$1.3million water supply plant suspended

The management room of the Hai Chanh Water Supply project is being used for months by locals to breed cows.

While thousands of locals await clean water, a nearly-complete water supply project in central Quảng Trị Province has been delayed for over a year due to the lack of funding.

The project aims at providing clean water to over 1,700 households from Hải Lăng District’s Hải Chánh Commune and other houses in neibouring Hải Sơn Commune.

“We have been looking forward to accessing clean water supply for years. We used to carry cans of water from the river for daily activities,” Thảo, a local, told the Báo pháp luật Việt Nam (Việt Nam Law) newspaper.

“We were delighted on hearing that a water supply plant was being built, but it hasn’t finished even after many years”, she said, adding that residents had complained to competent agencies several times but no action had been taken.

Bùi Văn Sinh, deputy chairman of Hải Chánh Commune, said eight out of 11 villages were in need of clean water because the wells had either gone dry or were contaminated with alum.

Some 300 households in Mỹ Chánh Village often did not even have water for daily use for the past six months, he said.

Those who lived near Mỹ Chánh Market were forced to buy clean water from Thừa Thiên-Huế Province’s Phong Điền District and neighbouring communes to cook their meals, he said.

The newspaper reported that most of the infrastructure-related projects, such as the management room, pumping station and mud treatment storage tank, were complete. However, with the project suspended since March last year, some areas had got damaged by the weather.

Worse still, locals were using the plant as a place to breed cows.

The project was approved in 2010 and was expected to be completed in 2012. However, due to problems in capital allocation, construction of the Hả Chánh Water supply project, with total estimated capital of nearly VNĐ31 billion (US$1.36 million) started in mid-2014 and was due to finish by the end of the following year.

Of this capital, VNĐ19 billion ($835,000) was to come from the State budget, VNĐ3billion ($132,000) from the Quảng Trị Water Supply and Construction One Member Limited Company and the rest was funded by the Italian government.

Trần Quỳnh, deputy director of Quảng Trị Water Supply and Construction One Member Limited Company, the project’s investor, said in accordance with the signed contract, the Italian government was to support capital for purchasing water pipes and other equipments for the plant.

However, the Ministry of Finance has not yet allocated this sum of money for the province.

Meanwhile, just one third of the VNĐ22 billion investment ($966,000), or VNĐ7.5 billion ($330,000), has so far been disbursed, leading to suspension of the project, he said. 

Emergency centre to be opened on island district

Officials from Khánh Hòa Province’s Health Department said the province has decided to invest nearly VNĐ260 billion (US$11.5 million) to develop a health system for the island districts in the province from 2017.

Under the plan, some VNĐ10 billion ($400,000) will be invested in the 87 Military Hospital in Nha Trang City to upgrade its equipment and facilities and human resources. The emergency department of the hospital will be upgraded into an emergency centre.

Another focus of the plan is to train emergency teams on the Spratly Island District.

The 486 medical team of Military Zone 4 will be upgraded into the 486 Military Hospital with a capacity of 100 beds. 

Zika on the rise in HCM City

The Department of Preventive Medicine in Ho Chi Minh City said that Zika virus infection cases escalated to an average of 10 cases per week in the city. As of yesterday, the city has recorded 141 cases in 23 districts.

Bình Thạnh District is leading with 28 cases totally, next are district 2 with 18 cases and district 12 with 13 cases. Of the 141 infection cases, 18 were pregnant women.

The Preventive Health Centre in HCMC continued warning people, especially pregnant women, to actively avoid being bitten by mosquitoes. People should raise their awareness of the mosquito-borne disease and work to eliminate the insect.

Gov’t transfers top docs to small hospitals

Hà Nội Department of Health has sent doctors, nurses and medical workers from central level hospitals to district level facilities to help share advanced professional techniques.

The plan aims to shorten the professional capacity gap between medical staff at central and district levels.

Due to limited capacity of doctors at grassroots-level hospitals, many patients infected with serious diseases must be transferred to central hospitals, causing overcrowding. Meanwhile, grassroots-level hospitals struggle to attract patients.

