Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang, Chairman of the Vietnam Sub-Committee in the Vietnam-China Steering Committee for Bilateral Cooperation, had a meeting with Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, Director of the Office of the CPC Central Committee’s Commission for Foreign Affairs, Minister of Foreign Affairs of China in Beijing on April 8.

The meeting was held within the framework of the ongoing China visit by National Assembly (NA) Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue.

The two sides held in-depth discussions on bilateral relations and international and regional issues of mutual concern, thereby agreeing to promote and effectively implement the joint declaration on continuing to deepen and enhance the comprehensive strategic co-operative partnership, as well as building a community of a shared future that has strategic significance as agreed by the two countries’ top leaders.

According to the results of the meeting, the two sides agreed to jointly implement high-level exchanges and contacts at all levels and sectors, thereby better enhancing the role of the Steering Committee in urging and reviewing the situation of concretising high-level common perceptions.

This should be done alongside the effective implementation of defence and security co-operation activities, while also strengthening strategic connections, especially rail and road transport infrastructure; accelerating the opening, upgrading, and recognition of border gate pairs, as well as effectively deploying the pilot construction of smart border gates; and facilitating Vietnamese goods transiting through Chinese railways to third countries via the Asia – Europe railway.

The two sides concurred to strengthen the organisation of local and people-to-people exchange activities as a means of contributing to solidifying the social foundation and maintaining the exchange and co-ordination on international and regional issues of shared concern.

They will closely co-ordinate in border management and protection according to three legal documents on land borders and controlling disagreements at sea according to the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

UNICEF appreciates Vietnam’s implementation of child care, protection policies

Representative of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Vietnam Rana Flowers spoke highly of Vietnam's socio-economic development achievements amidst challenges and difficulties, especially in implementing priority policies related to child care and protection.

Meeting Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, Vietnam's Permanent Representative to the UN, in New York on April 8, the official affirmed that the UNICEF welcomes Vietnam's initiative on the Resolution on the International Day of Play recently approved by the UN General Assembly, describing it as a practical and significant contribution to the international community's common goal of children's comprehensive development.

The organisation always attaches importance to its relations with Vietnam and will continue supporting the Southeast Asian nation’s implementation of priorities in this field.

Giang welcomed the UNICEF's important role and effective cooperation in the care, education, protection, and promotion of the rights of Vietnamese children.

He expressed his hope that the organisation will continue paying attention to supporting Vietnam in mobilising resources, building policies, and promoting specific and practical cooperation projects to implement the outcomes of the meeting in New York in March between then Vice State President Vo Thi Anh Xuan and UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell.

At the meeting, the two sides agreed to jointly organise activities to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam-UNICEF partnership, and take advantage of this milestone to set out directions for cooperation in the new period./.

PM orders sufficient water for residents during saline intrusion

Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính on April 8 signed an official dispatch asking competent officials to take proactive response to ensuring sufficient fresh water supply for local residents in the Mekong Delta region which has been hard hit by prolonged heat waves and saline intrusion.

According to relevant agencies from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), three spells of saltwater intrusion are forecast until mid-May in the Delta, one on April 8-13, one on April 20-28 and another on May 7-11, which could result in severe localised water shortages.

Against this backdrop, PM Chính requested the ministers of Natural Resources and Environment, Agriculture and Rural Development, Construction and Information and Communications together with chairmen of the People’s Committees of affected localities such as Bến Tre, Tiền Giang, Kiên Giang, Long An, Sóc Trăng, Bạc Liêu and Cà Mau to stay vigilant, keep a close watch on the current situation as well as take drastic and effective measures in response to droughts, water scarcity and saline intrusion.

The chairmen are urged to pen rational measures regulating fresh water, while arranging local budget and mobilising other legal financial sources to roll out necessary measures to ensure sufficient water for local livelihoods and production.

Meanwhile, the ministers of the MoNRE and MARD are requested to their agencies to make sound forecasts, and provide information on the water supply and saline intrusion situations in the region in a timely and exact fashion so that localities will have rational response measures.

