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17/08/2024 11:18 (GMT+07:00)

Vietnam News Headlines August 17/2024

Vietnam puts forth proposals at 9th Mekong – Lancang Foreign Ministers’ Meeting

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Hang affirmed Vietnam's strong commitment to and effective contributions to the Mekong-Lancang Cooperation (MLC) at the 9th MLC Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Chiang Mai, Thailand, on August 16, which saw the participation of representatives from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, China and Vietnam.

Hang, who was authorised by Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son to lead a Vietnamese delegation to the meeting, highlighted five key achievements and contributions of the cooperation mechanism in recent times, including closer coordination mechanisms, more effective and practical cooperation, broader areas of collaboration, deeper involvement of various social sectors, and more tangible benefits for the people.

She made several important proposals to realise the development vision endorsed by the Mekong-Lancang leaders, emphasising that a modern and developed Mekong-Lancang region must be built on the foundation of ensuring seamless trade, investment, and connectivity among the member countries.

Hang underlined the need to expand markets, strengthen sustainable supply chains, promote transport infrastructure connectivity, prioritise enhancing scientific and technological capabilities and foster innovation by effectively implementing the Mekong-Lancang Innovation Corridor.

To build a green, sustainable, and inclusive Mekong-Lancang region, the member countries need to closely coordinate in managing and using natural resources and responding to climate change, she said.

The official affirmed that Vietnam supports the initiative to further strengthen Mekong-Lancang cooperation on water resources, and proposed the countries strengthen collaboration in flood and drought management, share hydrological data, conduct joint research, and consider establishing a Mekong-Lancang Water Day to raise awareness of sustainable management, use, and protection of the water resources in the region.

The Mekong-Lancang cooperation should continue to contribute to fostering friendly neighbourly relations and deep ties among the people of the six countries, while promoting a people-centered approach, Hang stressed, noting that this should serve as a foundation for the development of Mekong-Lancang cooperation in the next phase.

Towards the 10th founding anniversary of the Mekong-Lancang cooperation mechanism in 2025, Vietnam proposed strengthening and further diversifying people-to-people and youth exchanges, and connections between localities and businesses, and seeking new cooperation initiatives from the six countries’ young people, she said.

Vietnam's proposals and contributions were applauded by other countries and included in documents on the Mekong-Lancang cooperation orientation in the coming time.

With the theme “Towards a Safer and Cleaner Mekong-Lancang Community”, the member countries proposed many new ideas to seize opportunities from new development trends in digital transformation, green transformation, scientific and technological advances, and application of artificial intelligence to serve development.

Participants applauded Thailand and China, as co-chairs of the Mekong-Lancang cooperation mechanism, for promoting the organisatiton of the meeting to assess the implementation of directions approved by leaders of the six countries at the Mekong-Lancang Summit in December 2023, and to advance the Action Plan for Lancang-Mekong Water Resources Cooperation in 2023-2027.

The countries agreed to boost connectivity by developing rail, road, and air transport systems, ensure stable supply chains, promote smart and sustainable agriculture, strengthen climate change resilience, mitigate natural disasters, reduce air pollution, and combat cross-border crimes.

Sustainable water management remains a top priority at the meeting. The countries reaffirmed their commitments to effectively implement the action plan and supported Vietnam's proposal to host the 2nd Mekong-Lancang Ministers' Meeting on water resources cooperation in 2025.

The meeting issued a joint press communique and approved three new initiatives on enhancing cooperation in water resources management, building a clean environment, and combating cross-border crimes.

The 10th Mekong-Lancang Cooperation Foreign Ministers' Meeting will be held in China in 2025, aiming to boost the Mekong-Lancang cooperation, thus contributing to peace, stability, and prosperous and sustainable development in the region.

Tourism promotion programme on China’s Zhangjiajie city introduced in Hanoi

Tourism potential of China’s Zhangjiajie city, a tourist attraction in Hunan province, was introduced in Hanoi on August 16 in an effort to ramp up cooperation among travel firms.

The tourism promotion scheme provides detailed information about attractive destinations in the Chinese locality, help firms explore collaboration opportunities to promote sustainable tourism, improve service quality, and expand the market.

Addressing the event, Zheng Dawei, cultural counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Vietnam, emphasised that since the beginning of the year, tourism ties between the two countries have recovered rapidly. The past seven months saw Chinese tourists to Vietnam reach more than two million, representing a sharp increase of 290.2% year on year.

