Current events
· Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung received World Bank Country Director in Vietnam (All dailies, p1).
· The second working day of the 3 rd session of the 12 th National Assembly: the Government submitted three draft laws (Nhan dan, p1).
· The Vietnamese representative delegation to the United Nations: Vietnam pledges to execute resolutions of the UN Security Council on counter-terrorism and the non-proliferation of mass destruction weapons (Nhan dan, p8).
Socio-Economic Affairs
· National Assembly deputies: Resolved to take concerted efforts to curb inflation, stabilise the macro economy and ensure social security and sustainable economic development (Nhan dan and Quan doi Nhan dan, p1).
· Vietnam provides 220,000 USD in emergency relief for Myanmar to overcome the aftermaths of cyclone Nargis (Nhan dan, p1).
· 400 billion VND earmarked to help businesses stabilise prices (Nhan dan, p1).
· Garments and textiles export turnover reaches 2.6 billion USD (Nhan dan, p1).
· Aviation cooperation between Cambodia , Laos and Vietnam (Nhan dan, p7).
· The US Department of Commerce affirmed that Vietnam did not dump its textiles and apparels in the US (Nhan dan and Quan doi Nhan dan, p8).
· Forming universities of international standards in Vietnam (Nhan dan, p8).
· Chairman of the US-ASEAN Business Council: “ Vietnam is still an appealing investment destination” (Quan doi Nhan dan, p7).
· The US-based Oracle company cooperates with Vietnam in information technology training (Quan doi Nhan dan, p8).
· Adjusting Hanoi ’s border line seen from the geographical angle (Lao dong, p4).
· 2008 United Nations Days of Vesak’s great musical festival (Lao dong, p5).
· Vietnam enjoys good ODA attraction, according to the Ministry of Planning and Investment (Ha Noi Moi, p1).
· Upgrading the Noi Bai International Airport to increase its capacity to 50 million passengers per year (Ha Noi Moi, p1).
· Vietnamese real estate market’s attraction is still strong (Ha Noi Moi, p1).
· It is necessary to strive for high and reasonable growth (Thoi bao Kinh te Vietnam [Vietnam Economic Times], No. 110, p3). An interview with National Assembly Deputy Chairman Nguyen Duc Kien.
· Developing border gate economic zones: forming a strong economic belt (Thoi bao Kinh te Vietnam , No. 110, p5). The Prime Minister has approved a plan to develop border gate EZs of Vietnam until 2020, under which four more border EZs will be established by 2015, bringing the total number to 27.
· Standard & Poor has cut down on Vietnam ’s credit prospect rating (Thoi bao Kinh te Vietnam , No. 110, p9). It is considered the first important sign of world observers’ anxiety about the overheating economy of Vietnam .
· Holding breath to wait for the State Bank (Dien dan Doanh nghiep [Business Forum], No. 37, p6). With the aim to control exchange rate and curb inflation, the State Bank of Vietnam is likely to continue to buy foreign currency to help reduce the VND/USD exchange rate and withdraw more Vietnamese dong from circulation, which is estimated to amount to 10 trillion VND.
· The apartment markets in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City move in opposite directions (Tien phong [Vanguard], No. 128, p5). According to CB Richard Ellis, an international real estate service provider, office for lease market continues to bustle with prices increasing by between 20-25 percent in comparison with late 2007. Price of apartments in Hanoi remain stable, which is contrary to price drops in a number of areas in Ho Chi Minh City . Foreign investors showed optimism about the market’s long-term development.
· Foreign investors are allowed to own a maximum of 40 percent of stake in aluminium projects (Dau tu [Investment], No. 55, p1). The Prime Minister has allowed the Vietnam Coal and Minerals Group to establish joint stock aluminium production companies.
· Construction of Nghi Son Oil Refinery will kick off on May 10 (Dau tu, No 55, p1).
· It is difficult to keep USD deposit interest rate stable (Dau tu, No. 55, p7). According to a number of banks, it is difficult to keep USD deposit interest rate at 6 percent per year due to businesses’ increasing demand for foreign currency loans and scarce USD supply.
International Affairs
· Dmitry Medvedev officially took up office as Russian President (All dailies, p8).
· US Presidential election: The Democratic Party has yet to select its presidential candidate (Nhan dan, p8).
· Striving to surmount the aftermaths of cyclone Nargis in Myanmar (Nhan dan, p8).
· Crude oil price hit a record of nearly 123 USD per barrel (Nhan dan, p8).
· China , Japan affirmed their strategic partnership (Quan doi Nhan dan, p8).
· Thailand gives up a plan to set up an association of rice exporting countries (Quan doi Nhan dan, p8).-Enditem
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