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At the talks between Vice Chairman of the Vietnamese National Assembly Nguyen Khac Dinh his Lao counterpart Chaleun Yiapaoher in Viantiane on July 4 (Photo: VNA)

Lao leaders highly value legislative cooperation with Vietnam

A visiting delegation from the Vietnamese National Assembly (NA), led by Vice Chairman Nguyen Khac Dinh, paid courtesy calls to Party General Secretary and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith in Vientiane on July 5 and Lao NA President Xaysomphone Phomvihane a day earlier.

At the meetings, the hosts expressed their gratitude and sincere thanks to the Vietnamese Party, State, and people for their consistent, substantial, effective, and timely support to Laos in the past and in the current national construction and defense efforts.

They affirmed support for the sides in further implementing their memorandum of understanding on cooperation, exchanging all-level delegations, as well as monitoring and promoting the implementation of decrees, agreements, and accords signed by the two Governments.

The Lao Party General Secretary and President said he supports the two legislatures' initiative on compiling and publishing a book on their five-decade relations, cited VNA.

He called on the Vietnamese NA to keep sharing its experience with the Lao counterpart in Constitution amendment and bilateral cooperation. The leader also expressed his hope for the Vietnamese NA’s support to and experience sharing with Laos that is assuming the 2024 Chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA)’s 45th General Assembly.

Sisoulith said he is confident that the Vietnamese NA will continue to promote the organization and implementation of cooperation documents between the two Governments, as well as between central and local agencies, to help enhance bilateral economic, trade, and investment cooperation, making it match the Vietnam-Laos political relations.

For his part, Dinh said that his visit is to implement the two NAs’ cooperation agreement, with a focus on sharing information and experiences of Vietnam in amending the Constitution, as well as in law making and revision, and legislative research.

He affirmed Vietnam is ready to support Laos in effectively assuming the ASEAN/AIPA Chairmanship this year, thereby enhancing its role and position in the region and the world.

Also on July 5, the two NAs held a workshop on legislative research, while Dinh and his Lao counterpart Chaleun Yiapaoher held talks on July 4.

UOB maintains Vietnam’s growth forecast at 6% this year

The Singaporean-based United Overseas Bank (UOB) maintained its growth forecast for Vietnam at 6 percent for 2024.

Vietnam's manufacturing and services sectors continued to drive most business activities, while foreign trade remained robust in the second quarter, according to UOB's report Global Economics & Market Research Unit.

The increase in semiconductor sales since mid-2023 indicates that this momentum may persist for another 1-2 quarters, according to VGP.

Photo: VGP

Notably, the analysts said most foreign investors have a positive long-term outlook for Vietnam. This is evidenced by the 13.1 percent year-on-year increase to US$15.2 billion in registered foreign direct investment (FDI) in the first six months.

Vietnam's GDP expanded by 6.42 per cent year-on-year in the first half of this year, the General Statistics Office (GSO) reported.

In comparison with the figures recorded in the same period during the 2020-2024 period, the above growth pace is only lower than the first half of 2022.

Vietnam's GDP growth accelerated to 6.93 percent in the second quarter from 5.66 percent in the previous quarter.

The Government targets to boost GDP growth to 6-6.5 percent in 2024 from 5.05 percent in 2023.

Da Nang seeks to boost collaboration with Japanese partners​

The “Da Nang – Japan Meeting” conference on prospects for cooperation after the two countries upgrade their relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in Asia and the World was held in the central city of Da Nang on July 5.

Addressing the event, Deputy Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Tran Chi Cuong said Da Nang, one of the five centrally-run cities of Vietnam, is striving to become one of the major socio-economic centers of the country and Southeast Asia in term of start-ups, innovation, tourism, trade, finance, logistics, high-tech industries, information technology, supporting industries, and smart city, among others.

Towards that goal, the city considers integration and connectivity with the region and the world as one of the most effective ways to boost development, the official said, stressing that Da Nang has identified Japan as one of the potential markets that can provide the growth resources that Da Nang needs.

The city's leadership has always advocated and facilitated partnership across the fields with Japanese organizations, localities and businesses, he said.