Doctor Nguyễn Khắc Hiền, director of the city’s Health Department, said that this year 35 medical facilities in the city have sent 55 doctors, eight nurses, technicians and midwives specilising in various major fields, from internal medicine, surgery, pediatrics, obstetrics to ear-nose-throat and teeth to grassroots-level hospitals.

The mobilised healthcare workers have strong professional qualifications. Many are heads and deputy heads of clinical departments of central hospitals.

Until now, 133 techniques have been transferred through direct guidance.

The technique transfer has widened opportunities for city dwellers to access better healthcare services.

Thanks to the transfer, Mỹ Đức Hospital doctors are able to do ovarian cyst endoscopic surgeries. Quốc Oai Hospital can do kidney dialysis.

In addition, doctors at Chương Mỹ Hospital are able to operate on thryroid gland lumps and conduct urinary analysis. Since the transfer started in 2014, more and more patients in the district and from surrounding areas flock to the hospital. The number of tables offering medical examinations has risen from nine to 14 to meet increasing demands of local patients.

The hospital’s 350 beds are always full, with peak times having up to 400 inpatients.

Nguyễn Quang Mậu, director of Phúc Thọ District’s Hospital, said that conducting surgeries was very rare in the hospital before July 2014. However, the hospital now conducts more than 100 surgeries each month. Each day, there are up to six or seven operations, equal to the whole month’s surgeries in previous years.

“Earlier, the hospital doctors never thought of endoscopic surgeries. Now the technique is applied for ectopic pregnancy and appendicitis surgeries,” he said.

According to the plan of Hà Nội’s Health Ministry, there will be additional 15 medical workers sent to 25 grassroots-level medical facilities next year. - VNS

Toyota grants scholarships to excellent students

Toyota Motor Vietnam (TMV) yesterday continued to grant Toyota Scholarships 2016, worth VNĐ700 million, to 115 excellent students majoring in technical and environmental studies from 16 universities nationwide.

The programme, now in its 19th consecutive year, aims to encourage learning spirit and promote creativity in scientific research among students in universities as well as to actively contribute to the human resources training and development for Việt Nam’s industry in general and the automobile industry in particular.

Each scholarship is worth about VNĐ6 million.

This year, TMV also granted 32 pieces of technical equipment (double the amount compared to last year) to support teaching facilities and activities for these universities. So far the programme has granted 2,038 scholarships, worth a total of VNĐ26 billion, and more than 90 pieces of technical equipment.

In addition, during a tour of the TMV plant in Vĩnh Phúc Province, the students had a chance to join a Monozukuri course on how to succeed in manufacturing and business. The course’s objective is to help them approach and gain a deeper understanding of the Toyota production system.

Tadashi Yoshida, Director of the Production & Logistic Group of TMV said Toyota has always placed importance on education and training, “It is one of our special priorities while working in the country. We believe that human resources are a valuable asset and an important contribution to the success of business and society”.

VN, Japan to tighten co-operation     

The Toyama Prefecture in particular and Japan in general held Viet Nam’s economic development in high regard and would expect further economic collaboration between the two nations, said governor of Toyama Takakazu Ishii yesterday, at a conference in Ha Noi.

At the conference, Vu Tien Loc, Chairman of the Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) greatly valued the Toyama authority and businesses for their interest in investment in Viet Nam. Foreign investors placed significant trust in the country and the Vietnamese Government as well as the VCCI and other governmental agencies had committed to better the business and investment environment to facilitate foreign investors.

In recent years, besides many preferential policies and mechanisms to encourage foreign businesses to invest in Viet Nam, the country had been maintaining its position as the most stable nation in South East Asia, in terms of both politics and socio-economic development.

According to Ishii, about 40 businesses from Toyama have invested and operated in Viet Nam and the number would likely increase in the future.

He also mentioned the impressive Vietnamese economic indicators in 2016 as well as the country’s growth rate goal of 6.7 per cent in 2017. This showed the Vietnamese government’s determination for future economic development.

The conference was held by the VCCI in collaboration with the Toyama Prefecture on the occasion of the prefecture delegates’ visit to Viet Nam along with representatives of 17 Japanese businesses.

Viet Nam and Japan would have many opportunities to further increase economic collaboration in the future. Positive development in regional economic integration such as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) would continue to afford the two countries more potential for co-operation.

