(VOVworld) - Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong sent a New Year’s message to the Vietnamese people expressing his hope that the Party, people and the army would unite to enhance national development. The Party leader highlighted Vietnam’s priorities including stabilizing the macro-economy, controlling inflation, and ensuring sustainable growth and social security.
In an interview with the Vietnam News Agency, National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung said last year, the National Assembly adopted several resolutions addressing people’s concerns. The legislative body, for the first time, conducted votes of confidence for officials elected and approved by the National Assembly deputies. In particular, the National Assembly approved the new Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, which reflects the Vietnamese people’s aspirations and creates an important legal and political foundation for national development during the process of renovation and international integration.
Several Spring editions analyzed Vietnam’s socio-economic achievements last year and forecast this year’s prospects. On the Investment Review, Minister of Planning and Investment Bui Quang Vinh said last year’s GDP growth rate of 5.42% was appropriate due to the difficulties of the global and national economies and the pressures of controlling inflation. In 2013, Vietnam managed to earn an export value of more than 132 billion USD, attract 23 billion USD from FDI, and reduce the CPI to 5.6%, the lowest level in 10 years.
Under the headlines “FDI in 2013: A year of billion USD projects”, the Vietnam Economic Times said Vietnam continued to be an attractive destination for foreign investors. Major FDI projects licensed in 2013 included the Republic of Korea’s 2 billion USD Sam Sung project in Thai Nguyen province, Japan’s additional funding of 2.8 billion USD for Nghi Son oil refinery project in Thanh Hoa province and Russia’s 1 billion USD project on automobile spare parts assembly and manufacturing in Binh Dinh province.
The Securities Investment quoted international organizations’ forecasts for Vietnam’s economy in 2014. According to the World Bank, Vietnam will achieve a GDP growth rate of 5.4% this year and inflation will be controlled at 1 digit. The Asian Development Bank forecasts Vietnam’s GDP growth rate in 2014 will be 5.5%, inflation will be 7.2% and the exchange rate between the VND and USD will fluctuate between 1 to 2%.
The Nhan Dan or People’s daily newspaper ran an editorial called “Vietnam’s wisdom and prospects brighten”. The editorial expresses its belief that under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam, national unity will be promoted and Vietnam will overcome any difficulties. The Quan Doi Nhan Dan or People’s Army newspaper carried an editorial highlighting the remarkable achievements of the Party guidelines and State policies regarding economic restructuring, poverty reduction and the prevention of waste.
In their New Year editions, Vietnam’s major newspapers highlighted the country’s achievements in external affairs during 2013. Vietnam gained a majority of votes to become a member of the UN Human Rights Council, won the right to host of the 32nd World Inter-parliamentary General Assembly in March 2015 and the APEC Summit in 2017. Thanh Nien (Youth) newspaper had a story about Le Luong Minh, ASEAN Secretary General. Minh is the sole Vietnamese representative finding a place on the prestigious list of the 500 most powerful people in the world.
Vietnam’s traditional Tet customs, Spring festivals and Tet celebrations inside and outside Vietnam are widely covered in Vietnamese newspapers. Under the title “The colors of Vietnamese Tet”, VOV newspaper says that although Vietnam has 54 ethnic minority groups with different traditions and customs, the traditional lunar New Year is the biggest festival. The customs of welcoming New Year’s Eve, preparing the New Year’s Eve feast, and visiting relatives and pagodas on the first days of the New Year are widely observed. VOV newspaper also covers Tet celebrations by overseas Vietnamese people in the US, Japan, and Thailand.
Tet parallel sentences, poems and quizzes as well as comedies are popular in the newspapers, especially in the cultural editions.
Several newspapers covered the Party and State’s care for the poor and social beneficiaries and soldiers on the Truong Sa archipelago during the New Year. People’s wishes for the New Year are also reflected on the newspapers.
General Vo Nguyen Giap’s death was covered with respect and admiration in the newspapers. They praised the General’s great contributions to its national liberation struggle. Many newspapers listed the General’s death as one of the 10 major events of 2013.
The papers also feature stories about the horse as 2014 is the Year of the Horse. The Thao Ngay nay newspaper talks about how horses are smart, brave, loyal and useful. 2014 is forecast to be a prosperous year, especially for those who were born in the year of the horse. According to The Thao Van Hoa newspaper, people in the Horse zodiac are frank, honest and witty.
The New Year editions are beautifully illustrated and rich in content. They have become an indispensable part of the traditional lunar New Year for the Vietnamese people.