Speech by Deputy Prime Minister Vu Khoan



WTO Seminar, Hanoi Aug 5-6, 2003

Ladies and Gentlemen:

First of all, on behalf of the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, I would like to highly appreciate the initiative of New York Life International and U.S. – Vietnam Trade Council, and other significant Vietnamese agencies, to cooperate in organizing this seminar on the relevant topic of Vietnam acceding membership of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

The winding road to WTO more difficult each day


VietNamNet – At the Moving towards WTO membership workshop on August 6, Demetrios J. Marantis, legal chief advisor of the Vietnam–US Trade Council said that Vietnam should accelerate its accession to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) because the path will become increasingly difficult. In addition, after the Doha round, new conditions for WTO membership may be set.

VN sets sights on WTO entry by 2005



HA NOI — Viet Nam is accelerating its negotiations to join the World Trade Organisation by 2005 to ensure greater access to overseas markets, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Khoan said on Tuesday.

Speaking at the opening of a two-day seminar about Viet Nam’s bid to join the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Khoan said the membership move would benefit enterprises and consumers, as well as restructure the whole economy.

Local shrimp exporters urged to reduce heavy reliance on America

The Sai Gon Times Daily
August 6, 2003


America's Southern Shrimp Alliance (SSA) a coalition of eight southern and eastern seaboard states may file legal action against foreign shrimp exporters, including of Vietnam, said Deputy Fisheries Minister Nguyen Thi Hong Minh.

Speaking at a conference of shrimp exporters in HCMC on Saturday, she said the best way to deal with the situation was to "cut shrimp shipments to the U. S. market."

Agent Orange fund needs more to succour sufferers



HA NOI — The Fund for Agent Orange Victims has spent up to VND23 billion (US$1.5 million) to help people across the country, since it was established five years ago, its director Le The Son said last Friday.

"The money has helped improve living conditions for 220,429 agent orange victims. Among them, 91,000 were given free treatment, and 1,350 received plastic surgery and rehabilitation."

Foreign volunteers go green in Viet Nam


TAY NINH — Foreign volunteers from Belgium, the Netherlands and Spain have joined Vietnamese students on the former battleground of Tay Ninh Province to share a "green summer" doing voluntary work and learning about Viet Nam.

On the fourth day of their visit, a bus took them and their Vietnamese friends to the remote commune of Thach Duc in Tay Ninh Province.

After passing through a rubber plantation, the bus reached a concrete bridge.

President commends retiree for helping find soldiers' remains


(07/25/2003 -- 23:08GMT+7)

Ha Noi, July 25 (VNA) - State President Tran Duc Luong has sent a letter of commendation and a gift to Doan Van Liu for helping more than 600 families of soldiers find the remains of their relatives.

Nguyen Quoc Trieu, Vice Chairman of the Ha Noi People's Committee, on Friday presented the letter and gift to Liu at his home on Kham Thien street, Ha Noi.

Viet Nam actively contributes to ASEM activities, says FM


(07/25/2003 -- 22:42GMT+7)

Jakarta, July 25 (VNA)- Viet Nam, in its capacity as a coordinator and the host country of the ASEM (Asia-Europe Meeting) Summit in 2004 "has been making active contributions to ASEM's activities," Foreign Minister Nguyen Dy Nien told the press in Bali, Indonesia, where he attended the fifth ASEM foreign ministers' meeting on July 23-24.

Vietnam eases foreign ownership rules


By Amy Kazmin
Financial Times; Jul 22, 2003


Vietnam has eased restrictions on foreign ownership of listed companies as part as an effort to stimulate interest in the country's three-year-old equity market.

Prime Minister Phan Van Khai approved an increase in the foreign ownership of listed companies to 30 per cent, addressing a Vietnamese legal anomaly that allowed foreign investors to hold up to 30 per cent of unlisted enterprises, but capped their holdings in listed firms at 20 per cent.

Foreign lawyers permitted to operate in Viet Nam


(07/24/2003 -- 12:34GMT+7)

Ha Noi, July 24 (VNA) - Foreign lawyers' organisations and foreign lawyers are now allowed to operate in Viet Nam under a decree signed on Tuesday by Prime Minister Phan Van Khai.

This decree stipulates that the Vietnamese Government will ensure non-discrimination among foreign lawyers' organisations and foreign lawyers practising in Viet Nam and will protect their ownership of their investment capital and other legal interests.

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