High-ranking officials of Ukraine's Odessa province attended the opening ceremony of Vietnam new honorary consul office on June 25.

Speaking at the event, Vietnamese Ambassador to Ukraine and Moldova Nguyen Hong Thach said the opening of the office is a vibrant demonstration of the fact that that Vietnam always attaches importance to traditional and friendly relations with Ukraine; as well as Vietnam’s wishes to strongly develop all cooperation channels between the two countries.

Ambassador Thach said the Minister of Foreign Affairs’ decision to appoint Nguyen Van Khanh as the Honorary Consul General of Vietnam to Odessa province shows the recognition of Khanh’s prestige in the community as well as local administration. He expressed his hope that Khanh and his office will make positive contributions to the consolidation and strengthening of the Vietnam - Ukraine relations, and support to the Vietnamese community in Odessa.

The diplomat on May 27 presented the Minister of Foreign Affairs’ decision to appoint Khanh as the Honorary Consul General of Vietnam to Odessa province./.

Top Lao leader’s Vietnam visit reaffirms stance in promoting bilateral relations: Lao diplomat

The upcoming visit to Vietnam by Lao Party General Secretary and State President Thongloun Sisoulith is of great significance, reaffirming the stance of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party in continuing to maintain, nurture and promote the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two Parties, States and peoples, Lao Ambassador to Vietnam Sengphet Houngbounnuang has stated.

Talking to the media on the threshold of the official friendship visit from June 28-29, the ambassador noted that this is the first foreign trip by Sisoulith after he was elected to his positions.

The visit also aims to implement Laos’ consistent foreign policy of preserving and promoting the special collaboration between Laos and Vietnam, and reflects the special relationship of the two countries, he added.

Over the past time, despite complicated and unpredictable developments of the regional and international situations, the two countries have actively coordinated in and organised the implementation of cooperative agreements and plans, which has brought about substantive results in all areas.

Political relations continue to be strengthened, defence - security and diplomatic cooperation remains one of the most important pillars in the bilateral relationship, and cooperation in economics, culture, health care, and science - technology has made positive changes, he stated.

The Lao diplomat suggested the two Parties, States and peoples intensify cooperation and promote the tradition of special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation, support each other, and continue to carry out the revolutionary cause towards the goal of socialism.

According to him, in the coming time, the bilateral cooperation should focus on the priorities of continuing to strengthen cooperation in politics, defence - security and foreign affairs, raising the common awareness of the two Parties, States and peoples of the strategic importance of the special relationship between Laos and Vietnam.

The diplomat also highlighted the mutual support in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic between the two nations, affirming that the exchange of experience between a delegation of Vietnamese medical experts and Lao doctors and nurses has helped Laos basically control the pandemic./.

Vietnamese universities enter Young University Rankings worldwide

Two Vietnamese universities – Vietnam National University, Hanoi and VNU Ho Chi Minh City - have entered the Times Higher Education’s Young University Rankings 2021, which lists the world’s best universities that are 50 years old or younger.
 
In the rankings, the Vietnam National University, Hanoi is placed in the 251st-300th group, while the VNU HCM City ranks 401st+.

The VNU Hanoi scored a high point in the criteria of teaching, which is higher than the average point of 50 universities placed in the 251st-300th group, and even 6.3 percent higher than the average of those in the 201st-250th positions.

The Times Higher Education’s Young University Rankings 2021 judges universities across all their core missions – teaching, research, knowledge transfer and international outlook – to provide the most comprehensive and balanced comparisons available.

The 2021 list includes 475 universities, up from 414 in 2020./.

COVID-19: 50 new local infections recorded in 12 hours

Vietnam reported 50 new local infections of COVID-19 in the past 12 hours to 6am on June 27, according to the Ministry of Health.

Among the newly-detected cases, 40 were in Ho Chi Minh City, seven in Long An, and three in Bac Giang. Forty-thee were recorded in quarantine sites or sealed off areas.

The new cases brought the national tally to 15,325, with 1,760 imported and 13,565 locally transmitted ones.

The ministry said 6,137 patients have been given the all-clear so far. The death toll was 74.

Among the patients being under treatment, 370 have tested negative once for the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 that causes the disease, 125 twice, and 152 thrice.

As of 4pm on June 26, nearly 3.3 million vaccine doses had been injected. The number of people getting two shots was 155,488.

Fourteen localities have gone 14 days without new infections and 12 localities have recorded no new secondary infections./. 

