NA Chairwoman arrives in Geneva for attendance at IPU-138National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan and a high-ranking delegation of Vietnam arrived in Geneva international airport on March 24 morning (local time) to attend the 138th Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly (IPU-138) and related meetings from March 24-25 at the invitation of IPU President Gabriela Cuevas Barron. National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan (R) arrived in Geneva international airport on March 24 morning (local time)The delegation was welcomed at the airport by Ambassador Duong Chi Dung, head of the Vietnamese Mission in Geneva, and Vietnamese Ambassador to Switzerland Pham Hai Bang, among others. The IPU-138 will open on March 25, focusing on policy solutions to strengthen global mechanisms on migrants and refugees. In October 2007 at the 117th IPU Assembly also in Geneva, Switzerland, the Vietnamese NA was elected to the IPU Executive Committee - the forum’s highest body - for the first time. Notably, in April 2015, Vietnam hosted the 132nd IPU Assembly, where the Hanoi Declaration was adopted, contributing to devising the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development.

Labour minister vows favourable conditions for RoK investorsVietnam will create favourable conditions for enterprises from the Republic of Korea (RoK) to invest in Vietnam, Minister of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs Dao Ngoc Dung told Kyung Shik Sohn, Chairman of the Korea Employers Federation, in Hanoi on March 23. MoLISA Minister Dao Ngoc Dung (R) and Kyung Shik Sohn, Chairman of the Korea Employers FederationHundreds of RoK companies and groups are operating in Vietnam, Dung said, noting that he supports the RoK groups in employing Vietnamese workers, who are hard-working.Dung said RoK President Moon Jae-in’s State visit to Vietnam from March 22-24 has helped promote economic cooperation between the two nations, and numerous memoranda of understanding were signed to strengthen the strategic partnership between the two countries in the future.According to the minister, Vietnam is improving its legal system and revising several laws, including the law on foreign employees working in Vietnam. The Vietnamese Government and the Ministry of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA) will focus on increasing negotiations between employers and workers to minimise State involvement in business operations.The MoLISA will coordinate with the RoK Ministry of Employment and Labour to sign agreements on social insurance and social protection towards providing better care for workers, Dung added.For his part, Kyung affirmed that RoK enterprises want to operate in a transparent manner, in accordance with the regulations of Vietnam and in the spirit of ensuring mutual benefits.He pledged to make sure that RoK employers will ensure fair treatment between Vietnamese and Korean employees to achieve the highest efficiency in business operations.-VNA

Party chief’s visit to deepen Vietnam-France strategic partnershipThe official visit to France from March 25-27 by General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong aims to set up relations with the new government of France, thus further deepening the strategic partnership between the two nations. Vietnam and France officially set up diplomatic ties on April 12, 1973. The two nations decided to establish the Strategic Partnership in 2013. Notably, apart from organising the Vietnam-France Defence Policy Dialogue, the two countries have also maintained high-level economic dialogues and financial and economic forums. Vietnam and France have so far 30 cooperation projects on training doctors, which are financed by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and hospitals.

Festival encourages English learning in HCM CityThousands of high school pupils and university students in Ho Chi Minh City showed off their English language skills during the English Camp 2018 held at Saigon University on March 24. The English Camp 2018, the third edition of its kind, was organised by the Ho Chi Minh City Students Association under the theme “Ticket for future”. Le Hoang An, a student of the Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, said he likes English and usually learns it via Youtube and his friends. The English Camp 2018 is a helpful playing field for English learners, where they can share their learning experience and methods, An said. The festival also presented opportunities for participants to sign up for online English clubs and find effective English training courses, he added.-VNA

Malaysian court continues trial of Doan Thi HuongThe Shah Alam High Court of Selangor State of Malaysia held a hearing on March 20-23 for Doan Thi Huong, one of the two suspects in the murder of Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) national Kim Chol in February 2017. Doan Thi Huong (third, right) on the way to the court (Source: Malaysia Online)The trial heard arguments between representatives of Malaysian investigation agency and Huong’s lawyers about evidences against Huong. Representatives of the Vietnamese Embassy in Malaysia and Malaysian lawyers attended the hearing to protect legitimate rights of Huong. The court will organise the next hearing for Huong on April 2. The embassy will continue working closely with lawyers of Huong and relevant agencies to protect the legitimate rights and interests of the Vietnamese citizen.

Today (March 24) is the final day of the RoK President’s State visit to Vietnam. The President and his wife try a special beef noodle soup at a Hanoi restaurant. Nghiem Xuan Tien, vice director of the chain of noodle soup restaurants, presents a box of chopsticks to the RoK President in the hope that he will fondly remember Vietnamese cuisine after he returns to his country. The RoK President poses for a photo with RoK women and children in front of the restaurant. The RoK President and his wife are leaving Hanoi today (March 24), bringing an end to the three-day State visit to Vietnam.

Can Tho eyes development of high-tech farming in semi-urban areasVietNamNet Bridge – Can Tho has launched a project to improve the efficiency of advanced farming models in semi-urban areas. Can Tho City has launched a programme to improve high-tech farming models in semi-urban areas. The programme would be implemented mostly in Ninh Kieu and Cai Rang districts, developing nine advanced models. Urban agricultureThe city has boosted investment in urban farming models that provide safe products and higher profits for farmers since the farming area has declined in recent years due to urbanisation. In Binh Thuy District, many households earn good incomes from urban farming, with many in Ba Bo flower village earning VND80-100 million (US$3,500 – 4,400) a year.

