Rescue workers comb through the site for landslide victims  (Photo: Bao Giao Thong)

Three construction workers have been killed and one left severely injured after a landslide triggered by torrential rains hit Ha Long city of the northern province of Quang Ninh.

The incident occurred at 4 a.m. on August 12 while the workers were sleeping in a temporary tent.

Receiving news of the incident, rescue workers were immediately dispatched to the scene in order to conduct a search and find the missing workers.

After several hours, three bodies of the workers buried in debris were recovered. In addition, the remaining person suffering from severe injuries was subsequently transferred to Bai Chay General Hospital to receive intensive treatment.

Heavy rain has been pouring down in northern and central localities for the past few days after a prolonged heat wave struck the regions. Mountainous localities have been warned about possible flashfloods and landslides that could threaten local lives.

Japanese police hand over body of murdered victim to Vietnamese side

Japan's Osaka Prefectural Police have  handed over the body of a Vietnamese citizen, who was murdered in the pedestrian area near Ebisu bridge in Osaka city's Chuo district on August 2 evening, to the monk of a Vietnamese pagoda in Hyogo prefecture's Kobe city to perform rituals for the deceased in line with the family's wish.

Upon being authorised by his family, the monk worked with the Minami-Osaka Police Department on handing over the victim's body. It was conducted after autopsy procedures were completed.

The pagoda held a ceremony to pray for the victim on August 11 and will hold a funeral on August 12. The ashes of the victim are expected to be transported to Vietnam on August 15.

Earlier, a video believed to be recorded by a Vietnamese and posted on social networks showed the young man was assaulted and then pushed into a river in the Namba Parks area.

Police in Osaka on August 5 arrested a man in connection with the death of the victim.

The man’s first name was released as Alberto. He is 26-year-old and is from the Dominican Republic. He is currently unemployed and has no permanent residence address./.

HCM City resolves to contain SARS-CoV-2 virus by September 15

Experts believe that Ho Chi Minh City’s goal of containing the latest COVID-19 outbreak by September 15 is feasible, only if social distancing measures are strictly implemented alongside virus localisation, extensive testing, and vaccinations.

The southern metropolis, the busiest and most populous locality in Vietnam, and is currently grappling with a fresh COVID-19 outbreak, with approximately 4,000 new cases recorded each day. The city has recently extended the Government’s social distancing order to implement more restrictive measures in an attempt to halt the spread of the virus among the community.

In a recent report submitted to the Government, the Ministry of Health (MoH) set a target of bringing the latest outbreak in HCM City under control before September 15, and the proposal was later approved by the Government.

MoH Deputy Minister Tran Van Thuan explained that the deadline has been set based on the infection rate in COVID-19 hotspots throughout southern Vietnam, especially in HCM City.

The incidence of COVID-19 infections in the southern city is showing signs of leveling off after reaching its peak over the past week, said Thuan.

He suggested that extensive testing should be ramped up in an effort to localise and separate F0 cases from the community and expand the ‘green’ or safety zones.

With restrictive measures currently in place, there is hope that the ongoing outbreak will be brought under control shortly, he said.

Meanwhile, during an online Cabinet meeting on August 11, HCM City Mayor Nguyen Thanh Phong admitted that the fresh outbreak is dealing a heavy blow to local business and production activities.

Whether or not the economy is able to get through the ongoing crisis largely depends on the ability to control the pandemic locally, the vaccination campaign, the resilience of local firms, and global developments relating to the COVID-19 pandemic, he said.

He therefore vowed that the city will continue to strictly implement social distancing measures, ‘greenise’ risk and high-risk areas, along with speeding up vaccinations to contain the spread of the virus ahead of September 15.

To meet this deadline, according to National Assembly deputy Prof. Dr. Hoang Van Cuong, the southern metropolis should implement a number of synchronous solutions relating to isolation, zoning, and vaccination.

HCM City has no choice but to isolate epidemic hotspots, separate epidemic areas from safe green zones, gradually expand green zones, and strictly implement social distancing measures in order to meet the September 15 deadline, said Prof. Cuong.

He also shared other experts’ views that the city should focus on speeding up the vaccination process and commodity circulation as a way of meeting local people’s consumption demands for food, and maintaining production in key economic regions.

Over 12 million Covid-19 vaccine doses administered in Vietnam

Vietnam confirmed 4,642 more Covid-19 infections in the past 12 hours while the country has so far administered over 12 million Covid-19 vaccine doses, the Ministry of Health announced at 6am on Thursday.

According to the ministry's report, 4,639 of the newly-confirmed patients are locally-transmitted cases most of whom were detected in quarantine sites or areas under lockdown in some localities such as Ho Chi Minh City (2,318 cases), Binh Duong (911), Dong Nai (425), Long An (354), Tien Giang (212), and Khanh Hoa (130). Among these new infections, 1,256 cases were found in the community. There were three imported patients recorded.

Ho Chi Minh City continued to report the highest number of new infections in the country. On Wednesday, the city also recorded 3,416 new patients, the majority of which are individuals who came into contact with confirmed Covid-19 patients or who were detected in either isolation and locked down areas. Social distancing rules are being further tightened in the city to contain the spread of the virus.

As of Thursday morning, 237,589 locally-transmitted cases have been reported since the new outbreak occurred in the country on April 27, including 135,485 in the virus hotspot of Ho Chi Minh City. The outbreak has so far spread to 62 cities and provinces nationwide.

With these new infection cases, the number of Covid-19 patients in Vietnam has increased to 241,543 including 239,159 locally-transmitted cases.

On August 11, a total of 4,806 more patients were released from hospital following their full recovery, raising the number of recoveries in the country to 85,154.

Also on Wednesday evening, a further 342 deaths related to Covid-19 were announced, bringing the total number of fatalities in Vietnam to 4,487.

The country has so far conducted over 12.10 million Covid-19 vaccine shots, with over one million people having received two doses.

The Ministry of Health has just allowed Ho Chi Minh City to use the batch of one million doses of Sinopharm's Covid-19 vaccine Vero Cell for its current vaccination campaign. The city aims to vaccinate 70 percent of its residents aged 18 and above within this month.

The ministry has also named eight provinces which are lagging behind on Covid-19 vaccination. The localities are Dong Nai, Tay Ninh, Tra Vinh, Binh Duong, Hau Giang, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Tien Giang and Thanh Hoa.

Lao official commends new mindset in bilateral cooperation proposed by Vietnamese President

Vice President and General Secretary of the Laos-Vietnam Friendship Association Saykhong Saynasine has appreciated the speech that Vietnamese President Nguyen Xuan Phuc delivered at the first session of the 9th National Assembly of Laos during his official friendly visit to the neighbouring country from August 9-10.

Talking to the Vietnam News Agency (VNA)'s correspondents in Vientiane, Saykhong stated that the speech was sincere words from the heart of a long-time friend of Laos. Through his speech, it can be said that the Vietnamese President considers Laos, the Lao people, and the Lao Government as close and strategic friends that cannot be separated, thus demonstrating special and time-honoured solidarity between the two nations, the Lao official said.

In the speech, the Vietnamese leader underscored that political relations will continue to be a key pillar in the overall special ties between Vietnam and Laos in the future, in which, the cooperation between the two legislative bodies plays a significant role.

Agreeing with this opinion, Saykhong said that that it is right to take politics as the main pillar in the bilateral cooperation and to creatively apply Marxism-Leninism in each country’s reality, affirming that this is the thought of late Presidents Ho Chi Minh and Kaysone Phomvihane.

