In a recent interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency, Vietnamese Ambassador to Belgium and Luxembourg Nguyen Van Thao said that the tour is to continue affirming Vietnam's foreign policy of being an active and responsible member of the international community. 

According to the diplomat, the upcoming trip by PM Chinh, along with recent effective high-level external activities by the Party and State leaders, have showed that Vietnam is a responsible member that is willing to have initiatives and solutions to contribute practically and effectively to the stability and development in the region and the world.

Leaders of the EU and a number of its member countries are looking forward to meeting the Vietnamese leader in order to discuss and share global and regional issues of common concern, including promoting global trade and investment, global economic connection, climate change, energy and food security, marine economic development, sustainable development, and green and digital economy.

The EU considers Vietnam an important partner of the region, which has made certain successes in economic development as well as in controlling the COVID-19 pandemic. With many initiatives, Vietnam is expected to make more active contributions in the coming time.

These reaffirm the increasing prestige and position of Vietnam in the international arena, Thao noted.

Vietnam is one of four Asian countries that have a free trade agreement (FTA) with the EU. In the last two years when the COVID-19 pandemic raged, two-way trade between Vietnam and the EU has still increased.  Therefore, the EU is looking forward to further promoting trade cooperation with Vietnam in order to address the disruption of the global supply chain in recent times.

In addition, climate change is a high priority for the EU and the union also highly valued Vietnam's commitment at the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow of the UK last year, and the Southeast Asian nations’ action plan and great determination in this field.

PM Chinh and EU leaders will discuss issues related to food security, energy security, marine economy and circular economy, which Vietnam is very interested in, while the EU has experience and strengths.

For Luxembourg, Vietnam wants to promote cooperation in financial market development because the country boasts extensive experience in the financial sector, Thao said.

Vietnam will focus on promoting cooperation in agriculture and hi-tech development with Belgium as it has advantages in farm produce export and is also a leading hi-tech centre in Europe.

Belgium also boasts strengths in logistics, seaport and renewable energy. So the country is very eager to cooperate with Vietnam in these sectors, Thao said.

The embassy will organise various activities to connect Vietnamese and Belgian firms, thus promoting cooperation opportunities towards setting up partnerships, he went on.

As part of the trip, PM Chinh will lead a high-ranking delegation of Vietnam to attend a summit commemorating the 45th anniversary of the ASEAN-EU relations in Brussels on December 14.

Vietnamese leaders receive Lao Deputy PM, Defence Minister

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong highlighted the significance of Vietnam-Laos special relationship during a reception in Hanoi on December 7 for Politburo member, Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister of Laos Chansamone Chanyalath.

Speaking highly of the traditional cooperation between the two armies and the outcomes of the talks between the two defence ministers, the Party chief asked the two defence ministries to build on their past achievements, fulfill assigned political tasks, and effectively carry out the Protocol and cooperation plan.

He expressed his belief that under the leadership of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP), the Lao army and people will reap greater achievements and realise the Resolution adopted by the 11th National Party Congress.

Chanyalath, for his part, affirmed that Laos will work together with Vietnam to foster and pass on the special solidarity to later generations.

In any circumstance, the Lao Defence Ministry will work closely with its Vietnamese counterpart to accomplish tasks assigned by the Parties, States and people of the two countries, he said. He also pledged to effectively implement cooperation agreements reached by leaders of the two Parties and countries, the Protocol and cooperation plan between the two defence ministries.

Receiving the Lao guest, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh affirmed Vietnam’s consistent policy of firmly defending the past revolutionary achievements together with Laos with the highest determination while deepening bilateral ties in a practical and effective manner in all areas.

Vietnam is willing to continue assisting Laos in its ability in all circumstances, together removing difficulties and obstacles, jointly building an independent and self-reliant economy that integrates into the global system for the sake of peace, stability and development of each country, contributing to maintaining peace in the region and the world, he said, adding that developing Vietnam-Laos defence cooperation is one of the top priorities of Vietnam.

