Vietnam to establish advanced mathematics research institute


Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has signed a decision to set up an advanced mathematics research institute.

Under the decision, the Hanoi Municipal People’s Committee is responsible for finding a site for the institute.

With an initial staff of 15-20, the institute will have an office for the Directorate, several departments, a Scientific Council, and research teams. Funding for the institute’s operation will come from the state budget and donations by organizations and individuals.

Tran Quang Quy, Deputy Minister of Education and Training, said Professor Ngo Bao Chau, who won the Fields Prize, has agreed to become the institute’s director.


Vietnam, India scientists work for people’s benefits


Vietnam and India have reached deals on scientific and technological cooperation that are expected to bring more benefits to their people.

Those deals were signed in India during a working visit from December 20 to 26 by a delegation from the Vietnamese Ministry of Science and Technology.
Accordingly, the two countries will cooperate in designing and developing aerial technology for 3G and 4G wireless services as well as photoelectric cell technology for turning solar power into electricity.
They will team up in developing Geographic Information System (GIS) techniques to spot areas vulnerable to droughts in service of agriculture and forestry and extracting substances from starfish in service of the pharmaceutical industry.
Vietnam and India have also agreed to boost cooperation in the training of experts on atomic energy and radiation and study possibilities of using biotechnology to create varieties of salt and drought-resistant rice, utilize post-harvest straws and turn cassava into bio-energy.
During the visit, the Vietnamese officials attended the eighth meeting of the Vietnam-India Sub-committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation and worked with officials from the Indian Ministry of Science and Technology’s Scientific and Technological Department.


Vietsovpetro to further Vietnam-Russia oil cooperation


Photo: VOV
Vietnam and Russia will continue cooperating in geological survey and oil and gas production on Vietnam’s continental shelf within the framework of the Vietnamese-Russian oil and gas joint venture (JV) Vietsovpetro after 2010.

An agreement to the effect was signed in Hanoi on December 27 by Minister of Trade and Industry Vu Huy Hoang and Russian Ambassador to Vietnam Kovtun Andrey Grigorievich.
Addressing the signing ceremony, Minister Hoang emphasised the special traditional relationship between Vietnam and Russia, saying Vietsovpetro is a fine symbol of the comprehensive friendly and cooperative ties between the two countries.
2010 saw an end to Vietsovpetro’s stage of successful and effective cooperation under the agreement signed between the two governments in 1991, said the minister.
Hoang said the signing of the new agreement on cooperation after 2010 marks a step towards the strengthening of traditional and strategic ties between the two governments.
The Vietnamese Government will create the most favourable conditions for Russian businesses to expand their investment activities in Vietnam, particularly in the oil and gas sector, he affirmed.
By October 21, Vietsovpetro had fulfilled its annual plan for 6.2 million tonnes of crude oil.


Two arrested for human trafficking


Ha Dong District's Police arrested Nguyen Hung Cuong, 30, and Do Van Thanh, 20, of Hoai Duc District for alleged involvement in a human trafficking ring on Sunday.

According to the police, the two had trafficked Vietnamese women to China.

Further investigation is now underway.


Young farmers rewarded


One hundred young farmers aged from 18 to 35 were granted the Luong Dinh Cua award for their excellent business achievements in Ha Noi last Saturday.

The farmers from around the country were recognised for achieving impressive production results, implementing new technology and career development.

Among them, 19 are from ethnic minority groups and seven earned yearly incomes of over VND1 billion ($50,000).


Funding approved for Trung Van Lake


Ha Noi People's Committee has approved a VND23 billion (US$1.15 million) upgrade of Trung Van Lake located in Tu Liem District.

The project aims to improve the lake's environment, clean up its basin and create an entertainment park for local residents on 3.7 ha of land.

The project is part of a major scheme to renovate lakes in the city.


Poisoned bread affects 40 people


About 40 people including 15 children in Dai Tam Commune, My Xuyen District suffered food poisoning after eating bread last Sunday.

The bread was bought from Nhu Gia Bakery in Thanh Phu Commune.

All the people were taken to a local hospital, and two are still recovering. Further investigation is underway.


VND33bil raised for children in need


The Viet Nam Children Sponsor Fund received over VND33 billion (US$1.65 million) from donors both at home and abroad to assist children in difficult circumstances through a charitable artistic programme held in Ha Noi on Sunday.

The donations, collected from 20 agencies, businesses, and individuals, will be used to visit and present gifts to 33,000 children in January in some northern provinces.

The programme was jointly held by the fund, Oxy Media Joint Stock Company and Viet Nam Television.


Better deal for women


In an effort to promote gender equality throughout Viet Nam, a national strategy has been introduced to promote gender equity.

A 10-year national project to implement the programme, from 2011-2020, was approved by the Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung last week.

It aims in particular to narrow the gender gap in employment and politics, opening management, work and leadership opportunities to women.

Under the project, at least 40 per cent of newly hired people will have to be women. And the percentage of women in government enterprises will have to be 30 per cent by 2015 and more than 35 per cent by 2020.

