Ethic children learning ethic language

Since Vietnam was elected as a member of the UN Human Rights Council for the period 2014-2016 with the highest number of votes, the exile opposite organizations have been striving to find ways to distort the human rights situation in Vietnam. One of those is to spread the allegations "The State of Vietnam is using the popular language (the Kinh’s language) to manipulate the language of minorities"! But the vivid reality in Vietnam has denied this allegation wrong.

Consistent policy

In the past, Vietnam was the one that soon be assimilated by the invaders, so we  know the importance of the preservation of the cultural identity of peoples and always consistently implement policies to develop cultural unity in diversity. In Vietnam there are 54 ethnic groups living with the population of 90 million, the Kinh is major, and 53 ethnic minorities are more than 12 millions. The ethnic minorities of Vietnam are living from north to south, alternating residence, no ethics separated by region. This factor shows the harmony of the community of ethics has been long and becomes the historical and cultural character that creating favorable conditions for mutual understanding, solidarity and helping each other to develop.

About the conservation, development of minorities’ languages, the State of Vietnam always pays much attention in a proper way, through the implementation of right policies and solutions. Starting from very first documents of the 1^st Congress Party (March1935) which confirmed: "The ethics have right to use their native language in politics, economics and culture." It must be emphasized, at the time when this document was issued, the Party was terrorized, but the Communist Party Vietnam has always focused on preserving the language of ethnic minorities.

Most recently, the Resolution of the 9^th Central Conference (XI) prescribes "The construction and development of culture, and people of Vietnam is to meet the requirements of sustainable development of the country" and also "preserve and promote the cultural heritage of ethnic minorities, especially the voice, writing, costumes, traditional festivals."

Great achievements

When Vietnam was colonized by the French, on cultural forums in Vietnam, there were three languages (French, Vietnamese and Chinese) and four literature texts (French, Chinese and Han Nom). The policy of the French was to assimilate Vietnam into French language and culture. Every decision had made to serve for the ultimate aim was to make Vietnamese people use French voice, French words; the language of the ethnic minorities were neglected in the colonial government’s policies. Only since the Communist Party of Vietnam led people and took the power (August1945), the conservation and development of the language of the ethics has been ensured.

In Vietnam, besides newspapers in Kinh language, there are many provincial press agencies (where ethnic minorities are residing) has publications in languages of ethnic minorities or newspaper published exclusively for ethnic people. In particular, the Voice of Vietnam and Vietnam Television have one radio channel (VOV4) and 1 television channel (VTV5) specifically devoted to broadcast in several languages such as Hmong, Khmer, Ede, GiaRai, BaNa, Cham, Dao, M'Nong ... Dozens of provincial radio-television stations regularly broadcast programs in ethnic languages for ethic people living in their homeland.

According to the Committee of Ethnic Minorities, a lot of provinces have made program to teach ethnic language for students in secondary schools. So far, about 2,700 schools and ethnic language literacy classes have been set up for 140,000 students. Especially, in  Soc Trang province, Khmer language has been set to teach for the entire junior high school students.

According to scientists at the Institute of Linguistics of Vietnam, in approximately 6,500 existing languages in the world, only 300 to 400 languages are passed on to the next generation, the remaining language or not passed, or are l on the banks of the disappearance. Comparing this result, we can see the efforts and great achievements of Vietnam in the conservation, development of language minorities.

Developing the language of ethnic minorities is not only through cultural – educational policies, but it also need a basic policy to alleviate poverty for ethnic minorities that Vietnam are conducting and has been highly appreciated by the United Nations. The success of hunger eradication and poverty reduction is the basis for the minorities to develop, as the basis for the preservation and promotion of cultural traditions of their fathers. The policy of the Communist Party and State of Vietnam to the language of the minority is right and basic. It has met the requirements to solve the problems and develop the ethnic language in Vietnam in the process of national liberation, construction and defense of the Fatherland "./.

“As long as justice is postponed we always stand on the verge of these darker nights of social disruption.” So said Martin Luther King Jr. in a speech on March 14, 1968, just three weeks before he was assassinated.

Michael Brown’s killing in August continues to send shockwaves through Ferguson, Missouri, and beyond.

