Illustrative image (Photo: Antara) Jakarta (VNA) – As part of the first ASEAN Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors’ Meeting (AFMGM) 2023 in Bali on March 30, Indonesia organised a high-level seminar themed “Aligning Policies for Climate Transition” to support the message of sustainable development, one of the ASEAN priority economic deliverables (PED) this year. Speaking at the event, Governor of Bank Indonesia (BI) Perry Warjiyo said central banks play a crucial role in building a framework for green finance transformation, highlighting transparency and sustainability, as well as developing policies and mechanisms towards the goal of achieving net zero emissions to mitigate climate change . He stressed that the ASEAN countries need technical support in the green transition process, in which the role of central banks is not only to promote but also carry out green finance, especially through financing the transition. Delegates at the event discussed … [Read more...] about High-level ASEAN seminar talks aligning policies for climate transition
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Global dealmaking sinks to lowest level in over a decade
NEW YORK/LONDON -- Global mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity shrank to its lowest level in more than a decade in the first quarter of 2023, as rising interest rates, high inflation and fears of a recession soured the appetite of companies for dealmaking. M&A volumes during the first quarter slumped 48% to $575.1 billion as of March 30, compared to $1.1 trillion during the same period last year, according to data from Dealogic. A banking crisis that started in the United States this month with Silicon Valley Bank and spread to Europe with the Swiss government-orchestrated sale of Credit Suisse Group AG (CSGN.S) to UBS Group AG (UBSG.S) roiled markets and stopped many deals in their tracks, investment bankers and lawyers said. "The first quarter had extraordinary levels of volatility and uncertainty - more than expected going into the year. And that has the impact of postponing some announcements," said Anu Aiyengar, global head of M&A at JPMorgan Chase & … [Read more...] about Global dealmaking sinks to lowest level in over a decade
Central bank to cut deposit interest rate ceiling from Monday
It said the overnight electronic interbank rate would also be kept at the current level of 6.0%. The bank also said it will from Monday lower its refinance rate by 50 basis points to 5.5%, its latest move to support economic growth that bucks a trend among regional peers. The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) said in a statement it would keep the discount rate unchanged at 3.5%. Earlier this month, the SBV cut several policy rates to increase liquidity and help spur growth, in what was a surprise move amid global financial turmoil. The announcement came just hours after a senior central bank official said the U.S. Federal Reserve's move to ease its rate hikes meant Vietnam would consider further cutting rates in future to spur growth. Vietnam's economic growth slowed to 3.32% in the first quarter, against a 5.92% expansion in the fourth quarter of 2022. The SBV pledged on Friday to keep monetary policy flexible for the rest of the year to support economic stability amid … [Read more...] about Central bank to cut deposit interest rate ceiling from Monday
Foreign minister hosts China’s Guangxi leader
An overview of the meeting. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son hosted a reception for Liu Ning, Secretary of the Party Committee of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region , in Hanoi on March 30, discussing a wide range of issues to boost ties between the two sides. During the session, the host proposed that the two sides promote existing bilateral cooperation mechanisms and programmes, expand friendship exchange between the people along the shared border, and effectively implement legal documents regarding land border and related agreements. The two sides shared delight at the sound development of the Vietnam-China relations over the years, especially after Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong ’s visit to China last year. They agreed that the success of the visit has given a strong impetus to the growth of the traditional friendship between the two Parties and the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries. … [Read more...] about Foreign minister hosts China’s Guangxi leader
Vietnamese, Chinese localities eye stronger border trade
Participants at the talks (Photo: VNA) Lang Son (VNA) – Secretary of the Party Committee of Lang Son province Nguyen Quoc Doan held talks with Liu Ning, Secretary of the Party Committee of China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, in Lang Son city on March 30, during which they discussed measures to further expand border trade cooperation. The two sides positively evaluated the close high-level relationship between the two Parties and States, as well as between Lang Son and Guangxi, which has been increasingly strengthened and nurtured. They also discussed measures to promote the potential and strengths, and step up cross-border trade. Liu said he hopes the two countries will continue to strengthen strategic development and connection and deepen practical cooperation in various fields, thus strongly promoting the partnership and comprehensive strategic cooperation in the new era. The Chinese official said Guangxi is currently implementing measures to promote the … [Read more...] about Vietnamese, Chinese localities eye stronger border trade
