Vietnam asks China not to place oil rig in its waters

(VNA) Vietnam has called on China not to install an oil rig in Vietnam's territorial waters, announced a Vietnamese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Friday, Nov. 19.

According to China's Sanya Marine Radio, China’s Kantan offshore drilling rig 3, towed by the Nanhai ship 215 from Shanghai, is to be installed at a site on the East Sea 63 nautical miles from the Vietnamese coast and 67 nautical miles from China's Hainan island, the spokesman told Vietnam News Agency.

Vietnamese National Assembly passes competition law

Vietnam's National Assembly (NA) passed the new Competition Law with 77.89 percent voting in favor on Nov. 9, the fourteenth day of the month-long National Assembly session.

Many of the NA deputies' suggestions during the ongoing session were added to the bill, according to the NA lawmaking group.

One such recommendation is that when imposing fines on organizations and individuals who violate the competition law, the government should also cancel their business licenses.

US Ambassador thanks Vietnam for MIA recovery assistance

U.S. Ambassador Michael W. Marine thanked the Vietnamese government for assistance in searching for remains of U.S. soldiers listed as missing in action in the Vietnam War, the Vietnam News Agency said Sunday.

The news agency quoted the U.S. ambassador to Vietnam as saying that the cooperation offered by local people was instrumental in the success of the joint- search team.

Ambassador Marine made the statement while heading to the central provinces of Nghe An and Ha Tinh to witness the excavation and return of the remains reputed to be those of missing U.S. servicemen.

Vietnam congratulates President George W. Bush

At a regular press briefing November 4, 2004, in response to requests from the press for Vietnam's reaction to the U.S. election, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Le Dung said: 

"We sincerely congratulate His Excellency G. W. Bush on his re-election as President of the United States of America. 

Major VN efforts vital for successful WTO talks; U.S. negotiator

For Vietnam to gain success in its bilateral talks with the U.S. about its entry to the World Trade Organization, the country needs to exert all efforts to meet the U.S. requests, said a U.S. negotiator recently.

“But, there are many issues within Vietnam’s reach,” said Joseph Damond, the head negotiator of the U.S. delegation for the U.S.-Vietnam bilateral trade agreement signed in July, 2000.

Mr. Damond told Thanh Nien that the current talks between the two countries in Washington, D.C. was a good opportunity for Vietnam to move forward.

Literary, art circles delighted at VN's joining Berne Convention

Literary, art circles delighted at Viet Nam's joining copyright convention
10/27/2004 -- 20:37(GMT+7)

Ha Noi (VNA) - The majority of the literary and art circles in Viet Nam were enthusiastic about the country's joining the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works on Oct. 26, said Vu Manh Chu, Head of the Culture and Information Ministry's Literary-Art Copyright Department.

Berne copyright convention comes into effect in VN

Beginning on October 26, foreign books translated into Vietnamese might be more difficult to find in bookstores throughout the country as the Berne Convention becomes effective in Viet Nam.

Viet Nam has officially become the 156th member of the international treaty on the protection of copyrights in literature, science and arts publication.

Under the convention, Viet Nam has to respect and protect the copyright reservations for works of literature, arts and science from 155 other member nations and in return, its works will be protected in those countries as well.

Five more projects licensed in Dung Quat

QUANG NGAI — The Dung Quat Economic Zone Management Authority in the central province of Quang Ngai has granted business licenses to five new investment projects. The new initiatives in the Economic Zone (EZ) will bring with them a registered capital of VND304.1 billion (nearly US$19.3 million).

Vietnam’s competitiveness not declining; finance minister

It was “not accurate” to say Vietnam’s competitiveness is declining as in a recent report by the World Economic Forum, said Vietnam’s Finance Minister during the 6th National Assembly session Oct. 25 in Hanoi.

The competitiveness of Vietnam’s economy is improving although it is not really excellent, Finance Minister Nguyen Sinh Hung told the press on the sidelines of the NA session.

Vietnamese ministries, sectors and domestic businesses have the same opinion, Mr. Hung said.

Vietnam ideal place for Taiwanese, Korean investors

As the country’s top foreign investors, the Taiwanese and Koreans said they continued to choose Vietnam as their favorite destination for investment because of its low labor costs and links to other countries.

In the first nine months of this year, Taiwan was the largest foreign investor in Vietnam, followed by Korea, according to the Vietnamese Ministry of Planning and Investment.

Korean investors said they were attracted to a U.S.-Vietnam bilateral trade pact, which provided a channel for Korean-backed exports to the U.S., as well as Vietnam's entrepreneurial spirit.

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