HCM City hosts Vietnam-Japan festival

A Vietnam-Japan Festival was held in Ho Chi Minh City on September 16 to mark the 45th anniversary of the Vietnam-Japan diplomatic relations.

Addressing the event, Nguyen Cong Tanh, President of the Vietnam-Japan Friendship Association in Ho Chi Minh City, said that the Vietnam-Japan relations have been in the best stage since the two countries set up their diplomatic relations on September 21, 1973.

The two sides have maintained regular delegation exchanges, while strengthening economic, cultural cooperation as well as people-to-people contacts, he said.

Tanh added that the festival aims to further develop the sound ties and enhance the mutual understanding between people of Ho Chi Minh City and Japan.

Hailing the idea of holding the event, Kawaue Junichi, Japanese Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City said that high-level visits of senior leaders of both countries on the occasion of the anniversary show the strong growth in strategic extensive partnership between Japan and Vietnam.

He underlined that Ho Chi Minh City is a big city of Vietnam and a key location to expand cooperation areas in the Japan-Vietnam partnership.

Activities of the Vietnam-Japan Friendship Association in Ho Chi Minh City and its chapters are significant to the growth of bilateral ties, he said.

At the Vietnam-Japan festival, visitors had a chance to experience traditional culture of Vietnam and Japan through various activities to introduce the land and people of both countries, including tea enjoying and traditional costumes. 

Some Japanese and Vietnamese firms were also highlighted at the event, giving them chance to seek partnership in various fields.

British University Vietnam’s new campus inaugurated in Hung Yen

The ribbon-cutting ceremony at the BUV Ecopark campus

 

A new campus of the British University Vietnam (BUV) was inaugurated in Ecopark urban residential area in the northern province of Hung Yen, about 10 km east of Hanoi's centre, on September 15. 

The BUV Ecopark campus, spanning 6.5ha, had investment of 70 million USD. 

With seamless integration between in-door & out-door architecture to best for green living, the new campus is open and close to nature. Study rooms and library overlook endless expanses of green space with integrated state-of-the-art audio-visual systems to assist various learning and teaching methods.

Notably, the university zoned off an area of 1,000 square metres to its library, which is home to many books in English language, along with a sporting and entertainment complex.

General Director of the BUV Prof. Raymond Gordon said the opening of the BUV Ecopark campus reflects the university’s contributions and commitments to Vietnam’s education. It is viewed as an important foundation for the development of the BUV and thousands of Vietnamese and regional students in the time ahead, he added.

British University Vietnam is the first and only international university in Vietnam to provide and award Bachelor's degrees directly from Britain.

Vietnamese films screened in Canada

Posters on Vietnamese films and landscapes displayed on Vietnamese Film Day in Canada

 

Vietnamese movies “Co Ba Saigon” (The Tailor) and “My nhan” (The Beautiful Woman) were screened in Ottawa and Montreal of Canada within the Vietnamese Culture Work in the country from September 11-17. 

“The Tailor” is a romantic comedy featuring the culture and lifestyle of Saigonese and the history of Ao Dai (Vietnamese traditional long dress). 

It stars Ngo Thanh Van, Ninh Duong Lan Ngoc, Diem My and People’s Artist Hong Van, and was directed by young talents Loc Tran and Kay Nguyen. The film features 3D effects with a soundtrack created by pop singers and bands.

The film won Best Feature Film at Vietnam’s Golden Kite Awards 2018.

Meanwhile, “The Beautiful Woman” tells the love story of a Nguyen Lord and his beautiful concubine in the 17th century.

Addressing the opening ceremony of the Vietnamese Film Day, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Ngoc Thien highlighted the marked improvement in both quality and quantity of the Vietnamese cinematography over the past 10 years. 

On cooperation between Vietnam and Canada in this sector, the minister said Vietnam was represented at the Toronto International Film Festival in 1993 and the ASEAN Film Festival in 2017. 

Renowned Canadian film buffs and producers were also invited to the Hanoi International Film Festival in 2010 to judge, he said. 

Michael Hung, a Vietnamese in Toronto, expressed his delight at the development of Vietnamese cinematography, saying the two films have honoured Vietnamese historical and cultural values in Canada.

Fidel Park inaugurated in central Quang Tri province

Delegates cut the ribbon to inaugurate Fidel Park in Quang Tri province 

The central province of Quang Tri on September 15 inaugurated the Fidel Park to mark 45 years since Cuban leader Fidel Castro’s visit to the liberated region in southern Vietnam in 1973.

Attending the inaugural ceremony were First Vice President of the Council of State and the Council of Ministers of Cuba Salvador Valdés Mesa; Politburo member and permanent member of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee  (CPVCC)’s Secretariat Tran Quoc Vuong; Politburo member, member of the CPVCC’s Secretariat and head of the CPVCC’s Commission for Mass Mobilisation Truong Thi Mai, who is also President of the Vietnam-Cuba Friendship Association; and Minister of Construction Pham Hong Ha, who is Co-chair of the Vietnam-Cuba Inter-Governmental Committee, among others.

Speaking at the event, Truong Thi Mai said that the inauguration of the park on this occasion is of significance, demonstrating the love of people in Quang Tri in particular and Vietnam in general for Cuban leader Fidel Castro. The brotherhood between Vietnam and Cuba will last forever, she stressed.