PM Pham Minh Chinh receives Lao Deputy PM, Foreign Minister

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh received visiting Lao Deputy PM and Minister of Foreign Affairs Saleumxay Kommasith in Hanoi on December 7.

Congratulating Laos on the 47th National Day (December 2), PM Chinh said the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos are unique in the world, asking the two sides to continue educating younger generations on the relations, which are a priceless asset of both peoples.

He also called on the two countries to coordinate with each other to develop independent and self-reliant economies that extensively, substantively, and effectively integrate into the world.

Saleumxay Kommasith, who is in Vietnam to co-chair a conference disseminating policies and laws to exemplary leaders of villages in the countries’ border areas, thanked the Vietnamese Party, State, and people for consistently supporting and standing side by side with their Lao counterparts.

He said the dissemination conference, held in Nghe An province from December 5 to 7, would help further step up cooperation between border localities of Vietnam and Laos, especially in infrastructure building, health care, human resources development, and safeguarding of security, order, and safety in border areas.

At the meeting, both host and guest expressed their delight at significant achievements in the countries’ cooperation, including the strong growth in bilateral trade that reached 1.4 billion USD in the first 10 months of 2022.

Strongest cold spell forecast to occur in January

The strongest cold spell of this winter is likely to occur in January 2023, said Nguyen Van Huong, head of the weather forecast division under the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting.

Huong said the cold temperature in the 2022-2023 winter is equivalent to the average level in years.

It’s possible to see severe cold spells come in the northern and north-central regions in the second half of December and severely cold days mostly are in January and the first half of February.

Vietnam attends conference on Indo-Pacific security

Vietnamese defence and security officials and experts joined their counterparts from many other countries at a recent Berlin conference on security in the Indo-Pacific region.

Addressing the conference, Colonel Pham Ngoc Thanh from the Ministry of National Defence's Institute for Defence Strategy (IDS) highlighted the competition of world powers in the region and its impacts on security in the Indo-Pacific region.

He underlined the nature of Vietnamese defence policy of peace, self-defence, and resolute and persistent support to the settlement of disputes and differences through peaceful measures in line with international law, and positive and active prevention and reduction of war risks with the principle of protecting the Fatherland early and from afar.

Vietnam implements a consistent policy of not joining any military alliance; not linking with any country against others; not allowing any foreign country to set up military bases or use Vietnam’s territories against others; and not using or threatening to use force in international relations, he said. This viewpoint received great applause by participants.

Colonel Thanh also underscored that non-traditional security challenges are deeply affecting security of the region and each country, threatening peace and stability of the region and the world.

As an active and responsible member of ASEAN, Vietnam's position is consistent with the common one of ASEAN expressed in the "ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific", adopted at the grouping’s 34th Summit, he stated.

Tickets for Vietnam-Philippines friendly match set to go on sale

Tickets for the upcoming friendly match between Vietnam and the Philippines will go on sale as of December 9, according to the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF).

Tickets will be sold to the public at VND200,000, VND300,000, and VND500,000 each.

Fans will be able to purchase tickets at the headquarters of the VFF from December 9, as well as from the Hang Day Stadium from December 12.

Vietnam are scheduled to play a friendly match against the Philippines at the Hang Day Stadium in Hanoi at 6 p.m. on December 14, with the fixture being the final test for Korean coach Park Hang-seo and the Vietnamese team before the start of the upcoming 2022 AFF Cup.

The regional football tournament is scheduled to take place from December 21 to January 16, 2023.

Int'l seminar shares experience in building safe campus

A seminar to share experience in building safe campus in universities was organised by the Centre for Studies and Applied Sciences in Gender, Family, Women and Adolescents (CSAGA), the UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) office in Vietnam in conjunction with Hanoi University of Science and Technology, in Hanoi on December 7. 

It aims to share experience in establishing and operating safe campus models at eight universities within the framework of a project on stopping sexual harassment and violence against women and lesbians funded by Bread for the World (BROT), and the “Safe Campus” programme funded by the UN Women. 