The Minister of Information and Communications must direct and instruct press agencies on communications work, assuring that information on the issue will be delivered in a timely and accurate manner.

Other competent ministries and sectors are asked to support localities to respond to water shortage and saline intrusion.

Deputy Prime Minister Trần Lưu Quang is ordered to continue direction for ministries, sectors and localities to carry out suitable response measures. 

23 students in Quảng Trị suffer suspected poisoning

Twenty-three students in a primary school in the central province of Quảng Trị showed symptoms of possible food poisoning after drinking water from a shared water container for students at the school, according to the provincial Sub-department of Food Safety and Hygiene.

All the students experienced symptoms such as abdominal pain, vomiting, headache and difficulty breathing after drinking the water and were taken to medical facilities for examination.

Initially, the authorities suspected that the cause of this situation was a student putting a toy into the shared drinking water container.

Hoàng Đình Ấn, head of the provincial Sub-department, stated that the sub-department has sent water samples to the Pasteur Institute in Nha Trang for testing to determine the cause of this mass poisoning incident.

Previously, around 9.10am on Sunday, 23 fourth-grade students in Cam Lộ District were taken to the district’s health centre after having abdominal pain, nausea, headache and difficulty breathing.

Among the 23 hospitalised for treatment, 19 were discharged yesterday morning, while four remained fatigued and continued to be monitored.

Currently, all the students' health conditions are stable and normal.

According to the Cam Lộ District People's Committee, based on initial information, suspicion arose that a student put a toy into the drinking water container.

Students showed symptoms of poisoning 10 minutes later after drinking water.

The district’s People's Committee is awaiting results to confirm the ultimate cause, he said.

Riverbank collapse destroys six houses

A landslide toppled six houses into the Cầu River in Bắc Ninh City, Bắc Ninh Province on Sunday.

Speaking to Tuổi Trẻ online newspaper, Tống Quang Thanh, Chairman of Vạn An Ward, said the six houses, located in the cordoned-off landslide-prone zone, collapsed into the river at 2.00 pm.

Fortunately, all residents had already been evacuated to safe places, averting any loss of life, Thanh said.

The place where the landslide occurred is a vulnerable bank of the Cầu River undergoing severe erosion. The geological vulnerability has led to recurring incidents of riverbank collapse.

"We have arranged temporary accommodations for the displaced residents," said Thanh. "The top priority is a comprehensive assessment of riverbank houses to develop an action plan for permanent solutions."

The city swiftly declared a state of emergency in the landslide-prone area. Warning signs were erected, and security forces were deployed to prevent unauthorised access.

Deputy Permanent Chairman of the People’s Committee of Bắc Ninh inspected the disaster site and met with affected residents.

The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Bắc Ninh collaborated with the city authorities and relevant agencies.

Their joint efforts focused on salvaging the collapsed houses while ensuring the unobstructed flow of the river.

Additionally, they assessed the safety of areas when considering the relocation of residents. Further construction or expansion in unsafe areas will not be permitted.

Contemporary artist Lê Quang Đỉnh passes away, aged 56

Artist Lê Quang Đỉnh suffered a stroke and passed away on the afternoon of April 6.

Contemporary artists and art enthusiasts in Việt Nam were astonished and saddened by Định's passing. He is regarded as one of the most significant modern Vietnamese fine arts painters and has significantly influenced the country's contemporary art scene.

Đỉnh was born in 1968 in Hà Tiên. He graduated from the University of California with a major in photography, then studied visual arts in New York. He then pursued an artistic path in the United States.

In 1993, he returned to Viêt Nam to live and work. Many of his works are well-received both domestically and abroad, such as Biển Đông Pishkun (Pishkun East Sea) in 2009 - a 3D tableau recreating the scene of a helicopter crashing when American troops fled HCM City in fear at the end of the Việt Nam War in 1975.