After the inauguration ceremony, the Vietnamese and Cuban delegates planted trees at the park.

The Fidel Park is built on an area of 6 hectares in Dong Ha city with an investment of over 137 billion VND (5.86 million USD).

Addressing a grand meeting in Quang Tri on September 14 to celebrate the 45th anniversary of Fidel Castro’s visit, Tran Quoc Vuong stated that Fidel’s trip to the liberated zone brought solidarity and valuable support of the Cuban people to Vietnam. 

His presence in the zone amidst dangers and hardships was a great source of encouragement to southern residents and soldiers, as well as the Vietnamese people during the anti-US resistance war, he added.

Fidel made three visits to Vietnam in September 1973, December 1995, and February 2003. 

He was the first foreign leader to visit the newly-liberated area in the south of Vietnam during the anti-US resistance war. He was also a national leader who took the initiative in international movements to support Vietnam’s struggle for national independence and reunification, along with its process of national development and defence.

With all his great contributions, the Cuban leader was presented with the two noblest orders of the Vietnamese State: the Golden Star Order in 1982 and the Ho Chi Minh Order in 1989.

Ninh Binh works to become tourism hub of Vietnam by 2020

Trang An Landscape Complex is a tourist magnet in Ninh Binh province 

The northern province of Ninh Binh is striving to become one of the tourism hubs of Vietnam by 2020 and to turn tourism into a spearhead industry of the local economy by 2030.

This is the goal of the province’s master plan on tourism development until 2025, with a vision to 2030.

Ninh Binh looks to attract 1 million foreign arrivals and 7 million domestic visitors by 2020, 1.5 million and 9 million by 2025, and 2.1 million and 11.2 million by 2030. Meanwhile, tourism revenue is expected at over 4.2 trillion VND (179.7 million USD), 11.8 trillion VND (504.8 million USD), and 27 trillion VND (1.15 billion USD), respectively.

Under the plan, the province will turn Ninh Binh city into the main tourism centre while Tam Diep city and townships in Hoa Lu, Gia Vien, Nho Quan, Yen Mo, Yen Khanh and Kim Son districts will be developed into supporting centres.

The Trang An Landscape Complex and the Kenh Ga – Van Trinh national tourist area will continue to be improved to deserve their national status. Six provincial tourist areas and more places of interests will also be formed in the coming years.

o realise this plan, Ninh Binh is set to ask for the Government and relevant ministries’ permission to apply some special preferential policies to attract investment to tourism.

Provincial authorities also called on the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to further include local tourism information in promotion programmes for Vietnamese tourism and support Ninh Binh in training human resources, expanding markets and products, and protecting the environment.

Ninh Binh province is an increasingly favourite destination of tourists from across Vietnam and other countries. It is home to many renowned landscapes, historical relics, traditional craft villages, and various specialities. 

Notably, the Trang An Landscape Complex is a UNESCO-recognised World Heritage Site of both natural and cultural importance. 

According to the provincial Department of Tourism, Ninh Binh welcomed more than 7 million visitors and earned over 2.5 trillion VND (107 million USD) from this industry in 2017, respectively rising by 9.5 percent and 43 percent year on year.

In the last eight months, over 6 million vacationers chose Ninh Binh as their destination, helping the province gain 2.3 trillion VND (98.4 million USD) in tourism revenue, up 5 percent and 18.8 percent from the same period last year, respectively.

Kien Giang enjoys effective cooperation with 12 foreign localities

The Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang has so far signed cooperation deals with 12 localities of Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, the Republic of Korea, France and Japan, according to the provincial Department of External Affairs.

Kien Giang province has cooperated with Cambodia’s Kampot, Kep, Preah Sihanouk, Koh Kong and Phnom Penh in the fields of economy, culture-society, security and defence. Meanwhile, a comprehensive agreement was signed with Laos’ Salavan province.

Kien Giang has beefed up ties with Thailand’s Chanthaburi and Trat provinces in tourism, agriculture, trade, investment, agriculture, husbandry, education, and culture-sports. 

Cooperation deals were signed with the Republic of Korea’s locality and universities. The Vietnamese province collaborated with Jeju Special Self-Governing province in economy, culture-society, sports, investment support, business and information exchange in some sectors. Also, it inked cooperation agreements on vocational training with Kyungnam University and Daedong College.

Collaborative relations were set up with France’s Lorient city in fishing and seafood processing, ship building, education, healthcare, tourism, investment and development support, and information exchange.

In addition, Kien Giang joined hands with Japan’s Kobe city and Yamaguchi prefecture in the environment, wastewater treatment, agriculture, tourism, and seafood preservation.

The provincial People’s Committee ordered relevant sectors and localities to carry out the agreements in a practical and effective manner, thus promoting local images and potential to lure more investments.

Director of the provincial Department of External Affairs Van Cong Dau said that the province will work to enhance information exchange and boost cooperation with localities of India, Hungary, and the Czech Republic.

Information on foreign services will be paid due attention to introduce the province’s strengths to foreign investors, he said, adding that the province will give top priority to developing friendship with potential countries, and those having long-standing relations with Vietnam.

