Press Highlights Oct. 20

Hanoi (VNA) -

Current events

· Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung leaves Hanoi for an official
visit to China and to attend the 7 th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) in
Beijing (All dailies, page 1).

· Vietnam , China strengthen comprehensive strategic
partnership of cooperation (Nhan dan and Quan doi Nhan dan, page 1).

· Vietnam is always ready for cooperation in environmental
protection (Quan doi Nhan dan, page 8). Vice State President Nguyen Thi Doan
delivered a speech at the 12 th Francophone Summit.

· Strengthening solidarity between religious and non-religious
people (Quan doi Nhan dan, page 1). An interview with Nguyen Manh Hung, Vice
Head of the Mass Mobilisation Commission of the Party Central Committee.

Socio-economic Affairs

· Vietnam 's real estate market: a golden chance for
foreign companies (Lao dong, page 1).

· Petrol prices continue to drop (Lao dong, page 1).

· EVN proposes a 16-percent increase in retail electricity price
in 2009 (Lao dong, page 3).

· The USS Mustin naval ship of the US anchored in central Da
Nang port (Lao dong, page 3).

· Vietnam holds the 17th ASEAN Congress of Cardiology (Ha
Noi Moi, page 1).

· Tra and basa catfish exports to skyrocket (Saigon Giai phong,
page 1).

· 1.5 million USD for improving the Ho Chi Minh City Urban
Development and Investment Fund's capacity (Saigon Giai phong, page 1).

· The domestic monetary market becomes stable, interest rates
continue decreasing trend (Saigon Giai phong, page 1).

· HCM City provides around 11,000 IT experts annually
(Saigon Giai phong, page 2).

· The ASEAN Golden Voice Festival: Vietnam and Malaysia
won gold medals (Saigon Giai phong, page 2).

· Thua Thien-Hue lead the key central economic zone in
attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) (Saigon Giai phong, page 7).

· Close to 700 poor people receive free medical check-ups and
treatment (Saigon Giai phong, page 7).

· Vietnamese sailors abandoned by RoK ship-owners in Spain
(Saigon Giai phong, page 8).

· Gia Lai province presents 3,000 houses to poor people (Nhan
dan, page 1).

· Opportunity to promote Vietnam 's culture and tourism (Nhan
dan, page 5). The World Chess Championship is taking place in southern Ba
Ria-Vung Tau province between Oct. 19-31.

· A 970 billion VND sponsorship deal for the Ngoi Phat
Hydropower Plant signed (Nhan dan, page 7).

· US businesses interested in Hai Phong city (Quan doi
Nhan dan, page 8).

· 500 Vietnamese students sent to study in Canada in 2008
(Ha Noi Moi, page 5).

· Bio-diversity aims for sustainable development in rural areas
(Sunday Nhan dan, page 5).

· First pharmaceutical material company receives GMP/WHO
certificate (Sunday Nhan dan, page 5).

· The southern-based Minh Su Therevada Buddhist Sect recognised
as a religious organisation (Sunday Nhan dan, page 8).

· An agency and law should be set up soon for electricity
monopoly control (Sunday Quan doi Nhan dan, page 4). An interview with Dr.
Le Dang Doanh.

· 132 Vietnamese students receive Toyota scholarships
(Sunday Ha Noi Moi, page 7).

· HCM City : over 226 billion VND spent for IT
application in state agencies (Sunday Saigon Giai phong, page 1).

· 25 million USD invested in building a villa-hotel complex in
Laos (Sunday Saigon Giai phong, page 1).

International Affairs

· Spreading crisis in Thailand : unpredictable future (Ha Noi
Moi, page 8).

· China opens more land routes to Vietnam and Laos (Ha
Noi Moi, page 8).

· Thailand and Cambodia postpone negotiations on
disputed border areas (All dailies, page 8).

· The US to host the Global Financial Summit (All dallies,
page 8).

· Financial crisis is a sudden factor in the US presidential
elections (Lao dong, page 6).

· Japanese banking expert talks about the US financial
crisis (Quan doi Nhan dan, page 7).

· China revokes contaminated pharmaceutical products (Nhan
dan, page 8).

· The Communist Party of Russia adjusts political platform
(Nhan dan, page 8).-Enditem