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There were additional 155 COVID-12 cases in the past six hours to 6pm on June 16, 149 of them were found in quarantine and locked-down areas and the remaining were imported, reported the Health Ministry.
As of 6pm, Vietnam logged a total of 9,980 local infections and 1,655 imported. There were 8,410 new cases from April 27 when the fourth wave of the pandemic began, 1,816 of them were given the all-clear.
The cities and provinces of Yen Bai, Quang Ngai, Dong Nai, Quang Ninh, Quang Nam, Quang Tri, Thua Thien-Hue, Nam Dinh, Hoa Binh, Tuyen Quang, Son La, Ninh Binh, Thanh Hoa, Thai Nguyen, Hung Yen, Hai Phong, Tay Ninh, Gia Lai, Bac Lieu, Dien Bien, Dak Lak, Dong Thap, Tra Vinh and Da Nang have gone through 14 days without new transmissions.
Since April 29, over 4,9 million people have tested for the virus.
The same day, the ministry’s Medical Services Administration announced that 47 more patients have recovered, raising the total number of recoveries to 4,590. There were 61 deaths related to the disease.
Among patients under treatment at medical establishments, 340 tested negative once to SARS-CoV-2, 91 twice and 44 thrice.
In the coming time, the Government will issue a Resolution to purchase all vaccines manufactured by AstraZeneca at non-profit prices, including 288,000 doses already supplied to Vietnam Vaccine JSC (VNVC).
In the afternoon the same day, the ministry held a working session with VNVC to distribute these doses, with priority given to pandemic-hit localities.
To actively fight COVID-19 in “new normal” condition, the Health Ministry called on each citizen to follow 5K message, including khau trang (facemask), khu khuan (disinfection), khoang cach (distance), khong tu tap (no gathering), and khai bao y te (health declaration)
Further instructions could be found via the ministry’s hotline 19009095 or other hotlines of local medical sectors./.
Hanoi CDC set to propose reopening of some non-essential services
With COVID-19 outbreaks in the city under control, Hà Nội’s health authorities are set to propose allowing the reopening of some non-essential services.
Hà Nội Centre for Disease Control (CDC) on Tuesday said that it would soon put forward a plan for Hà Nội People’s Committee to consider regarding relaxation of restrictions and business closures in place to deal with the resurgence of the coronavirus since late April, Vietnam News Agency reports.
According to Hà Nội CDC, eateries and restaurants, cafes, in-door hairdressing salons, small traditional markets (under the management of commune or authorities), and sports activities will be prioritised in the reopening roadmap, but all social distancing and other prevention measures will still be enforced at these venues.
Karaoke venues, bars, discos, sidewalk cafes and iced tea shops will continue to be closed, however.
Previously, during a COVID-19 meeting on June 10, Chairman of Hà Nội People’s Committee Chu Ngọc Anh stated the need to contain the outbreak in the city so that a roadmap for relaxation of restrictions could be implemented, reducing the impact to livelihoods.
Since April 27, 2021, or the start of the fourth wave in Việt Nam, Hà Nội has recorded 253 COVID-19 positive cases in 13 clusters (excluding 167 cases found in two major clusters of the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases and National Cancer Hospital).
176 more new COVID-19 cases added to national tally
The Health Ministry confirmed the detection of a further 174 community transmissions of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), along with two imported infections which were immediately put into isolation upon arrival, at midday on June 16.
Of the cases recorded domestically, a total of 173 were found in isolation or areas currently under lockdown.
A total of 128 of the new cases were recorded in the northern province of Bac Giang, along with eight in neighbouring Bac Ninh province, most of which are closely linked to previous outbreaks which have hit industrial parks in both localities, with all cases now under quarantine.
In terms of the country’s latest COVID-19 patients, the northern province of Bac Giang recorded 61 cases in isolated areas and in quarantine camps, are of which are linked to hotspots in the province's various industrial parks.
Ho Chi Minh City registered a further 35 injections, including 29 cases that had come into contact with previously confirmed patients, along with six related to the Ho Chi Minh Cinh Hospital for Tropical Diseases.
The cases detected in the northern provinces of Ha Tinh and Nghe An are F1 contacts or are under epidemiological investigation.
The country has so far confirmed 9,831 locally-transmitted cases and 1,649 imported ones, with the overall number of domestic case climbing to 8,261 amid the nation’s latest COVID-19 wave.
The same day saw the health sector of the central highlands province of Dak Lak begin to administer the second phase of COVID-19 vaccinations for roughly 30,000 people in priority groups throughout the province.
More than 1.64 million of the Vietnamese population have now been vaccinated against COVID-19.
HCM City tightens COVID prevention measures at traditional markets after finding 3 cases
The Covid-19 virus is likely to exist in many places, especially crowded places such as supermarkets, shopping malls and traditional and wholesale markets, and so strict preventive measures at markets are vital.
HCM City has detected three cases at traditional markets.
After detecting them, the city has strengthened prevention measures at traditional and temporary markets.