HAGL JSC continues aid to victims of Lao dam collapse

Vietnam’s Hoang Anh Gia Lai Joint Stock Company (HAGL) hands 2 billion LAK (about 250,000 USD) to authorities of Laos’ southern Attapeu province to support victims of the recent dam collapse 

Vietnam’s Hoang Anh Gia Lai Joint Stock Company (HAGL) recently handed 2 billion LAK (about 250,000 USD) to authorities of Laos’ southern Attapeu province to support victims of the recent dam collapse.

The company previously offered a batch of urgent aid, including 50 tonnes of rice, food and 2,000 clothes, to people in affected areas.

It also dispatched 15 medical workers of Medical University-HAGL Hospital to work with Laos’ rescue forces and sent medical equipment to support local people after the incident.

On July 23, a saddle dam of the Sepian Senamnoi hydroelectric power project, invested by companies of the Republic of Korea, Thailand and Laos, burst, unleashing 5 billion cubic metres of water from the mountain to 13 villages of Sanamxay district downstream the Sepian River, some 560 km southeast of Vientiane.

As of August 14, up to 39 people had died while 97 other remained missing, according to the Lao government.

Exhibition provides information on Russia’s leading universities

Representatives of Russian universities at the event 

An exhibition was held at the Russian Science and Culture Centre in Hanoi on September 17 to introduce the nation’s leading universities to Vietnamese students.

The event is the opening of the 10th stage of a long-term education project conducted by Russia’s Cooperation Agency with the support of Vietnam’s Ministry of Education and Training. The project, called “Russian Universities”, was launched in March 2014 with the aim of popularising Russian education in Vietnam.

The exhibition drew Natalia Shafinskaya, Director of the Russian Science and Culture Centre, representatives from seven leading universities of Russia, and a large number of students in Hanoi.

Addressing the event, Natalia Shafinskaya said that the Russian Universities project is part of efforts to realise agreements between the two countries, while contributing to strengthening education affiliation as part of the Vietnam-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership.

During this 10th stage, the project provides access through the online portal Russia.study for all students to be able to enrol in universities in Russia.

She said that after several years of implementation, the project has been fruitful, drawing many Russian universities to the Asian nation.

She also expressed her hope that the event will contribute to helping Vietnamese youngsters grasp hold of their future and gain greater information on Russia’s top universities.

This stage of the project will see the engagement of many universities, including the Higher School of Economics, the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, the Moscow Aviation Institute, the Ural Federation University, the Tula State University, the National Research University of Electronic Technology, and the Gubkin Russian State University of Oil and Gas.

Representatives of the universities will have a working session with the International Cooperation Agency of the Ministry of Education and Training, as well as leaders of universities and high schools in Hai Phong and Hai Duong. They will also discuss joint action plans for the future to further popularise Russian education and foster links in this field. 

Bac Lieu: Schools, housing donated to disadvantaged families

Leaders of Vietinbank receive Bac Lieu's certificates of merits for its contributions to the province's social welfare 

The People’s Committee of southern Bac Lieu province and the Vietnam Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Industry and Trade (Vietinbank) held a ceremony on September 17 to hand over two primary schools and 141 houses for local policy beneficiaries and people from less advantaged backgrounds.

Addressing the event, Vice Chairman of the local People’s Committee Vuong Phuong Nam said that over the past few years, the province received assistance from numerous enterprises, organisations, and individuals both inside and outside the province. 

Since 2011, the province’s Fund for the Poor and Social Welfare has mobilised nearly 1 trillion VND (43 million USD), of which Vietinbank contributed nearly 170 billion VND (7.3 million USD).

Nam hailed the significance of Vietinbank’s donated facilities to local people, hoping to receive the bank’s continuous support for the province’s social welfare works.

Vietinbank General Director Le Duc Tho shared that the bank has so far donated over 7 trillion VND (301.4 million USD) to social welfare activities.

In Bac Lieu, since 2009, it helped to build nearly 1,200 houses for the poor, 460 bridges, three roads, and three schools.

He expressed his hope that these facilities are used effectively to provide education and housing to less fortunate locals.

Da Nang works to care for the elderly

The Elderly People’s Association of Da Nang has taken numerous activities, aimed at caring for local elderly people.

Da Nang is home to more than 90,000 elderly people, accounting for some 10 percent of the population, over 19,000 of whom receive monthly state allowances. The city has three care centres for lonely elderly people or those without a home.

In the city, every elderly person, with or without a retirement pension, is entitled to a monthly allowance and provided with free health insurance and arrangement benefits when they die.

The association has raised funds to present gifts for the elderly on New Year holidays or on the occasion of the International Day of Older Persons. The city allocates a considerable amount of its budget to supporting vulnerable people, including the elderly who normally receive money and 15kg of rice per person annually. 

No elderly person is Da Nang has to live on the street, beg for a living, or stay in poor living conditions. 

The Elderly People’s Association of Da Nang has been awarded with the third-class of Labour Order on September 17 in recognition for its excellent social work throughout the 2013-2017 period. 

Speaking at the event, Le Van Kien, head of the board of representatives of the city’s Elderly People’s Association, said that the local elderly population have received good care from state agencies in order to lead more fulfilling lives.

