Vietnam introduced its culture and cuisine to international friends at a ceremony in Singapore on December 17 to mark the International Migrants Day (December 18).

Ta Thuy Lien, head of the Liaison Committee of the Vietnamese Community in Singapore, said that the committee has become a long-term partner of Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower during the annual event.

This year, the committee mobilised 2 tonnes of Vietnamese specialty rice ST25 and a large number of commodities to present to immigrant workers at the event, which gathered 10.000 guest workers in Singapore, she said.

Up to 500kg of rice and 250 gift packages were presented to Vietnamese workers in Singapore, Lien added.
Commenting on the contributions by the Liaison Committee of the Vietnamese Community in Singapore, head of the event’s organising board Martin Koh hailed the committee’s participation at the event for the second time. With the activities of decorating and presenting “non la” (conical hats), the Vietnamese booth drew the largest number of visitors, he noted.  

The ceremony was the main event of a series of the activities held by Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower throughout December to honour contributions by immigrant workers to the Singaporean economy and join force with the local community.

At the event, Heng Chee How, Singapore’s Senior Minister of State for Defence and Deputy Secretary-General of the National Trades Union Congress, pledged that Singapore will continue to take actions to care of foreign workers and create the safest working environment for them.

Mobilising OV resources for national development: Deputy FM

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang has called on Vietnamese representative offices in foreign countries to mobilise the Overseas Vietnamese (OV) resources to develop the nation.

Hang, who is also the Chairwoman of the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs, made the call while attending a session on the OV affairs and citizen protection held on December 17 as part of the 32nd diplomatic conference.

Hailing the efforts by the offices over the past time, she urged them to pay further attention to and support the OVs in stabilising their lives and better integrating in the host nations, while promoting assistance for the Vietnamese citizens to preserve the Vietnamese language and cultural identity.

The official asked them to continue strictly following and carrying out the missions stated in the Politburo’s conclusion on the OV affairs in 2024, renew communications work, and diversify activities to mobilise the OVs, especially the young, to turn their heart to the homeland.

Regarding the citizen protection, Hang stressed the acceleration of the professionalism and completion of the procedures to handle the work, diversification of information reception and settlement, and promotion of coordination with competent authorities in the host nations to address urgent issues.

She also ordered the representative offices to pay due heed to evaluating, forecasting and giving warnings on crisis and disaster so as to have rational and prompt solutions, helping ease negative impact.

Besides, the offices should give timely and accurate information on citizen protection work, especially cases that garner public attention, she added.

As many as 150 heads of Vietnamese representative offices in foreign countries and leaders of several departments under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs attended the session to review their attained results since the 31st diplomatic conference, point out shortcomings, and outline orientations for the OV work and citizen protection in the time to come.

Heads of the offices shared their experience in promoting solidarity among the OVs and supporting them to consolidate their legal status and stabilise their lives, as well as the citizen protection work.

General Association of Vietnamese in Belgium convenes congress for 2023-2026

The General Association of Vietnamese in Belgium (GAVB) held a congress for the 2023-2026 tenure in Brussels on December 17.

The event took place at a time when the two countries are celebrating the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam-Belgium diplomatic ties and marked ten years since the GAVB was set up.

GAVB Chairman Huynh Cong My reviewed the outstanding activities of the association over the past ten years, saying it has maintained close contact with the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and updated information on policies towards overseas Vietnamese to disseminate to its members.

Its executive board has expanded relationships with Vietnamese associations in other European countries such as Germany, the Czech Republic, France, and the Netherlands, thereby organising exchange activities and enhancing understanding as well as contributing to the activities of the Union of Vietnamese People Associations in Europe, he continued.

Determining that foreign affairs and strengthening cooperation with the host country’s organisations are also extremely important, the GAVB has held meetings with the authorities of Ixelles district - where the Vietnamese Embassy is headquartered - and received support in implementing community activities.

