Party review to assess socialist orientation of market economy; VN-Swiss legislative relations strengthened; National Assembly Chairman begins Italy visit; VN, Lao, Cambodian parliaments enhance budget supervision

 VietNamNet Bridge – Minister of Planning and Investment Bui Quang Vinh, in a year-end exclusive interview with the Daily, said market-based reforms must be introduced in 2014 to spur growth, and there is still much room for such transformation.

 VietNamNet Bridge – The National Assembly concluded a busy year which included the ratification of a revised Constitution, the Land Law and the Law on Public Procurement. It is expected the new laws will help develop a more liberal economy.

A senior Vietnamese official on Monday urged the US to remove trade barriers when receiving Deputy Assistant to the US President, Caroline Atkinson, in Ha Noi.

 At least 15 countries give husbands the power to prevent their wives from working, the World Bank said in a report on gender equality in business.

 VietNamNet Bridge – The Government continued with its special meeting on creating legislation yesterday (Aug 13), discussing amendments and supplements to several laws and draft laws.

 VietNamNet Bridge – It is likely that the European Union (EU) will recognize Vietnam as a market economy when negotiations of the Vietnam-EU free trade agreement (FTA) end.

VietNamNet Bridge – The Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam convened its 10-day conference in Hanoi on May 2.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnam’s business associations are struggling to attract new members and come up with long-term plans for growth.

 VietNamNet Bridge – The Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) would maintain healthy competition in the telecoms market, but would not step in to save struggling firms that were unable to compete.