“He killed an unarmed black teenager. There is no excuse for that. A man was killed and somebody walked away ... we want answers. Because it seems like the only way you can get away with murder is if you got a badge.” Said a young demonstrator in Ferguson.

In more than 30 U.S. cities, workers and students walked out of school or off the job Monday with their hands raised to protest the police shooting of unarmed black teenager Michael Brown. In Washington, D.C., protesters staged a die-in at the Justice Department. In Cambridge, Massachusetts, dozens laid down in a major intersection in Harvard Square. President Obama. meanwhile, issued his first major policy response, announcing a community policing initiative

One week after the grand jury decision in the Michael Brown case, President Obama has given his first major policy response to the protests from Ferguson and beyond over racial profiling and police brutality. At a meeting with activists and officials from around the country, Obama unveiled a process to address what he called "simmering distrust." The administration’s response comes as protests continue nationwide over the non-indictment of former officer Darren Wilson over killing Brown.

“The real root of it has to be addressed. And the real root of it is racism in America, the anti-black sentiments that exist. Until we begin to address that, we really can’t have any real change — all we have are these small steps towards justice. We need leaps and bounds." said an activist.

Even before the Ferguson grand jury's decision was announced, leaders were calling once again for a "national conversation on race." But here's why such conversations rarely go anywhere: Whites and racial minorities speak a different language when they talk about racism, scholars and psychologists say.

“I don't see color”, it's a phrase some white people invoke when a conversation turns to race. Some apply it to Ferguson. They're not particularly troubled by the grand jury's decision to not issue an indictment. The racial identities of Darren Wilson, the white police officer, and Michael Brown, the black man he killed, shouldn't matter, they say. Let the legal system handle the decision without race-baiting. Justice should be colorblind.

Science has bad news, though, for anyone who claims to not see race: They're deluding themselves, say several bias experts. A body of scientific research over the past 50 years shows that people notice not only race but gender, wealth, even weight.

When some whites talk about racism, they think it's only personal -- what one person says or does to another. But many minorities and people who study race say racism can be impersonal, calculating, devoid of malice. The first thing we must stop doing is making racism a personal thing and understand that it is a system of advantage based on race. Racism "permeates every facet of our societal pores. It's about more than that cop who targets a teen while 'WWB' (walking while black) but the system that makes it OK to not only stop him but to put him in a system that will target and limit his life chances for life.

The system defends itself, not the public. The Brown family, protesters and civil rights advocates all wanted the criminal justice system to take a fair look at what unfolded in August, but kept getting signs that was not likely to happen. In August, police leaked video footage showing Brown robbing a convenience store, which was intended to smear his character and suggest that somehow Brown deserved what happened in the subsequent confrontation with Wilson.

The grand jury proceeding was strange, legal experts noted. The prosecutor said he was being fair by bringing all the evidence to the 12 jurors. But that tactic has been interpreted as a deliberate move to overwhelm jurors and create doubts that would not lead to recommending Wilson be charged. It is curiously parallel to what unfolded in the Trayvon Martin murder case, in which experts said Florida prosecutors didn’t really want to convict George Zimmerman.

The Ferguson protests are not in a vacuum, but come against a backdrop of ongoing societal hardship, especially in black communities. Obama has said that the U.S. is making progress on race issues, yet it’s hard, if not impossible, to separate issues of race and class.

Many have already looked at them as something beyond a personal interaction between a white police officer and a young black man. They point out that two-thirds of Ferguson's population is black, yet the mayor, police chief and five of six city council members are white -- as are 50 of the 53 people in its Police Department.

Ferguson is like countless multiracial communities, they say: calm on the surface but seething with racial disparities beneath. Racism is real in America. The uprising in Ferguson was an inevitable reaction to the institutional racism coursing through the area for decades

The killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo., by police officer Darren Wilson has made the Midwestern U.S. city a focal point for the world's media. It shone a spotlight on what the world perceived to be America's deep, entrenched problems. Should we criticize America for meddling in other country's affairs, when it evidently has so much trouble at home?

