UN expert hails nation's progress


Viet Nam has improved people's living conditions and made great strides in its socio-economic development, said Cephas Lumina, UN Independent Expert on foreign debts and human rights.

The UN expert made the remark during a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem in Ha Noi on March 28.

Cephas Lumina thanked the Vietnamese Government for welcoming him during his visit from March 21-29.

He also praised Viet Nam's policy to increase international dialogue and co-operation, including co-operation with the United Nations and other development partners. He also spoke of the links between development and human rights.

He said his valuable experiences in Viet Nam and in Southeast Asia in general would be a lesson for UN members whose circumstances were similar to Viet Nam's.

Deputy Prime Minister Khiem said that the Vietnamese Government cares deeply about promoting and protecting human rights. He said the country has taken measures to ensure its citizens' human rights are protected and that their living conditions are improved.

He stressed that Viet Nam sees the importance of international dialogues and human rights co-operation, especially with the UN. He welcomed the UN expert's working visit to Viet Nam.

During his visit to Viet Nam, Cephas Lumina had working sessions with the National Assembly's committees, ministries and agencies in Ha Noi and HCM City.

He also met with research agencies, financial institutions, donors and foreign non-governmental organisations operating in Viet Nam.


Workshop on Truong Luy site in Quang Ngai

Photo: Vietnam+
A workshop on the historic significance in terms of economic and ethnic relations of the Truong Luy rampart, a national historic site was held on March 27 in the central province of Quang Ngai. 

The workshop was jointly hosted by a delegation of foreign ambassadors and the head of the European Union (EU) delegation in Vietnam, domestic and foreign scientists and the Quang Ngai provincial People’s Committee.
Truong Luy, which is said to be the longest rampart in the Southeast Asian region, is a 130-km stone wall running from Tra Bong district of Quang Ngai province to Binh Dinh province’s An Lao district. It was officially discovered and studied since 2005.
Researchers said the rampart played a significant role not only in ensuring local security but also in facilitating cultural and socioeconomic development in the region, as it served as both a foundation for administrative management and the gathering site for traders.


Energy sector seeks to cope with climate change

Developing a low-carbon economy to reduce the impact of climate change dominated a seminar held by UK Embassy in Hanoi on March 28.
On the theme “Coping with climate change and investment opportunities in energy efficiency in Southeast Asia”, the seminar helped financial investors, consultancy companies and policymakers study the use of energy efficiency in Southeast Asia.
The seminar also announced the market feasibility report on “Energy Efficiency in Southeast Asia: Investment Opportunities”.
Prolonged storms, floods, and other natural disasters have recently hit many countries including Vietnam, as a result of climate change, said Antony Stokes, UK Ambassador to Vietnam.
He emphasized the need to increase the competitiveness of investment regulations regarding energy efficiency and renewable energy, and encourage businesses to save energy.
According to Phuong Hoang Kim, Deputy Director of Science and Technology and Chief of the Energy Efficiency Office under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Vietnam’s power demand has risen 18.3 percent and power supply shortfall increased three-fold compared with last year.
Vietnam has adopted programmes and strategies on energy efficiency with a focus on diverse, suitable and effective exploitation of natural resources to meet the power demand of socio-economic development, and ensure energy security for the future, Kim said.


French experts honoured with Friendship medals


The late Prof. Ennio Lucio Benedetti and his wife - Irene Dunia Benedetti yesterday were honoured with the State President's Friendship Medals, the honourable award bestowed on foreigners for their contribution to the development of Viet Nam.

Benedetti and his wife used to work at the Jacques Monod Institute, the Paris University 6 and 7, France. They visited Viet Nam in 1976, and the late professor helped the health sector to establish and develop electron-microscopic studies for biomedical research in Viet Nam. He also organised a range of scientific workshops and training courses on immunisation, biochemistry, to cellular work and pathology.

Benedetti and his wife also collaborated with Vietnamese scientists in conducting scientific research on diseases and epidemics such as leprosy, SARS, avian influenza H5N1 and encephalitis in the 1990s.


Six killed, two injured as bus crashes into market


Six people were killed and another two seriously injured when a truck slid down a slope and crashed into a crowded market in Hiep Thanh Ward in the southern Hau Giang Province yesterday.

The injured survivors were taken to Can Tho Central General Hospital for prompt surgeries due to serious head injuries.

According to witnesses, the accident happened in the early morning when traders in a temporary market were standing around on a slope under Phung Hiep Bridge.

Most of the people present were local residents gathering and trading to earn a living, they said.

An initial investigation suggested that the truck driver may have fallen asleep at the wheel. He has turned himself in to the local police.

This road opened to traffic two months ago. Barriers have not been installed despite encroachment of the market.

The accident blocked traffic on Highway No 1 between Can Tho City and Soc Trang Province for six hours.

The case is now under investigation.

Another accident occurred in Thanh Binh Commune in Cho Moi District in northern Bac Kan Province on March 28.

One person was killed and two are in critical condition after a motorbike rear-ended a car and then crashed into a coach driving in the opposite direction.

The motorbike driver died after being taken to hospital. The woman and child sitting in the backseat are receiving special treatment at Thai Nguyen General Hospital. All the vehicles were severely damaged.


