The northwestern region needs to strongly advertise its strength and promote trade activities abroad in order to attract foreign investment, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has said.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has appreciated development work undertaken by ethnic groups, reiterating that the Party and State attach great importance to ethnic community development.

President Truong Tan Sang has asked the People’ Public Security to raise officers’ awareness of President’s Ho Chi Minh’s teachings.

Practical initiatives and new ideas of the community are being sought to enhance transparency, public integrity and accountability and reduce corruption in Vietnam, heard a conference in northern Thai Nguyen province on January 15.

The Vietnamese Government highlighted the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) financial support, which amounts to US$13 billion in aid so far, contributing to national poverty reduction work, said Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.

Remittances to Vietnam are expected to increase this year, boosted by better employment prospects in overseas markets and new investment by overseas Vietnamese, according to economic think-tanks.

Danish Ambassador to Vietnam John Nielsen has been presented an insignia in recognition of his contributions to Vietnam’s planning and investment sector.

The Prime Minister has approved the Vietnam National Strategy on Pharmacy till 2020, with a vision for 2030.

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Van Ninh has asked the taxation sector to continue designing policies to ease business difficulties, creating suitable growth in 2014.

The Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park in Quang Binh province has received three stump-tailed macaques (Macaca arctoides) for further care and eventual release into nature.