In response to the national action plan for elderly people, the city aims to have all elder persons with access to medical care when they are ill, all lonely older persons to receive community-based care, and all district medical clinics to have a gerontology department.

Project on preserving Dien Bien Phu battle site

The Dien Bien Phu victory statue

The Office of the Government has announced the conclusions reached by Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam at a meeting with the Dien Bien Provincial People's Committee on the project of preserving, embellishing and promoting the values of the Dien Bien Phu battle site, a Special National Historical Relic, with vision until 2030.

The project aims to express the deep gratitude of the Party, State and people of Vietnam to the heroes and martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the Dien Bien Phu victory.

Deputy Prime Minister asked the Dien Bien Provincial People's Committee to complete the project to report to the Politburo and submit it to the Prime Minister in the fourth quarter of 2018.

Based on the functions and tasks, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Ministry of Defense were also asked to coordinate with the Dien Bien provincial People's Committee in completing the project.

The Dien Bien Phu battlefield complex features 45 relic sites, of which eight were put into operation to serve tourists. They include the Museum of Dien Bien Phu Victory, a victory statue, A1 Hill, Him Lam relic site, the command tunnel of French General De Castries, the Muong Phang relic site, a monument featuring soldiers pulling artillery by hand, and a parade field to commemorate the great victory.

Soldier remains found in Dong Nai garden

Soldiers' belongings found at the grave

The remains of thirteen soldiers along with many of their belongings have been found by a family in the southern province of Dong Nai.

On September 9, while Nguyen Van Kinh’s family in Bau Can Commune, Long Thanh District were levelling a perennial plant garden, when they found some bones. Kinh immediately contacted authorities when realising it could be a war grave.

After that, Long Thanh District’s military authorities excavated a 50-square metre area, finding out that it contained 13 sets of soldiers’ remains along with their belongings such as hammocks, watches, pens, brushes, sandals and some medical equipment. A photo of a soldier was also found.

The entire remains have been transferred to Long Thanh War Cemetery for a memorial service.

Local authorities are joining with concerned agencies to identify the dead to find their relatives. The area where the grave was discovered was previously a crater.

In July this year, nine sets of remains of soldiers who died in the American War were also found in a durian garden in Dong Nai Province.

Wet soil blamed for gypsum sludge reservoir breach in Lào Cai

The scene of the incident in the northern mountainous province of Lào Cai.

Heavy rain has been blamed for a breach at a gypsum sludge reservoir in the northern mountainous province of Lào Cai on September 7.

The dam discharged over 45,000cu.m of mud and untreated chemical wastewater into nearby households and two local streams connected to the Hồng (Red) River. It has severely affected local people and the ecosystem in surrounding areas.

The details were released by the Việt Nam Environment Administration on Tuesday, Tiền Phong (Vanguard) newspaper reported.

The reservoir belonged to DAP No.2 Stock Company under the National Chemical Group (Vinachem) based in Tằng Lỏong Industrial Zone in Bảo Thắng District.

The administration said an inspection team from the National Assembly’s Science, Technology and Environment Committee had already warned the company about the possibility of an incident in May. However, the company ignored the warning.

The administration has ordered the company to fix the problem as soon as possible. 

JICA helps boost green growth on Ha Long Bay

“Blue Sail” label hung on a ship (Source: vov.vn)

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) on September 13 granted the “Blue Sail” certificate to two tourism ships operating on Ha Long Bay of the northern coastal province of Quang Ninh.

The recognition is part of a JICA-funded project to boost green growth in Quang Ninh’s Ha Long Bay through the implementation of sustainable environmental protection and tourism development policies.

The 29 criteria for “Blue Sail” label focus on preventing and reducing noise and air pollution, cutting waste and wastewater discharge, and protecting bio-diversity.

After an assessment, the project’s evaluation council decided to grant the “Blue Sail” certificate and label to Au Co ship of the Bhaya Limited Company, and Secret Ha Long ship of the Bien Ngoc Limited Company.

Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Dang Huy Hau said the province has implemented many measures to protect the environment, including Ha Long Bay’s environment.

The locality is also taking measures to improve the quality of the fleet of tourist ships operating on Ha Long Bay – a UNESCO-recognised World Heritage Site.

Since the beginning of this year, Ha Long city’s People’s Committee has temporarily suspended 36 tourist ships on the bay, while 41 others have been permanently banned.

According to the city People’s Committee, there are currently 504 cruise ships and 68 high-speed canoes running on Ha Long and Bai Tu Long Bays.

US Pacific Angel features humanitarian assistance in Vietnam

The Pacific Angel delivers free medical checkups in Quang Nam province. (Photo: qdnd.vn)

The Pacific Angel (PAC ANGEL), a joint regional humanitarian assistance and disaster relief engagement funded by the US Indo-Pacific Command, has returned to the central province of Quang Nam.

According to the US Air Force’s Lieutenant Colonel Vinh Trinh, PAC ANGEL 2018-2 mission commander, the programme will set up humanitarian aid plans and work with authorities in Vietnam to help residents in Quang Nam province.

From September 10-15, the programme has given free medical checkups, medicine and treatment to more than 4,000 locals who have ophthalmological and dental problems. 