Every year, it organises traditional cultural activities towards the homeland such as Tet (Lunar New Year) Festival and Mid-Autumn Festival. These events attract the participation of Vietnamese-Belgian families and Vietnamese people living in Belgium, he said, adding that these are opportunities to help children born and raised in the European country better understand Vietnamese culture.

The GAVB now has 250 members of various ages and backgrounds, My said, describing it as an advantage for the association to develop future activities.

A new executive board with 15 members was elected at the congress with Huynh Cong My re-elected as the chairman for the 2023-2026 tenure.

On this occasion, Vu Thu Thuy, Deputy Ambassador of Vietnam to Belgium, highly appreciated the efforts and achievements of the GAVB over the past years. She affirmed that the embassy always accompanies and supports the association to build a united and prosperous community.

Dengue cases in Hanoi record decrease

The number of new dengue fever cases in the capital dropped last week, with a fall of 380 cases compared to the previous week and nearly 2,000 cases compared to early November, as announced on December 18 by the Hanoi Centre for Disease Control (CDC).

According to the centre, Hanoi recorded 761 dengue fever cases in 29 localities from December 8 to December 15.

Districts throughout the capital with many patients include Ha Dong with 129 cases, Thanh Oai with 96, Dong Da with 62, Bac Tu Liem with 46, and Chuong My with 41.

From the beginning of the year until now, Hanoi has seen nearly 39,343 people infected with dengue fever, a rate 2.1 times higher compared to the same period from last year, resulting in four deaths.

Currently, there are 41 remaining outbreaks reported in 14 districts, towns, and cities.

According to the Hanoi CDC’s figures, the number of local dengue fever cases has seen a decrease over the last six weeks.

Despite the decline in terms of the number of dengue fever cases, the centre warned that people must remain vigilant and continue to implement prevention measures themselves at home.

Furthermore, the Hanoi Department of Health also requested that People's Committee of districts and townships keep a close watch on the situation, taking specific solutions to thoroughly handle and prevent outbreaks where necessary.

HCM City speeds up erosion prevention projects for embankments

The HCM City People's Committee has urged local authorities, relevant agencies and investors to speed up construction progress of embankment projects for erosion prevention to safeguard the lives and assets of residents.

The People's Committee emphasises the importance of providing proactive support to localities in implementing measures and plans to combat tidal flooding in areas where land has been handed over but embankment projects are yet to commence.

Upon completion of the investment and commencement of embankment projects, it is essential to organise a handover for effective management, operation, and utilisation of the infrastructure.

The People's Committee has directed the city’s Department of Planning and Investment to prioritise and allocate investment funds for embankment construction projects to ensure that localities and entities adhere to timelines, achieve operational efficiency, and guarantee the safety of residential areas.

The city’s Department of Natural Resources and Environment will continue to collaborate with relevant agencies and local authorities to intensify patrols and inspections and address violations related to unauthorised sand and gravel exploitation and transportation along the Sài Gòn River in Củ Chi District, Đồng Nai River in Thủ Đức City, Lòng Tàu and Soài Rạp rivers, and the coastal areas of Cần Giờ District.

The city’s Department of Transport must promptly submit a report to the municipal People's Committee to report to the municipal People's Council regarding the investment policy decision for the construction project of a riverbank erosion prevention embankment along the Đồng Nai River bank in Thủ Đức City’s Thạnh Mỹ Lợi Ward.

Additionally, it must collaborate with Bình Thạnh District to suggest the investor invest in the construction project for the Thanh Đa Canal embankment - section 1.1 in Ward 25.

Thủ Đức City and districts must actively collaborate with the Department of Natural Resources and Environment and relevant project investors to swiftly hand over the cleared land for erosion prevention embankment projects to ensure the timely and conclusive completion of embankment projects across the city.

Based on the list of identified erosion-prone locations released by the People's Committee, the people’s committees of Thủ Đức City and districts consistently organise awareness campaigns for residents residing near these areas to inform and encourage proactive measures for residents to prevent and respond to potential landslides.

