Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc received Chinese Ambassador Hong Xiaoyong at the Government’s headquarters in Hanoi on August 17, noting that Vietnam has consistently given the greatest import to its relations with China. 

 Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has said he hopes China’s Hong Kong will establish friendly cooperative ties with Vietnamese localities and promote affiliation in investment and trade.

 The Southern African Development Community (SADC) forum opened in Hanoi on August 17 to mark the 36th founding anniversary of the community.

 Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc underscored the importance of personnel work during a teleconference in Hanoi on August 17 reviewing State administrative reform for 2011-2015. 

VietNamNet Bridge - Real estate firms’ shares have become more attractive to investors as the property market recovery is expected to reap big profits.

 Hanoi is planning to adopt smarter traffic systems and introduce measures to have cleaner streets, Mr. Nguyen Duc Chung, Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee, said at his meeting with the City's voters on August 15.

MONRE says that Formosa is about to begin operating six out of 23 chimneys on a trial basis. Experts have warned that the spread of toxic gas will cause serious pollution if the emissions are not strictly supervised.

 A detailed plan for the divestment of remaining State capital in ten large State-owned enterprises (SOEs) was discussed during a meeting between the government and relevant authorities on August 17.

VietNamNet Bridge - In 2016, the global smartphone market witnessed the strong rise of brands from China.

It is unclear whether the Vung Ro refinery project will be implemented this year, even though both the authorities of Phu Yen and the leaders of Vung Ro Petroleum Ltd. said they were determined to start the project in 2016.

 Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group (PVN) would have to offset VND1.8-2.5 trillion (US$80-110 million) in annual losses for Nghi Son oil refinery when it starts operation.

 Foreign experts in non-governmental aid programs and projects and Vietnamese working at representative offices of the United Nations system in Vietnam enjoy personal income tax (PIT) exemption in Vietnam.

 Two models of Nokia feather phones are to be launched by the end of this year in Vietnam but the phone maker declined to elaborate on its plans to return to the country.

 MobileWorld (HOSE: MWG) plans to expand its operations abroad, as the domestic market of smart phone trading has become saturated.

 U19 Vietnam on August 17 held their first training session in Hanoi in preparation for upcoming U19 Myanmar play and the 2016 ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) U19 Youth Championship.

 Chairman of TCC Thailand, billionaire Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi has revealed a plan to merge Metro Vietnam to Big C Thailand, according to Investment Newspaper online.

 Winning "Start-up of the year" award, TicketBox, an application on selling event tickets online, will go to the Philippines for the Rice Bowl Start-up Awards on a regional scale this September.

 The Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) will develop and submit a strategic plan on cyber information security to the government, according to Minister Truong Minh Tuan.

 Lao National Assembly Vice Chairman Somphan Phengkhammy led a delegation to visit the central province of Thanh Hoa on August 17.

 The simplification of administrative procedures has been considered a breakthrough in administrative reform over the past five years, since a resolution in the field was issued by the Government for the 2011-2020 period.