HCM City vows concerted efforts to tighten links with Laos

Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan met with Lao Deputy Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone on October 25, noting that his city is to make concerted efforts to promote cooperation with Lao localities.

Nhan, who is also a Politburo member, welcomed the Lao delegation’s working visit, which is made amid the 40th anniversary of the signing of the Vietnam-Laos Treaty of Amity and Cooperation and the 55th founding anniversary of the countries’ diplomatic relations.

He noted that HCM City will make all-out efforts to enhance cooperation with and assist Lao localities’ development. The city considers this its responsibility for joining entire Vietnam in fostering the two countries’ faithful friendship.

Lauding the flourishing special amity, Deputy PM Sonexay Siphandone thanked HCM City for its close friendship and coordination with Lao localities to organise fruitful cooperation programmes in 2017, greatly helping to educate younger generations on bilateral ties.

He appreciated HCM City’s support to Laos, especially in development assistance, investment and trade, asking the southern city of Vietnam to continue cooperating with Lao localities, particularly in experience sharing, manpower quality improvement and investment, thereby bringing about practical benefits to Laos.-

Free breeding cattle given to victims of mines in Ha Giang

The Vietnam Association for Supporting Unexploded Ordnance/Mine Action (VNASMA) presented breeding cattle to poor households that were affected by mines in northern Ha Giang province on October 24-25.

Lieutenant General Pham Van Khoa, VNASMA Permanent Vice Chairman, handed over the breeding cows, worth 440 million VND in total, to 33 families of landmine victims in mountainous communes of Vi Xuyen, Dong Van and Meo Vac districts who have been struggling to make ends meet. 

The action aimed to create livelihood for the victims, lift them out of poverty and have a better life.

Xuan Lai bamboo receive collective trademark recognition

Bac Ninh province recognised Xuan Lai bamboo and rattan as a local collective trademark at a ceremony in the northern province on October 26, making it the sixth product in the locality to receive Government protection.

Residents of Xuan Lai village in Gia Binh district have made high-quality furniture from smoked bamboo for generations. Last year, Xuan Lai was recognised as a traditional craft village by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. 

The collective trademark recognition is the result of a project stared in 2016 by the local Department of Science and Technology. The department worked with relevant authorities to develop the Xuan Lai bamboo and rattan collective brand. Conferences on building a logo, management and use of the brand were held.

The project helps affirm the traditional value of the craft village, avoid abuses of the local brand and prevents counterfeit products.

Popularising the Xuan Lai bamboo brand also supports local tourism development.

Xuan Lai traditional craft village has a long history. Formerly, villagers made smoked bamboo products for their daily use, such as baskets, beds and chairs. However, the handicraft has been expanded and bamboo has become a product with high economic and artistic value. 

Some 255 local households make handicrafts from smoked bamboo, 45 of which produce high-quality fine art and handicrafts. The village raked in 40-50 billion VND (1.76 million -2.2 million USD) per year from bamboo product sales.

Nguyen Ba Thanh, Director of the provincial Department of Science and Technology, said that collective trademarks were earlier given to Dong Ky wood, Phu Lang pottery, Dai Bai bronze, Ho chicken and Que Vo potato.

Que Vo rice and Xuan Hoi bamboo and rattan are registering for local collective trademark, he said 

Mirror House at Park gets renovated

The deteriorating Mirror House inside Thống Nhất Park in downtown Hà Nội was recently redecorated with ceramic paintings by popular painter Nguyễn Thu Thủy and her colleagues from Tân Hà Nội (New Hà Nội) Company.

The Mirror House, or Laughing House, was built in 1979 with support from the former Czechoslovakia government. The House was built in the shape of a huge snail shell, with 50 mirrors reflecting distorted images of visitors.    

The House was in a state of disrepair with oxidized mirrors, leaking roof and damp walls.

Hà Nội’s authorities assigned the company to renovate the House and turn it into an artistic work engraved with ceramic designs.

The House has total length of 60m and the walls have an average height of 6m. The wall forming the snail shell is ideal to decorate with ceramic paintings.

Thủy decided to take inspiration from the ocean theme to attract children, the House’s main visitors.

“I used images of Hạ Long Sea and Trường Sa’s [Spratly Archipelago] waves for the entire work,” she said.

The walls and floor inside the House were engraved with ceramic balls and gravel of various colours to create a sub-ocean effect with vibrant sea animals. The old mirrors were replaced.

The front wall outside the House was decorated with ceramic paintings of Hạ Long and Trường Sa.

The total ceramic area in and outside the House reached 812sq.m, with more than two million small ceramic pieces.

Preparation for the project was underway for one year before the artists engraved the paintings in three months.

The Việt Nam Fine Arts Association has bestowed Thủy with the For the Sake of Vietnamese Fine Arts Medal.

“It’s a great honour for me to have the opportunity to change the ceramic details of an architecture that holds many memories for Hanoian people following the war,” she said. “I’m even happier as many families are visiting the House again.”

According to the People’s Committee of Ha Giang, unexploded ordnance and mines were left across more than 85,000 hectares of land in the province. By October 2017, over 300 local residents, mostly from ethnic minority groups and difficult backgrounds, had been suffered from mines.

Long An shares experience with Laos in prosecution practices

The southern province of Long An has shared its experience and exercise in prosecution with Laos when director of the People’s Procuracy of Region 3 of Vientiane province Bounkheum Saengdala was visiting the province.

Bounkheum Saengdala, who led a delegation of officials and procurators from the Supreme People’s Procuracy of Laos, on October 25 had a working session with representatives from the province’s People’s Procuracy where they exchanged prosecution practices and judicial control and discussed provisions of Vietnamese law on ensuring the performance of the procuracy.

They also chalked out measures to enhance the procuracy’s works in crime prevention, detention, rehabilitation, and settlement of civil matters.

Lao Deputy PM visits Binh Duong

Lao Deputy Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone on October 25 visited Binh Duong province, an industrial hub of the southern region with close ties with Laos’ Champassak province.

Binh Duong and Champassak provinces have enjoyed effective cooperation on the basis of their friendship agreement signed on November 13, 2006. The two sides signed a cooperation deal for the next five years in September 2016.

In education, Binh Duong provided 65 scholarships for Lao students over the past time, and continues granting scholarships to 10 others from Champassak for the 2016-2020 period. Currently, 33 Lao students are studying in Thu Dau Mot University.

Meanwhile, Binh Duong also sent doctors and medical worker to provide free health care services and medicines for 500 poor people in Champassak.

Binh Duong has carried out rubber plantation and construction material production projects in the Lao province. The Dau Tieng Vietnam-Laos rubber company created jobs for over 1,500 labourers in Champassak, while spending over 17 billion VND on social welfare activities in the Lao province.

Chairman of the Binh Duong People’s Committee Tran Thanh Liem said that in 2016, the province’s average per capita income reached 108.6 million VND (about 4,800 USD), up 8.5 percent year on year.