Japanese businesses should continue to invest in Viet Nam, specifically in industrial sectors to facilitate the country’s industrialisation, enhance infrastructure through official development assistance and boost technological transfer, while helping Viet Nam with human capital development.

Viet Nam would continue to support Japanese investors through better legal framework and creating a stable and transparent business environment.

As of 2016, the Vietnam-Japan Joint Initiative phase VI had commenced, focussing on the improvement of the Vietnamese business and investment scene, through clearer legal procedures and governmental policies. Toyama is a prefecture of Japan located in the Hokuriku region on the main Honshu island, with an abundant supply of hydroelectricity and developed coastal industries. The region is also famous for mechanical products, aluminium, steel, electric generators, molding accessories, pharmaceuticals and electronics, as well as processors of industrial waste.

CFA Institute Research Challenge winners named

Students of the Foreign Trade University HCMC have won the sixth CFA Institute Research Challenge in Vietnam, a contest in which student competitors are required to demonstrate financial analysis skills and represent the future of the investment management industry.

The competition provides university students with hands-on mentoring and intensive training in financial analysis to promote the best practices in equity research among the next generation of financial professionals.

The winning team will represent Vietnam at the Asia-Pacific final in Bangkok, Thailand on March 14-15, 2017. Regional winners will enter a world final in Prague, the Czech Republic on April 28, 2017.

The contest attracted 17 students in four teams from the Foreign Trade University HCMC, RMIT University HCMC, Hoa Sen University and Hanoi Banking Academy. They provided investment research recommendations for the stock of Phu Nhuan Jewelry Joint Stock Company (PNJ) in front of a panel of local and international judges.

The CFA Institute, the global association of investment professionals, and CFA Volunteer Community Vietnam, held the competition to give students a unique opportunity to learn from leading industry experts and their peers from the world’s top business schools.

One more case of Zika in Dong Nai Province

Deputy Director of the Department of Health in the southern province of Dong Nai Dr. Huynh Cao Hai said that one more case of Zika was detected in the province.

The patient is a 51 year old man in Tan Bien Ward, Bien Hoa Town – the second case in Dong Nai Province.

Accordingly, health workers from the province’s Preventive Medicine Center yesterday sprayed chemicals to kill mosquito in the areas where the patient lives.

Relevant agencies increased information of the disease to residents and encourage locals to sleep in mosquito net, kill the insect and its larva.

Dr. Hai added that it is highly likely to have disease outbreaks in neighboring areas including Bien Hoa Town, Nhon Trach, Trang Bom, Long Thanh which are crowded with workers.

The Department of Health urged the preventive medicine system especially these above-mentioned places to spray mosquito’s larva.

In related news, the Ho Chi Minh City Preventive Medicine Center said that as of December 19 night, the city has recorded 141 Zika virus infection cases in 23 districts except district 8. Fresh cases of Zika virus continued to soar quickly with average number of 10 cases a week.

Binh Thanh District is leading one with 28 cases next are district 2, district 12, Thu Duc, Tan Phu with 18 cases, 13 cases, 12 cases, 11 cases respectively. Of 141 cases, 18 of them are pregnant. 

Despite of the local health sector’s efforts to clean the environment, kill mosquito for curbing the escalation of the disease, infection cases of Zika virus still rose. Worse, in last month, the number of pregnant women infected with the disease doubled that of last year. 

These days, weather in HCMC is wet, the health sector warned people to clean houses and thrown away water containers where mosquito often lays eggs into which can trigger the outbreaks of disease.

In stead of queuing, patients to receive numerical order thro phone messages

In stead of coming early to hospitals to queuing for hours for numerical order, patients now can register to take the order through phone message.

In addition, they can check the numerical order in each doctor’s room through the hospital of their choice’s website or on smart phone app. 

All are handled thanks to the project “Intelligently queuing to see doctor” which is the first of its kind in the country.  The project helps facilitate interaction between hospital and patients in order to resolve the crowdedness in booths to issue numerical order and waiting rooms to see doctors. 

With the app, patients now can take numerical order and they even can check which number is called in doctor’s room through going to the website www.laysokhambenh.vn or the switchboard 1900100 will send message to remind patients of how much left to their turn so that patients can estimate the necessary time to finish formality before entering doctors’ room. 