He highlighted the outstanding results achieved in tourism cooperation between Zhangjiajie and Vietnam, saying Vietnamese holidaymakers have become one of the key sources of foreign tourists to the Chinese city, ranking fourth among international arrivals.

He expressed his delight at seeing Zhangjiajie become an attractive destination for Vietnamese tourists over recent years.

For his part, Truong Quoc Hung, chairman of the UNESCO Hanoi Travel Club, shared that from a tourist destination with between 14 and 15 Vietnamese tourists in 2012, Zhangjiajie has recorded impressive growth with 102,800 Vietnamese visitors so far in 2024.

At present, Vietnam has become the city’s second largest international tourism market, which demonstrates the tireless efforts made by both Vietnamese and Chinese travel businesses in promoting tourism activities between the two sides, Hung added.

Hung expressed his belief that the event will not only serve to enhance tourism connectivity between the two sides, but will also open up bright prospects for regional tourism moving forward.

Safe houses handed over to needy households in Ca Mau province

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in collaboration with the administration of the southernmost province of Ca Mau, handed over 59 safe houses to residents of Khanh Lam commune in U Minh district on August 15.

This is part of component 1 of the project on improving the resilience of vulnerable coastal communities to climate change related impacts in Vietnam (known as GCF project). Ca Mau province joined the project later than others (January 2024), however, with the efforts of the project management board, local administration, and beneficiary families, the project has successfully achieved its goal of building 425 safe houses.

Speaking at the handover ceremony, Ramla Khalidi, UNDP Resident Representative in Vietnam, emphasised that the project's completion has turned the dream of a safe house for the poor in coastal areas into a reality. It provides a motivation for the households to focus on developing their livelihoods and escaping poverty, she said.

According to Ramla Khalidi, a house is a valuable asset for individuals and families, therefore, building safe houses is the foundation for enhancing the climate resilience of families living in Vietnam's coastal areas. UNDP is committed to continuing its support to the government and people of Vietnam in facing the impacts of climate change, particularly for vulnerable families.

The safe houses built in Ca Mau comply with the safety standards set by the Ministry of Construction. They incorporate additional features for resilience, suited to the landscape and customs of coastal residents. They are at least 0.5m above the highest water level and have a lifespan of more than 20 years. It costs 80 million VND (about 3,200 USD) to build a house. Of which, half of the sum is provided by the project and the remaining comes from the local administration.

Le Van Su, Vice Chairman of the provincial People's Committee, said that residents of coastal communes in the province still have to cope with storms, high tides, and the harsh conditions of climate change every year. The support from the GCF project has provided many local poor households with safe houses.

Noting that with a 254-km long coastline and 41 coastal and near-coastal communes and towns, many poor households in Ca Mau still lack housing or necessary conditions to build decent houses, he said, adding that the province hopes that sponsoring organisations will continue to assist poor households in stabilising their lives, ensuring safety during natural disasters, and helping them escape poverty.

The project on improving the resilience of vulnerable coastal communities to climate change related impacts in Vietnam includes three components, namely providing support for building storm- and flood-resistant houses, mangrove planting and disaster risk data information. The project was carried out in Nam Dinh, Thanh Hoa, Quang Binh, Thua Thien - Hue, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai and Ca Mau from 2017 to July 2024. The goal of component 1 was to build 4,000 safe houses, benefiting 20,000 poor people who are heavily affected by natural disasters. Up to now, the project has exceeded the set target with 4,966 houses built./.

Vietnamese youth football heads to Asian events

Vietnamese youth football teams are aiming to achieve promising results in the upcoming continental events.

Following the 2024 ASEAN U-16 Boys Championship, the U16 Vietnam team have reunited in Hanoi to prepare for the 2024 AFC U-17 Asian Cup qualification, scheduled for next October.

To ensure optimal preparation, Coach Cristiano Roland's team will participate in the 2024 Peace Cup international friendly tournament in China from August 16 to 20. They will compete against teams from Japan, Uzbekistan and the host nation, China.

After this tournament, U17 Vietnam will embark on a training trip in Japan prior to the AFC U-17 Asian Cup qualification.

Meanwhile, the U20 Vietnamese team, primarily composed of U19 players who recently participated in the U19 Southeast Asia tournament, gathered on August 15 to prepare for the 2025 AFC U-20 Asian Cup qualification.

Coach Hua Hien Vinh's team will also have the opportunity to train in Japan, where they will play friendly matches against strong opponents selected by the Japan Football Federation. Upon their return, U20 Vietnam are expected to participate in two internal friendly matches against U20 Russia in Hanoi.