Among his most well-known pieces of art is The Farmers and the Helicopters, an installation that consists of a three-channel movie and a helicopter that self-taught mechanic Trần Quốc Hải and farmer Lê Văn Danh put together out of scrap.

The two farmers are transforming the helicopter — formerly used during the war to create suffering and violence — into an instrument to aid the agricultural industry.

The work was made in the form of a documentary combined with installation art displayed at the Moma Museum in New York, and was a significant part of the first impression artist Đỉnh made in the international artist community.

In addition to having more than 30 solo exhibitions in many countries, Đỉnh is also the co-founder of two centres, including Vietnamese Art Organisation in Los Angeles and Sàn Art, the first independent and non-profit art gallery in HCM City.

For his tireless dedication to Vietnamese contemporary art, Đỉnh received the Prince Claus Foundation award from the Dutch Royal Family on August 8, 2011.

U23s move to Qatari Asian Cup with confidence

The Việt Nam U23 squad left for the Qatar AFC Asian Cup yesterday brimming with confidence despite injuries to key players.

The team wrapped up their two-day training camp in Hà Nội but had to say goodbye to key defender Phan Tấn Tài who suffered a knee injury and would not recover in time for the tournament later this month.

Tài is one of important players in the current U23 side along with midfielder Phạm Thái Sơn, Khuất Văn Khang, Lương Duy Cương, striker Nguyễn Đình Bắc, and keeper Quan Văn Chuẩn.

Striker Nguyễn Thanh Nhàn was also sent back to his club due to an injury. Nguyễn Văn Tùng was called up in the last minutes to replace him.

However, all players showed determination and desire to play and set the goal of going as far as possible in the continental tournament.

Asked about his chance to make the starting eleven, Cương who was a regular face of the team under former coach Philippe Troussier, said he was confident with his preparation and presentation during training.

Along with Cương, midfielder Khang is also one of the most experienced members of the team.

He was with the national team competing at the 2023 Asian Cup and 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

For 1.87m-tall Nguyễn Thành Khải, this is his first time with the U23 team. The defender who plays for V.League 2 side Đà Nẵng admitted feeling a little pressure but said he received strong support from teammates and coaches.

On April 7, the director of the Sports Authority of Việt Nam Đặng Hà Việt and Việt Nam Football Federation Vice President Trần Anh Tú visited the squad.

Việt hoped that the U23s would perform impressively, matching the historic silver position finish in 2018 and using that as motivation to achieve a high result.

He wanted players to bring into play their ability to help Việt Nam first qualify for the knockout stage and then concentrate on the next step.

Coach Hoàng Anh Tuấn confirmed that his team would be united and determined for the best result in the Cup, meeting local supporters' demands.

In Qatar, his players will have about 10 days to train before a friendly match with Jordan on April 10.

Việt Nam will first face Kuwait on April 17. The two next games will be against Malaysia on April 20 and Uzbekistan three days later.

The Asian Cup's top three will qualify for the Paris Games while the fourth-placed one will compete in a play-off match against Guinea, a representative of Africa, for the last Olympic slot. 

U16 players head to Turkey for UEFA’s friendlies

Việt Nam U16 Women’s National Team will leave for Turkey for the upcoming eight-team UEFA Friendship Tournament in Riva, on April 9.

The April 9-19 event features eight teams, divided into two groups. Việt Nam are in Group A with the USA, Botswana and the hosts. Group B includes Uganda, China, Wales and Paraguay.

All matches will be played at Turkey’s TFF Riva Facility, the federation’s National Training Centre.

On April 18, all the teams will play a placement match based on the final group standings, with the first-place team in Group A facing the first-place team in Group B for the championship, the two second-place finishers squaring off for third place, the third-place finishers in the groups meeting for fifth place and the fourth-place finishers playing for seventh.

Players born on or after January 1, 2008, are age-eligible for this cycle. 

These matches will mark the first-ever games for a Vietnamese team against three rivals.