The project author is Nguyen Khoa Tuan Anh and his partner in Lucky Telecom. The project triumphed 536 start-up project nationwide to win the champion of Startup Wheel 2015 competition. Tuan Anh said that he witnessed and upset crowdedness in hospitals as well as sympathized with patients in remote patients who must came to big hospitals in HCMC at 1 or 2 AM for taking numerical order.

The application of the new system will help save time of patients a lot. Moreover, the system allows patients to choose doctors’ of their choice and hospital managers can grasp statistic of total patients in each wards; accordingly, the overloading in big hospitals is handled.

Deputy head of Tumor Hospital in HCMC Dr. Diep Bao Tuan, said that his hospital has implemented the new system through switch board 19001000 since October, 2016. After one month implementation, the service has aided patients to control their time and reduce waiting time.

With the hope to help hospitals and patients save time,  more project will be implemented in test ward, X-ray ward. 

It is hoped that once implemented in many hospitals, the system will help patients to save time and to see doctors early and hospitals to improve its treatment service.

The new system has been implemented in Tumor, Children No.2 and Go Vap hospitals in Ho Chi Minh City,  the central hospital in Thua Thien-Hue Province, the General Hospital in Cam Ranh Town in the central province of Khanh Hoa. It will be deployed in Phu Nhuan Hospital in HCMC on January 20, 2017. 

Currently, it is installed in Heart Institute in HCMC.

Binh Dinh receives VND80 billion to deal with flood consequences

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has agreed to allocate VND80 billion and 2,000 tonnes of rice to the central province of Binh Dinh to help them overcome the consequences caused by the current widespread flooding in the central region.

PM Phuc and a State mission had a working session with local authorities on Wednesday afternoon for urgent measures to overcome the consequences of flooding in the locality.

As reported by Binh Dinh province, five major floods in November and early December 2016 inundated all 11 administrative districts, towns and the city, leaving 39 people believed to be dead or missing, over 97,000 houses damaged and inundated, more than 128 km of roads damaged, 17,300 ha of winter-spring rice crops destroyed and over 200,000 heads of cattle and poultry washed away. The damages caused by the floods is estimated at nearly VND2 trillion (US$88 million).

Binh Dinh leaders also said that the floods were at a record high in the locality in over 50 years. The province has stepped up efforts in flood prevention and remedial measures, concentrating on evacuating people from dangerous areas.

PM Phuc conveyed the sympathy of the Party, State and the Vietnam Fatherland Front to people from eight provinces in the central region and Gia Lai province in the Central Highlands, particularly Binh Dinh, the hardest-hit locality, suffering heavy losses due to the flooding.

He affirmed that the immediate urgent task for the entire political system of Binh Dinh Province is visiting, encouraging and supporting locals after the flood, while launching movements to receive more support and providing aid to flood victims.

He urged the locality to collaborate with relevant ministries and agencies to urgently repair damaged infrastructure to ensure smooth traffic and implement post-flood disease prevention, in addition to promptly facilitating students to return to school.

At the meeting, Chairman of Binh Dinh Province People’s Committee Ho Quoc Dung suggested the PM consider providing support to the province worth VND500 billion to repair damaged transport infrastructure and irrigation systems and restore production and people’s livelihoods.

He also requested 3,000 tonnes of rice for relief for locals affected by the floods, while exempting tuition fees for high school students, providing books for more than 50,000 students and providing medicine, medical supplies and seeds to local people.

Also on December 21, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development sent four working groups to the scene to support Binh Dinh farmers in the upcoming winter-spring crops.

Sixteen labour export businesses fined for violating regulations

Workers receive consultancy before working abroad.

The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs has imposed an administrative fine of VNĐ16 million (US$9,522) on 16 labour export businesses for violating regulations governing their activities.

Inspectors from the ministry inspected 79 enterprises, following a request from the Government Inspectorate, which found that a number of enterprises, engaged in sending Vietnamese workers overseas, were suspecting of collecting money illegally.

