Best weakness to say in an interview

Weak legal system may slow foreign investment (08-10-2005) HCM CITY — A weak legal system and poor enforcement of laws could slow the pace of foreign investment, said an Australian lawyer who spoke yesterday at an international trade conference in HCM City. "Despite wide-ranging economic reforms aimed at encouraging foreign investment, Viet Nam remains a difficult investment environment," said Robert Winter, chairman for international law at the Queensland Law Society in Australia. The conference was organised by the city Bar Association and the Law Association for Asia Pacific (Lawasia). About 300 lawyers, Government and corporate representatives are participating in the two-day event, the first such event held by Lawasia in Viet Nam. Attendees include 100 lawyers from 25 countries and territories, including Cambodia, Laos, China, Japan, Australia, the US and Viet Nam. Though the investment climate needs improvement, Winter said the economy has strong … [Read more...] about Weak legal system may slow foreign investment

Party examines strengths, weaknesses of nation’s media (09-01-2007) QUANG NINH — The Party and State have always regarded highly the media’s position and role in the society and provided effective support, said To Huy Rua, Secretary of the Party Central Committee and Head of the PCC Commission for Ideology and Culture, in the northern city of Ha Long, yesterday. Addressing a meeting to review the strengths and weakness of the media over the last two years and its role in reporting major events in 2007, Rua called on leaders of various media organisations to critically draw from lessons of the past and put forward innovative measures to further develop the nation’s media. Over the last two years, the Party Politburo had issued announcements 162 and 41 to strengthen media’s role in the society following Party guidelines, Rua said. In his report on implementing the Party’s Announcement 162, Hong Vinh, Deputy Head of the PCC Commission on Ideology and Culture, lauded … [Read more...] about Party examines strengths, weaknesses of nation’s media

The Chiếc Bridge in Thường Tín District. — Photo ktdt.vn HÀ NỘI – Hà Nội Urban Traffic Works Investment Management Board has proposed the city allocate fund to upgrade eight weak bridges. In 2011, the municipal People’s Committee was approved to appoint contractors to build or upgrade 34 bridges in the city. The projects were deemed urgent to ensure traffic flow and safety, yet not all the bridges have received upgrades. After six years of implementation, 16 bridges have been reported as downgraded. Of those, eight were seriously weak, including Chiếc Bridge in Thường Tín District, Suối Hai 1 in Ba Vì District, Phú Tiên Bridge in Hà Nam District, Hạ Dục in Chương Mỹ District, Gốm in Chương Mỹ District, Hồng Phú in Thanh Oai District, Phú Thứ in Thạch Thất District and Ái Mỗ in Sơn Tây Town. These bridges have a high usage rate, causing traffic congestion and danger, especially during stormy season. Management units have installed warning signals on … [Read more...] about Eight weak bridges in dire need of repairs

Workshop "International Best Practices in Seed Governance" in Hà Nội on Tuesday. - Photo courtersy of World Bank Viet Nam News HÀ NỘI — Developing high quality, climate resilient seeds and making them available in the market under a strong and holistic legal framework would greatly benefit farmers and be critical in transforming the agricultural sector, Hoàng Văn Thắng, vice minister at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), said. According to the World Bank, the agricultural sector in the Mekong region has been focusing on quantity, however, quality is imperative to improve productivity and income, thus contributing to food security and economic growth. D espite the region being a large exporter of key products such as rice, coffee, pepper and cashew, Mekong agricultural products are known for their poor quality and reduced price on the global market. With a limited legal framework, it is challenging to ensure quality … [Read more...] about Seeds’ quality, not quantity, crucial for agricultural development, workshop says

Many suspension bridges’ banisters were rusty and broken, while their body leaned at an angle and the background was decayed. — Photo tapchigiaothong.vn Viet Nam News KON TUM — A plan to repair 44 of the weakest suspension bridges in the Kon Tum Central Highlands province was unveiled by provincial transport authorities. Phan Mười, deputy director of the provincial Department of Transport, said that the department forwarded a proposal to the provincial people’s committee to use funds from different sources to repair the weak suspension bridges. He also said more warning signs would be installed at the damaged suspension bridges to prohibit people from crossing them. As many as 110 of 290 suspension bridges in the province were damaged and unsafe for this year’s flood season, the department said. However, local residents do not have any choice but to continue using the suspension bridges as there are no alternatives. Observations made by a correspondent for Transport … [Read more...] about Kon Tum to repair weak suspension bridges