Cuong highlighted that Da Nang has established official friendship and cooperation with four Japanese cities - Kawasaki, Sakai, Yokohama, Kisarazu - and cooperative relations with 20 other provinces and cities. Japan is the biggest investor in Da Nang in terms of registered investment capital, with more than 1.14 billion USD in 261 projects.

Last year, Da Nang exported US$650 million worth of goods to Japan and imported US$50 million worth of products from the East Asian country, VNA reported.

Delegates at the conference (Photo: VNA)

The conference was held with the aim of boosting connectivity and attracting investment in the fields of high-tech industry, digital technology, green technology, electronics, microchips and semiconductors, human resources, and more, he affirmed.

Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Ito Naoki said that the relationship between the two countries was upgraded to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in Asia and the world in 2023, and it is important that the two countries concretise the partnership into extensive cooperation activities in many fields.

The ambassador stated that the Japanese government supports the "Japan-Vietnam Joint Initiative" program, a cooperation framework between the two governments and businesses that was launched in March 2024 with focus on expanding investment in high-tech and information technology and human resources development.

Participants at the event introduced potential, strengths, investment climate and policies of the two sides in several areas.

Vietnam introduces products at Food and Drink Malaysia 2024

Vietnam joined China, the Republic of Korea, Thailand, Japan, Turkey, India, France, the Philippines, Russia and several other Central Asia countries to showcase products at Food & Drink Malaysia 2024 held in Kuala Lumpur from July 2-4.

Vietnamese businesses displayed products such as assorted dried fruits, durian and honey flavored tea/coffee, seasoned cashew nuts, and canned drinks at five pavilions.

According to Le Phu Cuong, Vietnamese Trade Counselor in Malaysia, Vietnamese businesses participating in this fair all wanted to connect directly with import, distribution, wholesale and retail businesses in Malaysia and the region.

The Vietnam Trade Office therefore connected Vietnamese businesses, especially those that have been granted halal certificates with Malaysian businesses through B2B matching sessions in an effort to bring Vietnamese products to all retail stores of Malaysia, cited VOV.

A Vietnamese pavilion at Ifood Expo Malaysia 2024. (Photo: VNA)

The Trade office had a working session with the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM) at the exhibition to help remove obstacles for Vietnamese businesses with regard to halal certification, making it easier for them to access the Muslim market.

Food & Drinks Malaysia (FDM) is a B2B trade fair, serving as a gathering for leading food and beverage industry professionals from around the world. It serves as a gateway to global markets, and also a platform for businesses to network and build relationships with leaders in the food and beverage industry, fostering potential collaborations and partnerships.

Ninh Binh tour among best travel experiences for 2024: TripAvisor

Full-day Ninh Binh highlights tour from Hanoi has been named among the best travel experiences in the world for 2024 by the world's largest travel guidance platform TripAdvisor.

According to the platform's Travelers' Choice Awards Best of the Best Things to Do 2024, skip the hassle of piecing together boats and bike rentals and savor Ninh Binh's highlights on this guided door-to-door experience.

"Visitors will visit Hoa Lu, once capital of Vietnam, explore Mua Cave and take in views from the mountain above, ride a boat through the Tam Coc caves, and cycle through the fields to Bich Dong Pagoda cave temples. The trip includes a restaurant lunch and small-group transfers by limousine minivan," TripAvisor recommended.

Photo: VGP

Earlier, the northern province of Ninh Binh has been listed among the top 3 most welcoming destinations in Vietnam, as online booking platform Booking.com announced its 10 friendliest destinations in Vietnam in 2024.

In 2023, Ninh Binh won the Tourist Review Award, entering the top 10 friendliest destinations in the world. The U.S.'s Forbes magazine voted Ninh Binh as one of the 23 most worth visiting destinations in the world. In April, 2024, Ninh Binh was placed fourth in the "Top 10 Crowd-Free New Wonders of the World".

Ninh Binh is a province located in the northern region of Vietnam, approximately 90 kilometers south of Hanoi. It is famed for its stunning natural beauty, rich history, and unique cultural heritage, cited VGP.

It boasts many popular tourist attractions, such as the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Trang An Landscape Complex, the stunning Tam Coc, and the breathtaking Bai Dinh Pagoda.

The provincial Tourism Department announced that in the first six months of 2024, Ninh Binh attracted more than 6.28 million visitors, a year-on-year increase of 38.47 percent.

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