Its industry sector grew 10.1 percent, while the economic structure was transformed, with industry accounting for 63 percent; service, 23.5 percent; and agriculture, 4.3 percent. The province has 28 industrial parks with total area of nearly 10,560 hectares.

In 2016 and the first nine months of 2017, Binh Duong attracted 4.305 million USD in foreign investment. So far, the province has hosted 3,009 foreign-invested projects with total registered capital of 27.94 billion USD. Binh Duong currently ranks second in 63 localities nationwide in foreign investment attraction.

The Lao Deputy PM discussed experience in dealing with problems in investment attraction and environmental protection as well as labourers.

He and his entourage also visited a milk factory of Vinamilk in Binh Duong.

Vietnam attends ASEM seminar on water resources management in Laos

Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos Nguyen Ba Hung called on the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) to take more specific and drastic actions to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the 21st Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 21) and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. 

He was speaking at the sixth ASEM Seminar on Water Resources Management and Sustainable Development, themed “Integrated water resources management for sustainable development,” in Pakse province, Laos, on October 25. 

The ambassador underlined the need to have comprehensive access to water resources management, integrate water resources management into sustainable development strategies of each country and cooperation areas of ASEM.

Apart from enhancing practical collaboration between localities along the Mekong-Danube Rivers, ASEM should step up partnerships regionally and globally towards sustainable development, Hung said. 

Vietnam has attaches importance and actively contributed to regional and international cooperation mechanisms on sustainable water resources management, Hung noted.

With the support of the UN, the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the World Bank (WB) and development partners, Vietnam and other countries along the Mekong River have implemented cooperation programmes within the framework of the Mekong, he said. 

Vietnam shared the Mekong River countries’ wish of expanding the partnership with the EU and countries along the Danube River through dialogues, initiatives and specific cooperation projects, the ambassador stressed. 

Addressing the event, Lao Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Bounkham Vorachith affirmed that the Lao Government committed to developing and managing water resources in Laos in a synchronous and sustainable manner, and to continuing cooperation within the framework of ASEM. 

During the seminar, which lasts until October 26, the delegates focus their discussions on water resources management at national and regional levels, covering Europe and Asia, measures to develop the water sector between ASEM nations and relevant parties, and cooperation in water affairs between European and Asian nations. 

The discussions, together with initiatives to be implemented in the time ahead, will prepare for the 13th ASEM Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, and the 12th ASEM Summit in Brussels, Belgium, in 2018. 

At the 11th ASEM Summit in Ulan Bator, Mongolia, in July 2016, Asian and European leaders prioritised cross-border water resources management cooperation. 

They agreed to strengthen Mekong-Danube cooperation to turn challenges to water, food and energy security into opportunities for inclusive growth and sustainable development.

Soc Trang reviews contest on Vietnam-Laos special friendship

Some 12,535 entries enlightening Vietnam-Laos special relations have been sent to a contest on studying the history of the bilateral ties held by the Mekong Delta province of Soc Trang.

The contest, launched in July, was organised to mark 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations (September 5, 1962-2017) and 40th anniversary of the signing of the Vietnam-Laos Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (July 18, 1977-2017).

The entries highlighted significant roles of President Ho Chi Minh, President Kaysone Phomvihane, President Souphanouvong and senior leaders of the two Parties and Governments in the developing the bilateral relations in the past five decades.

They also told stories of solidarity between the two nations in the past struggle for independence as well as the current development.

The first prize was presented to the youth union of the provincial police while the second and third prizes belonged to the Soc Trang city Party Committee’ commission for information and education and the trade union of the provincial health sector, respectively.

Thirty five outstanding entries were also awarded certificates of merit.

APEC 2017: Da Nang holds emergency responding drill

The Ministry of Health and the Health Department of the central city of Da Nang on October 25 held a drill on responses to emergency cases during the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week that is slated for Da Nang in November.

The exercise aimed to strengthen the Da Nang-based health sector’s management and steering capacity and performance in dealing with emergency cases as well as its pro-activeness and coordination.

Health experts asked medical chiefs to be posted at revenues of APEC activities to proactively design specific plans to deal with injuries, explosions, mass poisoning incidents, and disasters.

Nguyen Tan Hai, Vice Director of the Da Nang Health Department said that the agency has formed 23 emergency teams to serve the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week, targeting different groups. Of which, 17 teams will be stationed in hotels where senior officials stay, while two teams will serve business partners, two for the media staff, one for the organising staff and one for flight crews.

Alongside, nine standby teams have also been set up in different health care facilities across Da Nang with full equipment and vehicles as well as staff to international standards.
 
Vietnam, Tanzania strengthen defence ties

A high-ranking delegation of the Ministry of National Defence led by Deputy Minister Sen. Lieut. Gen. Tran Don visited Tanzania from October 21-24. 

During his stay in Tanzania, Don met with Tanzanian Minister of Defence and National Service Hussein Mwinyi, and had a working session with the Tanzanian Investment Centre (TIC). 

The Deputy Minister thanked the Tanzanian Government, the Ministry of Defence and National Service, and the TIC for their support in promoting cooperation between Vietnam and Tanzania and their defence ties in particular, including in the telecommunications sector. 

The Tanzanian side promised to urge the Tanzanian Government to accelerate negotiations for the signing of the agreement on investment and double taxation avoidance, and create the best possible conditions for Halotel, a member of Vietnam’s military telecom group Viettel, to operate in Tanzania. 

The Tanzanian minister suggested Vietnam and Tanzania cooperate in delegation exchange, training and defence industry. 

Visiting Halotel, Don hailed efforts made by the company to become a trustworthy mobile network in Tanzania. 

Halotel is the fourth largest mobile network in Tanzania with 6 million subscribers after two years in the country, 14.2 percent of the market share. 

Within the framework of the visit, the delegation visited the Vietnamese Embassy in Tanzania and Halotel’s branch in Zanzibar. On October 24, they left Tanzania for a trip to South Africa.-

Hà Tĩnh gets storm relief

Central Hà Tĩnh Province will receive 3,500 tonnes of rice from national reserve as relief following the recent storm, typhoon Doksuri, which swept through the province in September.

Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc ordered the Ministry of Finance to transfer the rice from national reserves.

The PM insistted that the delivery reach the right people at the right time, referring to those hit hardest.

He also reminded the ministry and the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs to review residents afterwards to see if more aid was needed.

Doksuri caused huge losses in the central province, damaging more than 93,000 houses and public buildings, rupturing 21km of dykes, ruining 4,600ha of vegetables, rice and aquaculture. The province estimated total losses at VNĐ6 trillion (US$264 million). 

Later in September, local authorities asked the Government for 3,000 tonnes of rice. Last year, the province was hit by repeated heavy floods.

Following Doksuri, the province was inundated by floodwater from anotgher tropical depression.

