Deputy PM visits first COVID-19 vaccine trial volunteers

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam visits the volunteers on December 20.

The first three volunteers receiving Nano Covax - the Vietnamese-made anti-COVID-19 vaccine - are in good health conditions 72 hours after injection, with all indications proving that the vaccine is safe for human, according to the Ministry of Health and Military Medical Academy.

The initial results of the vaccine on human were reported to Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam who visited the volunteers on December 20.

As no abnormal reaction has been found on the volunteers, one man and two women aged 20-25, on December 21, the Military Medical Academy is scheduled to administer the vaccine on the remaining volunteers who registered for the first phase of the trial.

According to leaders of the academy, after reviewing records of the vaccine’s effects on mouse and monkey, experts hope that following the second and third phases, the immunogenesis of the vaccine will be fully assessed and meet the requirements.

The trial will have three phases. In the first, the vaccine will be injected into 60 persons who are divided into three groups to receive different doses of 25 mcg, 50mcg, and 75mcg.

The objective of the first phase is to evaluate the safety of the vaccine. Following the success of the first phase, the second will involve 400-600 people to define the optimal dose, and the third will see the engagement of at least 1,500-3,000 people. The figure may be expanded to 10,000-30,000.

After the third phase, the vaccine’s safety, immunogenesis  and effectiveness are expected to be assessed.

The Ministry of Health has created all favourable conditions to shorten the time for the trial phases compared to the normal conditions, but still ensuring all steps, safety and scientific requirements.

Deputy Prime Minister Dam spoke highly of the efforts of the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Science and Technology, and the Military Medical Academy as well as the research and production units of the vaccine.

He said that the implementation of the vaccine’s trial phases must be continued with the full observation of regulations of the Ministry of Health in a safe and prompt manner.

“If the trial is successful, it would be not only a pride of the health science and healthcare sector but also an effective tool to fight the pandemic,” stated the Deputy PM.

Citing experience from the production of medical bio-products for SARS-CoV-2 testing, the Deputy PM asked the research and production units as well as State management agencies to work closely with one another to “race against the time”, while continue preparing necessary conditions for the next steps following the success of the vaccine trials, with calculation for both good and bad circumstances.

In the context of high prices and limited supply of the vaccines against the pandemic in the world, the acceleration of the research and production of the vaccine inside the country is necessary, said a leader of the Ministry of Health.

However, Deputy PM Dam underlined that vaccination is still a future matter, highlighting the need to focus on preventive measures against the pandemic.

He asked the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Military Medical Academy, and the Bio-Technology Institute to build and develop a centre for the research and development of vaccines against newly-emerging pandemics, including the construction of a bio-safety lab at at least Level Three, thus helping the country become ready for new pandemics and disasters related to human’s health in the future.

He also agreed with the proposal of the Military Medical Academy on the increase of training for response against emergency cases and disasters in schools and medical training facilities./.

Philippines: thousands evacuate over serious flooding

Nearly 10,000 people fled their homes in the northeastern Philippines as heavy rain across the country caused widespread and severe flooding, leaving at least eight people dead, authorities said on December 20.

The storm has inundated many villages and destroyed scores of houses in recent days.

According to a local official, floodwaters reached waist-deep in 14 towns in the Cagayan Valley in the northeast of the main island of Luzon, forcing close to 10,000 people to seek shelter in emergency centers.

The rain, which was intensified by the northeast monsoon, has filled Magat dam near to its critical level and the release of water threatens to worsen the flooding.

Authorities said at least six people drowned in two provinces on the major southern island of Mindanao, while two people were killed in a rain-induced landslide in the central province of Leyte.

The disaster-prone country is hit by an average of 20 storms and typhoons every year. At least 148 people died and hundreds of thousands of houses were destroyed in a succession of recent typhoons in the past several months./.

Vietnam reports two new imported COVID-19 cases

Vietnam had two new COVID-19 cases to report over the last 24 hours, according to the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control.

The new cases were quarantined right after their arrival in the south-central province of Binh Thuan and the central city of Da Nang.

This brought the national tally of COVID-19 to 1,413, the committee reported.

