Da Nang rewards outstanding athletes at ASIAD 2018

Vice Chairman of the Da Nang People’s Committee Dang Viet Dung (centre) presents rewards to local coaches and athletes who achieved high results at the ASIAD 2018 

The People’s Committee of central Da Nang city organised a ceremony on September 24 to commend and reward its coaches and athletes who had recorded outstanding achievements at the Asian Games (ASIAD) 2018 in Indonesia.

At ASIAD 2018, Da Nang had one coach and 14 athletes competing in swimming, taekwondo, badminton, rowing, tennis, Ju-jitsu, weightlifting and football.

The city’s athletes Pham Thi Hue won a silver medal in rowing while Duong Thi Thanh Minh brought home a bronze in Ju-jitsu.

The athletes’ performances helped Vietnam secure 17th place out of 45 countries and territories in the medal tally at ASIAD 2018, with four gold, 16 silver and 18 bronze medals.

[Infographics: Achievements of Vietnam at Asian Games (ASIAD)]

At the ceremony, Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Dang Viet Dung praised the local athletes for their efforts in training and competing at ASIAD 2018.

He urged the athletes to make greater efforts and step up training to achieve higher performances at the upcoming tournaments, including the National Sports Festival scheduled to take place in Hanoi in November.

The municipal People’s Committee presented certificates of merit and cash prizes worth 65 million VND in total to the most outstanding athletes at ASIAD 2018.

Forum stresses labour productivity in national competitiveness

Nguyen Khoa Hoai Huong, President of the provincial Thua Thien-Hue Confederation of Labour, speaks at the forum on September 24 

The issue of labour productivity attracted much attention at a forum in Hanoi on September 24 that focused on Vietnamese trade unions’ support for the Government’s efforts to improve national competitiveness and sustainable development.

The forum, part of the activities for 12th Congress of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour, was attended by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Chairwoman of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Mass Mobilisation Truong Thi Mai, Deputy Prime Ministers Vu Duc Dam and Vuong Dinh Hue, and many other officials.

Nguyen Khoa Hoai Huong, President of the provincial Thua Thien-Hue Confederation of Labour, said Vietnam’s labour productivity is particularly low compared to other countries in the region and around the world, a factor which is attributable to the lack of skills education, discordant interests between employers and employees, and unreasonable salaries and welfare for workers.

She said authorised agencies should release statistics each year to orient people towards ‘hot’ sectors and jobs so that they can learn and practice the skills necessary for future work. Businesses and employers should devise measures to improve awareness and professionalism amongst workers, Huong added.

Meanwhile, the material interests of employers and employees need to be harmonised and included in collective bargaining agreements so as to enhance workers’ trust in their businesses, she said.

Vice Chairman of the National Assembly’s Committee for Social Affairs Bui Sy Loi said labour productivity in Vietnam is equivalent to 102 million VND (nearly 4,400 USD) per capita at present, proving that labour productivity has increased considerably in recent times. 

If the quality of human resources improves, then labour productivity will rise, he said, attributing the low productivity to the limited training for workers. Although 57 percent of existing human resources have been trained, only 21 percent have received vocational training for a minimum of three months and obtained certificates.

Loi called for vocational training to be stepped up, not only for new workers but also existing labourers, so as to create a high-quality workforce able to meet the requirements of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and the country’s economic integration.

The Government’s plan for social housing development has set a target of 250,000 houses to be built by 2020 for workers, however only just over 10 percent of them have been constructed so far, Loi told the participants.

The official asked the Government to propose that the National Assembly approve a loan package for workers to buy houses, noting that this will help the working class improve their basic living conditions, and thus promote their labour productivity.

Helmets for Kids programme comes to Thai Nguyen province

The Asia Injury Prevention Foundation and the Thai Nguyen Traffic Safety Committee organise the inauguration of the Helmets for Kids programme at Hoa Thuong 1 Primary School (Photo Courtesy of AIP Foundation)

The Asia Injury Prevention (AIP) Foundation has taken its Helmets for Kids programme to the northern mountainous province of Thai Nguyen, to make the road to school safer for local children.

The AIP, a non-governmental organisation, coordinated with the Thai Nguyen Traffic Safety Committee to organise its inauguration at the province’s Hoa Thuong 1 Primary School on September 24.

