Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung today, Dec 19, begins his three-day visit to Myanmar and will also attend the 4th Greater Mekong Sub-region Summit.

This is his first official visit to Myanmar since his reappointment as Prime Minister earlier this year and his third visit to the country since 2007. The 4th GMS Summit will adopt a "New Decade GMS Strategic Framework (2012-22)" to chart development over the next 10 years and foster sub-regional co-operation.

* Entrepreneurs ‘vital for national development'

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong has highlighted the important role of entrepreneurs in national industrialisation and modernisation.

The leader made the statement at a working session with the Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and representatives of businesses in the capital on Saturday.

Removing difficulties and creating a favourable environment for the development of a contingent of entrepreneurs would help the national economy improve its competitiveness and efficiency as well as achieve sustainable, self-reliant and independent development, Trong said.

He stressed that in the socialist-oriented market economy, economic development must be combined with social progress and justice.

Therefore, Vietnamese entrepreneurs should not only work hard to get rich themselves but also be actively involved in poverty reduction while helping people in remote areas and revolutionary bases, he said.

Trong took note of proposals and recommendations put forth by the business circle and agreed to the need to further improve mechanisms, policies and laws to create a favourable and equal environment for entrepreneurs.

Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai affirmed that the Party and Government always paid attention to the development of entrepreneurs.

He said that domestic enterprises should strive to overcome their shortcomings such as low productivity, business inefficiency and poor competitiveness.

The Government would devise an action programme to implement Politburo Resolution 09-NQ/TW on facilitating the development of the entrepreneur community, Hai said.

VCCI Chairman Vu Tien Loc said that Vietnamese businesses had seen rapid development so far in terms of quantity and quality. As of September 2011, Viet Nam had more than 600,000 enterprises, 1 million household businesses, 133,000 co-operatives and farms, and around 2 million entrepreneurs.

The business sector has contributed more than 70 per cent of State budget revenues, created jobs for 7.4 million people and actively contributed to international integration.

* Chinese leader set for three-day visit

Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping will start an official visit to the country tomorrow.

The three-day tour comes at the invitation of the Communist Party of Viet Nam's Central Committee and Vice State President Nguyen Thi Doan.

VNN/VOV/VNS/VNA