So the U.S. government, when talking about their own country, forgets about democracy, human rights, protection of ‘peaceful protesters’ and people’s right to protest. Or as they say, the United States – it’s a completely different matter./.

Vladimir Putin made his Annual Address to the Federal Assembly. As is tradition, the Address took place at the Kremlin’s St George Hall before an audience of more than 1,000 people.
In his Address, the President set out his views on the situation in Ukraine and outlined Russia’s position with regard to events taking place there. In the foreign policy section of the Address, Mr Putin also spoke about international security issues and the integration processes taking place in the world.
On the subject of Russia’s economic strategy, the President said that Russia is open to the world, to investment and to carrying out projects together, but ultimately, Russia’s development depends above all on the country’s own efforts. Mr Putin named development of new technology and competitive goods, giving the country’s industry and financial sector a more solid foundation, and training the needed personnel as priority tasks.
The President also talked about relations between the state and business, in particular the need to free up the environment for doing business as much as possible and the concrete steps that can be taken to achieve this. Mr Putin proposed that no changes be made to the current tax rules for the next four years, and also proposed an amnesty for capital returning to Russia.
The President set the goal of reaching growth rates above the world average within the next 3-4 years.
Mr Putin also set objectives in the financial sector, agribusiness, and the banking sector, and declared the need to free Russia from dependence on foreign technology. Import substitution is a long term strategy, the President said, and is a goal for Russia regardless of the situation with sanctions. Mr Putin also gave the main target figures for Russian exports and investment levels. 
The President proposed implementing a national technology initiative that will involve forecasting the technology needs required to guarantee Russia’s national security and ensure high living standards and economic development over the coming 10-15 years.
The President also spoke about demography, healthcare and education.
In his concluding section, Mr Putin focused on the dialogue between the state authorities and the public and the need to raise civic activeness and Russia’s civil society potential.
Those present for the Address included members of the Federation Council, State Duma deputies, members of the Government, heads of the Constitutional and Supreme Courts, regional governors, heads of regional legislative assemblies, heads of Russia’s traditional religious faiths, public figures, including heads of regional public chambers, and the heads of Russia’s biggest media outlets.
* * *
PRESIDENT OF RUSSIA VLADIMIR PUTIN: Citizens of Russia, members of the Federation Council and deputies of the State Duma,
Today’s address will be related to the current situation and conditions, as well as the tasks we are facing. But before delivering it I’d like to thank all of you for the support, unity and solidarity you have shown during the landmark events that will seriously influence the future of our country.
This year we faced trials that only a mature and united nation and a truly sovereign and strong state can withstand. Russia has proved that it can protect its compatriots and defend truth and fairness.
Russia has done this thanks to its citizens, thanks to your work and the results we have achieved together, and thanks to our profound understanding of the essence and importance of national interests. We have become aware of the indivisibility and integrity of the thousand-year long history of our country. We have come to believe in ourselves, to believe that we can do much and achieve every goal.
Of course, we will talk about this year’s landmark events. You know that a referendum was held in Crimea in March, at which its residents clearly expressed their desire to join Russia. After that, the Crimean parliament – it should be stressed that it was a legitimate parliament that was elected back in 2010 – adopted a resolution on sovereignty. And then we saw the historical reunification of Crimea and Sevastopol with Russia.
It was an event of special significance for the country and the people, because Crimea is where our people live, and the peninsula is of strategic importance for Russia as the spiritual source of the development of a multifaceted but solid Russian nation and a centralised Russian state. It was in Crimea, in the ancient city of Chersonesus or Korsun, as ancient Russian chroniclers called it, that Grand Prince Vladimir was baptised before bringing Christianity to Rus.
In addition to ethnic similarity, a common language, common elements of their material culture, a common territory, even though its borders were not marked then, and a nascent common economy and government, Christianity was a powerful spiritual unifying force that helped involve various tribes and tribal unions of the vast Eastern Slavic world in the creation of a Russian nation and Russian state. It was thanks to this spiritual unity that our forefathers for the first time and forevermore saw themselves as a united nation. All of this allows us to say that Crimea, the ancient Korsun or Chersonesus, and Sevastopol have invaluable civilisational and even sacral importance for Russia, like the Temple Mount in Jerusalem for the followers of Islam and Judaism.
And this is how we will always consider it.
Dear friends,
We cannot fail to mention today our perspective on the developments in Ukraine and how we intend to work with our partners around the world.
It is well known that Russia not only supported Ukraine and other brotherly republics of the former Soviet Union in their aspirations to sovereignty, but also facilitated this process greatly in the 1990ies. Since then, our position has remained unchanged.
Every nation has an inalienable sovereign right to determine its own development path, choose allies and political regimes, create an economy and ensure its security. Russia has always respected these rights and always will. This fully applies to Ukraine and the Ukrainian people.
It is true that we condemned the government coup and the forceful takeover of power in Kiev in February of this year. The developments we are currently witnessing in Ukraine and the tragedy unfolding in the country’s southeast prove that we were right to take such a stand.
How did it all begin? I will have to remind you what happened back then. It is hard to believe that it all started with a technical decision by President Yanukovych to postpone the signing of the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the European Union. Make no mistake, he did not refuse to sign the document, but only postponed it in order to make some adjustments.