Nguyen Van Thai, a security guard at Tan Dinh market in District 1, said customers and shopkeepers who enter must make a medical declaration, but added that few customers came since they prefer to transact online or stop outside the market to pick up goods and go.
Shops selling non-essential goods such as cloth and shoes are closed, according to Thai.
The market’s management prints and distributes leaflets on disease prevention and provides free hand sanitisers and masks for visitors.
The people’s committees of all districts are supporting the markets, and have removed all temporary markets.
The city has virtually hundreds of traditional markets and thousands of ones.
A mobile team has been set up at the Hoc Mon Wholesale Market in Hoc Mon District where more than 20,000 people work every night.
It informs people about preventive measures, measures the temperature of traders there and regularly sprays disinfectants in stalls and vehicles bringing goods.
The market management offers free masks and hand sanitisers to all visitors.
Le Van Tien, deputy director of the Hoc Mon Wholesale Market Management and Trade Company, said his company had developed responses for the worst-case scenario, which is the discovery of infections in the market.
The management of the Thu Duc Wholesale Market sprays disinfectants daily and set up a separate area for quick Covid-19 tests for all truck drivers coming from the north.
Nguyen Nhu, deputy director of the Thu Duc Wholesale Market Management and Trade Company, said: “All vehicles coming from epidemic areas such as Bac Giang, Bac Ninh and Hai Duong are disinfected. Traders at the market receive the goods and take care of the vehicle, while the drivers are isolated in hotels, wait for their goods to be sold, and then drive away.”
Since May 27 nearly 800 drivers have been thus isolated.
National football team to return home on June 17 after match against UAE
A Bamboo Airways flight bringing the Vietnamese football team will land at Da Nang International Airport on June 17 morning, instead of Ho Chi Minh City’s Tan Son Nhat International Airport as in an initial plan.
The adjustment is made due to complex developments of the COVID-19 pandemic in Ho Chi Minh City.
They may be quarantined in the central city of Da Nang.
Five players of Viettel club - Que Ngoc Hai, Bui Tien Dung, Nguyen Trong Hoang, Nguyen Thanh Binh and Nguyen Hoang Duc - will not return home with the team. They will fly to Bangkok, Thailand, to prepare for AFC Champions League qualifiers.
At 23:45 on June 15, Vietnam will have the "final" match of Group G against the United Arab Emirates in the second round of the 2022 FIFA World Cup Asian qualifiers.
Vietnam with 17 points need only a draw to make history to advance to the third and also final round of World Cup qualification. A loss with minimum result could also be enough as they may qualify as the best second-placed team.
Meanwhile the hosts, on 15 points, must win to take top place and qualify, otherwise they would be ousted./.
Over 300 COVID-19 patients given all-clear on June 15
213 cases of COVID-19 were recorded during six hours from 12pm to 6pm on June 15, raising the number of cases logged on June 15 to 402, including 4 imported ones, according to the Health Ministry.
During the past 24 hours, Bac Giang logged 235 cases, Ho Chi Minh City 90, Bac Ninh 55, Binh Duong 12, Ha Tinh three, Lang Son two and Hanoi one.
Also during the day, 303 COVID-19 patients were given the all-clear, bringing the number of recoveries to 4,543. The death toll was 61.
As of 6pm June 15, the national tally reached 11,212, including 9,566 domestically-transmitted cases.
Twenty three provinces and cities have gone through 14 days without new COVID-19 cases.
Among active patients, 343 have tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 once, 99 twice and 5 thrice./.
Top legislator congratulates journalists on Revolutionary Press Day
National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue congratulated journalists nationwide on the occasion of the 96th Vietnam Revolutionary Press Day (June 21) while hosting representatives of press agencies in Hanoi on June 15.
He stressed the important role of the press in NA activities, especially in popularising all information about the legislature’s organisation and operations to voters and people inside and outside the country.
The top legislator showed his wish that in the coming time, press agencies will improve the quality of their products on NA activities, have more special articles analysing the legislative body’s discussed contents as well as influences of policies and contents that are being considered and discussed.
It is also necessary to promptly report voters’ opinions and recommendations to the National Assembly and its Standing Committee and agencies, and make proposals to improve the quality of NA activities, especially in law making, and in supervising and making decisions on major issues of the country, he added./.
Việt Nam’s COVID-19 cases tops 11,000 with 403 new cases reported on Tuesday
The Ministry of Health confirmed 398 new locally transmitted and four imported COVID-19 cases on Tuesday (June 15), bringing the total number to 11,212.
Tuesday also saw the second largest number of community transmissions reported in a single day since April 27, just behind May 25 when 444 cases were detected.
The imported cases include three in Tây Ninh Province and one in Quảng Nam Province. All were sent to quarantine upon arrival.
The other locally-transmitted cases include 235 in Bắc Giang, 90 in HCM City, 55 in Bắc Ninh, 12 in Bình Dương, three in Hà Tĩnh, two in Lạng Sơn and one in Hà Nội.
Of these, 204 cases were already in quarantine or locked down areas.
The cases in Lạng Sơn related to the clusters in the northern province of Bắc Giang.