He showed his impression with President Phuc’s emphasis to have a new mindset to together develop further and integrate into the international community, adding that this is a sound, straightforward and sincere orientation.

Saykhong also appreciated the Vietnamese leader’s proposal to continue intensifying security-defence cooperation, saying “Laos needs Vietnam and Vietnam also needs Laos. If Laos has problems, Vietnam also has difficulties and vice versa. We cannot leave each other”.

He agreed with President Phuc’s request to improve the quality and effectiveness of cooperation in education-training and human resource development, as good human resources will help boost socio-economic development, and at the same time contribute to promoting the friendship and solidarity between the two countries.

COVID-19: Additional 4,642 cases recorded on August 12 morning

Vietnam documented 4,642 new COVID-19 infections, including three imported cases, from 6:30pm on August 11 to 6am on August 12, raising the national count to 241,543, according to the Ministry of Health.

Of the new 4,639 domestic cases, Ho Chi Minh City - Vietnam’s largest COVID-19 hotspot - recorded 2,318 cases, followed by its neighbouring provinces of Binh Duong (911), Dong Nai (425), and Long An (354).

As many as 1,256 cases were detected in the community.

The number of infections since the fourth wave of outbreaks hit Vietnam on April 27 reached 237,589, with 82,380 patients given the all-clear.

The total number of recoveries reached 85,154. Among patients under treatment, 489 are being cared for in ICU, while 21 are treated with the support of ECMO.

To date, Vietnam has administered 12,098,821doses of COVID-19 vaccines. A total of 1,092,700 people have received two full shots./.

Bình Phước Province seeks approval for HCM City – Thủ Dầu Một – Chơn Thành expressway

Bình Phước Province has asked the Government for permission to carry out an investment project for the HCM City – Thủ Dầu Một – Chơn Thành expressway.

The expressway will connect HCM City to Bình Dương Province’s Thủ Dầu Một City and Bình Phước’s Chơn Thành District. It will be 68.7 kilometres long, and have six non-stop lanes and 4 lanes on the side for urban vehicles.

The first phase of the project will cost more than VNĐ24.2 trillion (US$1.06 billion) under a public-private partnership model. The State will pay slightly less than half of it.

When finished, the expressway will boost connectivity among provinces and cities that are part of the Southern key economic zone.

Bình Phước People’s Committee has asked HCM City and Bình Dương to assist and help identify each region’s financial responsibility for land clearance.

The province has also instructed relevant authorities to finish their procedures and paperwork within August to submit to the Prime Minister and the National Assembly.

The project is slated to be carried out in the 2021 – 2025 period.

Thousands of smuggled medicines seized in HCM City

Authorities in HCM City have seized 2,800 smuggled boxes of medicines claiming to be used for treating Covid-19.

HCM City Department of Market Surveillance said on August 11 that they had worked with the city police to check the house in An Dong Vuong Alleyway and discovered a large number of smuggled medicines under the Lianhua Qingwen label.

The owner bought the capsules from a woman in Mong Cai City, Quang Ninh Province for VND78,000 (USD3.40) a box, and resold them online for a profit. He was unable to provide the necessary papers for the medicines. The medicines are worth nearly VND200m and have been seized by the police for investigation.

It was advertised online that the medicines can treat coughing, fever, throat pain and prevent and treat Covid-19.

Lianhua Qingwen is Chinese traditional medicine and developed for severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) after the outbreak in 2002. During the Covid-19 pandemic, the Chinese government approved the use of Lianhua Qingwen for mild to moderate patients.

However, it hasn't been recognised internationally as a Covid-19 treatment as it only treats the symptoms, not the virus. Some western countries cautioned people to be careful to use the medicine.

The Ministry of Health of Vietnam advised the residents to contact medical stations and go to hospitals if they have the symptoms instead of using functional food or unknown medicines.

Red Cross launches campaign to support COVID-19-hit residents

The Vietnam Red Cross Society (VRC)’s Central Committee has launched a campaign to assist disadvantaged people who are affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and frontline forces in the fight against the COVID-19.

The campaign, entitled “Connecting the community – overcoming challenges”, will be carried out from August to November 2021 with its peak time from mid-August to mid-September.

To implement the campaign, the VRC Central Committee will use VND 4.3 billion (nearly US$190,000) from the reserve fund to support 20 localities, focusing on three main activities including providing "Red Cross family bags", each worth VND 500,000 (US$22), in 20 provinces and cities, providing meals for patients with difficult circumstances being treated in hospitals in Hanoi and cash support for migrant workers in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi who lost their jobs and are living in difficulties.

The campaign aims to connect activities to help people affected by the COVID-19 pandemic of provinces and cities, improve the effectiveness of support and make positive contributions to the prevention and control of the COVID-19 pandemic in localities. 

Government exerts every effort to fight pandemic, ensure sustainable growth: Minister

The Government considers the prevention and control of the COVID-19 pandemic the most important and urgent task at present, urging ministries, sectors and localities to exert all efforts to fight the pandemic and ensure sustainable growth.

The statement was made by Minister-Chairman of the Government Office Tran Van Son while he chaired the Government press conference announcing the outcomes of the Government’s regular meeting on August 11.

During the meeting, representatives of ministries, sectors and localities had proposed many urgent solutions to remove difficulties, control prices, and maintain sustainable growth, stated Son.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasised that as the actions in this period are decisive, it is necessary to take advantage of the social distancing period currently applied in many pandemic hotspots to carry out appropriate solutions; continue speeding up the implementation of the vaccine strategy; step up agricultural production and trade in goods; and prevent production disruptions, Son added.

According to the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the COVID-19 outbreak in July has had a significant impact on all aspects of the economy, especially in many industrial zones in the southern region. The pandemic has disrupted production, circulation and sale of goods in these areas.

In addition, domestic purchasing power and exports have decreased remarkably, and the lives people in quarantine sites, locked-down areas and those imposing social distancing have been severely affected.

In the first seven months of 2021, the average consumer price index increased by 1.64 percent year-on-year, the lowest growth rate since 2016. Index of industrial production rose by 7.9 percent over the same period last year. Total import and export turnover reached more than 373 billion USD, in which export turnover was valued at over 185 billion USD, up 25.5 percent year-on-year./.

Vaccination will be sped up once more vaccines available: Deputy Minister

The Ministry of Health (MoH) will cooperate with the Ministry of National Defence and the Ministry of Public Security to speed up the inoculation to up to 2 million shots of vaccines a day, said Deputy Minister of Health Tran Van Thuan.

Speaking at a monthly government press conference held in Hanoi on August 11, he said the MoH will accelerate the vaccination when more vaccines arrive in the country.

As many as 11 million out of 18 million allocated doses of vaccines have been administered to people, accounting for 65 percent, Thuan said.

Ho Chi Minh City, which is the country's current largest pandemic hotspot, is leading the inoculation campaign with over 3.5 million doses administered out of more than 4 million doses it had received, or 88.2 percent. The capital of Hanoi has injected about 1.5 million out of 3 million doses that the city has been allocated.

Thuan said the vaccination rate will be accelerated in HCM City and other provinces in the coming days.

The deputy minister said the viewpoint of the MoH is injecting the vaccines quickly but it must ensure safety from preparation, medicine, mobile vehicles and medical equipment. Emergency resuscitation is must be helpful for the vaccination. 