To ensure the best conditions for both the U17 and U20 teams, the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) is committed to helping Vietnamese youth football secure spots in the finals of Asian events and make a significant impacts at home.

Vietnam will host two groups for the 2024 AFC U-17 Asian Cup qualification and the 2025 AFC U-20 Asian Cup qualification in Phu Tho province from October 23 to 27 and in Hai Phong from September 21 to 29, respectively.

VFF Vice President Tran Anh Tu emphasised that the main goal is to enable national youth teams to regularly participate in the finals of Asian events across all age groups, helping players improve their skills at the continental level./.

ASEAN cultural festival to feature diverse activities to highlight friendship

The Hanoi Union of Friendship Organisations and the Embassy of Laos in Vietnam held a press conference on August 16 to provide details about an upcoming ASEAN friendship cultural festival, which will take place in the capital city from August 29 to September 1.

According to the organisers, it will feature a variety of activities such as a cultural exhibition and exchange programme that highlight the colours of ASEAN. The festival's experiential space will include 57 creative booths from Vietnam and other ASEAN member states, offering souvenirs for youth and families as well as displaying traditional consumer and fashion products. Additionally, there will be culinary stalls for Hanoi's beer festival, beverages from the region, and food stalls serving festival goers. Another 79 booths are set to focus on cultural diplomacy, economic exchange, and regional agricultural products.

A highlight will be the creation of a record-setting silk painting. This artwork may be donated to the organisers, divided into 11 smaller pieces for the ASEAN embassies, or auctioned on the spot. International and Vietnamese children will also have the opportunity to participate in a painting contest titled "I Love Hanoi – A City for Peace." Visitors can enjoy a night tour of the Thang Long Imperial Citadel and experience wearing traditional Vietnamese costumes for souvenir photos.

At the press conference, Permanent Vice President of the Hanoi Union of Friendship Organisations Tran Thi Phuong said this international cultural exchange event is part of the city’s people-to-people diplomacy efforts, aiming to strengthen the friendship among ASEAN peoples and their international friends. It also provides a platform for bloc members and businesses to showcase their traditional handicrafts, fostering cultural exchange, learning, and collaboration for mutual development.

Lao Deputy Ambassador to Vietnam Latana Siharaj noted that during Laos' ASEAN chairmanship this year, the embassy has coordinated numerous activities to promote solidarity and friendship within the bloc.

The diplomat expressed confidence that the upcoming cultural event will be a great success, leaving a strong impression of solidarity and close ties among ASEAN countries, as well as fostering friendship between ASEAN and other nations around the world./.

Vietnam cueists to attend US Open Pool Championship

Seven Vietnamese cueists will vie for a huge bonus at the 47th US Open Pool Championship which will be held in Atlantic City , New Jersey, from August 19-24.

Held for the fourth time at the New Jersey casino, Harrah's Resort, the Open is the sport’s most historic tournament and will see defending champion Ko Ping Chung lead the World Nineball Tour’s (WNT) 128 professional players seeded among a 256-player field aiming to claim the prestigious title.

“We are thrilled to be hosting the US Open Pool Tournament for the fourth consecutive year in Atlantic City, NJ,” said Daniel Gallagher, Director of Sports Sales for the Atlantic City Sports Commission.

"Our seaside destination could not be better positioned to host this unique event in our world-class venues along with ample experiences for athletes and spectators."

Vietnamese athletes are national No 1 Duong Quoc Hoang, Scottish Open 2024 champion; Do The Kien, Vietnam's 9 Pool winner; Pham Phuong Nam, Super Las Vegas Binh Duong Cup 2023 champion; and Luong Duc Thien, Billiards Joy Heyball Senior Vietnam 2024 champion, along with Bui Truong An, Nguyen Hai Dang and Nguyen Manh Duc.

Hoang, Nam, Kien and Thien showed particular brilliance at their remarkable performances at the recent European Open.

First staged in 1976, the US Open has crowned illustrious champions over the years, including five-time winners Earl Strickland and Shane Van Boening, Filipino great Efren ‘Bata’ Reyes and WNT No 1 Francisco Sanchez Ruiz.

A 300,000 USD worth of WNT ranking points are on offer across the field, with the winner set to receive 50,000 USD.

To warm up for the event, five Vietnamese players will take part in the Raxx MVP Open 2024 on August 15-18 in New York.

The competitions also feature high-ranking players including Francisco Sanchez Ruiz, Aloysius Yapp, Carlo Biado and Bernie Regalario./.

