Finance Minister attends World Economic Forum on East Asia

Finance Minister Vu Van Ninh said Vietnam is determined to take synchronised measures to curb inflation, ensure macro-economic stability and social security, while promoting economic renewal and implementing its commitments to international integration.

Speaking at the World Economic Forum (WEF) on East Asia held in Kuala Lumpur from June 15-16, the Vietnamese finance minister said the Vietnamese government is ready to meet with domestic and foreign businesses and listen to their opinions, to create favourable conditions for foreign investors to carry out long-term projects in Vietnam.

Minister Ninh said Vietnam had obtained great achievements in the renewal process over the past 20 years, paving the way and creating new opportunities for the country to further develop.

At a time when the global economy is experiencing many changes, Vietnam is also facing a number of difficulties and challenges, the minister said.

Participants praised the prospect of Vietnam’s economic development, saying Vietnam remains an attractive investment destination with advantages in human resources, wide market and its implementation of WTO commitments. They said they hoped to invest in long-term projects in Vietnam.

During the meeting, Minister Ninh met with WEF Executive Chairman Klaus Schwab. He praised WEF for arranging a delegation of CEOs of WEF members to visit Vietnam on June 13, ahead of the WEF meeting.

The VEF Executive Chairman said the visit was successful and the delegation’s dialogue with Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan made a good impression on WEF members. He pledged to actively consider Vietnam’s proposal to hosting the WEF on East Asia in 2010.

Minister Ninh also visited and worked with a number of major Malaysian groups, including Tan Chong, Malaysia’s National Electricity Board and the Malaysia Exchange.

Euro 2008: Portugal top Group A

Second-half goals from Pepe and substitute Raul Meireles ensured Portugal got their Euro 2008 campaign off to a winning start against Turkey at the Stade de Geneve.

Man of the match Pepe sent the Portuguese fans into raptures on the hour with a well-taken goal, playing a neat one-two with captain Nuno Gomes before lifting his shot over Turkish goalkeeper Volkan Demirel.

Raul Meireles made the points safe in stoppage time when he slotted home following a quick counter-attack involving Cristiano Ronaldo and Joao Moutinho.

Two goals were enough to see Portugal move top of Group A on goal difference from Czech Republic, who edged co-hosts Switzerland 1-0 in the tournament’s curtain-raiser earlier in the day in Basle.

Czech top scorer Vaclav Sverkos poked home a scarcely deserved winner in the 70th minute. The Swiss may have lost talismanic striker Alexander Frei for the rest of the competition after he left the field with a knee injury in the 44^th minute.

Outgoing ambassador vows to strengthen ties with Vietnam

Cuban ambassador to Vietnam Jesus Aise Sotolongo paid a courtesy visit to Huynh Dam, President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee, in Hanoi on June 16 before ending his working term in Vietnam.

The Cuban diplomat said he is impressed by the warmth of the Vietnamese people during his working term. He thanked the Vietnamese Party and State for creating favourable conditions for him to fulfil tasks in the country.

He said that assuming new tasks at the Communist Party of Cuba Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations, he will continue to study Vietnam and make further contributions to strengthening relations between Vietnam and Cuba.

For his part, Mr Dam highly valued the outgoing ambassador’s contributions to the Vietnam-Cuba relationship, which has stood the test of time over the past years. He said the two countries have supported each other in the cause of national liberation in the past and national development in the present.

“The Vietnam Fatherland Front will do its utmost to promote multifaceted cooperation between Vietnam and Cuba,” said Mr Dam.

Young Vietnamese set to visit Japan on exchange

One hundred young Vietnamese people and students will leave for Japan on June 17 to join an exchange programme between Japanese and East Asian youth.

During their 10-day exchange in Japan, the young delegates will visit Tokyo, some provinces and schools in addition to joining exchange activities and meeting local people and students.

National Committee for Young People General Secretary Nguyen Viet Phat said the programme will help boost Vietnam-Japan relations and increase mutual understanding among young people in regional countries.

Between late June and mid-July, Vietnam will send 200 more young people to Japan to join the programme, he said.

The exchange visits are run through the Japan-East Asia Network of Exchange for Students and Youth, known as JENESYS programme.

JENESYS was initiated by former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at the second East Asia Summit which took place in the Philippines in early 2007.

Under the programme, which began in 2008 and will last for five years, 6,000 young people and students in East Asia will be invited to visit Japan annually.