The MoH has also transferred 10,000 doses of imported drugs from India to provide for the treatment of patients in the southern provinces, he said.

More than 11,000 medical workers and students have been mobilised to support HCM City and the southern provinces. 

Thuan said he hoped that with the drastic participation of the entire political system from the central and local levels, the MoH and the Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, the situation will be soon stabilised and the pandemic will be put under control in the next month./.

HCMC's districts complete vaccination campaigns for people aged over 65 years

Thu Duc City and many districts of Ho Chi Minh City have basically completed the largest-ever vaccination campaign for the elderly at Covid-19 vaccination points in the localities and hospitals.

According to the Steering Committee for Covid-19 prevention and control of Phu Nhuan District, over 15,069 residents in Phu Nhuan District have been vaccinated against coronavirus. Among them, there are 124 people aged over 90 and two people over 100 years.

To accelerate the vaccination progress, the locality arranged nine out of 19 vaccination sites for over 65-year old people and mobilized private medical facilities and medical staff from hospitals and clinics to ensure safe injection.

In District 11, 19,637 people aged over 65 years got their first shot of Covid-19 vaccine. Among them, over 3,000 people are over 80 years old. The district organized 20 vaccination points serving the elderly.

It is expected that Tan Binh District will perform the vaccination for 1,500 people in the group aged over 65 years on August 11 , bringing the total number of elderly people getting their first dose of Covid-19 vaccine to 26,000 ones. To reach the plan, the district has arranged over 70 vaccination points along with mobile vaccination teams to prioritize this group of people.

In Go Vap District, more than 19,000 out of 21,000 people aged over 65 years and older got their Covid-19 vaccines. The district organized six vaccination points and one point in the hospital serving the elderly people. In the coming time, the district will arrange more mobile vaccination teams for people aged over 65 years facing transportation difficulties.

Binh Thanh District has carried out the vaccination for nearly 23,000 out of 33,000 people aged over 65 years.

HCMC-Moc Bai expressway project faces cost overrun

The estimated investment for the first phase of the HCMC-Moc Bai expressway project has risen from VND10.7 trillion (US$466.7 million) to VND15.9 trillion, according to the HCMC Department of Planning and Investment.

The department has sent the municipal government a report on the project, which is considered a key national one. Accordingly, the cost overrun was attributed to higher compensation and site clearance costs, which have risen to VND7.4 trillion from the initial VND5.1 trillion, Thanh Nien newspaper reported.

In the first phase, 50 kilometers of the expressway would be built, including 23.7 kilometers in HCMC and 26.3 kilometers in Tay Ninh.

Of the investment for the first phase, VND5.4 trillion was planned to be used for the construction of the road, VND7.4 trillion for site clearance, VND1.8 trillion for the project management, consulting and loan interest and VND1.2 trillion for backup.

The project will be executed under the public private partnership format with a build-operate-transfer contract. Part of the compensation and site clearance costs will be sourced from the budgets of HCMC and Tay Ninh Province, while the remainder will be mobilized by the investor.

According to the HCMC Department of Planning and Investment, HCMC’s biggest obstacle to the project is locating capital sources for the VND5.9-trillion site clearance cost for the section passing through the city.

The city’s mid-term public investment for 2021-2025 is nearly VND127.7 trillion, which must be used for projects under construction, using the State capital and allocated capital this year and for backup. Therefore, the capital for the HCMC-Moc Bai expressway project was sourced from the mid-term public investment for 2021-2025.

HCMC has proposed the Government raise the mid-term public investment for 2021-2025 by over VND119.4 trillion. If approved, the HCMC Department of Planning and Investment suggested the Department of Transport review and determine priority traffic projects, prioritizing the HCMC-Moc Bai expressway project.

The expressway, once in place, is expected to ease pressure on National Highway 22, support the transport between HCMC and Tay Ninh and to Cambodia and other ASEAN countries, and boost the southern region’s economic development.

Telehealth provides remote consultations for treatment of over 1800 severe COVID-19 cases

Military-run telecom group Viettel announced on August 11 that medical establishments nationwide have carried out 120 consultation session for more than 1,800 severe COVID-19 cases, promptly handling and treating the patients.

The Telehealth platform has been deployed since April 2020. After more than one year, more than 200 hospitals in the country have regularly ultilised the platform for remote consultations. Nearly 600 consultation sessions and more than 200 professional training sessions have been held through this platform. In particular, 35 remote surgical consultations were performed. To date, more than 1,600 medical records have been uploaded to the Telehealth platform.

At the August 8 ceremony to launch the Telehealth platform and debut the National Technology Centre for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long said that in the coming time, his ministry will apply online medical examination and treatment registration for all people, promote the application of technological achievements such as big data and artificial intelligence in health care management.

Local medical workers are now able to seek advice from leading experts about how to best treat patients in critical conditions, particularly those with COVID-19, via Telehealth, instead of transferring them to higher-level hospitals.

This will help ease overloads at centrally-run hospitals and minimise direct contacts between patients and medical workers. In the long run, it will enable all people to register for online medical consultations./.

Woman detained for spreading virus

A woman in Lam Dong Province has been detained and prosecuted for deliberately spreading Covid-19 to other people.

   

Vu Thi Thao prosecuted for spreading virus

 

The police in Da Teh District, Lam Dong Province, prosecuted 46-year-old Vu Thi Thao on August 9 after she recovered from Covid-19 and was released from hospital. She was charged with deliberately spreading dangerous contagious diseases to other people.

Initial investigation showed that Thao was a fruit seller at Hoc Mon Wholesale Market in HCM City. When the market closed for Covid-19 prevention, Thao and her boyfriend travelled to Da Teh District by motorbike. When they went to the checkpoint on June 26, they told the guards that they had returned from Dong Nai Province to avoid a mandatory 21-day quarantine period. But they wrote in the medical declaration forms that they returned from Ea Khal Commune in Dak Lak Province.

After receiving a report that Thao didn't fill in her medical declaration truthfully, the police asked Thao and her boyfriend to go to the local medical station. Thao insisted that they had returned from Dong Nai.

Thao and her boyfriend were brought to quarantine centres and tested for Covid-19. Thao tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 on July 2.

Authorities in Lam Dong Province had to conduct viral tests for thousands of people and four people who had been in contact with Thao tested positive for Covid-19. As a result, local authorities had to apply social distancing in Phu Hoa Village for 15 days.

Thao was treated and discharged from the hospital on August 3.

Health Ministry lists 8 localities with slow Covid-19 vaccination

The Ministry of Health has called out eight localities for vaccinating their residents against Covid-19 at a slow pace---Dong Nai, Tay Ninh, Tra Vinh, Binh Duong, Hau Giang, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Tien Giang and Thanh Hoa.

On August 9, the ministry held a teleconference with localities nationwide on their vaccination progress.

It stated that as of August 8, some 10.4 million vaccine doses had been administered. Nearly 8.5 million people have been injected with the first shot, and 967,400 others have been fully vaccinated with two shots, the local media reported.

HCMC has been given nearly 5 million doses, including 4.7 million doses that have been handed over to the city. Of these, the municipal Center for Disease Control has received some 4.3 million doses and other agencies, 408,730 doses.

According to Deputy Minister of Health Do Xuan Tuyen, over the past week, the Covid-19 vaccination progress of localities has been expedited but has still failed to meet expectations.

He asked localities to complete general vaccination plans until April 2022 and conduct vaccination drives in a fast, effective and safe manner as soon as they get the vaccines.

