The Vietnam Internet Association hosted Internet Day 2020 on December 16, marking the 23rd year since Vietnam became part of the global internet network.

With the theme “Digital Transformation in Vietnam: From Aspiration to Reality”, the event’s discussions centred around Cloud Computing, 5G Services, e-Payment and Mobile Money, Blockchain, Free and Open-source Software (FOSS), and “Make-in-Vietnam” digital technologies, among others.

In June, the government adopted the National Digital Transformation Roadmap 2025 and vision towards 2030, which focuses on three pillars: e-Government, e-economy, and e-society.

Speaking at the event, Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Huy Dung said 2020 marks the start of national digital transformation. Vietnam must seize the opportunities to promote faster, stronger, and broader digital transformation, with governmental bodies, enterprises, and the community together becoming engaged, he said.

Vietnam is among the top 20 countries with the highest number of internet users, according to Chairman of the Vietnam Internet Association Vu Hoang Lien. Internet Day 2020 aims to help stakeholders translate digital transformation goals into reality, he added.

The UN’s e-Government Survey 2020, released in July, saw Vietnam score 0.66 on the e-Government Development Index (EGDI), higher than the Asian and global average. Its EGDI ranking moved up two places from 2018, to 86th among 193 member states last year. It ranks sixth in Southeast Asia.

Vietnam’s digital economy reached 14 billion USD this year, a year-on-year increase of 16 percent, making it among the best performers in the region. Its digital society index also saw a modest improvement this year, rising 12 points from 2019, according to a report from GSMA Intelligence.

To accelerate digital transformation, Vietnam needs to expand its internet access and look towards universal internet access, which means internet for all, said Nguyen Trong Duong, Deputy Director of the Ministry of Information and Communications’ Computerisation Agency.

The country should also focus on developing national digital infrastructure to meet booming demand for the Internet of Things (IoT), smart devices, and machine-to-machine communications, growing digital platform ecosystems, and expanding the national cyberspace by increasing “Make in Vietnam” digital platforms, he noted.

Party Central Committee scrutinises its leadership, instruction in 12th tenure

The Party Central Committee worked at the hall, discussing a draft report reviewing its leadership and instruction during the 12th tenure at the third working day of the 14th session on December 16.

The committee also scrutinised another draft report summing up the implementation of working regulations by the 12th-tenure Party Central Committee, the Politburo and the Party Central Committee Secretariat.

Politburo member and permanent member of the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat Tran Quoc Vuong chaired the discussions.

The committee then worked in groups, discussing the content, date and agenda of the 13th National Party Congress, a draft on working regulations of the congress, and a draft on election regulations at the congress.

In the afternoon, discussions on the above-mentioned issues were convened at the hall.

The 14th session of the 12th Party Central Committee is taking place in Hanoi from December 14-20./.

Shelter for gender-based violence victims

 

Figures reveal that if the three main types of partner violence are considered - physical, sexual, and emotional - 58 percent of Vietnamese women have experienced at least one type of domestic violence in their lifetime. “Anh Duong” (Sunshine) House has been established in northern Quang Ninh province for reporting and supporting victims of violence against women and girls.

Established last April, Anh Duong House has become a shelter for women and girls suffering from domestic violence. Victims also receive health and physical care and mental and psychological support. Services are completely free.

Welcoming women who have fled from domestic violence and helping them settle down and obtain the basic skills needed to protect themselves is the job of Dr Nguyen Thi Thu Ha. Victims coming to Anh Duong House are all from different circumstances, but most have suffered from physical and emotional violence for some time.

Providing a shelter for victims of domestic violence is only a preliminary step. More importantly, experts at Anh Duong House also provide victims with the knowledge and skills to understand their own rights, so that when faced with violent acts will know how to defend themselves and stay safe./.

Vietnam has no new COVID-19 cases to report on December 16

Vietnam reported no new COVID-19 infections on December 16, with the tally standing at 1,405, according to the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control.

Of the total, 693 cases were transmitted domestically. December 16 marked the 15th consecutive day without community-transmitted infections in the country.

As of December 16 afternoon, 1,252 patients had been given the all-clear. The fatalities remain at 35.

Among patients still under treatment, three have tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 once, six twice and six thrice.

A total of 18,378 people who had close contact with COVID-19 patients or arrived from pandemic-hit areas are being quarantined nationwide, with 207 at hospitals, 15,567 at concentrated facilities and 2,804 at home or their accommodations.

Draft reports to 13th National Party Congress tabled at Party Central Committee's session

The Party Central Committee spent the second day of its 14th session debating several draft reports to be submitted to the upcoming 13th National Party Congress.

The Party Central Committee spent the second day of its 14th session debating several draft reports to be submitted to the upcoming 13th National Party Congress.

In the morning of December 15, the committee convened at the hall to scrutinize the draft political report; the draft report summing up the implementation of the 10-year socio-economic development strategy for 2011-2020 and the building of a 10-year socio-economic development strategy for 2021-2030; the draft report evaluating the implementation of socio-economic development tasks during 2016-2020 and outlining directions and tasks for the next five years; and the draft report summing up Party building work and the enforcement of the Party regulations by the 12th-tenure Party Central Committee.

In the afternoon, discussions were held in groups with the focus on the draft report reviewing the leadership and instruction of the 12th-tenure Party Central Committee and another summing up the implementation of working regulations by the 12th-tenure Party Central Committee, the Politburo and the Party Central Committee Secretariat.

The 14th session of the 12th Party Central Committee is taking place in Hanoi from December 14-20./.

Int’l community’s assistance important to Syria: Ambassador

Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy, head of Vietnam’s permanent mission to the UN, has highlighted the importance of the international community’s assistance to Syria to speed up the political process and improve the humanitarian situation.