A subject matter expert (SME) exchange for woman and infant health took place at the provincial Department of Health, and Reproductive Healthcare Centre in Tam Ky city. Drawing the participation of 80 doctors, nurses, midwifes and other healthcare workers, the exchange focused on early screening of breast and cervical cancer, and global initiatives for breast feeding while providing updates on birth control methods.

Meanwhile, the other SME exchange for non-communicable diseases was held at the Preventive Medicine Centre of Quang Nam province, with a focus on theories, techniques and practices for the control and management of diabetes and hypertension.

Also, members of the programme are repairing schools, medical stations and culture houses in Nui Thanh, Tien Phuoc and Phu Ninh districts, and Tam Ky city.

Last year, more than 1,300 locals received dental, ear and throat treatment. Doctors of the programme shared professional experience with their Vietnamese counterparts in treating diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure, and marternal and child healthcare.

PAC ANGEL 2018-2 is one of the four PAC ANGEL humanitarian assistance programmes taking place in 2018. Earlier this year, the same events were conducted in Timor Leste, Vanuatu and Sri Lanka.

Now entering its 11th year, PAC ANGEL has ensured that the region’s militaries are prepared to work together to address humanitarian crises.

Ninh Thuận Province to preserve medicinal plants

Due to excessive exploitation and extreme weather conditions, Ninh Thuận Province has stepped up efforts to preserve over 1,000 medicinal plants, 24 of which are endemic and have high  economic value.

In 2011, Việt Nam Oriental Traditional Medicine Association of Ninh Thuận Province received funding from the Global Environment Fund to carry out a project on conservation and development of medicinal  plants of the Chăm community in Ninh Thuận Province.

The project, worth US$50,000, involved conducting research of traditional medicinal plants, developing remedies using those plants, establishing conservation gardens to store valuable and highly  endangered plant species, and strengthening knowledge and capacity of the local Chăm people on conservation of traditional medicinal plants in Ninh Thuận.

In addition to this project, Ninh Thuận Province plans to spend VNĐ120 billion ($5 million) on a similar project, which requires conservation and development of medicinal plants in the buffer zone of Núi Chúa  National Park in Ninh Hải District’s Nhơn Hải area, and the buffer zone of Phước Bình National Park in Bác Ái District’s Sơn Hải area; and the forest zones in the province.

Due to favourable weather conditions, these areas are suited to the project, according to authorities.

Nguyễn Xuân Tuyển, chairman of the Việt Nam Oriental Traditional Medicine Association of Ninh Thuận Province, said the association had collaborated with scientific agencies to list categories of existing  medicinal plants in a plant database.

The association would emphasise the medicinal plants often used by ethnic groups, he said.

At the same time, the association would evaluate the current status, development growth, and exploitation status of main medicinal plants to efficiently draft a roadmap for conservation and sustainable development. 

Erosion hits hydropower plant after storm

Serious erosion at Nậm Mô Hydropower Plant in Nghệ An Province. 

After days of heavy rain and flooding, serious erosion was discovered near Nậm Mô Hydropower Plant in Nghệ An Province, reported online newspaper vietnamplus.vn.

Debris settled in a large area about 50 metres from the base of the hydropower dam.

The plant, located in Tà Cạ Commune, Kỳ Sơn District, sustained some damage but is still operational. Many of the plant’s internal roads were destroyed by the flow of soil and rocks.

The huge volume of water that flowed into the dam during the sustained period of rain made the dam overflow, causing the erosion that damaged the surrounding areas.

Nguyễn Văn Trung, head of the plant’s generator operation section, said “the erosion is contained to the roads inside the plant and did not compromise the plant’s safety.”

“When the erosion was detected, we informed local authorities and nearby residents,” he said.

However, with the damaged roads so close to the dam, Trung told the paper nearby land could continue to flood and eventually harm the plant.

Nearby, serious erosion destroyed two houses. Trung said the roads in and out of the plant also sustained damage, making travel difficult.

The plant constructed a temporary road to ensure operations can continue.

Tà Cạ Commune People’s Committee chairman Vừ Vả Chá said there are 120 households in the area surrounding the power plant.

Erosion has become a more serious threat to the safety of the local people and could continue when the rains restart.

Nậm Mô Hydro-Power Plant opened in 2013 after three years of construction. It has two generators and a capacity of 18 megawatts. 

New initiatives launched to end malaria in ASEAN

 

New initiatives to end malaria in ASEAN are launched at WEF ASEAN 2018 in Hanoi 

Two new initiatives to accelerate the elimination of malaria and improve health outcomes in the ASEAN region were announced in Hanoi on September 13 in the framework of the ongoing World Economic Forum on ASEAN 2018.

The first initiative, Blended Finance for Impact, is a partnership of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and the Asia Pacific Leaders Malaria Alliance (APLMA) to enable and increase long-term integrated financing for health, including malaria. 

The second one, M2030, aims to bring together some of the most influential businesses in Asia to raise funds, engage consumers as agents of change and sustain political support for malaria elimination.

“The fight against malaria is at a critical point. Nothing short of an all-hands-on-deck approach will suffice as we work to eliminate malaria in the ASEAN region,” said Vanessa Candeias, Head of the Global Health and Healthcare System Initiative at the World Economic Forum. “Through our platform, the forum supports innovative public-private cooperation required to realize this vision,” she noted.

