Court reduces penalty on former central bank deputy governor

Former Deputy Governor of the State Bank of Vietnam Dang Thanh Binh at the court 

The high-level court in Ho Chi Minh City on December 10 reduced sentences for former Deputy Governor of the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) Dang Thanh Binh and two other defendants involved in the losses of over 15 trillion VND (nearly 645.8 million USD) at the Vietnam Construction Bank (VNCB).

At the appeal trial, beginning on December 5, the court accepted part of the appeals filed by Binh, Pham The Tuan (former deputy head of the SBV’s supervision group), and Ngo Van Thanh (former member of the supervision group).

It rejected the appeals of Ha Tan Phuoc (former head of the SBV’s supervision group and former Deputy Director of the SBV branch in Long An province), and Le Van Thanh (former Chief Inspector of the SBV branch in Long An).

All the five defendants were found guilty of lacking responsibility, causing serious consequences.

According to the first-instance trial’s verdict last July, Binh was assigned to assist the SBV Governor in instructing the restructuring of six ailing banks, including Dai Tin Bank (the predecessor of VNCB). He knew that Pham Cong Danh, who later became chairman of the Board of Directors of VNCB, and his accomplices transferred shares at Dai Tin Bank before they were allowed to join the restructuring.

The appeal court said the previous trials on Danh and his accomplices showed that the group of investors led by Danh didn’t have financial capacity to take part in the restructuring. By using tricks, they used the money disbursed for Dai Tinh Bank’s loans to prove their financial capacity.

Binh and other defendants’ insufficient supervision and lax direction in ending violations allowed Danh and his accomplices to commit violations and lead to serious consequences – the losses of 15 trillion VND at VNCB.

The court upheld the defendants’ offence of “lacking responsibility, causing serious consequences”.

It revised the penalties for Dang Thanh Binh from three years to a suspended three-year sentence with five years’ probation, Pham The Tuan from one year to a suspended one-year sentence with two years’ probation, and Ngo Van Thanh from one and a half years to one year.

The respective two-year and two-and-a-half year imprisonment for Ha Tan Phuoc and Le Van Thanh were upheld. 

Outstanding overseas Vietnamese in Japan honoured

The Vietnamese Embassy in Japan held a ceremony on December 10 to honour Chairman of the Overseas Vietnamese Association in Japan Tran Ngoc Phuc and Professor Tran Van Tho who had received the host country’s noble awards.

Specifically, in May this year, Professor Tho, who has been a member of Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc’s Economic Advisory Group since 2017 and a professor of economics at Waseda University in Tokyo since 2000, was awarded the Japanese Emperor’s Order of the Sacred Treasure: Gold Rays, in recognition of his contributions to developing economic relations between Japan and Vietnam.

Meanwhile, Phuc received the Japanese Government’s Order of the Rising Sun: Silver Rays in November, thanks to his contributions to Japan’s development as well as the relations between Japan Vietnam.

Addressing the ceremony, Vietnamese Ambassador Vu Hong Nam said that Vietnam and Japan are celebrating the 45th anniversary of their diplomatic ties this year. The year also witnesses the success of the Vietnamese community in Japan, with two Vietnamese nationals receiving the country’s noble awards.

Leader of the Komeito Party of Japan Natsuo Yamaguchi congratulated the successes of the Vietnamese community in Japan and expressed his delight at fine development in the bilateral relations

Phuc appreciated the attention the Vietnamese Embassy has paid to the Vietnamese community in Japan. 

Strong development in bilateral ties and the care of the embassy will encourage many Vietnamese in Japan to exert their efforts to contribute to Japan as well as the two countries’ relations, he said.

Preparations stepped up for North-South expressway project

The Ministry of Transport (MoT) has approved plans to select contractors for 11 sub-projects of the North-South expressway project, according to the ministry. 

The ministry reported at a meeting in Hanoi on December 11 that it has instructed the project’s management board to promptly complete bidding documents. 

Regarding land clearance for the construction of the eastern section of the project, the MoT has sent documents to localities which the sub-projects run through to inform them about the estimated area for the construction. 

Seven out of 11 land clearance councils have been established to serve the sub-projects, it added. 