Addressing the UN Security Council’s monthly briefing on the political situation in Syria on December 16, Quy expressed his concern over difficulties facing Syrian people due to impacts of social instability, economic crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic.

The ambassador called on parties involved to promote dialogue to gain a long-term political solution and put the interests of the Syrian people first.

He also acknowledged progress in negotiations of the Syrian Constitutional Committee in late 2020, adding that this is an opportunity to reach a breakthrough in talks to amend the Constitution as well as in the political process in the country.

At the briefing, Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General Geir Pedersen said that the fourth negotiation round of the Constitutional Committee took place in Geneva from November 30 to December 1, during which the Government, oppositions and socio-political associations discussed the foundation and principles of the nation with the bridging role of the UN.

Major differences remain, but the parties involved showed their willingness to negotiate and discuss several substantial contents to seek similarities.

Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Mark Lowcock said that the number of reported COVID-19 cases in Syria continued to rise, with the number of infections in schools – which are often overcrowded and often suffer poor or damaged infrastructure – more than tripling during November.

“The market price of a standard reference food basket is higher than at any point” since the World Food Programme (WFP) began price monitoring in 2013, he said, noting that more than 80 percent of displaced families across Syria said that their income does not cover their needs.

He also added that 34 percent of all children, more than one in three under five in north-west Syria suffer from stunting./.

ASEAN, RoK set up working-level dialogue on environment, climate change

The Republic of Korea (RoK) and ASEAN have agreed to launch a working-level dialogue to strengthen cooperation in protecting the environment and tackling climate change, the former’s Foreign Ministry announced on December 16.

The two sides have wrapped up weeks of discussions to establish the RoK-ASEAN Dialogue on Environment and Climate Change and plan to hold the first meeting next year, the ministry said.

The RoK is the third partner after Japan and the European Union to have such a dialogue channel on the environment and climate change with the 10-member ASEAN.

At the 21st ASEAN-RoK Summit in November, both sides’ leaders agreed to boost equal development cooperation, and back efforts to narrow development gap, reduce poverty, intensify sub-region development collaboration, and increase the capacity of responding to such emerging challenges as climate change, disaster management, environmental protection and plastic waste reduction.

ASEAN member states include Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam./.

PM asks for drastic measures to deal with consequences of disasters, resume production

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has sent a dispatch to relevant ministries, sectors, and localities requesting they focus on settling the consequences of natural disasters and recovering production in the central region.

He highlighted the need to concentrate on ensuring food supplies to those affected and supporting households with damaged housing to re-build before the upcoming Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday, while urgently restoring basic infrastructure, especially healthcare and education and transport, irrigation, and dyke networks.

Ministries, sectors, and localities should prepare climate change scenarios as well as comprehensive assessments of the risk posed by natural disasters and their impact on people’s livelihoods and socio-economic development, the PM said, thus enabling an appropriate response.

At the same time, it is necessary to bolster resilience against natural disasters in terms of housing and public facilities, review policies on social welfare, ethnic minority affairs, and housing to provide more support for poor households to build safe houses, and evacuate people in at-risk areas.

The PM asked for close control over investment in the construction of infrastructure serving socio-economic development, particularly hydropower dams and plants and especially small-scale ones, along with the protection and planting of forests and the minimising of any ecological impact.

At the same time, he highlighted the need to complete legal regulations and policies relating to natural disaster prevention and response and overcoming the consequences, with adjustments to procedures regarding urgent support and fund raising and distribution.

More resources should be invested in natural disaster mitigation and search and rescue activities, he stressed, while focusing on repairing and upgrading the dyke network and associating investment in natural disaster prevention with the socio-economic development plans of different sectors and localities.

The Government leader asked the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to coordinate with localities to assist natural disaster-hit residents in resuming agricultural production. The Ministry of Labour, Invalids, and Social Affairs was asked to work closely with other ministries to deal with any difficulties arising in supporting flood-hit households with housing, while keeping a close watch on the hunger situation in localities.

He asked the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to enhance the quality of its forecasting activities and to build a natural disaster map. The Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Public Security were requested to review the locations of their bases to ensure safety, while preparing equipment for search and rescue activities.

The Ministry of Transport was asked to support localities in fixing roads damaged by flooding and landslides, while the Ministry of Industry and Trade was directed to monitor materials and goods to avoid shortages and rising prices, while reviewing the planning of and tightening the control over the construction of hydropower reservoirs and dams.

The Ministry of Construction was urged to design and guide the building of resilient housing for people in flood-affected areas, while the Ministry of Finance was asked to submit a draft decree on the raising, distribution, and use of support for disaster-hit residents.

The Ministry of Planning and Investment was directed to prioritise the allocation of public investment to localities suffering from natural disasters, while the State Bank of Vietnam was asked to guide credit organisations in offering support to people and businesses affected.

Meanwhile, the PM also asked the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee to continue providing guidelines and supervision over activities to raise funds, to ensure transparency, equality, and efficiency./.

Vietnam a key partner of RoK’s New Southern Policy: Official

Vietnam is a key partner of the Republic of Korea (RoK)’s New Southern Policy, leader of the ruling Democratic Party Lee Nak-yon affirmed while receiving Vietnamese Ambassador Nguyen Vu Tung on December 15.

Lee said that the RoK-Vietnam relations have been flourishing in all fields over the past years, especially in economy, trade, investment and people-to-people exchange.

He voiced his hope that the bilateral ties will continue obtaining new positive results towards the 30th founding anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2022.

The Vietnamese Ambassador to the RoK shared his host’s views on the swift development of the bilateral ties for the sake of the countries and peoples.