Vietinbank win National Super Cup opener

Vietinbank defeated VTV Bình Điền Long An in the opening match of the Việt Nam Super Cup for the top four volleyball teams on Wednesday.

Vietinbank players celebrate winning VTV Bình Điền Long An in the opening match of the Việt Nam Super Cup yesterday. — Photo mediacdn.vn

Fans jumped for joy as the two teams played a dramatic and interesting game.

Vietinbank won set 1 and 2 with the same score of 26-24. However, Long An girls fought back strongly in the next two sets to win 25-20 and 25-23 to level the score at 2-2.

In the decisive set, Vietinbank beat Long An 15-7 to win the game.

Today, Vietinbank will meet Lienvietpostbank, while Long An face Thanh Hóa.

Thanh Hoa: Nearly 20 billion VND for winter crop restoration after floods

The People’s Committee of central Thanh Hoa province has approved funds of nearly 20 billion VND (869,000 USD) for 2017-2018 winter crop restoration in the wake of recent floods. 

Farming households, cooperatives and businesses that buy corn for animal feed will receive 900,000 VND per ha. Those purchasing chilli and potato varieties will get 1.3 million VND and 12 million VND per ha, respectively. 

Others with at least 5ha of corn and 3ha of chilli, potato, vegetable and bean cultivation will receive a grant worth 3 million VND per ha each. 

In the first stage, 12.8 billion VND will be paid in advance. 

During the recent floods, up to 1,912 ha of rice and 12,043 ha of vegetables were destroyed.

Buses delivered for APEC

Local car maker, Trường Hải Automobile joint-stock company (THACO), has delivered the first batch of 15 45-seat buses to Vietravel to serve as the main transport vehicle at the 2017 Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) Summit in Đà Nẵng on November 5-11.

The local-made buses underwent safety testing and inspections by APEC’s security sub-committee before being put into use during the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week.

According to Vietravel, the APEC-assigned vehicle supplier, more than 100 new cars, vans and buses were bought by the company for transporting delegates during the APEC Summit.

The event will bring together around 15,000 delegates including officials, tourists, CEOs, journalists from 21 APEC member economies.

Last month, the Auto Asia Company handed over the second batch of 258 Audi cars comprising the Audi A4, A6 and Q5 models to serve the 2017 APEC Summit.

The first batch of 131 Audi cars was delivered in April.

Some 400 Audi units will be sent to the National Committee for APEC 2017.

Also yesterday, a rescue and emergency training session was held in the central city in preparation for emergencies during the APEC Summit. 

117 Vietnamese students get Samsung Korean Scholarships

117 third and fourth-year students from six universities in Hanoi, Hue, Danang, and Da Lat will receive Samsung Korean Scholarships funded by Samsung Vietnam.

The total grant will be worth VND6 billion, including monthly allowances, tuition fees, and examination fees for the Test of Proficiency in Korea (TOPIK) certificates. Each scholarship for fourth-year students will be close to VND36 million, and nearly VND71 million for third-year students.

Samsung and six universities also signed a memorandum of understanding to support developing and improving Korean language training covering three major activities: granting scholarships, financing universities’ development funds, and running internship programs for students.

The six universities involved are University of Language and International Studies (under Hanoi National University), University of Social Sciences and Humanities (Hanoi National University), Hanoi University, University of Foreign Languages (Hue University), University of Foreign Languages (Da Nang University), and Da Lat University.

Dialogue, collective bargaining key to harmonious labour relations

Social dialogue and collective bargaining is the foundation for building harmonious labour relations in businesses, heard a workshop in Ho Chi Minh City on October 25.

The event was held by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Dutch Employers’ Cooperation Programme (DECP).

Nguyen Tat Nam, head of the labour, salary and wage division at the HCM City Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, said this city is home to the biggest numbers of businesses and workers in Vietnam. In the past, it had a huge number of strikes, which hurt business and investment attraction.

Since 2014, HCM City has carried out solutions to build harmonious labour relations and ensure the rights and interests of both employees and employers. Its labour confederation has worked to promote trade unions’ capacity, dialogue, negotiation and collective bargaining agreements.

Economic, cultural and social factors that influence labour relations have also been improved, including by building social housing and enhancing workers’ material and spiritual lives, Nam noted.

As a result, strikes in HCM City have been reduced, from 84 involving nearly 29,000 workers in 2015 to 53 with about 18,000 people in 2016, he added.

However, labour relations haven’t reached long-term stability and there are still risks of disputes and strikes, said Tran Hao Tri, deputy head of the labour management division at the HCM City Export Processing and Industrial Zone Authority.

He said that many companies haven’t complied with salary regulations or conferred with their employees before adjusting policies, and paid social insurance premiums late. Some of them haven’t paid attention to their employees’ daily life, working conditions and health. Up to 97 percent of enterprises are small and medium-sized and most haven’t set up trade unions.

Meanwhile, some labourers are still hesitant to voice their opinions at dialogues and workers’ meetings, which could accumulate strain and lead to strikes, Tri added.

Dirk Josse, a coordinator of the DECP’s labour relations development support programme, said labourers are the first and biggest asset of each business. Therefore, building harmonious labour relations helps companies develop sustainably.

Labour relations must be built based on dialogues and negotiations with mutual respect. Employers and employees need to have a good knowledge of law and bargaining skills so as to reach win-win agreements and create stable labour relations, he added.

Sharing her company’s experience, Tran Thi Kim Trang from the domestic affairs control division of the HCM City-based Freetrend company said the firm became operational in 1997 and encountered some strikes in the beginning.

However, the firm hasn’t had any strikes since 2011 thanks to the executive board’s talks with workers before making any decisions relating to their interests. Freetrend also established a division specialising in labour relations to facilitate communication between directors and employees.

If employers, trade unions and employees have mutual understanding, negotiations in solving disputes will be effective, thus minimising damage caused by strikes, she added.

Inferno guts An Giang mattress workshop

A massive fire destroyed a factory specialized in producing mattresses in Binh Hoa industrial park in the southern province of An Giang on October 27, after an explosion was heard in the area.

According to local witnesses, they woke suddenly when they heard a large explosion occur around the Binh Hoa IP at 11pm on October 27.

The blaze raged in billows of flame and smoke in production area of the factory. Four fire engines were mobilized and arrived at the scene to battle the raging fire.

The workshop and its production machinery were totally destroyed by the fire as the company specializes in producing particularly flammable materials.

Some witnesses said the fire was likely due to an electrical fault, which caused several large explosions before the workshop erupted in flames.

Initial damages are estimated at billions of Vietnamese dongs. At present, the cause of the fire is still under investigation. 

Ethnic sports meet starts soon

The tenth national sports festival for ethnic groups will start on November 2 in the northern mountainous province of Hòa Bình.