According to the People's Committee, among the 32 erosion-prone locations along rivers, canals and ditches in the city in 2023, there are eight locations in Thủ Đức City, seven locations Nhà Bè District, District, seven locations in Cần Giờ District, four locations in Bình Chánh District, four locations in Bình Thạnh District, one location in Hóc Môn District, and one location in Củ Chi District. 

Two crew members rescued after hours drifting at sea

The last two crew members of a cargo ship that sank off Thua Thien-Hue Province have been safely rescued after many hours drifting at sea. 

The Thua Thien-Hue Provincial Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control and Search and Rescue announced Sunday evening that the two missing crew members of the Gia Bao 19 cargo ship had been rescued by a fishing boat operating in a local coastal area. They have been brought to shore in a stable health condition.

"This can be called a miracle for the two men as the local sea is currently facing bad weather with heavy rain, strong wind and high waves of 3-4 metres, causing difficulties for rescue activities," the committee said.According to the committee, the Gia Bao 19 cargo ship sank at 4.45am on December 17 while operating some 27 nautical miles from the Chan May Dong Cape.

There were nine crew members on the ship at that time, with seven rescued by the Haian Park ship which was running nearby.

The two other crew had gone missing for many hours before being rescued by the fishing boat.

Vietnamese expatriates: valuable resource for tourism development

To further tap the potential of the Vietnamese community for tourism development, the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese and the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism will conduct joint research and build tourism models tailored to the needs of overseas Vietnamese. 

Some initiatives of the two sides, the "Summer Camp" for overseas Vietnamese students and the "Year of the Overseas Vietnamese" at the provincial and national levels, will continue with expanded participation and diversified objectives. More activities are expected as the two agencies signed a close cooperation agreement in August.

According to the State Committee of Overseas Vietnamese, Vietnamese expatriates strongly desire to return home, visit places and explore Vietnamese culture and traditions.

In recent years, they have been an important source contributing to the development of the national tourism industry. From 2009 to date, there has been an annual influx of about one million overseas Vietnamese visiting the country, equivalent to the number of Japanese arrivals, which is considered the third largest tourist source market for Vietnam, the agency said.

In addition, the younger generation, born and raised in a foreign cultural and educational environment, will play a leading role in economic and social activities within the overseas Vietnamese community. Doing business, visiting relatives, tourism and exploring roots in Vietnam are all growing trends, it stressed.

Since 2004, the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese has regularly organized Summer camps for overseas Vietnamese youth to visit their homeland. Young overseas Vietnamese travel throughout Vietnam, visiting famous scenic spots and learning about the culture and customs of different regions.

The committee has also combined sightseeing activities with other annual programs, such as pilgrimage to the Hung King Temple Festival, Vietnamese language training courses, and Homeland Spring - a year-end rendezvous among Vietnamese expats.

Vietnamese missions abroad are expected to be key in promoting Vietnamese tourism among the expatriate community. The Vietnamese Embassy in the Czech Republic has proposed several solutions, such as mobilizing the establishment of direct flights between Vietnam and the Czech Republic, facilitating visa exemptions for overseas Vietnamese holding foreign passports, and developing additional tourism programs that combine cultural, traditional, and Vietnamese people explorations.

In addition, some local tour operators have designed tourism programs rich in cultural and historical content for overseas Vietnamese.

Phu Tho Province, home to the Hung Temple Historical Site and the cradle of Hung King worship as a symbol of Vietnam's national unity, and Dien Bien Province, with its beautiful natural scenery in the northern mountainous region, have implemented preferential policies for overseas Vietnamese.

In October, three central provinces and cities, including Quang Nam, Thua Thien Hue and Danang, cooperated with the Malaysia-Vietnam Friendship Association to organize a tourism promotion event in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. This activity aimed to diversify the source market after a period affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, while strengthening the promotion of the Amazing Central Vietnam Heritage brand.

In particular, the tourism promotion centers of the three provinces and cities and the Malaysia-Vietnam Friendship Association also signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in tourism promotion between the two sides.