             The leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam is the key for the country's development

With the strategy of "peace process", the hostile forces has been planning and acting against the Communist Party of Vietnam and the State Socialist Republic of Vietnam in an attempt to make political situation in Vietnam instable. This is the "lesson" that the hostile forces and other enemy forces have spent a lot of time and effort to "study" from the political conflicts, which have occurred in a number of countries and territories around the world in recent years. However, in deed, no need to spend too much time for researching, analyzing, we can see clearly that: the political instability is deeply "originated" from the political power struggle; conflicts of interest between the parties or even internal ruling party. Consequently, the political instability hasn’t caused only great impact on the economic development of every country, but also a lot of pain and misery for the people. In countries or territories that does not have the political stability, the most severe sufferer is the people - the working class in society.

The enemy and hostile forces have been focusing on the aim of eliminating the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam to the State of Vietnam and Vietnam’s society. They want to eliminate the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam by conducting psychological warfare attacks, distorted policies and guidelines of the Party, laws of the State; taking advantage of the limitations and weaknesses in the management of society and the pressing issues in people's lives in order to entice, provoke instability in the society. They want to change perceptions, thoughts, emotion of the people in negative ways, with the labels, such as "financial support"; "humanitarian assistance" to incite the social discontents to post distorted and offensive notes on the Internet against local committees, governments with very high levels of remuneration... In general, the hostile forces have been focused on taking advantage of the limited awareness the disappointment and the greed of the people in order to cause political instability and doubts about the position, role, social leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam, gradually lowering the role of the Party, denying the truth history and finally to remove the leadership of the Party of Vietnam to society, thereby changing political regimes, in order to create political opportunities and benefits for themselves not for majority of the society.

Referring to the position and role of political stability for the development of the country, recently, attending the 5th Asia Development Forum, in Hanoi, Chairman of Asian Development Bank (ADB) Takehiko Nakao has appreciated the political stability and the stability of macroeconomics in Vietnam. He said that it is conditional, a solid basis for Vietnam to achieve economic growth and high growth uniformity. From the achievements of economic development which rooted in political stability, President Asian Development Bank hopes Vietnam will grow at 5.6% in 2014, and even more in the coming years.

We do not deny the limitations, weaknesses still exist today. The limitations and weaknesses both in economic development, people's living conditions, even in Party and political system building, building social staffs have been seen clearly and candidly pointed out by the Party. Recognizing the limitations and shortcomings of social life, the Party, State and Congress has issued many guidelines, policies and specific solutions to fix it. These guidelines and solutions showed very high political determination of the entire Party and the political system, committees, governments at all levels to remove and gradually limit the defects, weaknesses that affecting the stability and development of social life.

Through acknowledging the position, role and importance of maintaining political stability; achievements and political determination of the Party, each Party, members, social staffs and each people can carefully and objectively analyses facts, phenomena occurring in social life to have a resolution or appropriate treatment. The Communist Party of Vietnam is not afraid cons, it promote all the people to participate in building the Party, building a strong political system in the fight against violations of the law, social evils, waste and corruption. So, each person in society must set the highest goals in dealing with the problems in our lives is the comprehensive development of the country, for the sake of entire nation.