Inspectors found various violations, including workers being sent overseas for work without registering with the ministry’s Department of Overseas Labour, enterprises taking undue advantage of their operation to collect fees illegally and not organising training classes for the workers as required by the department.

The highest penalty was imposed on Hải Phòng Tourism Oil Service Joint Stock Company, which had its licence revoked, while others were ordered to suspend their operation for a period of 3-9 months.

During the suspension period, these companies are not permitted to sign or register labour supply contracts or recruit, train and send workers overseas for work.

Prime Minister directs development measures for Quang Ninh

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on December 22 had a working session with leaders of the northern coastal province of Quang Ninh on the socio-economic development situation of the locality and orientations for its robust growth in the future.

With its strategic location, diverse terrains and most abundant natural resources in the country, Quang Ninh is expected to rise as an economic driver of the country in the future.

Quang Ninh has an economic structure that favours industry-construction (52 percent), and services (41.2 percent). In 2016, the province’s contribution to State budget reached 18 trillion VND (79.09 million USD).

It ranks sixth among localities nationwide in administrative reform index. In Quang Ninh, it takes only 1-2 days to complete procedures for business registration, while 99 percent of local firms use e-taxation.

This year, the locality saw 1,600 newly-established businesses, the highest figure so far, raising total local firms to 12,000.

Quang Ninh is also among the most busy tourism destinations in the country as it has welcomed 8.4 million visitors so far this year.

Currently, Quang Ninh is focusing on expanding its infrastructure system to lay foundation for the development of the Van Don Special Economic Zone.

At the working session, representatives from the Public Security Ministry proposed the pilot operation of tourism police force in Van Don to better protect the sector’s development, while other ministries also suggested pilot mechanisms for Quang Ninh to decide its organisation and decentralisation, thus supporting its reform.

PM Phuc said that the Government has approved the Van Don project during its November meeting, while passing the building of three special administrative-economic zones, including Van Don, and assigning Quang Ninh to submit the complete project as soon as possible.

He asked the Ministry of Planning and Investment to build a draft Law on Van Don Special Administrative-Economic Zone, so that the Government can submit it to the National Assembly soon. 

He stressed that the law will help win investors’ confidence in investing to the zone.

He said “Quang Ninh should be proud of its Party building, socio-economic development, security and defence protection achievements,” citing its mobilization of resources in society for development and leading role in using the private-public form.

As the locality has envisaged becoming an economic driver of the north and the entire country, an international exchange centre, and a destination for investors, tourists, cargoes and innovative and novel ideas, the PM hoped that Quang Ninh will post the highest economic growth and lead the development in the key northern economic zone. 

To that end, it is crucial to build trust among local and foreign investors along with devising a cohesive, long-term master development strategy, he said.

Quang Ninh needs to draw talents in and outside the country to serve its development model, with which the most open and favorable conditions should be put in place, especially those of the Van Don Special Economic Zone, the government leader stressed.

He reminded the provincial authorities of the significance of high-quality human resources, technological applications, dynamism and creativity in development.

Regarding tourism, the locality should focus investments on infrastructure, public conveniences, workforce and advertisement towards serving at least 7 million foreign tourists and 20 million domestic visitors, he noted, adding that “All Quang Ninh’s people should engage in tourism activities.” 

He also laid stress on managing the environment, especially in handicraft villages and residential areas around Ha Long Bay while striving to be listed among top five in the business and investment environment and administrative reform and to have 25,000 businesses by 2020.

In addition to that, the PM asked Quang Ninh to reinforce social foundation, narrow the rich-poor gap, ensure social welfare and safeguard security and social order.

On the occasion of the 72nd anniversary of the Vietnam People’s Army (December 22), PM Phuc visited the infantry brigade 242 in Van Don district, which covers Van Don district and Co To island. He conveyed greetings to soldiers and officials of the unit, expressing hope that it will promote the tradition and continue fulfilling its tasks in ensuring defence, security and national territorial integrity.

He also visited and presented gifts to war veteran Nguyen Van Ty at Cai Rong town in Van Don./.

Deputy PM asks for synchronous measures to reduce traffic accidents

Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh has emphasised the significance of comprehensive measures for curbing traffic accidents and congestion and building a friendly and safe transport system.