Vietnam has so far successfully treated 1,269 COVID-19 patients and kept the fatalities at 35.

Among the patients still under treatment, 10 have tested negative for the virus once, six twice and four thrice.

A total of 17,220 people who had close contact with COVID-19 patients or arrived from pandemic-hit areas are being quarantined nationwide, with 209 at hospitals, 15,690 at State-designated facilities and 1,328 at home or their accommodations./.

Vietnam, Czech Republic enjoy fruitful partnership

Vietnam and the Czech Republic have shared traditional ties that have been nurtured and developed in all fields, agreed Vietnamese Ambassador to the Czech Republic Thai Xuan Dung and the host country’s Foreign Minister Tomáš Petříček.

In their recent meeting, the two sides noted that the Czech Republic has considered Vietnam as an important partner in Southeast Asia, and supported the Vietnam-EU Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), which they believed that will benefit both countries.

Meanwhile, the Czech Republic is a gateway for Vietnam to enter the Central and Eastern European regions, they said.

At the meeting, the Czech FM lauded the traditional friendship and all-round cooperation between the two countries over the years, while showing gratitude towards the Government of Vietnam and the Vietnamese community in the Czech Republic for the timely and effective support in the first period of COVID-19 outbreak with the provision of masks, medical equipment and aids as well as humanitarian flights by Bamboo Airways to repatriate people of the Czech Republic and European countries.

He extended sympathies to Vietnam over the losses caused by the recent flooding in the central region, revealing that his country will provide assistance to flood victims.

The official expressed his hope that the Vietnam visit of Prime Minister Andrej Babis will be held in 2021 after the pandemic is controlled.

On economic cooperation, he showed his impression at the economic growth of Vietnam despite COVID-19 pandemic.

For his part, Ambassador Dung affirmed that Vietnam hopes to further expand the traditional ties and comprehensive partnership with the Czech Republic.

He thanked the Czech Republic for supporting the EVFTA and the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement, becoming the first country to vote for the approval of the deals.

The ambassador said that he hopes the Czech Republic will seek business opportunities in Vietnam, especially in energy, machinery manufacturing, health care, chemicals, tourism and transport in the context of the efficiency of the EVFTA.

He also thanked the host country for creating favourable conditions for the Vietnamese community to settle in the country./.

Conference highlights Vietnam's role, upcoming Party Congress

Prof. Dr. Vladimir Kolotov from the Ho Chi Minh Institute introduces website of the 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam at the conference

An online conference was held on December 19 by the Ho Chi Minh Institute under the Saint Petersburg University of Russia, spotlighting the changing role of Vietnam in the contemporary world, heading to the 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV).

The eight-hour event drew a large number of scholars of Russia, Kazakhstan, Indonesia, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, and Vietnam.

Russian Ambassador to Vietnam Konstantin Vnukov highlighted the significant role of the CPV in leading the national construction and development with great achievements such as high economic growth in many years and the rising role in the world arena.

Particularly, Vietnam has become one of the few countries managing to maintain economic expansion amid COVID-19 pandemic’s impacts, he said.

Meanwhile, Vietnamese Ambassador to Russia Ngo Duc Manh underlined that the 13th National Party Congress is a significant event of Vietnam. He noted that under the CPV leadership, Vietnam has maintained political stability, economic growth as well as intensive and extensive international integration.

 Participants at the event discussed major features in external relations policies and development strategy of Vietnam as well as socio-economic success of the country over the years.

They noted that despite COVID-19 pandemic, Vietnam has still increased its role in the international arena, while persisting its external policy of peace and active and proactive international integration, willing to befriend with all countries in the world.

Vietnam has also shared a close traditional relationship with Russia, they said.

Dr. Evgeny Vlasov from the Far Eastern Federal University attributed Vietnam’s success in controlling COVID-19 pandemic to the CPV and the Government of Vietnam’s close direction with the mobilisation of efforts of the whole political system in the work, and the support from all the people.

