Vietnam is set to obtain a GDP growth rate of between 8.2-8.5 percent and an export growth rate of 17.4 percent in 2007. These are among major targets approved by the National Assembly at its recent 10th session in Hanoi.

2006 has been a year of great significance for Vietnam’s socio economic-development process, marking an important step towards the country’s international integration. The following are ten major domestic events selected by Radio the Voice of Vietnam (VOV).

The Ministry of Defence held a conference in Hanoi on December 30 to review the development of national defence-economic zones over the past eight years and set out tasks for the coming years.

The Vietnam Buddhist Sangha and its Ho Chi Minh City chapter on December 30 jointly organised a mass commemoration of the late Most Venerable Thich Duc Nhuan, former Head of Sangha Raya Council on his 13th death anniversary.

US President George W. Bush on December 29 signed a proclamation formally extending full US-Vietnam trade ties and paving the way for Vietnam to receive US aid – a key step towards normalising bilateral ties.

The Institute of International Relations (IIR) has completed a five-day course on improving multilateral development diplomacy capacity for foreign relations officers of 30 northern and central provinces and cities.

The bird flu epidemic is expected to spread to other provinces in the Mekong River Delta following recent outbreaks in Bac Lieu, Ca Mau and Hau Giang provinces leading to the subsequent culling of thousands of poultry in the past week.

The Special Working Boards of the Lao and Vietnamese Governments should boost cooperation to fulfil tasks entrusted to them by the two Parties and States, says Lao Deputy Prime Minister Somsavath Lengsavath.

President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Pham The Duyet has congratulated local Muslims on their Raya Eidil Adha Festival and expressed his wish that the Vietnamese Islamic community will make more contributions to the country.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem presided over a year-end meeting with representatives from Vietnamese media agencies and reporters on December 28.

Vietnam has sufficient historical evidence and legal foundation to reaffirm its sovereignty over the Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos, says Foreign Ministry spokesperson Le Dung.

The US Government provided the Vietnamese Ministry of Defence’s Centre for Bomb and Mine Disposal Technology (BOMICEN) on December 27 with nearly one million dollars worth of equipment to locate and clear landmines as well as unexploded ordnance (UXO).

The judicial agencies should be well-equipped with strong staff and a sound legal system to meet their duties when the country enters a new phase of development and further integration.

Vietnam should obtain a GDP growth rate of 8.5 percent, accelerate administrative reform and intensify the fight against corruption in 2007, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung said at the regular Cabinet meeting in Hanoi on December 26-27.

Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa has praised Vietnam’s achievements in recent years and considered Vietnam a model for developing countries like Sri Lanka to follow.

State President Nguyen Minh Triet has asked the Presidential Office to renew its organisation and operation, increase the number of researchers and pay attention to personnel training to perfect its performance.

The National Assembly Committee for Ethnic Minorities will focus on building the Ethnic Minorities bill and a comprehensive development scheme for ethnic minorities in the northwestern, Central Highlands and Mekong delta regions for the 2010-2020 period.

The Special Working Boards (SWBs) of the Vietnamese and Lao Governments met on December 25 in Vientiane to discuss their continued cooperation in seeking and repatriating the remains of Vietnamese voluntary soldiers who died in Laos during the war.

Vietnam and Cambodia should maintain and promote comprehensive cooperation in all areas to develop their common borderline into an area of political and security stability and prosperity thus meeting the aspiration of the people living along the borderline and contributing to bilateral relations.

A meeting to discuss mass mobilisation in nine north-western provinces in 2006 was held in north western Son La province on December 25.

A plan for information and culture cooperation in the 2007-08 period was signed by Vietnamese Minister of Culture and Information Le Doan Hop and Lao Minister of Information and Culture Mounkeo Olaboune.

President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Pham The Duyet has expressed his wish that Catholic dignitaries would further encourage believers to join in the country's activities to uphold the power of national unity.

Two large Protestant sects in Ho Chi Minh City - the Vietnam Seventh-Day Adventist Church and the Vietnam Grace Baptist Church - have officially received certificates of religious practice.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung on December 23 ordered the construction of the Vung Ang 1 thermal power plant in Vung Ang open economic zone in Ky Anh district, Ha Tinh province.

State President Nguyen Minh Triet on December 22 told local authorities in the central province of Ninh Thuan to focus on improving the living conditions for ethnic minorities and people living in mountainous areas.

US Chargé d'Affaires in Vietnam Jonathan M. Aloisi has praised the Vietnamese Government’s anti-corruption efforts and said the US is ready to help Vietnam in this field.

Lao Prime Minister Bouasone Bouphavanh has expressed thanks to the Party, Government and people of Vietnam for their effective assistance in many areas, including information and culture, to his country.

Deputy Prime Minister Truong Vinh Trong visited the High Command of Border Guard on December 21 to mark the 60th anniversary of the National Resistance Day, the 62nd anniversary of the Vietnam People’s Army and the 17th anniversary of All- People Defence Day.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Le Dung on December 21 welcomed the signing of permanent normal trade relations (PNTR) legislation for Vietnam by US President George W. Bush, marking full normalisation of the relations between Vietnam and the US.

Chairman of the National Assembly Nguyen Phu Trong has asked southern Ba Ria - Vung Tau province to draw up a marine-based economy development strategy and develop the service sector during a working session with provincial authorities on December 21.