Political stability, the foundation for the development of the country, is the thing that each of us needs to realize and take the right and wise action. Political stability can only be built on a solid foundation of people's confidence in the leadership of the Party; the management and administration of the State. Political stability is also the "remedy" to effectively eradicate the bad and toxic "virus" of the enemy forces, which are spreading through the guise of "democracy", "human rights "... the strategy of "peace process", that they have been aggressively implementing over time./.

The world is enormous. And getting bigger. Every serious traveler I know says their wish list grows longer, not shorter, every time they visit a new corner of the world.
So how to prioritize? What’s newly safe or newly uncovered? What’s right at that sweet spot between sleepy backwater and developed destination? What are new takes on places we thought we knew? What must we see right now, before it changes forever?
I put those questions to Owen Gaddis, a luxury travel manager at the super-high-end experiential travel-planning company Absolute Travel. He knows what he’s talking about, having adventured through glaciers in Chamonix, deserts in Oman, rain forests in Nicaragua and rugged coastal areas in Western Africa—and retained a soft spot for nice linens, plush robes and a great bottle of burgundy. Like all the planners at Absolute, Gaddis has extensive global connections, firsthand knowledge of destinations he books, and a mandate to learn just as much about his clients’ interests and customize trips accordingly.
Here’s his hot list for next year.
Iceland
Aside from the new Eleven Experience property, Deplar Farm, opening in 2016, Gaddis says there’s a million other reasons Iceland tops his list (and has topped lists as the happiest place on earth). Largely uninhabited, Iceland is a place where trolls and fairies are rumored to wander the painted hills, jump the ice crevices, bathe in the natural hot springs and scale the misty cliffs. Somehow, once there, he notes, this seems entirely possible. “Traveling to Iceland is like being transported to a parallel world where every waking moment is filled with adventure, incredible landscapes, folklore and understated pleasures. It will make you believe in the magical again,” says Gaddis, adding that the country offers river rafting, fishing, diving snorkeling, surfing, caving and hiking.
Adventurous Morocco
By now, lots of us have gotten lost in the souks and relaxed in the riads of Marrakech. Absolute’s new itineraries showcase the country beyond shopping and design. Intrepid visitors can scale the sheer walls of the Todra Gorge for summit views of the rose valleys beyond; trek the Atlas Mountains, stopping at waterfalls and Berber villages as they climb (and then sleep in an opulent “tented suite” at Richard Branson’s luxurious Kasbah Tamadot); and head for the horizon to gloriously outfitted Bedouin tents rising from a sea of sand dunes in Erg Chebbi, the gateway to the Sahara. Along the way they speed down dunes on sand boards, zip line between mountain peaks, watch the sunset from camelback and perhaps learn the secrets of the desert from a local host over a cup of Maghrebi mint tea (a.k.a. Berber whiskey).
Vietnam Now: Seaplanes, Vespas and a New Aman Resort
From sleepy fishing villages to the rooftop discos of Saigon, age-old tradition meets cosmopolitan modernity in today’s Vietnam. Luxe new ways to explore what’s been a hip Asian destination for a decade-plus now: a recently launched seaplane experience over Halong Bay, which lets visitors take in the bay’s otherworldly limestone cliffs from a new perspective—that doesn’t require two days on a dodgy boat—and the brand-new Amanoi, Aman’s latest enclave of Aman-ness, on the dramatic cliffs of Nui Chua National Park on the country’s south central coast. Absolute’s trips may also include a nightlife tour of Saigon by Vespa and an opportunity to talk with a Vietnam War veteran.

