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Viet Nam joins with Asian nations to overcome crisis
(20-04-2009)
Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung gives a speech at the Bo’ao International Conference Centre. — VNA/VNS Photo Duc Tam
BEIJING — Viet Nam will closely co-operate with China and other Asian countries to overcome difficulties caused by the ongoing global crisis, said Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung at the Bo’ao Forum for Asia in Beijing, China.
Speaking at the opening ceremony last Saturday, Dung proposed that all countries step up regional co-operation, particularly greater Sub-Mekong Region co-operation, by accelerating the construction of economic corridors and the implementation of the sub-regional agreement on facilitating cross-border transport.
The PM said that Viet Nam had resolutely rejected trade protection in any form, and continued its support for the trade liberalisation programme. He suggested that developed countries should help developing ones, especially in capital, technology, marketing and trade expansion.
Briefing the forum on Viet Nam’s economic situation, Dung stressed that the Southeast Asian country would continue to be a dynamic economy and a trustworthy destination for investors.
The Vietnamese leader highlighted the Bo’ao Forum as a major economic forum in Asia, which gathered politicians, scholars and business people for exchanging experiences and sharing new ideas and solutions for effective co-operation for the development and prosperity of each country, as well as for peace, stability and development across Asia.
He expressed his belief that at the forum, opinions and suggestions would be deeply discussed to find ways to overcome difficulties and fully tap the potentials and advantages of Asia in order to maintain its position as a dynamic and developing economic centre in the world.
At the forum, state leaders, businessmen and scholars of Asian countries discussed ways to cope with the challenges for Asia brought about by the on-going financial crisis, as well as long-term socio-economic prospects and trends in the region and the world.
The Bo’ao Forum for Asia, set up in 2001, is an annual high-level meeting of political leaders with business circles in Asia and the world. The forum aims to promote regional development targets through intensifying regional economic integration.
Chinese business ties
Yesterday, Prime Minister Dung attended the Viet Nam-China business forum held in Guangzhou, China.
He told the forum that trade between Viet Nam and China had greatly developed over the past years, and was valued at over US$20 billion last year, 28 per cent up from 2007.
Most of the 600 China-invested projects had been executed successfully in Viet Nam, benefiting both sides, Dung said.
China was now a leading trade and investment partner to Viet Nam and the results were attributed by efforts made by enterprises and investors from both Viet Nam and Guangdong province, the PM said.
In 2008, trade turnover between Viet Nam and the province reached almost $3.4 billion, an increase of 37 per cent from 2007. The two sides are now working together to build an economic trade zone worth $4 billion in Hai Phong – the northern port city of Viet Nam.
Dung, however, noted that the results did not yet match the potential and desire from the two governments and peoples.
Viet Nam and China had targeted to bring two-way trade turnover to $25 billion next year, with Guangdong province providing $5 billion.
The Prime Minister called for Chinese enterprises and Guangdong businesses to expand their investments in Viet Nam.
The Government of Viet Nam had pledged to create favourable conditions for enterprises to do their business successfully, he said.
After the forum, Dung witnessed the signing of memorandums of understanding between the ministries of industry and trade and planning and investment, as well as economic co-operation contracts between the two countries.
Later yesterday, Prime Minister Dung met with Weng Yang, Party Secretary of Guangdong province, and Huang Huahua, the governor of the province.
Local leaders said that Dung’s visit was an important event in the relations between Guangtung and Viet Nam.
Dung said that he appreciated achievements gained by provincial people during the open-door reforms, and that the province had sustained its economic growth during the global financial crisis.
He said that with drastic measures, the province would overcome difficuties and continue to lead China in the reform process.
The two sides stressed the importance of promoting relations, especially in economics and trade.
On the same day, Dung visited the Midea Electric Appliances Company and the Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Centre. — VNS
Bo’ao Forum brings together Asian nations
The Bo’ao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2009 concluded yesterday in the scenic Bo’ao town in south China’s island province of Hainan.
During the three-day event, more than 1,600 political leaders, business people and academic scholars exchanged ideas on the role Asian countries, especially emerging economies, can play to cope with the spreading global financial crisis.
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao delivered a keynote speech, "Strengthen confidence and deepen co-operation for win-win progress", at the opening plenary meeting.
He said that the conference, with "Asia: Managing Beyond Crisis" as its theme, is a highly important one. It will contribute to the efforts to build consensus, strengthen confidence, deepen co-operation and overcome the crisis.
Wen introduced the steps China has taken to cope with the severe impact of the global financial crisis, saying the country’s package plan is already "paying off" and positive changes have taken place in the economy.
China has decided to set up a US$10-billion "China-ASEAN Fund on Investment Co-operation" to support infrastructure development in the region, Wen announced.
The BFA annual conference was the eighth of its kind.
BFA was established in 2001 as a platform for high-level interaction between political and business leaders from Asia and around the world. It is aimed at promoting the development goals of Asian countries through greater regional economic integration. — XINHUA/VNA
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