Vietnam’s participation in UN peacekeeping activities in war-torn South Sudan has gained praise from international media.

 The Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee and the Finnish Embassy in Vietnam launched the Ho Chi Minh City Innovation, Startup, and Entrepreneurship Week 2018.

 The Club of Chief Financial Officers (CFO Club) will convene its 48th World Congress in Ho Chi Minh City from November 15-16.

 Vietnam attaches importance to ties with Belgium, a founding member with an important role in the European Union, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc told King Philippe of Belgium during their meeting in Brussels on October 18. 

 The 14th National Assembly (NA) will conduct a vote of confidence on those holding the positions it elected or approved, during the sixth session scheduled to open next week.

 A France-Vietnam Days of Innovation opened in Ho Chi Minh City on October 18 as a joint effort of the Consulate General of France and the city’s French Institute to celebrate the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations.

VietNamNet Bridge - The government is moving ahead with the plan to reduce its ownership ratios in large state-owned banks, including BIDV and Vietcombank.

The current low electricity price and high investment rate in solar power development are discouraging investors, but they see great opportunities in the long term.

After three years of developing ecological IZs on a trial basis, 72 enterprises in Vietnam have saved VND70 billion by reducing the volume of waste discharged to the environment.

VietNamNet Bridge - Many STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) education centers have been established in Vietnam to satisfy high demand. However, more efforts will be needed to organize STEM education in general schools.

 Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has said it is time to further strengthen and step up Asia-Europe connectivity and cooperation towards the target of sustainable development and common prosperity. 

 Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam hosted a reception in Hanoi on October 18 for heads of delegations attending the sixth ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Drug Matters (AMMD-6). 

 Vietnam will compete in the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) U22 Championship 2019 to be held in Cambodia from February 17 to March 2, the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) has announced.

VietNamNet Bridge - Parkson recently shut down its shopping center at Cantavil An Phu in district 2, HCM City. To date, the big retailer from Malaysia has closed five malls in Vietnam.

 The European Commission (EC) on October 17 submitted for approval a free trade agreement (FTA) with Vietnam, the first comprehensive open market deal between the EU and a developing Asian country. 

 Belgium’s lower house of parliament backs expanding cooperation with Vietnam at all levels, said President of the Chamber of Representatives Siegfried Bracke when meeting with Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc in Brussels on October 17.

 The country’s export turnover this year could reach 239 billion USD, increasing 11.2 percent from last year, said Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Do Thang Hai.

 Vietnam ranked 77th out of 140 countries in the latest Global Competitiveness Report, released by the World Economic Forum (WEF) on October 17.

 The 10th Vietnam-US Joint Committee Meeting on Scientific and Technological Cooperation (JCM10) took place in Washington DC from October 15-17.

Vietnam and the EU demonstrated their efforts to push the early signing, ratification and implementation of their free trade agreement and IPA during Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc’s ongoing visit to Europe.