Vietnam joins Marrakesh Treaty to protect interests of visually impaired people

A document on Vietnam’s participation in the Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons Who Are Blind, Visually Impaired, or Otherwise Print Disabled has been handed over to Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) Daren Tang for legal copyrighting.

Addressing the presentation, Ambassador Le Thi Tuyet Mai, head of the Permanent Mission of Vietnam to the United Nations, WTO, and other international organisations in Geneva, said the country’s participation in the Marrakesh Treaty marks an important milestone in reasonably balancing the protection of copyrights and interests of persons who are blind, visually impaired, or otherwise print disabled.

The participation also aims to implement the Vietnamese State’s policy on supporting and creating conditions for the disabled in the country to practice the rights to equality and community integration in the best possible manner, she noted.

Congratulating Vietnam, WIPO Director General Daren Tang affirmed that WIPO will assist the libraries for those people to connect with the organisation’s ABC Global Book Service so as to contribute to and share digital books, supplement the collection, and supply the books for them in Vietnam.

Following the presentation, Mai had a meeting with WIPO Director General Daren Tang and Deputy Directors General Sylvie Forbin and Hasan Kleib, expressing thanks to the WIPO leaders for helping Vietnam carry out cooperation activities.

She asked WIPO to continue implementing joint activities between the two sides, including the enforcement of the Marrakesh Treaty that Vietnam has joined.

Fashion show features Vietnamese “ao dai”, Thai silk

A fashion show with the theme “Vietnamese 'Ao dai' meets Thai silk” took place in Bangkok on December 7.

The show, organised by Vietnam’s Embassy to Thailand, the Association of Thai Silk Promotion and the Association of Thai Culture and Promotion, came within the framework of the 3rd Thai Silk International Fashion Week that runs from December 6 to 12.

The event aims at promoting Thai silk and creates opportunities to strengthen cooperation and cultural exchanges between Thailand and other countries, especially in the fields of art, fashion, and textiles. More than 100 Thai and international designers participate in designing costumes with Thai silk. The event expects to attract designers from 60 countries and about 10,000 visitors.

WFP leader commends Vietnam on food security efforts

Executive Director of the World Food Programme (WFP) David Beasley has lauded Vietnam’s reform achievements, especially in reducing poverty and ensuring food security.

Vietnam has transformed from an aid recipient to a big exporter of rice and other agricultural products in the world, Beasley told Ambassador Duong Hai Hung, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the WFP, who came to present his credentials in Rome on December 7.

The WFP leader suggested Vietnam share its experience with and provide technical assistance for underdeveloped countries, as the world is facing huge food security challenges as a result of wars and climate change.

For his part, Hung praised the WFP’s role in the fight against poverty and coping with other emergencies, as well as its long-term support for agricultural building and development in poor nations, contributing to ensuring sustainable food security worldwide.

The ambassador thanked the WFP for its assistance to Vietnam in handling the serious food shortage in the Southeast Asian country in the 1980s, helping it emerge as a leading rice producer and exporter globally.

He called for WFP support in improving Vietnam’s national capacity for guaranteeing food security and developing livelihood of rural residents, especially in extreme weather and climate change response.

NA leader’s trip to Australia, New Zealand yield fruits: Official

The freshly-ended trip to Australia and New Zealand by National Assembly (NA) Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue helped strengthen cooperation between the legislative bodies of Vietnam and the two countries, contributing to promoting bilateral partnership in various fields as well as coordination at regional and international parliamentary forums, said Chairman of the NA Committee for External Relations Vu Hai Ha.

Ha said that during the top legislator’s visit to Australia, the two sides discussed various issues in the bilateral strategic partnership, from politics, diplomacy to defence, security, trade, investment, education-training, tourism and people-to-people exchange.

Particularly, the Vietnamese NA leader underlined that labour cooperation is a priority of Vietnam, stressing that Vietnam is willing to send holiday workers to Australia. Alongside, the two sides also agreed to promote cooperation in issues of global concern such as digital transformation, climate change and just energy transition, said Ha.

He said that Vietnam and Australia also shared common interest in peace, security and cooperation in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region, including the ASEAN and the Mekong sub-region.

