State President Nguyen Minh Triet paid Tet visits to the Saigon Jewelry Holding Company (SJC) and the Asia Commercial Bank (ACB) on January 30.

SCJ reached a record turnover of US$3.6 billion, contributed VND120 billion to the state budget and ranked 11th among 500 biggest enterprises in Vietnam. Meanwhile, ACB achieved a pre-tax profit of VND2,556 billion with total assets reaching VND115,241 billion.

President Triet acknowledged the two businesses’ achievements and expressed his belief that with join efforts made by the entire Party and people, Vietnamese businesses will actively overcome new obstacles and take timely measures to cope with set-backs.

*** During a meeting with representatives from Hanoi’s police force on January 30, Deputy Prime Minister Truong Vinh Trong urged them to continue uncovering criminal activity and maintaining public security and order, particularly traffic safety in the capital city following the Tet holiday.

According to major general Nguyen Duc Nhanh, director of the municipal plice, during the Tet holiday, 5 traffic accidents happened, taking 4 lives, and six fires broke out, causing slight damage. The police arrested 29 people involved in transporting and setting off firecrackers.

*** The same day, Truong Tan Sang, member of political bureau and permanent member of the Secretariat of the Vietnam Communist Party Central Committee (CPVCC) paid a working visit to the southern province of Binh Duong. Mr Sang highlighted the province’s socio-economic achievements in 2008, which generated thousands jobs for local people. He called on the province to fully tap its potential to further increase economic growth, contributing to fulfilling the country’s targets in 2009.

Mr Sang suggested that the province devise proper polices to attract investors in key projects, advance administrative reform, invest in housing projects for workers and building schools.

*** The President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee, Huynh Dam, visited Vietnam News Agency (VNA) on January 30 and extended New Year greetings to the agency’s leaders and staff.

The Chairman expressed his wish that the VNA will fulfill its key political tasks assigned by the Party and State in 2009, and stand side by side with the Party, State and Government to prevent the country from economic downturn, stabilize the macro economy and maintain a steady economic growth rate.

VietNamNet/VOV