Vietnam’s and the UK’s top diplomatic officials considered measures to solidify their countries’ strategic partnership during talks in Hanoi on April 12.

 Chairwoman of the Lao National Assembly Pany Yathotou met with Dinh The Huynh, Politburo member of the Communist Party of Vietnam, in Vientiane on April 12.

 The 13th National Assembly has left a deep imprint on Vietnam’s constitutional and legislative history as various crucial matters regarding national destiny were decided during the tenure.

Two training ships of the Japanese maritime self-defence force with 500 crew members aboard anchored at Cam Ranh International Port in the central coastal province of Khanh Hoa on April 12 to start a four-day visit to Vietnam. 

 Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc chaired the first meeting of the freshly-elected government right after the closing of the 13th National Assembly’s 11th session in Hanoi on April 12.

After asking for the government’s help to ensure sales for oil refineries, the national oil & gas group PetroVietnam has once again sought the government’s support for the sale of Polyester Dinh Vu’s (PV Tex) products.

Five out of six dimensions in the 2015 Provincial Governance and Public Administration Performance Index (PAPI) released on April 12 in Hanoi headed downwards compared to the 2014 report.

The construction of the first phase of the $4 billion South Hoi An integrated casino resort will start on April 23.

 A months-long drought has inflicted heavy losses on farmers in the Mekong Delta provinces of Ca Mau and Tien Giang.

Vietnam wants close cooperation with the UK Government across the board for their mutual benefit as well as for regional and global peace and prosperity, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc told UK Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond.

VietNamNet Bridge – In an interview after being approved by the NA as the Minister of Information and Communication, Mr. Truong Minh Tuan said he will “prioritize an action plan for a healthy information society” in the coming time.

 VietNamNet Bridge - The Banker on April 8 announced the ASEAN Top 100 Banks in 2016. Of the 19 Vietnamese banks on the list, VietinBank ranked first.

The Vietnam Dairy Products JSC has not yet announced the plan to change the ownership ratio. However, its major shareholder – the State Capital Investments Corporation – is holding 45.8% of the capital and foreign investors now already have 49%.

Approved by the National Assembly as the Governor of the State Bank of Vietnam with a majority of votes on Saturday, Le Minh Hung is the youngest-ever leader of the central bank of Vietnam.

VietNamNet Bridge – At the age of nearly 80, the gray haired, bent back woman still works as a porter at night to support herself.

VietNamNet Bridge - While Vietnamese experts show big concerns about Vietnam economy, pointing out that too many problems still exist, foreign economists have a positive outlook about Vietnam.

 The National Assembly (NA) has passed a resolution approving a diplomatic note on issuing one-year multiple-entry visas for U.S. citizens.

HCMC Party Secretary Dinh La Thang on Monday worked with chairman of the Trust for University Innovation in Vietnam Thomas Vallely on preparations for the coming establishment of Fulbright Vietnam University headquartered in HCMC.

 Vietnam’s trade deficit with China in the first quarter of this year fell 15.6 per cent year-on-year to $6.5 billion, according to the General Statistics Office (GSO).

VietNamNet Bridge - Four out of seven biofuel plants have been found using Chinese technology, while three others using technology imported from China and other countries such as the US, Denmark and India.