Quang Ninh adjusts up yearly target of tourist number

The northeastern province of Quang Ninh has adjusted its target in attracting visitors to 19 million this year from the initial 17 million after its tourism posted positive growth in the first seven months.

In the first seven months of this year, the province received 13 million visitors, 20% higher than that of the same period last year. It earned total tourism revenue of about 29 trillion VND (1.16 billion USD), an increase of 40% over the same period in 2023. Of the 13 million visitors to the locality, there were over 2.2 million foreign ones, equivalent to the number of 2023.

Director of the province’s Tourism Department Nguyen Huyen Anh said that the locality raised the visitor number target taking into account the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism's forecast about increasing number of foreign visitors to Vietnam, the province’s 7-month tourism growth and tourism activities that the province will hold in the remaining time of this year.

The official said that the province plans to continue to expand its potential sources of foreign tourists such as China, the Republic of Korea, Taiwan (China), the US, France, Australia, the UK, Germany and Japan, while further improving infrastructure, accommodations, services and products.

From now to the end of the year, the province will organise over 90 events and activities to stimulate tourism and attract domestic visitors such as a Vietnam-Korea grand music festival in Ha Long City, the Vnexpress Marathon Amazing Ha Long 2024, and Quang Ninh Culinary Festival 2024.

In addition, the province will continue to implement fall-winter tourism programmes, launch 35 new tourism products, and start the Ha Long Bay - Bai Tu Long Bay tourism route./.

Virtual reality tech applied at President Ho Chi Minh memorial site in Quang Ninh

Authorities of Co To district in the northern coastal province of Quang Ninh is testing a 360-degree virtual reality application to provide a new experience for visitors to the President Ho Chi Minh Special National Memorial Site on Co To island.

According to head of the district’s office of culture, information and tourism Nguyen Hai Linh, by visiting this website https://vr360.com.vn/projects/khu-luu-niem-chu-tich-ho-chi-minh, tourists can experience a vivid preview of the monument and its tours.

Linh said the cost for this technology is low but produces high effectiveness in promoting and advertising tourist destinations in the area. This technology simulates audio and visual experiences of the monument, allowing visitors to hear commentary and view their surroundings in all directions, much like in real life.

Accessing this website, visitors can experience both free-style tours and pre-set itineraries, he said, adding that besides this monument, tourists can preview other attractions on Co To island such as Mong Rong beach, Co To lighthouse, and Truc Lam pagoda, thus visualising and planning their trips in a more detailed and effective manner.

In the coming time, this technology will be applied to showcase other destinations such as Truc Lam Co To pagoda, and Thanh Lan island, he went on./.

Quang Nam workshop seeks measures to promote green tourism

A workshop seeking ways to promote green tourism took place in the central province of Quang Nam on August 15.

Co-organised by the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Executive Board of the “Swiss Tourism for Sustainable Development Project in Vietnam” (ST4SD), the event brought together more than 120 delegates from state management agencies, tourism businesses and organisations, and domestic and international tourism experts.

Speaking at the event, Director of the department Nguyen Thanh Hong pointed out the province’ tourism advantages and its target to become a green tourism destination.

In the last three years, with the support from the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) through the ST4SD project, Quang Nam has issued and applied a set of green tourism criteria for six models of resort, hotel, homestay, travel agency, tourist site and community-based tourism site.

So far, the provincial People’s Committee has granted green tourism certifications to 25 tourism businesses.

Vice chairman of the committee Phan Thai Binh said that the province is seeking experts’ suggestions to design specific policies, mechanisms and action plans to promote green tourism in the coming years./.

Hanoi looks to become large centre of high-quality education

Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Tran Sy Thanh has asked the local educational sector to comprehensively improve the scale as well as quality of education so as to gradually turn the capital city into a large and typical centre of high-quality education and training in Vietnam.

He made the request while speaking at the sector’s conference held on August 14 to review the 2023 - 2024 academic year and launch tasks for the next.

Thanh affirmed that the city always views the fundamental and comprehensive reform of education - training, improving the quality of human resources, and developing urbane and civilised Hanoians as particularly important tasks that are critical to its sustainable development in the future.

Therefore, Hanoi has garnered every resource to develop infrastructure as well as the contingent of teachers and education managers to comprehensively improve education quality, he noted, adding that given its large educational sector, the capacity has been working hard over the past years to increase schools and classrooms to reduce the number of students each class, ensure sufficient classes, and resolve the shortage of teachers.

