Vietnam's growth accelerates despite anti-China riots

Vietnam's economy grew at its fastest rate for three years in the first nine months of 2014, government figures showed today, despite deadly anti-China riots that targeted factories and threatened to dent foreign investment.
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew at 5.62 per cent between January and September this year, up from 5.14 per cent in the first three quarters of 2013 and 4.73 per cent over the same period in 2012.
While noting the figures marked a "positive change" Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung called for further measures to boost the country's economy in a statement on the government's website.

"We have to concentrate on effectively dealing with shortcomings, weaknesses and difficulties that are hindering production, business and growth," Dung said.
The government has targeted full-year growth of 5.8 per cent.
In May anti-China riots rattled parts of the nation after Beijing moved a deep-water oil drilling rig into waters in the South China Sea claimed by Hanoi.

Some foreign-backed factories were set on fire, alarming investors who had previously been attracted to the communist country for its reputation for stability and security.
Immediately after the unrest, Dung pledged to step up economic reforms and prevent a repeat of the riots, promising assistance to affected businesses.

China withdrew the rig mid-July, a month earlier than initially expected, claiming it had successfully completed the drilling mission.
Although Chinese tourist arrivals have fallen dramatically since Beijing imposed a travel ban, the wider economic fallout from the riots appears to have been contained.