It is crucial to complete institution and legal framework, while expanding transport infrastructure system, enhancing management capacity of State agencies and building transportation culture, the said while chairing the national conference on traffic safety 2016 in Hanoi on December 22.

The Deputy PM, who is also head of the National Committee for Traffic Safety, noted that traffic accident remains complicated, as every day 24 people die and other 60 suffer lifetime injury due to traffic accidents.

He suggested that participants at the conference give ideas for the completion of the Traffic Law and other regulations related to traffic safety, as well as the application of information technology in ensuring traffic safety in the 2016-2020 period.

He stressed the need to upgrade database and improve the efficiency of coordination among relevant agencies. Meanwhile, it is necessary to pay greater attention to vulnerable and disadvantaged groups, while tightening the supervision and control of traffic safety violations, he said.

Deputy PM Binh asked the Standing Committee of the National Committee for Traffic Safety to summarise the scientific researches in the field for ministries and localities to consider the possibility of application.

He also requested for closer cooperation with scientists and listen to their ideas, thus updating advanced knowledge and technology of the world.

The conference, which drew representatives from ministries, sectors, localities, domestic and international non-governmental organisations as well as over 400 scientists and experts in traffic safety, saw the announcement of 90 scientific researches.

Participants discussed a wide range of issues, including the management of road traffic, infrastructure system and vehicles, railway and waterway traffic safety, as well as shortcomings and solutions to traffic insurance in Vietnam.

They gave recommendations on adjustments to legal documents on traffic safety in Vietnam, especially the Traffic Law 2008.

Taiwanese firms aid needy people in Da Nang

The Taiwanese business association in the central city of Da Nang handed over 170 gifts to old people and children being cared at the local social support centre on December 22.

Valued at more than 100 million VND (4,400 USD), the gifts included cradles, mattresses, powdered milk and food. 

He Thi Thanh Huong, director of the care centre, said the facility is hosting 170 disadvantaged people, including 80 senior citizens and 20 disabled children.

Those practical gifts from Taiwanese businessmen will contribute to improving the residents’ life and encouraging centre staff in doing their jobs, she noted.

Chiu Cheng Tsai, head of the business association, said his agency annually donates between 300 and 400 million VND (13,200 – 17,600 USD) for social activities. 

He unveiled that as from 2017, the association will set up an annual scholarship fund to assist poor students with outstanding academic achievements and help them work at its member companies after graduation.  

Firms commit to economical use of energy

A total of seven enterprises have been selected to join a pilot voluntary programme on economical and efficient energy use under the Vietnam Energy Efficiency and Cleaner Production project funded by the World Bank and the Global Environment Fund. 

The signing of the agreement between the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT)’s General Directorate of Energy and the businesses took place in Hanoi on December 22. 

The programme aims to promote energy saving in industrial production in Vietnam and support enterprises in improving the efficiency of energy use and meeting relevant legal regulations. 

The enterprises will commit to reducing energy use in their production activities with support from the MoIT. 

The programme will help the participating companies cut down energy consumption and production costs, thus improving their competitiveness, said Do Duc Quan, Deputy General Director of the General Directorate of Energy. 

The general department said the businesses will be granted with certificates of the MoIT if they succeed in implementing measures to use energy economically and efficiently. 

They will be also offered a chance to promote their brands and participate in training courses on economical and efficient energy use.

Especially, they will be supported 100 percent of initial energy audit costs to evaluate the use of energy and define solutions to economical energy use, thus outlining implementation and monitoring plans. 

All enterprises specialising in industrial production, using a lot of energy and having plans to use energy economically and efficiently are able to join the programme, which is scheduled to be expanded nationwide in the coming time.

The voluntary agreement will be valid in 10 years, including a two-year trial period. The MoIT will give assessment of the agreement’s feasibility before making appropriate adjustments to the programme’s contents after the pilot.

Officials join Christmas season with Catholics, Protestants

Officials have shared the Christmas joy with Catholics and Protestants nationwide, offering the best wishes to them on this occasion.

A delegation of the Steering Committee for the Southwestern Region on December 22 visited the Bishop’s Palace of the Diocese of Vinh Long and the Cathedral, Protestant Church, and the Committee for Solidarity of Vietnamese Catholics in the Mekong Delta province of Vinh Long.

