The 17th ASEAN Transportation Ministers’ Meeting has opened in Phnom Penh, Cambodia to gear up for the ASEAN Economic Community by 2015.

Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Hong Ha told reporters in Hanoi on Thursday that the commitment was delivered at the United Nations Climate Change Conference 2011.

Vietnam and the UN have released the 2011 Vietnam Industrial Competitiveness Report. The document says that in order to restructure the industrial sector, the Vietnamese government should focus on five key areas. These include re-thinking industrial policies and strategies; diversifying high-value added industrial products; developing human resources for industrial production; developing new technologies; and directing foreign investment to the manufacturing sector. According to the report, free trade is one of major momentums for economic growth, but not enough for economic restructure. The report also advised the Vietnamese government to give priority to developing its high-tech industries. Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Le Duong Quang suggested that Vietnam meet the challenge of global integration by analyzing and assessing its industrial competitiveness with 10 other countries. He said this report will create a firm foundation for policy makers to address core sectors and sharpen their competitive edge.

The volume of overseas remittances to Vietnam is estimated to reach nearly 10 billion U.S. dollars this year, 1.6 billion USD more than last year. According to the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, Vietnamese guest workers have sent home about 1.8 billion USD over the past year. Overseas remittances are expected to increase prior to the New Year festival.

Titled “Vietnam and the East Sea”, the 40-page publication covers comprehensive issues relating to Vietnam’s waters in the East Sea, Vietnam’s sovereignty over the Hoàng Sa-Paracel and Trường Sa-Spratly archipelagos.

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has announced that Vietnamese tra fish has been listed in the “Moving towards Certification” category in some European countries.

Ha Hung, Deputy Chairman of the Committee for Ethnic Minorities, said the Vietnamese government has implemented various measures and national target programs to ensure social equality for ethnic minority people.

The two countries agree to double bilateral trade revenue to 5 billion USD next year and encourage more investment activities in border areas, particularly within the development triangle.

International donors have pledged nearly 7.4 billion USD in official development assistance to Vietnam in 2012. The commitments were made at the Consultative Group Meeting in Hanoi on Tuesday. At the closing ceremony, Vietnamese Minister of Planning and Investment Bui Quang Vinh said that this is a very positive result amid

The 17th Conference of the Parties, COP 17 to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change began its high-level segment in South Africa on Tuesday. The Vietnamese delegation, led by Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Hong Ha participated in bilateral and multilateral discussions with members of the UNFCCC.