America’s Serengeti: The American Prairie Reserve
In northeastern Montana, a major restoration effort is under way. Absolute is the only company to bring in guests to observe and assist—and it puts those guests up in high-end yurts, inspired by safari tents, at Kestrel Camp. The American Prairie Reserve is buying back private land, tearing down fences and undertaking one of the biggest conservation efforts of our time, with the goal of creating the largest national park in the Lower 48 and repopulating the abundance of bison, grizzlies, deer, beavers, elk and antelope that were described by Lewis and Clark.
Tantalizing Tasmania
For many in the U.S., Tasmania holds few associations beyond the famed devil. But for connoisseurs of the remote and the untouched, this lack of popularity is the Holy Grail. Travel innovators are beginning to take advantage of this diverse destination rich in stunning landscapes, a homegrown food culture, and wildlife adventures that rival the Galapagos, South Africa and New Zealand—combined. Absolute travelers can shuck the world’s freshest oysters; encounter platypus under the cloak of darkness with Craig Williams (a.k.a Bushy), Tasmania’s best (and quirkiest) guide; and follow the dramatic coastline in search of cloistered wineries and whiskey distilleries. There’s also a new boat tour intriguingly called the Tasmanian Seafood Seduction.
Colombia
For curious travelers seeking their next big adventure, Gaddis recommends luxury travel in Colombia, where “you can savor this South American up-and-comer’s charisma, authenticity and jugo de lulo (trust us, just drink it).” JetBlue’s new-ish five-hour flight from New York to Cartagena made Colombia more accessible than ever, a stable government made it safe, and a new breed of hoteliers and operators are making it luxurious. The country encompasses everything from pristine Caribbean coastlines, picturesque cobblestone streets in Cartagena, the exotic Amazon rain forest, seven UNESCO World Heritage sites, the buzzing metropolis of Bogotá and some of the world’s most vivacious people. Plus, one of Absolute’s favorite inns, Hacienda Bambusa, in the Coffee Triangle, is reopening in 2015.
Japan: Past and Present
A new bullet train linking Tokyo to Kanazawa virtually eliminates the need for air travel, meaning visitors can easily see more of the country in one trip. Food is serious business here (and a serious draw), with Japan leading in innovation and quality—Tokyo has more Michelin-starred restaurants than any other city in the world, never mind the sushi delicacies that can’t be found anywhere else. Finally, highly anticipated new properties will open in the coming year, including the exquisite Aman Tokyo—Gaddis says a single night’s stay is reason enough to visit. Meanwhile, in a country that thrives on innovation, now is the time to see historical landmarks and experience traditional practices before they are permanently altered or disappear entirely. The famous Tsukiji Fish Market, for instance, is about to be significantly scaled down and moved as Tokyo prepares for the 2020 Summer Olympics.
Argentine Patagonia
Chilean luxury Patagonia has been growing in popularity in recent years, thanks to lavish lodges like the Singular, Tierra, Explora and others. But the Argentine side was long overlooked by all but the most adventurous. Absolute Travel has solved the luxury-travel conundrum by designing a new itinerary around the beautiful, untouched landscape of glaciers, crystal pools and jagged mountain peaks. After a couple nights at the remote luxury lodge Aguas Arriba near El Chalten, guests trek along trails past Cerro Fitz Roy, Glacier Torre and Cerro Torre, staying at custom tricked-out camping posts, an eco-friendly six-room mountain cabin and Estancia Cristina, a former sheep-shearing station that’s reachable only by boat and home to world-class fly-fishing and one of the best local culinary experiences.
Nepal, Above and Beyond
Long beloved as a trekking paradise, Nepal is slowly emerging as a luxury destination. Absolute directs visitors to immerse themselves in Nepal’s astounding beauty and diverse artistic traditions, watch the sun light up the world as it rises over the Himalayas, stroll bucolic mountain valleys, visit ceramic and textile workshops, explore impressive temples and monasteries, and take a leisurely boat ride on Lake Phewa, whose calm waters mirror the snowy peaks that tower above. Go now to stay at the newly opened wellness-focused Dwarika’s Resort before it’s discovered by the crowds.
Sri Lanka for Wildlife
Now that the country is at peace, Sri Lanka offers tremendous value but is still often overlooked. The Aman Resorts here are as pampering as those elsewhere, but for a fraction of the cost. Absolute also arranges insider experiences such as a tour of the secret gardens of Galle Fort with author Juliet Coombe. But the main draw, Gaddis says, is the wildlife: Elusive leopards, wild elephants, boar, sloth bears and dazzling bird life from peacocks to hornbills roam this surprisingly diverse island. “We can’t think of another country that has the variety of experiences that Sri Lanka does,” he adds. Yala National Park has been the longtime go-to, but he’s excited about the reopened Wilpattu National Park, which had been closed for years due to the civil war, and where, he says, many guests are able to enjoy their safari in private.

