Vietnam’s wooden furniture sales to U.S. surge

Vietnam’s wooden interior furniture exports to the U.S. have risen substantially in the last three years and the trend continues in the first few months of this year, according to U.S. figures.
In the first two months of 2005, Vietnam’s wooden furniture sales to the U.S. hit 103 million USD, up roughly 174 per cent over last year’s same period, says figures of the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC).

In 2001, sales were only 13 million USD, but topped 374 million USD in 2004, ITC sources say. In the last year, exports grew by 111 per cent from the previous year.

WTO entry will boost Vietnam’s economic reforms; U.S. official

Vietnam needs to take advantage of the chance to enter the World Trade Organization to accelerate its economic reforms, the U.S. State Department’s No. 2 figure said May 6 during his visit to Vietnam.
WTO accession will give a boost to Vietnam’s economic reforms as it helps facilitate investment and business, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick told a news conference in Hanoi.

He said if Vietnam liberated the services sector, an adequate infrastructure would be established to help develop the economy.

Vietnam’s WTO talks making progress; U.S. official

Vietnam is "making progress" on its negotiations for membership to the World Trade Organization, remarked U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Robert B. Zoellick before his visit to Vietnam on May 5.
The two-day stop in Vietnam is part of Mr. Zoellick’s 10-day Southeast Asian tour that also includes Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and the Philippines, according to the U.S. State Department.

In Vietnam, the U.S. State Department's No. 2 official will observe the 10th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Open Letter of the Vietnam-USA Society

NB: On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the end of the war, the Vietnam-USA Society has publicized the following open letter.

Open Letter of the Vietnam-USA Society

Thirty years ago, the war ended and peace was restored in Vietnam. This made it possible to open up a new stage in Vietnam-US relations.

Women entrepreneurs gather

HA NOI — Businesswomen of Viet Nam and the US kicked off the first meeting yesterday in Ha Noi to seek partnership for trade and investment opportunities.

One-hundred and fifty businesswomen, 17 from the US, joined the Viet Nam-US Women Entrepreneurs Conference, which was hosted by the Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI)’s Vietnamese Women Entrepreneurs Council (VWEC) and the US’s Committee of 200 (C200).

First Vietnamese PM to visit U.S. after Vietnam War

Prime Minister Phan Van Khai will make a historic visit to the U.S. soon, the first by a Vietnamese leader in 30 years, to mark 10 years since the two countries resumed diplomatic ties, a diplomat confirmed recently.

Speaking in an interview with Thanh Nien, Deputy Foreign Minister Le Van Bang said he had just returned from a two-week trip to the U.S. in preparation for PM Khai’s visit.

The diplomat hinted that the visit would perhaps take place in two or three months.

US naval ship makes port call in Vietnam

A US Navy vessel docked at the Saigon port in Ho Chi Minh City at noon Mar. 29 for a five-day visit aimed at boosting bilateral relations between Vietnam and the US.

The USS Gary (FFG 51) marked the third visit by a US military vessel to Vietnam since the end of the Vietnam War, following the USS Vandegrift’s visit to Ho Chi Minh City in November 2003 and the USS Curtis Wilbur’s visit to Da Nang in July 2004.

US sponsor HCMC healthcare consulting-room

An outpatients’ consultation room for people living with HIV/AIDS in a HCMC Hospital was inaugurated Mar. 25 under sponsorship from a US partner, reported the hospital authorities.

The US Center for Disease Control and Prevention signed an agreement with the HCMC Tropical Diseases Hospital to offer the financial assistance estimated at VND1billion per year to undertake the project.

The consulting-room is designed for medical examinations, treatment, and medicinal therapy for people living with HIV/AIDS.

US veterans congratulates Vietnam on war-end anniversary

American veterans have drafted an open letter to the people of Vietnam conveying congratulations on the 30th anniversary of the Southern Liberation Day (April 30).

The veterans have also recently begun a campaign to collect online signatures for the official letter annoucement on the occassion.

Chuck Searcy, Vice President of Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, and other American veterans have scripted the 30th anniversary message commerating the end of the war.

Peter Yarrow to perform in Hanoi

The renowned U.S. folk singer Peter Yarrow of the legendary band Peter, Paul & Mary will give a special concert at the Hanoi Opera House to raise funds for Vietnamese Agent Orange victims next Tuesday night.

All tickets to the performance are complimentary and can be obtained at the American Chamber of Commerce at the Hilton Hotel in Hanoi.

At the Vietnamese concert, Yarrow will perform his own songs like Puff, the Magic Dragon; Weave Me the Sunshine; Day is Done; River of Jordan; Sweet Survivor; and Music Speaks Louder Than Words.

Pages