U.S. - Vietnam

US-Vietnam Relations at a 15-year High: Ambassador, Thanh Nien, July 9, 2010

The US Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton, is set to visit Vietnam later this month as Hanoi hosts the ASEAN-Region Forum, the US ambassador to Vietnam has said. It is the first high-level visit to mark 15 years of bilateral ties between the former war adversaries. "We don't agree on everything but in areas where we disagree, we're willing to sit down and discuss very openly," US Ambassador to Vietnam, Michael Michalak, said in a press briefing earlier this week to officially commemorate the ties, saying that relationships were at their strongest since 1995. The embassy noted that progress was being made in every area of relations, with two-way trade in 2009 reaching US$15.4 billion as the US now remains Vietnam's largest export market and third-largest overall trade partner.

Vietnam is Always Important to the US, VOVNews, July 7, 2010

Vietnam is playing a leading role not only in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) but also in East and Southeast Asia in general, says US Senator Jim Webb, Chairman of the Senate's Foreign Relations East Asian and Pacific Affairs Subcommittee. Senator Webb stated this during an interview granted to a VOV reporter on the 15th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Vietnam and the US. Since the formal normalisation of Vietnam-US diplomatic relations 15 years ago, bilateral ties have constantly developed, resulting in some remarkable outcomes in various fields.

Liberal Trade Must Come With Worker Freedom, Vietnam Told, AFP, July 7, 2010

Vietnam must allow free workers' unions if it wants to liberalise trade with the US, a group of American senators said Wednesday during a visit to the communist country. Their comments came shortly after Vietnam, the US and six other countries concluded the second round of talks toward a proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal. "We wanted to explain to all the government officials we met with that the issue of labour rights, worker rights, freedom of organisation is an essential -- an essential part -- of any future liberalisation of trade agreements with the United States," Senator Tom Harkin told reporters. The Iowa Democrat is chairman of a Senate committee responsible for labour and other issues. Vietnam bans labour unions that are independent of the ruling Communist Party.

PM Calls for Stronger Relations with the US, Vietnam News, July 9, 2010

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung yesterday asked the United States for more co-operation with Viet Nam on politics, the economy, education - and in response to climate change. Dung told US Senator Jim Webb, who is on official working visit to Viet Nam, that to make the most of existing ties in those four fields, America should lift any embargoes on Vietnamese goods, especially seafood (catfish, shrimp). He said this would help improve lives in Viet Nam. Dung also asked the US Government to increase the number of scholarships for Vietnamese students to study in America - and for US universities to set up in Viet Nam.

Defense

Vietnam, US Cooperate in Controlling Nuclear, Radio-active Material, VOVNews, July 3, 2010

Vietnam and the US plan to collaborate in preventing the trafficking of nuclear and radioactive material under the Megaports Initiative Cooperation memorandum of understanding (MoU) inked in Hanoi on July 2. The MoU was signed by Deputy Minister of Finance Hoang Anh Tuan and US Ambassador to Vietnam Michael W. Michalak. Under the initiative, the US Department of Energy will provide equipment to screen and inspect containers as well as technical training for Vietnamese staff at Cai Mep-Thi Vai Port in southern Ba Ria-Vung Tau province over a three-year period.

Vietnam and China Agree to Properly Handle Border Issues, Nhan Dan, July 3, 2010

Vietnam and China have agreed to properly deal with the land border issues and seek basic and durable solutions to the sea-related matters via friendship negotiations. This is one of the five consensus decisions made at the fourth meeting of the Vietnam-China steering committee for bilateral co-operation, which was co-chaired by Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem and Chinese State Councilor Dai Bingguo. The two sides agreed to enhance political trust and exchanges to lay a firm foundation for the development of the bilateral relationship, and boost relations between the two Parties, especially in the exchange of theory and experiences in the Party building work, socialist construction, State management and personnel training.