$11 billion required for Vietnam’s oil and gas infrastructure development
Vietnam plans to expand its crude oil and petroleum product reserves to 75-80 days of net imports by 2030 and 90 days by 2050. The national petroleum and gas supply reserve infrastructure is predicted to cost VND270 trillion (US$11.4 billion) by 2030. Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha at the meeting. Source: VGP Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien commented on March 30 during a meeting of the Appraisal Council for the draft National Petroleum and Gas Reserve Infrastructure Plan. The minister stated that the country's liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) storage infrastructure is limited, with only ten 10,000 m3 or larger warehouses. Furthermore, no operational liquefied natural gas (LNG) warehouses are nationwide. "The development of new gas pipelines connecting warehouses to consumers has also encountered challenges due to a lack of designated corridors within industrial parks for gas pipelines," Dien explained. In the case of petroleum, there … [Read more...] about $11 billion required for Vietnam’s oil and gas infrastructure development
Vietnam, Australia eye stronger multifaced cooperation
Vietnam and Australia are actively coordinating to prepare for activities commemorating 50 years of diplomatic relations, including high-level visits, cultural events, people-to-people exchange, and tourism promotion. Australia aims to expand cooperation with Vietnam in many fields, such as energy, education, defense, science, technology, innovation, gender equality, and cultural exchange. Delegates looked at children's drawings on display at the program. Photo: VNA That's the statement of Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Andrew Goledzinowski during a friendship exchange to celebrate the 50th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Australia (February 26, 1973). The event was jointly organized by the Australian Embassy in Vietnam, the Hanoi Union of Friendship Organizations and the Vietnam-Australia Friendship Association in Hanoi on March 31. Speaking at the ceremony, the Ambassador emphasized that the bilateral relationship … [Read more...] about Vietnam, Australia eye stronger multifaced cooperation
N.A. Law Committee holds 13th plenary session
According to a report delivered at the session, the Government proposed adding the Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on People's Public Security to the fifth N.A. session’s working agenda for the legislature’s consideration and approval. Five draft laws, namely the draft Law on Citizen Identification (amended), the draft Law on Credit Institutions (amended), the draft Law on Roads, the draft Law on Road Traffic Order and Safety, and the draft Law on forces participating in security and border protection at the grassroots level, will be put on the table during this session, scheduled to take place in May. These draft laws will be submitted to the National Assembly for approval in the sixth plenary session, which will be held later this year. During this session, the legislature will also give comments on the draft Law on Defense Industry, Security and Industrial Mobilization; the draft Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on … [Read more...] about N.A. Law Committee holds 13th plenary session
Joint statement on conclusion of negotiations on UK’s CPTPP accession issued
Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien and the Vietnamese delegation at the meeting. (Photo: MoIT) Hanoi (VNA) – Representatives from member nations of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and the UK approved a joint statement at the ministerial level on the substantial conclusion of negotiations on the UK's accession to the CPTPP at their virtual meeting on March 31 (Vietnam time). The meeting was chaired by Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) Shigeyuki Goto, who is also chairman of the UK’s Accession Working Group (AWG), and drew the attendance of ministers and representatives of the CPTPP members - Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam - and the UK. The participants confirmed that the UK has provided commercially meaningful market access offers of the highest standard on goods, services, investment, financial services, government … [Read more...] about Joint statement on conclusion of negotiations on UK’s CPTPP accession issued
Vietnam emphasises global multilateral approaches to solving climate change issues
A meeting session of UN General Assembly. (Photo: VNA) New York (VNA) – A global problem, climate change requires a global approach based on multilateral cooperation and institutions, particularly the respect for international law and the UN Charter, Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the United Nations (UN), has said. Vietnam’s engagement in UN resolution that urges the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to outline nations' legal obligations related to curbing climate change disasters and their impacts on vulnerable communities proves the country’s point of view, the ambassador said in a recent interview to the Vietnam News Agency right after the resolution was adopted on March 29. The resolution, co-sponsored by 132 countries, calls on the ICJ to lay out nations' obligations for protecting Earth's climate, and the legal consequences they face if they don't. The court's opinion would be non-binding. Giang described the adoption of … [Read more...] about Vietnam emphasises global multilateral approaches to solving climate change issues