More than 700 athletes from 17 cities and provinces will take part, including Hà Nội, Vĩnh Phúc, Bắc Giang, Phú Thọ, Lạng Sơn, Lào Cai, Hà Giang and Yên Bái.

Participants will compete in eight events, including football, volleyball, marathon, stick pushing, crossbow shooting and tug of war.

The event aims to improve the health and spiritual life of ethnic groups, promote traditional cultural values and enhance solidarity among the community of Vietnamese groups. It will run until November 10.

Bank teller arrested for allegedly appropriating huge sum

A bank teller of the Vietnam Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Industry and Trade’s (Vietinbank) Long Thành Branch has been arrested for allegedly appropriating billions of Vietnamese đồng.

The Tuổi trẻ (Youth) newspaper reported on Thursday that bank teller Trần Thị Thùy Dung was arrested on Wednesday evening after customers reported that they could not withdraw money from their accounts at the bank because there was no money left in them.

As soon as customers reported the missing funds, the bank managers discovered that Dung had falsified documents to steal customers’ money. She reportedly spent the stolen money on personal things.

Investigation police from the Ministry of Public Secretary have requested victims to assist in the investigation.

Tropical depression forecast to drench southern Vietnam this weekend

A low pressure zone in Vietnam’s East Sea, internationally known as the South China Sea, is likely to strengthen into a tropical depression by October 28 and could intensify to a storm.

The National Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting Center said on October 27 that the depression will trigger heavy downpours in southern provinces over the weekend, with wind speeds projected to peak at 60 kilometers (37 miles) per hour.

A meteorologist who wished to remain anonymous told VnExpress it is possible that the depression will escalate to a storm and hit the entire south of Vietnam, including Saigon.

“HCMC and the south will be drenched in the final days of October and first days of November," he said, recalling the tragedy when Storm Linda hit the south 20 years ago. "At this moment, even when a storm is formed and still weak, we cannot afford to ignore it."

In 1997, Linda was first forecast to be a weak storm, but in just 36 hours, it grew bigger with wind speeds rising from around 50kph to over 100kph, killing 778 people and leaving more than 2,000 missing. It remains the biggest storm to hit the south in the past 100 years.

Vietnam has been suffering from destructive stormy weather once again this year. Floods in northern Vietnam killed at least 26 people and washed away hundreds of homes in August before Typhoon Doksuri, the strongest to hit the country in years, killed at least eight people in the central region last month.

Last year, tropical storms and flooding killed 264 people in Vietnam and caused damage worth VND40 trillion ($1.75 billion), nearly five times more than in 2015.

National Assembly’s fourth session continues in Hanoi

National Assembly deputies listened to a report on feasibility study for a project on land reclamation, compensation and resettlement at Long Thanh international airport and discussed the draft revised Law on Fisheries on October 27 during their ongoing fourth session in Hanoi.

Under the chair of National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, Transport Minister Nguyen Van The presented a feasibility study report on a project on land reclamation, compensation and resettlement at Long Thanh international airport in southern Dong Nai province.

Head of the NA’s Economic Committee Vu Hong Thanh delivered the review of the above report. 

The legislators later discussed in groups the draft amended Competition Law and the report. 

In the afternoon, member of the NA Standing Committee and head of the NA’s Committee on Science, Technology and Environment Phan Xuan Dung presented a report on acquiring feedback on the drafted revised Law on Fisheries. 

Lawmakers gave their opinions on the State policies on fisheries activities, exploitation and protection of fishery stock, fund for fishery stock protection and development, land lease for aquaculture, among others. 

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Cuong also provided more information about issues raised by legislators. 

On October 30, the NA will convene a plenary session to discuss law enforcement in the reform of State administrative apparatus for 2011-2016, which will be live broadcast nationwide.

Exchange event brings Vietnam closer to Indian students

The Vietnamese Embassy in New Delhi, India on October 27 held a meeting with over 100 local high school students and teachers to introduce the nation and people of Vietnam as well as the partnership between the two countries.

The event was part of activities to mark the 45th anniversary of Vietnam-India diplomatic ties and 10 years of bilateral strategic partnership.

Addressing the event, Vietnamese Ambassador to India Ton Sinh Thanh highlighted some characteristics of Vietnam such as area, population, culture as well as the connectivity between the two countries.

He said that there are abundant interesting things of Vietnam and India that Indian students can explore during this exchange programme.

Meanwhile, Cultural Counsellor Vu Thi Anh Phuong briefed participants on the history, culture and people of Vietnam as well as outstanding attainments of the country so far.

The Indian students gave various questions on the political, economic and educational cooperation between the two countries, as well as defence history of Vietnam and the East Sea issues.

They also excitedly joined games on exploring Vietnam.

At the event, Ambassador Ton Sinh Thanh also officially introduced a website on Vietnam-India friendship at www.vietnamindiafriendship.in, and some Vietnam trip programmes for Indian students.

HCM City promotes Russian teaching as demand grows

Since Vietnam signed a free trade agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union - Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia, and Kyrgyzstan - the demand for skilled workers with Russian proficiency has increased.

In recent years, universities in Vietnam have promoted the teaching of Russian and organized cultural exchanges to help students better understand Russia.
More than 200 students are studying Russian at the Ho Chi Minh City University of Social Sciences and Humanity. Each year, the university enrolls an additional 50 to 60 students of Russian. It has cooperated with universities in Russia and organizations in Vietnam to organize cultural exchange programs to further popularize Russian. 

Doctor Nguyen Vu Huong Chi, Head of the University’s Russian language faculty said  “Teachers of the Russian faculty are constantly revising their teaching methodology and curriculum to reflect changes in Russian politics, economics, and culture and to make their lessons more interesting.”

The faculty enrolled 100 new students in this academic year. Doctor Nguyen Thi Hang, Head of the Russian Faculty of the Ho Chi Minh City University of Pedagogy, said “We have helped for teachers and students of our faculty to attend short and long courses at Russian universities. The short courses focus on trade, tourism, and translation in order to help learners take advantage of current job opportunities.”

Thanks to better training in Russian, graduates of the Ho Chi Minh City University of Social Sciences and Humanities are in demand by recruiters.

Ho Chi Minh City seeks IFC’s support in development

Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City’s Party Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan sought the International Finance Corporation (IFC)’s financial support in the city’s development during a reception on October 27 for visiting IFC Senior Country Manager for Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia Kyle F.Kelhofer. 

As the city is planning to build a financial centre and conduct key transport infrastructure projects, Nhan expressed his hope that the guest and IFC will introduce potential investors to the city which has the highest labour productivity and quality in the country. 

Apart from industrial and processing zones, the city has a high-tech park and is building a science park as well as linking up with the Ho Chi Minh City National University to create an urban area of science-technology and innovation, he said. 

Kelhofer, for his part, said IFC wants to help Ho Chi Minh City build a smart city and become a model in not only Vietnam but also in the region. 