Energy

ASEAN Energy Ministers to meet in Da Lat City, VOVNews, July 9, 2010

The 28th ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting (AMEM) and other related meetings will be held in Da Lat City in the Central Highland province of Lam Dong from July 19-23. Themed "Energy and Climate Change", the meeting will bring together about 500 international delegates, including ministers from 10 ASEAN countries, Japan, the Republic of Korea (RoK), China, India, New Zealand, and Australia, and leaders from Russia and the US.

Financial Services

Vietnam's FDI Three Years After Joining WTO, VOVNews, July 3, 2010

Three years after Vietnam's admission to the World Trade Organisation (WTO), the country has successfully grasped opportunities to overcome challenges thanks to its implementation of investment commitments. Vietnam's investment environment has improved remarkably by implementing investment commitments and renewing its legal system and policies on foreign investment in recent years. After becoming an official member of the world's largest economic body three years ago, Vietnam's foreign investment increased from 16.2 percent in 2006 to nearly 31 percent in 2008. However, the figure dropped to 25.5 percent in 2009 due to the negative impact of the global economic downturn. The country's WTO membership has helped it attract more investment sources, with total investment across all sectors reaching the highest figure since Vietnam was admitted to the organisation. Total social investment compared to GDP reached 46.5 percent in 2007, 41.5 percent in 2008 and 43 percent in 2009.

Vietnam Short on Dollars, and Confidence, New York Times, July 8, 2010

The Ha Tam jewelry shop here sells foreign currency the way a filling station sells gasoline. So it was only seconds after pulling in on his motorbike that Quan Phan had swapped a fistful of Vietnamese dong for a neat stack of $100 bills U.S. $100 bills, to be precise. Vietnamese people always want to have dollars, Mr. Phan, an engineer, explained before rejoining a rush-hour swarm of motorbike commuters. He said he routinely converted part of his salary into greenbacks. Developing countries and these days, even developed ones like Greece and Spain constantly strive to retain the confidence of fickle foreign investors. Vietnam has a slightly different problem. Its government is struggling to restore faith among domestic investors like Mr. Phan.

Economic Strength Spreading Across Asia: HSBC Head, AFP, July 6, 2010

Asian economies will "grow pretty fast" over the next two decades, with Indonesia and Vietnam emerging as the new stars behind powerhouses China and India, HSBC chairman Stephen Green said Tuesday. "Asia is not just a Chinese story, not even just a Chinese and Indian story," Green, chairman of the Asia-focused banking giant HSBC told a financial event held in London. Look at "places like Indonesia, places like Vietnam -- (South) Korea will continue to be a power-house too -- Bangladesh is becoming a more and more interesting economy", said Green. "The East is catching up" with its Western peers, he said, adding: "We've moved from a period in the world's history where a small number of rich countries representing a maximum 10 percent of the world's population was producing and consuming 40-50 percent of the world's output."

Vietnam June Car Sales Edge Up 4 Pct yr/yr-industry, Reuters, July 7, 2010

Automakers sold 10,052 vehicles in Vietnam in June, a rise of 4 percent from the same month last year, led by Japan's Toyota Motor Corp (7203.T), an industry association said on Wednesday. Toyota surpassed domestic firm Truong Hai Auto Corporation, the top seller in May, to lead the tally with 2,905 units, up 35 percent from June 2009, the Vietnam Automobile Manufacturers' Association said in its monthly report. For the first half of 2010, the car industry in Vietnam sold 50,278 cars, up 5 percent from a year before, the association said. The six-month sales data from 16 manufacturers operating in Vietnam included sport utility and multi-purpose vehicles and crossovers as well as passenger cars. Car sales have picked up slowly along with the economy, which expanded an estimated 6.4 percent in the second quarter from a year earlier, accelerating from growth of 5.83 percent in the first three months. Car imports, which have been limited by the government as part of measures to reduce the country's trade deficit, rose 27.6 percent in the first six months of 2010 from a year earlier to $1.29 billion, government statistics show.

