Vietnam bagged several gold medals in swimming and athletics on September 21, the fourth official competition day at the ongoing ninth ASEAN Para Games held in Malaysia.

 Millions of Vietnamese use smartphones for tasks like listening to music, making a phone call, sending text messages, hailing a taxi or checking in for a flight, says the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

The Vietnamese economy is facing a major contradiction as it is striving for economic growth but the national budget is very limited. 

  Efforts by the Vietnamese authorities to speed up resolution of legacy problem loans could help address the asset-quality issues that weigh heavily on banks’ viability ratings.

 Viet Nam spent US$24.12 billion importing machines, equipment, tools and spare parts in the first eight months of this year, marking a year-on-year increase of 33 per cent.

Ministers from Greater Mekong Subregion member countries sat down at a conference on Wednesday to discuss the endorsement and implementation of a five year action plan.

 Vietnam attaches importance to defence ties with Russia, affirmed Nguyen Chi Vinh, member of the Party Central Committee and Deputy Defence Minister, at a reception in Hanoi on September 20 for Russian Ambassador to Vietnam Konstantin Vnukov.

 The APEC 2017 Women and Economy Forum will take place from September 26 to 29 in Hue City of the central province of Thua Thien-Hue, deputy Minister of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs, Dao Hong Lan, said.

 Viet Nam proposed a resolution on strengthening intra-regional cooperation to build an ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) of equal development and inclusive growth.

 Top lawmakers yesterday discussed expanding the scope of the Law on Anti-Corruption to the non-State sector.

Citing GDC’s (General Department of Customs) report about the $3 billion deficit in trade with Thailand in the first seven months of the year, experts say they can see a ‘Thai investment wave’ in Vietnam.

 The APEC 2017 National Committee convened its ninth meeting in Hanoi yesterday under the chair of its President, Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh. 

 The Secretariat of the Party Central Committee on September 20 meted out punishment on two officials for their serious violations of Party rules and lax management resulting in great losses to State assets. 

 The Vietnamese National Assembly and the Argentina-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentarians’ Group need to promote experience sharing in holding elections, NA organisation and training for parliamentarians.

 Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue has called on the Slovakian Government to continue to create the best conditions for Vietnamese businesses in Slovakia and ensure equality for hundreds of Vietnamese workers in the country. 

 Truong Thi Kim Tuyen will be Vietnam’s sole representative competing at the 2017 World Taekwondo Grand Prix to be held in Rabat, Morocco on September 22-24.

 Ten-man Vietnam kicked off their campaign to qualify for the AFC U16 Championship with a comprehensive 5-2 victory over Cambodia on September 20 at Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

 The National Assembly Standing Committee agreed to the Government’s proposal on joining the 1990 Istanbul Convention on Temporary Admission, NA Vice Chairwoman Tong Thi Phong said at the committee’s meeting on September 20. 

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has called on the World Bank (WB) to intensify its coordination and mobilisation of capital from international donors in order to develop suitable projects that meet Vietnam’s development investment demands. 

 Vietnam wants to attract more investment from the US, especially in finance, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc told former US Secretary of the Treasury Tymothy Geithner, who is President of Warburg Pincus during a reception in Hanoi on September 20.