As an active overseas Vietnamese engaged in activities related to the motherland, Tran Thi Chang, chairwoman of the Malaysia-Vietnam Friendship Association, told Que huong magazine that communication and tourism promotion are among the association's missions. Each member of the association would act as a tourism ambassador to promote Vietnamese culture, cuisine and people, especially among the overseas Vietnamese community, thereby contributing to the development of Vietnam's tourism industry.

Vietnamese agricultural project supports livelihoods of Lao farmers

Many agricultural cooperation projects between Vietnam and Laos have recently transferred farming and livestock models to farmers, improving their livelihoods.

Chui Khay Nha Kham, a Lao farmer living in Savanakhet Province, told Thoi Dai Newspaper that his family's two hectares of land near the Vietnam-Laos border used to remain barren because he had no idea what to grow.

Since 2012, Nha Kham has planted more than 900 banana trees with the help of farmers in Vietnam's central Quang Tri province. The banana farm has provided Kham's family with a stable income and has become a model in his village, contributing to local economic development.

In addition to cooperation between localities, many Vietnamese companies and governmental agencies have also promoted agricultural cooperation with Lao localities.

Vietnam has supported the transfer of agricultural models and techniques to Laos in the areas of cultivation and plant protection, while importing Lao grapefruit, passion fruit, mango, orange, and other agricultural products.

The two countries regularly exchange information on animal diseases and the control of cross-border animal transport. Veterinary authorities from both sides regularly discuss quarantine measures for the transport of buffalo and cows between Laos and Vietnam to combat smuggling and prevent disease.

The two sides have jointly implemented irrigation projects with Vietnamese funding. Vietnam has assisted Laos in irrigation planning, trained and coached Lao irrigators, and shared experience in drafting irrigation laws and legal documents on the management and use of dams and canals. 

At the conference to promote agricultural cooperation between Vietnam and Laos in February, agronomists agreed that there are still ample opportunities for cooperation between the two sides, which will benefit farmers in both countries.

Agricultural cooperation between Vietnam and Laos is not only about economic benefits but also about joint development, with farmers from the two countries supporting each other.

According to Vietnam's Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan, the current agricultural cooperation between the two countries has no borders.

"Therefore, it is necessary to closely link production in Laos with the processing of agricultural products in Vietnam. This will help Laos find a market for its raw materials," Hoan added.

Vietnam's Ministries of Agriculture and Rural Development and of Planning and Investment are working to establish the Vietnam-Laos Agricultural Business Association. The move is expected to provide a channel for investment cooperation and the organization of exchange activities.

Dien Bien Culture and Tourism Week opens in Hanoi

Thai folk songs, dances and games kicked off the Dien Bien Culture and Tourism Week in Hanoi on the evening of December 15.

The event will be held in the pedestrian area of Hoan Kiem Lake until December 17, bringing together the best of culture and tourism in the northern province of Dien Bien.

The event, hosted by the Dien Bien Province People's Committee, aims to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu Victory (1954-2024), the National Tourism Year - Dien Bien 2024, and to demonstrate the strong ties between Dien Bien and Hanoi.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Vice Chairman of Dien Bien Provincial People's Committee Vu A Bang said that the Dien Bien Culture and Tourism Week in Hanoi kicks off a series of cultural and sports activities to be held in Dien Bien in 2024 as part of the National Tourism Year.

Bang said it is an opportunity to introduce Dien Bien's cultural values and tourism offerings to tourists and people in Hanoi, thereby strengthening cooperation between the two localities in the development of economy, trade, investment, culture, and tourism.

Dien Bien Culture and Tourism Week events include an art exchange program praising the glorious victories of the army and the people, a street parade, folk dances, games and songs of Thai ethnic minorities, a photo exhibition entitled "From Dien Bien Phu in 1954 to Hanoi-Dien Bien Phu in the air in 1972", and a conference to promote tourism in Dien Bien Province.

In particular, tourists will be able to visit the colorful space of culture, folk arts and traditional handicrafts of Dien Bien ethnic groups.

