India, Japan to strengthen political, economic ties

– Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will make a three-day visit to Japan from October 21 to boost political and economic ties between the two countries, Kyodo news reported on October 3.

PM Singh is scheduled to have an audience with Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko on the October 22 morning before holding talks with his Japanese counterpart Taro Aso.

It will be Singh’s second visit to Japan this year, following his July trip to attend the outreach session at the Group of Eight summit in Hokkaido.

Japan is currently negotiating an economic partnership agreement with India, with an eye on reaching a basic accord upon PM Singh’s visit, according to the news agency.

The two nations’ chief delegates are set to hold the 10th round of free trade talks from October 6 in Tokyo.-

Cuba calls for foreign investment in mining sector

Havana (VNA) – The Cuban government will encourage foreign investors to invest mineral projects in Cuba.

Under a decree signed recently by President Raul Castro, foreign investors from Bolivarian Alternative for Latin America and the Caribbean (ALBA) member countries will have permission to exploit such minerals as gold, silver, bronze, zinc, and lead.

This is the first time Cuba allows foreign investors to take part in exploiting these minerals. Foreign capital has been so far allowed in only three sectors, including tourism, nickel and crude oil exploitation.

Nickel and oil exploitation was open for foreign investment ten years ago. Canada’s Sherrit Company is cooperating with the Cuban side in nickel projects, while other companies from Vietnam, Spain, Canada, India, China, and Malaysia are allowed to cooperate with Cuba in oil exploration and exploitation. –

EC to review duties on leather shoes from Vietnam, China

– The European Commission (EC) on October 2 decided to launch a review of the current anti-dumping measures applied to leather shoes from Vietnam and China.

This will have the practical effect of extending the duties while the review is completed.

The EC imposed anti-dumping duties of 10 percent and 16.5 percent on leather shoes imported from Vietnam and China, respectively, two years ago. These measures were due to expire on October 7.

However, the Commission said in its press release that the Commission’s services will work to complete the investigation as expeditiously as possible – if possible in less than the usual timeframe of 12-15 months.

Earlier at a meeting of the European Union (EU)’s anti-dumping advisory committee held in Brussels on September 18, as many as 15 out of 27 EU members opposed a review and the extension of anti-dumping duties on leather shoes imported from Vietnam and China.

Over the past two years, Vietnam’s exports of leather shoes to the EU dropped sharply due to anti-dumping duties. Late last year, the EC decided to remove imported Vietnamese footwear from its generalised system of preferences (GSP) for the 2009-2011 period.-

Malaysia hopes to become regional educational hub

Kuala Lumpur (VNA) – Malaysia, a Southeast Asian nation of 27 million of people, is set a target to become a regional educational hub as the number of foreign students come to the country has been growing considerably, said a local media.

Malaysia’s Bernama News Agency quoted Dubai-based Malaysia Education Promotion Centre (MEPC) regional director Shushilil Azam Shuib as saying that the number of students from Middle East and North African region in Malaysia reached 16,299 as of July, this year, surpassing the revised target of 15,000 students by 2010, set by Malaysia’s Ministry of Higher Education.

Among them, Iran topped the list with 4,878 students, followed by Yemen (2,688), Sudan (1,600), Iraq (1,400), Saudi Arabia (1,271) and Somalia (1,231).

According to the list, a total of 25 countries in the Middle East and North Africa have sent their students to Malaysia.-

Malaysia eyes exports to ASEAN, Japan

Hanoi (VNA) – Malaysia has expanded its exports to other members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Japan due to the financial crisis in the United States, a Malaysian senior official said on October 2.

Malaysia did not regard the US as its key market and source of investment so the fall in exports to the US due to the crisis could be overcome by expanding the markets to ASEAN countries, Japan and West Asia, Malaysian International Trade and Industry Minister Muhyiddin Yassin was quoted by Bernama News Agency as saying.

However, Minister Muhyiddin added that Malaysia’s trade with the United States had declined and forecasted that Malaysian exporters would face difficulties in getting financing if the crisis worsens.-

Cambodian Prince Ranariddh retires from politics

– Cambodian Prince Norodom Ranariddh has announced that he decided to quit from active politics, according to news reports.

“I decided to retire from politics after I had served the nation for more than 25 years,” Ranariddh, who is also President of the Norodom Ranariddh Party (NRP), was quoted as saying at a dinner party in Phnom Penh on October 2.

“I want to have a rest from politics and it is enough for me,” he said, without elaborating the reason in details. Ranariddh said he would help Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni in royal affairs but he did not reveal the position he will receive at the royal palace.

The Cambodian prince said he could not dissolve the NRP bearing his own name and the NRP president will be replaced by current deputy president Chhim Seak Leng.-

Philippines considers food supply major priority

– Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has said that her country will focus on maintaining the stability of the country’s food supply, consider it a “major priority” in the face of the global crisis.

Philippine media quoted President Arroyo as saying on October 1 that her administration was “working hard” to contain inflation, strengthen the banking system, sustain economic growth, and improve the country’s fiscal health.

Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya was also cited as saying that with strong economic fundamentals, the Philippines could survive ahead of global crisis, which is estimated to worsen if the US rescue package of 700-billion USD bailout for American banks would be rejected.

Previously, speaking at a global meeting, President Arroyo expressed her belief that the structural reforms the Philippines has made will allow the country to overcome the external shocks from abroad.-

Indonesia expects robust growth in 3rd quarter

– The Indonesian economy is estimated to grow by more than 6 percent in this year’s third quarter on the back of robust private consumption, investment and export, the Finance Ministry has said.

“Growth in consumer goods was relatively high. Exports were also on track although imports were relatively high,” Head of fiscal policy of the Finance Ministry Anggito Abimanyu said.

The exact figure will be issued on October 6, Anggito was quoted by the Jakarta Post as saying.

During the first half of the year, the Indonesian economy unexpectedly grew by 6.4 percent due to strong exports, particularly commodities, according to the Central Statistics Agency (BPS).

Analysts have predicted that the Indonesian economy will grow by slightly less than 6 percent by the year end, below the government’s forecast of 6.2 percent.-

Thailand: No gov’t intervention in charter amendment

– Thailand’s Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat said on October 3 that the public would provide the main body of opinion on amendments to the country’s Constitution while the government would not intervene.

The government would like to see more participation from the general public in voicing their opinions on any law amendments, PM Somchai was quoted by news agencies as saying.

He said a charter drafting assembly will be established to oversee the amendments.

Charter amendment is the issue causing the most controversy between pro- and anti-overnment groups during the political turmoil that has taken place over the last three months.-

Mekong delta discusses climate change

Can Tho (VNA) – Impacts of climate change on the Mekong Delta region was discussed at a workshop held in southern Can Tho city on Oct. 2-3.

Participants agreed that global climate change has been posing a great challenge to the Mekong delta.

In the next 60 years, climate change will cause drastic changes to the region’s natural environment as well as its socio-economic performance, experts forecast.

As the sea water levels will rise by an additional 1 metre, large areas of the region will be permanently inundated. For coastal lands, about 15,000-20,000 sq.km will be fully flooded, leading to changes in the living environment of many sea creatures.

The region will also suffer from more droughts as intervals of flood seasons.

These happenings will seriously effect agriculture production, fishery, transportation, local people’s health and increase the risk of forest fires.

To cope with climate change, participants recommended regional provinces to adjust their social-economic development plans, focusing on adaptation to the changes.-