Also, by 2020, 50 per cent of rural women workers will be trained in technology skills.

And by 2015, 80 per cent of ethnic women will be eligible for business loans so that they can contribute to reducing poverty.

The project will set aside 25 per cent of members of Party committees of all levels for women by 2016-20 and 35 per cent of Congress seats and other people elected bodies by 2020.

The aim is that by 2020, up to 95 per cent of ministries and government offices will have to make sure women are able to hold some key positions.


European Commission helps flood victims


The European Commission has provided EUR1.4 million (US$1.8 million) to help over 100,000 people in the central region affected by recent flooding.

The funds are part of an allocation of EUR7 million ($9.2 million) to over 300,000 in Phillippines, Viet Nam and Myanmar.

Floods devastated Ha Tinh, Quang Tri, Thua Thien Hue and Quang Binh provinces in October.


Japan helps build primary schools


A signing ceremony of two grant contracts funded by the Japanese Government for the projects of construction of primary schools in Quang Ninh and Nam Dinh provinces was held on December 28 in Hanoi.

Under the contract, over US$190,000 will be used to build new primary schools in Xuan Son and Yen Tho communes in order to clear the shift-learning and provide children with longer learning hours.
The two schools are under poor conditions because of time and natural disasters and need upgrading as the number of classrooms failed to meet studying demand of the children.
Xuan Son Primary School, located in Dong Trieu district of Quang Ninh was built in 1964 and Yen Tho Primary School, based in Y Yen district of Nam Dinh, was constructed in 1975.


Workshop scrutinizes enforcement of competition law


Recommendations to improve the Law on Competition and its enforcement were made at a workshop in Ho Chi Minh City on December 28.

The workshop, reviewing “five-year implementation of the competition law”, is a forum for managers and business sector to share theoretical and practical issues to increase the enforcement of the law.

More than 40 violations of competition regulations have been investigated and handled over the last five years, the workshop heard.

According to Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Le Danh Vinh, the investigation and handling of such cases had strictly followed the law, raising businesses’ awareness of basic market principles and ensuring consumers’ rights.

He spoke highly of the State management agencies’ efforts to uphold the principles of the socialist-oriented market economy which, he said, has brought about practical benefits to businesses and people.

Head of the Ministry of Industry and Trade’s Legal Department Nguyen Sinh Nhat Tan also acknowledged the law’s contributions to making effective management policies and administrative orders.


Seven sailors survived Antarctic accident and return home


Seven Vietnamese sailors who survived after the Republic of Korea (RoK) trawler “No.1 In Sung” sank in the Antarctic returned home, according to the Overseas Labour Management Department under the Ministry of Labour, Invalids, and Social Affairs on December 27.

Mr Vu Cong Binh, General Director of the Human Resource Development Corporation (LOD) said that three survivors were identified as Tran Dinh Khanh from Ky Anh district, Ha Tinh central province, Le Quang Ruc from Nghi Xuan district, Ha Tinh province, and Tran Ngoc Son from Nghi Loc district, central province of Nghe An. They are now in good health.

Mr Binh said the company would contact the owner of the vessel to solve the issues related to the sailors’ interests. He added that the body of Nguyen Tuong (from Ha Tinh province) who died in the accident would be brought home in the coming days. One sailor is still missing, he added.

A representative from the Civil Engineering Construction Corporation No 1 (CIENCO 1) said that Nguyen Van Nam from Ky Anh district, Ha Tinh province and Hoan Van Bac from Quang Trach district, Quang Binh province returned home safely.


Truck destroys pontoon bridge


A 40-tonne truck transporting bricks on Monday crashed into the But Son pontoon bridge in the central province of Thanh Hoa's Hoang Hoa District after ignoring the bridge guard's warning, causing the bridge to sink.

Despite the truck sinking with the load, the driver escaped unharmed. The accident was allegedly caused due by brake failure.

A temporary ferry is expected to put into use today, said a local official.


Three survive third storey fall


Three workers escaped death on Tuesday after hitting a live electric cable that caused them to fall from the three storey of a motorcycle showroom in the southern province of Ninh Thuan's Phan Rang Town.

Witnesses said that the three workers without safety harnesses were attempting to move a metal joist on the third floor of the building when they hit power lines, electrocuting them and knocking them off the building.

All three men were taken to Ninh Thuan provincial hospital.


Cambodian fishermen washed up on coast


Three Cambodian fishermen, Siem Cal, Pho Hua Ly and ChSoiSaRum, washed ashore on the coast of the southern province of Ca Mau were picked up by local fishermen.

The fishermen would be handed over to the Cambodian Embassy, said captain Phan Xuan Huyen, deputy chief of the station on Monday.


Work starts on Chu Van An University


Construction work started on a new Chu Van An University campus in the Pho Hien urban centre in the northern city of Hung Yen.

The VND150 billion(US$7.5million) university will be constructed over 62,000 square metres. It will include lecture halls, laboratories and student halls of residence for 6,000 students.


VNN/VOV/VNS