He expressed his delight at the opportunities to deepen the Vietnam-RoK relations as the countries are to celebrate the 30th year of diplomatic ties, voicing a hope that the headquarters of the Embassy of Vietnam in Seoul will be promptly completed, turning into a symbol of the countries’ cooperation.

Lee was elected as leader of the Democratic Party in August. Earlier, he served as the 41st Prime Minister of the RoK from May 2017 until this January.

Surgeons conduct bone marrow transplant to save 2.5-year-old boy

The boy is discharged from the hospital (Photo: SGGP)

A 2.5-year-old boy hailing from the Southern Province of Dong Nai yesterday was discharged from the Hue Central Hospital as he well recovered after the hematopoietic stem cell transplant. 

Before, he was diagnosed to have lymphoma at the Ho Chi Minh City-based Children Hospital No.2 where he was given combination chemotherapy, which means two or more drugs, instead of single-agent therapy. Surgeons also removed the tumor out of him.

Later, the boy was transferred to the Hue Central Hospital. The hospital management board examined the boy and decided to carry out stem cell transplant on him. Surgeons performed the operation on November 12.

Hospital director Professor Pham Nhu Hiep said that the boy recovered after the transplant. He was therefore discharged from the hospital. But he has to take drug and later undergo radiotherapy in the Tumor Hospital and take retino-acid in six months.

The successful bone marrow transplant in these days of the end of 2020 has brough happiness to doctors, Professor Nhu Hiep shared. One year has passed, the hospital has performed five successful stem cell transplant and he is the youngest one.

In the upcoming time, the hospital will continue conducting more retinal degeneration on children to save those with uncurable diseases, he said.

Electronic toll collection begins on Lien Khuong-Prenn Expressway

Hung Phat Co Ltd, investor of Lien Khuong-Prenn Expressway in Lam Dong Province, put into operation four electronic toll collection (ETC) gates at the expressway’s six-gate Dinh An toll station today, December 14.

Two of the gates are used for vehicles with the E-tag only, while the other two allow both ETC and payment by tickets.

Two gates, which are currently used exclusively for payment by tickets, will be transformed into ETC gates in March 2021. This gives vehicle owners time to install the E-tag.

Nguyen Dinh Truong, deputy director of Hung Phat Co Ltd, said the cost for the six ETC gates at the Dinh An toll station, which is located in Duc Trong District, amounts to VND19 billion—VND13 billion for software and equipment and VND6 billion for construction and operation.

Truong said on the first day of electronic toll collection, some vehicles without the E-tag went into the ETC gates. The operator had to ask them to go through the ticket or mixed gates.

However, Decree 100/2019/ND-CP regulates that drivers of vehicles without the E-tag will be fined VND1-2 million if they enter the ETC gates.

Vehicle owners can come to the Dinh An toll station or the Lam Dong Province Motor Vehicle Registration Center to get the E-tag for their vehicles free of charge until the end of December 2021. The E-tag is valid nationwide.

The 20-kilometer-long Lien Khuong-Prenn Expressway links the Lien Khuong Airport in Duc Trong District and the Prenn mountain pass in Dalat City.

HCMC punishes 30 passenger buses after one week of inspection

Inspectors of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Transport reported that traffic police discovered, made a record of 30 violations and issued fines amounting to VND35 million (US$1,550) on owners of 30 passenger buses for breaking traffic regulations after a peak week of checking passenger transport business activities in the city.

Of which, a driver was revoked his driving license and one case was revoked vehicle badge within two months, paying the fine of nearly VND 14 million (US$601).

28 cases involved in stopping and parking violations with the fine amount of nearly VND22 million (US$949).

The Department has directed the specialized inspection teams to intensify the inspection activities and handling over violated vehicles in the city.

HCMC to synchronize investment of bus rapid transit route with metro line 1

The People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City yesterday assigned the Municipal Urban Railway Management Board, the HCMC Management Board of Investment and Construction of Traffic Projects and relevant units to speed up the implementation progress of the 29-kilometer bus rapid transit No. 1 (BRT1) route , which runs along Vo Van Kiet - Mai Chi Tho street through Saigon River connecting with Hanoi Highway.  

According to the Ho Chi Minh City Urban Railway Management Board, in order to more effectively exploit the Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien metro line, the BRT No.1 project must be synchronized with the metro construction progress.

Besides that, the functional units will be in charge of reviewing the current status of ongoing projects as well as project planning along the metro corridor. Thereby they should urgently survey land use and legality of land plots in areas locating within the radius of 500- 800m around stations along the metro line No. 1, propose planning solutions for land use, planning targets and architecture designs of each land plot around the stations.

Government of Hungary offers 200 scholarships

Vietnamese Ministry of Education and Training announced the Government of Hungary has just offered full scholarships to Vietnamese students who wanted to study at Hungary's State-owned higher education institutions.  

Specifically, Hungary has offered 25 periodical scholarships; 80 graduate scholarships; 55 master scholarships; 30 doctoral scholarships and 10 postgraduate scholarships.

Those take graduate program will learn in two to four years while their master peers will learn in 1.5-2 years and doctoral peer will be four years.

Those who receive periodical scholarships will study 5- 6 years while those enrolling in postgraduate program will study in five to ten months.

The government of Hungary will provide free training, research and insurance as per its regulations.

The government of Vietnam will award free air fare, fees for visas and expenditure according to the country’s present regulation for oversea students.

Scholarship applications in Vietnamese should be sent to the Department of International Cooperation under the Ministry of Education and Training at 35 Dai Co Viet Street in Hai Ba Trung District in Hanoi before January 15, 2021 and their entries will be sent to Hungary. The country will give guideline about paperwork for the course starting in September, 2021.

