Press Highlights Aug 13

· Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung requested not to leave anyflood victims suffering from starvation (Saigon Giai phong, p11).

· The whole nation joins efforts to help flood victims in thenorthern mountainous areas (Nhan dan, p1).

· President Nguyen Minh Triet received Indian people'sdelegation (All dailies, p1).

· National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong: Lao Cai needs make more efforts to help flood-hit citizens return to normal life andresume production (Nhan dan, Saigon Giai phong, p1).

· A delegation of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha starts an European tour on the occasion of Vu Lan celebration (Parents Day) (Nhan dan,p8).

· Vietnam-India people's friendship festival begins (Quan doiNhan dan, p8).

Socio-economic Affairs · 279 typical brands were selected in the shortlist for VietnamGolden Star Award (Nhan dan, p1).

· A five-star hotel and villa complex will be built in Cam Ranh,central Khanh Hoa province (Nhan dan, p5).

· The Republic of Korea invests in building a resort onLang Co beach, central Thua Thien-Hue province (Nhan dan, p5).

· The number of ASEAN tourists coming to Vietnam increases21 percent (Nhan dan, p5).

· Vietnam Airlines launched Hanoi-Nagoya direct air route (Nhandan, p8).

· Vietnam invests in 317 overseas projects (Nhan dan, p8).

· About 92,000 tonnes of basa in Mekong Delta are still unsold(Quan doi Nhan dan, p1).

· Students in Hanoi will start new-school year on August 25th (Hanoi Moi, p1).

· First electronic textbooks will be published (Hanoi Moi, p5).

· 120 disadvantaged students will receive IT scholarships (HanoiMoi, p7).

· Gold price fell under 17 million VND per tael mark (Nhan dan,p8; Saigon Giai phong, p1).

· Vocational training will be classified (Quan doi Nhan dan,p6).

· Laos pledged favourable conditions for Vietnam 'sinvestment (Quan doi Nhan dan, p8).

· Construction of Vietnam-Germany university will start inSeptember (Saigon Giai phong, p1).

· A primitive cave complex was discovered in northernmountainous Son La province (Saigon Giai phong, p12).

· Domestic steel price falls regularly (Saigon Giai phong, p3).

· Saigon Medi-Pharm Expo 2008 provides a good chance formedical-pharmaceutical development (Saigon Giai phong, p7).

· The US Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) cooperates withVietnam in educational training (Saigon Giai phong, p9).

· Investing in banks' shares: golden chance is coming back (Laodong, Monetary page).

· Bond market recovers: optimistic with macro economic stability(Lao dong, Index page).

· Devastating floods may take place in the northern region (Thoi bao Kinh te Vietnam [Vietnam Economic Times], No. 193, p1). Preparationsrequired for the worst scenario.

· The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) has never neglected risk management work, said Pham Huyen Anh, deputy head of the SBV's Department of Banks (Thoi bao Kinh te Vietnam , No. 193, p3). Debt classification and regulation of mandatory fund for emergencies at credit institutions were hot issues at a seminar on safeguard regulations and risk management at credit institutions held by the SBV and Ernst & Young company in Hanoi lastweek.

· Vietnamese coffee and its new challenges (Thoi bao Kinh te Vietnam , No. 193, p5). Starting a large-scale production and tradingsystem.

· Behind the decrease in trade deficit (Thoi bao Kinh te Vietnam , No. 193, p6). There are still many things to do to curbinflation.

· The failure of shrimp breeding at industrial scale (Thoi bao Kinh te Vietnam , No. 193, p8). Both businesses and labourers in HaiPhong are in difficulties.

· Both interest rate and exchange rate are reducing (Tuoi tre [Youth], No. 219, p1). The changes, together with a slow increase of CPI andtrade deficit show signs of a stable economy.

· FDI disbursement: Stronger measures applied to projects that were lagged behind schedules (Tuoi tre, No. 219, p14). Vietnam drew the largest ever FDI capital of more than 45 billion USD in the first seven months of the year, however, the biggest problem is how to disburse thecapital.

· FDI attraction with two worries (Thoi bao Tai chinh Vietnam , No. 96, p12). Massive foreign capital go to real estate, challenge incapital disbursement.

· Busier share transactions at the OTC market (Tuoi tre, No.

219, p5). Though focusing only on certain kinds of share, the transactionshave helped increase liquidity and attract investors.

· Industrial sector continues to grow (Thoi bao Tai chinh Vietnam [Vietnam Financial Times], No. 96, p1). The sector posted a 2 digit growth rate in 18 consecutive years with largest contribution to thecountry's economic growth.

· A brighter picture for the stock market in August (Thanhnien [Young People], No. 225, p7).

International Affairs · Russian President ordered end of military operation inGeorgia (Nhan dan, p8).

· Clashes take place in southern Philippines (Nhan dan, p8).

· Japan gave urgent solutions to save the economy (Quandoi Nhan dan, p8).

· The oil market in 2009 will be eased (Quan doi Nhan dan, p8).

· Ships of the Republic of Korea and DPR of Korea hit(Quan doi Nhan dan, p8).

· Palestine rejected peaceful agreement proposed by Israel(Hanoi Moi, p8).

· FUNCIPEC Party has no seat in the newly-elected government(Saigon Giai phong, p12).

· The RoK privatises State-owned enterprises (Saigon Giai phong, p12).-Enditem