Press Highlights Aug. 1

Hanoi (VNA) - Current Events· Vietnam has well fulfilled its role, said Ambassador Le Luong Minh, Vietnam 's representative at the United Nations Security Council (Quan doi Nhan dan, p7; Nhan dan, p1).

· Compiling works on the relations between Vietnam-Lao and Vietnam-Cambodia (Nhan dan, p1; Quan doi Nhan dan, p8). The first books areexpected to be made public this October.

· French Development Agency in Vietnam provided non-refundable aid of 0.8 million EUR and a loan of 22 million EUR for northern mountainous Lao Cai province for infrastructure and eco-tourismdevelopment (Quan doi Nhan dan, p8).

· French Senate President visited Ho Chi Minh City (SaigonGiai phong, p1).

· The Government issued a resolution on Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City traffic issue (Saigon Giai phong, p1). Moving administrativeagencies, universities and hospitals to the suburb areas.

· The first session of the merged People's Councils of Hanoi andHa Tay to open today (Saigon Giai phong, p1).

· FIFA President Sepp Blatter visits Vietnam (Saigon Giaiphong, p5).

· Setting up a joint expert group on Pan-Tolkin Gulfcooperation (Hanoi Moi, p8).

Socio-economic Affairs · Adjusting employees' salary and wage after deducting socialinsurance fees (Nhan dan, p1).

· Vietnam Dong prime interest rate will be 14 percent per annumas of August 1 (Nhan dan, p8).

· Nearly 30,000 dengue cases were reported (Nhan dan, p8).

· Hanoi announces detailed planning of Long Bien and HoangMai districts (Nhan dan, p8).

· Friendly football match between Vietnam and Olympic Brazilto take place (Nhan dan, p7).

· Vietnam welcomes more than 2.6 million foreigners (Nhandan, p7).

· 700 contestants to attend Vietnam Tourism Beauty Contest 2008 (Hanoi Moi, p8) · Vietnamese businesses' P/E ratio is still attractive,according to experts (Thoi bao Tai chinh [Financial Times], No. 91, p9).

· Will the real estate market soon recover? (Thoi bao Tai chinh, No. 91, p9). Factors that giving impact on the real estate recently such as banks' measures to tighten investment into property development, inflation, and skyrocketing property prices for a long period, have made the market quiet. However, there are reasons to believe that the market will recovershortly.

· Keep a close eyes on prices (Thoi bao Kinh te Vietnam [Vietnam Investment Review], No. 183, p3). The Finance Ministry on July 30 sent an urgent message to relevant agencies at cities and provinces regarding curbing inflation and stabilising prices at a time when severalbusinesses raise prices of goods and services, affecting citizens' life.

· Costs of tourism service increases by 30 percent compared to2007 (Thoi bao Kinh te Vietnam , No. 183, p3).

· Sugarcane material area in danger of contracting (Thoi bao Kinh te Vietnam , No. 183, page 5). Producers gain benefit, but farmerslose.

· The world crude oil price sharply decreases, however, it is unable to adjust domestic petrol price (Tien phong [Vanguard], No. 213, p15). An interview on July 30 with Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce Nguyen Cam Tu on raising transportation fees as the result of increasedpetrol price.

· Exports rocketed while import reduced sharply in July (Congthuong [Industry and Commerce], No. 36, p1).

· Post-WTO action plan still has shortcomings (Cong thuong, No.

36, p4).

· MICE - great tourism potential for Vietnam (Cong thuong,No. 36, p14).

· Increased price of construction material leads to sluggishdeployment of many projects (Tuoi tre [Youth], No. 207, p5).

· Finding measures to attract more remittance from overseas (Tuoi tre, No. 207, p15). Overseas remittance in 2008 is expected to reach 8 billion USD, including the contributions by guest workers and those who getmarried with Asian people.

· Electronic market starts to see changes (Thanh nien [Young People], No. 213, p6). Sony Vietnam will close its factory in September after 14 years of operation and open a new trading company. The fact willcreate changes for the electronic product market.

· Lending interest rates continue to decrease (Thanh nien, No.

213, p7).

International Affairs · Ehud Olmert to step down as prime minister of Israel (Nhan dan, p8; Hanoimoi, p8) · Disputed islands belong to South Korea : US (Hanoi Moi, p8) · Cambodia : CPP ready to shake hands with Funcinpec (Nhan dan, p8) · Afghanistan : Bomb blast near Pakistan consulate (Nhan dan, p8) · Iran says it will stop controversial nuclear programme (Hanoi Moi, p8) · Ousted Thai Prime Minister Thaksin accused of power abuse (SGGP, p12) · Russia , China agree to minimize using USD in trade payment (SGGP, p12) · NASA says liquid confirmed on Saturn's moon Titan (SGGP, p12) · Two options to counter NMD: Russia (Quan doi Nhan dan, p8) · Japanese PM Fukuda to reshuffle cabinet this week, says media (Lao dong, p6; QDND, p8)- Enditem