With sponsorship from Johnson & Johnson, Helmets for Kids will continue in Gia Lai in the Central Highland, Yen Bai in the north and Quang Nam in the central region. A total of 5,075 helmets will be donated to 31 schools in the four provinces.

By expanding the programme to Thai Nguyen province this year, along with various teacher training workshops, the programme expresses its concern not only about helmet quality but also Vietnam’s next generation, said Trinh Thu Ha, deputy chief of the Office of the National Traffic Safety Committee.

Traffic accidents are a global issue of public concern, she said, adding that around 1.3 million people were killed and 50 million others were injured by traffic accidents.

According to the official, in Vietnam, traffic accidents have dropped in terms of numbers of deaths, injured and cases in recent years. However, traffic accidents have continued seeing complicated developments as many people are still killed and wounded.

Tan Hoang Long, chief of the Office of the Thai Nguyen Traffic Safety Committee, said the local economy has been improving rapidly, leading to an increase in motor vehicles on the road. The consequence of more two-wheelers and cars in the area is something to be concerned about.

“We hope that "Helmets for Kids" will expand to more schools in Thai Nguyen province during the upcoming year,” he said.

Hoang Na Huong, Deputy CEO of AIP Foundation said: “Danger can appear anywhere, at any time, and child fatality rates in road crashes keep increasing. We hope to expand this meaningful project to create a safer road to school for children.”

Three orientation and teacher training workshops were held from May 18 to June 6 to provide teachers and parents with road safety instructions and correct helmet use. 

Meanwhile, Nguyen Quang Trung, External Affairs Director of Johnson & Johnson Vietnam, said the project is one of the company’s contributions to the community. Johnson & Johnson expects to carry out more similar projects to ensure safety for Vietnamese children.

Mid-Autumn Festival held for Vietnamese children in Czech Republic

At the event 

The Vietnamese community across the Czech Republic celebrated the Mid-Autumn Festival for children from September 21 with lion dances, music performances and gift giving. 

In major cities such as Prague, Ostrava, Brno and Plzen, hundreds to more than 1,000 people attended each of the events. 

Notably, certificates of merit were presented to children with outstanding academic and extracurricular performances. 

This year, the Central Committee of the Vietnamese Association in the Czech Republic approved the presentation of certificates of merit and thousands of gifts to children, part of activities to encourage kids to study. 

The Vietnamese Embassy in the Czech Republic, leaders of the Union of Vietnamese Associations in Europe and the Vietnamese Association in the Czech Republic also partnered in the effort. 

Hoang Dinh Thang, Chairman of the Union of Vietnamese Associations in Europe and Honourary Chairman of the Vietnamese Association in the Czech Republic, said via the festival, Vietnamese children are expected to speak and improve Vietnamese language skills, thus preserving traditional customs. 

The Vietnamese community is currently the third largest foreign community in the Czech Republic after those from Slovakia and Ukraine.

Dengue fever cases in Hanoi fall 96.8 percent

Chemical spraying to prevent dengue fever 

Hanoi has reported 955 cases of dengue fever in 261 communes, wards and towns across its 30 districts from the outset of the year, a year-on-year decrease of 96.8 percent.

The Department of Health said the city detected 136 new dengue fever cases during September 17-23.

As the city is now in peak season for dengue fever (from September to November), localities must continue taking preventive measures like cleaning up the environment and killing mosquito larvae.

By September 1, nearly 45,600 dengue fever cases had been reported nationwide, according to the Ministry of Health, down more than 30 percent compared to the same period last year. However, hospitals nationwide have seen an increase in the number of patients with severe shock caused by dengue fever. 

Nine people so far this year have died from dengue fever, most of them live in southern provinces like Ca Mau, An Giang, Tra Vinh and Dong Nai.

Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral disease. The virus is transmitted by female mosquitoes mainly of the species Aedes aegypti and to a lesser extent, Ae.albopictus. Dengue is widespread throughout the tropics, with variations in risk influenced by rainfall, temperature and unplanned rapid urbanisation.

In the past week, the city also saw 12 more cases of measles and 46 cases of hand-foot-mouth disease, bringing the total cases of these two from the beginning of the year to 389 and 1,586, respectively.