On April 8, Việt Nam Football Federation officials, Vice President Trần Anh Tú and General Secretary Dương Nghiệp Khôi made a visit to encourage the team.

Tú said players should play confidently with high determination despite the strength of their rivals. 

In preparation for the tournament, coach Akira Ijiri and his players have practised for three weeks in Hà Nội.

The UEFA Women’s U16 Development Tournament is not just a competition; it’s a platform for young talents to learn, grow and showcase their abilities.

It serves as a testament to UEFA’s dedication to fostering young talent across the globe, ensuring the future of women’s football is bright and competitive. 

Guidelines, preventive measures against TB a priority of health sector: Deputy PM

Guidelines and preventive measures for tuberculosis treatment are a priority of the health sector from the grassroots to the central level in the immediate future, Deputy Prime Minister Trần Hồng Hà said at a seminar on Monday.

Speaking at the meeting on the 2024 working plan of the National Committee for Tuberculosis (TB) Elimination, he ordered the Ministry of Health (MOH) to comprehensively and systematically update the statistics on TB in Việt Nam.

These include new cases, treatment progress and fatalities, in addition to recommendations from international organisations and resources mobilised from the public and private sectors.

Based on this data, the health ministry will conduct thorough evaluations of TB elimination progress, especially when Việt Nam is still among the 30 countries bearing the largest burden of TB in the world.

Policy beneficiaries to be fully supported by TB prevention and control funds will be identified, said the government leader, while the MOH will research and issue technical standards, methods and costs for diagnosis and treatment which will determine health insurance payments from the state budget.

The MOH is also tasked with preparing human resources and medical equipment for a nationwide survey on TB in 2025, updating the progress on TB prevention and control and making prompt recommendations to the authorities, while promoting international cooperation, technology transfer for mass and rapid diagnosis and combining traditional medicine in TB treatment.

As of 2022, the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimated that Việt Nam had 172,000 new TB patients, while 13,000 people died from TB, Deputy Health Minister Trần Văn Thuấn reported at the event, while only 60 per cent of the total infections were detected and received treatment.

Director of the National Lung Hospital Đinh Văn Lượng said that 12 out of 63 cities and provinces did not have a designated medical facility for TB and pulmonary diseases, leading to a shortage of specialists for TB prevention and control.

International funding for TB elimination is tending to decline while the local budget is limited.

Dr Trần Văn Sáng, former head of the department for TB and pulmonary diseases at Hà Nội Medical University Hospital, believes that public engagement is crucial in TB elimination as this is a public health issue.

"The most important factors in this progress are early detection, outpatient treatment at medical facilities and a monitoring network for the full recovery of TB patients," he said.

Sharing this perspective, Dr Đinh Ngọc Sỹ, former director of the National Lung Hospital, recommended that it was necessary to alter epidemiological patterns of TB by promoting research and technology applications in tandem with new vaccines, medications and treatment plans for TB elimination.

The press and media agencies also play a role in increasing public awareness for proactive screening and prevention of the disease. 

HCM City improving mental health support for beleaguered medical workers

Recognising the enormous pressure on healthcare workers, the HCM City Department of Health has been developing a comprehensive mental healthcare plan for them and establishing a network of consultants they can access whenever they require.

Pressure from their workload and superiors, and harassment by patients' families are the reasons why many healthcare workers face mental health issues.

Even more concerning is that this problem has not been correctly recognised, and many might not even acknowledge their own issues.

These issues were identified at a seminar on "Enhancing mental health care support for healthcare workers" organised by the HCM City Center for Disease Control on April 5.

Dr Phan Thị Hằng, deputy director of the city's Hùng Vương Hospital, said the term “mental health of healthcare workers” has only been paid attention since the COVID-19 pandemic broke out.

A survey by her hospital found 42.4 percent of its personnel experiencing anxiety, 24.3 percent showing signs of depression and 16 percent under stress.

The hospital has organised sharing sessions to provide psychological support to its workers, designed materials and handbooks about mental health care to provide them with knowledge and skills for self-support.