Concluding the working session, Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung highlighted the significance of the North-South expressway project to national socio-economic development. 

Once operational, the project will help reduce travelling time and costs as it forms an uninterrupted transport network, while contributing to tourism and trade development in those localities, he said. 

It will also connect major cities, economic centres, and zones with seaports, international airports, industrial parks, and coastal economic areas, the official added. 

The Deputy PM emphasised the need to swiftly complete the project’s technical designs and land clearance as scheduled. 

He asked the MoT to propose specific measures to ensure the supply of construction materials for the project and report them to the Government and the Prime Minister for approval. 

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Construction was asked to review and adjust the cost of project management and consultation in January 2019 in line with legal regulations. 

The North-South Expressway has a total length of over 2,100km, traversing 32 provinces and cities. The project is divided into three phases.

During 2017-2020, more than 650km of the road running through 13 provinces and cities will be built. There are 11 sub-projects in this period.

From 2021-2025, the sections of Bai Vot (Ha Tinh province)-Cam Lo (Quang Tri province) and Quang Ngai province-Nha Trang (Khanh Hoa province) will be constructed. Meanwhile, the section from La Son (Thua Thien-Hue province) to Tuy Loan (Da Nang city) will be upgraded from two lanes to four lanes.

The section from Can Tho city to Ca Mau city of Ca Mau province will be built and put into operation after 2025.

Total investment for the project during 2017-2020 will be 118.7 trillion VND (5.2 billion USD), including 55 trillion VND (2.4 billion USD) from the Government and the remainder raised from investors through the public-private partnership model. 

Vietnam, China share experience in promoting traditional stage art

At the opening of an exhibition featuring China’s renowned Peking opera master Mei Lanfang 

Vietnamese and Chinese experts and artists in traditional stage art met at a conference in Hanoi on December 11 to share experience and seek ways to promote the art, as well as optimising the role of theatrical activities in deepening mutual understanding.

People’s Artist Le Tien Tho, Chairman of Vietnam Stage Artists’ Association said that the activity contributes to fostering the connectivity of theatre artists of the two neighbouring countries, giving a chance for them to exchange ideas on how to develop the traditional art in a modern context.

Participants at the conference evaluated the situation of stage art in the current period, support policies for artists, the training of young artists, and measures to popularise the art amidst the process of international integration.

Reviewing the methods behind traditional Vietnamese stage art, playwright Le Quy Hien said that Vietnamese theater has seen the inheritance of traditional art and the absorbance of modern theatre techniques.

Despite difficulties and challenges, Vietnamese theatrical artists have always been proud of the country’s stage art, he said.

Yan Baoquan from China’s Shaanxi University said that in recent decades, the traditional stage art of China has entered a struggling period. He said the restoration and preservation of traditional heritage arts has received much attention from the Communist Party of China and the Chinese Government.

According to Vietnamese theatre critic and theorist Assistant Professor Tat Thang, Chinese theatre has the highest number of genres in the world, with more than 300 types

Dr. Tran Thi Minh Thu from the Vietnam National Institute of Culture and Art Studies said that Vietnamese and Chinese stage arts have experienced four waves of interferences, but the Vietnamese art has still maintained its identity.

The conference was part of the Vietnam-China traditional art exchange that is running from December 11-14 in Hanoi. Within the programme, there will be an exhibition featuring China’s renowned Peking opera master Mei Lanfang and both Vietnamese and Chinese theatrical performances. 

Show helps realise kids' dreams

Vietnam has adapted and begun airing its own version of “The Wishing Tree” show which was originally created by Dutch Talpa Media.

The Wishing Tree is a feel-good family show in which big wishes of small children come true. The wishes are not for themselves but for people who, in their eyes, really deserve or need it.

In each episode, a Wishing Tree is built in a selected school where students aged 6 to 12 can write their wishes on pieces of paper and hang them on the tree. Up to extraordinary wishes are picked and turned into reality.

“The Wishing Tree” which was originally created by Dutch Talpa Media in 2015. Many other countries have adapted and began airing their own versions, including Spain, Belgium, Germany, Brazil, and the US. It premiered in Vietnam in early December 2018.