Ha Tinh Province recognizes traditional handicraft villages

The North Central coastal province of Ha Tinh has recognized two traditional handicraft villages and three traditional crafts, announced the provincial People’s Committee yesterday. 

The list includes Chau Ha salt-making Village in Loc Ha District’s Thach Chau Commune, Nam Giang rattan and bamboo village in Thach Ha’s Thach Long Commune, Dinh Hoe building craft in Thach Ha District’s Dinh Ban Commune, Cho Cau craft of making banh da (traditional grilled rice cracker) and banh muot (steamed rice rolls) in Ky Anh District’s Ky Chau Commune, Phuong Giai craft of making Bun (white rice vermicelli noodles).

Chau Ha salt-making village dating back nearly 100 years has 126 households who are engaged in making salt with the production area of more than 14 hectares and production capacity of 2,500 tons per year.

Formed hundreds of years ago, Nam Giang rattan and bamboo village has around 70 households involved in making all sorts of baskets.

Dinh Hoe building craft with traditions around 200-300 years sees over 1,000 people who are working in the province and neighboring areas. These craftsmen earn VND300,000-VND400,000 per day.

Da Lat collects opinions on planning project of Valley of Love

The People’s Committee of Da Lat City in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong has collected opinions for the planning project of the Valley of Love, a famous tourist attraction in the city, announced Deputy Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee, Vo Ngoc Trinh. 

According to the suggestion of Thanh Thanh Cong Tourist Joint Stock Company, the enterprise has asked for a permission from the local authorities to keep an illegal construction of a glass-bottom Bridge connecting the Love Valley and another destination of Doi Mong Mo (Dreamming Hill).

The work located in Ward 8 in Da Lat City was built in April, 2019 without permission of the local government.

On January 14, the People’s Committee of Da Lat City issued an administrative fine of VND40 million for building the 325 meter-long bridge without a license to the investor and asked the company to tear down the construction within 60 days.

In April, the municipal People’s Committee gave the investor some more time to remove the work because the bridge using foreign technology must be demolished by a staff of foreign specialists and workers who can not travel to Vietnam due to the pandemic outbreak.
The public opinion poll will run until January 10, 2021.

Ambassador meets with OVs in Ukraine

Vietnamese Ambassador to Ukraine Nguyen Hong Thach recently had a meeting with representatives from Vietnamese communities in Kiev and Odessa cities, and Cherkasy oblast.

During the meeting, the newly-appointed ambassador highlighted the role played by the Vietnamese community in Ukraine in further developing solidarity and cooperation between the two countries.

He was briefed on the organisation structure and activities of the communities, and difficulties facing overseas Vietnamese in the country amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ambassador Thach urged Vietnamese expats in Ukraine to strengthen solidarity to overcome difficulties caused by the pandemic, and change their business forms to adapt to the new situation.

He affirmed that the embassy will always accompany and support the Vietnamese community in the country./.

Singapore approves Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for use

Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced on December 14 that the country had approved the use of the COVID-19 vaccine developed by US pharmaceutical giant Pfizer and German firm BioNTech, with the first shipment due to arrive in Singapore by the end of December.

In a televised address on Singapore’s COVID-19 situation, Lee said that this makes Singapore one of the first countries to obtain this vaccine, adding that other vaccines are expected to arrive in Singapore in the coming months.

"If all goes according to plan, we will have enough vaccines for everyone in Singapore by the third quarter of 2021," he said.

To assure the vaccine is safe, Lee said that he and senior officials will be the first to be injected.

Vaccinations will be free for all Singaporeans as well as long-term residents currently in Singapore, he added./.

Seminar talks upholding elderly resources in development

A seminar on upholding the elderly resources in socio-economic development in adaptation with populating aging was held in Hanoi on December 14.

Speaking at the event, head of the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences’ Institute for Family and Gender Studies Tran Thi Minh Thi said Vietnam is in the face of challenges caused by rapid population aging, including more expenses on health care, retirement, allowance and social welfare.

As of the late 2017, the country was home to 11 million senior citizens, accounting for nearly 12 percent of the population, about 2 million of them aged above 80. Vietnam is forecast to enter the aging stage by 2035 with nearly 21 million old persons. They are expected to make up 20 percent of the population by 2038 and around 25 percent by 2049.

Moreover, 70 percent of the elderly still go to work to earn a living while they are easily vulnerable to socio-economic risks when their children are jobless. Most of them also suffer non-communicable and chronic diseases, leading to high health care cost and overload in hospitals.

Participants discussed policies to encourage firms to hire elderly workers, ensure jobs for middle-age workers in manufacturing and processing sector, improve the quality of worker demand forecast, and offer vocational training to them.

Many opinions suggested measures to develop social welfare toward covering the entire population, prevent and mitigate risks for vulnerable groups, sustainably reduce poverty and narrow development gap among zones and regions, develop youth and gender equality for women’s advancement, and gradually narrow gender gap in the fields of politics, economy, socio-culture and family affairs./.

Thai people urged to strictly follow COVID-19 guidelines in New Year celebrations

Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul on December 14 urged the Thai people to strictly adhere to social distancing and other health guidelines against COVID-19 when joining activities to celebrate the upcoming New Year.

The authorities will not stop people from organising or participating in New Year celebrations and countdown events, but people will be required to strictly observe disease prevention measures such as checking temperature, wearing face masks, washing their hands with alcoholic gel and literally keeping a distance among themselves, Anutin said.

Meanwhile, the minister also said authorities of the northeastern province Nakhon Ratchasima, where a big concert was held in vicinity of Khao Yai National Park over the weekend, are yet to take legal action against the concert organizers for extending the open air performances by eight hours.

According to the minister, many of the concert's audience failed to wear face masks and ignored the social distancing rule./.