Among the new cases in Bắc Ninh, the infection source of one has not been identified while the other cases relate to clusters at industrial parks and locked down areas.
In HCM City, the majority of new cases are connected to the church cluster in Gò Vấp District.
There are 23 cities and provinces nationwide that have now gone at least 14 days without any new infections, namely Yên Bái, Quảng Ngãi, Đồng Nai, Quảng Ninh, Quảng Nam, Quảng Trị, Thừa Thiên Huế, Nam Định, Hòa Bình, Tuyên Quang, Sơn La, Ninh Bình, Thanh Hóa, Thái Nguyên, Hưng Yên, Hải Phòng, Tây Ninh, Gia Lai, Bạc Liêu, Điện Biên, Đắk Lắk, Đồng Tháp and Trà Vinh.
Also on Tuesday, 303 patients were given the all-clear - the highest number of recoveries in a single day during the fourth wave, which brought the total recovery number to 4,543.
The death toll remains at 61.
Telemedicine services save lives at grassroots-level hospitals
Online consultations offered by doctors at Huế Central Hospital helped save the life of a critically ill, pregnant woman at the Việt Nam - Cuba Friendship Hospital in Đồng Hới City in the central province of Quảng Bình Province last September.
The 30-year-old woman was at high risk for preterm delivery and had a vascular occlusion, but thanks to the online diagnosis and treatment advice from doctors at Huế Central Hospital, physicians at the Việt Nam - Cuba Friendship Hospital were able to save her and the child.
In recent years, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, thousands of patients at grassroots-level hospitals have benefited from telehealth services provided by doctors at higher-level hospitals.
In the same province, the Quảng Bình provincial General Hospital recently successfully operated on a 32-year-old patient who was at risk of a ruptured pneumothorax after receiving online advice from surgical experts at Việt Đức Friendship Hospital.
In another case, Hà Nội-based Bạch Mai Hospital gave advice to Hòa Bình Provincial General Hospital to save the life of a patient with anaphylaxis.
With telehealth services, people at home can receive consultations from doctors through smart electronic devices. This has helped reduce patient congestion at central-level hospitals.
Dr Nguyễn Lân Hiếu, director of Hà Nội Medical University Hospital, said thanks to the telehealth system, people across the country in smaller cities and towns now had access to higher quality medical services.
In the same spirit, the HCM City Hospital of Dermatology and Venereology is offering remote medical examinations and treatment for patients via Zalo, a popular Vietnamese social network, at the number 0908051200. Online consultation services are provided from 8am - 11am and 1pm to 4pm from Monday to Friday by experienced doctors who are heads of departments and divisions.
Depending on the patient’s condition, the doctor will advise on self-care with non-prescription drugs and topical products, or patients will be asked to visit the nearest medical clinic or the HCM City Hospital of Dermatology and Venereology if they need to buy prescription drugs.
A number of medical facilities across the country have had to be under strict lockdown at various times because of Covid-19 cases that have occurred at the facilities.
People with symptoms such as cough, fever, fatigue, shortness of breath and loss of sense of smell or taste can now receive a quick consultation video visit with doctors without going to hospitals, reducing the risks faced by medical staff.
A shift to telehealth services that take advantage of advanced technology and digital data will be a trend in the future, experts have said.
The Hà Nội Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology’s Remote Medical Examination and Treatment Centre provides one telehealth session a week with 37 lower-level medical hospitals.
Nguyễn Duy Ánh, director of the Hà Nội Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology, said that remote consultations by leading doctors in obstetrics and gynaecology helped reduce maternal and newborn mortality rates since “many cases are diagnosed too late by lower level hospitals, missing the golden time for emergency care”.
Doctors at the Mộc Châu General Hospital said the hospital since last year had participated in remote online consultations via a telehealth system with the Hà Nội Medical University Hospital.
Director Hiếu of Hà Nội Medical University Hospital said the hospital had organised two remote examination and treatment sessions a week. “About eight to 10 seriously ill patients are seen online each session. After five months of implementation, the hospital has organised 40 working sessions.”
Director Ánh of Hà Nội Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology said that telehealth services would remain an effective treatment model even after the pandemic is over. “It will become a new trend in the future.”
Director Hiếu said there should be specific guidance from State agencies to implement telehealth services. There are currently no instructions on how to pay for medical examination and treatment with health insurance cards, expenses for doctors taking part in remote consultations, or transmission costs.
The Ministry of Health in April opened a centre for telehealth diagnosis and consultation services at Thống Nhất Hospital in HCM City in April as part of a remote medical examination and treatment project for the 2020-2025 period.
The hospital is one of 34 central level hospitals selected to give professional assistance to hospitals at the grassroots level.
The goal of the project, begun in June last year, is for all patients to be managed, consulted, examined and treated by doctors from the commune to central levels.
Nguyễn Trường Sơn, deputy minister of Health, said there were 1,500 establishments nationwide connected to central hospitals with provincial hospitals and commune health stations.
The project reduced overloading at central-level hospitals and has improved the quality of healthcare at grassroot-level hospitals.