Vietnam participates in charity bazaar in Ukraine

Vietnam’s traditional handicraft products and food were introduced to visitors at the 26th International Charity Bazaar recently held in Kiev, Ukraine.

The event is held annually by the International Women’s Club of Kiev to raise funds for disadvantaged elderly, women and children in the host nation. It also offers a chance for diplomatic delegations in Kiev to promote cultural exchanges. 

This year’s event attracted the participation of representatives from 44 foreign embassies and international organisations based in Ukraine.

The Vietnamese Embassy in Ukraine has participated in the event for years to support the needy in the host country. 

The charity fair is also a great occasion for the embassy to popularize the image of Vietnamese people and culture to international friends, expanding exchanges and developing economic-trade and tourism relations with other countries.

The International Women’s Club of Kiev was set up in 1992 by a group of women from different nations living in Ukraine. To date, the non-governmental organisation has 250 members who are officials at diplomatic representative offices, spouses of diplomats, and representatives from cultural organisations and foreign enterprises, from 59 countries over the world. Money raised through the bazaars will be used for charity purposes.

Kien Giang to offer vocational training to 10,800 labourers

Ethnic Khmer labourers in Kien Giang province use grey sedge to make handicraft products.

The Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang will provide vocational training for more than 10,800 labourers living in rural areas in the 2019-2020 period.

With the training, the rate of the province’s trained labourers will reach 67 percent by 2020 compared to 48 percent this year. The province aims to have more than 80 percent of trainees with jobs related to their vocational skills.

The province’s four key economic sub-regions will provide vocational training according to the demands of each sub-region, said the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

The province’s Long Xuyen Quadrangle sub-region will focus on providing vocational training in aquaculture, cultivation, animal husbandry, fishing, seafood processing and boat engine repair.  

The province’s western sub-region near the Hau River will provide vocational training in seafood processing and other fields to meet recruitment demand for Thanh Loc and Vinh Hoa Hung industrial parks and Tac Cau fishing port.

The sub-region will also focus on vocational training for rural labourers in fresh water aquaculture, animal and poultry husbandry, and fruit and high quality rice cultivation.

The U Minh Thuong sub-region will provide vocational training related to fish ports and post fishing logistics, rice-rotation cultivation models, and other aquatic species in rice fields, brackish-water and saltwater aquaculture, and animal husbandry.

Vocational training in island and coastal areas will focus on saltwater aquaculture, plant cultivation, animal husbandry, and training of ship captains, ship engine captains, fishermen and sailors.  

Mai An Nhin, Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee, said for vocational training in rural areas to be effective, the province will provide more consultations on vocational training and jobs.

Vocational trainees will have jobs in industrial parks and enterprises, or will start their own agricultural production, he said.

The province will also build vocational training curricula suited to the demand of each locality, invest in more equipment used for vocational training and call on investors to join hands.

It will also develop zoned industrial parks, industrial park clusters and its four key economic sub-regions, which will offer jobs for vocational trainees, he said.

The province’s vocational training programmes have increased incomes for rural labourers in recent years.

In An Minh district, a poor district in the province, short-term vocational skill training courses have attracted many labourers and helped them find jobs.

The district has opened 16 short-term vocational training courses in the agricultural and non-agricultural sectors this year. More than 75 percent of the trainees in the courses have found jobs, mostly in their localities, according to the district’s People’s Committee.

Kien Giang has also organised many efficient agricultural production models for rural labourers. They include breeding marble goby, turtles and snakes in An Minh District, breeding fish in floating cages in Kien Hai and Kien Luong districts, and planting pepper and high quality rice in Kien Luong district.

Labourers who plant pepper or high quality rice in Kien Luong district can earn an average income of 3–5 million VND (128-213 USD) a month.

Quang Nam develops value chain of acacia trees

The south central province of Quang Nam is developing a value chain for acacia trees at international standards under a project supported by the Green Annamites of the US Agency for International Development (USAID).

The project was launched in the province’s Hiep Duc district on December 11 to raise incomes for locals, protect the ecological environment and increase the absorption of carbon dioxide.

It will be carried out by Hiep Thuan agricultural cooperative for 22 months.

The total cost of the project is more than 6 billion VND (256,110 USD), including 3.1 billion VND sponsored by the USAID Green Annamites and the remaining from the local corresponding capital.

