019, the Vietnamese leader had a meeting with Swiss President Ueli Maurer, during which he affirmed Vietnam always attaches importance to consolidating and strengthening its ties with Switzerland.

He took the occasion to thank Switzerland for supporting Vietnam’s candidacy to a non-permanent member post of the UN Security Council in the 2020-2021 tenure, and for committing an ODA of 90 million USD for the country in the 2017-2020 period.

Both sides agreed to select suitable projects to effectively use the financial source, and coordinate closely at multilateral forums, especially the United Nations, to ensure the supremacy of law, peace, stability and sustainable development in the region and the world.

PM Phuc voiced his hope to welcome more Swiss investors, especially those operating in finance-banking, insurance, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, and tourism.

He also said he hopes Switzerland and the European Free Trade Association would have a flexible and appropriate approach to soon approve the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), thus meeting expectations of the two sides’ business communities.

At the meeting with his counterpart from the Netherlands Mark Rutte, PM Phuc spoke highly of positive developments in the friendship and multi-dimensional cooperation between the two countries, especially within the framework of the Strategic Partnership on adaption to climate change and water management and the Strategic Partnership on sustainable agriculture and food security.

He asserted that Vietnam always respects the assistance provided by the Netherlands in the environment, education, and agriculture and wanted the Netherlands to continue assisting the country with new programmes.

He expected the Netherlands to urge the European Union to early sign and ratify the EVFTA, and support peace, stability, and navigation and overfly freedom, security and safety in the East Sea. 

At their meeting, PM Phuc and his counterpart from the Czech Republic Andrej Babis shared their delight with the growing bilateral ties, affirming they will make efforts to push the implementation of signed agreements on economics, trade, culture, education, and science.

He thanked the Government of the Czech Republic for creating favourable conditions for the Vietnamese community to integrate into the local society, make practical contributions to the country’s socio-economic development.

He expected that the Czech Republic would continue supporting and boosting the partnership and comprehensive affiliation between Vietnam and the EU and the signing of EVFTA.

He suggested the country back Vietnam’s run for the non-permanent seat in the UN Security Council in 2020-2021.

PM Andrej Babis said the Czech Republic treasures strengthening and developing the traditional friendship and cooperation with Vietnam.

He asserted that his Government continues implementing policies making it easier for the Vietnamese community and businesses in the Czech Republic.

On the sidelines of the WEF Davos 2019, PM Phuc had working sessions with former WEF Managing Director Philipp Rösler and leading investors from Switzerland.

Tet gathering for foreign representative agencies in HCM City

Scene at the event 

The Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee organized a get-together for foreign representative agencies on January 25, on the occasion of lunar New Year (Tet).

Speaking at the event, Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Thanh Phong said the southern city took the lead in socio-economic growth and international cooperation nationwide in 2018. 

External activities that promote trade, market expansion, investment in tourism, and cultural exchange have been maintained, he added.

Expressing his gratitude for the contributions by foreign general consulates, non-governmental organisations, and businesses to the city’s development, Phong affirmed that it will deepen friendship cooperation with localities worldwide toward practical outcomes as well as boosting the quality of its international integration.

He hoped the foreign agencies will continue supporting the city’s growth in the future.

Singaporean Consul General and head of the diplomatic corps in Ho Chi Minh City Leow Siu Lin praised the holding of the event which, he said, reflected fruitful friendship and relations between the sides.

She wished the city to obtain further successes in completing its goals and vision, including its smart city plan, bringing more benefits for locals.

Foreign general consulates will keep their commitment in cooperating with the city to bring more prosperity to its dynamic development, she stated.

The same day, similar gatherings took place in the central city of Da Nang and northern province of Thai Nguyen.

Completion of institutions needed to develop oil and gas sector

Drilling platforms at Bach Ho oil field 

Politburo member and head of the Party Central Committee’s Economic Commission Nguyen Van Binh on January 25 stressed the need to complete institutions for the development of the oil and gas sector.

During a working session with leading officials of the Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam), Binh asked the group to review the implementation of the Politburo’s Resolution No.41 on orienting the Vietnam Oil and Gas Development Strategy by 2025 with a vision to 2035 to submit to the Politburo to issue a new resolution so as to cope with challenges and overcome difficulties facing the group, as well as the entire sector.

For difficulties in dealing with projects and businesses with bad performances, the group should seek a correct approach and quickly make proposals towards the promulgation of specific policies, he suggested.