The Ministry of Health had earlier asked cities and provinces to approve their vaccination plans by July 30. However, some localities failed to fulfill the task on time.

Therefore, Tuyen asked localities to review and approve the plans before August 15 and report the results to the national steering committee for Covid-19 vaccination.

All localities must accelerate their vaccination progress to reach herd immunity.

The ministry will publicize the localities which are slow in rolling out vaccination drives on local mass media.

In addition, the country has been vaccinating against Covid-19 at no charge. Vaccination sites and the relevant agencies must not collect any fee for the vaccination.

Future of Nghe An rescued tigers considered

It may be impossible to release the tigers which were recently found and rescued from two households in the central province of Nghe An into the wild.

A tiger was kept in a basement of a family in Nghe An Province

Speaking with Dantri/Dtinews, Nguyen Van Thai, director of Save Vietnam's Wildlife said that as the tigers have been raised domestically for a long time, they have lost their natural survival abilities and may die if released into the wild.

Thai also warned about possible tiger attacks following the release.

"These tigers used to live near people so they may find themselves comfortable approaching people's places," he explained. "That's why I don't think that local authorities will release them."

Talking about the solutions for the tigers' future, Thai said that local authorities should find a park or a proper place to raise them for the rest of their lives.

"As far as I know, all parks in Vietnam have had enough tigers and don't want to receive more," he said. "It costs a lot to keep a tiger so the parks have to consider carefully to receive more for some tourism or education purposes."

In cases the authorities cannot find a centre to protect these tigers, euthanasia may be the best release for them," he suggested. "I think if the authorities have to cull them, it can also help raise awareness and help prevent illegal keeping and trading, and using products of wild animals."

Vice director of the Forest Protection Department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Nguyen Quoc Hieu also said that these tigers should be sent to a rescue centre for proper care before considering releasing them into the wild if possible.

On August 4, authorities in Nghe An moved out 17 tigers after finding them in the basements of two families in Yen Thanh District. All 17 tigers are adults, some weigh over 200kg.

According to initial investigations, the tigers were brought to Vietnam from Laos as cubs. The families built the basements specifically to keep the wild animals, which is illegal.

The tigers were given anaesthesia before being carried out to a nature reserve in Dien Chau District for health check-ups. However, eight of them died after that, and they have been frozen for investigation into the cause of their deaths.

Nine others are being kept at the reserve and are in good health condition. The rescue has received lots of attention from the public who are also wondering about the future of the animals.

Japan helps Vietnam mitigate COVID-19 impacts

Japan will help Vietnam mitigate impacts of COVID-19 on vulnerable groups, thus ensuring the progress in the realisation of sustainable development goals (SDGs) in the Southeast Asian nation.

Accordingly, the Japanese Government will provide Vietnam with more than 2.8 million USD to roll out a project on “Mitigating COVID-19 Impacts on Vulnerable Populations”, which was launched in Hanoi on April 26.

The project aims to aid the Vietnamese Government’s ongoing efforts to mitigate the adverse impacts of COVID-19 on vulnerable populations and ensure national progress in achieving the SDGs.

It is expected intervene in four areas: gender-based violence, improvements to elderly care, sexual and reproductive health care, and support for returning Vietnamese migrants.

The project will be conducted from April 2021 to March 2022 in 14 cities and provinces, namely Thai Nguyen, Dien Bien, Lao Cai, Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Da Nang, Quang Tri, Quang Nam, Dak Lak, An Giang, Can Tho, Vinh Long, and HCM City.

Addressing the launch of the new project, Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Takio Yamada said the COVID-19 pandemic proved the importance of mutual understanding, the sharing of resources, and, above all, solidarity and cooperation between communities, societies, and nations in tackling the unprecedented challenges. The new project also demonstrates the good relationship between Vietnam and Japan, he added.

Though Vietnam responded to COVID-19 better than most countries, the social and economic consequences it has caused are of great concern, the ambassador went on, and vulnerable groups such as women and girls, the elderly and adolescents have been hit hardest.

Naomi Kitahara, representative of the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) in Vietnam, said the challenges facing Vietnamese people, especially vulnerable groups, have become more complex due to COVID-19, which has deepened existing inequalities and exposed social gaps.

For Vietnam to achieve the SDGs, it is necessary to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 and ensure that all people are part of the sustainable development process so that no one is left behind. She expects the project will represent a great leap forward for Vietnam in remaining committed to fulfilling the SDGs.

The projects will be implemented by the Vietnamese Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Home Affairs, UN agencies and other relevant sides.

It plans to establish three one-stop shop service centres, hold 10 creative and innovative campaigns on the prevention of gender-based violence amid COVID-19, and provide training for around 500 men and women on preventing and responding to gender-based violence.

Under the project, about 1,000 elderly citizens in the selected cities and provinces will be provided with high-quality health care and support services, while some 58,000 others are expected to benefit from telehealth services.

About 5,000 ethnic minority women and migrant workers will benefit from a mobile application offering information and consultation on sexual and reproductive health care.

A total of 820 service facilities will be provided with guidelines on links between reproductive health, sex and COVID-19, while 45 district-level public clinics will receive medical equipment to protect their health workers from the pandemic.

Notably, 1,000 guest workers who have to return home due to COVID-19 will join training courses on soft skills and comprehensive gender education. Some 300 returnees will get consultations in sexual and reproductive health and the prevention of gender-based violence, and 300 others will access career consultation services.

Japan is one of Vietnam’s most important economic partners and its largest ODA provider.

Japan is also the second-largest investor in Vietnam, with 4,632 projects and over 60 billion USD in capital as of the end of 2020, and two-way trade revenue standing at 39.6 billion USD last year.

Statue of child symbolises solidarity and strength during COVID-19 fight

The photos of young children in protective suits in a COVID-19 quarantine centre in Điện Biên evoked many emotions among social media users.

According to artist Lê Huy, the statue 'The Điện Biên Kid and His Teddy Bear' symbolises the solidarity and strength of people to overcome this difficult time.
 
The adorable images became the inspiration for artist Lê Huy, who is a lecturer at the University of Industrial Fine Arts in Hà Nội, to create a statue to “memorise this difficult time”.

“As an artist, for every special event, I always try to create a work related to that matter. Since the COVID-19 pandemic started in the country last year, I have been thinking about what I can do in this circumstance. I got the answer when I saw the emotional image of young children in baggy protective suits,” he told Việt Nam News.

The artist said when he saw the images, he thought about his sons, imagining how he would feel if his kids have to be in a quarantine centre without parent or any family member by their side.

“Like me, anyone who sees the images feels compassionate towards those young kids.

It took more than two months for artist Huy to complete his creative process.

“When the pandemic broke out in many other cities and provinces, it’s easy to see images of other children in quarantine centres, even babies were born there. In my eyes, they are really brave and strong,” Huy said.

The artist decided to name his statue The Điện Biên Kid and His Teddy Bear because: “I want the famous and historical site of Điện Biên [where the Điện Biên Phủ victory in 1954 signalled the end of French colonial influence in Việt Nam and Indochina] to be the symbol of solidarity and strength for everyone to overcome this difficult time.”

The father of two sons decided that the child is holding a stuffed teddy bear “as a close friend to hug, to sleep with, and to cry together,” he explained.

In mid May, Huy started crafting the statue, which required several meticulous steps to get the final result.

Huy needs to wear a mask while carving small details on statues.
 