Vice Chairman of Hanoi People's Committee Vu Thu Ha praised the close and longstanding cooperation between Hanoi and Dien Bien Province. From 2011 to date, the province and the capital have strengthened cooperation and exchanges to achieve progress.

According to Ha, the event in Hanoi is an opportunity for Dien Bien Province and Hanoi to exchange and expand ties to promote investment, development and tourism cooperation between the two localities.

80 boxing referees receive professional training course

The first professional boxing referee training course in 2023 was opened at Saigon Sports Club in Ho Chi Minh City on December 16, gathering 80 participants nationwide.

The first professional boxing referee training course was organized by the Vietnam Boxing Federation free of charge dedicated to learners having conditions to access and improve their professional, contributing to development of Vietnam's boxing.

The participants are referees, coaches and boxers from localities, provinces and cities and agencies nationwide at the age of 20 and above who love boxing and have good health.

The lecturers are experienced and prestigious members of the WBA Asia Boxing Association comprising Silvestre Daz Abainza, Member of WBA International Referee Council; Nowel Guerero Haduca, WBA Asia judge and GAB judge and referee; Gregorio Dela Cruz Ortega, WBA Asia and IBF judge.

After completing the course, learners will receive a certificate granted by the Vietnam Boxing Association, VBC and WBA Asia.

Seminar discusses impact of globalisation, migration on young people

The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) in collaboration with the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union (HCYU) held a seminar in Hanoi on December 18 discussing the impact of globalisation and migration on young people.

The event saw the presence of representatives from Government and diplomatic agencies, international organisations and over 200 young people from Hanoi.

According to the General Statistics Office, the global migration of the Vietnamese people constitutes nearly 9% of the total population while domestic migration is over 7%, mostly young people. Young migrants often face challenging issues such as a lack of soft and job-seeking skills, hazardous working environment, unfair wage and discrimination in salary compared to local residents. Language barriers and cultural differences also contribute to the disadvantages experienced by migrant workers.

Delegates proposed increasing investment in the transfer of skills and knowledge as a key to generating employment opportunities for young people, contributing to realising the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Vietnamese Youth Development Strategy for the 2021-2023 period.

Secretary of the HCYU Central Committee and standing deputy head of the National Committee on Youth of Vietnam Nguyen Tuong Lam wished that ministries, agencies, international and non-governmental organisations would accompany and assist young people in start-ups and career development, create an environment and opportunities for them to be trained, improve their skills and access to safe migration information when joining the labour market and studying at home and abroad.

Chief of Mission at IOM Vietnam Park Mihyung said IOM Vietnam has actively worked with government agencies and relevant partners to equip young people with new and practical skills, share knowledge about the changing employment landscape and help the Government adjust the education and vocational training system to meet market demand.

RoK hands over equipment to Yen Bai schools

The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) in Vietnam and the People's Committee of northern Yen Bai province held a ceremony on December 18 to hand over equipment to several local boarding and semi-boarding ethnic minority schools.

The project, valued at 500,000 USD, is part of a memorandum of understanding on cooperation signed by KOICA, the provincial People’s Committee and the Committee for Ethnic Minority Affairs on April 13.

Accordingly, eight boarding and semi-boarding ethnic minority primary and secondary schools in Mo De commune, Mu Cang Chai district will receive all the proposed teaching equipment, including 9 computer rooms, 53 85-inch TVs, 50 laptops, 39 HDMI cables, 11 projectors, 11 electric screens of 180 inches, and 24 air conditioners.

Speaking at the event, Vice Chairwoman of the provincial People’s Committee Vu Thi Hien Hanh wished that in the coming time, Yen Bai would continue receiving support from the Government of the Republic of Korea (RoK), particularly from the RoK Embassy, KOICA in Vietnam, and the Committee for Ethnic Minority Affairs for local socio-economic development and education-training sector in particular.

Following the ceremony, a KOICA representative handed over a computer room to the local boarding ethnic minority high school.

