Viet Nam, UAE ink visa waiver pact


Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has approved an agreement between the governments of Viet Nam and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to waive visas for diplomatic, official or special passport holders from the two countries.

The UAE has invested in Viet Nam in a number of fields, such as infrastructure construction, services, renewable energy, port and airport construction and human resources development co-operation.

There are more than 20,000 Vietnamese labourers working in the UAE at present.


Japan helps build training school for blind children


The Japanese Government is to build an educational and vocational training centre for blind children in the central province of Thanh Hoa, home to 10,000 vision-impaired people, of whom 10 percent are children. 

A US$98,000 grant was signed in Hanoi on January 25 under its contract with the provincial Centre for Education and Vocational Training for the Blind to help alleviate the plight of target groups by providing them with skills in information technology, wickerwork, massage and music playing.
Established in 2000, the centre has not yet owned any property and has to use rooms from the Association of the Blind as classrooms and dormitories for boarding students.
The grant will be used to put up a three-storey building on an area of 420 sq. m. to provide accommodation and a canteen for students.
Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Yasuaki Tanizaki said he hopes the project will help the blind in Thanh Hoa further integrate themselves into the community and promote relations between Japan and Vietnam.


Vietnam Airlines’ passenger injured in Moscow bomb attack


A Russian passenger of Vietnam Airlines was slightly injured after a bomb attack at Domodedovo international airport in Moscow, on January 24, delaying the flight from Russia to Vietnam. 

Vietnam Airlines’ spokesperson Le Hoang Dung said on January 25 that after the terrorist bombing at the airport, flight VN526 from Moscow to Ho Chi Minh City with 105 passengers aboard which took off at 7.35 pm on January 24 (local time), 28 minutes late. The flight then landed Tan Son Nhat airport at 9.35 am the following day.
According to information provided by the Demodedovo airport authorities, all of the Vietnamese passengers, planes and assets are safe, except the Russian passenger on flight VN527 from Ho Chi Minh City to Moscow. He was on his way to the arrival area when the attack occurred and was later taken to hospital, said Dung.
After the explosion, Vietnam Airlines worked with Domodedovo airport’s authorities and the security agencies of both countries to tighten measures to ensure security and safety at the airport and assist other agencies to conduct necessary passenger support procedures.


Cambodian veterans receive payouts


Sixteen savings books, worth VND15 million (US$765) and two others worth VND30 million ($1,530), were presented to 18 former Vietnamese volunteer soldiers who served in Cambodia.

The soldiers were given the money at an event that was organised by the Viet Nam-Cambodia Friendship Association and Phuong Hoang International Tourism Development Joint Stock Company.

The soldiers voluntarily joined and fought on Cambodian battlefields.


Severely burned child receives treatment


Dinh Van Minh, 10, was in stable condition after undergoing treatment after sustaining severe burns on 90 per cent of his body, said Dr Nguyen Thanh Dat from the Children No2 Hospital.

The child was hospitalised on Monday. According to his family, the boy lit an oil lamp to study during a blackout, but then fell asleep and failed to notice when flammable materials were ignited by the lamp.


Restaurant charged with hygiene violations


The 16 Restaurant in Chau Thanh District of southern Hau Giang Province has been fined VND10 million (US$500) for violating food hygiene and safety regulations, chief inspector of the provincial Health Department Nguyen Thanh Giang said.

The restaurant delivered borax-contaminated fried fish and caused food poisoning in 86 workers of Phong Dat Co Ltd in southern Can Tho City's Cai Rang District on December 23 last year.

The department also fined some grocery shops for selling borax-contaminated food and wine products and selling wine containing 40 per cent aldehyde, higher than the percentage written on bottle labels.

Vietnam, China discuss energy development in disadvantaged areas

Vietnamese and Chinese energy experts discussed the development of new energy technology in Vietnam, and Chinese solutions for supplying wind and solar energy to remote and disadvantaged areas in Hanoi on January 25.

The seminar, one of the activities to mark the 61st anniversary of Vietnam-China diplomatic ties, was jointly held by the Vietnam-China Friendship Association, the China-Vietnam Friendship Association and Chinese agencies.
At the event, the associations’ leaders underlined the traditional friendship between Vietnam and China and the mutual support between the two peoples in science and technology.


Australia, Vietnam boost training partnership


Education and training ties between Australia and Vietnam will be strengthened, according to a press release on the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Vocational Education and Training on January 25 by Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Nguyen Ngoc Phi and Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Allaster Cox.

Ties between the two countries have grown strongly over the past 38 years, particularly in education and training. In recent years, the prominence of Vocational Education and Training (VET) has grown in this relationship, through policy exchange, scholarships for Vietnamese students to undertake vocational courses in Australia and for Australian students undertaking practical vocational attachments in Vietnam.

Australia and Vietnam can both benefit from further expanding their close collaboration in Vocational Education and Training. Both of them require technical skills to modernize industries, increase productivity and attract investment. Effective vocational training can significantly increase employment opportunities and improve living standards.

Vietnam and Australia are investing significantly in vocational systems and programs that will serve the needs of industries and encourage innovation. Australia looks forward to continuing to work with Vietnam as Australian vocational training systems undergo reform and respond to challenges.