VN condotel market promises to boom this yearCondotels are becoming a hot development target in the real estate market, as international tourists flock to Viet Nam with increasing speed. — Photo condotelvietnam.comThe condotel market is forecast to keep booming in 2018. According to data from the Viet Nam Real Estate Association (VNREA), in 2017 condotels became the brightest star in the resort real estate sector. The investment in condotel projects has accounted for more than half of total inflows into the real estate market. It is necessary to focus on quality, business strategy and commitment to profitability in order to adapt to the growing market and increasingly tight legal framework of this market, Wyatt suggested.

Vietnam, Russia agree on steps to boost tiesDeputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov agreed on measures to effectively boost bilateral ties during their talks in Hanoi on March 23. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh (R) and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey LavrovThey lauded growing bilateral ties over the past years, especially political relationship with high trust which has laid solid foundation for sustainable and dynamic development of Vietnam – Russia comprehensive strategic partnership. The two officials agreed to successfully hold the Year of Vietnam in Russia and Year of Russia in Vietnam scheduled for 2019 on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of a treaty on basic principles for bilateral friendship. The Party chief stressed that the deepening reliable political relations between senior leaders of Vietnam and Russia is a firm foundation to further step up cooperative ties in other fields. Minister Lavrov stressed that his country is willing to create favourable conditions with special mechanisms for Vietnamese expats who are living and working in Russia.

The Prime Minister expressed his pleasure with the development in cooperation, trade and investment between the two sides and believed that the Minister’s current visit will open new space for bilateral cooperation. The municipal administration held a meeting on investment and tourism promotion cooperation between Hanoi and Japan on March 23. Hanoi authorities gave participants an overview of the city’s investment and tourism cooperation with Japanese partners, along with cooperation potential. An array of investment, trade and tourism promotion activities have been implemented since then. Speaking highly of the RoK’s experience in increasing financial-banking stability, Hue said Vietnam is restructuring public investment and financial-banking system.

Vietnamese top leaders meet RoK President Moon Jae-inGeneral Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong hosted a reception in Hanoi on March 23 for President Moon Jae-in of the Republic of Korea, during which the host highlighted the significance of Moon's current visit to Vietnam. President Moon, for his part, attributed the bilateral relations’ strong development over the past 25 years to common efforts of the two countries’ leaders and peoples. President Moon invited Party General Secretary Trong to visit the RoK at a convenient time. PM Phuc made the statement during a meeting in Hanoi on March 23 with RoK President Moon Jae-in, who is on a State visit to Vietnam from March 22-24. Vietnam, RoK delighted at progress of bilateral tiesChairwoman of the National Assembly Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan meets with President Moon Jae-in of the Republic of Korea in Hanoi on March 23.

Vietnamese enterprises try to squeeze into global production chainsVietNamNet Bridge - In the last 30 years, Vietnam has attracted massive amounts of FDI but has missed opportunities to develop supporting industries. In joint ventures, Vietnamese enterprises hoped to learn from foreign partners and later become the ‘backbone’ of the national economy. An expert from Samsung in Vietnam said this was a good policy to encourage the development of supporting industries in Vietnam. However, Vietnamese enterprises could not take full advantage of the opportunity to develop supporting industries. However, very few Vietnamese enterprises are capable of joining their supply chains.

Young doctor volunteers to work in poorest districtVietNamNet Bridge – It takes nearly seven hours to travel from Muong Lay District to the Muong Nhe District Medical Station, where doctor Nguyen Van Hieu examines and treats local children and other residents. Leaving Hanoi, Hieu volunteered to work in Muong Nhe District. Taking about Hieu, an owner of a small restaurant in Muong Nhe District smiled and said, “Hieu is specialised in paediatrics. Doctor Nguyen Van Hieu gives examination to 18-month-old Giang Thi Du Lam, from Nam Ke Commune, Muong Nhe District, the northern mountainous province of Dien Bien. On the night before Hieu went to Muong Nhe District, Hieu spoke with his wife.

VN firms push food safetyMore and more livestock farming companies are adopting VietGap and Global Gap standards to improve their efficiency as well as ensure food safety, according to global quality certification agency Bureau Veritas. Johan den Hartog, managing director of GMP+ International, speaks at conference on food safety of meat products in Viet Nam in HCM City yesterday. In Viet Nam, there is growing interest in complying with international quality standards, and that is why GMP+ International developed the current GMP+ Country Note for Viet Nam, he said. Every company and transport and storage service providers in the GMP+ feed chain should control possible hazards and risks to prevent contamination of feed products, he said. The association has signed an agreement with GMP+ International, under which GIS would link with GMP+ FSA to ensure safety of animal and fish feed, she said.

State dials up reforms of property market rulesThe State will have breakthroughs in the reform of legal regulations and business investment conditions for the domestic real estate market this year, according to experts. This is an important database to follow developments in the property market, propose solutions to promote those developments and enhance inspection and supervision to implement laws on housing and real estate market, Ha said. Nguyen Tran Nam, chairman of the Viet Nam Real Estate Association (VNREA), said the domestic real estate market has had a stable and healthy development. According to Nam, State Bank of Viet Nam this year should apply a more active and flexible credit mechanism for the real estate market. These solutions are expected to create favourable conditions for an impressive growth of the property market this year, Nam said.