Chairman of the board of directors and Director of Hiep Thuan agricultural cooperative Nguyen Huu Duong said the project will provide technical training for locals on sustainable forest management according to the standards of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).

The project will also upgrade a plant nursery at Hiep Thuan agricultural cooperative to 5,000 square metres and prepare dossiers to grant FSC certification to 430 hectares of acacia forest.

It will plant 100 hectares of new acacia and 1,000 hectares of large timber forest, upgrade equipment and expand sawmills and warehouses at Hiep Thuan cooperative.

The project will help farmers grow medicinal plants in forest to increase economic efficiency.

Hiep Thuan agricultural cooperative manages 715 hectares of forest, including 270 hectares of acacia forest granted with FSC certification.

Deputy Director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hung said FSC certification is important in developing large timber forests because it helps determine the legal origin of wood.

Quang Nam now has 2,300 hectares of large timber forest with FSC certification. It is striving to increase this figure to 6,000 hectares by 2020 and 16,000 hectares by 2025.

Flood relief work required in central region

Downpour causes flooding in Hai Chau district, Da Nang city. 

The Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control has ordered localities in the central region to focus on repairing the damage caused by floods that hit the area last week.

They were told to mobilise resources to look for missing people, stabilise local livelihoods and clear traffic blockages.

Suggesting the localities to stay vigilant in response to natural disasters, the committee said that they should monitor weather developments to give timely warning to authorities at all levels and local people. 

They were advised to be ready to relocate households living in calamity-prone areas to safer ground. 

In addition, measures should be put in place to protect flood prevention works and control water discharged from hydro-power reservoirs.

Heavy rains over the weekend caused flooding across the central region with nine people reported dead and missing as of December 11.

The downpour affected 23,126 houses and inundated nearly 7,000 hectares of crops and 278.2 hectares of aquaculture farming. Meanwhile, more than 64.6 kilometres of local roads and more than 2 kilometres of dykes sustained damage.

Thousands of students were excused from school to ensure their safety.

Da Nang’s tourism affected by heavy rains

The central city of Da Nang is in high season for foreign tourists. However, heavy rains in recent days have caused difficulties for both tourists and tourism activities in the city.

Ngu Hanh Son or Mable Mountains has always been a must-see tourist destination for foreign holidaymakers coming to Da Nang. However, with recent development of torrential rains and serious flooding, management board of the site has ceased any visiting activities to ensure safety for tourists.

Meanwhile, My Khe beach turns into a horror show with rubbish drift into the shore after the storm. The tourism hotspot now requires immediate clean-up activities to restore the beauty of the site.

Tourism companies have to change courses and accommodation providers such as hotels are now working on full speed to serve remaining tourists who are not able to go on tours due to bad weather.

Heavy rains are expected to hit Da Nang in few more days, affecting the lives of local residents, as well as the tourism sector of Da Nang. Necessary protective measures have been deployed to ensure tourists’ safety.

Southern provinces take steps to control avian flu outbreak

Spraying antiseptic at poultry breeding farms prevents possible disease outbreaks 

Authorities in southern provinces and cities are taking necessary measures to prevent diseases in poultry and transmission to humans.

The weather in the south is now in a transition period, which is creating favourable conditions for the development of diseases if effective measures are not taken.

From now until the end of the year, the Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang will strengthen preventive measures to prevent A/H5N1 avian influenza and avoid new outbreaks next year.

The province’s Sub-department of Animal Husbandry and Health has coordinated with localities to provide H5N1 avian flu vaccines to its 15 local districts and cities, especially in poultry farming areas and breeding grounds.

At the same time, the sub-department is also cleaning and disinfecting the environment in hatcheries, breeding facilities, slaughterhouses, and trade and transport of poultry.

It is also raising awareness among poultry breeders and the public about the risk of avian influenza A/H5N1.

Local authorities have coordinated with agencies to protect poultry flock and ensure hygiene and food safety for consumers, especially for the Christmas, New Year and Tet (Lunar New Year) holidays.

The provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has directed districts, communes and wards to promptly detect and handle new outbreaks and prevent the spread of disease.