After the sharing sessions and psychological first aid, the anxiety and depression rates have decreased significantly.

But Hằng said there are many who remain silent and are not open to discussing their mental health issues or interested in practising stress reduction.

To reduce work-related psychological issues, healthcare facility leaders should create a positive, safe environment, respect and appreciate healthcare workers’ efforts, and assign tasks without excessive pressure, she said.

When the workers are physically and mentally healthy, they could provide optimal care for patients and achieve the highest effectiveness in their work, she added.

Dr Nguyễn Văn Vĩnh Châu, deputy director of the HCM City Department of Health, said the city not only provides healthcare for over 10 million residents but also gets millions of other patients from elsewhere.

In 2023 the number of outpatients at its hospitals accounted for a fourth of the country’s total.

Healthcare workers also have to handle 2,000 to 3,000 administrative documents per month.

Especially when some treatment fails or there is a medical error, they experience immense pressure.

Without preventive measures, the threat of burnout syndrome for them is severe.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines “burnout” as a syndrome resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed.

The department acknowledged that discrimination against those with mental health issues is a real issue, even among themselves.

This leads to serious consequences, with some people quitting their jobs, others even committing suicide after prolonged unresolved psychological issues.

So in 2023 the department rolled out the mental healthcare plan for the workers.

Under it, many healthcare facilities have set up relaxation rooms for staff and established psychological counselling units.

According to Châu, investing in healthcare for healthcare workers is as important as investing in physical infrastructure and equipment at hospitals.

According to a report by the department last year, work pressure is a major reason for healthcare workers quitting their jobs alongside factors such as inadequate health assurance, decreased health conditions post-COVID-19, low incomes, and need to travel long distances to work.

Between 2021 and October 2023 an estimated 1,024 healthcare workers at district and provincial hospitals quit their jobs.

Government chief expects stronger Vietnam-Russia oil, gas cooperation

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh hosted a reception on April 8 in Hanoi for Sergey Ivanovich Kudryashov, general director of Russia’s Zarubezhneft JSC, who is on a working visit to Vietnam to seek co-operation opportunities in oil and gas and energy.

Kudryashov told the host that the over 40 years of ties between Zarubezhneft and the Vietnam Oil and Gas Group (Petrovietnam) through the Vietsovpetro and Rusvietpetro joint ventures, has notched up successes in geological exploration, as well as oil and gas exploitation, thereby creating jobs and contributing to each country’s budget.

He therefore asked that the Vietnamese Government leader direct the settlement of difficulties and obstacles in collaboration projects.

Russia is keen to continue ramping up co-operation with Vietnam in a multitude of fields, especially economics, trade, and investment, including oil and gas, he stated, adding that Zarubezhneft hopes to expand collaboration with the Vietnamese side to other fields, including offshore wind power development in the nation.

Showing his support for accelerating the settlement of difficulties and problems in co-operation projects, PM Chinh said that the country always backs and offers the optimal conditions possible to boost oil and gas collaboration between the two countries based on the principle of "harmonious benefits, shared risks".

He therefore asked ministries and sectors to review the implementation of co-operation agreements signed by the two countries’ senior leaders, including in the oil and gas sector, and include it in the agenda of the upcoming Vietnam-Russia Intergovernmental Committee meeting.

PM Chinh voiced his hope that Russia will deal with existing problems in oil and gas ties, whilst facilitating Pertrovietnam’s expanded investment in Russia. He requested that Zarubezhneft and Petrovietnam set up a working group to fast-track the settlement of problems, as well as research and propose appropriate collaboration contents.

Central province Quảng Nam calls investment in industries and infrastructure

More than US$280 million from 16 foreign direct investment (FDI) and nine domestic projects has been poured into the central province of Quảng Nam in the first quarter of 2024, promising a surge in industrial production and export by the end of this year.

A report from the provincial People’s Committee unveiled that seven FDI projects committed an investment of $124.4 million, while domestic businesses agreed to put VNĐ3.89 trillion ($155.76 million) in nine projects in the locality.