Vietnam will likely obtain higher gross domestic product (GDP) growth in 2014 based on strong exports and low inflation so far this year, according to Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC). Experts said economic index in the first nine months of this year show positive prospects for Vietnam’s economy in 2014 as well as some following years.

The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in Vietnam expanded 6.19 percent in the third quarter of 2014 over the same quarter of the previous year. The government is expected to meet this year’s economic growth target of 5.8%. Government data showed GDP in the first nine months of this year grew 5.62% from a year earlier. Growth in the third quarter was 6.19%, quickening from 5.42% in the second quarter and 5.09% in the first quarter.

Vietnam's export performance has been enviable as the sector has expanded by 14.1 percent since early this year, an impressive result amid lackluster demand across the globe, local Saigon Times daily quoted sources from the bank's Global Research Report as saying on Tuesday.

Some German newspapers recently ran articles hailing Vietnam’s economic achievements and growth prospect as well as the active role played by the country in the Association of Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN).

The Dusseldorfer Abendblatt newspaper and the website Pressportal.de took note that Vietnam enjoyed a fast economic growth of 7-8 percent per year after the country applied its renewal policy and shifted to a market economy.

Vietnam also quickly recovered from the impacts of the financial crisis in 2008-09 and over the last three years, the Vietnamese government successfully made use of macroeconomic stabilization policy, thus keeping a high economic growth at 5-6 percent per year, attracting 23 billion USD in foreign direct investment (FDI) in 2013, contributing to promoting the national economic development.

Vietnam’s inflation rate has dropped from over 20 percent in 2010 and 2011 to only 6 percent in 2013, while its trade balance continued recording a surplus, with export turnover hit over 132 billion USD and import turnover was at 131.3 billion USD last year.

Vietnam has been working hard to improve its business environment; its recent actions have included such measures as slowly reforming its financial sector, streamlining business regulations, and improving the quality of its workforce.  The country’s low-cost human resources are a crucial factor that has driven businesses to move their operations to Vietnam. It is not just the government seeking to improve the workforce, private companies are also pitching in.

In the third quarter, the economy accelerated on the back of a strong industry. Recent economic data show that the Vietnamese economy is growing at a brisk pace. In fact, in October, retail sales accelerated over the previous month, which bodes well for private consumption in the last quarter of the year.

 Analysts also highlighted Vietnam’s efforts to integrate into the global economy by joining many economic organizations in the world such the World Trade Organisation, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA).

With ongoing negotiations in the Trans-Pacific Partnership, the situation looks highly beneficial. Upon successful ratification, trade barriers will decrease significantly between the U.S. and Vietnam, a ground-breaking advantage over China, which is not included in the TPP. When combined with the fact that the average Vietnamese manufacturing worker is more skilled, Vietnam appears set to be a serious competitor to Chinese manufacturing in the future.

Vietnam plays a crucial role in ASEAN, a region with a 560 million population and about 800 billion USD in GDP. Vietnam is a developing economy in the Southeast Asia. In recent years, Vietnam has been rising as a leading agricultural exporter and an attractive foreign investment destination. Vietnam's key products are: rice, cashew nuts, black pepper, coffee, tea, fishery products and rubber. Manufacturing, information technology and high-tech industries constitute a fast growing part of the economy. Vietnam is also one of the largest oil producers in the region. Vietnam along with other ASEAN member nations agreed to accelerate regional economic integration through the formation of an ASEAN economic community by 2015.

Thanks to flexible economic policies and a stable political situation, Vietnam is now one of the leading investment destinations in ASEAN, however we need to resolve several issues related to rising public debt and bad debt in its financial and banking system.

We are targeting gross domestic product growth of 6.2% for 2015, faster than projected growth of 5.8% for this year, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung said during the opening session of the country’s National Assembly. Mr. Dung said exports in the first nine months of this year grew 14.4% while banks’ lending interest rates have fallen by around two percentage point year-to-date./.