Also at the event, the Asian Development Bank announced a new Regional Health Fund in line with the objectives of Blended Finance for Impact. The fund will address the increasing demand from governments for new forms of health financing, particularly financial modalities that blend grants and loans to address the most pressing health challenges in Asia Pacific. 

“We are looking to raise up 150 million USD in grant funding, which will be multiplied many times using other ADB resources,” said Stephen Groff, Vice-President for East Asia, South-East Asia and the Pacific at the Asian Development Bank.

The Regional Health Fund is a hallmark to the creative approaches the ADB is using to address the evolving challenges presented by malaria and other communicable diseases. 

“Together with our partners, our aim is to create a new era of collaboration between health development partners,” Groff said. “This platform will help the transition from traditional grant funding for health, while strengthening public-private partnerships and country-led health financing, including financial flows from national to district level,” he added.

M2030, launched by APLMA in April, is a platform for cause-based corporate engagement that takes a novel approach to eliminating malaria by 2030. It unites international health organisations, consumers and prominent business leaders to be malaria-elimination champions through partner platforms and media. M2030 marks the first time that influential Asian-led businesses will unite under the same brand to collaborate and champion the fight against malaria. 

Current M2030 partners include Tahir Foundation, DT Families Foundation, Dentsu Aegis Network, Outdoor Channel Asia, Shopee, Yoma Strategic Holdings, Wave Money, Pun Hlaing Siloam Hospitals and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

“Alongside our Yoma Group partners Wave Money and Pun Hlaing Siloam Hospitals, we are spearheading the M2030 initiative in Myanmar. With the support of government and the private sector, we aim to create a better Myanmar for the 31 million people who, according to the WHO, are still at risk of contracting the disease in our country,” said Serge Pun, Chairman of Yoma Strategic Holdings.  

The world is seeing unprecedented progress in the global effort to eliminate malaria - arguably the deadliest disease in history.

Traditionally, ASEAN countries have been dependent on external financing for malaria programs. However, as the region’s economy continues to grow, and malaria rates go down, external grant financing is likely to get more competitive.

Workshop promotes sustainable startup activities in Mekong Delta

A workshop has been held in the Mekong Delta province of Ben Tre to effectively promote startup activities in the region.

The number of startups has risen in the Mekong Delta region has been flourishing after two years of implementing the Prime Minister’s Resolution 35 on creating a favourable business environment for business startups, said Nguyen Phuong Lam, Deputy Director of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) in Can Tho.

Many regional localities have been working on long-term plans to promote start-ups, he added.

From 2015 to 2017, the Mekong Delta saw a 12 percent increase in new businesses, with Ben Tre and Hau Giang provinces seeing a 32 and 35 percent increase in new firms, respectively. Nine out of 13 provinces in the Mekong Delta reached the targets promised to the government during the period.

However, the Mekong Delta’s entrepreneurial growth is still below the nation’s average of 16 percent.

Lam, who is also Chairman of the Mekong Delta Startup Network, said that start-ups in the region still faced challenges and did not have enough big firms or sources to provide experience, funding and assistance.

In addition, there is lack of customer support as well as connections between businesses and the market.

The Mekong Delta has developed favourable policies, as well as infrastructure and education facilities, but it needs to work on promoting innovation and start-up skills, according to Lam.

Phan Van Mai, standing deputy secretary of Ben Tre province’s Party Committee, said that over the last two years the province has been working to promote a suitable business environment for small start-ups. 

Nearly 1,000 new firms were established over the last two years, and a total of 3,920 firms exist in the province.

The province has also provided funding and financial aid for 774 projects, with 802 billion VND (34.5 million USD) worth of funds from sources such as the National Foundation for Science and Technology Development and the Ben Tre Entrepreneurship Investment Fund.

Ben Tre needs to continue to raise awareness of and inspire the spirit of entrepreneurship by providing training for those looking to start their own business and improving the business environment by gathering feedback, Mai said.

The province is also encouraging start-ups to use advanced technology and take advantage of their areas’ specialties to boost competitiveness.  

Cu Van Thanh, Director of the Luong Quoi Coconut Processing Company, said that successful start-ups are passionate about what they do but are practical as well, and do not just follow trends.

The workshop was organised on September 11 by the Ben Tre provincial People’s Committee, VCCI in Can Tho City, Mekong Delta Startup Network and Saigon Times newspaper. 

Vietnamese lawyer talks about jurisdiction at EEF in Russia

Vice President of the Vietnam Lawyers Association (VLA) Duong Thanh Bac (centre) at the fourth Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) in Russia. 

Vice President of the Vietnam Lawyers Association (VLA) Duong Thanh Bac delivered a speech at a panel session on the first day of the fourth Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) in Russia, focusing on how competitiveness is associated with national jurisdiction.

A market economy driven by rules of competition and the competitiveness of a country determines that country’s level of development, Bac told the session on “Competitiveness and the National Jurisdiction: A Space of Freedom for Business” on September 11.

A country’s competitiveness is closely linked with a free business environment and the national jurisdiction, he said.

Based on Vietnamese practices, Bac raised several issues in market economies, particularly how jurisdiction can provide legal protection for businesses to allow them to fairly compete with a monopoly, like a state-run company. It is very common among nations shifting from a centrally-planned to a market economy, including Vietnam.