The Australian Government looks forward to deepening its long-established education relationship with Vietnam through increased cooperation in Vocational Education and Training, both through the policy engagement and the increased mobility of students, educators and professionals.


Vietnam makes biodegradable polymer products


The Vietnamese Institute of Industrial Chemistry has developed Vietnam’s first ever biodegradable polymer products.

Researchers from the institute used laminated biodegradable polymer sheets to cover millions of square metres of groundnuts, maize, orange and cotton trees at farms in the northern provinces of Hoa Binh and Thai Nguyen and the central province of Ninh Thuan. They are also used as wrappings for seedlings’ roots and packaging materials.
The products help the plants to grow by preserving the soil’s moisture, killing wild grass and preventing soil erosion. In addition, they can replace existing common thermoplastic products as they can disintegrate after use without causing pollution.
The Head of the institute, Associate Professor Mai Ngoc Chuc, said that cassava starch, part of the biodegradable polymer material, will help to reduce production prices for these products.


Family planning healthcare network gains momentum


Two hundred and twenty private clinics have joined the BlueStar Healthcare Network, the country's first social franchising model for reproductive healthcare and family planning, since its launch in Vietnam in 2008. 

The non-profit organisation Marie Stopes International Vietnam (MSIVN), in cooperation with the Vietnam Centre for Reproductive Health, has set up the alliance in HCM City, Hanoi, and Hai Phong and Khanh Hoa, Binh Duong, Dong Nai, and An Giang provinces.
It seeks to offer low-income people access to quality reproductive healthcare and family planning through existing private clinics, Nguyen Thi Bich Hang, country director of MSIVN, said.
It also seeks to increase utilisation of modern reproductive health and family planning methods to reduce unsafe abortions and improve access to preventive contraceptive methods.
The BlueStar providers receive training in areas like family planning knowledge, counselling, clinical skills, marketing, and business management.
The organisation also assists franchisees with improving infrastructure and monitoring the quality of services to ensure agreed standards are met. 


HCM City honours OV contributions


Ho Chi Minh City authorities signalled their high evaluation of the wide-ranging contributions of Overseas Vietnamese (OV) at a pre-Tet meeting on January 25 with the participation of more than 700 OV. 

The city expects to receive significantly more contributions from OV for its socio-economic development, especially for projects on transport, water, environment and hygiene, health and education, Mayor Le Hoang Quan said.
So far, Overseas Vietnamese have invested in 2,500 businesses with a total registered capital of nearly VND37 trillion, and 117 projects capitalising over US$275 million.
In 2010, overseas remittances sent to the city reached nearly US$4 billion.
During the year, the OV raised more than VND8 billion for charitable programmes both in and outside Ho Chi Minh City.
On the occasion, HCM City authorities presented certificates of merit to 18 OV to honour their work in mobilising other OV to lend a hand with the city’s socio-economic development.
The same day, a similar event was held in Binh Duong province for 200 Overseas Vietnamese, who are business people, professionals and scientists.


Foreign NGOs to establish offices in Vietnam


Chairman of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations Vu Xuan Hong on January 25 signed agreements and handed over permits for establishing representative offices in Vietnam to two foreign non-government organisations. 

The organisations granted permits were International Microfinance and Microenterprise (IMM) and Medical Committee Netherlands–Vietnam (MCNV)
IMM, a Japanese NGO operating in technology transfer and human resources training in Vietnam since 2005, aims to meet demand of internationalisation of the local small and medium size enterprises (SME).
It sponsor a programme to send Vietnamese workers to Japan for training at Japanese companies and provide funding for those who complete training to start their own business at home.
MCNV started its activities in Vietnam in 1968. Apart from promoting the movement to oppose the US war in Vietnam, the organisation also supported Vietnam in the health sector, through providing medical materials and equipment.
It assisted Vietnam in building a hospital in the central province of Quang Tri as well as helping with other hospitals, such as Lang Son and Dong Da hospitals. 

From the 1990s until now, MCNV has carried out many programmes in many fields, including health care, poverty reduction, training medical staff and rehabilitation of disabled people. It also financed several national health care programmes. MCNV assistance to Vietnam in this period amounted to US$2 million per year.


Religious leader extends Tet congratulations


Auxiliary Bishop of the Hanoi Archdiocese Chu Van Minh on Jan. 25 paid a visit to the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF), extending congratulations on the occasion of the traditional New Year Festival (Tet).

Auxiliary Bishop Minh expressed his best wishes to the VFF in the New Year, the Year of the Cat, and hoped that in the future the VFF continues its role as a representative of Vietnamese ethnic groups, implementing the great national unity to serve national industrialisation and modernisation.
Receiving the Auxiliary Bishop, Deputy President of the VFF Central Committee Ha Van Nui said he hoped that dignitaries of the Hanoi Archdiocese would continue to encourage followers to join people of the capital city to follow the policies and guidelines of Party and State and respond to patriotism movements organised by the VFF to contribute to national construction and defence.
He praised Catholics for their active participation in solidarity movements in their localities over the past years.


VNN/VOV/VNS