President Nguyen Xuan Phuc and many military and government officials attended a flag-hoisting ceremony held by the central province of Quang Tri at the local Hien Luong – Ben Hai special national monument on April 30 to mark the 46th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification Day.

The event also drew the participation of heroic mothers, war veterans, locals, and tourists.

After the ceremony, a military parade and a boat race on Ben Hai River took place, among other activities.

Quang Tri was one of the most heavily bombed areas during the anti-US resistance war. It was also renowned for the fierce 81-day-and-night battle at the ancient Quang Tri Citadel.

The local Hien Luong Bridge crosses Ben Hai River, which divided the North and the South of Vietnam after the signing of the Geneva Accords in 1954. Though the river is just over 100m wide, it took 21 years for Vietnamese on the two banks to be united. The river and the bridge witnessed the Vietnamese people's fierce but glorious struggle against foreign invaders, reflecting their desire for and belief in victory and peace.

Also on April 30, President Phuc attended a ceremony to kick off the 481ha Quang Tri Industrial Park project. Located in Dien Sanh township and the communes of Hai Lam and Hai Truong, the project costs more than 2.07 trillion VND (90.14 million USD) and is set to operate for 50 years.

Measures needed to solve plastic pollution at waste recycling village

Plastic waste recycling has brought a better life to thousands of people in the suburban area of Ứng Hòa District in Hà Nội, but has caused serious plastic pollution to the environment and affected people’s health.

Quảng Phú Cầu Commune used to be a craft village for black incense making. Due to the unstable income of incense making, many households in the village switched to collecting and disposing of plastic waste.

The new job has improved many villagers’ life, and the commune has become the largest plastic waste recycling area in the capital city. However, local people have suffered severe plastic pollution.

Lý Đinh Tuấn, a resident in Xà Cầu Village, said that there were many jobs available for people of all ages to earn money.

"In our village, only sick people can't make money. No matter how old or young, people can do it because the job is very simple,” he said.

“Strong people work with the plastic crusher or load and unload plastic goods while the elderly and even children classify, peel-off labels of bottles and clean them. They can earn at least VNĐ100,000 per day.”

Households in Xà Cầu Village take advantage of everything made of plastic. Frames of cars or motorbikes, cans, barrels, pots, bottles, water pipes, roofing sheets, or tiny plastic caps are collected, classified and recycled.

But things that can't be recycled are illegally dumped along the roads or burned to limit transportation costs, seriously affecting the lives of local people due to the burning smell of plastic.

In addition, people are also tortured by the noise of plastic crushers all day long. Hundreds of households live in a severely polluted environment with hundreds of tonnes of waste around the commune.

Lý Thế Hạnh, who has worked as a recycler for nearly 10 years, said: “Every day, I earn more than VNĐ200,000 (US$7.8). I can’t work in the rice fields due to the water pollution and rat and bugs.”

“There is no other job for me to do. Due to the daily exposure to the garbage and residual chemicals, many people in the village suffer from respiratory diseases or even cancers.”

Nguyễn Tiến Thi, another resident, said: “I have seen many people die from cancers although the job has been the main source of income for many residents. We hope local authorities will have solutions to ensure people's livelihood and health at the same time."

Trang Văn Viễn, vice chairman of Quảng Phú Cầu Commune’s People's Committee, said that about 180 households were doing plastic waste recycling.

Vietnam urged to expand social insurance coverage, limit lump-sum claims

Experts have recommended Vietnam work to expand the coverage of social insurance and limit the number of people claiming lump-sum payments.

Addressing a seminar in Hanoi on April 27, Le Hung Son, Deputy General Director of the Vietnam Social Security, said the 7th meeting of the 12th-tenure Party Central Committee issued Resolution No. 28-NQ/TW on reforming the social insurance policy so as to turn social insurance into a truly main pillar of the country’s social security system and gradually expand its coverage towards universal social insurance coverage.

According to the International Labour Organisation (ILO), this resolution features many progressive regulations that approach the social security standards in international conventions and the ILO’s recommendations. Therefore, to institutionalise the Party and State’s viewpoints stated in the resolution, it is necessary to amend and supplement many relevant legal documents, including the Social Insurance Law, in a road map matching the country’s socio-economic conditions.

Robert J. Palacios, a social security expert for East Asia and the Pacific at the World Bank, said amending the Social Insurance Law is highly important, noting that Vietnam has the fastest population aging speed in Asia, and that is why social insurance coverage needs to be expanded and the law revised.

