More National Day greetings to Vietnamese leaders

Top leaders of the Party, State, Government and National Assembly of Vietnam have received more messages of congratulations from their foreign counterparts on the 72nd anniversary of National Day (September 2). 

President of the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) Kim Yong-nam sent a message of congratulations to President Tran Dai Quang, while DPRK Premier Pak Pong-ju cabled a congratulatory message to Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc. 

Belarusian President A. Lukashenko cabled congratulatory messages to Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, President Tran Dai Quang and PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc. 

President of the National Assembly of Nicaragua Gustavo Eduardo Porras Cortes and Speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan Sardar Ayaz Sadiq conveyed congratulations to NA Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan. 

Leaders of other countries such as Armenia, Iceland, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Mongolia, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland and Uzbekistan also congratulated the Vietnamese leaders on this occasion. 

Also, Armenian Foreign Minister E. Nalbandia, Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Affairs Didier Reynders, Mongolian Foreign Minister Tsend Munkh Orgil, Romanian Foreign Minister Teodor Melescanu, and Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Tilak Marapana also cabled messages of congratulations to Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh.

Hoa Binh-Son La highway added to national planning scheme

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has approved the supplementation of a highway connecting northern mountainous provinces of Hoa Binh and Son La to the planning scheme for highway development until 2020 with a vision to 2030.

PM Phuc asked the provincial People’s Committees of Hoa Binh and Son La to inform the public and localities about the planning scheme, and map out plans to allocate and manage land for the road.

He assigned the People’s Committee of Son La to coordinate with Hoa Binh and relevant agencies to preparen for the investment of Hoa Binh-Moc Chau highway project in the public-private partnership form in order to evaluate its feasibility, and then mobilise resources for the project.

The Hoa Binh-Son La highway starts from Trung Minh commune, Ky Son district in Hoa Binh and ends at Le Duc Tho street in Chieng Sinh commune of Son La city.

The road will links two tourism hubs of the region, creating a high quality road system connecting the northwestern mountainous region and Hanoi as well as the northern key economic region.

It is also expected to ease congestions on National Highway 6 running through Hoa Binh and Son La, contributing to socio-economic development in the two provinces.

Mekong Delta sustainable development conversion model to be discussed

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc held a working session with relevant ministries, branches and agencies on September 5 to direct meticulous preparations for an upcoming conference that looks to shape a sustainable development transformation model for the Mekong Delta to adapt to climate change.

Based on the Letter of Intent inked with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte during the visit to the Netherlands from July 8-11, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc ordered the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE) to organise the conference to seek strategic measures for the large-scale transformatiion model for the sustainable Mekong Delta region with a vision until 2100.  

The event, which is scheduled in the end of September, is expected to deal with effective coordination mechanisms for interregional and interdisciplinary activities in the region, resources needed for the conversion model, as well as capital solutions.

As the conference is expected to welcome 500 delegates, who are experts, development partners, scientists and enterprises, adequate preparation is required, the Government leader said, stressing that solutions given at the conference must have high content of science and technology.

In addition to suitable financial resources and mechanisms, impending measures as well as long term ones to ensure livelihoods for local people must be put forth at the event, he said.

He asked the MoNRE, the Government Office, Can Tho city and relevant ministries to set up specific projects and plans to ensure a successful event.

The Mekong Delta, home to 18 million Vietnamese people, is an important economic region of the country. People along the Mekong River, including those from Cambodia, Laos and Thailand, depend much on the river for food and livelihoods. However, humans’ activities together with critical climate change like drought, saltwater intrusion and landslides have left negative impacts on local sustainable development.

Vietnamese Embassy celebrates National Day in Laos

The Vietnamese Embassy in Laos hosted a banquet in Vientiane on September 4 to celebrate the 72nd National Day of Vietnam (September 2) and the 55th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties (September 5). 

In his speech, Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos Nguyen Ba Hung expressed gratitude for the Lao Party, State and people for assisting Vietnam over the past 72 years.  

Lao Foreign Minister Saleumsay Kommasith said since the establishment of diplomatic ties 55 years ago, the friendship and solidarity between Laos and Vietnam have kept growing. 

Laos will do their best to uphold the traditional ties and special solidarity founded and nurtured by Presidents Ho Chi Minh, Kaysone Phomvihane and Souphanouvong and generations of Party and State leaders and people, he said. 

Participants at the event enjoyed music performances celebrating Vietnam and bilateral friendly ties.

Nghe An develops biosphere reserve

The central province of Nghe An has taken measures to develop the Western Nghe An Biosphere Reserve effectively and sustainably.

An inter-sector cooperation mechanism was developed to protect, preserve and develop ecosystem services, focused on establishing a management board for the Biosphere Reserve, completing relevant legal frameworks, biodiversity preservation, and ensuring economic development and household livelihoods.

The locality has also made plans for the Reserve and developing a biodiversity corridor.

Numerous projects have been implemented to ensure sustainable livelihoods while protecting the environment and preserving local culture.

Intangible and tangible cultural and historical relic works have been upgraded with funding and the community’s involvement.