Prehistoric caves discovered in Tuyen Quang province

Archaeologists have discovered cultural traces of prehistoric people in limestone caves in Chiem Hoa district of the northern province of Tuyen Quang, said Assoc. Prof. Dr. Trinh Nang Chung of the Vietnam Institute of Archaeology on September 24.

Chung, who was also head of an archaeological delegation to Tuyen Quang in July, said the evidence was found in Pu Chua cave in Minh Quang commune, and Ngan and Khi caves in Phuc Son commune.

The relics are located on low limestone mountains and close to rivers or streams. Pu Chua cave is on the southeast side of a large mountain, 50m above the foot of the mountain. 

The cave’s surface is over 100sq.m wide and is a favourable location for human habitation. 

Archaeologists also discovered a collection of artefacts near the cave’s entrance, including stone axes and ceramics. 

Pu Chua cave is said to be one of the living grounds prehistoric people from the New Stone Age, which dates back to around 4,000 years ago. This is the first time that traces of people in the era have been discovered in Chiem Hoa district.

Experts also found dozens of ancient tools on the surface of archaeological sites in Ngan and Khi caves. The artefacts inside showed that the caves could have been home to inhabitants in the Stone Age – even earlier than Pu Chua cave.

With newly-discovered evidence, Chiem Hoa district is believed to hold huge potential for future archaeological surveys. Relevant agencies are planning an excavation in Pu Chua cave and a survey in Chiem Hoa’s limestone district in the coming time.

International symposium looks to improve hearing health

The 19th Hearing International meeting opened in Ho Chi Minh City on September 24, gathering over 300 leading experts from the US, Thailand, Myanmar, India, among other countries.

Speaking at the annual event, Suchitra Prasansuk, president of the non-governmental charity organisation Hearing International, cited WHO statistics which show the number of people suffering deafness and hearing problems increased from about 250 million in 2010 to some 360 million in 2015.

Now one in every six persons in the world encounters the health problem, which is yet to receive proper attention, she added.

The official attributed the increasing number particularly to the habit of wearing a headphone for a long period of time among young people.

Otitis media, which is a group of inflammatory diseases of the middle ear, is blamed as a popular cause of hearing problems in Vietnam.

At the meeting, Associate Professor Tran Phan Chung Thuy, deputy head of the Ear-Nose-Throat Hospital of Ho Chi Minh City, said the diseases could happen to babies of between three and 18 months old and prompt treatment is required to ease complications.

Thuy stressed that the diseases can be prevented via vaccination but not many Vietnamese parents are aware of it.

Participating experts also discussed other ear-nose-throat diseases and got updated on the treatment of the balance disorder.

Community organisations contribute to Vietnam’s sustainable HIV control

Community-based organisations participating in a USAID-funded project on HIV/AIDS prevention and control have made great contributions to the work in Vietnam thanks to their new ways of doing.

The information was made at a workshop recently held by the Centre for Promotion Quality of Life (LIFE) in Ho Chi Minh City.

To raise the efficiency of the project titled “Strengthening Community Connections for HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control in Southern Provinces” (C-Link), LIFE and community-based organisations signed cooperation agreements with HIV/AIDS prevention and control centres in Ho Chi Minh City, Khanh Hoa, Dong Nai, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Binh Duong and Tay Ninh.

Sharing the effectiveness of working with community-based organisations, Director of the Centre for HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control of the central province of Khanh Hoa Tran Van Tin said that through specifying target groups, the project has approached many high-risk patients, detected new ones and encouraged them to take antiretroviral (ARV) treatment, and kept a close watch on their treatment progress.

Without the participation of community-based organisations, the province will face difficulties in controlling HIV/AIDS, Tin affirmed.

LIFE Director Nguyen Nguyen Nhu Trang said that initiatives by community-based organisations have helped increase the rate of HIV testing and the rate of people with HIV taking ARV treatment within 3-4 years.

Timothy Liston, US Deputy Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City, said that with the support of the US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), Vietnam has made great strides in HIV/AIDS prevention and control in the past two decades.

He attributed the result to joint efforts of the Vietnamese Government and community-based organisations.

