A strong cold spell affecting the north of the country on December 4 served to lower temperatures throughout the region, with frost appearing on the peak of Fansipan mountain in Sa Pa district in the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai for the first time this winter.

This follows a trend of temperatures continuing to fall throughout the country’s northern regions after being impacted by a cold period a few days ago.

The temperature in Lao Cai city at 7 a.m. on December 4 was measured at 16.8 degrees Celsius, with the temperature in Bac Ha mountainous district falling even lower to 11.2 degree Celsius.

Most notably, Sa Pa district recorded a very low temperature of 7.1 degrees Celsius. Indeed, the peak of Fansipan mountain is the coldest place throughout the entire northern region, with temperatures as low as below 0 degrees Celsius, thereby causing frost to form.

This marks the first time that frost has been seen this winter, with the temperature forecast to drop even lower on December 5.

This wonderful natural phenomenon is anticipated to attract tourists to visit Sa Pa district this weekend.

Lao Prime Minister to visit Vietnam, co-chair inter-governmental committee meeting

Laos' Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith

The Prime Minister of Laos, Thongloun Sisoulith, will lead a high-ranking delegation of the Lao Government to visit Vietnam and co-chair the 43rd meeting of the Vietnam-Laos Inter-governmental Committee from December 4-6.

The Lao PM’s visit is made at the invitation of Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc./.

Second national congress of Vietnamese ethnic minority groups opens

The second national congress of Vietnamese ethnic minority groups opened in Hanoi on December 4, with the participation of nearly 1,600 delegates.

Prominent among guests at the event were Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Chairwoman of the National Assembly Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan.

In his opening remarks, Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh, head of the steering board for the congress, said the event is a vivid illustration for the solidarity of ethnic groups across the nation.

The congress is an opportunity for the Party and State to grasp the ethnic minority people’s thought and expectations, thus creating consensus and strong belief in society in the leadership of the Party and State on the threshold of the 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam, he stressed.

Delivering the congress’s draft political report, Minister – Chairman of the Committee for Ethnic Minority Affairs Do Van Chien underlined the standout achievements of the ethnic work since the first congress in 2010, including improved local livelihoods, more sustainable poverty reduction as well as better healthcare, education and security.

Particularly, ethnic minority people’s confidence in the Party and State’s leadership has been consolidated, helping strengthen the national solidarity, he stressed.

However, Chien said the work still showed several limitations such as still high rates of poor and near poor households, the existence of backward and superstitious practices in some localities, and deforestation for construction of hydropower plants that causes flooding and landslides in mountainous areas.

The official presented targets, tasks and solutions for ethnic minority affairs during 2021-2020, including doubling the average income per capita of ethnic minority people by 2025 compared to 2020, an annual three percent reduction in poverty rate, and under-10 percent poverty rate by 2030.

To that end, Chien said competent authorities and Party committees at all levels should complete policies and regulations related to ethnic minority groups and mountainous areas, promote economic structure shifting in line with local culture and practice, among others.  

On the occasion, the Vietnam News Agency joined hands with the Committee for Ethnic Minority Affairs to organise a photo exhibition, highlighting ethnic minority groups’ contributions to the cause of national construction and development as well as their culture and life./.

Former Hanoi chairman proposed to be expelled from Party

Nguyen Duc Chung

 

The Party Central Committee (PCC)’s Inspection Commission has proposed the Politburo and PCC expel Nguyen Duc Chung, member of the PCC and former Deputy Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee, from the Party for serious legal violations.

The proposal was made during the 50th meeting of the commission, in Hanoi on December 1 and 2.

According to the commission, Chung, former Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee, seriously violated Party regulations and State law on protecting State secrets, as well as regulations on matters that Party members are banned from doing, damaging the prestige of the Party organisation and himself.

Chung is being prosecuted and detained, and suspended from Party activities.

The commission also adopted guidelines on the settlement of denunciations and complaints, in service of the election of deputies to the 15th National Assembly and People’s Councils at all levels for the 2021-2026 tenure./.

Lacquer painter showcases artworks created over past decade

Veteran painter Trịnh Tuân will showcase 30 of his large lacquer paintings at an exhibition slated to open tomorrow at the Việt Art Space, 42 Yết Kiêu Street.

Entitled Memories of Silence, the exhibition is to celebrate his 30-year journey in lacquer painting. The exhibition will present the works that Tuân has created over the past 10 years.  

Alongside painting, the 59-year-old artist also has a great passion for music and has composed music for several poems. His love for music is also expressed through his paintings.

A lecturer of the University of Industrial Fine Arts, Tuân is also head of the Asia Art Link – Việt Nam, a community connecting Vietnamese and other artists in ASEAN countries.

Memories of Silence will open from 5.30pm tomorrow and run until December 12. 

Photo exhibition marks 60 years of Vietnam-Cuba friendship

A photo exhibition commemorating the 60th anniversary of Vietnam-Cuba diplomatic ties (December 2) is underway at the National Library José Martí in Havana, Cuba.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Cuba’s Vice Minister for Culture Fernando Leon Jacomino highlighted the historic milestones of the two countries’ ties, particularly the visit by Fidel Castro to Vietnam in September 1973.

Despite the danger, he was the first and only foreign Head of State to pay a visit to a newly liberated area in the central province of Quang Tri. The visit was a symbol of the special sentiment between the two nations, Jacomino noted.

For his part, Vietnamese Ambassador to Cuba Le Thanh Tung spoke highly of the holding of the event, especially in a public place named after José Martí, a hero of Cuba and one of the first to nurture the empathy and mutual understanding between Cuba and Vietnam.

On showcase are 60 photos provided by the Vietnam News Agency and Cuba’s State news agency Prensa Latina.

The exhibition will run until December 9./.