The official demanded the sector closely follow instructions by the Ministry of Education and Training and the municipal administration to properly perform tasks for the 2024 - 2025 academic year, and continue advising the People’s Committee about mechanisms and policies to further improve the quality of local education.

Tran The Cuong, Director of the municipal Department of Education and Training, reported that in the 2023 - 2024 academic year, there were 2,913 kindergartens and schools of general education across the city, increasing 39 schools from the previous academic year, with nearly 2.3 million students and nearly 130,000 teachers.

Thanks to efforts by teachers, students, and education managers, the sector recorded comprehensive and outstanding results in all education levels.

Local students’ performance in this year’s high school graduation examination climbed five places to the 11th from the 16th position in 2023. Up to 99.81% of exam takers passed the test, rising 0.25% from last year.

In particular, 99.12% of exam takers from the continuing education system graduated, 2.24% higher than the national average and also the highest result in the last five years, he elaborated.

Hanoi also posted the largest number of exam papers given mark 10, at 915.

Besides, the city ranked first nationwide with 184 students winning prizes at national contests for excellent students, up 43 from 2023. Many of its students also obtained prizes at international contests, including two securing gold medals at the international biology and chemistry olympiads.

Regarding other activities, in the 2023 - 2024 academic year, Hanoi sent the largest-ever delegation of students to the National Phu Dong Sports Game. They brought home 339 medals in total, ranking second in the medal standings, according to Cuong.

For the next academic year, the educational sector set up 10 focal tasks, including reviewing and perfecting the development plan for the local network of education - training establishments; improving the quality of teachers and education managers; effectively implementing the pre-school, general education, and continuing education programmes; and attracting and efficiently using investment resources for education.

The tasks aim to address shortcomings and problems of previous years, enhance discipline and democracy in schools, build a safe, healthy and friendly educational environment, and better quality at all levels of education - training, the director noted./.

War-time bomb found in Phu Tho province

A war-time bomb weighing more than 100 kg was uncovered in Viet Tri City, the province of Phu Tho, on August 14.

The bomb, about 40cm in diameter and 1.5m in length, was discovered by workers of the Viet Tri Port in Ben Giot Ward of the city.

Local authorities immediately secured the area, set up warning signs, and blocked access to both people and vehicles. The city People's Committee and the provincial Military Command were promptly notified for urgent action.

The military command directed the Viet Tri military command to collaborate with relevant agencies to clear the site and establish safe access routes for the bomb’s removal.

Residents were urged not to handle or attempt to disarm any discovered bombs, mines, or explosive materials themselves. They were advised to notify local military authorities to ensure safe and proper disposal, thereby avoiding potential dangers.

Vietnam is among the countries most affected by unexploded ordnance (UXO).

Today, unexploded bombs and mines are hidden underground in almost all provinces and cities, with around 5.6 million hectares of land contaminated, equivalent to 17.71% of the country’s natural land area.

With joint efforts of the Vietnamese government and people, and the support of the international community, over the past 50 years, since the Paris Agreement on Ending the War and Restoring Peace in Vietnam was signed on January 27, 1973, Vietnam has cleared nearly 2.5 million hectares of contaminated land to serve resettlement, ensure safety for people, and build economic works./.

Vietnam shines at international conference on traditional and alternative medicine in Italy

A Vietnamese research team from the project on thrombosis prevention and treatment products derived from herbal medicine has presented their report at the International Conference on Traditional and Alternative Medicine 2024, which was held in Milan city of Italy from August 12-13.

The report stated that the authors of the project conducted five preclinical studies on experimental animals and the results indicated that the product is not only safe and effective in preventing and dissolving blood clots but also has a significant impact on myocardial infarction.

The research results suggested the potential for developing a safe and effective drug for thrombosis-related issues prevention and treatment, including myocardial infarction. It also highlighted the role of traditional medicine and Vietnamese herbal products in addressing difficult medical challenges, which garnered the attention of conference attendees.

The research stemmed from a product by Sao Thai Duong Joint Stock Company and involved further in-depth studies on experimental animals as well as clinical trials at the Centre of Clinical Pharmacology under the Hanoi Medical University. An international paper on the effects of the new drug in preventing myocardial infarction in experimental animals was published on ScienceDirect website in August last year.

Sao Thai Duong is a science and technology enterprise with 14 exclusive patents. Its latest product is Sunkovir, a herbal medicine for treating COVID-19 and respiratory viruses, including seasonal flu. This product was licensed by the Ministry of Health for treating respiratory tract viral infections, including flu and mild COVID-19. Three clinical studies on this product have been published on PubMed, and over 700 international articles have covered it. It won a second prize at the Vietnam Science and Technology Innovation Awards (VIFOTEC).