Elephant found dead in Nghe An


An elephant was found dead in central Nghe An Province on Saturday.

Nguyen Hong Quan, a forest ranger in Anh Son District, said the elephant's ivory had been removed.

The province's Forest Management Department has sent officials to the spot for further investigation.


Child traffickers arrested in Lao Cai


Two women, aged 26 and 53, were arrested for child trafficking by Lao Cai border guards and handed over to the Yen Bai police.

They were busted while trying to traffic a 14-year-old Kho Mu ethnic girl across the border to China on March 21.

The investigation is ongoing.


Four fined $3,400 for illegal gas extraction


Four people were fined VND75 million (US$3,400) for illegal gas extraction, according to the central province of Quang Ngai's Market Management Department.

They were caught at a tanker with 30 12-kg and 45kg gas canisters at Ham Rong Cemetery, Binh Chanh Commune, Binh Son District on February 22.


Work begins on judicial cadre school


Construction on a Judicial Cadre Training School in Kim Son Commune, Gia Lam District started yesterday, March 28.

The South Korean government is the principal investor in the US$3 million project intended to make the country's judicial system more efficient. The sum is non-refundable aid supplied by the Korea International Co-operation Agency (KOICA).

The school plans to train 5000 court officers annually.


Buon Ma Thuot fire damages seven houses


Seven houses on Lane 486, Le Duan Street, Buon Ma Thuot City, in the Central Highland province of Dak Lak, caught fire on March 28, causing hundreds of millions of Viet Nam dong in damages.

The four houses were totally destroyed but there were no fatalities.

Nguyen Van Luyen, deputy head of the Fire Prevention Department under the Dak Lak Police, said it took an hour to control the fire because of strong winds and the dry climate.

The fire occured near the Ea Tam market, which caused chaos as traders tried to evacuate.


Hypertension control programme to go nationwide


The national hypertension prevention and control programme is being extended this year to all 63 cities and provinces to educate the public that the condition could cause cardiovascular diseases, health officials said.

The VND32 billion (US$1.53 million) programme seeks to screen 70 per cent of people aged 25 and above for high blood pressure (BP), Nguyen Lan Viet, head of the Viet Nam Heart Institute, said.

At least 50 per cent of hypertension patients will be given proper treatment, Viet, who is also head of the programme steering committee, told a meeting held yesterday to discuss implementation of the programme in the south.

It will also provide training to 10,000 health workers, he added.

Last year the programme screened nearly one million people in 16 cities and provinces.

Nearly 72,000 people were found to have high BP, half of them newly diagnosed.

Nearly 80 per cent of them have been treated, with 19 per cent managing to bring down their BP to normal levels.

A 2008 survey by the Viet Nam Heart Institute in eight provinces and cities found the prevalence rate among people aged 25 and above to be 25.1 per cent.


Cambodia inaugurates monument to Vietnamese volunteer troops


A monument to Vietnamese volunteer troops was inaugurated on March 30 in Kompong Chnang province, 100km from Phnom Penh capital.

It was built on an area of over 500sq.m, replace the old one, which was smaller and beyond repair, and symbolises the solidarity and strong attachment between Vietnam and Cambodia.

The funding for construction came from the Vietnamese Overseas Association in Cambodia and Kompong Chnang’s three sister cities and provinces, Can Tho, Soc Trang and Hau Giang in Vietnam.

RoK helps build court officials training school in Vietnam

Construction on a court officials training school funded by the Republic of Korea started on March 28.

Chief Judge of the Supreme People’s Court of Vietnam Tu Van Nhu and Minister of the National Court Administration of the RoK Park Il Hwan attended the breaking-ground ceremony for the facility.

The project is built with the RoK government’s non-refundable aid of US$3 million through the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).

Once operational, the school is expected to train 5,000 court officials each year.


Hanoi to host first festival for visually impaired people


A festival for visually impaired people will be held for the first time in Hanoi on April 17 by the Hanoi Youth Union in collaboration with the Hanoi Blind Association.  

The festival is expected to attract 29 teams from 29 districts and provide a good chance for the blind to exchange ideas and experiences.

Dance and song performances and a quiz about Party resolutions and National Assembly (NA) election will be also held during the festival.


Vietnam, Netherlands join hands on climate change


Vietnam and the Netherlands will cooperate in climate change adaptation and water management.

At the first meeting of the Vietnam-Netherlands intergovernmental committee held in Hanoi on March 29, participants discussed detailed solutions to deal with climate change and improve water management, ensuring stable social development in such areas as the Mekong Delta, Ho Chi Minh City, Red River Delta and coastal areas.

Presiding over the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai highlighted the bilateral strategic partnership agreement on climate change adaptation and water management signed in October, 2010 as a landmark in the two countries’ cooperative ties. He said the attendance of Dutch Prince Willem-Alexander at the meeting embodied the cooperative commitments of the two governments in the field.

The Deputy PM took the opportunity to thank the Dutch Government for its past support and committed to doing his best to bring bilateral cooperative relations to a greater level of success.

Deputy PM Hoang Trung Hai was also appointed as Chairman of the Vietnam subcommittee under the Vietnam-Netherlands intergovernmental committee on climate change adaptation and water management.

VNN/VOV/VNS