He expressed his belief that with the continued support of the US, Vietnam will achieve the 90-90-90 goals in HIV/AIDS prevention set by the United Nations by 2020, and completely eliminate the epidemic by 2030.

The 90-90-90 goals mean that by 2020, 90 percent of HIV-infected people will know their infection status, 90 percent will receive ARV drugs and 90 percent of people taking ARV drugs will have durable viral suppression.

12th Vietnam trade union congress kicks off in Hanoi

At the opening session of the 12th Congress of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour  

As many as 947 delegates representing over 10 million members of all-level trade unions nationwide on September 24 gathered in Hanoi for the 12th Congress of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL). 

This is a major political event, a big festival of the working class and trade union organisations of Vietnam which determines important issues related to employees and trade union activities in the next five years. 

The Congress held a minute’s silence to remember President Tran Dai Quang, who passed away on September 21 in Hanoi.

In the opening session, the Congress voted to elect 30 members to the Presidium, five to the Secretariat and nine others to the Examination Board. The Congress approved the work programme and its regulations, and reported the results of verification of the status of delegates. 

Speaking at the opening ceremony, President of the 11th VGCL Bui Van Cuong highlighted Vietnam’s economic development over the past five year with the economy’s improved scale and macro-economic stability 

A number of new representative rights of the trade union have been established, while many legitimate interests of employees have been concretised, he said. 

The contingent of labourers continues to develop in both quantity and quality, contributing significantly and directly to the nation’s development, he said. 

He hailed great efforts made by trade union organisations at all levels in overcoming difficulties and challenges, in innovating their operations and in devising new policies and solutions to basically complete objectives and tasks set forth at the 11th Congress. 

The organisations’ activities have focused on giving practical benefits to union members and labourers, he said, adding that trade union organisations are constantly growing, promoting their role as trustworthy representatives of the labour force, a strong supporter of the Party, and a bridge between the Party and State with labourers. 

The position of  trade unions in society has been improved, Cuong stressed, noting that  trade union activities and the worker movement have made important contributions to the country's socio-economic development, strengthening national defense and security, building the strong and pure political system, thus  increasing the position of Vietnam in the international arena. 

He stated that the 12th Congress aims to give objective and comprehensive assessment of achievements; point out limitations and learn from lessons of the 2013-2018 term, thus defining targets, directions, tasks and solutions of the trade union in the next five years.

The Congress also reviews the leadership of the 11th VGCL’s Executive Committee; make amendments and supplements to the Trade Union Charter; and elect a new Executive Committee, Cuong said. 

During the opening session, delegates were delivered with a report reviewing the leadership and direction of the Executive Committee of the 11th VGCL and reports on amendments and supplements to the Charter of the Vietnam Trade Union; and discuss this content. 

Previously, the Presidium of the VGCL and the delegates paid tribute to President Ho Chi Minh at his Mausoleum, and offered incense at the Monument for Heroic Martyrs at Bac Son street.

Vietnam Stage Day celebrated

The Vietnam Association of Stage Artists (VASA) held a celebration to mark its traditional day, the 12th day of the eighth lunar month, in Hanoi, on September 21.

The annual celebration is a chance for artists from across the country to get together to pay tribute to the theatre’s ancestors who laid the foundation for the national art forms and contributed to their development through the years.

The event featured the participation of a large number of artists of all generations from across the country.

On the occasion, Politburo member, Secretary of the Party Central Committee (PCC) and Head of the PCC Organisation Commission, Pham Minh Chinh, sent a bouquet of flowers.

At the ceremony, the VASA honoured older artists who have contributed to the theatre over their careers and awarded the 2017 Arts Prize, including: one A, three B, nine consolation prizes for excellent theatre screenplays; two B prizes for excellent research books; one B prize, four consolation prizes for best stage performance; a music award for musicians, five excellent actors in categories of cheo, tuong and folk music.

Online conference on fire prevention, fighting and rescue held

The Ministry of Public Security organised an online conference on fire prevention, fighting and rescue in Hanoi on September 21.

The event was attended by Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung.

According to reports at the conference, recently, under the leadership of the Party Committee, the direction and cooperation of ministries, branches, local authorities in the work of fire prevention, fighting and rescue has achieved many important results, helping to raise the effectiveness and efficiency of state management over fire prevention and fighting and rescue, and minimising fire incidents.