HCM City pushes training for occupational change amid Industry 4.0

The Ho Chi Minh City Labour Federation will take part in providing vocational training for workers to change occupations for better working environment and incomes, said Vice President of the federation Tran Doan Trung on December 14.

Talking about orientations for vocation change in the 2020-2023 period, Trung said the Fourth Industrial Revolution (Industry 4.0), where artificial intelligence and machines will gradually replace manual workers, will lead to the formation of new jobs and services serving its demand.

According to Trung, most of local workers, particularly those in garment-textiles, footwear, electronics, and seafood processing, have yet to be trained or undergo formal training. As a result, vocational training becomes a demand of many labourers and enterprises.

The federation plans to build policies and regulations to monitor the training of workers for job change, enhance capacity of trade unions in engaging in the work, implement related emulation campaigns, and mobilise resources for the training.

It aims to have all trade unions with demand for occupational change negotiating to make the content included in collective labour agreements in 2023./.

13th “Love for Hanoi’ art programme held

The 13th “Love for Hanoi" art programme was held at the Hanoi Opera House on December 14, with the presence of Politburo member and Secretary of the municipal Party Committee Vuong Dinh Hue.

The programme, divided into two parts, featured well-known songs praising the love for the country in general and the capital city in particular.

The first part, themed “Hanoi – Dien Bien Phu in the Air”, comprised of five famous songs about Hanoi such as Bai Ca Ha Noi (Song of Hanoi), Hanoi – Dien Bien Phu in the Air, Ha Noi nhung dem khong ngu (Hanoi sleepless nights), Ha Noi cua toi (My Hanoi) and Ha Noi niem tin va hi vong (Hanoi faith and hope).

Meanwhile, the second part, themed “street rhythms”, honoured three composers of the capital city who received the State Awards for Literature and Arts, namely Hoang Duong, Dang Huu Phu and Vu Thiet.

The programme attracted the participation of the Vietnam National Symphony Orchestra, People’s Artist Ngo Hoang Quan, Meritorious Artist Ngo Hoang Linh, and such singers as Minh Chuyen, Dang Thuat, Hoang Quang and Luong Nguyet Anh./.

USAID-funded project helps Vietnam combat HIV/AIDS, TB

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) launched the Local Health System Sustainability (LHSS) project in Vietnam on December 15 to help the country develop its ability to combat HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis.

The project is being launched with the aim of strengthening the Government’s capacity to sustainably manage HIV and tuberculosis (TB) programmes, thereby moving towards the goal of achieving the country’s commitment to end HIV and TB by 2030.

Through the LHSS Vietnam project, USAID will continue working alongside the Government to strengthen public financial management systems for the local health sector and find greater efficiencies in terms of social health insurance. In addition, the scheme will increase and improve the efficiency of domestic financing of HIV prevention and treatment services, whilst strengthening the capacity of local supply chain management systems, and integrating TB services into social health insurance.

Addressing the launching ceremony, USAID Vietnam director Ann Marie Yastishock congratulated the Government and the Ministry of Health on the successful transition of their HIV response from donor to domestic funding, with Social Health Insurance (SHI) now becoming the primary financing mechanism.

“Vietnam now has 90% of HIV patients enrolled in SHI. All treatment facilities can now be reimbursed for HIV services. Most importantly, SHI funds are now used to procure anti-retroviral drugs, the most expensive component of an HIV response. This is a remarkable trajectory of success and one we are all proud to share with Vietnam. USAID, through PEPFAR, has supported the Government in updating policies and building systems that would support this transition,” she added.

LHSS Vietnam represents a four-year project that will run until 2024 and comes with a planned budget of US$13.9 million which is funded by the United States Government through PEPFAR and USAID.

It is part of USAID’s global initiative in terms of strengthening integrated health systems to help low- and middle-income countries transition to sustainable and self-financed health systems to support access to universal health coverage.

Transport sector targets cashless transactions by 2030

My Dinh bus station is one of the busiest in Hanoi capital.

All of the transactions in the transport sector will be cashless by 2030, as part of a programme on digital transformation recently approved by the Ministry of Transport.

The programme will be rolled out in the sector from now till 2025, with a vision toward 2030.

By 2025, the sector expects to form its own database, and the settlement of all administrative procedures under the management of the ministry will be monitored via the public service portal and one-stop-shop system.

The sector also aims to automate procedures relating to registration, check-up and supervision of businesses, vehicles and drivers.

By that time, the intelligent transportation system (ITS) will be installed on all expressways. Meanwhile, the electronic toll collection (ETC) system will be implemented at all toll collection points nationwide.

By 2030, the sector will continue to perfect the database and roll out the smart transport system across the country.

Transport infrastructure in road, railway, navigation, aviation and internal waterway will be connected synchronously.

Exhibition relives the past

An exhibition on the life of Vietnamese people under the period of subsidy economy is taking place in Ninh Binh province.
 
The exhibition features common living room space, kitchen, bedroom, with simple items such as cupboards, radio, and displays typical commodities which belong to the subsidy period such as food stamps, coupons, among others. It was a time filled with difficulties when goods and items were scarce and difficult to buy.

The original tools and gears that closely related to the working life of people such as rice mill, rice pounder; buckets for water fetching are also on display. Visitors will get a glimpse of the time when they and their family used to live.

The exhibition will run until December 18 as part of activity to celebrate the 13th National Party Congress and the 2021 Ninh Binh National Tourism Year./.

Cambodia to obtain 20 percent of COVID-19 vaccine via COVAX

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said that the Ministers of Health and Finance have already signed a deal to obtain 20 percent of a vaccine through COVAX.

In his address to the nation about a possible purchase of COVID-19 vaccine via TVK national television on December 15, Hun Sen said questions have been raised about the sourcing of a vaccine for Cambodian people.