During the recent COVID wave, online consultations helped health experts support the treatment of COVID-patients timely.
As many 22 lower-level hospitals had registered to connect to the telehealth system.
The health sector had set a goal to expand the remote health care network to more than 14,000 health facilities across the country to achieve universal health coverage and to connect the network with other countries.
Việt Nam has 1,400 public hospitals and 275 private medical facilities, 30,000 general clinics and 11,500 commune and ward health stations, according to the ministry.
Korean centre launches design contest tu urge unity in COVID-19 fight
The South Korean Cultural Centre and Korea Creative Content Agency have launched a design contest calling on people to stand united to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
The contest is held for people of all ages and aims to encourage them to create posters and illustrations which will convey hope for a bright future and encourage people to combat COVID-19.
"Việt Nam and Korea have been close partners in many different fields for nearly 30 years," said Ambassador of the Republic of Korea Park Noh-wan.
"I believe that this contest will inspire the people of the two countries to continue being together to build a solid friendship relationship and to win COVID-19 together."
Posters and illustrations should be new creations and not previously submitted to competitions or exhibited publicly.
The best entries will be honoured and shown at an exhibition in August at the Korea Cultural Centre at 49 Nguyễn Du Street.
The contest organisers will receive entries until July 15. Each contestant can send one work to the contest at email trungtamvanhoahanquoc@gmail.com.
The contestants are encouraged to make a video on their creative process but it is not required.
The prizes will include a Grand Prize worth VNĐ40 million (US$1,700); first, second and third prizes worth VNĐ25 million, 20 million and 10 million, respectively. Two extra prizes will win VNĐ5 million.
The contest aims to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Korean Culture and Information Service and the 15th year of the Korean Cultural Centre's establishment in Việt Nam.
Veteran film actor and director dies
Meritorious Artist Lê Cung Bắc, a leading film actor and director of the South, died of cancer on Sunday in HCM City. He was 76.
Bắc was born in Quảng Trị Province in 1946. He loved theatre and led a drama club when he was at university in Sài Gòn (now HCM City).
Before 1975, he worked as a lead actor for drama theatres such as Sông Thao and Quê Hương in Sài Gòn. He attended short-term training courses in theatre in France and Canada in 1974.
In 1982, he began to be involved in movies. He performed in 200 TV shows and films.
Meritorious Artist, film actor and director Lê Cung Bắc performed in and directed many films and TV shows during his 50-year career. (Photo courtesy of HCM City Artists’ Association)
In late 1992, he worked as a video director for the State-owned Giải Phóng (Liberated) Film Studio of HCM City, one of the country’s leading film companies in the 1980s and 1990s.
He was a pioneer in videography and filming who helped the film industry develop professionally.
His first film Trên Cả Hận Thù (More Than Just A Feud), a production about love and women, was a hit in the market in the early 1980s.
He directed and produced several TV shows and films, including prize -winning productions at national film festivals launched by the Việt Nam Cinematography Association and Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
He won a gold and a silver medal for the year’s Best TV Show at the National Television Festival in 1996 and 2006.
“Bắc developed his career during the 1980s-90s period, which is recognised as the golden age of Vietnamese movies. His films provided viewers with deeper knowledge about the south’s history and culture,” said movie star Việt Trinh of HCM City.
Bắc’s latest TV show, Mỹ Nhân Sài Thành (Beauties of Sài Gòn), was a production about the lives of Sài Gòn women and their lifestyle in the 1950s and aired on Việt Nam Television in 2018.
The 49-part series focuses on three characters who decide after a bout of soul-searching to join the Việt Minh Front (Việt Nam Independence League’s Front) and develop a business.
The film attracted more than 120 skilled and amateur actors, including dozens of foreigners who live in the city.
It includes beautiful scenes of rivers and forests in Sa Đéc and Gò Công, both famous destinations of the south, interspersed with folk songs and traditional customs of southern people.
His funeral took place yesterday and was attended by popular Vietnamese artists in HCM City.
Travel enterprises support Government's vaccine efforts
Following Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính's call to get companies involved in the vaccination programme, the Việt Nam Tourism Association (VITA) has contacted travel associations in cities and provinces nationwide to call for their support.
Most tourism enterprises have responded positively.
The association’s chairman Vũ Thế Bình said it would report to the Government and the Ministry of Health to ask for support to help travel enterprises contribute financial expenses to vaccinate tourism staff and their families.
“The association hopes the Government will persuade international partners, agencies and companies to co-operate to bring vaccines to Việt Nam while domestic enterprises will pay fees,” he said.
“Getting the vaccine injections is the main way, the crucial way, to erase COVID-19,” he said.
Foreign visitors at Mỹ Sơn Sanctuary in central province of Quảng Nam. VNA/VNS Photo Hữu Trung
Nearly 81,000 people working in tourism have registered for inoculation so far.
Bình said the fact that enterprises are willing to support the Government in the vaccine campaign will hasten the achievement of herd immunity while saving State funds.
“We have also encouraged travel enterprises to contribute money to the Government's vaccine fund,” he added.