Napas launches VietQR trademark, QR code quick money transfer service

The National Payment Corporation of Vietnam (Napas) and 14 first banks of Vietnam on June 15 launched the VietQR trademark and quick online money transfer service – Napas 247 using QR codes.

The 14 pioneering banks are Vietcombank, VietinBank, BIDV, MB, TPBank, Sacombank, VPBank, VIB, MSB, ACB, SeABank, LienVietPostBank, NamABank, and Ban Viet Bank.

VietQR is a common trademark for payment and money transfer using QR Codes through the Napas network and its member banks as well as payment mediators and partners inside and outside the country.

VietQR is designed to QR payment standards of EMV Co. as well as the State Banks of Vietnam.

Napas Deputy General Director Nguyen Dang Hung said that VietQR is applied by Napas and the banks to ensure the connectivity and synchronism of the infrastructure system serving QR payment within Vietnam, paving the way for the expansion of connections in international payment.

Meanwhile, the Napas 247 service using VietQR allows customers to transfer money from their account to another account at other bank in the Napas network at any time with the limitation of 500 million VND by scanning the private QR Codes of the receiver.

The individual QR codes contain all necessary information ensuring accurate, quick and safe payment.

Bank account holders can create their own QR code in the mobile banking apps of the 14 banks or at website VietQR.net./.

KPL chief values Vietnamese Party leader’s writing about socialism

Experiences by senior leaders of friendly countries, especially Vietnam, are precious lessons and also hold great importance, General Director of the Lao News Agency (KPL) Khampheuy Philapha said while talking about the Vietnamese Party leader’s recent article about the path to socialism in Vietnam.

Over the past few days, KPL publications have posted the full writing, translated into Lao and English, on some theoretical and practical issues on socialism and the path to socialism in Vietnam by General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong.

In an interview with the Vietnam News Agency, Philapha said the publication of this article in the Lao language helps readers understand the theoretical and practical issues of the path to socialism in Vietnam, noting that both countries are persistent in the Marxism - Leninism, which is the theoretical foundation for their national construction and development towards socialism.

The article showed that national independence associated with socialism is the fundamental and consistent policy of the Vietnamese revolution and also the vital point of late President Ho Chi Minh’s ideology.

It also indicated that the CPV’s policies and goals, including building a political system of the people, by the people, and for the people, are the most appropriate ones, according to the KPL leader.

He expressed his delight that over the past years, Vietnam has obtained all-round achievements in developing a socialist-oriented market economy. It is a fact that during its “Doi moi” (Renewal) period, the socialist-oriented market economy in the country has gathered sufficient factors of a market economy under international standards.

He held that over 35 years of “Doi moi”, Vietnam has attained a number of important, comprehensive, and fundamental achievements in all fields, particularly in economic development, thus greatly helping to promote its role, stature and voice in the region and the world.

The implementation of the “Doi moi” policy has helped build a socialist-oriented market economy that is a modern market economy integrated into the region and the world while operating in line with the market mechanism under the State’s management via the legal system and under the CPV’s leadership for the sake of “rich people, strong nation, and democratic, equitable, and civilised society”, which is evidenced by the economic statistics cited in the article, Philapha went on.

He noted in the current development trend, countries around the world, including Vietnam, are all facing opportunities for as well as challenges to their development.

Under the CPV’s clear-sighted leadership and with the Vietnamese people’s solidarity and consensus, the country will achieve the targets set for the building of socialism imbued with the Vietnamese identity, the KPL General Director affirmed.

He also expressed his belief that the traditional relations, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between Laos and Vietnam will stay strong forever./.

Lao leader’s Vietnam visit contributes to tightening bilateral relations

The Paxason (The People) newspaper of Laos on June 25 ran an article highlighting the upcoming visit to Vietnam by General Secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith from June 28-29, stressing that the trip is hoped to further strengthen Laos-Vietnam special relations.

According to the article, the visit is the first official external activity of the highest-ranking leader of the Lao Party and State after the 11th National Congress of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP).

This is also the first official friendship visit to Vietnam by Thongloun Sisoulith as Party General Secretary and President of Laos, it said.

Despite the complicated developments of the COVID-19 pandemic, the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos still recorded fruitful and practical development across fields through various forms between the two Parties, States, and people, and between their ministries, sectors and localities.

Political relations have been further strengthened with mutual trust, the article said, noting that this plays a central role in directing the bilateral relations.