Vietnam should increase measures for raising the rate of participants in the social insurance system, he noted.

Christophe Lemiere, Programme Leader for Human Development for Vietnam at the WB, attributed the modest participation in compulsory social insurance in the country partly to the long minimum time of insurance contribution needed to claim pensions (20 years).

Vietnam is also the only country to allow workers to claim lump sums, which has boosted pressure on the social security system, he said, pointing out that the State has also had to provide income support for a large number of elder people not taking part in the system.

If the Social Insurance Law expands the groups subject to compulsory social insurance to all salary earners (the public sector, private companies, and business households), the number of participants in social insurance will also grow.

The Government should also limit the number of people claiming lump-sum payments while covering 30 - 50 percent of voluntary insurance premiums for low-income earners. Only by doing so can Vietnam reach the target of 60 percent of its workforce participating in social insurance by 2030, Lemiere added.

Nghe An reviews elephant conservation work

The Pu Mat National Park in the central province of Nghe An has just had a meeting with the Fauna & Flora International (FFI) on elephant conservation work in the area.

According to a report released by FFI at the Tuesday meeting, Vietnam had around 2,000 elephants in 1990, but the figure sharply fell to just 130 in 2013. Elephants were seen in eight provinces of Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Nam, Dak Lak, Lam Dong, Dong Nai, Binh Phuoc and Son La.

In 2013, the Vietnamese government carried out a project to preserve and develop wild elephants during the 2013-2020 period in Nghe An and two other provinces

Director of Pu Mat National Park, Tran Xuan Cuong, said that there were some 15-16 elephants in Nghe An Province, including 12-13 in the park and three others at Pu Huong Nature Reserve. One wild elephant was found in 2013 in Anh Son District.

"Since 2014, we have implemented some urgent measures to preserve and develop wild elephants at the national park," Cuong said. "Teams have been set up to raise people's awareness on elephant preservation, local residents have been taught to avoid conflicts with the animals; and facilities have been built to protect elephants."

The official said that the project has helped reduce conflicts between humans and elephants in the area.

FFI's programmes manager in Vietnam, Hoang Van Lam praised efforts by authorities in Nghe An to protect local elephants.

Hanoi, Phnom Penh agree new bilateral cooperation orientations

Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Dinh Tien Dung and Cambodia’s Phnom Penh governor Khuong Sreng promised to jointly seek new orientations to promote practical ooperation between the two cities in various fields during talks on April 27 in Phnom Penh.

The two officials agreed to further enhance cooperation in investment and tourism between enterprises in the two cities.

The Hanoi side pledged to enroll more Cambodian students to its universities; boost information sharing and experience in urban management and people-to-people exchanges; and enhance education and popularisation activities to raise awareness of younger generations of the fine traditional relationship between Vietnam and Cambodia.

For his part, Sreng highlighted the significance of the Hanoi delegation’s visit as it takes place when the two nations are celebrating the 55th anniversary of diplomatic ties (June 24, 1967-2022), affirming that it is a testament to the good traditional relationship between the two Parties, governments and peoples, especially the long-standing cooperation between Phnom Penh and Hanoi.

Book exhibition features President Ho Chi Minh’s imprints

A book exhibition themed “Ho Chi Minh Imprints” opened in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho on April 27, introducing more than 800 book titles featuring the life and career of President Ho Chi Minh published by Su That (Truth) National Political Publishing House.

According to Director of the publishing house Pham Minh Tuan, the exhibition will run until May 21 to celebrate the 47th anniversary of the Liberation Day and 123rd birthday of the late leader.

Books displayed at the event have high theoretical and practical values, giving visitors, especially youngsters, better understanding on the life and devotions of President Ho Chi Minh to the nation and people of Vietnam, encouraging them to study and follow the leader’s teachings.

Along with exploring the books directly, visitors can find them online at website stbook.vn, he said.

European Literature Days offer valuable literature

The European Literature Days 2022 will take place in Hanoi from May 5 to 15, offering valuable literature for everyone.

The European Literature will be presented through literary translations from Belgium (Wallonie-Bruxelles), the Czech Republic, the UK, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Spain, and for the first time - Ukraine.

Visitors can experience the writings at Casa Italia and the Goethe-Institut, and Nha Nam Book & Coffee on Nguyen Quy Duc Street.