Violations of epidemic prevention rules may be prosecuted: HCM City official

Chairman of HCMC People’s Committee Nguyen Thanh Phong

Ho Chi Minh City will strictly handles, and even consider criminal proceedings against violations of rules on epidemic prevention and control, Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Thanh Phong said at a meeting on December 3.

He added that the city will start criminal proceedings against patient 1342 for not observing epidemic prevention regulations while being quarantined at a concentrated quarantine facility and at his accommodation.

The official also requested that the police apply similar measures to those who refuse to make health declaration or make untrue declaration, break quarantine rules, gather in large numbers, resist on-duty officers, speculate in goods, manipulate prices, or produce fake and low-quality goods.

He required agencies, organisations and enterprises to tighten epidemic prevention work, and ordered local departments and administrations to stay prepared for any situation.

Phong also urged the city’s residents to wear facemasks in public places and stay away from crowded places

Director of the Health Department Nguyen Tan Binh reported that no new COVID-19 infections were found in the city on December 3. As of 14:00 on the day, the health sector had gathered test samples from 2,344 persons, including 851 F1 (persons who had direct contact with COVID-19 patients) and 1,492 F2 (persons who had contact with F1). Results of 2,196 samples have become available, with three samples positive to SARS-CoV-2 (patients 1347, 1348 and 1349), and 148 samples are still waiting for results.

The health department has temporarily isolated the accommodations of patients and nearby homes, conducted disinfection of areas related to patients, and quickly tracked those who had contact with patients.

After four COVID-19 cases were detected in the city during November 28 – December 2, many schools have temporarily closed and allowed students to take online lessons. Hundreds of thousands of students at all levels along with teachers and school staff members have to stop going to school.

The city administration also kept in place an order on suspending events and activities gathering large numbers of people when not really necessary./.

Three imported cases of COVID-19 recorded on December 3

Three cases of COVID-19, all imported cases, were recorded on December 3 to 6pm, raising the national count to 1361, according to the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control.

Of the new patients, two are Vietnamese citizens with one returning from Germany and the other from the US via the Republic of Korea. The third one is a Nepalese arriving from the US.

Also on December 3, eight patients were given the all clear, bringing the number of recovered patients to 1,209. The fatalities remain at 35.

Among those still receiving treatment, three have tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 once, five twice and 10 thrice.

A total of 16,582 people who had close contacts with COVID-19 patients or returned from pandemic-hit areas are being quarantined nationwide, with 164 at hospitals, 15,566 at concentrated facilities and 852 at home or accommodations.

The Health Ministry continues to urge the people to strictly follow the 5K motto: Khau trang (Face masks) – Khu khuan (Disinfection) – Khoang cach (Keeping distance) - Khong tap trung dong nguoi (No gathering) – Khai bao y te (Health declaration) in order to prevent COVID-19 transmission./.

Vietnam, Australia convene fourth defence policy dialogue

Deputy Defence Minister Sen. Lieut. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien and Deputy Secretary Strategy, Policy and Industry at the Australian Department of Defence, Peter Tesch, co-chaired the fourth Vietnam - Australia defence policy dialogue held via video-conference on December 3.

Reviewing bilateral defence ties over past years, they noted the two defence ministries pledged to continue promoting ties within the framework of the two countries’ strategic partnership despite the impact of COVID-19.

Defence leaders have maintained annual exchanges, most recently between the two ministers at the informal meeting of ASEAN - Australia defence ministers held for the first time in Hanoi.

Both sides spoke highly of successes in their cooperation on English training and UN peacekeeping operations, thus helping Vietnam fulfil the UN’s mission and reflecting its role and responsibility in the international community.

They hope to expand several new areas of cooperation, such as military medicine, cyber security, academic exchange, search and rescue, and defence industry.

On regional and global issues of shared concern, they reached consensus on the principle of respecting international law, settling disputes by peaceful means, and refraining from the use of or threat to use force.

The two sides expressed their belief that only via cooperation can the world stay united and gradually recover from the pandemic.

On the occasion, Chien thanked the Australian Department of Defence and the country’s army for promptly helping Vietnam during the recent floods./.

Vietnam bolsters health partnerships to tackle COVID-19

Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long and World Health Organisation (WHO) representative in Vietnam Kidong Park on December 3 co-chaired a health partnership meeting in Hanoi titled “Health Partnerships and Cooperation in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic”.

The event was held to share lessons of Vietnam in battling the pandemic and discuss global trends in seeking and accessing vaccine and new treatment methods, as well as preparations for disease prevention in the coming time.

Delegates also touched on models for cooperation and partnership in containing the spread of COVID-19.

Minister Long thanked international partners for their support to Vietnam’s health sector and collaboration to fight the pandemic, affirming that the country is ready to respond to the coming waves.

Vietnam has gained certain achievements in COVID-19 prevention and control and won international recognition in the field, he said, affirming that health partnerships and cooperation have a significant role to play.

Further cooperation in seeking measures to set up the “new normal” is vital, along with maintaining current preventive methods and carrying out cooperation in the development and access to vaccine and new treatments, he added.

The Health Minister said that Vietnam is working with partners on the supply of COVID-19 vaccines to ensure people’s access in the fastest manner, in keeping with the Government’s guidelines.

The country has also created the best conditions for vaccine research and enjoyed positive signs in pre-clinical trials, Long noted.

For his part, Park pledged that WHO will continue its close collaboration with the MoH in the coming time, and confirmed the effectiveness of Vietnam’s COVID-19 response system.

He said the health system needs to be ready to cope with new outbreaks, maintain essential health services and protect vulnerable residential areas, among others.