Addressing the conference, Deputy PM Trinh Dinh Dung asked the ministries, branches and localities act within the scope of their responsibilities and power to take various measures to overcome shortcomings and promote the efficiency of their fire prevention, fighting and rescue operations.

It is necessary to focus on reviewing shortcomings in the legal corridor in order to propose amendments, supplements and the promulgation of legal documents, technical norms and standards in the field of investment and construction, and the work of fire prevention, fighting and rescue, he added.

In addition, it is necessary to improve the efficiency of legal knowledge on the work of fire prevention, fighting and rescue.

Đồng Tháp stops sowing winter-spring rice to avoid flood damage

Rice fields are flooded in Đồng Tháp Province’s Tháp Mười District. 

Đồng Tháp Province is urging farmers to stop sowing the winter-spring rice as floodwaters are rising rapidly and could overflow embankments into rice fields. 

The annual floods, which are caused by the rising levels of the Mekong River, are threatening rice fields with low embankments in Đồng Tháp, one of the hardest flood-hit provinces in the Mekong Delta.

Farmers in Đồng Tháp have planted more than 110,000ha of winter-spring rice, reaching 86 per cent of their target.

In Tháp Mười District, more than 36,400ha of winter-spring rice has been planted, accounting for the largest area in the province.

Of the figure, farmers have harvested more than 2,000ha so far, but 8,000ha are threatened by flood water.

To protect embankments, district authorities have set up 107 teams with 900 people.

Nguyễn Văn Lâm, whose rice field is threatened by floods in Tháp Mười’s Thạnh Lợi Commune, said he and other farmers were worried about the collapse of embankments.

If embankments break, his rice fields will be wiped out.   

On September 12, the collapse of an embankment destroyed 150ha of rice that was about to be harvested in Thạnh Lợi Commune’s Hamlet 2, causing total damage of VNĐ4 billion (US$172,000).

Đoàn Văn Tuấn, deputy chairman of the Thạnh Lợi Commune People’s Committee, said there were a high number of areas threatened by floods.

Most old embankments are flooded and the commune has had to consolidate them to  protect rice. 

This year, farmers in Đồng Tháp planted the winter - spring rice later than normal and floods arrived earlier so the number of winter-spring rice areas threatened by floods is high.

In areas where winter-spring rice fields are in the ripening stage and are threatened by floods, farmers have harvested them early to avoid flood damage.

Lê Văn Duyên, who planted 5ha of winter-spring rice in Tháp Mười District’s Thạnh Lợi Commune, harvested rice five days earlier than scheduled.

He planted the winter-spring rice according to the district’s recommended schedule but floods came a month earlier this year.

The early harvest has caused a decline in yield of 40 per cent compared to last year’s winter-spring rice crop, according to farmers.

Nguyễn Văn Công, director of the province’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said localities should strictly monitor rice planting schedules and forecasts, and inspect embankments where rice is the ripening stage.

If the embankments are severely threatened by floods, localities should support farmers so they can harvest their rice early to avoid damage. 

Ukraine-Vietnam centre for education, research cooperation launched

The Ukraine-Vietnam Centre for Education Cooperation and Scientific Research has been set up at the Odessa National Polytechnic University of Ukraine (ONPU) under the leadership of Dr. Nguyen Thi Khanh Tien, a lecturer of the ONPU Faculty of Mathematics and Informatics.

Addressing the launching ceremony, ONPU representatives said that the centre aims to coordinate cooperation activities between the university and Vietnamese universities and education organisations.

The major tasks of the centre include supporting science-technology collaboration activities as well as the exchange of scientific research outcomes with partner universities, and promoting affiliation in students and lecturer exchange between ONPU and Vietnamese universities.

It will also cover cultural and social cooperation and exhibition events, and connect the ONPU and the Vietnamese Embassy in Ukraine.

Addressing the event, Vice Rector of ONPU Shobnik Vyacheslav recalled the process of cooperation education and science research between Ukraine and Vietnam. Since 1967, the university has helped Vietnam train engineers.

Many engineers trained in the university have held important positions in Vietnam, he said, adding that he hopes to receive more Vietnamese students in the future.