Nguyễn Hoàng Vũ, chairman of Bình Định Tourism Association, said he totally supported the programme and has encouraged the association’s members to join in.
“Tourism activities in Khánh Hòa have been frozen,” said Hoàng Văn Vinh, chairman of Khánh Hòa Tourism Association. “No hotels have dared to open the doors except those which have received guests for quarantine.
“Only by getting injections can we reach the herd immunity soon and control the situation like before,” he said.
Trần Anh Tuấn, Deputy Director of BRG Group Ltd Company, said most of his staff are willing to get injections.
“The directing boards will ask member companies to contribute fees to inject 21,000 staff of the group throughout the country,” he said.
Mường Thanh JSC has registered to inoculate 10,000 staff working at 58 hotels, 41 of which are rated 4-5 stars level, at the enterprise’s cost. The company has also made contributions to the national fund for vaccines.
Đỗ Trọng Hiệp, chairman of Thái Nguyên Tourism Association, said the injection will give tourism workers the power to wipe away the virus.
Trần Đoàn Thế Duy, general director of Viettravel, said the company has registered to inject the company’s staff and their families.
“If it is possible, we want to register for our clients as well,” he said.
The company will pay the injection fee for its staff and clients while encouraging its staff to contribute to the national fund.
There are some 10 per cent of tourism enterprises still in operation, though only with key staff. The other 90 per cent have ceased their operations due to COVID-19.
Bình said the association is ready to host the annual Vietnam International Travel Mart 2021.
“We will announce a month before the organising time if we can hold it this year,” he said. “When the pandemic is under control and does not spread among the community, then we will resume domestic tourism activities and prepare for opening the door to international tourists if it is possible.”
In 2019, Việt Nam recorded 18 million international tourists and 85 million domestic tourists. Total income from tourism topped VNĐ720 trillion (US$31 billion), making up 9.2 per cent of national GDP. The sector employed 2.9 million people.
In 2020, the number of international visitors to Việt Nam was 3.7 million, a 79 per cent decrease against 2019, domestic travellers were 56 million, a 34 per cent decrease, and income from the sector was VND312 trillion, a 58 per cent decrease.
Some 40-60 per cent of tourism workers have lost their jobs or been forced to reduce working hours, 95 international travel agencies stopped operations and many hotels have cut their room capacity to 10-15 per cent.
Trần Văn Khoa, director of Jack Trần Tours in the central town of Hội An, said he and his colleagues in Quảng Nam Province want tourism workers and the whole population to get injections by the end of this year so Việt Nam can receive international tourists in the first quarter of next year.
Foreign visitors join a farm tour offered by Jack Trần Tours company. Photo courtesy of Jack Trần Tours
“Vaccines will be like both an essential oxygen source and a lifebuoy to save the tourism sector,” he said.
“I also highly appreciate the proper way guided by PM Phạm Minh Chính and the Ministry of Health in prevention and fighting against the pandemic, especially the approach to vaccine sources,” he said.
ESPN commends golden generation of Vietnamese football
The international sport newswire ESPN on June 15 ran an article lauding the golden generation of Vietnamese football, right before a match against the hosts United Arab Emirates (UAE) to compete for the top place in group G of the second round of Asian qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup and progress to the third round for the first time ever.
Throughout the history of football, very few national teams have had the privilege of boasting exceptionally gifted talents breaking through at the same time, ESPN wrote.
Having a prodigious group of players is one thing, delivering on its potential is a completely different matter. With Vietnam on the brink of going the furthest they have ever gone in the quest to reach the FIFA World Cup, there is no better time for their golden generation to shine than on June 15 when they take on the UAE, according to the newswire.
Labelling any group as the "golden generation" is going to be subjective, so what makes the current Vietnamese cohort so special?
It began in January 2018 when they reached the final of the AFC U-23 Championship and beating teams like Australia, Iraq and Qatar in the process.
They backed that up at senior level at the end of that year, ending a decade-long wait to be crowned champions of Southeast Asia for a second time when they won the AFF Suzuki Cup, despite having a squad with an average age of just 23.7 years.
A month later, they were making their first AFC Asian Cup appearance in 12 years and again proved they had the mettle to go with their talent. They progressed out of a tough group that included heavyweights Iran and Iraq and then beat Jordan in the Round of 16 before narrowly bowing out at the hands of mighty Japan.
But the Vietnamese could arguably surpass all those achievements tonight.
According to the article, plenty of credit has to go to Vietnam’s coach Park Hang-seo.
Suffice to say, Park can and is now viewed as a fine tactician in his own right.
In the morning of the same day, Park finalised the list of 23 players for the match against the UAE.
Specifically, goalkeepers include Bui Tan Truong, Nguyen Van Toan and Nguyen Van Hoang.
Defenders are Do Duy Manh, Tran Dinh Trong, Nguyen Thanh Chung, Doan Van Hau, Vu Van Thanh, Nguyen Phong Hong Duy, Que Ngoc Hai, Bui Tien Dung, Nguyen Trong Hoang and Nguyen Thanh Binh.