After three years implementing Resolution No.41, PetroVietnam has well carried out disseminations and put forward several action plans and programmes to institutionalize the resolution’s content, he noted.

The group has gained remarkable achievements in business and production. Restructuring work has met requirements, and equitisation has been carried out drastically and effectively, with PetroVietnam Oil Corporation, PetroVietnam Power Corporation and Binh Son Refining and Petrochemical JSC (BSR) equitized in 2018.

To fulfill its set targets for 2019, PetroVietnam is striving to increase oil and gas reserves of 10-15 million tonnes of oil equivalent, pump 12.37 million tonnes of oil, and produce 1.58 million tonnes of nitrogenous fertiliser, 21.6 billion kWh of electricity and 10.35 million tonnes of gasoline.

Phu Tho should focus on industrial development: Deputy PM

Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung speaks at the working session in Phu Tho 

The northern midland province of Phu Tho should use industrial development to drive its growth, Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung has said.

Dung made the recommendation at a meeting with local authorities on January 25, as part of his working trip to the province. He led a Government delegation, which comprised of leaders of various ministries, including the ministries of Planning and Investment, Transport, Construction, and Agricultural and Rural Development. 

At the meeting, reports on the province’s recent performance were delivered. Accordingly, Phu Tho has recorded an over 8.34-percent growth rate, with local industry, services, and agriculture posting stable development.

After lauding efforts made to achieve such outcomes, Deputy PM Dung pointed to some of the challenges and shortcomings facing the locality, which include the small scale of the economy; a lack of breakthrough moves to alter the economic structure; and a shortage of new, high value-added industrial products.

Phu Tho boasts tremendous tourism potential, but finds it hard to mobilise resources to develop the sector, he said, adding that its agricultural restructuring has been ineffective.

Highlighting that the province lies on the Hai Phong-Hanoi-Kunming economic corridor, Dung said it has favourable conditions for production, business, and trade with domestic and international partners.

He suggested that Phu Tho continue intensifying economic restructuring to define its order of priority, the composition of its key sectors, and its spearhead products, asking local authorities to make better preparation for investment in major projects in regional connectivity, industry, tourism, and services.

Phu Tho should include urban development, particularly the building of social housing, in its industrial development work, he suggested. 

The Deputy PM recommended that the province intensify its administrative reform, develop human resources, and do more to protect the environment so as to create a favourable business climate.

Ensuring social security and order is also important, Dung said.

At the working session, he also responded to requests from local authorities and asked relevant ministries and sectors to help Phu Tho tackle difficulties in development.

The same day, he visited and presented gifts to workers at an industrial park, underprivileged residents, and former officials in the province.

NA Chairwoman commemorates former Party, State leaders

National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan offers incense to commemorate former Party General Secretary Nguyen Van Linh (Source: qdnd.vn)

National Assembly Chairwoman Ngyen Thi Kim Ngan on January 25 offered incense to commemorate former Party and State leaders through different periods at their families in Ho Chi Minh City on the occasion of the Lunar New Year (Tet) festival in 2019. 

The top legislator visited the families of former Party General Secretary Nguyen Van Linh, former Prime Minister Vo Van Kiet; former Chairman of the Council of Ministers Pham Hung; and former acting State President and former NA Chairman Nguyen Huu Tho.

She conveyed her regards to and wished former leaders’ relatives good health and happiness in the New Year.

Quang Nam strengthens cooperation with Laos’ Sekong province

A working delegation of Laos’ Sekong province paid a visit to the central border province of Quang Nam on January 24 ahead of Vietnam’s traditional Lunar New Year (Tet) festival.

At the meeting, leaders of both sides briefed each other on the development of the provinces in the previous year and targets for 2019.

Boasting a shared border of more than 157km, the two localities’ cooperation has enhanced over the years. Quang Nam and Sekong recently completed a dossier on undocumented immigrants along the border to submit to the governments. The search and repatriation of Vietnamese soldiers’ remains in Sekong was also accelerated.

Meanwhile, the Quang Nam University has trained hundreds of Lao students, facilitating human resources development of Laos’ localities and Sekong province in particular.

The transport system has also been improved, boosting trade between the provinces. In 2018, the two localities held various events to bolster information exchange, and coordinated in providing medical treatment, building of schools and sending food aid to Sekong during between-crop periods. 

At the event, Secretary of Quang Nam’s Party Committee Phan Viet Cuong voiced his hope that Quang Nam and Sekong will continue to strengthen cooperation, contributing to the Vietnam-Laos friendship.