Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung’s visit to Italy and his participation in the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, marks a new stage of development in the relationship between Vietnam and international friends, and confirm Vietnam’s new role and position in the international arena. This is also a chance to enhance Vietnam’s image as a dynamic, friendly and developing country.

When Vietnam joined the World Trade Organisation (WTO), there were many optimistic opinions on a new flow of investment into the country that would create job opportunities for a large segment of low-cost labourers. However, the chances for them in the post-WTO period are not quite as open-ended as they may seem.

On August 21, 2006, the third conference of the 10th Party Central Committee adopted Resolution 04-ND/TW on “Strengthening the Party leadership in the fight against corruption and wastefulness”, showing the Party’s strong determination to crack down on these negative phenomena.

Approximately 140,000 overseas Vietnamese will return home for this year’s Traditional Lunar New Year Festival (Tet), an increase of 40 percent compared to 2005, said the Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs (COVA).

The significant achievements gained by the press in the Doi Moi (Renovation) process over the past 20 years have been acknowledged and acclaimed by the Party, State and people. Never before has the strength of the press been demonstrated fully and vividly as at present with a host of far-reaching political activities being widely covered in the press.

All Vietnam’s commitments to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) started to take effect as of January 11. But the WTO is a global playing-field, which will provide Vietnam with both opportunities and challenges.

Expanding and promoting democracy is the driving force behind the strength of the Vietnamese nation. Reality shows that wherever democracy and intellect of officials and people are promoted, the socio-economy develops and political security and social order are maintained, and vice versa.

The global economy, including the powerful US economy, is likely to experience a slowdown in 2007 compared to 2006, according to Japhraim Gundzick, president of Condor Advisers, a company which specialises in emerging markets investment research and country risk reports.

The year 2007 has begun with a new dawn breaking and ahead of us lies a long and wide road. There is no way a nation which has transformed itself and experienced many ups and downs over the past 20 years will baulk at setting foot on this long-awaited road.

2006 was significant and impressive in Vietnam’s history. The year was full of events which brought internal and external resources into play to create a new position and new opportunities for Vietnam to develop.