The locality also called on central agencies and international organisations to establish platforms for biosphere reserves nationwide to support each other, as well as boost cooperation between the country’s biosphere reserve system and the systems of reserves and heritage sites in Vietnam and the world, investment in conserving and developing Western Nghe An Biosphere Reserve.

Western Nghe An is the country’s largest Biosphere Reserve, covering nearly 1.3 million hectares, connecting three core areas, namely the Pu Mat National Park, the Pu Huong nature reserve, and the Pu Hoat nature reserve.

Dengue prevention efforts to continue

The number of dengue patients in the capital city continues to decline, but preventive efforts must continue, said Chairman Nguyen Duc Chung of the Hanoi People’s Committee.

Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Hoang Trung Hai and Chairman Nguyen Duc Chung on September 4 chaired a meeting on dengue fever prevention with the city’s leaders.

Citywide, 861 fewer dengue patients were reported in the last week of August compared to the first week, according to official statistics.

The number of dengue inpatients also dropped to 2,200 per day in the last week of August from 2,500 per day in the week before.

As for the inner city’s Hoang Mai district, which had the highest number of dengue patients in the city since the beginning of this year, only about 360 remained in hospital compared to 468 at the peak of the fever’s season.

Reports from the inner city’s Dong Da district also showed a downward trend in the number of dengue patients in the last three weeks. There were about 190 new dengue patients in the district in the last week of August, a decrease of 94 patients compared to the week before.

Fewer dengue patients were also reported over the last week in the inner city’s districts of Thanh Xuan and Cau Giay, and the outer city’s districts of Ha Dong, Thanh Tri, and Thuong Tin.

All 584 communes and wards of the city’s 30 districts have set up working teams to kill mosquito larvae and supervisory teams to monitor the fever’s progress, according to reports. 

Speaking at the meeting, Chung requested all districts “not to loosen their grip on monitoring the fever despite the reduction in its level of severity”.

He highlighted the essential measures that must continue to be applied to prevent further spreading of the fever. These include providing citizens with constant updates on the fever’s progress, spraying chemical substances to kill mosquitoes in areas of outbreaks, ensuring the chemicals are high quality and widely accessible for citizens, as well as strengthening hospitals’ dengue treatment capabilities.

Hoang Trung Hai, Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee, said that he appreciated the active involvement of leaders from the districts and other concerned authorities in dengue prevention. Their efforts had brought demonstrable progress, he said.

“However, since the disease is likely to last until November, there should not be any hesitation in applying preventive measures to make sure it will not surge again,” he said.  

After the meeting, the city’s leaders visited and checked the dengue prevention process at the National Hospital of Tropical Diseases and a number of schools in Hai Ba Trung district.

About 24,300 dengue patients have been recorded in the city from the beginning of this year. Seven of them died.

The highest numbers of patients were recorded in the four inner city districts of Hoang Mai (3,756), Dong Da (3,578), Hai Ba Trung (2,164), and Thanh Xuan (2,014).-

Hoa Binh-Son La highway added to national planning scheme

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has approved the supplementation of a highway connecting northern mountainous provinces of Hoa Binh and Son La to the planning scheme for highway development until 2020 with a vision to 2030.

PM Phuc asked the provincial People’s Committees of Hoa Binh and Son La to inform the public and localities about the planning scheme, and map out plans to allocate and manage land for the road.

He assigned the People’s Committee of Son La to coordinate with Hoa Binh and relevant agencies to preparen for the investment of Hoa Binh-Moc Chau highway project in the public-private partnership form in order to evaluate its feasibility, and then mobilise resources for the project.

The Hoa Binh-Son La highway starts from Trung Minh commune, Ky Son district in Hoa Binh and ends at Le Duc Tho street in Chieng Sinh commune of Son La city.

The road will links two tourism hubs of the region, creating a high quality road system connecting the northwestern mountainous region and Hanoi as well as the northern key economic region.

It is also expected to ease congestions on National Highway 6 running through Hoa Binh and Son La, contributing to socio-economic development in the two provinces.

Đà Nẵng accelerates flood discharge project

The central city of Đà Nẵng has revved up construction of a 5.9km flood discharge channel system intended to keep people safe in their homes when flood season comes this year.

The system is to be located in Hòa Vang and Liên Chiểu districts, benefiting people who live in Hòa Liên commune. It will extend along Nguyễn Tất Thành Street, provincial road No 602 and Hòa Trung reservoir.

The city said the project, begun in March 2015, had been delayed due to slow land clearance and site preparation, as well as the need to complete the resettlement allocation in Hòa Liên Commune.

According to Trung Nam joint stock company, the project contractor, an 83m bridge and entrance road system along the channel had been put into operation last year, while 70 per cent of the 5.9km channel construction was finished. The remainder will be completed later this year.

The city’s northwest region, including Liên Chiểu and Hòa Vang districts, is seen as a vulnerable site to flood and storm season between November and December. The population of 50,000 suffers from floods and landslides annually.

The flood discharge channel project, built with total investment of VNĐ114 billion (more than US$5 million), plays as a key role in protecting this area – the lowest in the city – from serious damage due to flood.

In 2013, Đà Nẵng suffered a loss of $33 million when the storm Nari damaged more than 1,100 houses.