Health partnership group presented to Vietnam more than 290,300 personal protective equipment (PPE), nearly 1.4 million face masks and 740 ventilators, which greatly contributed to Vietnam’s efforts to tackle COVID-19.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health handed over more than 2 million masks, ventilators, PPE, and COVID-19 test kits to 22 countries and territories.

As the Chair of ASEAN in 2020, Vietnam proposed the establishment of the Regional Reserve of Medical Supplies and is actively taking part in the formation of the ASEAN Centre for Public Health Emergencies and Emerging Diseases (ACPHEED).

The US had requested Vietnam to be the location of a regional office of its Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which was agreed by the Vietnamese Government./.

Da Nang hosts UK Education and Technology Roadshow

The UK Education and Technology Roadshow 2020 was held in the central city of Da Nang on December 3, attracting the participation of nearly 1,000 local high school and university students.

The iconic red London double-decker bus offering the very best of UK education and technology stopped at the Phan Chau Trinh High School, the VN-UK Institute for Research and Executive Education at the University of Da Nang, and the University of Da Nang - University of Science and Technology.

Students had the chance to learn more about training programmes in the UK and tips to choose one that is suitable, find out UK qualifications and studying programmes in Vietnam, acquire information on Chevening scholarships - the UK's premier governmental scholarship programme, and discover employment opportunities in UK tech companies.

British Deputy Ambassador to Vietnam Marcus Winsley said that UK-Vietnam cooperation in education, technology, and skills training plays an important role in the development of both countries.

He expressed his hope that students in Da Nang will get to learn more about link and scholarship programmes and employment opportunities upon graduation.

The roadshow is expected to visit the northern port city of Hai Phong and then HCM City./.

Over $1.4 mln raised for national sea and island fund

Chairwoman of the VFF Committee in Ho Chi Minh City To Thi Bich Chau speaks at the programme

 

Over 34 billion VND (over 1.4 million USD) were raised for the “For national seas and islands – For the fatherland frontline” fund at an art exchange programme co-organised by the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Committee in Ho Chi Minh City and the municipal television HTV on December 2.

In her opening remarks, Chairwoman of the VFF Committee in Ho Chi Minh City To Thi Bich Chau highlighted the significance of the programme, expressing her thanks to organisations, individuals, enterprises, Vietnamese expats and donors for their assistance for the fund over the last eight years.

All the donations will be used to carry out specific tasks and projects in 2021 such as communications to raise public awareness on the national sea and island sovereignty, and support for soldiers and officers who are on their duty in, and people living in border and island areas, among others.

In 2021, the fund will provide medical equipment to a health station in Nam Yet island, help repair Song Tu Tay primary School in Song Tu Tay island, maintain and the base of the DK1/10 platform in Navy Region 2, and build a cultural house on Thuyen Chai A island, and carry out a project on fresh water supply in border areas.

HCM City’s fund alone has raised over 41 billion VND so far this year, which have been spent on a series of activities, including helping officers, soldiers and people in border and island areas.

On the occasion, outstanding individuals with significant contributions to the fund and those who have made great effort to sea and island areas, were honoured./.

Workshop discusses Vietnam-UN cooperation framework for 2022-2026

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung and Kamal Malhotra, UN Resident Coordinator in Vietnam, co-chaired a seminar on building the Vietnam – UN development cooperation framework in 2022-2026 in Hanoi on December 2.

During the workshop, the two sides reviewed the implementation of the Vietnam-UN One Strategic Plan (OSP) for the 2017-2021 period, and proposed orientations, priorities and solutions to enhance the UN’s support to Vietnam to successfully implement its socio-economic development strategy in the 2021-2030 period, the socio-economic development plan in 2021-2025, and the 2030 Agenda on sustainable development.

Trung highlighted the extensive and effective cooperation between Vietnam and the UN, saying that the OSP 2017-2021 is an important and practical cooperation framework that has assisted the Vietnamese Government in solving prioritised issues in socio-economic development and implementing the SDGs, as well as Vietnam’s other important international commitments.

Vietnam will approve a socio-economic development strategy and plan in 2021 - the final year of implementing the OSP 2017-2021, he said.

The two sides are urgently preparing to build a new development cooperation framework, ensuring a close link with national strategies and plans on socio-economic development, while making better use of comparative advantages of UN organisations in the new situation, Trung added.

For his part, Malhotra affirmed the UN is committed to supporting Vietnam in its socio-economic development, realising the SDGs, and enhancing its role and position in the region and the world.

Vietnam always leads the implementation of the UN’s “Unified Action” initiative, he said.

In his conclusion, Trung suggested the UN increase policy consultancy, share knowledge and experience, as well as provide support for Vietnam in socio-economic management, especially economic restructuring and renovation of growth model, infrastructure and urban development, high-quality human resources development in close connection to market demand; green and circular economic development, resilience to climate change and extreme weather, biodiversity protection, water security and sustainable marine economic development, during the process of building a development cooperation framework for the 2022-2026 period.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is ready to act as a bridge connecting cooperation between Vietnam’s relevant ministries and agencies with the UN in this matter, he affirmed.

Participants also proposed priority areas for cooperation with the UN, including climate change adaptation, disaster risk mitigation, water resources, and improving living conditions of ethnic minority communities, fighting gender violence, aging population, school hygiene, nutrition for children, digital transformation, and sex education.

The OSP 2017-2021 is based on the three principles of inclusion, equity and sustainability. It is aligned with the country’s socio-economic development strategy for 2011-2020, socio-economic development plan for 2016-2020, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as well as international human rights commitments of Vietnam.

With an estimated budget of 423 million USD, the OSP 2017-2021 prioritises four focal areas shaped on the basis of the key themes of the SDGs (people, planet, prosperity and peace)./.