He added that law enforcement also puts a burden on courts and public administrative agencies so the national jurisdiction must ease it by resolving business disputes out of court. Among these methods, arbitration is fairly popular in Vietnam, he said.

From Vietnam’s point of view, the main pillars of a legal system must be the independence of courts and the development of arbitration with an absence of administrative pressure and fast dispute settlement, according to the VLA Vice President.

The improvement of the national jurisdiction will aid the growth of each country as it will foster a free business climate and national competitiveness. Vietnam has been carrying out reforms to strengthen national jurisdiction and wants to share its experiences in this area, he said.

The EEF is an international platform for discussing the strategy for developing political, economic and cultural ties between Russia and Asia Pacific. It also serves as a forum for the discussion of key issues in the world economy, regional integration and the development of new industrial and technological sectors, as well as of the global challenges facing Russia and other nations.

It has been held each September since 2015 at Far Eastern Federal University in Vladivostok, Russia. 

The panel session “Competitiveness and the National Jurisdiction: A Space of Freedom for Business” was chaired by Vladimir Gruzdev, Chairman of the Board at the Association of Lawyers of Russia. It gathered Russian experts in arbitration and legal practices and lawyers.

Quang Tri approves park named after Cuban leader

Aerial view perspective of Fidel Park in Quang Tri province (Photo: www.ttptqdquangtri.com)

 

Authorities of the central province of Quang Tri on September 12 approved naming a park in Dong Ha city after Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro.

The decision was made during a meeting of the provincial People’s Council to discuss naming of the park, as part of activities to celebrate the 45th anniversary of Fidel Castro’s historical visit to the newly-liberated area in the south of Vietnam in Quang Tri province.

The Fidel Park is hoped to express the sentiment of Quang Tri people to the Cuban leader, thus deepening ties between Vietnam and Cuba.

The park – spanning 16.15ha – is located at one of the spots Castro visited during his trip 45 years ago. It was built at a cost of nearly 138 billion VND (about 6 million USD), including 30 billion VND sourced from the State budget.

Fidel made three visits to Vietnam in September 1973, December 1995, and February 2003. He was the first foreign leader to visit the newly-liberated area in the south of Vietnam. He took the lead in international movements to support Vietnam’s struggle for national independence and reunification, along with its process of national development and defence.

Due to his contributions, the Cuban leader was presented with the two noblest orders of the Vietnamese State: the Golden Star Order in 1982 and the Ho Chi Minh Order in 1989.

Two teams from RMIT Vietnam win at Young Spikes 2018

Two teams from RMIT Vietnam took home top prizes at the Young Spikes 2018 creative competition held in Ho Chi Minh City last weekend.

The two teams were shortlisted from hundreds of competitors from all over Vietnam to compete in the finals and ultimately won gold and silver in the Integrated Category, Student League.

The teams were The Mothers, consisting of Le Hong Nhung and Luong Thu Trang, and Lemonade, consisting of Nguyen Hoang Chau Anh and Duong Bao Ngoc.

Participating teams were given a brief to create an integrated campaign that encourages parents to support their children in sports and physical activities.

Nhung, who is studying Professional Communication, and Trang, a Business - Logistics and Supply Chain Management major, impressed the jury and won gold with the insightful message: “Be a child to know what is best for them”.

“It was like an explosion inside of us when we heard our team name announced on the stage,” Nhung said of the award.

“We think our strategy of integrating different channels and a social event to communicate this key message to parents brought us success in the competition.”

Meanwhile, Anh and Ngoc, who both study Professional Communication, also brought an outside-the-box idea to the competition and won silver in the same category.

“We are very delighted with the quality of the work and the confidence of all student contestants,” said Professor Rick Bennett, Head of RMIT Vietnam’s School of Communication & Design.

“RMIT Vietnam is driven to maintain its efforts to build the School of Communication & Design as a hub of creative education and practice that will transform the future of creative industries in this country and the region.”

In late September, Nhung and Trang will represent Vietnam at the Spikes Asia Festival of Creativity in Singapore, where they can expect to learn from marketing and communication industry experts through seminars and workshops.

Vietnam attends 83rd L’Humanité newspaper festival

Participants in the opening ceremony for the Vietnamese pavilion at the Fête de l'Humanité pose for a photo (Photo: nhandan.com.vn)

The Nhan dan (People’s) newspaper is taking part in the 83rd Fête de l'Humanité, an annual festival of French newspaper L’Humanité, which opened in the suburbs of Paris on September 14.

Among those present at the opening ceremony for the Vietnamese pavilion included Vietnamese Ambassador to France Nguyen Thiep, Lao Ambassador to France Yong Chanthalangsy, and Politburo member and permanent member of the French Communist Party (PCF)’s Secretariat Denis Rondepierre.

Speaking at the event, Deputy Editor-in-chief of the Nhan dan newspaper Le Quoc Khanh said it is an honour for his newspaper to continue participating in the festival.

He stressed that this is a chance to enhance the traditional relationship between the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and the PCF, as well as between the two newspapers. It is also an occasion to re-affirm the faithful solidarity between the Vietnamese communists and people, and their French counterparts.