Ha said that regarding parliamentary cooperation, the two sides signed a new cooperation agreement on the promotion of their ties in the new period after lifting up their ties from a comprehensive partnership to a strategic partnership, while affirming their commitments to working together towards a strategic comprehensive partnership.

NA Chairman Hue emphasised that political and diplomatic relationship is a foundation, while the trade and investment cooperation is a motivation, and the people-to-people contact is a catalyst for the promotion of the Vietnam-Australia relations to a new height in the time to come.

The two sides shared interest to discuss the contents of the bilateral relations on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the bilateral diplomatic ties in 2023.

Meanwhile, during his visit to New Zealand, the first by a Vietnamese NA leader to New Zealand after 18 years, Chairman Hue had various high-level activities, including talks with his counterpart, and a meeting with the Governor-General of New Zealand.

Vietnam is the only strategic partnership of New Zealand in Southeast Asia, he said, adding that the bilateral relations have been promoted strongly, especially in economy, trade and investment.

Leaders of the two sides shared the determination and wish to further bolster their partnership in trade and investment. Vietnam held two forums in education, and economic, trade and investment cooperation in the country. At the economic forum, NA Chairman Hue witnessed the exchange of an agreement between the two governments, which included Vietnam’s opening of market for New Zealand’s pumpkins and strawberries. Earlier during the New Zealand PM’s visit to Vietnam, New Zealand also announced its opening of door for Vietnamese pomelos and limes, said Ha.

He held that the opening of market for each other farm produce will help farmers of the two countries expand their production, contributing to increasing two-way trade.

Regarding the cooperation potential between Vietnam and Australia and New Zealand, Ha said that after a new cooperation between the parliaments of Vietnam and Australia was signed with new and in-depth contents, the external relations agencies of the two sides will work together to specify the deal, while sharing experience in law and institution building regarding issues of global concern such as climate change, sustainable development, digital transformation and just energy transition.

For New Zealand, Vietnam hopes to sign a cooperation agreement between the two parliaments to create a legal framework for the promotion and deepening of their parliamentary partnership, contributing to strengthening political trust and mutual understanding and optimising the bilateral strategic partnership, Ha said.
Australia and New Zealand are both important strategic partners of Vietnam in the South Pacific. The two countries have showed strong attachment to Southeast Asia as well as Asia and the Pacific, and sharing a close political, diplomatic, foreign relations, defence, security, trade and investment relations with countries in the region.

Both countries highly value the position and role of Vietnam in the current world situation. Australia and New Zealand are all important members of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).

Defence Minister holds talks with visiting Czech counterpart

Minister of National Defence Phan Van Giang on December 7 held talks with his Czech counterpart Jana Cernochova who is leading a delegation on an official visit to Vietnam from December 5-8. 

During the talks, held after an official welcome ceremony for the Czech minister, Minister Giang said the long-lasting friendship between the two countries is a favourable prerequisite for their cooperation, adding that bilateral ties in politics, education-training, economy and trade have been maintained as the two countries have re-opened after the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The two sides reviewed the implementation of the MoU on defence cooperation signed in 2012, and agreed that the establishment of the Czech Defence Attaché office in Vietnam in August 2020 is an important milestone in the defence cooperation between the two countries, contributing to promoting mutual understanding and trust, and facilitating cooperation between the two defence ministries in training, air defence - air force, scientific research, and defence industry.

Vietnam highly valued the active role of the Czech Republic as the rotating Presidency of the European Union (EU) as well as its support for the Vietnam-EU cooperation framework, Giang said, expressing the belief that the Vietnam – Czech relationship will significantly contribute to the ASEAN-EU Strategic Partnership as well as cooperation mechanisms led by ASEAN.

The two sides agreed to further promote defence ties through the exchange of all-level delegations and cooperation in human resources training; and continue to support each other in multilateral cooperation mechanisms. 

Public security forces urged to play more active role in anti-corruption

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong on December 7 asked the Central Public Security Party Committee and the public security forces to play a more active role in the fight against corruption and other negative phenomena.