Top leader receives outgoing Russian Ambassador

Party General Secretary and State President Nguyen Phu Trong (R) receives outgoing Russian Ambassador Konstantin Vnukov

 

Party General Secretary and State President Nguyen Phu Trong on December 3 hosted a reception in Hanoi for outgoing Russian Ambassador Konstantin Vnukov, who came to say good-bye at the end of his term.

At the reception, the top leader spoke highly of contributions of the Russian diplomat to the Vietnam-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership. He emphasised the consistent policy of the Party and State of Vietnam on consolidating and promoting relations with Russia in all spheres.

Vietnam has nurtured a traditional friendship with the Soviet Union in the past and Russia at present, he said, voicing his gratitude for the support that the Soviet Union and Russia have provided for Vietnam over the years.

The bilateral political ties enjoy high level of trust as exchange of delegations has been maintained in all channels, with the cooperation via the party channel serving as an important political foundation, contributing to deepening the Vietnam-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership, the Party General Secretary said.

He hailed the positive development of the countries’ economic cooperation, noting that partnership in the fields of defence, security, military engineering, energy, and oil and gas continues to act as a pillar of the countries’ ties.

Vietnam and Russia need to proactively carry out agreement reached by high-ranking officials for the benefits of the two nations, as well as contributing to maintaining peace, stability and development in the region and the world, General Secretary Trong said.

The leader also sent his regards and gratitude to Russian President V. Putin for attending the East Asia Summit held in the Vietnam’s ASEAN Chairmanship Year, and greetings to D. Medvedev, Chairman of the ruling United Russia political party.

For his part, Vnukov vowed that he will spare no efforts in bolstering the bilateral relations in his new position./.

ESCAP keen to bolster cooperation with Vietnam

UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana on December 3 spoke highly of the determination, efforts and achievements of Vietnam in implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and sustainable development goals (SDGs).

She made the praise while receiving Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand and Permanent Representative of Vietnam to ESCAP Phan Chi Thanh following the ambassador’s presentation of his credentials at ESCAP headquarters in Bangkok, Thailand.

Alisjahbana appreciated the appointment of a Permanent Representative to ESCAP by the Vietnamese Government for the first time, and voiced her hope to further bolster the Vietnam-ESCAP cooperation and the ASEAN-UN partnership at large.

She hailed Vietnam’s socio-economic accomplishments in the past decade, noting that the country is a bright spot in curbing the spread of COVID-19 while maintaining economic growth amid complexities brought by the pandemic.

The ESCAP Executive Secretary highly valued Vietnam’s contributions while performing the double role of the Chair of ASEAN in 2020 and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the 2020-21 term, which she said have helped promote the ASEAN-UN comprehensive partnership.

She agreed with a proposal of Vietnam that ESCAP increase policy consultancy and technical assistance for countries, towards post-pandemic recovery and better preparation for major uncertainties in the future.

In his remarks, Thanh affirmed that Vietnam is committed to and exerting efforts in carrying out the 2030 Agenda and SDGs.

He welcomed the sound and effective cooperation between Vietnam and ESCAP, and hoped the relations will be further strengthened in a practical manner.

Vietnam stands ready to foster the ASEAN-UN comprehensive partnership and exchange views on emerging issues, especially measures for recovery after COVID-19 and to boost countries’ self-reliance and response capacity against future crisis, at the same time ensuring the common target of realising SDGs.

The Vietnamese diplomat requested ESCAP to roll out more projects in Vietnam and consider taking Vietnamese officials for internship at the ESCAP Secretariat to raise their capacity./.

 

Ethnic affairs – strategic, long-term, urgent task: top legislator

The Party and State have consistently considered ethnic affairs a strategic, long-term and urgent task, Chairwoman of the National Assembly Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan said on December 3.

It is the task of the entire Party, people, army and political system, the top legislator affirmed at a Hanoi meeting with delegates to the second national congress of ethnic minority groups.

Ethnic groups should stay equal and united, respect and support each other in development, she stressed, adding that the State has adopted comprehensive development policies and facilitated the development of ethnic minorities.

Therefore, Ngan said, over the past time, resources have been allocated to ethnic minority-inhabited and mountainous areas in order to spur their socio-economic development.

As a result, the poverty rate in these areas dropped 2-3 percent annually. Between 2015 and 2019, 22 districts, 125 communes, and 1,298 hamlets moved out of special difficulties, according to the leader.

Marked achievements have also been recorded in education-training, and job generation for ethnic minority people, she said, noting due attention has been paid to health care, the conservation of traditional culture, and Party building among the groups.

The great national unity has been consolidated and enhanced, and the groups’ trust in the Party and State has improved significantly, the chief legislator continued.

She called for more joint efforts in protecting national sovereignty and border security as well as in building borders of peace, friendship, cooperation and development.

Regarding deforestation, she said the Party and the State will continue instructions for issuance of suitable mechanisms and policies to help ethnic minority groups benefit from forest protection and development.

Apart from socio-economic development and poverty reduction, it is necessary to eliminate backward practices and combine traditional cultural preservation with community-based tourism, she requested.

Deputy PM receives RoK’s National Police Agency delegation

Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh on December 3 received a high-ranking delegation of the National Police Agency of the Republic of Korea (RoK) led by Commissioner General Kim Chang-yong.

The delegation is on a Vietnam visit to attend the third Vietnam-RoK Vice-Ministerial Meeting on Police Cooperation and to review phase one of a project to enhance criminal science capability of Vietnam's Ministry of Public Security (MPS).

At the meeting, Binh voiced his delight at the thriving cooperation between the MPS and the RoK’s police agency. He thanked the NPA for its support in the implementation of the phase two of the project to enhance Vietnam's criminal science capability and another one to set up an electronic shooting range for the police in HCM City.

He asked the NPA to roll out other projects to help Vietnam and the MPS enhance capacity against all types of criminals, thereby ensuring security and safety for citizens, businesses and important political events of the two countries.