“To create a mold for the statue, I have to form a clay statue, which was 3D scanned to collect data on its shape and its appearance. The data was used for the plastic, then plaster, before turning into a metal mold for casting,” Huy said.

However, it is not the end of the process. The artist has to put some final touches on every statue.

“The final touches are as important as any previous steps because this step also decides the statue’s aesthetics,” said the artist, who spent 10 hours everyday to craft the statues in his workshop.

Huy even needs to wear a mask while carving small details on statues such as the suits’ pleats or the beehive-liked plastic slippers, and the faux fur of the stuffed teddy bear.

Art for charity

While crafting the statue, Huy intends to use it for a meaningful purpose – all proceeds from the artwork will be donated to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Huy poses with a sample of the statue 'The Điện Biên Kid and His Teddy Bear'. Photos courtesy of the artist
 
Only a few hours after Huy announced the completion of 128 models of The Điện Biên Kid – the result of his two-month creative process – all statues were sold out.

“I was a bit shocked and very happy when all the statues were sold out within only three hours after I posted on my Facebook page,” Huy said.

To receive a statue, every buyer is encouraged to donate more than VNĐ680,000 to charity, the Sống Foundation and another operated by the e-newspaper Soha.

A total of VNĐ97 million (US$4,200) has been donated to those charity funds so far.

Well-known music producer and composer Quốc Trung said he is lucky to be one of the first people to own a version of The Điện Biên Kid.

“I was attracted by Huy’s idea of casting such meaningful artwork. When I saw his Facebook post about his ongoing work in May, I expressed my wish to buy if it is available for sale,” Trung said.  

The composer purchased two statues, one for himself, and one as a gift for a friend.

For architect Huỳnh Thị Mỹ Hạnh, who is working on an ICU hospital for COVID-19 patients in Hà Nội, the small statue gives her more motivation.

“Even such small children are so enduring in this fight with the pandemic, so I think, there is no reason for all of us, the adults, to hesitate in this fight,” she said.

The number of people who wish to have a version of the Điện Biên Kid has increased. So far, artist Huy has received more than 100 new orders from across the country, from Hà Nội, Ninh Bình, Thái Nguyên, to Đà Nẵng, and HCM City.

However, as Hà Nội and several other cities and provinces are in lockdown, the artist and his team need to obey the restrictions.

“At the moment, we have only one craftsman working and living at the workshop, so the progress is definitely slow. We also can’t buy necessary supplies for our work when the whole city is in lockdown,” he said.

He hopes when the restrictions are eased, he and his team will be able to continue the meaningful work.

Huy has also contacted three real-life models – the children in the viral photos – to send each of them a statue of the Điện Biên Kid.

Anyone who wants a statue can visit the artist's Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/lamphong.studio. 

Hanoi provides financial support to southern provinces

The Hanoi government will donate a total of VND54 billion (over US$2.3 million) to 18 provinces and cities in the southern region to help in the battle against COVID-19.

Tien Giang, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Binh Duong, Binh Phuoc, Can Tho, Dong Nai, Tra Vinh, Kien Giang, Ca Mau, Tay Ninh, Soc Trang, Bac Lieu, An Giang, Hau Giang, Ben Tre, Dong Thap, Vinh Long and Long An will each receive VND3 billion.

Hanoi Chairman Chu Ngoc Anh said the city is also facing many challenges in containing the virus but still reserves part of its resources for other localities with the common goal of promptly putting the disease under control throughout the country.

* On August 10, Vietinbank donated two ambulances worth VND3 billion to Da Nang Hospital and Son Tra District Medical Centre in Da Nang to help the central city transport and treat COVID-19 patients in a timely manner.

On the same day, the 16th Military Corps handed a donation of VND1.5 billion to the COVID-19 prevention fund of the Central Highlands province of Dak Nong.

Earlier, the military corps provided 40 tonnes of rice to poor people affected by the pandemic in Dak Nong Province and Binh Phuoc Province.

* On the afternoon of August 10, the Quy Hoa Leprosy and Dermatology Hospital in Binh Dinh Province dispatched 22 healthcare workers to Ho Chi Minh City to help with the COVID-19 fighting efforts.

Doctor Tran Phuoc Nghia, head of the delegation, said they would strive their best to overcome the challenges and fulfil their mission, and will only return when the pandemic has been put under control in the city.

Technology - an effective “weapon” in combatting the pandemic

Many digital technology solutions have been boldly applied by localities and businesses to COVID-19 prevention and control, bringing about positive effects.

The application of technology to solve the pandemic-induced challenges also accelerates the digital transformation process in each industry and field, contributing to the expansion of national digital transformation. Vietnam will come out of the pandemic in a new state - a strongly digitalised country and society.

Sharing burden with the health sector

In the face of a constantly increasing number of COVID-19 cases, Ho Chi Minh City has decided to shift its anti-pandemic strategy to a new stage. Accordingly, the calculation of positive cases is no longer a focus, instead it is now the treatment of F0 cases and the minimisation of related deaths. The southern city has been urgently investing in facilities, human resources, equipment, and medicines, striving to increase its capacity of receiving patients for treatment every day.

However, with about 35,000 F0 cases being treated, including nearly 1,500 severe cases, HCM City’s medical infrastructure and personnel are suffering enormous pressure. Fully understanding the advantages of technology, and also to share the burden with the health sector, the Quang Trung Software City Development Company Limited (QTSC) has coordinated with the TMA Innovation Company (TMA Innovation) to develop the solution “Health monitoring watch” for F0 patients.

TMA Innovation CEO Tran Quoc Hong said that the watch will continuously monitor and update a patient’s health indicators with no need for direct contact from medical staff. Through the measured indicators, medical workers can quickly detect abnormal signs, thereby providing prompt treatment and increasing the chances of saving the patient’s life. This technology also helps to reduce direct visits and limit contact between patients and medical staff, thus contributing to reducing the risk of infection. The solution will be piloted at several field hospitals in HCM City this month. A summary will be composed and reported to the municipal authorities for consideration and widespread deployment.

HCM City is also speeding up the vaccination process to soon reach the target of herd immunity. To ensure the inoculation process takes place quickly, safely and effectively on a large scale, the solution “National COVID-19 Immunisation Management Platform” has been implemented in parallel with the immunisation campaign. Director of the Digital Health Solutions Centre at Viettel Business Solutions Corp (the deverloper of the solution) Khong Van Dong said that the platform helps people proactively and conveniently participate in vaccination in the context that the city is currently applying the Prime Ministe’s Directive No. 16/CT-TTg on social distancing.

Upon arriving for vaccine shots at an injection point that applies the platform, it only takes a few seconds for people to confirm information with a QR code. Their information will be updated to a centralised management database and people can look up their “COVID-19 vaccination certificate” on the ‘Electronic Health Book’ application or on the COVID-19 Immunisation Portal. Allowing people to register for inoculation in advance through the mobile app also helps to reduce contact between the injector and the person in charge of information verification. This vaccination platform has been working effectively since it was deployed in HCM City on July 21, and has received a lot of positive feedback from the people. 

“Two days after getting immunised, my vaccination certificate has been updated on the Electronic Health Book application. From now on, when I go through the quarantine points, I can scan the QR Code to provide my vaccination status. Moreover, this will also be the basis for applying for a vaccine passport in the future,” said Hoang Tung, who got a vaccine dose in An Khanh Ward, Thu Duc City. 

Viettel’s employees support the operation of the “National COVID-19 Immunisation Management Platform” at vaccination points in Ho Chi Minh City.