Participants at the conference listened to more than 30 presentations of authors from 19 countries and territories, including the UK, the US, China, and the Republic of Korea. The speakers presented research ranging from laboratory studies to the application of medicinal plants in healthcare, the use of digital technology in plant research, medicinal products, and medicine./.

Legal procedures launched against man in Dak Lak for sabotaging solidarity policy

The Investigation Security Agency under the Department of Public Security of the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak on August 15 said it has arrested a man and launched legal proceedings against him to investigate his attempt to “sabotage the solidarity policy”.

The decision and order were made per Article 116 of the 2015 Penal Code (revised and supplemented in 2017), and approved by the provincial Supreme People's Procuracy.

An initial investigation revealed Y Pŏ Mlo had contacted and received instructions from Y Mut Mlo, an exiled FULRO reactionary sentenced by the provincial People’s Court to 11 years in prison for “terrorism” in January 2024.

Although Y Pŏ Mlo had been warned and reprimanded many times, he persisted in sabotaging attempts. Since 2023, through Facebook accounts, the man has been receiving instructions from many FULRO members in Thailand, including Y Min Alur, Y Thanh Eban and Y Pher Hdrue.

Under their instructions, Y Pŏ Mlo has actively collected and spread information distorting the reality in Vietnam among other FULRO members in Dak Lak through in-person meetings, mobile phones, and social networks. He also made reports upon requests and guidelines of the FULRO members in Thailand, aiming to distort and sabotage the solidarity policy and oppose the administration.

Competent forces found many documents and evidence of crimes related to the two terrorist organisations - “Montagnard Stand for Justice” in Thailand and Montagnard Support Group in the US, which were announced by the Ministry of Public Security in March.

The case is being handled in line with legal regulations./.

Safe houses handed over to needy households in Ca Mau province

Senior Party Secretary hosts Portuguese Communist Party leader

Politburo member and permanent member of the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat Luong Cuong received General Secretary Paulo Raimundo of the Portuguese Communist Party (PCP) in Hanoi on August 16.

Cuong welcomed Raimundo’s visit which he said helps further tighten the traditional solidarity between the two Parties and the multi-faceted friendship and cooperation between the two States and peoples of Vietnam and Portugal, towards the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic ties in 2025.

He informed his guest about the outstanding results and lessons learned from nearly 40 years of implementing the Doi Moi (Renewal) process in Vietnam, and affirmed that the Communist Party of Vietnam is steadfast in Marxist-Leninism and Ho Chi Minh’s ideology, vowing to successfully implement the goals set by the 13th National Party Congress.

The 2021 congress adopted a resolution, saying Vietnam aims to become a developing country with a modern industry and upper middle income by 2030 and become a developed, high-income economy by 2045, while building a clean and strong Party.

Raimundo expressed his admiration for the important economic development and social progress achievements that Vietnam has recorded since the Renewal process until now under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam.

The results and lessons of Vietnam from implementing the Renewal process and building socialism are valuable experiences with high reference value for the Portuguese Communist Party in the struggle for democracy, progress and socialism in Portugal, said the Party General Secretary.

Emphasizing that the Portuguese Communist Party always values the traditional relations with the Communist Party of Vietnam, Raimundo affirmed his desire to continue contributing to promoting friendly relations and good cooperation between the two Parties, two countries and peoples of Vietnam and Portugal, as well as with the Communist Party of Vietnam to strengthening communists and workers’ movements worldwide.

Vietnam expects Japan to receive more guest workers

Vietnam expects that the Government of Japan will receive more guest workers, including those in the restaurant and food processing industries that are of Vietnam’s advantages.

Minister of Labour, Invalid and Social Affairs Dao Ngoc Dung made the proposal during his reception for new Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Ito Naoki in Hanoi on August 15.

Dung hailed Japan as a primary market for Vietnamese nationals to choose to live, study and work, pointing to the fact that approximately 570,000 Vietnamese nationals are now living and working in Japan, more than double the figure in 2016.

With a population of more than 100 million, he said Vietnam has up to 56 million people of working age that is a huge advantage for the country. Currently, many countries have asked Vietnam to provide a large amount of workers to fill in their vacancies.

In the coming time, Vietnam will continue to promote labour cooperation with Japan to maintain the number of its workers coming to work in Japan equivalent to 2023’s figure, said the minister.