The establishment of the centre will help the two sides foster collaboration in researching and training, while giving chances for scientists of both countries to work together.

Pham Duc Nghia from the Vietnamese Embassy in Ukraine said that Vietnam highly values the quality of Ukraine universities and the ONPU in particular.

Nghia lauded the idea of founding the centre, describing it as a practical work and a symbol for the sound partnership between the two countries, which will contribute to promoting the comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Ukraine in the future.

Huge fire destroys HCM City broom factory

At 3pm on September 23, a large fire broke out at a broom factory in a residential area on Vuon Lai road, An Phu Dong ward, district 12 in HCM City.

The blaze rapidly engulfed the workshop which contained fabric scraps used to produce brooms as huge plumes of black smoke could be seen billowing into the sky from more than 10km away.

As soon as the alarm was raised, firefighters rushed to the scene to tackle the blaze. After 14 hours, the fire was brought under control but clouds of black smoke were still spilling from the factory.

Firefighters continued to douse the smouldering ashes to ensure the fire was completely extinguished.

According to preliminary information, the 500-square metre workshop and all assets and machinery contained within were completely destroyed.

There were no reports of fatalities from the fire. The cause of the fire has been attributed to a short circuit.

100th year of memorial stele for Phan Boi Chau’s supporter marked

The memorial stele of doctor Asaba Sakitaro. 

A ceremony has taken place in Fukuroi, Shizuoka, Japan to mark the 100th year since the day Phan Boi Chau, a Vietnamese nationalist figure, built a memorial stele for doctor Asaba Sakitaro who had given him great support when he was in Japan.

The ceremony was held on September 22 with representatives from Shiuoka prefecture, Nghe An province where Chau was born, descendants of Phan Boi Chau and doctor Asaba Sakitaro, local people and Vietnamese expats living in Japan in attendance.

Phan Boi Chau, born in 1867, was a pioneer of the Dong Du movement in early 20th century that encouraged young Vietnamese to go East to study and seek ways to save the nation. 

Meanwhile, Asaba Sakitaro was born in 1910 in Higashi Asaba village, Fukuroi. He is a famous doctor who established Odawara Hospital, where he met Chau.

In response to the Dong Du movement, hundreds of Vietnamese students went to study in Japan in a hope that they could help reform the country in return. When the movement faced difficulties in 1908, Chau received whole-hearted support from doctor Asaba Sakitaro and people in Fukuroi. 

After leaving Japan, Chau continued his activities in several countries. In 1918, he returned to Japan and learnt that his friend passed away nine years ago. Chau and people in Fukuroi raised funds for a memorial stele of the late doctor near his tomb, which now becomes a cultural heritage of the city.

Although the Dong Du movement failed and those students had to go home, what Asaba Sakitaro and Fukuroi residents had done for Chau and his followers remains forever in the Vietnamese people’s hearts.

Speaking at the event, Phan Thieu Cat, a descendant of Phan Boi Chau, said he was touched by and grateful for doctor Asaba and the local villagers for their support to him in the resistance movement against the French. He wants to together with his families continue to nurture the friendship between the two countries and peoples. 

Krong Pa district ready to develop solar power

Krong Pa district in the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai is well-positioned to develop solar power thanks to its year-round sunny weather. 

According to researchers, Krong Pa has an annual average temperature of more than 25 degrees Celsius, with about six hours of sunshine a day, or about 2,500 hours each year. 

To tap this advantage, the province has allowed the survey of 17 projects, two of which have been approved by the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

Construction on Krong Pa solar power plant, invested by Gia Lai Power JSC, is underway at a total cost of more than 1.4 trillion VND (60.8 million USD), with a planned capacity of 49MW on 70ha.

Chairman of the district People’s Committee To Van Chanh said the locality is supportive of clean and renewable energy projects, with solar power seen as more effective than hydropower in terms of land use and environmental impact. 

Ba Ha river hydropower plant with a capacity of 220MW covers 1,800ha. Meanwhile, each MW of solar power requires about 1.3ha, even on land unsuitable for farming. 

Ngo Nam Thai, deputy head of the management board for the Krong Pa solar power project, said the plant will sit on a stone hill. Once operational in November 2018, it will add more than 100 million kWh of electricity per year to the national grid. 

