Foreign reserves increase to US$ 63 bln, Gov't Spokesman says

Minister-Chairman of the Government Office Mai Tien Dung chairs press conference held this afternoon following the Cabinet meeting.

Dung, who is also the Government Spokesman, said the macro-economy remained stable in in the first four months this year.

Consumer price index rose 2.8% and industrial production grew 11.4% in the reviewed period compared to 6.6% of the same period last year.

Foreign arrivals increased by 29% to over 5.5 million, said Dung, adding that PM Phuc agreed to extend visa exemption for citizens of five European countries, namely the UK, France, Germany, Spain and Italy, by three years (until July 1, 2021).

This is the 3^rd time, the Government has decided to extend the policy, which took effect since July 1, 2015.

Under the policy, citizens from the five European countries shall not have to apply for visa if their time limit of stay not exceeding 15 days since the day they get entry permit to Viet Nam.

The Government will continue considering institutional building, administrative reform, improvement of business environment as its top priorities in 2018, according to Dung./.

By Quang Minh