According to the minister, the Ministry of Labour, Invalid and Social Affairs of Vietnam has closely coordinated with the Japanese partner in carrying out many programs, such as the Japan Internship Program, the Specified Skilled Workers Program, and the Program to bring Vietnamese orderlies and midwives to work in Japan under the Vietnam - Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (VJEPA).

This represents a positive result, showing that the program of sending and receiving Vietnamese interns and workers to Japan has made remarkable progress, noted the minister.

With regard to the Social Insurance Agreement with Japan, Dung asked the two sides to accelerate negotiations towards signing the document, thereby guaranteeing workers’ interests.

The minister thanked the Japanese Embassy in Vietnam for proactively coordinating with the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs in promoting cooperation between the two countries in the fields of labour, employment, and social welfare, and vowed to support the ambassador to fulfil his task during his working term in Vietnam.

Ambassador Ito for his part said that the Government of Japan has approved a new program that prioritizes protecting the rights of foreigners working in Japan and creating opportunities for workers to work longer, thereby helping to improve the severe shortage of human resources due to the aging population in the country.

He suggested that the Vietnamese side continue to pay attention to human resource training, including the teaching of Japanese, and accelerate the progress of the project “Supporting job information connection for Vietnamese workers working abroad under contract” which is being implemented by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in Vietnam and the Department of Overseas Labour Management under the Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs.

The diplomat revealed that Japanese medical facilities are currently looking to receive more orderlies and midwives from Vietnam under the VJEPA. Although the Japanese side has relaxed some criteria, including reducing the Japanese language training time to three months, the number of candidates participating in this program does not meet the demand.

He also agreed with the minister that the two sides would soon kick-start negotiations of the social insurance agreement.

Vietnamese athletes target two medal wins at Paris Paralympics

Vietnamese athletes have set a goal of winning one or two medals at the coming 2024 Paris Paralympic Games due to take place from August 28 to September 8.

All eyes are on powerlifter Le Van Cong who brought home a gold medal in the men's 49 kg at the 2016 Summer Paralympics. He became the first Vietnamese athlete winning a gold medal in the history of the Paralympic Games.

The powerlifter also bagged a silver medal in the men's 49 kg at the 2020 Summer Paralympics held in Tokyo, Japan.

As planned, the Vietnamese sporting delegation, including seven athletes, will leave for Paris on August 23 before returning home on September 9.

Other athletes are runner Pham Nguyen Khanh Minh, swimmers Le Tien Dat and Do Thanh Hai, and powerlifters Nguyen Binh An, Dang Thi Linh Phuong, and Chau Hoang Tuyet Loan.

They will vie for one or two medals in three sports, namely athletics, swimming, and weightlifting.

The Sports Authority of Vietnam plans to hold a send-off ceremony in Ho Chi Minh City on August 18.

The 2024 Paris Paralympic Games features a total of 22 sports and 23 disciplines with 549 events. Around 4,400 athletes are expected to compete in 20 venues across France.

Salmonella causes mass food poisoning in Dong Thap

The Health Department of the Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap announced on August 16 that samples collected from 149 people suffering from food poisoning after consuming baguette at Hong Ngoc 12 Bakery had contained Salmonella – the bacteria that may cause human death.

Accordingly, the tests detected Salmonella in samples of liver paté.

The bakery is expected to be sanctioned over the food poisoning case, including an administrative fine of VND80-VND100 million and temporary closure for at least three months.

The case occurred on August 6 after workers of Thai Duong Company in Hong Ngu district used baguettes produced by Hong Ngoc 12 Bakery.

Twenty of the workers suffered from symptoms, including stomach aches, diarrhea, and vomiting, forcing them to be hospitalised.

By August 11, local hospitals had received a total of 146 people showing the same food poisoning symptoms after eating the dish from the bakery.

Local health authorities said 142 cases had since been released after recovering, while seven others have also improved and are being further monitored.

Salmonella is a toxin commonly found in meat, poultry, milk, raw, or contaminated egg yolks which can be spread through knives, cutting surfaces, or contaminated food processing tools. The bacteria typically enter the body through food, spreading from the intestines into the blood and other organs, causing infections and poisoning. The initial signs of bacterial poisoning include dizziness, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and watery diarrhea.

Some cases may experience headaches, insomnia, and rashes. Without timely rehydration, patients may suffer from dehydration, reduced blood pressure, hypotension, multi-organ failure, and even death.

Vietnamese workers shine in ROK's Employment Permit System

Vietnamese workers have earned high praise from Republic of Korea (ROK) employers under the Employment Permit System (EPS), according to officials.

