To improve Vietnam’s export coffee quality, the Ministry of Industry and Trade will apply standard TCVN 4193:2005 to all batches before being shipped as of October 1, 2007. However, this decision has not been welcomed by coffee processors.

Over the past month, the Government has intervened to rein in the galloping consumer price index. But most of its measures are only temporary and not strong enough to take hold.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s resignation is considered a timely and wise decision for the time being. But whether the decision will help the Japanese political theatre weather the storm remains an open question.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung began an official visit to the Czech Republic on September 12 at the invitation of Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek. Later he will visit Poland at the invitation of Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski.

Nun Thich Dam Binh, an accomplice of Thich Quang Do and Thich Khong Tanh, has challenged Vietnamese Buddhist followers and the general public by calling herself “a fighter for democracy and human rights”.

Six years after the September 11 terrorist attack, people in the US and other countries around the world still feel uneasy about their safety in the face of terrorist attacks. How to keep the world safe remains an open question.

With major endorsed documents, the 15th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, held in Australia from September 8-9, has marked a new step towards consolidating the APEC community for the sake of a sustainable future, while affirming Vietnam’s significant contributions to the forum.

In his recent speech to war veterans, US President George W. Bush compared the Iraq War to the Vietnam War, referring to serious consequences caused by the withdrawal of US troops from Vietnam more than three decades ago. However, scholars and critics said those were incorrect assessments of history.

The 15th APEC forum to be held in Sydney, Australia will discuss measures to resolve burning global issues, perfect mechanisms and expand cooperation within the organisation. The summit will add fresh impetus to raising APEC’s position and strength in the region and the world.

The general public has come out strongly against several people who cloak themselves as religious zealots to stage a handful of “aid” activities for people living in the most difficult circumstances. One of them is Thich Khong Tanh.

Sixty-two years after Vietnam regained independence in August 1945, the country is now seeking suitable solutions for a sustainable economy to conform with the new trend of development.

Over the past few days, US President George Bush has presented opposing views on the political situation in Iraq and the country’s Prime Minister Nouri Maliki. Mr Bush even compared the Iraq war to the Vietnam war that led to strong public protest.

Lending a hand to several political opportunists are some disturbing elements and law violators. One of them is Nguyen Khac Toan.

The East-West Economic Corridor (EWEC) Week 2007 was launched in the central city of Da Nang on August 27. The event aims to realise the untapped potential for cooperation in investment, trade, tourism, transport and culture among Vietnam, Laos, Thailand and Myanmar.

In pursuit of dark schemes reactionary forces are deliberately shutting their eyes and ears to the stark reality that the Vietnamese nation is confidently engaged in its Doi Moi (Renewal) process and has made important achievements.

Child trafficking is considered a burning issue in Vietnam and Southeast Asia as a whole. But not much has been done in response to children’s voices and recommendations to keep them off the scourge of violence.

The US should acknowledge their responsibility in the issue of Vietnamese AO/dioxin victims and find an early solution.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has just concluded his first visits to Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, Myanmar and Brunei. The visits aimed not only to promote friendship and cooperation with these countries and ASEAN, but also to strengthen Vietnam’s role and position in the region.

Several hostile forces recently claimed that Vietnam abused human rights of ethnic Khmer people in the south-western region. They even fabricated stories saying that the Vietnamese Government was implementing a policy of discrimination against the Khmer, that the Khmer could not enjoy the right to religious freedom and that they were subject to detention.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung is paying official visits to Singapore, Myanmar and Brunei from August 13-17 as part of his first tour of the five ASEAN countries after he was re-elected PM. The visits reaffirm Vietnam’s consistent external policy of further developing cooperative ties with regional and neighbouring countries, including Singapore, Myanmar and Brunei.

The extremists among the Vietnamese community in California recently launched a campaign “not to buy, read and advertise for the Viet Weekly” because the Journal did not fall into line with their scheme to smear and slander Vietnam's Doi Moi (renewal) process.

At the invitation of Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung is paying an official visit to the Philippines from August 9-10 on the second leg of a tour of five ASEAN member nations.

Economic and trade ties between the two countries are developing continually as export turnover from Vietnam to Indonesia rises while import surplus reduces. Vietnam’s export turnover to the country is expected to hit approximately US$1.3 billion this year.

The first session of the 12th legislature has ended in great success, imbued with democracy, solidarity and a high sense of responsibility towards the people.

On August 2, the new Government for the 12th term was approved by the National Assembly (NA) and made its debut in Hanoi. New Cabinet members with an average age of 52-53 years old are expected to play a vital role in serving the people and the nation.

The Committee on Foreign Affairs of the US House of Representatives on July 31 approved the Vietnam Human Rights Act of 2007, which contains erroneous and biased comments on the human rights situation in Vietnam. Several sections of the bill even go against the interests of cooperative relations between Vietnam and the US. VOV comments.

The first draft ASEAN charter was submitted to the 40th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (AMM-40) held in Manila, the Philippines. The new charter will turn ASEAN into an united bloc under the law similar to the EU’s operations.

According to the late president Ho Chi Minh, education is considered a big solution, covering all socio-economic development strategies. In his opinion, education aims to serve the people for the sake of national development.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) on July 20 allegedly accused Vietnam of suppressing people who gathered in Ho Chi Minh City for their petitions regarding land use right. These are wrongful allegations, which do not reflect the truth.

During the past 60 years, the incentive policy for those credited with revolutionary services have been constantly renewed and perfected, becoming a major policy in the Party and State’s political and social system. Currently, 8.2 million are enjoying a regular monthly allowance.