Chinese man given death sentence

The People's Court in the southern province of Tay Ninh yesterday sentenced a Chinese man to death for illegally transporting large amounts of drugs into Viet Nam.

According to the indictment Zhang Zhi Hua, 51, was arrested by anti-drug smuggling forces in Ben Cau district after they detected drugs hidden in his luggage.

During the raid on February 1, 2011, police found 120,000 ecstasy pills, weighing nearly 11kg. Zhang allegedly admitted that he had been hired by a Chinese person called Tran Van Chanh, to carry the goods from Cambodia, through Viet Nam to China for US$40,000.

ADB support aims to lower HIV threat in border provinces

As much as US$20 million will be spent to help curb the spread of HIV/AIDS in 23 border provinces of Laos and Viet Nam.

The sum, funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), aims to prevent the spread of HIV infections in areas that have seen rising cases of AIDS and rapid population growth.

ADB said that while only 0.4 per cent of the population in Viet Nam are infected with HIV, the disease has appeared in every corner of the country, and is especially worrying in border areas.

According to Emiko Masaki, Social Sector Economist at ADB's Southeast Asia Department, border regions have some of the poorest and most isolated populations, with limited access to health services and limited knowledge of HIV risks. New cross border roads, and the mushrooming of hotels, casinos and other businesses in border areas, have increased the threat of HIV infection.

"As people and products move more freely across borders, so do communicable diseases, such as HIV," said Masaki. "This project will help in strengthening the HIV response systems of Viet Nam and Laos to protect their most vulnerable populations with information, skills, supplies and access to quality healthcare services."

The project will be carried out during the next five year. Laos and Viet Nam will provide the project with additional support of over $0.5 million and $1.3 million, respectively.

Chemical warfare remnants site in the pipeline

Plans to build a memorial centre that focuses on the toxic chemicals US forces used during the war in the central province of Thua Thien – Hue was discussed at a conference in Hanoi on October 30.

The event was jointly organised by the National Steering Committee for dealing with consequences of toxic chemicals used by the US during the war and Thua Thien-Hue provincial People’s Committee.

According to plan, the complex will house an outdoor space at A Sho Airport, which will explain the history of the chemical war staged by the US in Vietnam.

Also as part of the project, an area to display the effects of the chemicals on nature will be created as well as an exhibition centre at Bot Do intersection and a rehabilitation centre for Agent Orange (AO)/dioxin victims.

A Luoi district, which was once a fierce battlefield during the war against the US and suffers from serious AO/dioxin contamination, has been selected to house the memorial site.

The VND625 billion construction will be sourced from the State budget and both international and domestic donations.

Efforts sought to search for missing crewmen

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has sent a diplomatic note to the Sri Lankan Embassy in Hanoi, asking for help in the search for and rescue of Vietnamese crewmembers off the Sri Lanka sea.

The Vietnamese cargo ship Saigon Queen, with a crew of 22 on board, went into distress off Sri Lanka on October 30.

The Vietnamese Embassy in Sri Lanka has been coordinating with local agencies to help the 18 crewmen who have been rescued and search for the four who are still missing.

German State to assist Vietnam’s water supplies

Water experts and state officials from Germany’s Bavaria State discussed methods with their Vietnamese counterparts to strengthen the capacity of the water supply and drainage system at a seminar in Ba Ria Vung Tau on October 31.

Representatives from the Bavarian State Ministry of the Environment and Public Health have affirmed that Vietnam has good capacity for water management.

Bavaria has committed to sharing experience and technology, as well as providing capital sources for relevant Vietnamese businesses.

Conversely, the State wishes to learn from Vietnam’s experience in water management and the operation of the water supply and drainage sector, they said.

They presented new technologies on water management, briefed on the current situation of their water supply and drainage sector, and considered opportunities for future cooperation projects between Germany and Vietnam.

Hoang Duc Thao, General Director of Ba Ria Vung Tau Drainage and Urban Development Company, provided an overview on the present situation of the management of water supply and drainage in Vietnam, highlighting examples from Ba Ria Vung Tau and other projects which need German support.

UNDP, Vietnam cooperate in chemicals management

The Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM) project in Vietnam was launched in Hanoi on October 31.

At the launch ceremony, Head of the Chemical Agency (CA) Phung Ha said the project will help minimise the impact of chemicals on human health and the environment.

The project was funded by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) with more than US$400,000 over two years.

A UNDP representative said that Vietnam’s chemicals sector contributes about 10 percent to industrial production value and generates jobs for around 10 percent of the industrial labour force.

However, it also causes significant effects on human health and the environment. Several ministries, including the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Ministry and Science and Technology have some involvement in chemical management, ranging from production, transport and handling to containment and waste management.

Therefore, it is necessary to establish coordination mechanisms and united methods to safely manage chemicals through the SAICM project.

SAICM is a policy framework to foster the sound management of chemicals, which was adopted at the International Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM) in February 2006 in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates. To date, more than 171 countries have taken part in SAICM.

Quang Ninh hosts int’l nanotechnology conference

The 6th International workshop on advanced materials science and nanotechnology (IWAMSN) was held in Quang Ninh province on October 31.

The event attracted 530 scientists, including more than 200 leading international experts, from countries such as Japan, France, the Netherlands, the US, the Republic of Korea, Australia, the UK, Cuba, Denmark, India and Thailand.

They presented over 400 reports on advanced materials and nanotechnology and introduced the latest research projects in the field.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Tran Viet Thanh emphasised that the workshop provided a good opportunity for domestic and overseas scientists to share experience of the essential requirements for developing advanced materials and nanotechnology research in Vietnam.

Thanh said Vietnam has made significant achievements in science and technology in recent times and has established several research groups whose qualifications are up to international standard.

Vietnam ranks 19th in the world and first within ASEAN nations in applied mathematics, and 64th and third in physics respectively, Thanh said, adding that 2012 marks the 10th year of research into nanotechnology in Vietnam.

A number of cooperative agreements between Vietnam and partner countries are expected to be signed during the three-day workshop.

Ireland backs VN approach to schools

There is a recognition at every level of Vietnamese society that education is vital for its future success and prosperity, said Joe Costello, Irish Minister for Trade and Development, yesterday.

He noted that Vietnamese people attach a great importance to the education of their children, so more schooling co-operation between Viet Nam and Ireland will be established in the near future.

Costello said more scholarships for talented Vietnamese would be granted, not only by Ireland's government but also its enterprises.

Furthermore, lecturer exchanges will be implemented between the two countries' universities, he added.

At the beginning of next month, a delegation of top Irish universities will work with Viet Nam's leading institutes to form joint education programmes and exchange their experiences, Costello said.

From next year, Viet Nam will become one of four markets Ireland intends to prioritise in the education sector.

Costello also said assistance for vulnerable communities through supporting the school and irrigation schemes, as well as the demining and disposal of unexploded bombs will continue.

Specifically, a new aid package worth 600,000 euro (US$774,000) will be given for the Mines Advisory Group for clearance activities in the central provinces of Quang Tri and Quang Binh during the next three years.

The work will then be expanded to neighbouring Quang Nam province.

"Ireland stands ready to support and is pleased to associate itself with efficient and effective unexploded ordnance clearance operations which will lead to more economic activity in the affected areas and lead to a safer and more secure environment for adults and children in Viet Nam," said Costello.

Irish Aid of up to 2 million euro ($ 2.5 million) a year between 2012 and 2015 will also increase NGOs' participation in poverty reduction and policy making, as well as improving the rights and roles of disabled people in Viet Nam.

VNN/VOV/VNS