Lao orders, medals presented to members of Ministry of Home Affairs

A ceremony was held in Hanoi on December 18 to present Lao orders and medals to individuals from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)’s Government Committees for Religious Affairs and Ethnic Minority Affairs who made outstanding contributions to promoting the Vietnam – Laos friendship.

Authorised by the Lao Prime Minister, Standing Vice Chairman of the Lao Front for National Construction (LFNC) Central Committee Khamlay Sipraseuth handed over the honour to leaders and key officials of the two agencies in recognition of contributions to boosting cooperation between their agencies and the LFNC Central Committee.

Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Vu Chien Thang, and former Deputy Minister of Home Affairs and vice head of the Government Committee for Ethnic Minority Affairs Hoang Xuan Luong were granted third-class Issara (Freedom) Orders.

Meanwhile, labour orders and medals were presented to 14 other individuals of the committees.
 
Speaking at the event, Deputy Minister Thang highlighted the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries, saying that bilateral cooperation mechanisms continue to prove effective, thus contributing to tightening the bilateral relations.

He expressed his belief that the Vietnamese agencies and the LFNC Central Committee will work closer to effectively implement cooperation agreements, while increasing delegation exchanges and experience sharing in religious and ethnic affairs in the coming time.

Vietnam women’s football team ranks 37th in FIFA rankings

The Vietnam women’s national football team has closed a memorable 2023 in 37th place on the FIFA rankings for the fourth quarter of this year.

According to the FIFA, the team has a total of 1611.3 points, down three places and deducted 11.65 points compared to the rankings published in the previous quarter.

Vietnam maintained sixth place in Asia, one place before the Philippines (38th).

The top 10 in Asia on the December rankings saw the Japanese women's team (ranked 8th) return to the top position

Vietnam seeks to expand acreage of protected natural ecosystems

Nearly 100 experts specialising in nature conservation and biodiversity gathered at a consultation workshop on reviewing the potential and way forward for Other Effective area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs) in Vietnam held recently in Hanoi.

Jointly organised by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE)’s Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Agency, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the World Wide Fund for Nature in Vietnam (WWF-Vietnam), and the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), the event offered a venue for scientists to share their views on the potential and orientation for conservation and OECMs in the country.

Jake Brunner, head of IUCN’s Lower Mekong Sub-Region, said OECMs can be managed for numerous purposes but must achieve effective and long-term conservation goals.

The establishment of OECMs is consistent with the MoNRE’s functions and tasks. The measures contribute to promoting the conservation of biodiversity, he said. Institutionalising OECMs will not only help Vietnam fulfill its international commitments but also protect the biodiversity of threatened habitats such as independent karst areas, seasonally inundated grasslands and tidal flats, which currently do not appear in the system of protected areas.

Anja Barth from GIZ underlined the need for Vietnam to develop maps of OECMs, and propose overall management and governance mechanisms.

By recognising OECMs, Vietnam can make significant progress regarding its system of protected and preserved areas, and this will be the foundation to implement Vietnam's ambitious commitments in the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the 30x30 protection target, she said.  

According to WWF-Vietnam Wildlife Conservation Programme Manager Nguyen Van Tri Tin, the preservation of OECMs in Vietnam needs a comprehensive approach with the active engagement of local communities.

The programme hopes to collaborate with relevant parties in selecting and piloting a few models of OECMs in the Trung Truong Son (Central Truong Son) area, contributing to perfecting the legal framework and policies for OECMs, he said.

Vietnam joined the CBD in 1994. In January 2022, the Vietnamese Government approved a national strategy on biodiversity to 2030.

HCM City enhances collaboration with RoK’s North Chungcheong province

Ho Chi Minh City and the Republic of Korea (RoK)’s North Chungcheong province on December 18 signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on bilateral friendship and cooperation.

Under the document, the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City and the North Chungcheong government agreed to expand and develop cooperation programmes effectively and mutually beneficially, on the basis of long-term friendship and cultural exchanges between the people of Vietnam and the RoK.