Launched in 2004, ESP targets low-skilled workers, granting them E-9 visas to work in the country's thriving small and medium-sized enterprises.

For 20 years, ESP has helped more than one million people from 16 countries find jobs in ROK, of which Vietnam takes the largest portion with about 135,000 workers.

In an interview with Vietnam News Agency's reporter, Lim Seung Mook, Vice President of the ROK's Human Resources Development Service (HRDS), emphasised the critical role foreign workers play in sustaining the country's economy amid its aging population and shrinking workforce.

He also revealed that Vietnamese workers had earned a stellar reputation among Korean employers. Their ability to integrate quickly and adapt to the working environment makes them highly sought-after for both initial recruitment and re-employment.

With thousands of Korean companies in Vietnam, there is also potential for post-ESP Vietnamese workers to return home and contribute to Vietnam's growth, while maintaining ties with their Korean employers.

At HTM, an auto parts manufacturer in Gyeonggy Province, ROK, seven Vietnamese workers are on the payroll.

HTM Director Mil Pil Hong holds them in high regard. He cited their sincerity, open-mindedness and attention to detail, as the key factors behind the absence of technical errors and workplace accidents in his factories.

There has been an increasing number of ESP workers who are not only excelling in their jobs, but also becoming successful entrepreneurs upon returning home.

Recognising these success stories, HRDS has organised annual contests for returning ESP workers. Vietnam has shone brightly in recent years, with Ngo Thi Ut Luan winning the top prize in 2024 for her thriving business venture back home.

At the award ceremony marking the programme's 20th anniversary, Ngo Thi Ut Luan shared her inspiring journey.

Returning to Vietnam in 2013 after her initial contract ended, her language skills allowed her to re-enter ROK on an E7 visa, reserved for highly-skilled professionals.

Years later, she eventually transitioned to an F2 visa, which signifies long-term residency. Her efforts also led to her membership in the Korea-Vietnam Business Association in 2016.

She returned to Vietnam again in 2019 and founded her first business back home one year later. Now, she has three companies with nearly 30 workers on the payroll.

She encouraged her fellow countrymen to make the most of their time in ROK by learning the language and embracing the culture.

With this long-term commitment, she believed Vietnamese workers could return home to become successful entrepreneurs and contribute significantly to Vietnam's growth.

As ROK's industries evolve, the demand for skilled foreign workers is expected to grow. With their proven track record, Vietnamese workers are well-positioned to play an even greater role in ROK's economy.

Vietnamese, Czech localities promote cooperation

Vietnamese Ambassador to the Czech Republic Duong Hoai Nam has paid a working visit to Cheb city in the Karlovy Vary region, aiming to boost cooperation between Vietnamese and Czech localities.

At a working session with the Mayor of Cheb, Jan Vrba, the ambassador highlighted the development of the traditional friendship and multi-faceted cooperation between Vietnam and the Czech Republic, citing as examples the successful implementation of two flagship projects, namely the Mong Duong 2 Thermal Power Plant and the SKODA automobile manufacturing plant in Quang Ninh province.

He stressed that the two economies are highly complementary, and there is substantial potential for collaboration in areas such as labour, education and training, digital transformation, green transformation, tourism, and high-tech agriculture.

The diplomat spoke highly of the results of the recent visit by the Deputy Mayor of Cheb to Bac Ninh in August and expressed confidence that the two localities will make significant breakthroughs in developing high-quality industrial zones, preserving cultural heritage, and promoting tourism. He proposed that Cheb authority considers enhancing cooperation in labour and vocational training, especially for nurses and healthcare workers, to address the recent shortage of skilled labourers in the Czech Republic.

He also suggested that the city authority considers including the Vietnamese language into primary and higher education curricula to enhance cultural exchange and mutual understanding, contributing to deepening the bilateral relationship ahead of the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations next year.

For his part, Mayor Jan Vrba acknowledged the meaningful contributions of the 3,000-strong Vietnamese community in Cheb to the host society over the years. According to the mayor, the successful integration of Vietnamese people in the Czech Republic is a clear testament to the strong traditional relationship between the two countries. He also pledged to continue to create favourable conditions for the Vietnamese community in their daily life and business, thereby adding value to the city.

The Mayor took note of the ambassador’s proposals on potential areas of cooperation and sister-city relationships, and introduced Cheb’s key projects that are seeking partnership, including Vietnamese enterprises.

In the framework of the trip, Ambassador Nam visited some Vietnamese-owned companies in the Czech city.