Vietnamese writers will also be invited onto the stage of the European Literature Days to introduce their latest poems and prose to a curious readership. As always, European Literature Days are a marketplace, a platform for cultural exchange, and a fun place to be. The cultural exchange between Vietnam and Europe, with new creative products from Europe in excellent translation, will be the heart of the festival.

The festival will be opened simultaneously on May 5 at Casa Italia and the Goethe-Institut. The Embassy of Ukraine is a special guest at both the Literature Days and the Film Festival 2022. Ukraine will be launching the anthology of Ukrainian and world poems, translated and produced for the 30th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Ukraine.

Readers will also meet authors of novels from the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, and Italy, some of them very popular and with a readership in Vietnam. From France Delphine de Vigan will present her psychological detective novel “D’après uns histoire vraie” at Nha Nam bookstore. From Germany internationally acclaimed lawyer-became-writer Bernhard Schlink who has gained a loyal readership in Vietnam will be present with his latest short stories. He will be followed by another lawyer-became-writer Ferdinand von Schirach. His book will introduce the Vietnamese audience to the European legal and value system in an entertaining and often thrilling way as no writer before has ever achieved. A new name for the international book market is German Viet-Kieu Khue Pham. She will be introduced through an excellent translation of an excerpt from her book to the Vietnamese readership by ZZZ Review. Last but least we expect online, the recipient of the famous German Book Prize and visiting writer to Vietnam in 2018, Julia Franck.

In addition, a round-table on Nobel Prize winner Kazuo Ishiguro will be held by Nha Nam publishing and the British Council. This event will be joined by the translators and an open a discussion on what is hidden in the ambiguities in Ishiguro’s works.

Dong Nai hands over 2,184 hectares of land for Long Thanh airport project

A working delegation of the Government led by Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh yesterday had a site inspection and worked with the Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV), the People’s Committee of Dong Nai Province about the work progress of Long Thanh international airport project.

According to ACV’s report, by April 24, 2022, the contractor mobilized 1,211 staff and arranged over 907 machines and equipment to implement 32 work chains in the project.

By April 24, the volume of excavation and backfilling of soil has been reached 6.6 million cubic meter and strives to exceed the plan of one more million cubic meter of excavation and backfilling this month. Meanwhile, pile foundation package with 1,560 piles will be under construction from March to October of 2022, ensuring joints synchronizing with the construction of the terminal in October.

Deputy Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee of Dong Nai, the Southeast province has handed over the area of 2,184 out of 2,532 hectares, reaching over 86 percent. The rest areas of 347.28 hectares under the first phase of the project is expected to be handed over next month.

Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh required the ACV to promote its role of operating the entire project instead of one bidding package; the project management board must closely supervise the contractor while the contractor must commit to ensure the progress of each work and pay special attention to the work quality, and absolutely avoid the acts of self-interest and negativity.

Vehicles to be banned from driving through city center during holidays

In order to ensure traffic order during sports events marking the 47th anniversary of the Liberation of South Vietnam and National Reunification Day (April 30, 1975-2022) and the 136th anniversary of May Day (May 1), Vice Director of Ho Chi Minh City Department of Transport Vo Khanh Hung said that the unit will perform traffic adjustment through many streets in the city center.

Particularly, vehicles will be restricted from traveling through some streets of Le Duan, Dong Khoi, Le Loi, Nguyen Hue, Le Thanh Ton, Ton Duc Thang, Vo Van Kiet, the road under Khanh Hoi Bridge, Nguyen Huu Canh, Dien Bien Phu, Sai Gon Bridge and Hanoi Highway within two hours from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. on April 30. 

Starting from 6 a.m. to 12 a.m. on April 30, Ho Chi Minh City will ban all vehicles to drive on Le Duan Street, a section from Pham Ngoc Thach to Pasteur Street; restrict means of transport on Nguyen Binh Khiem Street, a section from Le Duan Street to Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street and a section from Nguyen Binh Khiem Street to Pasteur Street. 

Drivers need to comply with the instructions of the traffic police or the traffic signal system as they travel through the above-mentioned areas.

Vietnam urged to expand social insurance coverage, limit lump-sum claims

Experts have recommended Vietnam work to expand the coverage of social insurance and limit the number of people claiming lump-sum payments.

Addressing a seminar in Hanoi on April 27, Le Hung Son, Deputy General Director of the Vietnam Social Security, said the 7th meeting of the 12th-tenure Party Central Committee issued Resolution No. 28-NQ/TW on reforming the social insurance policy so as to turn social insurance into a truly main pillar of the country’s social security system and gradually expand its coverage towards universal social insurance coverage.