The Deputy PM affirmed that the Vietnamese Government is committed to protecting and supporting RoK citizens living and working in the country, and asking the RoK Government and the NPA to provide assistance to Vietnamese living in the RoK.

Binh also underlined the Vietnamese Government’s support for promoting the countries’ collaboration in anti-crime activities and asked the MPS and NPA to bolster sharing of information and experience in the fields, especially in tackling non-traditional ones and terrorists.

Vietnam has created favourable conditions for experts and skilled technicians of the RoK in entering the country and will promptly devise a flexible mechanism for quarantine and COVID-19 testing.

In reply, Kim informed his host on the outcomes of his talks with Minister of Public Security of Vietnam Gen. To Lam and the third Vietnam-RoK Vice-Ministerial Meeting on Police Cooperation.

He expressed his hope that Vietnam will further reform procedures and shorten processing time for immigration procedures, and resume flights linking the two countries.

He repeated a proposal put forth at the talks with Minister To Lam regarding the mutual recognition of each other’s driving licence, which is expected to facilitate the daily lives of people of both countries.

Vietnam is a key partner in the new Southern Policy of the RoK Government while the East Asia nation is the leading investor, trade partner and official development assistance provider of Vietnam, as well as the top recipient of Vietnamese migrant workers./.

Hanoi encourages people to use buses for environmental protection

Hanoi’s authorities encourage people to use public transport. Photo: Pham Hung/Kinhtedothi.vn

Hanoi has set the target for the mass transit to meet 25% of people’s travel demand by 2030.

Over the past three years, Hanoi’s authorities encourage people to use public transport by improving the quality of bus services with a view to protecting the living environment, Kinh te & Do thi reported. 

Hanoi has set the target for the mass transit to meet 25% of people’s travel demand by 2030. The bus fleet has enlarged and many new lines have been launched, especially to Hanoi’s outskirts.

However, the rate of urban residents traveling by buses is much lower than that in the city’s suburban areas.

Environmental pollution, especially air pollution, still remains a headache in Hanoi. The main cause is the increasing number of private vehicles.

According to statistics, vehicles are responsible for over 70% of air pollution. In particular, emissions of most of cars and motorcycles in Vietnam have been controlled.

Therefore, Hanoi’s government encourages local residents to ride bus instead of their private vehicles to contribute to reducing CO2 emissions into the environment and traffic jams.

“I ride bus to work every day. It’s safer than going on a motorbike. Besides, traveling by bus helps minimize environmental damage and improve life quality. Therefore, it is necessary to educate people to think about the overall and long-term benefits when choosing riding bus,” said Dr. Tran Thi Thanh Tu, a lecturer from Vietnam National University, Hanoi.

Some 1,600 delegates take part in second national congress of ethnic minorities

Some 1,600 delegates and 300 guests are attending the second national congress of Vietnamese ethnic minorities in Hanoi from December 2 to 4.

The congress is reviewing the achievements and outcomes of policies for ethnic minorities over the last decade, to learn from experience and compile plans and goals for the next 10 years, said Hoang Thi Hanh, Deputy Minister and Vice Chairwoman of the Government's Committee for Ethnic Minorities.

It also provides a forum for ethnic minority groups to meet and share experience and to consolidate their trust and consensus under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam.

Hanh added that the second congress also aims to spotlight and recognise the contributions of ethnic minority communities to poverty reduction, new-style rural area building, infrastructure development, the implementation of ethnic minority policies, national construction and defence, and international integration in the 2010-2020 period.

On the sidelines, an incense-offering ceremony at the Hung Kings Temple in northern Phu Tho province and a visit to the President Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum in Hanoi will take place on the morning of December 3. The congress will convene a preparatory meeting later on the same day.

The opening session is scheduled for 8:00 on December 4, with an arts show at 20:00 at the National Convention Centre.

The first national ethnic minority congress was held in 2010, attracting nearly 1,700 delegates./.

Hanoi to host golf festival 2020

The festival is expected to attract broad participation from local and international golfers this year.

The BRG Golf Hanoi Festival 2020 will take place on December 12-13 in Hanoi, with the expectation to help tourists explore the beauty of the city through golf.

The festival is an annual event of the BRG Group for international friends as well as golfers in the Vietnamese golf community. This year season is the 5th in a row to be held. The festival offers a chance for international golfers to experience a chain of high-class courses, special culinary identities, and the professionalism of the host.

 Through the event, BRG Group is committed to developing the sports industry and promoting the Vietnamese golf tourism sustainably. 

Local and foreign golfers can enjoy at two world-class golf courses. The first is BRG Legend Hill Golf Resort, the first golf course planned out by Nicklaus Design in Vietnam, featuring a unique “twin green” design. The second is Kings Course at BRG Kings Island Golf Resort, which was designed by Jack Nicklaus II, the president of Nicklaus Design and the eldest son of golfing legend Jack Nicklaus. 

With professional service from golf management to those who come in direct contact with golfers such as caddies and golf operators, BRG Group's courses have been repeatedly honored with prestigious awards, including the best golf course in Vietnam, and course with the best caddy service in Vietnam. 

Participating in the tournament, golfers will have opportunity to win prizes such as cars, Ezgo tram, 5-star resort package, airline tickets, luxury golf bags and other valuable gifts.

Hanoi speeds up completion of master plan of Hoa Lac township

The master plan of the Hoa Lac urban area is part of the general planning for Hanoi to the year 2030 and beyond.

The Hanoi People's Committee and the municipal Institute of Construction Planning are actively speeding up the completion of master plan of the Hoa Lac urban area, with a view to luring investment in the city’s largest satellite township, Kinh te & Do thi reported.