Cooperation mechanisms between ministries and sectors of the two countries have been maintained and proven effective, it said, noting that Lao leaders and public opinion have highly valued Vietnam for sharing COVID-19 prevention experience with, providing material and spiritual support for, and helping Lao address natural disasters when Vietnam is also facing many difficulties.

The defence and security cooperation continues to be one of the important pillars in the Vietnam-Laos relationship. The two sides have actively implemented the five-year cooperation minutes and the annual cooperation plan on defence and security, significantly contributing to maintaining political stability, ensuring security and order, social safety in each country.

The two countries have coordinated closely in implementing border regulations and agreements between the two governments on dealing with free migration and unregistered marriages in border areas, and in searching for and gathering remains of Vietnamese soldiers and experts who laid down their lives while carrying out international missions in Laos.

According to the newspaper, in terms of economic, trade and investment cooperation, Vietnam is now the third largest foreign investor in Laos with over 413 projects worth about 4.22 billion USD.

In the field of education and personnel training, the two sides have coordinated to implement a plan to improve the quality and effectiveness of education and human resource development cooperation between Laos and Vietnam in 2021 – 2022. Vietnam has granted 1,220 scholarships to Lao students.

Cooperation between localities, especially those sharing borders, has been strengthened, especially in infrastructure development, health care, human resource development, and ensuring security, social order and safety in border areas.

Laos and Vietnam have regularly worked closely and supported each other at regional and international forums, the article said.

The above-mentioned cooperation results have importantly contributed to maintaining political stability and socio-economic development in the two countries, further deepening the Vietnam – Laos great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation, and improving the positions and roles of the two Parties and States for peace, cooperation, development and stability in the region and the world.

The article showed the belief that the Lao leader’s visit to Vietnam will help further bolster the bilateral relations, bringing practical benefits to their people./.

Laos news agency ​spotlights growing Vietnam - Laos relations

The PathetLao newspaper of the Lao news agency KPL on June 24 frontpaged an article on the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between Laos and Vietnam.

The article said such ties, nurtured by late Vietnamese President Ho Chi Minh and his Lao counterpart Kaysone Phomvihane, have been maintained and developed by generations of the two countries’ leaders, revolutionaries, and peoples.

It reviewed the milestones in the relationship, starting in July 1962, when the two nations established their diplomatic ties. In February 2019, during the official visit of Party General Secretary and State President Nguyen Phu Trong to Laos, the sides agreed to upgrade their traditional relations into great traditional relations.

The 59 years of the diplomatic relations and the 44 years of the signing of the Vietnam - Laos Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation were a test for the close amity shared between the two nations. Their cooperation is increasingly diverse, and constantly consolidated and enhanced in both quantity and quality, it said.

Over the past time, the Vietnamese Party, Government and people have offered prompt, valuable, and effective assistance to Laos via regular and annual aid packages and urgent help in special cases, the article noted, adding that Vietnam was the first nation to lend a hand to Laos in curbing the spread of COVID-19, which reflected their special cooperation.

It said high-ranking leaders of the two countries have always seriously directed their competent agencies to strengthen the connection between the two economies, especially regarding their infrastructure, transport, as well as exploration and development of energy resources. They have also paid attention to solving existing problems to deepen the bilateral collaboration toward effectiveness in line with the strengths of the two countries.

Currently, Vietnam is one of the leading investors in and the largest trading partner of Laos. Their cooperation in the field of defense-security continues to reap achievements in various aspects. The sides are further coordinating and effectively implementing their signed agreement on border issues, promptly preventing and handleing border violations, and promoting the signing of cooperation pacts in the fields of defense, security, external relations, culture, education, and science and technology.

Regarding multilateral cooperation, the article said since joining ASEAN, Vietnam and Laos have been coordinating and supporting each other on many issues discussed at ASEAN forums, contributing to promoting and enhancing their great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation and to boosting peace, friendship, and cooperation and integration regionally and internationally./.

VNPT – VinaPhone awarded first-class Labour Order

The Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group (VNPT) -VinaPhone was awarded the Labour Order, first class, during a recemony held in Hanoi on June 25 marking the 25th anniversary of the first Vietnamese mobile phone service provider.

Speaking at the event, Chairman of the VNPT Member Council Pham Duc Long said the distinction offers VNPT-VinaPhone a driving force to further develop in the future amid digital transformation process.