As a member of the World Bank, IFC wants to increase loans to Vietnam in service of its development, he said, adding that IFC is able to provide financial assistance and loans without central warranty. 

According to him, the city’s priorities match IFC’s goals so that IFC could offer loans to suitable projects and assist the city in credit ranking.

Binh Phuoc local found illegally caging rare animals

The police on environment crime prevention and fight under the Ministry of Public Security on October 26 detected an illegal detention of rare animals in Loc Ninh district, the southern province of Binh Phuoc.

Le Quang Hanh, a local in Loc Dien commune, were found keeping 16 cobras and 11 pangolins, which are defined as rare species needing urgent protection.

The police also discovered some caged civets, varans and a herd of dozens of monkeys. Most of the animals were rescued.

Hanh admitted that he bought the animals a few weeks ago, adding that the monkeys were from Dong Thap province.

The case is under investigation.

Vietnamese scholar ranked among Asia’s top scientists

A female Vietnamese scholar has been named among this year’s top 100 scientists in Asia by the Singaporean magazine Asian Scientists.

Associate Professor and Doctor Le Kim Phung, 42, vice dean of Faculty of Chemical Engineering at the Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, was included in the Asian Scientist 100 list for her research in producing biofuel from agricultural waste.
In 2016, the intellectual was named a finalist of the ASEAN- United States Science Prixe for Women in the field of applied sciences.

“I was born to a family of farmers. That explains my love for the agriculture sector,” Phuc remarked. “Despite studying technology, I still want my work to involve farming.”

For that reason, Phung’s studies focus on the use of biomass – a product of agricultural waste such as rubber seed oil, ground coffee, and fruit.

Sharing about her past, the scholar stated that she enrolled in the University of Technology in 1994.  There, she proved that women can excel in technology and engineering by obtaining a bachelor degree and gold medal in chemical engineering.

Afterwards, she was asked to continue training at the school and, later, become a lecturer.

As Phung wanted to practice her knowledge, she decided to work for several companies for several years, before returning to the university for a master’s program.

In 2004, Phung attended Sheffield University in the United Kingdom as a research fellow and achieved her doctoral degree in 2008.

After returning to Vietnam, Phung realized the importance of biofuel in reducing the amount of pollutants and the green house effect.

Vietnam has serious potential for producing the clean energy thanks to its abundant agricultural waste.

After returning to the University of Technology in 2009, Phung was tasked with managing a joint biomass project with Japan’s University of Tokyo.

The US$5 million project was aided by the Japan International Cooperation Agency and the Japan Science and Technology Agency.

The Vietnamese academic has released 24 international publications since 2009.

She has also directed dozens of projects and research works regarding renewable energy and material, several of which have been applied in Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta. 

“I could not have succeeded without the help of my university, which has given me many opportunities and provided me with research labs and equipment,” Phung stated.

Mission 2020 leader welcomed in Hanoi

Head of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee’s Economic Commission Nguyen Van Binh had a meeting with Christiana Figueres, leader of the Mission 2020 on climate change response.

Hailing contributions of Figueres to responding to climate change in the world, including Vietnam, Binh affirmed that Vietnam always considers climate change response, power security and green and renewable energy development as priorities in its socio-economic strategy.

He also noted that Vietnam is one of the five most vulnerable countries to climate change.

For her part, Figueres, who acted as the Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change for the 2010-2016 tenure, spoke highly of Vietnam’s efforts and achievements in climate change response. 

She expressed hope that Vietnam will become an example for developing countries in mitigating climate change and transforming energy structure towards greener and more sustainable.

At the meeting, Binh also voiced his hope to receive closer cooperation and support from Figueres in researching and dealing with climate change as well as developing green and renewable energy.

7,000 youths join in blood donation campaign

A blood donation campaign was launched on October 25 by the youth union of the centrally-run business bloc and the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion.

7,000 youths join in blood donation campaign hinh 0 The campaign is taking place in 17 locations of subsidiary units of the union in Hanoi and HCM City until October 28.

It is expected to draw the participation of more than 7,000 youth union members and collect at least 3,000 units of blood.

On the occasion, the organisers presented certificates of merit to 21 organisations and 20 individuals with outstanding achievements in the bloc’s blood donation campaigns over the last five years.

Foreign leaders send sympathy to Vietnam over flooding

Foreign leaders have cabled messages of sympathy to President Tran Dai Quang over great human and property losses caused by the recent floods in Vietnam’s northern and north central provinces. 

They are Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi, Palestinian President and Chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) Executive Committee Mahmoud Abbas, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. 

On this occasion, Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad Al-Malikialso extended sympathy to Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh.

Continuous downpours from October 10 triggered floods and landslides in Vietnam’s northern and north central regions, causing huge losses in humans and property. 

Up to 75 people were killed, 38 injured and 28 others went missing. More than 2,600 households were forced to evacuate.

Expert group on Mekong Delta studies debuts

A group of experts on Mekong Delta studies was introduced in Ben Tre province on October 25, as part of the third Mekong Connect 2017 economic forum.

According to Nguyen Huu Lap, Vice Chairman of the Ben Tre People’s Committee, they are experienced scientists, who have deep knowledge of the region, particularly An Giang, Ben Tre, Can Tho and Dong Thap. Their research areas range from public policies, regional connectivity, and sustainable rural development to management of natural resources and livelihoods. They are expected to give recommendations to boost the region’s growth.

At the event, the experts discussed regional connectivity, focusing on resources and environmental issues, globalisation, smart agriculture, and start-ups. 

Dr Vu Thanh Tu Anh, director of research at the Fulbright Economics Teaching Program in Ho Chi Minh City and head of the Mekong Delta expert group, said the region’s economic growth is lagging behind compared to other regions in Vietnam due to limited resources and weak links among its provinces and cities.

Nguyen Huu Thien, an independent researcher on climate change and the Mekong River, noted the region is one of three deltas most affected by climate change in the world.

He said sand mining has triggered bank and coastal erosions, while well-digging has contributed to land subsidence, necessitating fines for illegal sand and groundwater exploitation.

The third Mekong Connect 2017, themed “Developing local resources in association with technology strength”, convened in Ben Tre on October 26. It was attended by 500 businessmen and more than 100 experts.

Free breeding cattle given to victims of mines in Ha Giang

The Vietnam Association for Supporting Unexploded Ordnance/Mine Action (VNASMA) presented breeding cattle to poor households that were affected by mines in northern Ha Giang province on October 24-25.

Lieutenant General Pham Van Khoa, VNASMA Permanent Vice Chairman, handed over the breeding cows, worth VND440 million in total, to 33 families of landmine victims in mountainous communes of Vi Xuyen, Dong Van and Meo Vac districts who have been struggling to make ends meet. 

The action aimed to create livelihood for the victims, lift them out of poverty and have a better life.

The association also provided the victims and local ethnic people here with free health check-ups and spread awareness of the dangers posed by mines alongside prevention of risks. 