At the same time, Prof. Dr. Vladimir Kolotov from the Ho Chi Minh Institute said that the upcoming CPV National Congress will take place in the context that the global environment is stable but in difficulties. He held that Vietnamese leaders have sought a wise and optimal way to rise from hard time.

He held that the new CPV Central Committee will bring Vietnam to further development in the next five years, maintaining domestic political stability, economic growth, and power balance.

To this end, Vietnam should ensure the efficiency of personnel work and management efficiency, he added.

Participants at the event held that Vietnam has all capacity to become comprehensively modern, successful and stable, underlining the need for the country to show stronger performance in the settlement of problems of corruption, personnel degradation, and hostile forces' activities./.

NA Chairwoman hails Quang Nam's efforts amid COVID-19, natural disasters

Chairwoman of the National Assembly Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan spoke highly of efforts by the central province of Quang Nam in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and successive natural calamities, during her visit to the province on December 20.

During a working session, Chairman of the Quang Nam People’s Committee Le Tri Thanh briefed his guest on the provincial socio-economic development in 2020 and tasks for the upcoming year, including infrastructure reparation after recent natural disasters.

Natural disasters in 2020 killed 44 people in Quang Nam and rendered 17 others missing. The province suffered property losses of nearly 11 trillion VND (475.83 million USD), with Nam Tra My and Phuoc Son districts being the worst-hit.

Quang Nam has set a target that 60 percent of local flood-hit families will have their houses repaired prior to the 2021 Lunar New Year (Tet), Thanh said.

Ngan called on the province to devise long-term plans and investment in the completion of transport infrastructure, so as to connect the delta, mountainous regions and Central Highland provinces with Laos’ southern and Thailand’s northern parts. 

She also requested the province to thoroughly mull over residential planning, which helps local people soon stabilise their lives.

The top legislator spoke highly of Truong Hai Auto Corporation (Thaco)'s efforts in maintaining contributions to the provincial budget and corporate social responsibility during her visit to Thaco Chu Lai Industrial Park. 

The same day, the NA Chairwoman visited to Phuoc Son mountainous district and families ravaged by the recent storms and flooding. 

She took the occasion to present relief packages to 121 households in Phuoc Son, and visited the family of Ho Van Dieu, a person of Gie Trieng ethnic group, who rendered considerable services to the nation./.

Deputy PM extends Christmas greetings to Catholics

A high-ranking delegation led by Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh extended Christmas greetings to the Hanoi Archdiocese and the Committee for Solidarity of Vietnamese Catholics (CSVC) on December 20.

The Deputy PM wished local Catholic dignitaries and followers a merry Christmas and a happy new year in 2021 while staying on guard against COVID-19.

He briefed them on the country’s socio-economic development and efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19 this year, and underlined that the relations between the State and the Catholic Church in Vietnam have been thriving, and so have the Vietnam-Vatican ties with mutual respect and understanding.

For his part, Joseph Vu Van Thien, Archbishop of the Hanoi Archdiocese, voiced his delight at the country’s accomplishments in socio-economy, security and national defence in the past year.

The Hanoi Archdiocese encompasses Hanoi, and Hoa Binh, Ha Nam and Nam Dinh provinces with about 35,000 followers.

During the visit to the CSVC, Binh spoke highly of the committee for joining hands with the Government in aiding people in the central region who were victimised by the recent storms and floods.

Deputy PM extends Christmas greetings to Catholics hinh anh 2
Permanent Deputy PM Binh visits the Committee for Solidarity of Vietnamese Catholics (Photo: VNA)

He voiced his hope that the CSVC will continue upholding the spirit of solidarity and join the nation in battling COVID-19.

Chairman of the committee Tran Xuan Manh thanked the Party and the State for supporting the CSVC in performing its tasks, and pledged to call on followers to observe health regulations./.

People happy for outcomes of Party Central Committee’s 14th session

The 12th-tenure Party Central Committee reached high consensus on personnel work related to the 13th tenure Politburo and Party Central Committee Secretariat during the 14th session, which concluded on December 18 morning after nearly five working days, two days ahead of schedule.