According to the local authorities, the positive investment attraction results in the first quarter would mostly benefit from the Master Plan 2021-30, with vision to 2050 that was officially announced in March.

It said the Master Plan aims at developing the province as a destination of international tourism, a national multi-sector high-tech industries focus, a biodiversity-based green growth power and a centrally-run locality.

Earlier, the province had agreed on proposals and surveys assessing investment possibility for 16 projects with an estimate fund of VNĐ20 trillion ($800 million).

Trường Hải Group, a key multi-industry investor in the province, alone proposed seven out of 16 projects with more than VNĐ5 trillion ($200 million) in building plants of mechanical electrical refrigeration, automobile glass, car bodies and spare parts, car seats and passenger car interiors, an industry R&D centre and upgrading the current Chu Lai Port.

Thaco Group alone contributed VNĐ2.7 trillion ($108 million) to the provincial budget in the first quarter, accounting for 50 per cent of total provincial budget (VNĐ5.32 trillion, or $212.8 million) collected in the first three months.

Deputy Director of the provincial Department of Planning and Investment, Nguyễn Hưng said Quảng Nam has been boosting the construction of synchronised infrastructure projects and administration reform, clearing the way for investors.

“A series of solutions have been planned in creating the best conditions for businesses setting up their factories at available industrial parks with procedure supports. An overall design of developing industrial infrastructure projects in line with education, health care and living quarters for investors flocking to Quảng Nam,” Hưng said.

“The province has been speeding up investment promotion programmes with key domestic and international investors. We identified 50 out of 154 top priority investment sectors to lure huge investment as well.”

In the first quarter, the central coastal province also witnessed a surge of industrial manufacturing projects including Karcher Industrial Vacuuming GmbH, a recognised supplier of high-performance vacuum cleaners for diverse industrial requirements, from Germany; Star Group, producing high-quality and high-precision magnet products from Korea; Uc Thinh Việt Nam glass science development company, a Chinese-funded company; Arena technology (Soleseat) and Guoguang electric company from China; PMG plastic form and metal company from the US have registered total VNĐ4.23 trillion ($169.2 million) in surveys and proposal plans.

Two infrastructure developers, WHA Industrial Development PLC from Thailand (Thailand) and International BIN Corporation, planned to develop industrial parks on 725ha in Thăng Bình District.

To date, Quảng Nam has 200 validated FDI projects with total an accumulated $6.2 billion, and 1,145 domestic projects worth VNĐ229 trillion ($9.1 billion).

The province was assigned to contribute VNĐ23.6 trillion ($944 million) to the State budget in 2024.

Quảng Nam has been calling huge investment in the development of an international airport with top international aviation standards, and the deep-sea port system could handle cargo vessels of 50,000 DWT (dead-weight tonnes). 

Vietnam steps up mutual judicial assistance in civil matters with Laos

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang on April 6 signed a decision approving a plan on the implementation of the Vietnam-Laos agreement on mutual judicial assistance in civil matters.

Decision No. 285/QD-TTg aims to effectively materialise the agreement, facilitate the handling of civil cases involving foreign elements by competent agencies, and raise the efficiency of cooperation in the field between the two countries.

It stressed the need to ensure close coordination among competent Vietnamese agencies, and between them and their Lao counterparts.

Under the document, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Supreme People’s Court were given with specific tasks to accelerate the implementation work.
 
Notably, the Ministry of Justice will coordinate with the others to review the implementation of the agreement triennially in line with the document.  

The funding for the implementation of the plan comes from the state budget in accordance with the 2016 Law on International Treaties, the State Budget Law and other sources (if any).

The agreement was signed by Vietnamese Minister of Justice Le Thanh Long and his Lao counterpart Phayvy Siboualypha under the witness of the two Prime Ministers in Vientiane, Laos, on January 11, 2023, within the framework of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s visit to the neighbouring country on January 11-12.