According to the People’s Committee of Ha Giang, unexploded ordnance and mines were left across more than 85,000 hectares of land in the province. By October 2017, over 300 local residents, mostly from ethnic minority groups and difficult backgrounds, had been suffered from mines.

HCM City, Brazil’s Maranhao state boost economic cooperation

Ho Chi Minh City wishes to share experience with Brazil’s Maranhao state in high-tech agriculture, seaport development and high technologies, said Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Le Thanh Liem. 

At a reception for Deputy Governor of Maranhao state Carlos Brandao on October 27, Liem called on the two sides’ leaders to push tourism promotion, explaining both that HCM City and Maranhao state boast great potential for tourism development. 

The official highlighted strong developments in the relationship between Vietnam and Brazil since the two countries established diplomatic ties in 1989, with two-way trade reaching 3 billion USD in 2016, 1.5 times higher than that in 2013. 

Echoing Liem’s views, Carlos Brandao said with similarities in culture and weather and soil conditions, HCM City and Maranhao state have a lot of potential cooperation areas like agriculture, trade, tourism and investment. 

During his stay in HCM City, Carlos Bradao is scheduled to attend the Vietnam-Brazil Trade Forum co-orgagnised by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI)’s chapter in the city, and Maranhao state.

Tertiary training launched for bankers

The United Overseas Bank (UOB) has partnered with the Foreign Trade University (FTU) in Vietnam to launch the finance industry’s first tertiary education programme designed for bankers that serve small businesses.

Speaking at a press conference held on October 25 in the city, Harry Loh, country manager of UOB’s HCM City branch, said that small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) formed the backbone of Vietnam’s economy, accounting for 97 percent of the country’s businesses.

“SMEs are among the most optimistic about their growth prospects within Asia Pacific,” he added.

In addition, four out of five of SMEs sought external finance last year to help them take advantage of business opportunities, according to the CPA Australia Asia-Pacific Small Business Survey 2016 – Market Summary: Vietnam.

As SMEs manage and grow their business, they need to navigate complex areas such as business planning, cash-flow management and international trade risks.

The UOB-FTU Banker’s Executive Certificate Programme combines classroom-based study in credit and risk management, trade financing and regional regulatory frameworks, with practical skills training such as best practices for customer onboarding.

Upon completion of the programme, UOB bankers will be better equipped to help SMEs with their business needs and to overcome the challenges they may face.

Loh also said that UOB was committed to ensuring its bankers have in-depth knowledge and skills required to support the business growth ambitions of its customers.

“We expect that more Vietnamese SMEs will pursue business opportunities within the region as they tap the economic benefits arising from the ASEAN Economic Community,” he said.

“As such, their needs will have to be supported by bankers who possess specialist skills and who understand what it takes to succeed in doing business across borders, whether it is in managing foreign exchange risks or navigating the regulatory landscape in different markets,” he added.

Associate Prof. Nguyen Xuan Minh, director of the FTU HCM City Campus, said the joint training programme would address the increasing demand for skilled professionals in the banking sector.

The programme is specifically designed to improve the skills of bankers as they support Vietnam’s SMEs to seize regional growth opportunities, he said.

Headquartered in Singapore, UOB has a global network of more than 500 offices in 19 countries and territories in Asia Pacific, Europe and North America.

Seminar discusses sustainable Vu Gia – Thu Bon hydropower network

An international seminar took place in the central province of Quang Nam’s Hoi An city on October 27 to discuss sustainable hydropower development and management of the Vu Gia-Thu Bon river basin and Quang Nam-Da Nang coastline.

Participants’ discussions revolved around the hydropower system’s economic benefits as well as impact on society and environment, the integrated management plans for the present and future, and scenarios related to the operation of reservoirs in the Vu Gia-Thu Bon river basin.   

The river basin, which has more than 10,300sq.km with water volume of 20.22 billion cu.m and covers a total length of 225 km in Quang Nam and Da Nang, provides invaluable resources to the 2.5-million population of the two localities.

However, a series of problems – including illegal destruction of riverhead forests, over-exploitation of mineral resources, and decentralised management of rivers and faulty development of hydropower plants – have threatened to destroy the river.

A total of 42 hydropower plant projects have been built on the river, while more than 820 irrigation projects with 72 reservoirs have been constructed in its basin.

The operation of hydropower plants on upstream rivers in Quang Nam often causes a clean water deficit during every dry season in Da Nang.

Assoc. Prof. and Dr. Nguyen Chu Hoi, former Deputy General Director of Vietnam Administration of Seas and Islands said weak management over economic activities in the area have hindered growth of both localities.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and Mangroves for the Future have selected the basin for a pilot inter-provincial integrated management model, Hoi said.

He suggested the model, if proving effective, be replicated in other areas with similar situations in the country.

APEC 2017: Russian expert hails Vietnam’s prestige on international arena

President of the Experts’ Council of the Fund for Scientific Studies “Asia-Europe Initiatives” of Russia Georgi Chofimchuk has hailed Vietnam as a trustworthy partner with increased prestige on the international arena. 

He made the praise in his article on Vietnam’s role in the global economy which was published on the Diplomatic Academy of Russia’s ASEAN Centre website ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Meeting scheduled for the central city of Da Nang from November 6-11. 

Chofimchuk said apart from the APEC, Vietnam has so far joined and played an active role in more than 70 prestigious organisations regionally and globally, notably the United Nations, the World Trade Organisation, the Asia-Europe Economic Union and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. 

He recalled an event in 1965 in the central city of Da Nang where external interference in Vietnam’s war started and the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting 2017 will be hosted. 

After the Soviet Union was dissolved, Vietnam has partnered with and turned the US – the former foe into one of its leading economic partners, which he said, was partly attributable to Vietnam’s flexible external policy. 

Vietnam has established diplomatic ties with over 170 countries worldwide and is a member of more than 650 non-governmental organisations. 

The country has made strenuous efforts to go ahead and seek new opportunities for the goal of global integration and cooperation. 

In the end, Chofimchuk noted that Vietnam was known worldwide in the past for its glorious and heroic history, but now, it has opened a new chapter as a trustworthy partner and a loyal friend in the world’s major affairs.

Meth, heroin trafficker arrested in Hanoi

Police of Hanoi’s Thach That district have arrested a 47-year-old man for allegedly transporting 8,000 methamphetamine pills and two packs of heroin. 

Ta Huy Cuong, from Mai Son district, the northern mountainous province of Son La, was on October 22 found carrying a bag containing methamphetamine pills and heroin at a hostel in Thach That commune, Thach That district, where he stayed with a woman and his own child.

Cuong confessed that he bought 8,000 methamphetamine pills at a price of 83 million VND (3,652 USD) from an ethnic minority person in Son La province to sell in Hanoi and other provinces. He said he will use the two packs of heroin. 

