The State Bank of Vietnam, the central bank, announced five separate decisions on March 31, to further lower some key interest rates, with effect from April 3. This is the second round of rate cuts in March.

A ceremony to launch the Vietnam-Italy Year 2023 was held in Rome on March 31 evening in celebration of the 50th founding anniversary of the bilateral diplomatic relations (March 23, 1973-2023), and the 10th anniversary of their strategic partnership.

VOV.VN - The 10th-round meeting of the Vietnam - Holy See Joint Working Group (Vatican), chaired by Deputy Foreign Minister Le Thi Thu Hang, and Monsignor Miroslaw Wachowski, Under-Secretary for the Holy See's Relations with States was held on March 31 in the Vatican.

VOV.VN - Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister Ha Kim Ngoc and US Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs Jessica Lewis co-chaired the 12th Vietnam -US Political, Security and Defence Dialogue on March 30 in Washington, D.C.

The Government has agreed to propose to the National Assembly some new policies relating to the immigration, transit and residence of foreigners in Vietnam, including one on a visa extension to 90 days.

VOV.VN - The nation resolutely opposes and demands Taiwan (China) cancel live-fire drills taking place in the waters around Ba Binh (Itu Aba) which are part of Vietnam’s Truong Sa, also known as the Spratly Islands, said Pham Thu Hang, vice spokesperson of the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on March 31.

VOV.VN - Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son affirmed the nation’s recognition of the great importance of friendly ties and a comprehensive strategic co-operative partnership with China during a reception held for Liu Ning, secretary of the Party Committee of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, on March 30 in Hanoi.

The central bank likely will further cut interest rates in a near future, according to deputy governor of the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) Dao Minh Tu.

The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) has proposed increasing the foreign ownership cap at some commercial banks from 30% to 49%.

VOV.VN - Vietnamese gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 3.32% in the first quarter of the year, the second lowest rate in the 2011 - 2023 period, according to the General Statistics Office (GSO).