Hanoi’s authorities on July 9 made public the master plan of the Hoa Lac urban area till 2030. The plan, embracing an area of 17,274 hectares and having a scale of 1/10,000, was approved by the prime minister. The township comprises of some parts of Quoc Oai and Thach That districts and Son Tay town, about 30 kilometers to the west of Hanoi’s downtown.

The master plan of the Hoa Lac urban area is part of the general planning for the capital city to the year 2030, with the vision till 2050.

In the future, Hoa Lac urban center will become a science and technology city, the hub of advanced intelligence and technology, the location of high-quality human resource training facilities, science and technology research center, national universities and vocational colleges, and hospitals.

This will also be an eco-resort city, comprising of green urban areas, smart and energy-saving city to the west of Hanoi.

Director of the Hanoi Institute of Construction Planning Luu Quang Huy said that under the master plan of the Hoa Lac urban area, the Hanoi People's Committee will deploy six subdivision plans, devise architectural management regulations and speed up investment attraction.

According to Deputy Head of the Management Board of the Hoa Lac Hi-Tech Park Tran Dac Trung, some 240ha/1,000 ha of the park have been filled.

Currently, the park is housing 94 projects, with committed registered investment capital of about VND89,300 billion (US$3.9 billion); among them, 52 projects have been put into operation.

Many projects of leading local and foreign corporations have landed in Hoa Lac township, including Hanwha Aerospace Group (South Korea), Nidec Group and Nissan Techno Group (Japan), Vietnam - South Korea Academy of Science and Technology, Viettel, VNPT, Vingroup, FPT, among others.

There are currently nearly 9,000 students and about 13,000 laborers studying and working in the Hoa Lac Hi-Tech Park. However, the construction progress of the Vietnam National University-Hanoi is slow due to capital constraints and site clearance bottlenecks.

According to Mr. Luu Quang Huy, the Hanoi People's Committee has kept accelerating the implementation of urban subdivision planning projects and detailed planning projects of the Hoa Lac urban area, which is supposed to be a driver for socio-economic development of Hanoi’s outlying districts.

Dr. Dao Ngoc Nghiem, former director of the Hanoi Department of Planning and Architecture, said that among the five satellite urban plans, only the Hoa Lac urban area plan has been approved by the prime minister.

This shows the importance of the Hoa Lac urban area for Hanoi as well as the whole country. Thus, Hanoi needs to accelerate the implementation of master plan of the Hoa Lac urban area to call for investment, according to Dr. Dao Ngoc Nghiem.

It is expected that the population of the Hoa Lac urban area will be about 150,000 by 2025. By 2030 and beyond, about 600,000 people will be living in the area, with urban dwellers accounting for about 85%.

Developing the Hoa Lac urban area into a modern new city with synchronous social infrastructure and technical infrastructure would also alleviate the population pressure of Hanoi’s downtown.

New Zealand honors six VN alumni 

Education New Zealand (ENZ), the New Zealand Embassy and the New Zealand Consulate General celebrated the 2020 New Zealand Outstanding Alumni Awards today. These Awards recognize six outstanding Vietnamese alumni who have benefited from New Zealand’s world-class education system and who have gone on to achieve success in their professional careers and have made impactful contributions in their communities.

The 2020 New Zealand Outstanding Alumni Awards honour the outstanding achievements and the persistent efforts of six top New Zealand alumni to develop and establish themselves in their respective careers.

The 2020 New Zealand Outstanding Alumni Awardees are:
1. Ms. Le Thi My Hanh – Country Representative at Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI)
2. Ms. Nguyen Bao Tram – Vice President, User Growth Strategy and Planning at Lazada Vietnam
3. Ms. Trinh Thi Thuy Lien – PhD Candidate in Education and Higher Education, College of Education and Higher Education Development Center, Uiniversity of Otago, New Zealand
4. Mr. Le Ba An Binh – Managing Director at Adtima, a division of VNG
5. Mr. Nguyen Minh Dung (Daniel Nguyen) – Executive Chef at Mia Saigon Luxury Boutique Hotel; Founder of Coco Consulting Limited, Auckland, New Zealand
6. Mr. Nguyen Quang Dat – Captain (Airbus A320), Pacific Airlines

Mr. Ben Burrowes, Regional Manager East Asia at ENZ said: “We are extremely proud to recognise each individual awardee today and to celebrate the role that a New Zealand education has played in both their personal and professional lives. It is inspiring to learn what they’ve achieved since graduating in New Zealand and to hear real-life examples of New Zealand’s unique approach to learning.”

“All six awardees truly represent New Zealand’s ‘Think New’ mantra which focuses on an ability to never stop learning, to adapt to the challenges of an always changing world and to be ready to create a new tomorrow.”

New Zealand Ambassador to Vietnam, H.E. Wendy Matthews shared: “The six distinguished alumni have shown exemplary leadership and made outstanding achievements in their careers, becoming inspirational figures for the current and future New Zealand alumni in Vietnam. We are pleased to celebrate the diversity of our alumni and the special contributions these alumni have made across a range of fields, from the business world, aviation industry and information technology, to the culinary arts, the health sector and climate change advocacy.”

“The quality of New Zealand education can be seen in the quality of our graduates, and these alumni are examples of the globally engaged students New Zealand aims to produce. New Zealand is commited to helping build the future leaders of Vietnam. We are proud of our alumni and the New Zealand alumni community, who have come to be affectionately known as the "Kiwi mafia". Alumni play an integral role in the New Zealand- Vietnam bilateral relationship, which celebrated its 45th anniversary this year.”