Food & Agriculture

Tighter Rules for Genetically-modified Crops, but Risk Not Over, Thanh Nien, July 2, 2010

Vietnam has issued a decree to tighten regulations on genetically-modified organisms and products, but experts said the measure will do little to prevent the possible harmful consequences of GMO foods. Under the Decree 69 that will take effect on August 10, all products containing more than five percent genetically-modified materials would need to be labeled as such. The packaging must also contain information about the origins and usage of the products.

Health & Life Sciences

Vietnam Hailed for Gender Equality Achievements, VOVNews, July 3, 2010

Vietnam's policy and its achievements in promoting gender equality and raising women's role and position in all fields were highly praised during a visit to Australia and New Zealand by Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan. Between June 28 and July 2, Minister Ngan, who is President of the National Committee for the Advancement of Vietnamese Women, and other senior female officials were in Australia and New Zealand to exchange experiences in the making of policy and the promotion of gender equality

ASEAN Health Officials Discuss Regional AIDS Epidemic, June 30, 2010

Health officials from the 10 Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries on Wednesday met to discuss the region's HIV/AIDS epidemic, aiming to finalise the organisation's response. Thai Public Health Ministry's deputy permanent secretary Siriwat Tiptaradol chaired the opening ceremony of the ASEAN Consultation on a Regional Framework on Greater Involvement and Empowerment of People Living with HIV meeting in the Thai capital. The meeting aimed to strengthen cooperation between ASEAN country members and networks of people living with HIV by exchanging experience and information from each country to plan and implement the regional body's response. ASEAN health officials will apply the conclusion to advance involvement and empowerment of people living with HIV, and will develop and finalise a fourth regional HIV response plan covering 2011-2015, which is the most important objective of the meeting

ICT

ASEAN Telecommunication Regulators Meet in Vietnam, Xinhua News Agency, July 7, 2010

Telecommunication regulators from member countries of the Associations of Southeast Asian Nations ( ASEAN) met here on Wednesday to share experiences and exchange information in building policies and enhancing management effectiveness. In his opening speech, Deputy Minister of Information and Telecommunications Le Nam Thang said the 16th ASEAN Telecommunication Regulators' Council Meeting serves as a place for delegates to put forward measures to strengthen cooperation among ASEAN countries in telecommunications development. The conference provides a good opportunity for ASEAN telecommunication regulators to have updates on latest achievements in technology, services, and equipment of the telecommunications area to develop the information technology and telecommunications in each member of the bloc, he said.

Infrastructure

Vietnam's Gravy Train Derailed, Asia Times, July 7, 2010

Exposing a growing rift in Vietnams one-party regime, the communist-controlled National Assembly has rejected the government's US$56 billion plan to develop a high speed north-south railway. The project, set to cost 60% of gross domestic product (GDP) and based on Japan's cutting-edge Shinkansen technology, would have cut overland travel time from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City (1,760 kilometers) from about two days to around six hours. The government has recently initiated several mega-projects, but this one was surprisingly voted down by the assembly by a 178-157 vote on June 19. The unprecedented result does not mean that Vietnam's legislature, traditionally a rubber stamp for Communist Party decisions, is evolving into an independent branch of government.

Other

PM Dung Requests Tougher Measures Against Corruption, VOVNews, July 8, 2010

The fight against corruption must be stepped up, with closer cooperation between ministries and relevant agencies, said Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung at the 13th session of the Central Steering Committee for Corruption Prevention and Control in Hanoi on Thursday. Mr Dung said anti-corruption work not only boosts economic development but also consolidates people's trust in the Party and authorities. He called for tougher measures to combat corruption, especially in the field of land management, capital construction, and investment licenses.

Tourism Industry Helps Raise Vietnam's Image, Nhan Dan, July 7, 2010

Vietnam's tourism industry has helped promote the country's image and position in the world, said a government official at a ceremony in Hanoi on July 6 to mark the 50th anniversary of the tourism industry (July 9). Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan, who is also Head of the State Steering Committee on Tourism, affirmed that the industry's growth had helped boost socio-economic development, poverty reduction and economic restructuring in localities across the country. Over the next 10 years the industry is targeted to become a mainstay of the national economy aiming to have over 60 million domestic and 10-15 million international tourists.

END MEMO

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