The two sides will prioritise economic cooperation, exchange experience and smart production technologies in agricultural production, boost collaboration between universities and high schools, and encourage and create conditions for businesses to carry out cooperative activities in various fields such as aviation, sports and tourism.

Speaking before the signing ceremony, Chairman of the People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City Phan Van Mai affirmed that his city wishes to promote cooperation with North Chungcheong to jointly exploit each other's strengths to serve the development of the two localities.

Governor of the RoK province Kim Yong Hwan said that North Chungcheong is home to some world leading secondary battery manufacturers and is also the RoK's leading locality in the research and production of strategic industries, including semiconductor, biotechnology, food processing and cosmetics.

These are the fields in which North Chungcheong wants to cooperate with Ho Chi Minh City in the coming time, he stressed.

Kim also said that his province is willing to provide 100 scholarships for Ho Chi Minh City’s students, graduate students and scientists to study and research in the locality in agriculture, high-tech industry and semiconductor sectors.

Joint peacekeeping exercise enhances Vietnam-India defence cooperation

The fourth joint peacekeeping exercise between Vietnam and India - VINBAX 2023 which is taking place from December 11-21 in Hanoi, has contributed to fostering the friendship and sound defence cooperation under the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.

The field exercise involves engineering and military medical forces, aiming to enhance the coordination capacity of the forces while performing UN peacekeeping activities.

The forces will coordinate to handle simulated circumstances, including aero-medical evacuation situations.

On December 18, high-ranking defence delegations of Vietnam and India watched some activities of the exercise at the site.

Colonel Pham Manh Thang, Director of the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations (VDPO) and deputy head of the exercise steering committee thanked the Indian Ambassador to Vietnam, the Defence Attaché and the UN peacekeeping force of India for supporting Vietnam during the country’s participation in UN peacekeeping operations and close coordinating with the Vietnamese side in organising the VINBAX 2023.

After nearly 10 years of joining UN peacekeeping operations, Vietnam has sent 786 officers to perform duties at UN missions. Over the years, Vietnam has received effective support from international partners, including India, one of the countries sending the highest number of officers to UN peacekeeping missions.

Vietnamese peacekeepers at UNISFA build good relationship with local community

The Vietnamese peacekeeping force in the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) has organised a lot of mass mobilisation activities in the Abyei area, aiming to build a good relationship and boost mutual help between the Vietnam People's Army and the local community.

Specifically, in December, Vietnam's second sapper unit has spent weekends levelling the yard for the Comboni Secondary School and digging holes and placing oil tanks for five stations. The unit has also sent staffs to survey, repair, and build roads for administrative and residential areas, and support boat repair for people in Mijak.

In addition, Vietnamese peacekeepers at the UNISFA mission have coordinated with local authorities to organise medical examinations and provide medicine for people working in the education, health and finance sectors.

On December 22, a race is expected to be organised at Highway base, with the competition of representatives from units and agencies at the UNISFA mission.

These activities aim to celebrate the 79th founding anniversary of the Vietnam People's Army and the 34th all-people national defence day (December 22).

Vietnamese community in Russia carries out charitable activities

A charitable group of the Vietnamese community in the Russian capital of Moscow, in coordination with students of the People’s Friendship University of Russia (RUDN), recently held an art programme and gift-giving ceremony for students and teachers of the “Our House” school for students with disabilities.

This is the eighth year that the Vietnamese community in Moscow has been collecting donations for the "Our House" Centre, and the second year that the Vietnamese have held an annual gala event on the occasion of the New Year, dedicated to children with disabilities.

Addressing the event, Director of “Our House” Vadim Menshov welcomed the Vietnamese friends, extended his gratitude and expressed his hope that their friendship will continue for many years.

The programme, which was mainly performed by Vietnamese students, featured Christmas and New Year songs, traditional Vietnamese and modern dances as well as puppet dances.

The Vietnamese group is scheduled to organise a similar event at another school for people with disabilities on the outskirts of Moscow on December 23.

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