The PM said COVAX will give Cambodia 20 percent or about 3.2 million of the population and they requested Cambodia pay five percent of the budget.

He said the government has already allocated 100 million USD to purchase a vaccine.

However, Hun Sen said that he would not allow Cambodians for a vaccine trial conducted by any country or company unless it is approved by the WHO./.

Indonesia bans gatherings in public places during holidays

The Indonesian Government has decided to ban crowds congregating to celebrate Christmas 2020 and New Year 2021 in public places to prevent a spike in the number of COVID-19 cases.

The decision was taken at a virtual coordination meeting for COVID-19 handling in Jakarta, West Java, Central Java, East Java, and Bali chaired by Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan.

The minister ordered to apply stricter restrictions against COVID-19 from December 18 to January 8 next year.

A significant rise in confirmed cases was recorded after the holidays and joint leave at the end of October that necessitated the Indonesian government to tighten restrictions.

In Jakarta, 75 percent of the capital city's employees are urged to work from home.

The policy of limiting operating hours to 7pm and limit the number of people gathering at restaurants, malls, and entertainment venues will be continued, the Indonesian minister affirmed.

Religious, anniversary, or celebratory events that can attract crowds must be restricted or prohibited, he emphasised.

According to Indonesia’s Ministry of Health, the country logged 6,120 COVID-19 cases on December 15, raising the national tally to 629,429, with a death toll of 19,111.

The same day, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen advised the country’s education ministry to cancel the upcoming high school graduation exam and to determine whether a student passes or fails based on the results of semester exams.

He made the remark in a speech live broadcast on the National Television of Cambodia (TVK).

Cambodia's Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports recently decided to postpone the annual high school graduation exam to mid-January, 2021 due to ongoing COVID-19 outbreaks.

The Southeast Asian nation recorded a locally transmitted case on the day, and has seen a total of 362 confirmed COVID-19 cases so far.

Meanwhile, Singapore announced that it will open a new segregated travel lane for a limited number of business, official and high economic value travellers from all countries next month, as part of efforts to revive its key travel and hospitality sectors.

The first travellers will be able to arrive from the second half of January through the new lane, which will be open to those who are coming for short-term stays of up to 14 days.

Travellers under the latest arrangement will have to stick to strict health and testing protocols, and will need to stay within a “bubble” at segregated facilities.

Singapore welcomed only 13,400 visitors in October, compared to 1.7 million reported in January./.

Project to build resilience, sustainable settlement in Mekong Delta

A plan for the implementation of a project on “Enhancing the resilience inclusive and sustainable eco-human settlement development through small-scale infrastructure interventions in the coastal regions of the in Mekong Delta” was discussed at a Hanoi meeting on December 15.

The event was held by the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources.

The project aims to help the poor and vulnerable communes in the Mekong Delta build resilience and adapt to climate change.

Inhabited by close to 20 million people, the Mekong Delta is Vietnam’s largest producer of agricultural and aquatic products, contributing considerably to the country’s food productivity and agricultural exports. The region, however, is among the hardest hit by climate change.

The government has adopted various policies to support affected cities and provinces in the Mekong Delta, particularly Resolution 120/NQ-CP on Sustainable and Climate-Resilient Development of the Mekong Delta of Vietnam dated November 17, 2017.

To enforce the resolution, the Ministry of Environment and Rural Resources has coordinated with the UN Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) to build the 6.4-million-USD project to be implemented with the Adaption Fund’s non-refundable aid in the period of 2020 – 2030 in the Mekong Delta provinces of Tra Vinh and Bac Lieu.

Delegates to the meeting suggested reviewing estimated costs of each of the four components of the project and increasing budget for developing local infrastructure. They also proposed issuing a guidebook for implementing the project at local level.

Deputy Minister of Environment and Natural Resources Nguyen Thi Phuong Hoa requested relevant units to take note of the comments while urging beneficiary provinces to complete preparatory steps for the project to start on schedule./.

Workshop seeks ways to protect, promote human rights amid COVID-19

Protecting and promoting human rights in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic was the theme of a workshop jointly held by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Hanoi on December 15.
 
Attended by more than 100 representatives of ministries, departments, and localities, along with research institutes, social organisations, and the foreign diplomatic corps in Vietnam, the workshop marked Human Rights Day on December 10.

Assistant to the Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Quang Hieu touched on the major challenges brought about by COVID-19 in the world and in Vietnam over the last year that have disrupted the enjoyment of fundamental human rights.
In such a context, the Vietnamese Government has rolled out policies and measures in a prompt and transparent manner, with the priority on bringing the pandemic under control to protect citizens’ health and on fully implementing international commitments on human rights, including recommendations it accepted under the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) mechanism, Hieu noted.

He affirmed that the Vietnamese Government has paid due attention to protecting and supporting the vulnerable during the pandemic and introduced ideas to bolster international cooperation in battling COVID-19.

Of particular note, the country proposed the International Day of Epidemic Preparedness be observed annually on December 27, in an attempt to raise public awareness and cooperation in epidemic preparedness and fighting.

The resolution was approved by the UN General Assembly on December 7 and co-sponsored by 107 nations.

Vietnam’s commitments and efforts in protecting and promoting human rights, notably the implementation of recommendations under the UPR mechanism, third cycle, were acknowledged in speeches by delegates at the workshop.

Delegates also discussed legal issues surrounding human rights restrictions during the time of the pandemic, the enjoyment of human rights in cyberspace, and the role and contribution of every element in society in observing COVID-19 preventive measures.

They shared information and experience and put forward solutions to protect and promote human rights against the backdrop of COVID-19, which will be integrated into the implementation of recommendations under the UPR mechanism.