The “National COVID-19 Immunisation Management Platform” solution has been replicated to 62 out of 63 cities and provinces nationwide. As shown in Viettel’s statistics, there are now nearly 3.5 million Vietnamese people with electronic certificates of COVID-19 vaccination. The system is also ready to meet five million shots per day to serve the Health Ministry’s enhanced and expanded immunisation requirements.

Supporting businesses to adapt to the new situation

Amidst the complicated developments of the pandemic, the Office of MISA Joint Stock Company in HCM City, with its 700 employees, has implemented remote work as a COVID-19 prevention measure. In this process, the company applies MISA AMIS, a unified corporate governance platform developed by MISA itself, to ensure that all activities are not interrupted. MISA Office Director Le Huu Nguyen said that the platform integrates work management software that helps to track the situation of assignment as well as the implementation progress of each department and project team in a specific manner and with no errors. In addition, it features software managing sales and monitoring the preparation of offer data of each department, as well as the operation status of each section and centre by day. As a result, the company’s leaders, despite being in Hanoi, are still well aware of the situation, business opportunities as well as the revenue and profits of the entire branch in HCM City. They even clearly know the conversion rate of sales opportunities into revenue of each employee, towards making assessments and providing timely support and training.

“In addition to solving our own problems, MISA has been supporting more than 12,000 enterprises to use the MISA AMIS toolkit to maintain effective remote operations. In the current period, revenue from the MISA AMIS platform is increasingly expanding with many businesses having made orders to organise remote operations,” said Nguyen.

Many other technological solutions are also being applied by enterprises to adapt to the pandemic situation. In order to control employees entering and leaving buildings, and thus limit the spread of the disease, the headquarters of many units such as QTSC or Saigon Transportation Mechanical Corporation (SAMCO) have applied a solution on health declaration and control of employees’ entry and exit at factories, buildings and offices. This solution combines many functions in one device such as mask checking, automatic temperature measurement, medical declaration and entry/exit control. The device also applies facial and ID card recognition technology, video call, and QR code to help in processing documents and exchanging with each other remotely, as well as limiting contact.

In another aspect, the COVID-19 pandemic is a “catalyst” to help businesses realise the necessity of science and technology application. According to Dr. To Hoai Nam, Vice Chairman and General Secretary of the Vietnam Association of Small and Medium Enterprises, businesses proactively applying technology to respond to challenges from the pandemic will suffer less. Even, many firms have proactively and quickly researched and applied technology to increase their customer access, change business methods, and restructure products to suit new practical conditions, such as researching and developing technological solutions for pandemic prevention and control. Chairman of Tan Phu District Business Association (HCM City) Nguyen Viet Toan said that technology application and digital transformation are inevitable trends helping enterprises measure business efficiency and increase their competitiveness against others. 

With COVID-19 still developing in a complicated manner, the pressure is on for businesses to implement digital transformation as quickly as possible. Enterprises with financial resources should strongly invest in technology to stand a better chance of success. However, the majority of enterprises are mainly small and medium-sized and equipped with poor digital technology infrastructure. In order to create a breakthrough in digital transformation among SMEs, the State needs to offer more substantive support policies, while promoting propaganda to change businesses’ awareness and offering advice so that the process of implementing digital transformation brings higher efficiency.

HCMC provides VND18 million in aid per person dying of Covid-19

HCMC will allocate VND18 million (US$758) from the city’s budget for each family that has a person dying of Covid-19, said Head of the Propaganda and Education Board of the City Party Committee, Phan Nguyen Nhu Khue.

The city has carried out the 2nd support package worth VND900 billion (US$39.2 million) for people in difficulties due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The coronavirus relief package will be completed by August 15, said director of the municipal Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, Le Minh Tan.

Each of around 365,000 workers without labour contracts have received a total amount of VND1.5 million for 30 day. As of present, the city has disbursed VND40 billion (US$1.7 million). Residents can receive direct payment or take money from their bank accounts.

In the first support package, 365,300 workers received finnancial aids worth VND576 billion (US$25 million). The city also reduced fees and charges to support businesses significantly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, such as the Employer's liability insurance worth more than VND1, 061 billion (US$46.3 million), the retirement and death insurance benefit fund worth VND218 billion (US$9.5 million); offered VND75 billion (US$3.2 million) in loans to help 44 enterprises pay more than 9,600 employees; gave a financial support worth VND23 billion (US$1 milion) to over 6,000 tour guides and VND500 million (US$21,807) to 139 directors and actors, he added.

According to Deputy Director of the HCMC Department of Health, Dr. Nguyen Hoai Nam, three Covid-19 Intensive Care Centers equipped with advanced medical equipment offering 1,500 beds have been put into operation.

From March 8 to 12 pm on August 9, the city received 4,111,040 doses of vaccines and administered 3,430,990 vaccine shots. The city needs at least 5.5 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine in August to reach its vaccination coverage goal.

The remaining vaccine doses are 913,204, including existing doses of 321,304 and 591,900 that were delivered on August 9. HCMC has continued to strengthen the vaccination to reach a target of 250,000-300,000 shots a day, and expects to run out of vaccines by August 12.

The municipal health sector has turned its focus from screening test to treating to reduce mortality in severe Covid-19 patients.

Currently, the city’s hospitals see a severe blood shortage with social distancing preventing people from giving blood. The blood bank could gradually move to the warning alert threshold if it has not received blood donations from voluntary donors. In August, the bank faces a shortage of 8,000 packs of blood, especially especially O and A blood groups.

The People’s Committee of HCMC has issued urgent call for blood donors and asked the departments, units, organizations, districts and Thu Duc City to mobilize community for blood donations.

On the other hand, Deputy Director of the Department of Industry and Trade Nguyen Nguyen Phuong said that the department has organized mini marts providing essential goods worth VND2.7 billion (US$118,000) to 6,035 households in blocked sites in the city.

Vietnam speeding up vaccination nationwide
 
Health Minister Nguyen Thanh Long informed in the briefing to evaluate the progress of the National Covid-19 Vaccination Campaign yesterday that after one month, the campaign has seen impressive success. Particularly, Ho Chi Minh City in the last two weeks has been able to fight against the outbreak and safely vaccinate a large number of dwellers at the same time.

In one month carrying out the vaccination campaign, medical units have been able to receive, transport, and store the allocated vaccine effectively. They have cooperated with the military to build eight storage sites in seven military zones and in Hanoi Capital High Command with the capacity to store up to 60 vaccine doses.

The Health Ministry has already distributed 63 refrigerated trucks to military zones for vaccine transportation to different regions.

Until now, Vietnam has received over 18 million Covid-19 vaccine doses from various sources to inject to the frontline forces and individuals in highly risky areas like Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, the provinces of Bac Giang, Bac Ninh.

In the last two weeks, nearly 400,000 people have been vaccinated each day on average. The total number of injected people reaches 10.5 million.

The Health Ministry shared that an additional quantity of 494,400 doses of Covid-19 AstraZeneca came to Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi, which means the total vaccine quantity received via COVAX mechanism comes to 9.1 million doses.

This ministry has released an official document about the planned vaccine allocation until the end of this year so that each region can accordingly prepare their own plan to ensure all people are injected with at least one vaccine dose.

To the end of 2021, the quantity of vaccine coming to Vietnam is expected to increase significantly, and thus all regions must be well prepared.

