Province to upgrade markets

The People's Committee of southern Soc Trang Province has approved a plan worth over VND2.1 trillion (US$101 million) to build a market system by 2020.

A woman buys poultry at a traditional market in the southern province of Soc Trang.

The province will invest over $101 million to upgrade its market system through 2020.

The move aims to better meet demand for production and consumption in the province. Under the plan signed by the committee's chairman Nguyen Trung Hieu, investment capital includes VND250 billion ($12 million) funded by both national and provincial budgets. Local companies would provide the rest of the necessary capital.

The province will have two wholesale farm-produce markets in Ke Sach District; two wholesale fruit markets in Soc Trang City and Vinh Chau Township, and 23 markets in all districts of the province.

In addition, 14 trade centres and five supermarkets will be built. The retail and service turnover is set to reach VND117 trillion ($5.6 billion) each year since 2020, three times higher than now.

Mexican university sends gifts to VN AO victims

The university of Zacatecas, in Mexico’s Autonomous State of Zacatecas (UAZ-Zacatecas), has presented 20 wheelchairs to Vietnamese Agent (AO)/dioxin victims.

The gifts were handed over by the university’s Rector, Dr. Francisco Javier Dominguez, on August 31 to mark the 67 th anniversary of the August Revolution and Vietnam’s National Day.

Speaking at the ceremony, Dominguez said that the presents are a symbol of the solidarity between both countries.

Vietnamese Ambassador Le Thanh Tung thanked the university’s staff and students for their kindness as well as the Mexican people for their support to Vietnam, especially AO victims.

He said he would try his best to develop relations between the two countries as well as between Vietnam and Zacatecas State.

UAZ is well respected in Mexico and the university has taken part in several joint initiatives with the Vietnam National Hospital of Acupuncture over the last ten years.

As part of these projects, Vietnamese doctors and their Mexican colleagues have provided check-ups and treatment to over 18,000 patients both in and outside Zacatecas, which makes up 10 percent of the population.

Disabled children receive free surgeries

More than 500 mobility-impaired children from 30 provinces nationwide will be provided with free check-ups and surgeries at the Phuc Lam International General Hospital in Van Giang district, Hung Yen province.

Under a charity program that started on September 4, the children will be examined and operated on by leading doctors from Phuong Dong, Vietnam-Germany and Phuc Lam hospitals.

The program, sponsored by an Australian organization and Phuc Lam hospital, aims to help the children recover from their disabilities and integrate more fully into society.

It is also an occasion to call upon other benefactors to sponsor and encourage disabled children to overcome their difficulties in their daily lives.

Hotline for dangerous trees set up after storms

The Ha Noi Green Tree and Park Company has set up hotlines to receive information relating to trees that face a high risk of falling in storms.

The hotlines include 0439 764 540, 0438 237 114, 0904 285 818, 0904 011 812 and 09016 423 710.

Statistics from the company show that the city now has 365 trees with a high risk of falling.

The company plans to chop them down and grow other trees to replace them.

Vietnamese scientists visit Laos

A delegation from the Ministry of Science and Technology led by Minister Nguyen Quan met with Lao Prime Minister Thongsin Thammavong on Sept. 4 as part of their visit to Laos from Sept. 4-7.

Quan spoke highly of the results of cooperation between the two ministries in major areas such as bio-technologies, new energies, intellectual property rights and information technology.

He informed the Lao leader of his ministry’s future plans, saying that Vietnam will do its utmost to enhance cooperation with Laos in science and technology, human resources development and information exchange.

Quan said he hoped that the PM will pay more attention to cooperation between the two ministries, which will help implement the economic, cultural, scientific and technical cooperation strategy for the 2011-2020 period that both countries have ratified.

Thongsin Thammavong asked Vietnam to continue supporting Laos in science-technology, especially in training and information exchange, for the benefit of both countries.

As scheduled, on September 5, the delegation will attend a meeting in Khammouane province as part of the activities to mark the Vietnam-Laos Solidarity and Friendship Year 2012.

VNN/VOV/VNS