Dear foreign listeners and Vietnamese people abroad

(VOVworld) - Vietnam recorded many achievements during its international integration in 2015. In 2015 the Vietnam-Republic of Korea Free Trade Agreement took effect and Vietnam signed a Free Trade Agreement with the EU, completed negotiations on the Transpacific Partnership Agreement with 11 other members, and joined other Southeast Asian countries in establishing the ASEAN Community. These events reflect Vietnam’s accelerating integration into the global economy and its increased global status.

Vietnam was able to maintain its macro-economic stability, control inflation, and ensure social security and national defense and security. Vietnam’s GDP in 2015 increased 6.68%, the highest growth in 8 years. This demonstrates Vietnam’s steady economic recovery after years of difficulties in the banking sector, business, the real estate market, and investment activities.

Vietnam continued to pursue its foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, openness, multilateralization, diversification, and international integration. Vietnam’s diplomatic achievements in 2015 improved Vietnam’s regional and global status and created a favorable environment for cooperation, development, and the defense of sovereignty and territorial integrity. Vietnam’s foreign policy continued to connect more than 4 million Vietnamese people abroad with the homeland.

Radio the Voice of Vietnam continued to give its listeners prompt, accurate news updates in 4 formats: radio, television, online, and print. It introduced all aspects of Vietnam’s political, economic, cultural, and social life. VOV’s websites have become quite popular among listeners and readers in Vietnam and abroad. Through these websites listeners can listen to radio programs of VOV and 63 provincial radio stations in 11 foreign languages and 12 ethnic languages. VOV’s websites also have TV programs. In 2015 VOV launched a 24/7 English radio channel, the first in Vietnam, to serve foreign listeners, overseas Vietnamese, and English speakers in Vietnam. The channel is intended to give listeners insights into Vietnam, its land and people.