Ms. Le Thi My Hanh, Country Representative at Global Green Growth Institution (GGGI), one of the six honored alumni said: “I would choose the word ‘holistic’ to describe my impression of New Zealand education. Beside academic excellence, the university experience there also equips you with social understanding and soft skills, as well as shows you how to appreciate work-life balance, be closer to nature and the community. The education that I received in New Zealand has sharpened my critical thinking and analytical skills, which have been very helpful in my career, up until today.”

New Zealand has received increasing interest from Vietnamese parents and students in recent years, achieving strong growth in students numbers in 2019.

Thailand plans to raise fee of five-year visas for foreigners

Thailand plans to increase the price of its five-year residency permit by 20 percent in January 2021, after the programme dubbed "elite" visas drew a record new membership this year as people sought to stay in the largely coronavirus-free country.

According to Thailand Privilege Card – a company under the Tourism Authority of Thailand and the operator of the programme – Easy Access, one of the nine elite-visa packages, will be offered for 600,000 baht (19,850 USD), up from the current 500,000 baht. Easy Access enjoyed great demand this year, for its cheaper price and the privilege of staying in Thailand for an uninterrupted five years.

Thailand Privilege Card added 2,674 members during its fiscal 2020 ending in September, a 24.8 percent increase. Over 60 percent of the new members were Easy Access holders.

President of the company Somchai Soongswang attributed the record membership to Thailand's containment of COVID-19.

He added that many tourists trapped in Thailand amid closed borders wanted to stay here longer, and others from abroad wished to come here for a "pandemic-free" living environment.

The Southeast Asian country has logged slightly over 4,000 COVID-19 cases, compared with over 65,500 in neighboring Malaysia and 58,000 in Singapore./.

Vietnam boosts cooperation with Geneva Int’l Centre for Humanitarian Demining

Vietnam, as one of the countries most affected by bombs, mines and unexploded ordnance (UXO) left over from wartime, always strongly supports efforts at national, regional and international levels to solve consequences, ensure people’s lives and boost socio-economic development at contaminated areas.

The statement was made by Ambassador Le Thi Tuyet Mai, head of the Vietnamese Permanent Mission to the UN, the World Trade Organisation and other international organisations in Geneva, at the 46th meeting of the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD) Council of Foundation held online on November 30.

Mai told participants that Vietnam is completing legal documents on handling bombs and mines left over from wartime, including National Technical Regulations, National Standards and Quality Management Process.

At the regional level, Vietnam has helped speed up operations of the ASEAN Regional Mine Action Centre (ARMAC), while at the international level, Vietnam, as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for 2020-2021, has coordinated with GICHD and international partners in solving post-conflict bomb and mine consequences.

Vietnam also treasures and thanks for contributions and experience of GICHD in stepping up bomb and mine clearance activities as well as the centre’s effective cooperation with Vietnam’s relevant offices, particularly the Vietnam National Mine Action Centre (VNMAC).

During the session, the GICHD Council of Foundation updated National Mine Action Standards in several countries such as Afghanistan, Cambodia, Ukraine, Yemen and Vietnam.

Founded in 1998, the GICHD employs around 80 staff members from 25 nations. It works toward reducing risks to communities stemming from explosive ordnance, with particular focus on mines, cluster munitions, other explosive remnants of war and ammunition storages./.

At least 1.5 million Tet gifts to be presented to poor, AO victims

The Vietnam Red Cross Society (VRCS) has set a goal of handing over at least 1.5 million gifts to the poor and Agent Orange victims during its movement for traditional Lunar New Year (Tet) 2021.

The VRCS said on December 2 that the movement is being carried out from November 15 to February 8, with January 22-31 as peak time.

Gifts will be presented to poor and near-poor households, Agent Orange victims, households affected by COVID-19 and natural disasters this year, policy beneficiaries and other vulnerable people.

It strives to offer over 80 percent of gifts worth 400,000 – 500,000 VND (17.3 – 21.7 USD) and above each.

Vouchers will be offered for free at New Year humanitarian fairs. Other assistance will include building and repairing houses, presenting health insurance cards, humanitarian health check-ups, scholarships, cows and other livelihoods.

The VRCS Central Committee plans to launch the fair in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Quang Binh and offer 50 million VND to each city and province to hold the fair.

This year, VRCS chapters granted nearly 2.7 million gifts worth over 1 trillion VND to poor households, AO victims and disaster-hit households. They also supported the building of 1,580 houses, provided 373 breeding cows, 298 saving books and free health check-ups for more than 84,800 people.

The VRCS Central Committee also presented Tet gifts worth over 5 billion VND to about 7,000 people in 65 cities and provinces./.

Da Nang, Boras city cooperate in scientific education for sustainable development

The People’s Committee of central Da Nang city and Sweden’s Boras city on December 2 organised a virtual meeting on the implementation of the “Scientific education for Da Nang’s sustainable development” project.

Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Le Trung Chinh emphasised the significance of the cooperation project, saying it has helped to promote scientific research and startups among local students.

The official expressed his hope that more specific activities will be carried out under the project, contributing to improving the city’s scientific education capacity.

A representative from Boras said the project is set to assist Da Nang in establishing a tripartite cooperation model (administration-business-school) that is similar to the model at Sweden’s Navet Science Centre.

A centre of science and technology will be built for teenagers under the project, with the integration of incubation and innovation, to promote scientific research and startups by local residents.

The project also aims to raise local youngsters’ awareness about the sustainable development and UN sustainable development goals, the representative said.

Vietnam provides Laos with 1,000 tonnes of rice for people hit by flooding

The General Department of State Reserves at the Ministry of Finance on December 2 directed the Department of State Reserves in the Nghe An-Ha Tinh region to deliver 1,000 tonnes of rice from the national reserve to Savanakhet province in Laos, to support natural disaster-hit people in the locality.

The rice will be transported via the Densavane border gate and handed over to the Lao side by December 5.