The MoFA has joined hands with the UNDP in Vietnam to organise workshops commemorating Human Rights Day since 2015./.

USAID helps Vietnam redouble efforts to end TB

Vietnam National Tuberculosis Programme (NTP) and USAID on December 15 expanded the Ministry of Health/NTP’s “Double X” Strategy for tuberculosis (TB) case identification in a bid to wipe out this respiratory disease in Vietnam by 2030.

Double X is a new strategy to diagnose TB using chest X-rays and GeneXpert, a diagnostic method that detects TB bacteria.

At an event entitled “Health Partnerships to End TB in Vietnam - Applying the “Double X” Strategy held on December 15 in Hanoi, participants shared key achievements and lessons in implementing the Strategy, including key achievements of the NTP toward TB goals; outcomes from USAID Sustainable HIV and TB Responses from Technical Assistance (SHIFT) activity on the Double-X Strategy in seven provinces in Vietnam, experiences from provincial TB programmes; and multi-faceted TB strategies using Double X from international organisations.

Vietnam ranks 11th among the 30 countries that account for nearly 90 percent of the world’s TB burden. It is also one of the most common communicable diseases in the country.

Each year, it is estimated that 170,000 people become sick from TB in Vietnam, but only around 100,000 are accounted for in the National TB system, leaving around 50,000 community TB cases undiagnosed, and the remaining 20,000 diagnosed but not reported.

Deputy Minister of Health Do Xuan Tuyen said the country has made encouraging achievements in the fight against TB, especially the fact that it could successfully treat 92 percent of first-time TB patients, 75-80 percent of the patients with multidrug resistant TB with short-term treatment while the global figure is about 56 percent.

The number of TB patients is on a gradual downtrend, with a decline of only 4 percent a year, according to Tuyen, who said the national programme should maximise the use of existing tools in diagnosing and treating TB with universal health insurance; while at the same time, expanding the application of new identification tools, new drugs and vaccines, with the help of partners both in and outside the country.

Professor Nguyen Viet Nhung, chair of the national programme on fighting TB, said just like COVID-19, TB infection incidents need to be detected as soon as possible so risks of transmission in the community are reduced and the hospitalisation for the patients themselves would be shorter.

Ending the TB epidemic in Vietnam will require intensive effort. The USAID SHIFT project’s partnership with the NTP has piloted the comprehensive Double X Strategy in health facilities and communities in 18 districts in seven provinces (Thai Binh, Nghe An, An Giang, Can Tho, Dong Nai, Tay Ninh, and Tien Giang).

Double X will be further scaled up to 25 provinces in December 2020. Sites for implementation will include provincial hospitals (lung hospitals, general hospitals) as well as district health centres and general hospitals./.

Seminar on women conducting diplomacy for peace held

A seminar on women conducting diplomatic activities for peace took place in Hanoi on December 15, as part of activities to contribute to Vietnam’s diplomacy in its role as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the 2020-2021 tenure.

The event attracted female Vietnamese ambassadors and Lieutenant Sa Minh Ngoc, one of the first female officers from the Vietnam People’s Army to join the UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan.

Ambassador Luan Thuy Duong told the gathering on Vietnamese women’s important contributions to diplomatic activities for peace. She also highlighted their tireless dedication to peace, development, and fostering the future of later generations.

The seminar joins nine others on women and their contributions in different fields taking place throughout December and early January.

A painting exhibition was also held on the occasion, with nearly 60 works featuring Vietnamese women and their efforts in national development./.

ADB, Imexpharm sign loan to support generic medicine production in Vietnam

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed an eight million USD loan with Imexpharm Corporation to help the company sustain its production of generic medicines despite global supply disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The financing will support the company’s working capital needs to ensure ample supply of active pharmaceutical ingredients for essential generic medicine production.

Imexpharm’s operations and continued production of generic pharmaceuticals and their ensured availability in the market is integral in safeguarding the country’s health care during the pandemic.

Head of Health and Education Investments at ADB's Private Sector Operations Department Aniruddha Patil said that Asia has witnessed disruptions across the pharmaceutical supply chain in 2020, including a shortage of active pharmaceutical ingredients.

“This project demonstrates ADB’s continued efforts to enhance health outcomes in Vietnam by encouraging the development and use of local generic medicines,” he added.

For his part, Imexpharm’s Chairman Nguyen Quoc Dinh said that the financing will improve the firm’s liquidity situation and ensure a consistent supply of affordable generic drugs to hospitals and pharmacies across Vietnam.

This debt financing is part of ADB’s 20 billion USD assistance announced on April 13 to help its developing members manage the pandemic.

Imexpharm was established in 1977 and initially incorporated in 1983 as the Dong Thap Pharmaceutical Union. The firm was transformed from a state-owned enterprise into a joint-stock company and renamed Imexpharm Corporation, and its shares were listed on the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange in December 2006.

As of September 30, Imexpharm had 1,252 employees, total assets of 2.07 trillion VND (89.66 million USD), and six pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities./.

Hanoi’s anti-tuberculosis efforts prove effective

Taking care of a TB patient

Hanoi’s tuberculosis (TB) prevention programme was effectively implemented in all communes and wards in 2020, benefiting all the population of the capital city.

In the first nine months, 16,046 local people suspected of suffering from TB were examined, with 1,156 testing positive.

The programme helped detect and treat 2,821 TB cases of all types.

The management and treatment of TB patients has seen satisfactory results, with 1,233 people cured out of 1,289 TB AFB (acid fast bacilli) (+) cases, or 95.6 percent.

There were 184 out of 201 TB AFB (+) patients with bacteriological evidence who recovered from the disease, or 91.6 percent.