Minister Long suggested that the localities mobilize all possible forces to form various vaccination sites, while the Ministry of Information and Communications soon launch a propaganda campaign to encourage all citizens to install the app for vaccination registration and certificate issuance.

Deputy Minister of National Defense Vu Hai San said that the military can use helicopters to transport vaccine to remote areas and islands so that people there can be injected as scheduled.

The Health Ministry yesterday also sent an official dispatch to HCMC People’s Committee regarding the vaccine purchase and import of the city. When working with Zuellig Pharma, the agency assigned by Moderna to distribute its Covid-19 vaccine in the Asia-Pacific region, the Health Ministry supports HCMC’s decision to buy Moderna’s vaccine to serve its dwellers, and promises to facilitate the procedures for the issuance of import permit and vaccine evaluation certificate.

However, until August 8, the ministry has received no information yet on the progress of this purchase, and thus asking that HCMC People’s Committee confirm its decision to buy the Moderna vaccine batch. If the city refuses to buy the batch, it should report before August 15 so that the Health Ministry can propose to the Prime Minister to pass this chance of purchasing 5 million Moderna doses in 2021 to other provinces.

Deputy Director of the HCMC Department of Health Nguyen Hoai Nam yesterday informed that the Vero Cell batch of 19,000 doses delivered to the city by the Health Ministry on July 6 will be used from August 10. This batch is an aid from China.

Case of Bkav being hacked under investigation
 
The Department of Cybersecurity and High-Tech Crime Prevention (PA05 – under the Ministry of National Security) is cooperating with the Authority of Information Security to investigate the case of Bkav’s source code being sold publicly on the Internet.

Not long ago, an account named ‘chunxong’ made a post to sell the source code of a software piece developed by Bkav Group on a forum for hackers.

Representatives of Bkav said that this is outdated data and was stolen by its former employee, not being hacked by a cyber criminal like the post stated.

Right after Bkav’s announcement, ‘chunxong’ publicly said that he has never worked for the company before, and displayed proof to show that he had been able to successfully hack into the server of Bkav.

Then came a series of screen captured images of a local network called VALA, having chat scripts discussing work-related issues, assumingly the content about handling Bkav’s hacked data by members of Bkav’s Board of Directors.

These screenshots can better convince the cyber community, especially when the responses posted in the group match the content of Bkav’s reply to the media and the post on its WhiteHat Forum.

Bkav has sent notification and an official document to functional agencies about the case.

Two Facebook accounts fined for spreading fake news
 
Inspectors of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Information and Communications yesterday fined two Facebook accounts because they have posted fake news saying that a doctor pulling out his relative’s ventilator to save a pregnant woman and her child.

Accordingly, the two Facebook accounts named ‘Nguyen Duc Hien’ and ‘Hoang Nguyen Vu’ reported that they shared the news because they truly appreciated the sacrifice that the owner of the account ‘Tran Khoa’ has made. However, since they did not verify the reliability of the news source, they did not recognize it is fake.

The post appearing on the wall of Facebook account ‘Tran Khoa’, who is assumed to be a doctor of obstetrics and gynecology, shows that the doctor decided to pull out the breathing tubes of his parents to give to a pregnant woman with twin in need. He then resisted the pain of losing his beloved and entered the operation room to successfully deliver birth to the twin.

On August 8, HCMC Information and Communications Department announced that the content of the above post is absolutely fictitious information, and there is no such action as pulling out the ventilator of this patient to give to another in any hospital in HCMC. The HCMC Department of Health is now working with functional agencies to track the origin of this fake news.

The two Facebook accounts ‘Nguyen Duc Hien’ and ‘Hoang Nguyen Vu’ received administrative sanctions from HCMC Information and Communications Department for their unintentional news sharing activity in accordance with Point a, Clause 1, Article 101 in Decree No.15/2020/ND-CP about penalties for administrative violations in the fields of post, telecommunications, radio frequency, information technology, and electronic transaction.

New MV promotes the spirit of frontline workers in Covid-19 fight 

A new music video called ‘Vietnam’s Fight Against Pandemic’ has just been released to encourage the spirit of functional forces.

As Covid-19 cases rise exponentially in many provinces nationwide, musician Xuan Tri released a video clip for his song ‘Vietnam chong dich vang danh’ (Vietnam’s Fight Against the Pandemic).

The song was written in energetic rock tunes but with meaningful heartfelt lyrics. It is hoped to create a positive and uplifting mood to help people get through one of the toughest years.

The composer of the song said he felt heartbroken and concerned watching and reading news about the pandemic and the struggle of frontline healthcare workers and forces. He felt an inner voice calling him to write and produce a song that could bring people together in a time of crisis. Then, the song was composed within just a couple of days.

“I felt extremely moved to see the images of doctors, nurses, and volunteers from all over the country on their way to Ho Chi Minh City to aid the fight against Covid-19. Those scenes reminded me about the images of young people who volunteered to fight in the South during the American War before 1975,” he said.

The song ‘Vietnam’s Fight Against Pandemic’ was composed based on a poem with the same name by author Pham Thuyen, with the performance of singers from the Military Region 3’s Singing and Dancing Troupe, General Department of Logistics, Vietnam People’s Army.

Through this MV, musician Xuan Tri and MV’s producers wish to raise awareness among people about the fight against the pandemic, giving their effort to repel Covid-19, so that a happy and peaceful life can soon return to the country.

Ukrainian experts praise Vietnam’s initiatives to enhance maritime security

Scholars and experts of Ukraine have spoken highly of Vietnam’s initiatives raised at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC)'s recent high-level open debate on maritime security.

International commentator Andrey Tymchenko highlighted Vietnam’s consistent stance on respecting international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Vietnam stands ready to play a connecting role between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China to promote practical mechanisms to handle sea-related issues, he said.

Vietnam’s efforts in the international arena and its call for stronger international cooperation have helped the country effectively implement its foreign policy, Tymchenko noted.

Meanwhile, Vladimir Volya, an expert from the Ukrainian Institute of Politics, said Vietnam’s stance reflects its responsibility in maintaining regional peace and stability.

Stressing major proposals presented by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh at the UNSC's debate to tackle maritime challenges, the expert said Vietnam’s sound viewpoints will help to enhance its role in the regional and global political landscape.

Daniil Bogatyryov, another expert also from the Ukrainian Institute of Politics, said such proposals completely match the present structure of international relations and should be further discussed.

Ruslan Bortnik, a colleague of Bogatyryov, shared the view on Vietnam’s constructive and practical proposals given the complex developments in the East Sea.

Expert Sergey Shabovta, also from the institute, said the proposals have contributed to promoting peace, stability, cooperation and development of not only coastal countries but also other nations worldwide.

At the UNSC High-level Open Debate on “Enhancing Maritime Security – A Case for International Cooperation”, held virtually on August 9, PM Chinh presented three proposals.

First, it is imperative that states and international organisations develop a comprehensive, extensive and broad awareness of the importance of oceans and seas, and the threats to maritime security.

Second, maritime security is a global issue and therefore requires global solutions.

“Vietnam proposes the development of a network of arrangements and initiatives for regional maritime security with the United Nations working as the coordinator, to bolster information and experience sharing, coordinate actions, and address common challenges in a timely manner,” the leader said.

Third, the policies, regulations and conducts of states at sea must be in line with international law, especially the United Nations Charter and the 1982 UNCLOS.