Around the end of October, Hon Dat district’s animal husbandry division recorded three H5N1 outbreaks in Binh Son commune and Soc Son town.

About 750 chickens at three breeding households were culled. All samples taken from the outbreaks tested positive for avian H5N1.

The district’s People’s Committee directed branches and localities to step up avian-flu prevention measures and stamp out outbreaks of the disease, destroying chickens infected with A/H5N1, and disinfecting poultry areas, to avoid a large-scale outbreak.

Meanwhile, the central province of Binh Thuan has taken measures to prevent and combat diseases as well as minimise outbreaks in cattle and poultry until the end of the year.

Veterinary services have disseminated information in the community about the need for preventive measures and the effects of avian influenza.

Local livestock producers have been asked to strengthen the implementation of the “Five-No’s”: do not eat free-range poultry; do not trade in dead poultry; do not eat sick or dead poultry; do not hide epidemics; and do not throw away infected poultry in the environment.

People should immediately report to local officials if they have detected poultry that is sick or dead for an unknown reason.

The provincial Sub-Department of Animal Husbandry and Health plans to coordinate with localities to conduct regular inspections of hygienic conditions at poultry farming households and large-scale livestock farms.

Checkpoints will be set up to strictly handle all cases of illegal transport, trading and slaughtering of poultry illegally imported without a quarantine certificate.

More than 14 million doses of vaccines against bird flu for poultry and over 177,000 doses of vaccines for cattle have been given across the province.

The department has coordinated with localities to organise the second stage of an action month on hygiene and environmental disinfection with more than 1,900 litres of antiseptic used to reduce pathogens in the environment.

Thanks to preventive measures, no outbreak of dangerous diseases has been recorded in the province since the beginning of the year.

However, some common infectious diseases such as hemorrhoids, cholera and pneumonia have occurred, scattered through Ham Tan and Ham Thuan Bac districts and Phan Thiet city.

Lao Cai’s 2018 budget collection hits over 8 trillion VND

Budget collection of the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai in 2018 is estimated at over 8 trillion VND (nearly 342.49 million USD), surpassing the assigned target by 41.7 percent and up 6.3 percent against the previous year, the provincial People’s Committee reported on December 11.

The province’s domestic collection reached 5.6 trillion VND (nearly 239.60 million USD), equivalent to 100 percent of the estimate and representing a year-on-year increase of 8.3 percent. 

Meanwhile, import-export activities contributed 2 trillion VND (over 85.5 million USD) to the local budget, up 7.2 percent year-on-year.

Export-import taxes collected at the Lao Cai border gate as of December 10 hit 1.58 trillion VND, up 19.6 percent. The locality’s total export of agricultural products reached 541.7 million USD, rising 259.3 percent. 

Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Huu The, Lao Cai has accomplished nearly all socio-economic development goals set for the year. 

Its GRDP expanded 10.23 percent in 2018, with agro-forestry-aquaculture recording a growth of 5 percent; industry-construction, up 14.74 percent; and service, up 7.52 percent. 

The local economic structure has changed positively, with agro-forestry-aquaculture accounting for only 13.07 percent; industry-construction, 44.29 percent; and services, 42.64 percent. Per capita income reached 60 million VND per year, 7.8 million VND higher than that in 2017. 

The results were attributed to the province’s efforts to promote administrative reform, improve the quality of human resources, and fully tap advantages of transport, border economy, industry and tourism. 

Lao Cai has set to collect 9 trillion VND for the state budget in 2019, up 12.5 percent compared to 2018.

Vietnam Farmers’ Union convenes seventh Congress

Overview of seventh Congress of the Vietnam Farmers’ Union 

The Vietnam Farmers’ Union (VFU) convened its seventh Congress in Hanoi on December 11, drawing 999 delegates representing more than 10 million farmers across the nation.

In his opening remarks, Chairman of the VFU Central Committee Thao Xuan Sung said that the association is entering a new stage of development in the context of industrialisation and modernisation and international integration.

The Fourth Industrial Revolution and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) are creating both opportunities and challenges for Vietnam’s agriculture, farmers and rural areas, Sung said.

Those opportunities and challenges require the VFU to continue reforming its operation methods towards combining dissemination work with intensifying the provision of consultancy, support and vocational training for farmers.

