Vietnam Prime Minister tenders condolence on Pope’s death

Wed, 04/06/2005 - 16:39

Vietnam Prime Minister Phan Van Khai on Sunday sent a message of condolence to Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Angelo Sodano on the passing of Pope John Paul II.

The same day, Spokesman Le Dzung of Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Vietnam “would like to convey deep condolences to the Vatican, the world Catholic community and all Christians in Vietnam on the passing of Pope John Paul II.”

Pope John Paul II died Saturday evening at 84 after suffering heart and kidney failure following two hospitalizations in as many months.

Vietnamese Catholics to mourn Pope for nine days

Wed, 04/06/2005 - 16:36

Vietnamese Catholics mourn the death of the late Pope John Paul during a memorial service at the St. Joseph's Cathedral in Hanoi April 6, 2005.

Vietnam eyes easier import procedures for foreign firms

Wed, 04/06/2005 - 16:34

Vietnam’s trade ministry has urged the government to allow foreign-invested companies to import production materials without having to apply for approval from concerned authorities.
Currently, a foreign enterprise needs permission from either the administration or the trade and tourism department of the industrial zone, or the province where it is located to import equipment and machines to amass company assets and materials for production.

Easy for Vietnamese firms to do business in U.S.; experts

Wed, 04/06/2005 - 16:33

Vietnamese companies will face no hurdles in doing business in the United States if they are well-prepared, American economic lawyers and experts said in a seminar April 6 in Hanoi.
Vietnamese businesses do not have to apply for a license to operate in the U.S., Ross Meador, chairman of U.S. law firm Rogers & Meador LLP, said at the seminar.

The seminar discussed business opportunities in the U.S with about 100 Vietnamese entrepreneurs in attendance.

Nation to strengthen bond with overseas Vietnamese

Wed, 04/06/2005 - 16:31

HA NOI — The millions of Vietnamese people living and working abroad are a national treasure, playing an important role in and making effective contributions to the process of building the nation of Viet Nam, said Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Phu Binh.

"We highly value the overseas Vietnamese community’s contributions to their fatherland," Binh said in a recent interview with the Associated Press.

Overseas Vietnamese encouraged to play in Vietnam

Thu, 03/31/2005 - 16:21

Overseas Vietnamese singer Duy Quang performing in the music show Duyen Dang Viet Nam
A new government directive would make it easier for overseas Vietnamese artists to return to play in Vietnam, an official said.

To receive permission to perform, an artist should submit to authorities a performance application along with verification from the organizer of their show in Vietnam, according to Mr. Le Nam, Head of the Arts Performances Management under the Ministry of Culture and Information.

Economy expands 7.2% despite droughts, avian flu, price hikes

Thu, 03/31/2005 - 11:12

HA NOI — Viet Nam’s economy managed to expand 7.2 per cent in the first quarter of this year despite prolonged droughts in the central and central highlands areas, the avian flu epidemic, and materials’ price hike, the Government said during a two-day meeting which closed yesterday in Ha Noi.

The Government’s figures matched the General Statistics Office’s report which revealed the first quarter’s growth was way lower than the Government’s full-year expectation of 8.5 per cent.

Community care to benefit 15,000 more children annually

Thu, 03/31/2005 - 11:10

HA NOI — The community-based health care and educational allowance will now benefit an additional 15,000 underprivileged Vietnamese children each year until 2010.

The expansion is part of Prime Minister Phan Van Khai’s 2005-10 project to provide community-based health care to extremely impoverished children.

Orphans, abandoned and disabled children, victims of Agent Orange/Dioxins and those infected with HIV/AIDS will benefit, receiving help with integrating into their communities, stabilising their lives and asserting their rights.

VN upbeat as WTO meeting ends

Thu, 03/31/2005 - 11:06

HA NOI — Positive results were achieved at the recent round of talks between Viet Nam, the US and Canada on the country’s accession to the World Trade Organisation (WTO), said the National Committee for International Economic Cooperation.

At the negotiations with the US, which took place in Washington from March 14 to 16, Viet Nam discussed requirements on opening the market to US goods and services that the US proposed in January.

Prime Minister receives expatriate Vietnamese Zen Master

Tue, 03/29/2005 - 14:18

Prime Minister Phan Van Khai affirmed Buddhism's close link with and contributions to the nation while talking with expatriate Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh in Hanoi on Mar. 25.

PM Khai welcomed the visit to the homeland by the Zen Master, a Buddhist monk of Vietnamese origin, who founded and is the head of Lang Mai (Plum Village) Sangha in France. Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh's visit is being made at the invitation of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha's International Religious Board.

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