The 12th-tenure Party Central Committee reached high consensus on personnel work related to the 13th tenure Politburo and Party Central Committee Secretariat during the 14th session, which concluded on December 18 morning after nearly five working days, two days ahead of schedule. Preparations for the personnel work for the upcoming Party Congress were discussed during the 13th and 14th session of the 12th Party Central Committee.

Mountainous Lai Chau’s colours fascinate Hanoians

The first ever festival highlighting the cultures of ethnic people in the northwestern mountainous province of Lai Chau in the capital city has attracted attention of Hanoians.

Themed ‘The bright colours of Lai Chau’, the event is held at the Hoan Kiem lake pedestrian area in downtown Hanoi from December 18-20.

Participants were treated to a host of activities, including an art programme engaging more than 100 performers, 78 of them artists of six ethnic groups in the province.

A seminar on Lai Chau – Hanoi tourism connectivity, a street carnival, a trade fair, and several cultural immersion activities were also held within the framework of the festival.

The fair featured more than 20 stalls displaying Lai Chau’s specialties and goods from the local One Commune One Product (OCOP) programme.

While enjoying a series of local folk games and culinary delights, visitors to the event could also watch traditional musical performances and the making of handicrafts like brocades of Lu ethnic people and the Tinh musical instrument of the Thai ethnic people.

Endowed with temperate climate all year round and rich soils, Lai Chau has favourable conditions to develop agro-forestry production.

It is home to 20 ethnic groups, hence a rich and diverse cultural identity./.

Thailand organises first provincial election in six years

Thai voters on December 20 casted their votes to select leaders of the provincial administrative organisations (PAOs) and members of PAO councils.

This is the first local polls to take place since the 2014 coup. The pools stared at 8am and will conclude at 5pm the same day. Due to impact of COVID-19 pandemic, voters were requested to wear masks.

According to the country's Election Commission (EC), 335 people have applied to be PAO chief candidates and 8,186 are seeking council seats. Buri Ram saw the most candidates — eight for chief and 344 for the council. Phetchaburi has the fewest candidates — one and 33 respectively.

A PAO is responsible for public services such as roads, bridges, sewage systems and electricity. It also maintains order, promotes tourism, preserves natural resources, and supports education and culture.

Up to 120,000 police officers have been mobilised to ensure things go smoothly and also prevent and arrest anyone involved in election fraud at the 96,000 polling stations throughout the country.

Provincial police in 10 provinces were on alert for potential violent incidents. These provinces are Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Chiang Mai, Nakhon Ratchasima, Sakon Nakhon, Nan, Phichit, Kanchanaburi, Nakhon Si Thammarat and Trang, according to Thai deputy national police chief Pol Gen Damrongsak Kittiprapat./.

Hospitals benefit from great development in social work system

Social work has developed greatly at hospitals around the country, Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Truong Son told a recent conference to review the last 10 years of its development held in HCM City.

All central-level hospitals, 90 percent at the provincial level and 80 percent at the district level now have social work departments, and the number of social workers at hospitals has increased, according to the deputy minister.

In the past social workers at hospitals mostly used to be involved with charity, but now also provide psychological assistance to patients.

During the COVID-19 outbreaks they did the tasks of screening people entering hospitals and teaching patients preventive measures well.

They have called on companies to donate medical equipment.

The social work department at Cho Ray Hospital was held up as an outstanding model.

Nguyen Tri Thuc, the hospital’s director, said the department had been developed from a social work team set up in 2004.   

“It has worked with charity organisations and sponsors to subsidise hospital fees for poor patients, and has been providing 5,000 free meals to poor patients every day for the last 12 years.”

It also provides psychological assistance in many ways, he said, adding that this year, for instance, patients getting infusion therapy could listen to symphony music or read newspapers.     

Social workers at hospitals also provide legal assistance to patients and help them perform daily activities.

But Son also pointed to deficiencies like lack of a legal framework for such activities.

More training courses should be organised to improve the capacity of social workers at hospitals, he said.

Assoc Prof Nguyen Tuan Hung, deputy director of the Ministry of Health’s personnel and organisation department, said social work had been developed throughout the country, contributing to the creation of an advanced social welfare system./.