Investigations revealed that earlier, Cuong spent six years in prison for illegally storing drugs.

The case is under further investigation.

Vietnam aids Cambodia’s broadcasting sector

Cambodia’s Ministry of Information held a ceremony in Phnom Penh on October 27 to receive six radio transmitters granted by the Vietnamese Government to local radio and television stations.

At the handover ceremony, Cambodian Minister of Information Khieu Kanharith thanked the Vietnamese Government for assisting the country’s media sector, particularly in providing experts and equipment.

In 2015, also through Radio the Voice of Vietnam (VOV), the Vietnamese Government donated 15 radio transmitters to Cambodia to help local authorities spread the Cambodian Government’s policies and laws among residents.

This year, Vietnam is assisting Cambodia in installing equipment for four radio and two television stations in six provinces. VOV technicians are working to complete the project before the end of the year.

The assistance is part of an agreement of the Vietnam-Cambodia Joint Committee for economic, cultural, and scientific and technological cooperation.

RoK-funded vocational school opens in Phu Quoc

The Vietnam–Republic of Korea Vocational School was inaugurated in Phu Quoc island district in the Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang on October 27.

Covering over eight hectares in Han Ninh commune, the school started its work in January 2016 with a total cost of more than 233 billion VND (10.26 million USD), of which 10 million USD was funded by the RoK-based Teakwang Group and the rest was contributed by the provincial budget and other sources.

It consists of three 3-storey buildings used as practice sections, classrooms, offices, and dormitories.

The school will enroll 207 students for the 2017 - 2018 academic year, majoring in tour guide, receptionist skills, restaurant services, and hotel management.

The school also offers short-term courses on basic skills for office secretaries, makeup artists, and designers.-

Experts: Screenings help infants, mothers

Prenatal and postnatal screening programmes have helped detect health problems of infants in a timely manner, a hospital doctor said at a conference held in Ho Chi Minh City on October 26.

Dr Nguyen Khac Han Hoan of Tu Du Hospital said that a 5-year-old girl, for example, was now healthy and attending kindergarten thanks to timely treatment of congenital hypothyroidism, which affects one of 3,000-4,000 newborns worldwide.

Congenital hypothyroidism results from an absent or underdeveloped thyroid gland or one that has developed but cannot make thyroid hormone, according to the British Thyroid Foundation. Babies with CHT cannot produce enough thyroid hormone for the body’s needs.

Dr Hoan said that if the girl had not been treated, she would have had poor growth, low energy and other health problems.

In 2016, nearly 20 infants at Tu Du Hospital were diagnosed with congenital hypothyroidism.

The screenings at the hospital have also detected other abnormalities in newborns, such as G6PD deficiency, a hereditary abnormality in the activity of a red blood cell enzyme, which can provoke the sudden destruction of red blood cells and lead to hemolytic anemia with jaundice.

Screenings at the hospital have also detected congenital adrenal hyperplasia, which leads to low levels of cortisol and high levels of male hormones, causing development of male characteristics in females, and early puberty in both boys and girls.

“Women’s awareness of prenatal and postnatal screening has improved. They will go to the hospital even if it requires a payment,” Dr Hoan said, adding that Tu Du Hospital had screened more and more pregnant women and babies in recent years.

Last year, 50,586 infants received postnatal screening at the hospital, an increase of 3,640 compared to the number in 2015.

Dr Nguyen Van Thong from Hung Vuong Hospital in HCM City said the number of infants receiving postnatal screenings at the hospital increased year-by-year: 31,267 infants in 2016 from 24,908 in 2015.

The hospital plans to screen three more diseases such as galactosemia, which is an inherited condition in which the body is unable to properly digest galactose, a sugar found in all foods that contain milk.

It will also screen for phenylketonuria commonly known as PKU, an inherited disorder that increases the levels of a substance called phenylalanine in the blood, and congenital adrenal hyperplasia.

Nguyen Van Hung of the HCM City’s Family Planning and Population Division said that 233,425 infants had received postnatal screening since 2011.

Of the number, abnormalities were detected in 967 newborns. More than 90 percent of these received continued surveillance and treatment at home and at health facilities.

More than 2,040 of 13,971 babies with abnormalities found during screening since 2011 have been aborted because of severe fetal defects.

The city plans to have 80 percent of pregnant women and infants receiving prenatal and postnatal screening by 2020, he said.

Pregnant women from families with low income often cannot afford the screening because of the high fees, Hung said, adding that there is also a shortage of qualified human resources for the screening programme.

Some hospitals lack equipment for screening congenital defects and cognitive abilities.

The conference was held by the HCM City’s Family Planning and Population Division.

Lao Deputy PM Sonexay Siphadone continues Mekong delta tour

Lao Deputy Prime Minister Sonexay Siphadone continued his Mekong delta tour with a working visit to the province of Tien Giang on October 26.

At the meeting, Nguyen Van Danh, Secretary of the provincial Party Committee, briefed the guests on local economic potential, culture and history as well as cooperation opportunities in key fields.

Tien Giang has developed fruitful cooperation with Lao localities, particularly Khammouane province. The two localities have signed agreements on cooperation in aquaculture, aquatic products processing, agricultural development, sports-culture and art, and education-training.

The province exported goods worth 278,000 USD to Laos in 2016, up 33.61 percent year on year. The figure exceeded 160,000 USD in the first nine months this year.

It has strong potential for agricultural production. It produces over 1.3 million tonnes of rice per year, and millions of tonnes of fruits of all kinds, over 700,000 tonnes of vegetables.

The locality has also created opportunities for investment in industrial parks and clusters.

The Lao Deputy PM said his visit aims to consolidate the traditional friendship between the two nations, including Tien Giang.

He lauded the province’s socio-economic and cultural progress, and acknowledged its efforts to boost cooperation with Khammouane, thus further tightening the relationship between the two nations.

He also showed his interest in the cooperation potential between Tien Giang and Lao localities, particularly in agriculture, ecotourism development, hoping that the locality will tap the potential in the future.

On the occasion, Sonexay Siphadone visited the Southern Fruit Research Institute and the Research Centre of Medicinal Plants in the Military Zone 9 in the province.

PM asks for prompt measures supporting flood-hit communities

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc asked for prompt measures to be taken to support flood-hit communities’ re-building efforts during a meeting with officials from Thanh Hoa, Hoa Binh, Yen Bai and Son La in Hanoi on October 26.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), heavy rains and flood from August 2-3 and October 9-10 in the four localities caused 91 deaths and missing, while collapsing more than 356 houses with total property loss of over 8.5 trillion VND.

Meanwhile, torrential rains from October 9-12 in Nghe An and some northwest provinces resulted in devastating floods in some rivers, and forced Hoa Binh reservoir to open eight floodgates for the first time.

Floods in the Hoang Long river in Ninh Binh and the Cau Chay river in Thanh Hoa exceeded the record level by 20-30cm, causing overflow and damage in 252 dyke areas.