The association will participate in social criticism and supervision over the implementation of the Party and State’s policies, while carrying out socio-economic and cultural development projects and programmes in rural areas effectively, he added.

On the first working day, the congress elected a 25-strong Presidium and a five-strong Secretariat, discussed and approved its working agenda and statutes, and adopted election regulations.

The three-day seventh congress is expected set forth 14 criteria on farmers’ emulation movement during 2018-2023. The popularisation of the Party and State’s policies and regulations, as well as the VFU’s resolution for all farmers, is the important target. The VFU also hopes to have at least 60 percent of its members with Internet access, 100 percent of the union’s officers receiving training in agricultural cultivation techniques, and all of the VFU’s chapters organising consulting activities and vocational training for local farmers.

During 2013-2018, the union admitted nearly 2.2 million members, raising the total membership to 10.2 million people. Some 130,000 training courses and conferences were organised, and over 14,000 production models which applied advanced technologies were successfully transferred to the farming community.

Kien Giang announces list of violating fishing vessels

The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of the southern province of Kien Giang has announced the list of 25 fishing vessels and owners violating the efforts to fight illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing (IUU) as required by the European Commission. 

Such vessels are mostly in Rach Gia city and the districts of Chau Thanh, Kien Hai and Phu Quoc. 

Realising the Prime Minister’s directions on fighting IUU, the province has taken synchronous measures. The Kien Giang Radio & Television built a column “Fishing in Vietnam’s exclusive waters”, a live dialogue “Preventing, mitigating and eliminating IUU” and many news items themed “Kien Giang raises public awareness of preventing fishermen from fishing in foreign waters”.

Kien Giang newspaper and 15 radio and television stations of cities and districts popularised the Prime Minister’s Dispatch No.732/CD-TTg and Directive No.45/CT-TTg on dealing with IUU warning. 

The province offered training courses to cultural and television officers on raising public awareness of the dispatch and directive, the Fishery Law 2017, guidelines on writing itinerary, and regulations on dealing with administrative violations. It also issued over 7,000 leaflets to make it easier to identify violated vessels. 

The local competent agencies also inspected 1,132 fishing vessels with 12,452 members and issued thousands of leaflets to captains and crew. 

As a result, nearly 100 administrative violation cases were dealt with while over 120 vessels were found to violate regulations on writing itinerary and marking fishing boats.

Circus artists show off talent at national competition

A performance at the national circus talent competition. 

Some 67 circus artists showed off their talent in a national circus contest which wrapped up in Hanoi on December 10.

The national circus talent competition was co-held by the Department of Performing Arts under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Vietnam Theatre Artist Association, and the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports.  It took place the last time 12 years ago.

After 12 years, circus artists across the country gathered again to compete in this competition, said People’s Artist Luu Van Phuc, head of the jury. The participating artists are at a young age and possess great skills which reflect their hard work and training, he added.

Among 24 performances, three were awarded with the first prizes, including those by the Vietnam Circus Federation, the Vietnam Circus Arts and Vaudeville Secondary School, and the Phuong Nam Arts Theatre.

The organisers also presented nine second prizes as well as the “Best Director” and “Best Coach”, among others.

Vietnam, India seek ways to promote cultural communication

At the conference 

The Embassy of Vietnam in India held a conference on cultural communication between the two countries in New Delhi on December 10.

The event was part of bilateral cultural diplomatic activities with the participation of Vietnamese journalists and folk artists as well as representatives from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication.

At the conference, delegates highlighted the sound traditional friendship between Vietnam and India. 

They agreed that communication plays a significant role in introducing, promoting and connecting the cultures of Vietnam and India.

Associate Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thanh Loi, member of the executive board of the Vietnam Journalists Association and editor-in-chief of the journalists magazine, said through the press channel, Vietnam has introduced its unique culture to international friends.

The organisation of conferences and academic exchanges creates a good opportunity for the country to promote its image to the world, including India, he added.

Director of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication K G Suresh expressed his admiration for the Vietnamese people’s historical tradition against foreign aggressors and national construction and protection.

He underlined the crucial role of communication in increasing mutual understanding between the Vietnamese and Indian people.