Deputy Chairman of the Steering Committee Le Hung Dung wished all Catholics and Protestants a merry Christmas and happy new year, appreciating their contributions to boosting socio-economic development and ensuring political security and social order and safety.

He asked Catholic and Protestant dignitaries, pastors, priests and clergymen to continue encouraging followers to be both good citizens and followers, actively take part in patriotic emulation movements and socio-economic activities.

For their part, local dignitaries, priests and clergymen thankedthe Steering Committee and provincial authorities for creating favourable conditions for local Catholics and Protestants to practice their religions and do economic activities. They promised to encourage followers to comply with the Party’s guidelines and the State’s policies and laws, thereby helping with socio-economic development and defence-security maintenance.

In nearby An Giang province, local authorities also extended Christmas greetings to Catholics and Protestants in Long Xuyen and Chau Doc cities, Tan Chau township, and the districts of Chau Thanh, An Phu, Tri Ton, Cho Moi, Phu Tan and Thoai Son.

Sending the best wishes to the Evangelical Church of An Giang, Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Thanh Binh recognised Protestants’ efforts to solidify the great national unity bloc and develop and protect the nation.

Pastor Cao Van Hoang, on behalf of the Church, appreciated the provincial administration’s attention and pledged to encourage followers to abide by law and lead a good religious and secular life.

On December 20, officials of Long An – another Mekong Delta province – visited and presented gifts to outstanding Catholic and Protestant dignitaries in ThanhHoa, Moc Hoa, Vinh Hung and Tan Thanh districts and Kien Tuong township.

In Nghe An, authorities of this central province sent many delegations to localities with big numbers of Catholics, wishing them a merry Christmas season. The provincial chapter of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union also offered greetings to secretaries of its sub-chapters who are Christians in Nam Loc commune of Nam Dan district.

Japan charity presents wheelchairs to Thanh Hoa’s disabled children

Disabled children and Agent Orange/dioxin victims in the central province of Thanh Hoa have received 60 wheelchairs donated by a Japanese-based charity. 

The Vietnam Red Cross Society’s local chapter handed over the gifts to the needy on December 22.

The charity, which specialises in donating wheelchairs for kids in foreign countries, began operation in 2004. It has sent 5,789 wheelchairs to 23 countries worldwide. 

2016 marks its seventh year of working in Vietnam and 1,015 wheelchairs donated for the country in total.

Thanh Hoa is home to 174,000 people with disabilities, of which 23,000 are AO victims. More than 1,000 local disabled people still need wheelchairs for daily travel.

The same day, the chapter also handed over a storm shelter for residents in Nam Vuong commune of Hau Loc district. Spanning 130 sq.m, the two-storey facility was built at a cost of more than 500 million VND (22,000 USD), with 470 million VND (20,680 USD) of which sourced from the Norway Red Cross Society and donations from across Vietnam.

Vietnamese, Chinese women’s associations reinforce ties

A delegation from the women’s union in China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region had meetings with its Vietnamese counterparts in the northern provinces of Cao Bang, Lang Son and Quang Ninh on December 21 and 22.

In Cao Bang, the Chinese delegation, led by the union’s deputy head Kong Xian Ling, and the local chapter of the Vietnam Women’s Union discussed three-year implementation of their memorandum of understanding on cooperation for 2014-2017.

A conference to review outcomes of the collaboration between the sides is scheduled to take place in Guangxi in the third quarter of 2017.

In Lang Son, Kong met with her local counterpart Vu Thi Huyen Trang to exchange experience in managing their associations and organising activities targeting women.

In past years, the grassroots-level women’s associations have held a number of friendship exchanges with their respective agencies in Ning Ming, Guangxi, in a bid to boots mutual understanding.

In Quang Ninh, the Chinese guests were received by Nguyen Thi Vinh, head of the provincial chapter of the Vietnam Women’s Union, who described the visit as a boost to the cooperation between the two associations.

They discussed their women’s movements and future cooperation in line with an agreement between Quang Ninh and Guangxi on friendship exchange establishment.

VNA/VNS/VOV/SGT/SGGP/TT/TN/Dantri/VNE