A similar project is conducting site clearance in the district and when completed will raise total capacity of solar power to roughly 100 MW. 

The locality proposed launching the remaining projects to reduce poverty. 

As the poorest locality in Gia Lai, Krong Pa is home to eight specially disadvantaged communes out of a total of 14.

Conference reviews Ninh Kieu development as hub of Can Tho

The Party Committee of the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho held a conference on September 24 reviewing the 2011-2017 implementation of Resolution No.05 on the development of Ninh Kieu district into a metropolis. 

Speaking at the event, Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Vo Thanh Thong lauded the city’s political system and Ninh Kieu district for gradually turning Ninh Kieu into a political, trade, tourism, service, culture, and education hub of the city. 

Thong suggested that the district build synchronous and modern urban transportation infrastructure, as well as improve its services and trade towards making it a safe urban area with a healthy cultural lifestyle. 

Secretary of the municipal Party Committee Tran Quoc Trung asked for raising public awareness of the role of Ninh Kieu district in the development process, pooling resources for socio-economic infrastructure, and tapping into the district’s full potential. 

While devising a master plan, he suggested that Ninh Kieu should step up its fields of strength with high added-value, such as services, trade, finance, credit, telecommunications, transportation, and insurance. 

Further attention should be paid to social welfare, environmental protection, and local livelihood improvement, he said, adding that Ninh Kieu must continue accelerating administrative reform in many fields, build a qualified workforce to meet development demands in a new context, fight corruption and wastefulness, and create a favourable business environment. 

According to Chairman of the People’s Committee of Ninh Kieu district Duong Tan Hien, trade-service-tourism now accounts for 70.42 percent of the local economy, followed by industry-construction and handicrafts with over 29 percent. 

The rate of poor households was also reduced to 0.7 percent in late 2017.

Ninh Binh always proud of late President Tran Dai Quang

President Tran Dai Quang greets Vietnamese Heroic Mothers at a meeting in Vung Tau city on July 19 

he Party organisation, soldiers, and people of Ninh Binh have always been proud of late President Tran Dai Quang, an exemplary figure from the northern province, said Secretary of the provincial Party Committee Nguyen Thi Thanh.

Writing about the late State leader, Thanh said that President Quang was born in a poor area along the coast of Kim Son district of Ninh Binh province. 

With a large family and the early death of his father, he had a tough childhood. However, in the memory of his teachers and friends from his hometown, he was a smart boy with great energy, enabling him to overcome difficulties and achieve excellent academic performance.

Upon leaving his hometown, he continued his studious efforts to become the Minister of Public Security.

As the perfect picture of a tolerant, experienced, and understanding leader, he was held in the minds of officials and soldiers for many generations, said Thanh.

Serving as the State President of Vietnam, President Quang vowed to exert his best efforts to serve the nation and its people. 

He left a strong impression on other heads of state and foreign friends as a composed, spirited, and knowledgeable leader when chairing the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting 2017.

Thanh noted that in any position, the leader showed his warm sentiments to his hometown in Ninh Binh. The late President had once stated that the sentiments of the people of the whole country, and soldiers and people of Ninh Binh province in particular, were a great motivation for him to work hard and fulfil his assigned tasks.

The sincere heart of the late President to his motherland was shown through his wish to further develop the province and the nation as a whole, wrote Thanh.

“As the Minister of Public Security and as the State President, he provided many helpful ideas of macroscopic significance, contributing to the growth, social security, and poverty reduction for the province,” she wrote.

During his trips to his hometown and many other localities nationwide, the late President paid close attention to policy beneficiaries, the elderly, and children.

As part of efforts to nurture and encourage talents and build a learning society in Ninh Binh, he founded the Dinh Bo Linh fund to encourage educational activities and support local talents. Every year, despite his busy schedule, he spent time directly presenting awards to local students, she recalled.

In conclusion, Thanh affirmed that the Party organisation, soldiers, and people of Ninh Binh are determined to make the locality more prosperous and civilised to meet the trust and expectations of the late President and the aspirations of local people.

“Images of the late President and his devotion will always be kept in the minds of Party members, soldiers, and people of Ninh Binh,” Thanh wrote.