On the occasion, the embassy held an art programme re-enacting Vietnam’s traditional religious practice of worshipping mother goddesses which was recognised by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage of humanity in 2016.

Thai Nguyen hosts “Border spring-Island Tet 2019” programme

A painting of a student in Thai Nguyen which will be sent to soldiers in border and island areas (Photo: Facebook of the youth club for sea and islands)

A programme entitled “Border spring-Island Tet 2019” was held in the northern province of Thai Nguyen on December 10, drawing over 1,300 participants, including lecturers, students and young people.

The event was co-organised by the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union (HCYU) of Thai Nguyen province, the youth club for sea and islands under the HCYU Central Committee, the High Command of the Vietnam People’s Navy and the Vietnam Youth Museum.

The participants were updated on the country’s borderlines, sea and islands, thus raising awareness of their significance in national building and safeguarding.

A photo exhibition highlighting the Vietnamese youth’s participation in protecting the country’s sovereignty was held as part of the event.

On the occasion, the organisers presented gifts to four families of officers and soldiers who are working in border and island areas and six disadvantaged students in the province. 

Organisations and individuals in the province also donated gifts to support soldiers in border and island areas as the traditional Lunar New Year (Tet) is coming.

Tennis tourney connects Vietnamese community in Russia

Nearly 50 Vietnamese people living in different cities of Russia participated in a winter tennis tournament held by the Vietnam Tennis Association in Russian Federation (VITAR) in Moscow from December 6-9.

Competing for six sets of cups, participating athletes entertained audiences with fierce and competitive matches.

The annual event aims to enhance solidarity among the Vietnamese community in Russia.

On this occasion, VITAR organised a congress, during which a new 15-strong executive board for the 2018-2021 tenure was chosen, with Phan Tuan Khanh re-elected as its president.

Khanh said that VITAR has served as a bridge connecting Vietnamese people in Europe, as the association’s open tournaments have attracted the participation of athletes from not only Russia, but also other European nations.

Int'l confab looks to build plan on marine plastic waste management

Canadian Ambassador to Vietnam Deborah Paul speaks at the workshop. (Photo: baotainguyenmoitruong.vn)

The first international consultation workshop on building a national action plan on marine plastic debris management was jointly held in Hanoi on December 10 by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the Canadian Embassy in Vietnam.

The event is part of the activities to mark 45th anniversary of the Vietnam-Canada diplomatic relations (1973-2018).

In his opening remark, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Hong Ha affirmed that protecting and restoring the marine eco-system have been an ultimate goal in the marine economic development strategy for 2030 with a vision to 2045.

Developing an action plan to control marine plastic debris is to realise Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc’s initiative to form a global cooperation mechanism for reducing plastic wastes towards oceans free of plastic debris at the expanded Group of Seven (G7) Summit held in Canada in June this year, he added.

Ha suggested Vietnam host the ASEAN ministerial meeting under the theme of building ASEAN community free of marine plastic debris.

Canadian Ambassador to Vietnam Deborah Paul said that her country has long-lasting collaboration with Vietnam in addressing environmental issues.

Some 8 million tonnes of plastic debris are discharged into the oceans each year, equal to the dumping of a truckload of plastic every minute, she said, adding that plastic waste, including microplastics, is threatening the health of the oceans, rivers and the mankind.

Around 90 percent of plastic products have fossil fuels in their ingredient, and recycling one tonne of plastic helps reduce two tonnes of carbon dioxide emission into the atmosphere, she added.

Thanks to the programme initiated by the Canadian Embassy in Vietnam, 58 embassies and international organisations have signed a Code of Conduct on Combating Plastic Pollution, and committed to reducing single-use plastic product, the diplomat stressed, expressing her delight as the initiative has been welcomed by the Vietnamese Government.

At the event, experts from Canada, the Republic of Korea and the World Bank shared experience in how to get rid of plastic trash, highlighting responsibility of the producers and sustainable financial mechanisms to develop an advanced waste treatment. They also provided consultations to Vietnam in how to build the national action plan in accordance with the Vietnam’s sustainable sea-based economic development strategy adopted at the 8th meeting of the 12th Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam in October, 2018.