Speaking at a conference of the committee in Hanoi, the leader, who is also a member of the Standing Board of the committee, asked them to continue keeping a close watch on the domestic, regional and international situation, and stay prepared for any situation.

He stressed the need to build the public security forces with firm political will and absolutely faithful to the country, the Party, the State, people and socialism, saying each officer and soldier should regularly study and sharpen their skills and fighting will.

The Party chief urged the Central Public Security Party Committee to carry forward its role of setting examples and attaches more importance to Party building, considering this a central, key task in 2023 and the following years.

The committee should promote its core role in directing the security and order work, contributing to effectively implementing resolutions adopted by the Party Central Committee relating to socio-economic development and ensuring national defence and security by 2030 with a vision towards 2045 for all six regions across the country, he continued.

WB experts inspect Can Tho city development project

A working delegation led by World Bank Managing Director of Development Policy and Partnerships Mari Pangestu paid a fact-finding trip to the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho on December 7 to check on the Can Tho City Development and Resilience Project.

According to the city’s ODA project management board, the project costs over 9.1 trillion VND (395.6 million USD) and is scheduled for completion in June 2024, aiming to protect the city centre (Ninh Kieu and Binh Thuy districts) from the risk of flooding while improving connectivity with newly developed urban areas and key traffic infrastructure.

Several priority areas of the project have already been put into use.

As of November 28, 53.33% of official development assistance earmarked for the year had been disbursed.

Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Van Hong asked the board, Ninh Kieu district, departments and agencies to complete site clearance before December 31, and no later than March 2023 for the recent two new bidding packages.

The board suggested WB experts help with procedures related to bidding packages under the project, and assist the city in accessing new ODA-funding in the fields of climate change response, clean water supply and modern urban management in line with the Politburo’s Resolution on building and developing Can Tho to 2030 with a vision to 2045.

Charity programme brings smiles back to 1,200 children with maxillofacial deformities

The National Children's Hospital cooperated with experts from the Noordhoff Craniofacial Foundation (NCF) in Taiwan (China) to provide free examinations and surgeries for children with complicated maxillofacial deformities from December 4 to December 7.

During the programme, Vietnamese and Taiwanese doctors provided examinations to 60 children and 25 successful surgeries for complicated maxillofacial deformities.

Common deformities include cleft palate surgery, lip and nose correction, arch bone grafting, and large perforation after cleft palate surgery, especially double jaw bone surgery for children with deformed faces and misaligned bites.

Doctor Nguyen Thi Ngoc Lan, deputy head of the Faculty of Odonto-Stomatology, National Children's Hospital, said that about 1,200 children have undergone surgery for maxillofacial deformities within the framework of the cooperation programme between the hospital and NCF since 2018.

Vietnam claims three golds at International Circus Festival 2022

The International Circus Festival 2022 awarded three gold, eight silver, and three bronze medals, as well as certificates of merit to participating troupes, at the closing ceremony held in Hanoi on December 7.

Vietnamese artists from the Vietnam Circus Federation, Vietnam Circus Arts and Intermediate School, and the Phuong Nam Art Theater won the three gold medals for the country.

The Dec. 2-7 event was jointly arranged by the Performing Arts Department, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Hanoi’s Department of Culture and Sports, the Vietnam Stage Artists’ Association, the Vietnam Circus Federation, and other relevant organisations.

The festival gave a platform for 12 arts troupes from 20 countries and territories to showcase their skills, including those from China, Japan, the UK, Germany, France, the United States, Cuba, and Vietnam as the host nation.

The next festival is scheduled to take place in 2025.

Nhổn - Hà Nội Station metro line has smooth trial runs: Management board

The elevated section of Nhổn - Hà Nội Station metro line has started its test runs and is planned to begin operating at the end of this year. 

The line attained total capacity on the first day of the trial at the beginning of this week and the system runs smoothly, Hà Nội Metropolitan Railway Management Board (MRB) said after the trials.