Founded on June 26, 1996, VinaPhone became the first telecom service provider to cover all cities and provinces nationwide after three years. It recorded 1 million subscribers in 2002 and 12 million subscribers in 2008.

Vice State President grants first-class Labour Order to VNPT-VinaPhone (Photo: VNA)
It now boasts an infrastructure capable of meeting national demand for defence-security, disater prevention and control, and nearly 30 million subscribers. Apart from the over 37,000 3G and more than 34,000 4G transmitting stations, it is one of the first units to successfully pilot the commercialisation of 5G technology in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Annually, internet traffic on mobile networks increases by about 70 percent on average.

Long stressed that the growth of VinaPhone and the trust of more than 30 million clients are a result of brainpower and efforts by generations of engineers and staff of the VNPT Net Corporation and VNPT-VinaPhone in the 63 cities and provinces across the country.

General Director of VNPT-VinaPhone Nguyen Truong Giang said this year, 10-30 percent of its staff will move to the field of digital transformation to offer more convenient and modern services./.

Viettel face dauting task in AFC Champions League

Viettel will kick off their debut Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League campaign against defending champions Ulsan Hyundai today in Thailand.

The Group F match pits the V.League 1 champions against one of the most successful sides in the competition's history.

Despite the huge challenge, Việt Nam's champions are confident they can secure a positive result.

"The COVID-19 pandemic creates worldwide obstacles. Football also suffers and Viettel also could not avoid it. Apart from difficulties in procedures and preparation for the tournament in the pandemic season, we also are in a group with strong rivals. But whenever taking part in a competition Viettel always play hard and look for the best result," said coach Trương Việt Hoàng.

"Competing at the highest level tournament of Asia is an honour for the club and also a national task. We are proud to be the sole representative of Việt Nam at this event and we will play for the country," he said.

Viettel gained promotion to the domestic top-flight in 2018. It took them two years to be crowned champions. That success saw the Hà Nội-based club qualify directly to the 2021 AFC Champions League group stage and they will be the first Vietnamese side to appear in the competition proper since Becamex Bình Dương in 2016.

"It is very hot in Bangkok; the climate is the same as Dubai where Việt Nam took part in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers. We have to adapt ourselves to these environmental conditions first, and then think about how to secure good result here," said skipper Bùi Tiến Dũng.

Dũng and four other teammates of the national team joined their club after success in the World Cup qualification round. They have had two training sessions together in Bangkok.

"Here we have to follow the strict quarantine rules of the hosts to control the COVID-19 pandemic. But they don't stop us from training or competing. I have not trained with the whole team for nearly two months but it is no difficulty to find the pace of the team," Dũng added.

The defender said he knew playing Ulsan Hyundai job would be tough as they are home to five national team members and powerful attacking players, but the 24-year-old said his side had their strengths as well.

"Our strength is in the unity, discipline and spirit of a military team that helped us conquer the V.League 1 just two years after our return. No other Vietnamese club has achieved such a feat in more than 10 years," he said.

"In the upcoming match, our defence must be really focused and stable to keep a clean sheet as long as possible. And if possible, we can score some goals."

Ulsan Hyundai are one of South Korea's top clubs. Established in 1983, they have twice won the national championship and finished second nine times. They have also taken one FA Cup, five League Cups and one Super Cup.

In the Champions League, Ulsan Hyundai lifted the trophy in 2012 and 2020. They are considered the title favourites this year.

Another match today is between BG Pathum United of Thailand and Kaya FC of the Philippines. The latter side defeated Shanghai Port of China in the play-off on Wednesday to qualify. 

BG Pathum United were in the second tier of Thai football in 2018 but returned to the top in 2020 won the league in the 2020-21 season.

Kaya took their domestic FA Cup title in 2018 and won a berth in the AFC Cup in 2019 and 2020. They are the first club from the Philippines to play in the Champions League.

Viettel will play Kaya on June 29 and BG Pathum United on July 2.

The return leg matches will be from July 5-11. 

Cải lương contest launched online for first time

The national traditional music contest, Chuông Vàng Vọng Cổ (Golden Bell) 2021, has been launched online in HCM City as the number of COVID-19 cases continues to increase.

Organised by HCM City Television, or HTV,  the event encourages young people to learn about cải lương (reformed opera), the south’s most popular theatre form.  

Vietnamese aged 16 to 35 are encouraged to apply for the contest via the website www.htv.com.vn and https://www.facebook.com/ChuongVangVongCo.HTV/.