The inside of an old apartment building in District 5 of HCM City. Only eight out of the 25 very seriously degraded high-rise apartment buildings in the city were razed in 2011 to 2015. — Photo baodatviet.vn HCM CITY (VNS) — Only eight out of the 25 very seriously degraded high-rise apartment buildings in HCM City were razed in 2011 to 2015. Pham Van Khuong and his family started living in Ngo Gia Tu apartments in District 10 in 1971 when it was a dream address for many people. But it has now become a nightmare because the building is decrepit, its walls have cracks, every house gets wet when it rains and some staircases are weak and potentially very dangerous and have portions cordoned off. It was built in 1968 on marshy land, and has gradually sunk with time. Khuong said: "We are very nervous to live in such a run-down apartment. We cannot repair or upgrade it ourselves and hope to move out as soon as possible." The situation is the same at most of the other apartments … [Read more...] about HCM City late to bring down weak buildings

HA NOI — The new Chinese Ambassador to Viet Nam, Kong Xuanyou, has pledged to do his utmost to develop the comprehensive, strategic, co-operative partnership between China and Viet Nam. In an interview with the Vietnam News Agency, the Ambassador said his first impression of Viet Nam was the great changes in Ha Noi from five years ago and the hard working spirit of the Vietnamese people. "Reality has proven that the choice made by the Vietnamese leaders is correct and suitable with the situation, thus receiving wide support of the Vietnamese people," he said. Kong said after arriving in Viet Nam, he had paid courtesy visits to Viet Nam's leaders and ministries and agencies and he had perceived the determination of the Vietnamese Party and Government to promote the China-Viet Nam strategic co-operative partnership. Regarding the outcomes of co-operation between Viet Nam and China and prospects for bilateral relations, the Chinese Ambassador said under the motto of … [Read more...] about Chinese envoy pledges to try best to develop VN-China ties

BAC LIEU — The National Assembly chairman and deputy head of the sub-committee for Political Platform and Reports, Nguyen Phu Trong, is currently on a working visit to the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta province of Bac Lieu. In his meeting with the Bac Lieu Provincial Party Committee yesterday, Trong said the focus of the upcoming National Party Congress, which is scheduled to be held in early 2011, would be lessons learned over the last 20 years of doi moi (renewal) and the implementation of the Party’s and Government’s policies and guidelines on industrialisation. “Lessons learned in implementing the Party’s platform in national construction during the transitional period towards socialism and 10 years of implementing the socio-economic strategy [2001-2010] will be highlighted at the Party congress,” Trong said. He said he wanted to hear opinions or suggestions from provincial Party leaders on what has been going well and badly, as well as law enforcement. Trong noted the great … [Read more...] about NA Chairman says lessons learned ‘great help to Party’

HA NOI — Viet Nam is committed to protecting intellectual property rights in accordance with the law, said President Nguyen Minh Triet yesterday. He was speaking during a meeting with the General Director of the World Intellectual Property Organ-isation, Francis Gurry. But he admitted the nation was still weak in enforcement and human resources and therefore expected to receive continuing support from WIPO, with Viet Nam and intellectual property organisation working closely together for more effective and practical outcomes in the protection of intellectual property rights. The Vietnamese State encouraged and created favourable conditions for intellectuals to contribute to national development, Triet said. World Intellectual Property Association would be willing to assist Viet Nam improve the capacity of agencies and personnel on the issue, Gurry said. Gurry hailed Viet Nam’s co-operation with WIPO in intellectual property rights protection and the country’s proper … [Read more...] about Intellectual property will be protected, says VN President

HA NOI — National Assembly lawmakers are urging the Government to redouble its efforts to bring inflation back down to single-digit levels, even if it means sacrificing a high economic growth rate in 2012. The call was made by deputies during discussions yesterday. "It's not necessary to increase the rate of growth in gross domestic product (GDP) to 6 or 6.5 per cent next year," said deputy Mai Huu Tinh who represents the southern province of Binh Duong. "The far more important task is lowering the annual inflation rate to below 10 per cent." This year's inflation rate is now expected to exceed 18 per cent, compared to an already-high 12 per cent last year. GDP is expected to grow this year by 6 per cent, below last year's rate of 6.78 per cent. Growth averaged 5.43 per cent in the first quarter, 5.67 per cent in the second quarter, and 6.11 per cent in the third quarter of this year. Deputy Truong Minh Hoang from Ca Mau Province said the Government should even … [Read more...] about ‘Put inflation above growth’ say deputies