According to the International Labour Organisation (ILO), this resolution features many progressive regulations that approach the social security standards in international conventions and the ILO’s recommendations. Therefore, to institutionalise the Party and State’s viewpoints stated in the resolution, it is necessary to amend and supplement many relevant legal documents, including the Social Insurance Law, in a road map matching the country’s socio-economic conditions.

Robert J. Palacios, a social security expert for East Asia and the Pacific at the World Bank, said amending the Social Insurance Law is highly important, noting that Vietnam has the fastest population aging speed in Asia, and that is why social insurance coverage needs to be expanded and the law revised.

Vietnam should increase measures for raising the rate of participants in the social insurance system, he noted.

Christophe Lemiere, Programme Leader for Human Development for Vietnam at the WB, attributed the modest participation in compulsory social insurance in the country partly to the long minimum time of insurance contribution needed to claim pensions (20 years).

Vietnam is also the only country to allow workers to claim lump sums, which has boosted pressure on the social security system, he said, pointing out that the State has also had to provide income support for a large number of elder people not taking part in the system.

If the Social Insurance Law expands the groups subject to compulsory social insurance to all salary earners (the public sector, private companies, and business households), the number of participants in social insurance will also grow.

The Government should also limit the number of people claiming lump-sum payments while covering 30 - 50 percent of voluntary insurance premiums for low-income earners. Only by doing so can Vietnam reach the target of 60 percent of its workforce participating in social insurance by 2030, Lemiere added./.

SEA Games 31: Firework show planned for opening ceremony

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam has approved the organization of a fireworks display at the opening ceremony of the 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 31) at My Dinh National Stadium, Hanoi, on May 12.

The display should not last longer than 15 minutes, the Deputy PM said in document 2704/VPCP-KGVX dated April 28, 2022.

He assigned the People’s Committee of Hanoi to direct the organization of the fireworks display and coordinate with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and relevant agencies in the process.

SEA Games 31: Vietnamese athletes resolved to show solidarity, friendship

Vietnamese athletes who will compete at the upcoming 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 31) have promised to make every effort to win medals for the country.

Speaking at a send-off ceremony in Hanoi on April 28, swimmer Nguyen Huy Hoang, on behalf of the athletes, affirmed that they are resolved to participate in the Games with the spirit of solidarity and friendship with international friends.

Present at the ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh said SEA Games is not only a sport event but also a festival where countries in the region display their solidarity and friendship, and engage in cultural exchanges.

Vietnam’s hosting of the Games demonstrates the country’s role and high sense of responsibility for regional sports, as well as its contributions to the development of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), he noted.

The Deputy PM commended efforts by organisations and individuals, especially 951 athletes, 250 coaches and 30 experts of the Vietnamese delegation during preparations for the event.

He asked them to use the occasion to promote Vietnam’s good values to international friends, enhance solidarity and friendship, and exchange experience with guest teams.

Each of the delegation members should be act as a culture ambassador of Vietnam, he said.

Voluntary, charity work common responsibility of society: President

The Vietnam Red Cross Society (VNRC), in collaboration with the Thua Thien-Hue People’s Committee, launched a Humanitarian Month 2022 at a ceremony in the central province on April 28.

With the theme “Connecting the community, spreading acts of kindness,” the month aims to call people to connect by doing kind deeds no matter how small.

On the occasion, the VNRC launched two key programmes for the next five years, including the "Safety for poor and disadvantaged fishermen" and "Nutrition for poor and disabled children."

Initiated by the VNRC in 2018, the movement has mobilised 1.513 trillion VND, supporting 3.3 million people in difficult circumstances.

At the ceremony, domestic and foreign benefactors donated and committed nearly 400 billion VND to the VNRC./. 

Japan considers Vietnam extensive strategic partner: Official

Vietnam is an extensive strategic partner which shares strategic interests with Japan, said a Japanese Government official ahead of Prime Minister Kishida Fumio’s official visit to Vietnam. 

The official made the remark at a press conference in Tokyo on April 28, during which he announced that PM Kishida will visit Vietnam on April 30 and May 1.

During the visit, the Japanese PM is scheduled to hold talks with his Vietnamese counterpart Pham Minh Chinh on May 1. In addition, he will also have meetings with Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, President Nguyen Xuan Phuc, and National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue.