On behalf of Savanakhet province, Director of the provincial Department of Labour and Social Welfare Bun Lope thanked the Party, State, Government and people of Vietnam for the practical gift, which will ease the difficulties facing local people from devastating natural disasters.

The support reflects the special solidarity between Vietnam and Laos, especially given that central localities in Vietnam are still struggling with the impact of storms and flooding as well as COVID-19, he said.

He pledged to deliver the rice to the needy as soon as possible.

Prolonged recent rainfall has left eight districts in Savannakhet province inundated.

It is the worst flooding for 42 years in the locality which borders Vietnam’s Quang Tri province./.

Cooperatives’ workers need better skills: forum

Binh Son forestry cooperative in Thanh Hoa province

 

Measures to improve skills of workers at cooperatives were discussed at a recent forum held in the central province of Thanh Hoa.

The event, held by the Vietnam Cooperative Alliance (VCA) in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour, Invalids, and Social Affairs and the International Labour Organisation, drew the participation of representatives from cooperative alliances from 31 cities and provinces nationwide.

Experts said the cooperative alliances at all levels need to organise short-term training courses for members of the governing board, helping them gain better management skills, build rational business and production strategies, and acquire IT application.

Besides, policies and mechanisms should be completed to optimise capacity and strengths of the labourers, while development of cooperative models for women must gain special attention.

According to International Labour Organisation Vietnam Director Lee Chang-hee, cooperatives play an important role and serve as a link to promote socio-economic development.

Cooperatives are a bridge to connect farmers, enterprises and managers, he said, adding they have created jobs for millions of Vietnamese workers.

They need to channel focus on improving workers’ skills through vocational training so as to better product quality, thus helping Vietnamese goods gain competitive edge in both domestic and foreign playgrounds, he stressed.

VCA Vice President Nguyen Van Thinh said the alliance aims to attract at least 65 percent of farming households to engage in cooperative models, and 70 percent of cooperatives nationwide joining agricultural value chain.

Currently, the country is home to 26,400 cooperatives with more than 8.1 million members, who have great impact on livelihoods, income and power purchase of nearly 30 million people./.

Cambodia bans mass gatherings, Thailand tightens border security

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on November 30 issued a 15-day ban of wedding parties and gatherings of more than 20 people, starting from December 1.

In the latest message sent to the governors of Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, the leader said that the success of the campaign relies on efforts of the Government and people.

On November 28, a 56-year-old woman was detected to be infected with the coronavirus. More than 3,330 people linked to her have been tested, and 14 turned out positive.

On November 30, the Ministry Culture and Fine Arts also announced the closure of all theatres and museums and the prohibition of public concerts for the next two weeks.

Meanwhile, Thai authorities are intensifying security along the borderline with Myanmar to prevent illegal entry, and vowing to prosecute anyone who helps to sneak people in, as a Thai woman tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 after returning home.

However, Chiang Rai Governor Prachon Pratsakul said officials had decided to keep open the permanent checkpoint at the Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge because to shut it would have an enormous impact on cross-border trade.

He said officials will step up border security to prevent smuggling and ask their Myanmar counterparts to help locate and send home any Thais they found stranded in Myanmar./.

Floods kill at least nine in southern Thailand

Flash floods have claimed at least nine lives in southern Thailand and affected half a million people, local authorities said on December 3.

The deaths all came in Nakhon Si Thammarat province, where a state of emergency has been declared. The youngest victim was just five years old.

Scores of houses have been damaged and more than half a million people from 210,000 households are affected.

Almost 150,000 hectares of farmland are under water.

Nakhon Si Thammarat governor Kraisorn Visitwong said this was the worst floods in the locality in 50 years.

"We've had floods in certain parts of our province every year, but never this volume and the currents never this strong. We can't even use our boats," he said.

The main airport remains open to flights but is surrounded by water. Military vehicles are ferrying passengers to the terminal.

Six other provinces, namely Narathiwat, Songkhla, Pattani, Surat Thani, Chumphon and Phatthalung, are also experiencing flooding.

Heavy rain began a week earlier and is expected to continue over the coming days as a strong monsoon sits over the Gulf of Thailand and a low-pressure system in the Strait of Malacca./.

Australian foreign minister hopes for stronger ties with Vietnam

Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Marise Payne and Vietnamese Ambassador Nguyen Tat Thanh.

 

Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Marise Payne on December 3 expressed her delight at the positive development of the Vietnam-Australia strategic partnership, considering this a firm foundation for the two countries to elevate bilateral ties to a new high.

At a reception in the Australian capital Canberra for Vietnamese Ambassador Nguyen Tat Thanh, Payne stressed that Vietnam and Australia have become important partners in various spheres, ranging from trade and agriculture to science and technology, national defence and security, education and training, and people-to-people exchanges.

She used the occasion to congratulate Vietnam on excellently fulfilling its role as ASEAN Chair 2020 and its success in containing COVID-19.

The minister urged the ambassador to make more practical contributions to bilateral relations so that the two countries will soon become leading economic partners.

Payne affirmed that she and her department will closely coordinate with the Vietnamese Embassy and Ministry of Foreign Affairs to comprehensively promote bilateral cooperation.

The first job is to realise the 2020-2023 action programme on the implementation of the Vietnam-Australia strategic partnership, soon complete the enhanced economic engagement strategy, materialise multilateral agreements to which both countries are signatories, and seek new agreements to boost economic links post-COVID-19.

For his part, Thanh expressed his honour at becoming the Vietnamese ambassador to Australia, especially in the context of the two countries striving to advance the bilateral relationship towards celebrations of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties in 2023.

He conveyed an invitation from Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh to the Australian minister to visit Vietnam at an appropriate time./.

Source: VNA/VNN/VNS/SGGP/VOV/NDO/Dtinews/SGT/VIR