Hanoi has realised the goals set in the National Strategy for TB Prevention and Control by 2020 with a vision towards 2030, with 80 percent of new cases of AFB (+) being detected and 92 percent of detected patients recovering from the disease.

The positive results are attributed to Hanoi’s extensive anti-TB network in all districts, communes, wards and towns, and the application of modern techniques to quickly and effectively treat diagnosed cases.

Attention has also been paid to promoting communications to raise public awareness about the dangers of TB.

TB remains the leading cause of death in the world, resulting in nearly 2 million fatalities every year, with drug-resistant TB threatening global health. In Vietnam, the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that there are nearly 130,000 new cases of TB diagnosed each year, resulting in some 16,000 deaths in the country in 2015.

Vietnam is 16th among 30 countries with the highest number of TB patients in the world, and is 13th among 30 countries facing the burden of multi drug-resistant TB.

The country is leading, however, in TB prevention efforts. The rate of successful treatment of multi drug-resistant TB is over 70 percent; much higher than the global average of 54 percent.

Thanks to early detection and treatment, TB-related deaths fell by 3,000 during 2015-2016. Vietnam has set a target of cutting the number of TB infections by 30 percent and fatalities by 40 percent during 2015-2020./.

Malaysia declares COVID-19 emergency state

Malaysia’s government on December 16 declared a state of emergency to stop by-elections in two constituencies scheduled for next month, as the country recorded a spike in coronavirus cases over the past few months.

The nation has seen a leap in cases since September, with the total number of infections exceeding 86,000, including 422 deaths as of December 15.

Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said in a statement the king had assented to the request to impose an emergency in the Bugaya constituency in Sabah on Borneo, the state that health authorities believe was the epicentre of the country’s third wave of infections, and the Gerik constituency in Perak state.

The government had declared a state of emergency in another constituency in Sabah last month, also to stop a scheduled by-election.

The same day, the confirmed COVID-19 cases in Indonesia increased by 6,725 to 636,154, with the death toll adding by 137 to 19,248, according to its Health Ministry. The coronavirus has spread to all of the country's 34 provinces.

Meanwhile, the Department of Health of the Philippines reported 1,156 new confirmed cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number in the country to 452,988. The death toll climbed to 8,833./.

Vietnam pledges to further contribute to UN Mission in South Sudan

Vietnam will continue to actively contribute to the activities of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy, Permanent Representative of Vietnam at the UN, has said.

Quy made the affirmation at an online meeting on December 15 of the UN Security Council (UNSC) on the situation in South Sudan and the operations of the UNMISS.

As Chairman of the UNSC’s 2206 South Sudan Sanctions Committee, the ambassador presented a report on its performance this year.

The committee organised five meetings, issued 41 documents, and approved seven requests for temporary exemptions from restrictions imposed on a number of individuals and organisations, according to the report.

In his capacity as the Vietnamese representative, Quy spoke highly of the positive developments in South Sudan this year, which, he said, are remarkable given the range of difficulties posed by COVID-19 together with flooding and food shortages.

Ceasefire agreements have been observed, he said, while calling on the Government of South Sudan to adopt effective measures to deal with violence between communities.

Quy also stressed the importance of the early establishment of criteria to review the UNSC’s arms embargos on South Sudan.

He also lauded the role of the UNMISS, neighbouring countries, and regional organisations in promoting peace and development in the country.

Other rapporteurs at the meeting expressed their concern over the economic and humanitarian crisis in the country as a result of the pandemic, widespread flooding, and increasing violence among communities.

David Shearer, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for South Sudan and head of the UNMISS, briefed the meeting on the mission’s efforts in protecting civilians in the face of COVID-19.

Founded in 2011, the UNMISS’s mission is to consolidate peace and security and help establish conditions for development in South Sudan, with a view to strengthening the capacity of the Government to govern effectively and democratically and establish good relations with its neighbours.

Vietnam officially joined UN peacekeeping operations and dispatched representatives to the UNMISS in 2014. The country has deployed a level-2 field hospital in Bentiu, South Sudan, since 2018, and is preparing for the deployment of a third hospital./.

Vietnam calls for full enforcement of long-term ceasefire in Libya

Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy, head of the Vietnamese mission to the UN, has called on stakeholders to fully enforce provisions in the long-term ceasefire agreement in Libya signed on October 23, thus facilitating the transitional period towards elections in the country.

In an address to an online meeting of the UN Security Council (UNSC) on current issues in Libya on December 15, Quy reaffirmed Vietnam’s support for a comprehensive political solution led and owned by Libyans on the basis of respecting its independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.

He welcomed important and positive developments in the country, especially the long-term ceasefire agreement reached by relevant parties and their consent to future elections.

The diplomat also stressed the support of the UNSC document that backs the implementation and monitoring of the ceasefire in line with the council’s relevant resolutions on Libya, and expressed a hope that the monitoring mechanism will ensure objectivity, effectiveness, efficiency, and close cooperation with stakeholders in Libya.

Stephanie Williams, Acting Special Representative of the Secretary-General and head of the UN Supported Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), applauded the important political-security developments in the country over past weeks, in particular the signing of the long-term ceasefire agreement, and agreed with the progress towards presidential and parliamentary elections before December 24, 2021.

In the time to come, the UNSMIL will continue to talk with stakeholders in Libya about plans to deploy and monitor the implementation of the agreement with the support of the UN, and will submit a report to the UNSC before December 30, she said.

The UNSC issued a press release at the end of the meeting welcoming the efforts of the UNSMIL, neighbouring countries, and regional organisations in promoting the peace process in Libya, and the positive developments in politics and security in the country, while highlighting the importance of establishing an effective and reliable ceasefire surveillance mechanism./.

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