The selection round will close on July 25. 

Each candidate should send two videos featuring his or her voice and performance in two vọng cổ (nostalgic tunes) songs or one extract from a cải lương play to the organiser. 

Works in praise of the country and patriotism are encouraged.  

The jury includes Meritorious Artist Hồ Ngọc Trinh and cải lương star Võ Minh Lâm, winner of the Golden Bell 2006. 

Thirty-six candidates will be selected to compete in the semi-final round, which is scheduled in August in HCM City. They will work with skilled performers to compete to enter the final round in September. 

Ten finalists will compete for different prizes, including the Golden Bell first prize worth VNĐ100 million (US$4,300) in cash, Silver Bell prize worth VNĐ50 million ($2,150), and Favourite Performer and Youngest Talent prizes. 

Their performances will air live on HTV9 channel to  millions of viewers around the country. Viewers will vote for the winners. 

“The Golden Bell contest began in 2006 and has discovered and encouraged new talents in theatre. Many winners have become professional artists working for leading traditional art troupes in the region,” said Trần Hiền Phương, a member of the contest’s organising board.

 “This year's contest is being launched online because the COVID-19 pandemic is still spreading. We hope audiences will support our candidates during the contest.” 

Last year, the 15th Golden Bell 2020 attracted 386 contestants. 

Nguyễn Quốc Nhựt of Long An Province won the Golden Bell first prize. His strong voice and performance in Kiều Nguyệt Nga (Story of Kiều Nguyệt Nga), a play about love, bravery and southern women in the 19th century, left a strong impression on the judges and audiences. He received the highest score of 99.79 from the judges. 

Vietnamese wins Best Actor Award at 18th Asian Film Festival

Tran Anh Khoa, playing Ròm in the movie of the same name, took home the Best Actor Award at the 18th Asian Film Festival taking place in Rome from June 17 – 23.

The award is among the five most important of the festival, together with the Best Film, Best Director, Best Actress, and Most Original Film.

Khoa’s performance was described as “an interpretation of instinct, energy and dynamism for a character who moves in the chaos and madness of Ho Chi Minh City”.

The Embassy of Vietnam in Italy received the award on behalf of Khoa, who is currently living in Canada.

The Asian Film Festival in Italy is organised by the Roberts Bresson Film Foundation which selects the best films in East Asia, with special attention given to young directors./.

Border guards stay vigilant amid pandemic

The complex developments of the COVID-19 pandemic in Cambodia and Thailand mean pandemic prevention efforts on Việt Nam's southwestern border areas need more focus than ever.

The southwestern provinces of Long An, Đồng Tháp, An Giang and Kiên Giang share more than 384km of border with Cambodia.

The Border Guard of Long An province manages 134km of the border line across 20 communes in five districts, with one town next to the border with one international border gate, one national border gate, and ten local border checkpoints.

In the border area of Long An, there are 36 fixed posts with more than 500 officers and soldiers on duty, six mobile patrol teams and three mobile working groups of nearly 100 people.

Their job is to patrol, protect the border and prevent illegal immigration.

From the beginning of 2021 to the end of May, the Long An Border Guard tackled 102 cases related to 158 illegally crossing the border.

Those 158 people were mainly Vietnamese nationals, Cambodians and Chinese people who were attempting to travel from northern provinces to Cambodia for work opportunities.

Authorities have prosecuted six cases involving 27 people on charges of illegal immigration and human trafficking.

A total of 953 people were also quarantined following investigations.

“We have prepared for a serious pandemic situation. We’re ready to repatriate Vietnamese-Cambodia and Vietnamese nationals who do business in two Cambodia provinces next to Long An by any means and the number of people is expected to be 50 up to 100 a day,” said Colonel Phạm Phú Phước, commander of the Long An Border Guard.

“In addition to strengthening border management and protection, preventing illegal immigration, we are mobilising all resources for key groups so the soldiers can stay there for a longer time.

“We will ask the Long An Provincial People's Committee to drill wells or provide tap water to all the posts, request the Department of Science and Technology to implement the project of lighting the border and instruct officers and soldiers to plant vegetables and raise cattle to ensure their nutrition and health,” he said.

According to Col Bùi Trung Dũng, deputy commander of the Border Guard Command of An Giang, Vĩnh Xương and Tịnh Biên are the province's only two international border gates for Vietnamese people to enter and for Vietnamese-Cambodian people to return to Cambodia.