For his part, Rondepierre reiterated that the CPV and the PCF have maintained close-knit relations for many years. Particularly, during a visit to France last March, CPV General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong met with PCF General Secretary Pierre Laurent, and they agreed on many measures to enhance cooperation.

The Fête de l'Humanité is considered a festival of the communist and left-wing movements across France and around the world, attracting the participation of tens of communist and left-wing parties from many countries. 

It is not only an important political event of France but also a festival of French people, especially the youth, as it provides a platform for participants to introduce their countries’ culture, tourism and cuisine.

Photo exhibition marks Fidel’s historic visit to Vietnam

An exhibition displaying 45 photographs capturing Cuban leader Fidel Castro’s visit to the liberated zone in southern Vietnam 45 years ago, as well as wider people-to-people relations between Vietnam and Cuba, opened in the central province of Quang Tri on September 14. 

The event was co-organised by the provincial People’s Committee and the Vietnam News Agency (VNA), with the attendance of a high-level Cuban delegation led by First Vice President of the Council of State and the Council of Ministers Salvado Valdes Mesa, along with senior Vietnamese officials. 

The photos, taken by several generations of VNA journalists in different periods, also feature the development of Quang Tri province since it’s time as a war-torn locality. 

The same day, the Cuban delegates toured the Hien Luong-Ben Hai special national historical relic site, the relic site of the Provisional Revolutionary Government of the Republic of South Vietnam, and the blockhouse in Dong Ha city where Fidel had visited in September 1973.

Fidel made three visits to Vietnam in September 1973, December 1995, and February 2003. 

He was the first foreign leader to visit the newly-liberated area in the south of Vietnam during the anti-US resistance war. He was also a national leader who took the initiative in international movements to support Vietnam’s struggle for national independence and reunification, along with its process of national development and defence.

With all his great contributions, the Cuban leader was presented with the two noblest orders of the Vietnamese State: the Golden Star Order in 1982 and the Ho Chi Minh Order in 1989.

“Denmark in Your Eyes” painting competition opens for entry

Young students in Hanoi participate the competition (Photo: Embassy of Denmark in Vietnam) 

The painting competition “Denmark in Your Eyes” was launched in Hanoi on September 14 as part of activities to celebrate the 47th anniversary of the Vietnam-Denmark diplomatic relations (1971).

Themed “Green Dreams” this year, the competition is inviting entries from elementary students across the country who want to share stories about environmental protection with colourful and creative expression.

Danish Deputy Ambassador Louise Holmsgaard said she looks forward to seeing the environmental issues presented through the eyes of children, with the works drawn from the children’s hearts raising public awareness of global environmental issues.

Entries must be sent to the Vietnam-Denmark Friendship Association (VIDAFA)’s office on the 7th floor of 105A Quan Thanh Street, Ba Dinh, Hanoi no later than October 5, 2018.

The award ceremony will take place at the end of the year.

The annual “Denmark in Your Eyes Competition” was first held by the Embassy of Denmark and VIDAFA in 2016 to mark the 45th anniversary of the two countries’ diplomatic ties.

Last year, the contest attracted the participation of 800 school children with prizes awarded to 63 entries. Do Khanh Linh, a third grader at Le Van Tam Primary School in Thanh Hoa, won the top prize and was awarded a Canon camera and Lego set.

Deputy PM orders drastic measures to prevent ASF

Ministries, sectors, provinces and cities nationwide must take drastic measures to prevent animal diseases, particularly African Swine Fever (ASF), from entering Vietnam, said Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung.

He was speaking at an online conference held in Hanoi on September 14 by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to seek ways to prevent animal diseases for this year’s fall and winter.

Requesting that cities and provinces nationwide strengthen inspection to detect hotbeds of diseases on poultry and livestock early on and prevent them from spreading, Dung underscored the importance of proper vaccinations for animals and the provision of prevention guidelines at local levels.

As there is no vaccine or cure for ASF, the most effective measure at present is to actively prevent it from entering the country, said Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Ha Cong Tuan.

To do this, relevant ministries and agencies need to tighten control on the transportation of pork and its products, as well as promote safe pig farming, he added.

ASF is a type of infectious hemorrhagic fever which results in a 90-100 percent mortality rate for pigs. Although the disease is not dangerous to humans, it can cause great economic losses for farmers and harm pork trading.

It is spread from pig to pig through various ways, including animal feed contaminated with the pathogen, carriers such as ticks, or direct contact between infected pigs and healthy ones.

From the end of 2017 through to September 10, 17 countries and regions in Europe and Asia such as China and Estonia have had ASF outbreaks, with over 560,000 pigs culled, according to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).

From the start of August to September 10, China reported 14 outbreaks in six provinces, with 38,000 pigs culled, according to the OIE and the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). The disease is moving southward towards provinces near Vietnam.

There is a risk of ASF virus being brought into Vietnam through smuggling and the transportation of pork and pork products with unclear origin which is quite popular in northern border provinces.

It is vital to protect pig farms from the virus by fostering biosafety and intensify pasteurisation in farms, said Ken Inui from the FAO. 

Inui suggested the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development promptly draw up an emergency response plan and raise public awareness of the disease. He also urged for an immediate ban on the illegal trading of pigs from China to Vietnam.