Midfielders comprise Nguyen Quang Hai, Pham Duc Huy, Luong Xuan Truong, Tran Minh Vuong and Nguyen Hoang Duc.
Strikers include Nguyen Van Toan, Nguyen Cong Phuong, Nguyen Tien Linh, Ha Duc Chinh and Phan Van Duc./.
National Assembly Standing Committee’s 57th meeting wraps up
The 57th meeting of the National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee wrapped up on June 15 after one and a half days of sitting.
Closing the meeting, NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue said that the committee completed all the set agenda by debating six issues and adopting one resolution on personnel work.
He asked relevant agencies and oranisations as well as individuals to, right after the meeting, promptly acquire ideas given at the meeting and conclusions of the NA Standing Committee on particular issue to complete a report to be submitted to the 15th NA at its first plenary session.
As scheduled, the 15th legislature will convene a preparatory meeting before opening the first plenary session on July 20, he noted, stressing that successful organising the session is the most important task.
After the 57th meeting, the NA Standing Committee will sit for another meeting to finalise the remaining contents to be debated at the first plenary session of the 15th NA, including issues related to five-year plans such as those on socio-economic development, budget-finance, and middle-term public investment.
The Government has also proposed adding two national targets programmes on new-style rural area building and sustainable poverty reduction and social welfare to the agenda of the upcoming session./.
PM hopes for Japan’s continued cooperation in pandemic combat
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on June 15 hosted a reception for Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Yamada Takio, during which he suggested the Japanese government and relevant agencies continue to cooperate with Vietnam in the fight against the pandemic.
The Vietnamese leader also wished for Japan’s support in the transfer of COVID-19 vaccine production technology to Vietnam.
He asked the diplomat to propose the Government and competent agencies of Japan encourage Japanese businesses to promote two-way trade, especially creating favourable conditions for Vietnam’s exports such as agricultural and seafood products and seasonal fruits to enter the Japanese market.
PM Chinh called on Japanese investors to continue investing in Vietnam, especially in infrastructure development and areas where Japan has strength and Vietnam has potential.
According to the PM, there are about 450,000 Vietnamese people living, studying, and working in Japan. He expressed his hope that the Japanese Government would create conditions for them to have a safe and stable life in the country, contributing to promoting bilateral relations.
He suggested the Japanese side consider accepting Vietnamese interns, especially those with visas waiting for going to Japan; and resuming commercial flights soon when conditions permit.
The PM also hoped for the practical and effective implementation of economic agreements signed by the two sides.
For his part, Ambassador Takio conveyed a message from Japanese Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide to PM Chinh, which announced the Japanese Government's decision to provide Vietnam with 1 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines, saying that this is a testament to the deep friendship between Vietnam and Japan.
Japanese associations and 36 businesses in Vietnam have donated 39.2 billion VND (over 1.7 million USD) to Vietnam’s COVID-19 vaccine fund, he said, adding that more donations will be made in the coming time
PM Chinh expressed his sincere thanks to the Prime Minister, Government and people of Japan for the decision, as well as valuable donations from foreign associations and businesses in Vietnam, including those from Japan, to support the country in the fight against COVID-19.
Takio affirmed the Japanese government's strong cooperation commitment with Vietnam, saying that Vietnam is still the best investment destination for Japanese companies and investors.
He promised to immediately convey the message and suggestions of the Vietnamese leader to the Japanese Government and PM Suga Yoshihide./.
Vietnam holds first national dialogue on food systems
The first National Food Systems Summit Dialogue was held by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), in partnership with a number of ministries, the UN in Vietnam and international development partners in Hanoi on June 15 morning.
Themed “Vietnam Food Systems: Transparency, Responsibility, Sustainability,” the dialogue is the very first attempt in a series of events to prepare the nation for its attendance in the UN Food Systems Summit (UNFSS) in September 2021.
In his remarks, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Quoc Doanh said since the COVID-19 broke out globally, the world has been facing unpredictable challenges. Global supply chains are disrupted; food production is severely affected; and rural people, particularly the poor and vulnerable groups, are struggling to make ends meet, he said.
Agriculture resources are degrading under the increasingly adverse impact of climate change, posing major challenges to ensuring food and nutrition security all over the world, Doanh remarked.
The deputy minister went on to say that in Vietnam, agriculture plays a significant role in maintaining food security, social stability and livelihoods for more than 60 percent of rural population and contributes 14.85 percent to the country’s GDP.
As the Government of Vietnam is making every endeavour to realise the twin goals of combating COVID-19 and sustaining socio-economic growth, agriculture has become more important in the “new normal”, economically, socially and environmentally.
The food system framework offers Vietnam multi-sectoral, multi-tier approaches and stays in line with the country’s current policies reflected in the Agriculture Restructure Plan for 2021-2025, the National Target Programme on Sustainable Poverty Reduction and Social Security for the 2021 – 2025 period, the One Commune One Product (OCOP) programme, the National Action Plan on Zero Hunger by 2025 and the National Nutrition Strategy, among others, he continued.
Vietnam will better and more effectively implement action plans in poverty eradication, food security and nutrition in rural areas, especially where ethnic minorities groups and vulnerable people live, the official noted.