Apart from Vietnam, in his foreign trip starting from April 29, Kishida will visit two other Southeast Asian countries, namely Indonesia (from April 29 to 30) and Thailand (from May 1 to 2). After that, he will travel to Italy and the UK, before returning to Japan on May 6. This will be the PM's first long overseas trip since taking office last October.

Kishida’s upcoming visit to Southeast Asia aims to strengthen cooperation with the three countries toward a free and open Indo-Pacific region and to increase the coordination on the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP).

Former Deputy Health Minister to be tried on May 12 for role in fake medicine case

A first-instance trial will start on May 12 on former Deputy Health Minister Truong Quoc Cuong and 13 other defendants involved in the case relating to the trading of counterfeit medicines labelled as Health 2000 Canada; the lack of responsibilities causing serious consequences; and the abuse of positions and power while on duty, which took place in HCM City, some other localities and at the DAV, according to the Hanoi People’s Court.

In this case, Cuong and two other defendants – Nguyen Viet Hung, former deputy director of the Health Ministry’s Drug Administration (DAV); and Le Dinh Thanh, a former official of Ho Chi Minh City Customs Department -  were charged with lack of responsibility causing serious consequence.

Two former officials of the DAV – Pham Hong Chau and Nguyen Thi Thu Thuy – are accused of abusing positions and power while on duty.  

Meanwhile, nine defendants, including six executives and employees of VN Pharma company, two from H&C International Maritime Trading Co. Ltd and a former director general of the Saigon Pharmaceutical Company, are charged with trading counterfeit medicine.

According to the verdict of the Supreme People’s Procuracy, as head of the DAV from 2007 to 2016, Cuong failed to fulfil his responsibility in supervising and inspecting the work of experts in assessing and granting licences for seven kinds of drugs, leading to the approval of dossiers for the import and consumption of the six out of the seven counterfeit drugs, labelled Health 2000, in Vietnam with a total value of over 148 billion VND.

After the drugs were imported and consumed in Vietnam, although he received information about the suspected origins of the drugs, Cuong did not give direction to stop their circulation, or recall and destroy the drugs. As a result, domestic medical establishments continued to use supplied counterfeit drugs labelled Health 2000 Canada without clear origins to treat patients at a total value of over 3.7 billion VND. 

Meanwhile, former DAV deputy director Hung did not perform properly his assigned tasks and duties thus failing to detect and stop wrongdoings of his subordinates in assessing and licensing the drugs.

Tan Son Nhat Airport tightens security for holidays

Authorities in Ho Chi Minh City-based Tan Son Nhat International Airport are increasing deployment of personnel during the upcoming holidays to ensure smooth movement of people and vehicles.

This year’s National Reunification Day (April 30) and International Labour Day (May 1) holidays fall on Saturday and Sunday and so the next two days are national holidays.

The long weekend means people will travel in huge numbers and airports are likely to be congested.

Dang Ngoc Cuong, Director of the Tan Son Nhat International Airport, said six domestic airlines and 39 international ones operate routinely from/to the airport.

Some 10,000 international visitors and more than 58,000 local passengers pass through it daily.

More than 9,000 contracted cars and traditional and technology-based taxis serve them every day.

The authorities recommend that passengers book a car in advance or travel by public buses.

It plans to open more D1 and D2 lanes for technology-based vehicles and more exits from the terminals.

To ensure the safety of passengers and staff, the airport authorities have asked all airlines, especially domestic, to provide accurate flight schedules and passenger volumes during peak days to have enough security personnel on duty.

There will be regular patrols to promptly clear congestion both inside the airport and on roads outside.

The airport’s two runways have been reopened after extensive upgrades, enabling an increase in the frequency of flights from 32-33 an hour to 40-44.

HCM City opens Thu Thiem 2 bridge

Thu Thiem 2 bridge linking Thu Duc city and District 1 in Ho Chi Minh City opened to traffic on April 28.

The six-lane bridge, crossing Sai Gon river, cost over 3.08 trillion VND (134.26 million USD) and spans 1,500 metres.

A lighting system is also being planned to turn the bridge into a symbol of the city.

At the opening ceremony, Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Phan Van Mai said Thu Thiem 2 is an important transport work which will increase development momentum for the eastern region of HCM City, and has already become an architectural highlight on the Sai Gon River.