"We can't quarantine them all," Col Dũng said.

“If there are too many people returning, we won’t have time to make a medical declaration and they cannot be put in the current isolation group."

Col Dũng added: “To do that, we must have a separate area or have to set up a place or camp in that particular area for them to declare and provide medical reports."

Tây Ninh shares more than 240km of border with three provinces of Cambodia, namely Tboung Khmum, Prey Veng and Svay Rieng.

Since the pandemic in Cambodia became complicated, the Border Guard Command of Tây Ninh has directed all units to strengthen border management and protection, strictly control border areas and roads, trails and openings to prevent illegal immigration.

Border guards and other local forces have been mobilised and are used to living in poor conditions in mobile groups and checkpoints over the past year to minimise the risk of another pandemic outbreak.

Long An seeks funding for freshwater reservoir

Long An Province's Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has proposed building a freshwater reservoir project in Thạnh Hoá District to ensure water supply in the dry season.

The department, which has completed zoning and procedures for the project, said it would cost more than VNĐ718 billion ($31 million). The reservoir will store fresh water in the rainy season. 

Long An has been severely affected by saltwater intrusion and drought in recent years.  

The reservoir project and existing irrigation works will secure irrigation water for 1,500ha of hi-tech farming areas, as well as water for households, industrial production, and fire prevention for 3,300ha of protective forests in border areas.

Nguyễn Thanh Truyền, director of the department, said that in 2016 the Prime Minister asked the province to submit its reservoir plan for consideration.

The province’s budget for public works for the 2021 – 25 period cannot cover all construction costs for the project, so the department asked the province's People's Committee to petition the Government to allocate funds to build the reservoir.

The project will cover 140ha and have two lakes with a combined area of 106ha, and a 4.8 km dam.

The project includes four water regulating sluices with pumping systems, a water transport canal system, a management building, and new trees. It will also have a water plant and an ecotourism resort.

In the 2019- 20 dry season, saltwater intrusion and drought damaged more than 2,700ha of rice and caused a shortage of water to 3,500 households.

In addition, the low level of floodwaters in the delta caused by the rising water level of the Mekong River during the rainy season in recent years has caused freshwater shortages.

In 2016 the province decided to set up four different areas for freshwater reservoirs in the Đồng Tháp Mười (Plain of Reeds) region, including the one in Thạnh Hoá District’s Thuận Bình Commune. The other three reservoirs will be located in Tân Hưng and Vĩnh Hưng districts and Kiến Tường Town.

Of the four projects, the freshwater reservoir project in Thạnh Hoá District’s Thuận Bình Commune will be given priority.

Vietnamese, French organisations, associations assist COVID-19 control fund

The Vietnamese Embassy in France held a ceremony on June 25 to receive 20,000 EUR (23,870 USD), donated by the Vietnamese community and several organisations and associations in France in support of Vietnam’s COVID-19 vaccine fund.

President of the France-Vietnam Friendship Association (AAFV) Gérard Daviot spoke highly of Vietnam’s efforts in the fight against the pandemic, affirming that in the long term, vaccine is the key to bringing life back to normal.

He took the occasion to thank the Vietnamese Government for presenting face masks and medical equipment to French people when the pandemic broke out in the country in March last year.

Vietnamese Ambassador Dinh Toan Thang expressed his gratitude for the donation, adding that his embassy will transfer the money to Vietnam as soon as possible.

He affirmed that the embassy will organise other fundraising campaigns to support Vietnam’s COVID-19 fight./.

German states present COVID-19 rapid test kits to Vietnam

Numerous German states presented the token of over 190,000 COVID-19 quick test kits to Vietnam during a ceremony held at headquarters of the Federal Council (the German Upper House) on June 25.

The assistance was raised by the four states of Hamburg, Bremen, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, and Sachsen-Anhalt. It will be flown to Vietnam by national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines and arrive early next week.

At the ceremony, representatives of the states spoke highly of the Vietnamese Government’s achievements in the fight against COVID-19, and voiced their belief that with efforts by the Government and people, Vietnam will soon bring the pandemic under control.

When COVID-19 broke out in Germany and face masks were scarce, the Vietnamese Government, organisations and individuals, as well as the Vietnamese community in the European country, helped local people battle the outbreaks by offering hundreds of thousands of masks, and meal portions to medical workers in the frontline, they recalled.