Đồng Nai fish hunters flock to hydropower dam

Hundreds of residents living near the Trị An hydropower plant in the southern province of Đồng Nai went to the dam to catch fish right after the plant closed its spillway on Tuesday morning.

At 10am, the plant dammed up its water following eight consecutive days of release. As water near the dam started to recede, nearby residents used nets, small canoes and even the electric shock method to catch big fish, many of which weighed up to 8kg.

Trần Hoài Lương, a resident in Vĩnh An Town, said fishermen have lower chances of catching fish than those who use electric shock.

Electric shock particularly helps to catch cá tra (catfish), weighing almost 9kg each, he said.

Unfavourable practices to catch fish such as electro-fishing have resulted in declining numbers of fish in nature. Although it is illegal and banned by the Government, electro-fishing still occurs in Việt Nam.

Due to heavy rain in the southern provinces last week, on August 29, the Trị An hydropower plant opened one spillway to release water.

Hanoi chairman bids farewell to outgoing Austrian ambassador

Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Chung bid farewell to outgoing Austrian Ambassador Thomas Loidl in a meeting on September 5.

Speaking at the meeting, Loidl expressed delight at recent progress in Vietnam-Austria relations, affirming he would continue fostering ties between Austria and Hanoi.

As 2017 marks the 45th anniversary of Vietnam-Austria diplomatic relations, the Embassy of Austria looks forward to Hanoi’s cooperation in organising celebrations, he said.

For his part, Chung spoke highly of the ambassador’s services to deepening bilateral ties between the two countries as well as Hanoi and Austrian firms and organisations.

Chung hoped that Austria will continue supporting Hanoi in healthcare, green energy, education and trade. He also vowed to create the best conditions for investors, and experts from Austria and the Europe to seek partnerships in Hanoi.

Lee Min-woo wins fourth stage of cycling tournament

Lee Min-woo won the fourth stage of the VTV International Cycling Tournament, or Tôn Hoa Sen Cup, yesterday.

Lee of South Korea’s Korail Cycle Team finished the 54km stage — 20 laps around Hồ Chí Minh Square in Vinh City — with a time of 11hr 11.54min.

Yellow jersey holder Lê Văn Duẩn of VUS-HCM City came second with a flash gap. He was followed by Huỳnh Thanh Tùng of Military Zone 7.

Duẩn maintains his position as the leading cyclist after four stages with an overall time of 9:16.37.

Ronald Oranza of Philippine Navy Standard Insurance and Trần Thanh Nhanh from Premium Cycling Vĩnh Long are second and third, respectively.

Duẩn also leads the green jersey table with 71 points. His brother and teammate Lê Minh Nguyệt is far behind with 57 points and Oranza follows with 36.

In the team ranking, Philippine Navy Standard Insurance are in top position with a time of 27:53.40. Premium Cycling Vĩnh Long and VUS-HCM City are the runners-up.

The 148km fifth stage today will be from Hà Tĩnh Province to Đồng Hới City of Quảng Bình Province.

Quang Nam targets additional 55 new-style rural communes

The central coastal province of Quang Nam aims to have another 55 communes recognised as new-style rural areas during 2017-2020.

The locality hopes to have 11 new style rural communes in 2017, 14 in 2018, 14 in 2019 and 16 in 2020. 

From 2011 to 2016, 61 communes became new style rural areas.

According to Le Muon, Vice Director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, besides support from the Government, all communes need to be proactive to ensure successful new-style rural building.

The national target programme on new-style rural areas, initiated in 2010, sets 19 criteria in socio-economic development, politics and defence, aiming to modernise rural areas.

The criteria cover the development of infrastructure, the improvement of production capacities, environmental protection and the promotion of cultural values.-

CPV wants to beef up ties with Hungarian Socialist Party

The Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) wishes to maintain and consolidate cooperation with the Hungarian Socialist Party (MSZP), said Truong Thi Mai, Secretary of the CPV Central Committee (CPVCC) and head of the CPVCC’s Mass Mobilisation Commission.

Mai told head of the MSZP’s national board Hiller Istvan, also Deputy Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly, during their talks in Budapest on September 5 that the CPV advocates expanding relations with political parties worldwide on the principles of independence, self-control, equality and mutual respect.

Reviewing traditional ties between Vietnam and Hungary, she thanked Hungary for its support to Vietnam during the past struggle for national liberation and the present national construction.

She lauded the MSZP and Hungary’s stance on the East Sea issue, noting her wish that Hungary will raise its voice to protect the “respect for law” spirit and support the settlement of disputes by peaceful measures on the basis of international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea.

For his part, Hiller Istvan said the MSZP is working to prepare for parliamentary elections scheduled in spring 2018.

Sharing the MSZP’s experience in ensuring intra-party solidarity, the host said parties in the Hungarian National Assembly have agreed to support enhanced cooperation with Vietnam.

He pledged that the MSZP will encourage the Hungarian National Assembly to support the EU’s early signing of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement and its recognition of Vietnam’s market economy status.

The same day, the Party delegation visited the Vietnamese Embassy in Hungary.

They are on a working visit to Hungary from September 5-9.