Together with Thu Thiem 1 bridge and the tunnel beneath the Sai Gon River, Thu Thiem 2 will complete the road network, enhance connectivity between the city centre with the Thu Thiem new urban area, and boost investment attractiveness, he noted.

Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai said the bridge will contribute to the development of the Thu Thiem new urban area and residential areas in the east of the city. It will also help fuel other projects nearby, improve local transport infrastructure, and ease traffic congestion.

Acecook Vietnam remains sponsor for Vietnamese football

Food manufacturer Acecook Vietnam will remain a sponsor for the national men’s and women’s football teams, as well as the U22 and U23 squads.

The information was announced during a ceremony to sign sponsorship deal between Acecook Vietnam and the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) on April 28.

Deputy General Director of Acecook Vietnam Kaneda Hiroki said the sponsorship, running until March 31, 2024, is a commitment of the company to helping Vietnamese football teams improve their performance at international tournaments.

This is the fifth consecutive year Acecook Vietnam has joined hands with the VFF towards the goal of raising Vietnamese football’s position in FIFA rankings.

Vietnam highlights importance of peacebuilding efforts at UNGA meeting

Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the United Nations (UN), stressed the importance of peacebuilding efforts when addressing the UN General Assembly’s High-Level Meeting on Peacebuilding Financing on April 27.

As peacebuilding is an important activity of the UN in maintaining international peace and security, the international community should continue prioritising efforts to build peace as well as prevent conflicts and address their root causes, Giang said.

He emphasised the need for nations to carry out measures to promote reconciliation and unification through inclusive dialogue with the participation of women and youths.

It is also important to promote partnership between the UN and entities at the national, regional and international levels to ensure sustainable financing for peacebuilding.

On this basis, the Vietnamese ambassador proposed the international community respond to the UN Secretary-General’s appeal on unofficial development assistance commitments to countries affected by conflicts and to promoting gender equality in peacebuilding.
           
Vietnam, Laos hold ninth foreign ministerial-level consultation meeting

Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son and his Lao counterpart Saleumxay Kommasith co-chaired the ninth foreign ministerial-level consultation meeting on April 28.

Son is on a three-day official visit to Laos, starting from April 27.

During the event, the two FMs showed their delight at what the two countries have together achieved to boost bilateral relations in all fields. The two sides have further heightened political trust, maintain high-level meetings on a regular basis and strengthened defence and security ties.

The bilateral economic ties have also seen progress with two-way trade exceeding 400 million USD in the first quarter of 2022, up nearly 20 percent from the same period last year. Vietnam has poured more than 64 million USD worth of investment into Laos during the period.

The two officials also agreed to continue effectively enforcing the high-level agreements between the two countries and commitments made at the 44th meeting of the Vietnam - Laos Intergovernmental Committee, one of which is to coordinate in hosting celebrations of the Year of Solidarity and Friendship.

They will further accelerate cooperation and consultation between the two foreign ministries’ units and maintain the effectiveness of routine cooperation mechanisms between the ministries. Additionally, they will work together to implement the action plan on expanding their bilateral partnership in economic diplomacy from 2020 - 2025 and to review international treaties they are signatories to.

They later exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interest and agreed to provide continuous support for each other at multilateral forums. The two sides also agreed to, together with other ASEAN member states, sustain a common stance on the East Sea.

Both sides held that all disputes on the East Sea must be settled by peaceful measures based on international laws and the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982); and concerned parties must fully implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and soon finalise the Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).

Local model to compete at Mister Supranational 2022 male pageant

Model Dat Kyo will represent Vietnam to participate in the Mister Supranational 2022 pageant, with the grand final of the competition set to take place in Poland on July 16.

The 26-year-old man stands at 1.84 metres tall and graduated from Hung Yen University of Technology and Education.

Previously, he was the winner of Vietnam Fitness Model 2019. He is currently a model who has taken part in several television game shows.

Mister Supranational was first held back in December, 2016, in Poland, with the event attracting 36 contestants worldwide. Mexican representative Diego Garcy was named as the first winner of the male pageant.

Peruvian singer Varo Vargas is the current Mister Supranational, whilst in 2019 Vietnamese contestant Tran Manh Khang was able to secure a Top 20 finish.

This year the nation has sent three representatives to the global male pageants, including Dat Kyo at Mister Supranational, Huu Anh at Man of the world, and Viet Ngo at Mister National Universe 2022.

Source: VNA/SGT/VNS/VOV/Dtinews/SGGP/VGP/Hanoitimes