Serious landslides also affected mountainous localities, especially Tan Lac, Da Bac, Kim Boi districts and Hoa Binh city of Hoa Binh province.

Since early this year, natural disasters has left 245 deaths and missing, collapsing over 4,600 houses, seriously damaging more than 102,00 others across the country. Total property losses amounted to 36.5 trillion VND (more than 1.6 billion USD).

The MARD held that geographical features and deforestation were among reasons behind heavy downpours and floods in northern mountainous region, along with poor forecasting capacity.

It proposed the Prime Minister provide urgent investment for these localities to fix and reinforce dykes, together with improving resilience of public works and efficiency of warning equipment.

Deputy PM Trinh Dinh Dung pointed to the necessity to review all areas prone to flash flood for preventive measures, as well as adopt solutions to maintaining lakes and dams to ensure their smooth operation.

PM Phuc asked for reviewing disaster response activities, from forecasting, directing, fighting and recovering process to draw lessons.

Along with cutting interest rates and rescheduling loans for the locals, the PM asked the localities to pay special attention to the production of the winter-spring rice crop and care for them in the upcoming Lunar New Year festival.

He assigned the MARD to provide varieties for flood-hit communities, while requesting authorized agencies to ensure smooth transportation and supply of power, especially in northern mountainous provinces. Population planning should also be completed towards ensuring safety for people, he added.

He also asked the localities to propose suitable assistance for them to quickly overcome consequences of the disasters and stabilise locals’ lives.

The Government leader also agreed with the MARD’s suggestion to organise a national conference on natural disaster prevention and control in December this year.

Can Tho, Brazil’s Maranhao state partner in rice production, aquaculture

Authorities of the Mekong city of Can Tho and Brazil’s Maranhao state on October 26 signed a letter of intent to set up friendship and cooperation in rice research and production and aquaculture.

The two sides will focus on transferring high-tech production to increase productivity and ensure food safety, while coordinating in analysing the regional demand for rice made in Vietnam and Brazil, thus choosing right varieties.

The two localities will also share information on items subjected to plant quarantine in import-export activities between the two countries, and provide each other with information of plant protection drugs and other chemicals in line with food safety standards of each other.

Addressing the signing ceremony, Carlos Brandao, Deputy Governor of Maranho state, said that Brazil pays special attention to ties with Vietnam in all fields, especially agricultural research, rice cultivation and aquaculture as agriculture is a spearhead sector of Brazil.

He proposed cooperating with Can Tho to build an international rice research institute in the state’s capital city of Sao Luis, in which the state will provide land and support 50 percent of cost for the facility’s construction as well as send experts to work with Vietnamese partners in high tech application in agriculture.

Maranhao is located in the North East of Brazil with the area tantamount to Vietnam and a population of seven million. Owning the second largest deepwater port of Brazil, the state is Brazil’s gateway to the world. It holds high potential of affiliation with Vietnam in rice production, aquaculture, telecommunications, mining, apparel, wood, electronics and animal feed materials.

In 2016, Vietnam and Brazil enjoyed 4 billion USD in trade, with Vietnam’s exports of 1.8 billion USD.

Vo Thanh Thong, Chairman of the People’s Committee of Can Tho lauded goodwill of Maranhao in specifying cooperation activities to strengthen bilateral cooperation between the two localities.

He pledged to coordinate closely with the Maranhao side and the Brazilian Embassy in Hanoi in implementing bilateral partnership.    

Thong also revealed that Can Tho will soon send a delegation to Maranhao to seek specific measures to foster collaboration in all fields.

Heroin traffickers arrested in Bac Ninh

Police of the northern province of Bac Ninh have coordinated with provincial authorities to arrest two men illegally transporting 15 cakes (5kg) of heroin.

Vo Van An, born in 1976 and residing in Ea Drong commune, Buon Ho district of the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak, and Le Van Hung, born in 1978 and residing in Dlie Ya commune, Krong Nang district of Dak Lak, were found hiding the drug in empty spaces of their motorbike for transportation.

At the police office, the two admitted that they were hired to transport the heroin from Hoa Binh to Bac Ninh before they were arrested in Phu Chan commune, Tu Son district of Bac Ninh.

Bac Ninh province has being finalised procedures to start legal proceedings against the two in accordance with the law.

Vietnam, Germany boost cultural exchange

More than 400 archaeological treasures from Vietnam on display at 3 exhibitions in Germany and a concert blending Vietnamese folk music and German romantic verses exemplify the cultural exchange between Vietnam and Germany in recent years.

The 400 artifacts are showcased at the Reiss Engelhorn Museum in Mannheim, Germany. This is the third and final destination of the exhibition part of activities to celebrate the 5th anniversary of the Vietnam-Germany strategic partnership.

Vietnamese and German archeologists spent 9 years putting together the exhibition, accordingto Doctor Nguyen Van Cuong, Director of the Vietnam National Museum of History.  

He said “Germany has helped Vietnam analyze artifacts, identify their chemical and physical makeup, and preserve these archaeological treasures. It also helped to restore endangered thousand-year-old artifacts.”

Early this month, artists of the Dong Kinh Co Nhac troupe performed a concert at the Geothe Institute Hanoi blending Vietnamese folk music and German romantic verses. 

Wilfried Eckstein, Director of the Goethe Institute in Vietnam said “For 20 years, the Goethe Institute has been organizing cultural events. We have introduced German dance art in Vietnam and Vietnamese dance art in Germany.”

Cultural cooperation between Vietnam and Germany has included translation, introduction of literature, theater, and films. 

Historical value of Russia’s October Revolution highlighted

A workshop was held in Hanoi on October 26 to highlight the historical value of the Great October Socialist Revolution of Russia.

The event featured the impacts of the revolution on the development of socialism, communist movement, and international workers over the past century as well as its significance to the “Doi moi” (reform) process in Vietnam.

Head of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee’s Information and Education Commission Vo Van Thuong said the successful October Revolution not only marks the birth of the first socialist state in the world but also creates a premise for the establishment of the socialist system and regime which eliminates all unjust oppression and brings equality and freedom for human being.

The revolution brought new light to Vietnam since the country’s resistance war against the French colonialists were experiencing profound changes and the working class was developing strongly and involving in the political arena, helping put an end to the crisis of national liberation in the early 20th century, he said.

The historical event not only shed light to the revolutionary path of Vietnam but also encouraged workers and peasants to stand up to overthrow the colonialism and feudalism, he added.

After 100 years, the ideal of peace, national independence, democracy and socialism of the October Revolution still shines and fuels the revolutionary spirit of progressive people around the world, including Vietnamese, he affirmed.

The event also looked into historical lessons as well as the success and failure of the socialist realism to seek new, rapid, sustainable and appropriate development on the path of building and safeguarding the nation in the light of international integration, he noted.