Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung will pay an official visit to Thailand and attend the third Vietnam-Thailand joint cabinet meeting on July 23.

The visit is made at the invitation of Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.

Foundation to support people-to-people exchange debuts

The Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) introduced a foundation to support people-to-people exchange in Hanoi on July 16.

The non-profit society works to promote people-to-people exchange activities of the union, its member organisations and other Vietnamese organizations at home and abroad.

The foundation was set up through financial assistance from the Vietnamese Government along with domestic and foreign individuals and organisations.

It is responsible for calling for financial aid at home and abroad to support people-to-people exchange activities in Vietnam and globally.

Vice President and Secretary General of the union Don Tuan Phong said the foundation is significant in bolstering cooperation between Vietnam and foreign partners in the field.

The fund serves as a tool to implement people-to-people exchange, including activities to strengthen friendship, solidarity and cooperation between Vietnamese and foreign non-governmental organisations, he added.

He said he hopes international organisations and non-governmental groups will actively work with the foundation to implement projects in the aforesaid fields and in poverty reduction.

Marko Lovrekovic from the international non-governmental organisation Data Centre said besides mobilising financial resources for people-to-people activities, the fund will help promote Vietnam’s image to the world and integrate into the international community.

Vietnam, Lao Fronts exchange work experience

Representatives of the Central Committees of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) and the Lao Front for National Construction (LFNC) shared work experience during a meeting in Hanoi on July 16.

VFF Vice President and General Secretary Vu Trong Kim considered the Lao delegation’s visit as a contribution to developing the special solidarity, friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the two Parties, States, peoples and Fronts as well.

LFNC Standing Vice President Tong Yerthor said he hopes the two organisations will tighten coordination to help nurture the time-honoured relationship between the two nations.

At the meeting, the two sides discussed the socio-economic situation in Vietnam and Laos, preparations for the formation of the ASEAN Economic Community later this year, and exchange expertise in training personnel and reforming operations towards expanding collaboration moving forward.

Earlier, the Lao delegation, which is on a working visit to Vietnam through July 18, met with Politburo member and VFF President Nguyen Thien Nhan on July 15.

SMEs advised to adopt long-term growth plans

Small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) should develop long-term strategies, renew technology and equipment and management, President Truong Tan Sang said at a meeting with outstanding businesspeople in Ha Noi yesterday.

The meeting marked the tenth anniversary of the Association of Small and Medium Size Enterprises.

President Sang said the association should work harder to attract more enterprises and involve them in the making of policies concerning them.

He said the association hosted 90 per cent of all businesses in Viet Nam, adding that it had played a great role in creating jobs and wealth for the nation, contributing much to national socio-economic development.

He said that the Party and society would always create the best conditions for SME businesses to grow. He urged the association to help its members access legal consultation, finance, technological transfer, market information and copyright.

He called on enterprises to co-operate better among themselves and with bigger businesses to make roads into markets where big brands were established..

Cao Sy Kiem, president of the association, told Sang that the association now extended to 55 provinces and had 52,000 members operating in most economic realms.

He said SMEs had been confirmed as one of main drivers of national economic development, contributing 40 per cent to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), 30 per cent of the State budget, 33 per cent of total industrial value, 30 per cent of export value and make up half of the nation's workforce.

They had also helped preserve many of the dwindling traditional craft villages.

VNA