The dialogue focused discussions on two main issues, namely the current state and problems of Vietnam’s food systems; and opportunities, solutions and actions to transform the food systems towards transparency, responsibility and sustainability by 2030.
The UNFSS 2021 aims to define orientations for sustainable, inclusive and resilient food systems, creating multi-dimensional impacts to deliver progress on the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). The Summit focuses on five action tracks – ensuring access to safe and nutritious food for all; shifting to sustainable consumption pattern; boosting nature-positive production; promoting equitable livelihoods and value distribution; and building resilience to vulnerabilities, shocks and stresses.
In the run-up to the September summit, the MARD on behalf of the Government is organizing two national and three regional dialogues virtually from June 15 through July 15./.
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Lao province supports Hai Duong’s COVID-19 response efforts
A delegation from the Lao province of Vientiane on June 14 handed over 100 million LAK (10,577 USD) to the Vietnamese Embassy in Laos to assist the fight against COVID-19 in northern Hai Duong province of Vietnam.
At the handover ceremony, the embassy's Envoy Trinh Thi Tam expressed her gratitude for the Vientiane administration and people's assistance and pledged to soon deliver the fund to Hai Duong.
Lauding the twin relations between Hai Duong and Vientiane in the past time, Tam hoped that the sides will further fortify their cooperation and exchange information and experience regarding matters of common interest.
The diplomat noted many public agencies and businesses of Laos have come to the embassy to present money and medical supplies in support of the Government and people of Vietnam during the nation’s response to the fourth wave of COVID-19 outbreaks.
Such actions are evidence of great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos, she affirmed.
Vientiane province's Governor Thongsavan Vongsamphan said although the sum is not big, it reflects the Vientiane administration and people’s wish to share with Hai Duong’s difficulties.
The official hoped the Vietnamese province will soon overcome the challenges caused by the COVID-19 epidemic, stabilise people's lives, and develop its economy./.
COVID-19 vaccine fund to help Vietnam soon return to normal
To soon bring the life back to normal, vaccines are believed to be the best solution to protect people’s lives and help countries surmount the COVID-19 pandemic.
Vietnam is working hard to negotiate with vaccine manufacturers so as to secure 150 million vaccine doses to achieve herd immunity in 2021.
To that end, apart from the State budget’s funding, a large number of individuals, businesses and organisations nationwide have made donations to the COVID-19 vaccine fund via official channels.
Besides transferring money to the fund’s bank accounts, donors can also donate via text messages or the website http://www.quyvacxincovid19.gov.vn, which applies advanced technology to help connect collectives and individuals with the Government’s fund in a convenient and safe manner.
Contributions to the fund will help enhance Vietnam’s capability to import, develop, produce, and use COVID-19 vaccines on a large scale to benefit people across the country.
As of 5pm on June 14, 296,215 collectives and individuals had made donations of 5.08 trillion VND (221.36 million USD), including in foreign currencies, according to the fund’s management board.
An estimated 25.2 trillion VND (1.09 billion USD) is needed to provide vaccination for the entire population of Vietnam, the Ministry of Finance noted.
Minister Ho Duc Phoc said his ministry has earmarked more than 14 trillion VND from the State budget for the vaccination programme.
Added with contributions by collectives, individuals, and enterprises both at home and abroad, the existing resources for the task are now nearly sufficient, he added./.
Digital platform launched for persons with disabilities in Vietnam
Comprehensive, Accurate, and Secured are the key words that can describe a digital platform, which now can also be accessed via smartphones, for registry and information management for persons with disabilities (PwD), launched on June 15 as part of the Korea-Vietnam Mine Action Project (KV-MAP).
The project partners are the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the Vietnam National Mine Action Centre (VNMAC) with the support from Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA).
An estimated that more than 6 million persons (7 percent or the population) in Vietnam are living with a disability. This digital platform will help make their lives easier and support needs-based assistance. It enables persons with disabilities, including survivors from accidents with explosive ordnance, to conveniently provide and access data about their disability; print a disability certificate and thereby receive government assistance; and communicate other needs the individual might have to relevant authorities. Information registered in the database will be kept confidential.
“This application is very user-friendly and easy-to-navigate. This is a great application for persons with disabilities,” said Tran Le Quyen, sign language teacher at SCDeaf (Support and connect Deaf people to society).
“With this application, I can update and access data anytime, anywhere I want,” said Cao Ngoc Hung, javelin athlete at the Vietnam Paralympic Association. “When logging into this application, I can register my information on my disability level with the local authority. For people with disability in remote areas, using this application saves them from travelling and enable them to update their needs, thus receiving appropriate support from the government and different projects”.
For social protection officers, the digital platform transforms the management and approaches of support for persons with disabilities. It enables MOLISA and its provincial departments to further develop the national database with timely and accurate information on persons with disabilities in support of evidence-based policy making and targeted assistance.