According to the plan, the second phase of tests will start immediately after RAMS (Reliability, Availability, Maintainability, Safety) analysis is completed, with different scenarios that hinder train operations such as power failure or fire. 

During the first trial phase for RAMS analysis, the metro line will run on two schedules: four trains for the weekend schedule and eight for the weekday schedule at maximum, from 9am to 7pm. 

Trains will conduct round trips from Nhổn depot to S8 Station at Hanoi University of Transport and Communications. 

A round trip will take approximately 32 minutes. 

The line performance is measured through the Automatic Train Supervision system and reported at the operators’ 7pm daily meeting. 

In the case where the consecutive five-day runs did not meet the performance target (below 98 per cent), the trial could last up to six weeks until requirements are met. 

Construction of Nhổn - Hà Nội Station metro line officially started in 2010. Challenges during the process have led to years of delays, investment increases, contract adjustments and complaints. 

Some of the reasons include land clearance issues, contractors’ capacity and coordination between the consulting agencies, investors and city departments. 

Other obstacles are differences between the FIDIC (The International Federation of Consulting Engineers) contract and Vietnamese laws, regulations of transferring ODA (official development assistance) in Việt Nam and of sponsors, standards and pricing on materials and equipment, as well as pandemic-induced lockdown. 

More need to be done to promote the inclusion of persons with disabilities in local governance: UNDP study

Persons with disabilities (PWDs) have a low level of engagement in social organisations and elections at the grassroots level; disparity in gender, form and degree of disabilities exists.

These are some of the key findings of the "Assessment of disability inclusion in local governance in 2022" released on Wednesday.

With support from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Việt Nam and the Mekong Development Research Institute (MDRI) have carried out this study to provide evidence for accelerating the achievement of disability inclusion, ensuring the right of people with disabilities to live in dignity and independently. 

To learn about the status of disability inclusion in local governance, the study surveyed over 1,600 PWDs, covering all forms of disabilities from various localities across the country. This is a pilot activity in preparation for expanding the research scope in the following years. 

Patrick Haverman, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in Việt Nam, said: "The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development seeks to benefit all people and commits to leave no one behind by reaching out to all people in need and deprivation. To fulfill this pledge, we need more granular data to understand the needs and experiences of the most marginalised in society, including persons with disabilities.

According to the study, there are still significant impediments to public administrative procedures for PWDs, particularly in the areas of disability certification and compensation. In addition, hospitals and public transportation require significant improvements to be more accessible to people with disabilities. Persons with sensory, cognitive, mental and psychiatric impairments continue to experience significant challenges in social engagement, administrative procedures, and public services.

The degree of engagement of PWDs at the grassroots level is still low, just 34.4 per cent of respondents participate in associations/groups/social organisations; there is a gender and disability-form disparity. The percentage of respondents who did not attend in the most recent elections for People's Councils and National Assembly representatives remains relatively high, at 47.1 per cent. The most significant hindrance to PWDs from participating in elections are the ability to move to the polling place (27.7 per cent) and access to information (24.3 per cent). Persons with sensory, cognitive, mental and psychiatric impairments continue to confront enormous barriers to information access.

In terms of public administrative procedures, 21 per cent of respondents, particularly those with sensory impairments, reported difficulties in carrying out the process. Nearly one fifth of respondents haven’t got a disability certificate, and the procedure of issuing/revoking disability certificates remains unclear in some circumstances. Furthermore, 86.1 per cent of interviewees believe that disability compensation is insufficient to cover PWD's basic living needs. More than half of respondents do not have their names in their family's land use right certificates, indicating a low number of PWDs who practice property ownership.

Public services and facilities are still inaccessible to many PWDs, only one-third of interviewees say local public transportation is easy to use. PWDs' assessment of the district-level hospital system is pretty high. Nevertheless, the infrastructure needs improving to be more PwD-friendly (eg. installation of elevators, ramps, and standard toilets for wheelchair users). Following the COVID-19 pandemic, nearly 40 per cent of respondents are interested in mental health treatments.

Source: VNA/SGT/VNS/VOV/Dtinews/SGGP/VGP/Hanoitimes