For his part, Vietnamese Ambassador to Germany Nguyen Minh Vu underlined that the aid is a symbol of the countries’ solidarity and friendship, especially as Vietnam and Germany are celebrating the 10th year of the strategic partnership.

Even against the backdrop of COVID-19, the relations between Vietnam and German states will continue to flourish in multiple aspects, the diplomat affirmed.

He took the occasion to express his gratitude to Dr. Kambiz Ghawami, Executive Chairman of the World University Service (WUS) non-governmental organisation, for supporting the Embassy of Vietnam in receiving and sending the assistance to the Southeast Asian country.

According to Ghawami, other German states are to present quick test kits to Vietnam in the time to come./.

PM inspects pandemic fight in Ho Chi Minh City

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on June 26 led a Government delegation to inspect the COVID-19 prevention and control in Ho Chi Minh City which is being hit hard by the pandemic.

Inspecting the work at a concentrated quarantine site in the dormitory of the Vietnam National University - Ho Chi Minh City, PM Chinh asked municipal authorities to take care of the material and spiritual lives of quarantined people.

The city needs to arrange appropriate quarantine and speed up quick testing in quarantine facilities, he stressed, requesting ministries and sectors to prioritise the transportation of medical equipment and supplies serving quick testing for the city by air.

The Government leader also visited and encouraged labourers who are working at Nissei Electric Vietnam Company in Linh Trung 1 processing and export zone in Thu Duc city, and toured the Nanogen Pharmaceutical Biotechnology JSC in Ho Chi Minh City’s Hi-tech Park - one of the four producers of homegrown COVID-19 vaccines.

Praising the company's efforts to produce made-in-Vietnam vaccine, Chinh said that vaccine has a decisive factor to bring the life back to normal.

He ordered the acceleration of the research and production of the vaccine and, at the same time, the abidance of a strict, safe, scientific and effective process to protect people’s health.

According to the municipal Centre for Disease Control, as of 6am on June 26, the largest city of Vietnam had recorded 2,714 COVID-19 infections, including 247 imported ones./.

Vietnam calls on int’t community to maintain humanitarian assistance for Syria

Addressing a meeting of the UN Security Council (UNSC) on June 25 to discuss the political progress in Syria, Vietnam called for the maintenance of humanitarian assistance to the Syrian people as the political process in this country is still facing a deadlock.

Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy, head of the Vietnamese Mission to the United Nations (UN), emphasised the need to build trust among the parties to accelerate the political process, highlighting the support of the international community through promoting dialogue and ironing out existing differences.
The diplomat also called on all the parties to exercise restraint and maintain a favourable security environment for promoting political solutions and emphasised the need for coordination in the fight against terrorism to ensure respect for international law, including international humanitarian law.

According to the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen, there should be a consensus in finding a political solution to the crisis in Syria on the basis of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2254. He called on the international community to establish new dialogue mechanisms to help solve the situation. He said that he is maintaining close communication with international and regional partners to support this negotiation process.

The official reiterated UN Secretary-General's call on international community to maintain the cross-border aid mechanism to Syria for another 12 months to provide humanitarian assistance to the people in the Northwest region./.

Dong Nai: ethnic people benefit from investment attraction

Xuan Loc district in Dong Nai southern province, home to a large number of ethnic people, has exerted efforts in drawing investment to create jobs for locals and effectively carried out ethnic policies, contributing to the socio-economic development.

Ethnic minority people account for 8 percent of Xuan Loc district’s population, numbering some 20,000 of 24 ethnic groups.

They used to rely on small-scale farming, bird hunting and apiculture to make ends meet.

The district has devised a number of policies to support economic development amongst the ethnic minority groups, including building rural roads, power transmission works, schools and medical stations. Due attention has been paid to vocational training and job creation for rural labourers.

Local authorities have also rolled out various incentives to attract investment, as well as help investors in legal issues and administrative procedures.

Xuan Loc is now home to an industrial park and more than 30 enterprises which create jobs for 30,000 workers, according to Vice Chairwoman of Xuan Loc People’s Committee Huynh Thi Lanh.

The rate of ethnic people having stable jobs exceeds 86 percent.

A representative of the Dong Xuan Loc garment company in Xuan Hung commune said more than 45 percent of the firm’s employees are ethnic minority people. The firm has tried to create the best working conditions for ethnic workers, he said./.

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

VIETNAM NEWS HEADLINES JUNE 26

Vietnam reports 15 new cases of COVID-19 on June 26 morning