Singapore attaches great importance to developing cooperative relations with Vietnam, which is considered to be one of its major markets for trade and investment cooperation in Southeast Asia.

Market analysts say that leading global importers such as the US, Japan and the European Union have shifted their eyes to smaller countries, including Vietnam, and this is a good chance for domestic businesses to boost exports.

The traditional friendship between Vietnam and Finland is developing well in the fields of politics, economics, development cooperation, culture, education and science and technology.

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) on February 13 released an annual report which contains distorted facts and false allegations about Vietnam’s social situation and press activities. Its unfair comments show that this organisation is operating with dark political motives and unhealthy financial resources, not as it claimed to be based on the principles of objectivity and fairness.

Despite many profound and unpredictable changes in the world with numerous opportunities and challenges, our Party, armed with the timely and deep values of Ho Chi Minh’s Thoughts, will be firm, self-confident, proud and fully aware to march forward to build the future.

The return of Russia as a world power and the rapid development of China and India have opened up a new period of multi-cooperation in the global political, diplomatic and economic scene.

Vietnam is having many opportunities to achieve rapid and sustainable growth in the coming years. However, it is not easy for the country to become the new “star” or “tiger” in Asia.

From hunger, poverty and backwardness, the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) has adopted the Doi Moi (Renewal) policy, encouraging the entire population to rise up and master their own destiny and leading the country to gradually integrate into the region and the world.

Foreign investment has made a strong impact on various fields of Vietnam’s economy over the past 20 years. However, there remains a number of problems to be resolved in order to effectively use foreign direct investment (FDI).

Over the past few days, many western media agencies have reported that during the Thanksgiving ceremony on January 25 to celebrate the 45th anniversary of the Hanoi Archdiocese and the 90th birthday of Cardinal Pham Dinh Tung, several Catholics who arrived for the celebrations were arrested and beaten. What is the truth behind the story?

In 2007 Vietnam coped with a lot of difficulties including the impact of natural disasters, epidemics, the soaring prices of consumer goods and unexpected complications around the world. However, with a joint effort from the entire Party, army and people, the country overcame these difficulties and made many impressive achievements in its socio-economic development.

The cause for the poor development of the maritime industry is a lack of investment capital and close cooperation among Vietnamese businesses. This is enabling foreign businesses to take a bigger share of the domestic market.

Vietnam’s socio-economic achievements over the past year have been attributed to the result of the country’s reform process, in which its WTO membership plays an important role.

During his lifetime, despite being busy with national affairs, President Ho Chi Minh showed keen interest in and loving care for the people.

Vietnamese businesses’ great concern about the risk of losing market shares as well as their competitive edge after joining such a large playing field has motivated them to make a number of positive changes.

The Government’s efforts to put in place its administrative reform have not only helped people reduce their own problems and promote their basic rights, but have also accelerated growth and sharpened the competitiveness of the economy.

Is it necessary to clear fertile plains to build industrial parks and urban areas or protect scarce agricultural land fund to ensure the country’s sustainable development?

With 2007 coming to an end, Vietnam is now entering a new year with new difficulties and challenges, but also with high hopes. The tremendous achievements made in the past year are expected to bode well for the country to fulfil its ambitious goals in 2008.

As Vietnam integrates deeper into the world economy, businesses should take into account the need for recognition of their product brands. Acknowledged brands will help businesses build up their trademark domestically and globally.

Vietnam’s inflation rate is predicted to be between 11-12 percent this year, higher than the recorded figures in other regional countries in recent years, requiring economists to reconsider issues related to monetary policy and the management of the macro economy.

Vietnam’s marine-based economy, if developed well, has the potential to become a major earner for the country. In recognition of this, the government has drawn up a maritime strategy from now until 2020.

President Ho Chi Minh, known as Uncle Ho, created, educated and trained the Vietnam People’s Army. He defined that to wipe out the foreign aggressors and wrest back national independence and freedom, besides political struggle, we must defeat the enemies in the military field. Therefore, the armed forces were indispensable.

Vietnam is beginning to integrate into the world economy and new enterprises and industrial parks have created a huge demand for highly qualified workers. So, why is it difficult for young people in rural areas to find a job?

As Vietnam is integrating deeply into the world economy, it must accelerate agricultural mechanisation to support the process of industrialisation and modernisation in rural areas. However, such mechanisation is slow going.

The Vietnamese retailers market is developing dramatically but retailers are facing shortages of` retail business space while rents for retail business space remain high.

US ambassador to Vietnam Michael W. Michalak met foreign and Vietnamese reporters on December 11 regarding the arrest of some Viet Tan (Vietnam Reform Party) members who had US citizenship. Their arrest with evidence of violating Vietnamese law has been of concern to the world public.

The attraction of a huge volume of foreign direct investment (FDI) is Vietnam’s most impressive achievement in 2007, showing that business circles and the international community have confidence in the Doi Moi (Renewal) process pursued by the State and people of Vietnam.

Vietnam has achieved a high and steady economic growth since it joined the World Trade Organisation a year ago. However, entry requires the country to have a technical infrastructure that can ensure sustainable development.

One year after Vietnam entered the World Trade Organisation (WTO), both domestic and foreign entrepreneurs have expressed their optimism about remarkable improvements in the investment environment in the country in the next three years.

Nguyen Thi Thanh Van, a member of the reactionary Viet Tan exile group has been arrested by Vietnamese security forces. The arrest was a necessary act to ensure political stability and public safety.