Strategic investors key to SOE reform

Mon, 06/28/2004 - 17:52



HA NOI — "Although more than 1,500 State-owned enterprises have been equitised over the past 10 years, further efforts should be made to bring in strategic investors, an important factor for equitised businesses’ success," said Ly Tai Luan, President of the Viet Nam Union of Financial Investors (VAFI), in a letter to the Central Steering Commit for Business and Development last week.

NA challenges ministers on social issues

Mon, 06/14/2004 - 17:43

HA NOI — Education is the key to limiting the potentially adverse effects the Internet might have on the country, said Culture and Information Minister Pham Quang Nghi.

Speaking at the National Assembly’s Q&A session on Thursday, the minister said that only through familiarity of its Internet users could the country halt the infiltration of damaging online content while still reaping the considerable benefits of the global network.

Viet Nam to start this year's negotiation talks for WTO entry

Wed, 06/09/2004 - 17:53


06/09/2004 -- 11:20(GMT+7)

Ha Noi, June 9 (VNA) - Viet Nam will hold bilateral meetings with its trading partners in Geneva, Switzerland, on Wednesday, in the lead up to this year's first session of the eighth round of multilateral trade talks for the country's entry into the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

The eighth round of multilateral trade talks for Viet Nam's WTO membership will be convened on June 15 on the country's goods market and services access, Vietnamese Ambassador to the United Nations Ngo Quang Xuan told the Lao Dong daily.

Viet Nam acts, advances together with dynamic Asia

Thu, 06/03/2004 - 17:08


Tokyo, June 3 (VNA) Vietnamese Prime Minister Phan Van Khai delivered his speech entitled Viet Nam acts together and advances together with a dynamic Asia at the opening session of the 10th ''Future of Asia'' International Conference, in Tokyo on Thursday.

The Vietnamese PM said: Given increasing globalisation and international integration, the conference theme ''Laying the Foundation for Asian Integration'' is a timely response to the trend of deepening cooperation among states in the region.

Buddha’s 2,548th birthday celebrated across nation

Thu, 06/03/2004 - 15:35



HA NOI — A ceremony marking the Buddha’s 2548th birth day, organised by a Vietnamese Buddhism council and attended by a large number of Buddhist clerics and followers, was held on Wednesday morning at Ha Noi’s Quan Su pagoda.

President Tran Duc Luong, leaders of the Fatherland Front Central Committee, representatives of the Government’s Committee for Religious Affairs, and members of Asian diplomatic corps were present at the function.

New law to abolish business monopolies

Tue, 06/01/2004 - 09:58

HA NOI — The long-awaited Competition Law should purge the economy of monopolies while creating a level playing field for all businesses, trade minister Truong Dinh Tuyen has said.

Speaking on Sunday at the 5th National Assembly meeting, he said, "the law is aimed at limiting monopolies in the economy and protecting the legitimate rights of enterprises in competition."

Law to improve children’s lot receives NA approval

Tue, 06/01/2004 - 09:56



HA NOI — The National Assembly on Monday adopted the Law on Child Care, Protection and Education after reviewing a revised draft presented by the NA Standing Committee.

The law governs the basic rights and responsibilities of children and the duties of families, the State and society in protecting, caring and educating children.

Of the 400 delegates present, 394 voted in approval.

The revised law, which will take effect at the start of 2005, has five chapters and 60 articles, 34 more than the 1992 law.

First foetus-in-liver case tests doctors

Tue, 06/01/2004 - 09:55



THUA THIEN-HUE—Doctors in Thua Thien-Hue Province are giving emergency treatment to a woman diagnosed with a dead 11-week foetus in her liver, an unprecedented case in Viet Nam’s medical community.

"This is Viet Nam’s first case of a foetus found in the liver and the fourth in the world,"said Dr Bach Cam An, head of Hue Central Hospital’s Obstetrics Department.

"The three other cases were in Australia, Hong Kong and Switzerland."

PM clears up permit process for foreign contractors

Tue, 06/01/2004 - 09:55


HA NOI — In order to smooth the process of issuing permits for foreign contractors doing business in Viet Nam, the Prime Minister has issued a decision to streamline the procedures.

The decision is aimed at helping foreign contractors easily operate in Viet Nam by improving co-ordination between ministries of Public Security, Finance and banks, said Hoang Tho Vinh, deputy director of the Construction Ministry’s Construction Department.

Under the decision each ministry will be given a more clearly defined role in the approval process:

First VN securities fund opens

Tue, 05/25/2004 - 16:59


HCM CITY — The State Securities Commission (SSC) has given approval to the Vietnam Securities Investment Fund, the first of its kind in Viet Nam, to begin disbursing investments.

In late March, the fund, known as VF1, won a licence from the commission to set up business and offer certificates to the public.

The close-ended fund has already generated VND300 billion (US$19.1 million), its ceiling limit allowed by the SSC.

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