President Tran Dai Quang begins State visit to JapanPresident Tran Dai Quang and his spouse arrived in Tokyo at noon on May 29, beginning a State-level visit to Japan which will last until June 2. President Tran Dai Quang was greeted at the Haneda International AirportThe Vietnamese President was greeted at Haneda International Airport with a 21-gun salute. President’s upcoming visit to Japan expected to lift two-way tradePresident Tran Dai Quang’s State visit to Japan from May 29 – June 2 is expected to breath new life into bilateral trade in the near future. Most imports were machinery and equipment (675 million USD); computers, electronics and spare parts (392 million USD) and iron and steel (203 million USD). President Tran Dai Quang and his spouse at Haneda airport, TokyoA welcome ceremony is held for President Tran Dai Quang and his spouse at Haneda airportPresident Tran Dai Quang is welcomed by Vietnamese embassy staff and Vietnamese people living in JapanPresident Tran Dai Quang is welcomed at the airportVNA

Vietnamese people may have to miss World Cup 2018The 2018 football World Cup will start in three weeks, but Vietnam has yet to officially announce to own broadcasting rights. World Cup 2018 will take place in next three weeks (June 14 - July 15). Photo: vtc.vnAccording to thethaovanhoa.vn, information from Vietnam Television (VTV) on May 22 affirmed that the television owns the $8-million TV rights to broadcast the 2018 World Cup. Newswire thethaovanhoa.vn stated that the distributor of the World Cup’s TV rights, Infront Sports & Media AG, has asked for $10.3 million from the Vietnamese television company. Four years ago, Infront Sport & Media used to ask for $14 million for broadcasting rights of the 2014 World Cup, but VTV paid only $7 million after eight months of negotiation.

Medical students, lecturers discourage illegal wildlife productsVietNamNet Bridge – Students and lecturers from five of Vietnam’s traditional medicine universities developed communications strategies to combat the use of illegal wildlife products in traditional medicinal treatments. “We are committed to ensuring that traditional medicine continues to be practised in Vietnam in accordance with the law and sustainable principles. The lecturers and students were given communication guidelines and suggested activities to help them formulate effective strategies to deter the use of illegal wildlife products in formal prescriptions by traditional medicine practitioners and dispensaries to customers. The workshop highlighted recent research findings that identified the traditional medicine sector as a priority sector in the fight against illegal wildlife trade. It is hoped that through such sessions, future traditional medicine practitioners can promote legal, sustainable and socially responsible practices for sourcing and prescriptions.

NA report shows SOEs debts in the quadrillionsThe report of the supervision board of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) shows that the public sector owed VND1.6 quadrillion (nearly $73 billion) between 2011 and 2016. According to the report, the efficiency of SOEs is low compared to private and foreign-invested enterprises. Total assets and capital increased, but revenue and pre-tax profit rose very slowly (by around 3 per cent annually). According to the report, 571 SOEs have been equitised in the last six years. The ratio of state capital held in joint stock companies is still high.

N Korea official Kim Yong-chol 'heads to US for talks'One of Kim Jong-un's most senior officials is thought to be travelling to the US, as preparations for a possible historic summit gather pace. South Korean news agency Yonhap said Gen Kim Yong-chol was due to arrive in the US on Wednesday, via Beijing. If confirmed, the visit would be part of a flurry of activity ahead of the proposed meeting between Mr Kim and US President Donald Trump. He would be the most high profile North Korean official to visit the US since 2000. Also on Tuesday, a "pre-advance" team from the US was due to meet North Korean officials in Singapore, said US officials.

Despite dropping revenue in China, Honda remains strong in VietnamDespite a huge reduction in revenue in China due to engine errors affecting CR-V and Civic vehicles, Honda is still doing well in Vietnam based on its market shares in the motorbike and car segments, with a new record in car sales. However, despite taking up 70 per cent of the motorbike market, Honda Vietnam has to admit that its Honda Ending Authorised Dealers (HEAD) have been selling its motorbikes above the price set by Honda Vietnam for many years, an issue which is difficult to resolve. Honda only proposes prices, and has no right to influence HEADs,” said Toshio Kuwahara, general director of Honda Vietnam. Despite that, Honda Vietnam could not avoid the Chinese subsidiary’s troubles, which came after the February recall of 350,000 CR-V and Civic cars to check engine errors. The number of CR-V vehicles sold in March was 916, far lower than the 14,360 in the same period last year.

Wooden furniture manufacturers fear material shortagesVietNamNet Bridge - Though exports have been growing well, concern still exists because wooden furniture industry is in need of materials. Wooden furniture manufacturers expect another prosperous year in 2018 as demand is predicted to continue to increase globally. A director of a wooden furniture company confirmed there are more clients from the two markets this year as European and American importers have shifted orders to Vietnamese enterprises instead of Chinese firms. However, to obtain such high export turnover, Vietnam would need a large amount of materials. RELATED NEWSChanges in target markets worry wooden furniture exportersWooden furniture manufacturers beg for supportMai Thanh

Deputy PM orders probe into official’s quick promotionVietNamNet Bridge – Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh has ordered the Ministry of Home Affairs to investigate the quick promotion of the youngest deputy chief of staff of the national anti-smuggling committee. Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh has ordered investigation into the quick promotion of Vu Hung Son, the youngest deputy chief of staff of the national anti-smuggling committee. The investigation results should be reported to Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc by June 15. He was also allowed by the incumbent industry and trade minister Tran Tuan Anh to work in the 389 Committee. The committee’s deputy head cum finance minister Dinh Tien Dung approved Son’s position in the committee this March.