NA Chairman hails contributions of former full-time legislators

National Assembly (NA) Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue on August 11 had a meeting with full-time deputies of the 14th legislature who work at central agencies and did not run for seats in the 15th NA, and officials who are under the management of the NA Standing Committee and have just retired.

Hue appreciated the contributions of the deputies who have helped create the foundation for the NA’s new tenure to improve the quality and efficiency of its operations.

The NA Chairman attributed the early preparation; close coordination between the NA and Government's agencies; and strict compliance with the leadership and direction of the Party Central Committee, the Politburo, the Secretariat; the urgent and effective working spirit of legislators to the success of the first session of the 15th NA amid complicated developments of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hue hoped that in the coming time, the delegates would continue to devote their knowledge to the legislature as well as its innovation and perfection, satisfying the requirements of the new period.

The NA Standing Committee always respectfully listens and is ready to receive opinions and actively consults the delegates on issues within the functions and tasks of the NA, he said, adding that the committee constantly innovating itself and further improving the quality and efficiency of its operations, meeting the trust and expectations of the Party, State, voters, and people./.

Vietnam attends 15th ASEAN Navy Chiefs’ Meeting

Rear Admiral Tran Thanh Nghiem, Commander of the Vietnam People’s Navy, attended the 15th ASEAN Navy Chiefs’ Meeting held via videoconference on August 11 under the chair of Commander of the Royal Brunei Navy, First Admiral Dato Seri Pahlawan Spry bin Haji Serudi @ Haji Seruji.

Sharing his views on the topic “Blue economy: We care, we prepare, we prosper”, Nghiem said that as the world and the region are facing the unprecedented challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, geopolitical shifts, economic recessions, natural disasters and climate change, the interest in the development of the blue economy will be one of the keys to overcome difficulties, develop together, and realise a goal for a sustainable and inclusive ASEAN community which leaves no one behind.

Developing the sea-based economy sustainably is both the right and responsibility of each country, region and the whole world, he stressed.

With the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and strategic competition among major countries, traditional and non-traditional security threats such as piracy, terrorism, transnational crime, cyber security, illegal immigration, sovereignty disputes, illegal fishing, climate change and pollution of the marine environment may directly affect peace, stability and development of the marine economy in particular and the region in general.

This requires the navies of ASEAN countries to strengthen solidarity and unity, continue to promote cooperation in maritime security, and contribute to sustainable marine economic development, stated Nghiem.

To achieve that goal, the Vietnamese navy chief suggested the navies of ASEAN countries actively coordinate in and contribute to maintaining a peaceful, secure, stable and law-ruled marine environment; create favourable conditions for countries in the region and the international community to focus resources on pandemic prevention and control and economic development; and take advantage of the opportunities brought about by the fourth industrial revolution.

Regarding the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, he proposed the navies of ASEAN countries share information and disseminate and replicate good practices and experiences in order to contribute to the efforts to fight the pandemic of each country as well as of the whole region.

At the meeting, participants heard a report updating the regional maritime security situation presented by a representative of the Information Fusion Centre (IFC) of the Singapore Navy, and the results of the Working Group of the ASEAN Navy Training Experience Exchange Program (ANTEEP) presented by a representative of the Vietnam People’s Navy; and discussed cooperation activities of the ASEAN navies in the coming time./.

Lao students in Da Lat get vaccinated for COVID-19

Twenty-two Lao students at the Da Lat University in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong’s Da Lat city have got their first shot of the COVID-19 vaccine amid complicated developments of the pandemic in Vietnam.

The vaccination took place on August 9.

Besides, each Lao student also received 2 million VND (87.3 USD) in aid from the provincial chapter of the Vietnam Fatherland Front.

The administrators of the university and Lam Dong authorities have so far worked to assist the group of students which are from Laos’ Champasak and Bolykhamsay provincies.

Mai Minh Nhat, vice rector of the university, said amid the pandemic, the university have arranged their accommodations at a separated building in its dormitory to ensure safe distance and reduce the risk of transmission.

Earlier, the university provided each Lao student with 1.5 million VND to help them overcome the impact of COVID-19. The Lam Dong People’s Committee, meanwhile, granted the group 8 million VND each, with graduates receiving an addition of 5 million VND each.

In the coming time, Lam Dong will arrange a vehicle to carry two Lao graduates to Champasak./.

Vietnam voices concern about situations in Lebanon

Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN, voiced his concern about recent tensions along the Blue Line in Lebanon and relevant sides’ violations to resolution 1701, at a meeting of the UN Security Council (UNSC) on August 10 which discussed the situation in Lebanon and the operation of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

The Vietnamese ambassador warned that conflict may occur anytime if there are no effective interventions.

He believed that the socio-economic crisis in Lebanon has weakened the response capacity of the Lebanese armed forces and posed the risks of instability. Therefore, the country’s top priorities at present should be the prompt establishment of its government and crisis settlement.

Vietnam welcomes efforts of the international community to help Lebanon cope with the crisis and maintain regional security, Quy affirmed. He called on all sides to exercise restraint and refrain from taking actions that complicate the situations, comply with resolution 1701 of the UNSC, respect UNIFIL’s freedom of movement, and create optimal conditions for the force’s full and timely access to relevant locations.

Regarding the role of UNIFIL, the Vietnamese diplomat spoke highly of efforts by the force in maintaining regional stability and appreciated troop contributors to UNIFIL for continuing with their commitment, especially amid current tensions.

Vietnam is in favour of the extension of UNIFIL activities in the coming time and calls for measures to ensure safety for peacekeeping personnel, he added.

At the meeting, Assistant Secretary-General Alexandre Zouev updated the participants on the current situations in Lebanon and recent tensions at the border regions of Israel and Lebanon, and informed tasks carried out by UNIFIL in an effort to fulfil assigned tasks stated in related resolutions of the UNSC.

UNIFIL was created by the UNSC in 1978. The mandate had been adjusted twice in 1982 and 2006./.

Homegrown candidate vaccine Covivac begins second stage of clinical trials

Vietnam’s second homegrown candidate vaccine Covivac began the second stage of clinical trials in the northern province of Thai Binh’s Vu Thu district on August 11 with the screening testing to choose qualified volunteers.

The screening testing will be conducted for six days, and the first jabs are expected to be given on August 18.

A total of 375 volunteers, chosen from 750 local residents in Vu Thu district, will be classified in three groups for the 3mcg and 6 mcg dosages and injections of vaccine AstraZeneca (instead of placebo infections in the first phase).

Earlier, assessing the first stage of Covivac human trials on over 120 volunteers since March 15, the National Ethics Committee in Biomedical Research under the Ministry of Health concluded that the vaccine was safe, well tolerated, immunogenic, and eligible for the second stage.

Covivac is a joint research between the Hanoi Medical University and the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology (NIHE). It uses primary chicken embryo cell culture - a technique the institute used previously to successfully produce seasonal flu vaccines.

Associate Professor, Dr. Vu Dinh Thiem, director of the NIHE’s clinical trial center, said that the selected volunteers must be over 18 years old, possibly up to 70-80 years old, including those with chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension but under stable treatment.

If the second stage goes well, by the end of September, the research team will collect blood samples from the volunteers on the 42nd day after their first jabs to evaluate the vaccine’s immunogenicity.

On the 57th day, the volunteers will continue to undergo physical examination and take blood tests for evaluation and analysis before the team proposes the third stage of trials on 1,000 volunteers./.

Source: VNA/VNS/VOV/VIR/SGT/SGGP/Nhan Dan/Hanoitimes