The digital platform has been successfully tested in nine provinces and cities namely Quang Binh, Binh Dinh, Khanh Hoa, Thanh Hoa, Quang Ninh, Hue, Da Nang, Quang Nam, and Vinh Long, with 90,000 persons with disabilities having already agreed to be registered. These include the 75,000 persons who decided to register when the initial district-level pilot was scaled up to a provincial-level assessment covering both Quang Binh and Binh Dinh, thanks to the Korea-Vietnam Mine Action Project. It is this experience which has helped make the online platform ready for use throughout Vietnam, and this has become easier with the launch of the mobile applications for smartphones using either iOS or Android operating systems.
“We will promote these applications widely, while at the same time continue developing the skills of social workers enabling them to meet the needs of those they serve,” said Nguyen Van Hoi, Deputy Minister of MOLISA with an encouragement to use the new digital platform throughout Vietnam now that has been further upgraded based on the successful pilot phase.
The platform is entirely WEB-based, and the data is centrally stored and managed. With 70 percent of Vietnamese people owning smartphone, the new applications were developed specifically for such devices, thus enhancing the access to services for the population. The application is currently being upgraded with additional support functions to further assist persons with disabilities during registration.
Launching the digital platform, UNDP Resident Representative Caitlin Wiesen emphasised the importance of promoting innovative solutions to solve issues for persons with disabilities, who are among the most vulnerable populations in society and have been disproportionally affected by COVID-19. The UNDP rapid assessment of socio-economic impacts of COVID 19 on PwD showed that 24 percent of the respondents did not have a disability certificate, which limited their ability to access the services and assistance they need,” said Caitlin Wiesen.
“We are very pleased that in partnership with VNMAC, MOLISA and KOICA on one of the largest mine action projects in Vietnam, we have developed and contributed a digital solution that benefits not just UXO survivors, but the entire community of persons with disabilities. Accurate, reliable, up to date data enables government to provide persons with disability the full range of support needed.
The updated digital platform builds on a platform originally developed for the government of Vietnam by the International Center supported by the US State Department. The Center and UNDP coordinated the further work on the system, and the Korea-Vietnam Mine Action Project further upgraded it with a case management module and mobile applications.
“The availability of these application for registration and case management of persons with disabilities is a commendable initiative contributing to the greater goal of Vietnam to make society more inclusive for persons with disability,” said Cho Han-Deog, Country Director of KOICA Vietnam Office. “I am happy to see persons with disabilities, including survivors from accidents with Explosive Ordnance, now will have easier access to social assistance,” he continued.
The Korea-Vietnam Mine Action Project has been made possible with the kind support from the Republic of Korea via the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA). Efforts are being made to ensure that support to survivors from accidents with explosive ordnance in this project to the extent possible benefit all persons with disabilities in Vietnam. This new digital platform is an example of such efforts of inclusiveness./.
Vietnam proposes restraining actions in East Sea
While attending an ASEAN – China Defence Ministers’ Meeting Informal Meeting on June 15, Vietnamese Defence Minister Phan Van Giang requested parties concerned to refrain from actions and avoid complicating the situation in the East Sea.
At the virtually held meeting, Sen. Lieut. Gen. Giang emphasized the importance of ASEAN - China cooperation for peace and stability in the region. He highly appreciated China’s role as well as defense and security cooperation between ASEAN and China over the past time, especially within the framework of the ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting plus (ADMM+) and the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF).
The Vietnamese official expressed Vietnam’s support for China’s initiatives aimed at enhancing mutual understanding and confidence building, particularly through personnel exchange between research institutes of ASEAN and China. He also supported the establishment of a hotline between the Defense Ministers of ASEAN countries and China on the basis of the ASEAN Direct Communications Infrastructure.
With regard to the East Sea issue, General Giang suggested that the concerned parties create a favourable environment for the negotiation of the Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC), especially through confidence building measures. He also asked the parties to refrain from actions, avoid complicating the situation, and settle disputes peacefully on the basis of international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982).
The ministers of participating countries reviewed achievements in China - ASEAN defense cooperation and proposed orientations for defense cooperation. They also exchanged views on the international and regional issues of common interest.
The meeting was held as part of activities to celebrate 30 years of the China-ASEAN dialogue relations.
The 8th ADMM+ is scheduled to take place on June 16.
ASEAN to set up new cybersecurity centre in Singapore
Singapore’s Ministry of Defence announced a new cybersecurity and information centre of ASEAN will be set up in Singapore for better exchange of information among defence ministries of member countries to combat cyber security threats and misinformation.
The establishment of the centre was approved at the 15th ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM 15) held virtually on June 15.
The ministry said the centre will fortify the ASEAN Cyber Defence Network in promoting regional exchanges, interaction and cooperation in cybersecurity matters.
The ADMM 15 adopted a declaration that reaffirmed the regional grouping's commitment to tackling prevailing and emerging transboundary security threats in the region.
It also approved Singapore’s proposal to host an ADMM Plus conference on countering chemical, biological and radiological threats in 2022. ADMM Plus groups the 10 ASEAN members and eight dialogue partners – Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, Russia and the US./.
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Source: VNA/VNS/VOV/VIR/SGT/Nhan Dan/Hanoitimes
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