Vietnam boosts defence partnership with UK, Israel, South AfricaDeputy Defence Minister Seninor Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh hosted a reception for UK Ambassador to Vietnam Giles Lever in Hanoi on May 28, during which he highlighted major strides in bilateral defence cooperation. He noted that defence relations between Vietnam and the UK have grown on par with their strategic partnership. He hoped bilateral defence cooperation will thrive further through high-level delegation exchanges and deputy ministerial defence policy dialogue. The same day, Deputy Defence Minister Vinh received Israeli Ambassador to Vietnam Nadav Eshcar, who described defence relations as an important factor to enhance bilateral rapport. This will help reinforce the bilateral defence partnership in line with the sound relations between Vietnam and South Africa, he added.-VNA

Ministry of Public Security proposes measures to curb child sexual abuseThe Ministry of Public Security have proposed measures to deal with the sharply-rising child sexual abuse in Vietnam, including the launch of hotlines and email contact points, to provide legal consultation and assistance to victims. Child sexual abuse on the rise in Vietnam (Illustrative photo)According to the ministry, child sexual abuse has been on the rise across the country, with many cases remaining unreported. Meanwhile, most child sexual abuse offenders are relatives and acquaintances of victims’ families. The Ministry of Public Security has recommended the launch of hotlines and emails to receive the public’s report on child sexual abuse cases as well as provide legal consultation and assistance to victims. The Ministry of Public Security will tightly co-operate with the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, the Vietnam Women’s Union and Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union to address child abuse cases.

Two whales stranded on Quang Ngai beachTwo whales have been stranded in separate incidents on a beach in the central province of Quang Ngai’s Binh Son District over the past five days. The 300-kilo whale stranded on Quang Ngai beach on May 27On May 27, fishermen in Le Thuy Village, Binh Tri Commune detected three whales near the beach. The 2.5-metre whale weighed more than 300 kilos. This was the second whale found on the beach in Binh Son District in the past five days. Earlier on May 23, fishermen in Binh Thuan Commune, Binh Son District discovered a three-metre long whale that weighed 350 kilos.

Exhibition marks 70 years of patriotic emulationVietNamNet Bridge – A photo exhibition opened yesterday on Hanoi’s Trang Tien Street to mark the 70th anniversary celebration of President Ho Chi Minh’s June 11, 1948 appeal for patriotic emulation. The event marks the 70th anniversary celebration of President Ho Chi Minh’s June 11, 1948 appeal for patriotic emulation. — VNA/VNS PhotosTran Thi Ha, head of the CCER, said that in the past 70 years, the movements of patriotic emulation have encouraged Vietnamese people to overcome challenges and fulfill their tasks towards socio-economic development. Nurturing the youth: President Ho Chi Minh with outstanding students from the Trung Vuong Primary School on May 19, 1958. To encourage the nation to contribute to the revolution, President Ho Chi Minh made an appeal for patriotic work emulation on June 11, 1948.

Arboreal garageFor the last 25 years, Ho Minh Tam – a resident of Tuong Hiep Binh Ward, Thu Dau Mot City in southern province of Binh Duong – has kept his motorbike in a special garage: an aged tree in his garden. The tree roots have held the motorbike tighter and tighter ever since he leaned it against the tree years ago, when he started selling duck soup in his garden and wanted more space for his business. Tam said that at that time, the motorbike could run well but his family did not use it. He leaned it on the tree day after day and then, some small roots appeared and grasped the motorbike. Some people are willing to pay VNĐ80-90 million (US$3,500-3,900) for the tree and the motorbike but Tam refuses to sell it.

The ASEAN group comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam. Nguyen Duc Thanh, Director of the Viet Nam Institute for Economic and Policy Research (VEPR) said through the report, Viet Nam gets an insight into ASEAN and the Northeast Asian countries - China, Japan and the RoK. "Bridging ASEAN" was hosted by Standard Chartered Bank in collaboration with the Malaysian Business Chamber Viet Nam and Singapore Business Group. The seminar attracted more than 100 business executives from Viet Nam and other countries. That’s the message from Ho Nghia Dung, chairman of Viet Nam Steel Association (VSA) after the US Department of Commerce (DoC) decided to levy import tax on steel produced in Viet Nam using Chinese-origin substrate.

New committee to manage capital at 20 SOEsThe scale of State-owned enterprises controlled by the State Capital Management Committee is less than the initial plan, according to the latest draft of the decree on the functions, tasks and organisational structure of the committee. Under the draft, the committee would manage State-owned capital at 20 corporations, instead of 21 as initially proposed a few months ago. The Central Institute for Economic Management (CIEM) - the agency that has directly compiled the draft of the decree - said this committee would be the State representative at 20 State-owned corporations. Those corporations have a total State-owned capital of VND821 trillion (US$36 billion) and a total value of assets at over VND1.5 quadrillion. Those figures are equal to 50 per cent of the State-owned capital and the total value of assets at the wholly State-owned enterprise sector.