Female poet’s book about Vietnamese soldiers released

Ngang Qua Binh Minh (Reaching to the Dawn), a new book by female poet Lu Mai (Photo courtesy of the Literature Publishing House)

Female poet Lu Mai’s latest book, Ngang Qua Binh Minh (Reaching to the Dawn), has been released by the Literature Publishing House.

The 100-page book includes eight chapters featuring stories about soldiers and their work, hopes and dreams. Themes about love and peace are included.

Highlighted chapters feature Vietnamese Navy soldiers on Truong Sa (Spratly) Islands.  

The author’s simple and lively language expresses her feelings about the soldiers who have completed their mission on the islands and yearn for home.  

“Mai’s book highlights stories of soldiers working and thinking, and having to overcome great difficulties to fulfill their duties. Through her language, readers, particularly youngsters, can learn valuable lessons from the island and soldiers,” said Nguyen Ba Quy, a reader from HCM City. 

“Each word from poets in the epic Ngang Qua Binh Minh is in praise of patriotism and bravery. For people who have not experienced the salty taste of Trường Sa, Mai’s book leaves a very strong impression," he said.

Author Mai released Mat Trung Khoi (The Eyes of the Sea), a book featuring stories and photos about Truong Sa soldiers, in Hanoi last year. 

The poet's collection was published after the success of the first volume Noi Dau Song (The Wavefront) by the same authors – Mai and photographer Tran Thanh – who have visited the Spratly Islands several times. 

The 150-page work features 18 stories and dozens of photos centred on the people whose lives are attached to the islands. Those people are not only Navy soldiers but also their family members.  

The book’s printer, Literature Publishing House, in collaboration with Mai and photographer Thanh, has launched a project titled "Homeland’s Sea and Islands Bookshelf". Under the project, hundreds of copies of Mat Trung Khoi and Noi Dau Song have been given to Navy soldiers and people living on the islands.

According to Mai, some of the books’ proceeds will be donated to charity events dedicated to Navy soldiers and their families. 

“Mai’s latest publication, Ngang Qua Binh Minh, is quality in both its style and content. Her work links people inland with those living on islands, instilling national pride and encouraging soldiers who guard the country’s sovereignty,” said veteran poet Nguyen Quang Thieu, chairman of the Vietnam Writers’ Association./.

‘Come Home, My Dear’ wins another award

Vietnamese TV series Ve Nha Di Con (Come Home, My Dear) has bagged another prize, winning the Literature and Art Award presented by the Union of Arts and Literature and Associations of Vietnam recently.

The 85-episode drama, which features family issues in Vietnam’s contemporary society, has won many prestigious awards, including VTV Awards 2020, National Golden Kite 2019, WeChoice Awards 2019 and Golden Apricot Blossom Awards 2019, together with many other certificates of merit from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

According to the organising board, arts and literature and associations of 61 provinces and cities submitted 410 works to the annual awards of the alliance, which are classified into 10 categories - poetry, prose, literary critical theory, fine arts, photography, film, music, dance, folklore and theatre.

As a result, the organising board handed out 74 awards to 28 associations, among which were 65 winning works, including three A prizes, nine B prizes, 17 C prizes, 33 consolation prizes and three prizes for young authors.

The A prize for the Film category went to TV series Come Home, My Dear by director Nguyen Danh Dung.

The film has been hugely popular among TV viewers since it debuted in 2019. The film revolves around the life of a widowed man named Son, played by actor Bui Trung Anh, trying to raise three daughters. However, each of the daughters has their own problems and worries their father in their own way.

Having turbulent journeys of growing up, all of them were always been backed by their father, their house and his eternal love. But when they are mature enough to seize their own happiness, they realise their father is old, which is when they return home to support him.

The realism of the programme as well as the honest and emotional acting of the cast have won the hearts of many viewers./.

VinGroup kickstarts global science-technology award

Conglomerate VinGroup on December 20 launched the first Vietnamese-initiated international science-technology award named VinFuture Prize, which is among the annual awards with the highest prize money pool of the world. 

The announcement was made on the International Human Solidarity Day - December 20.
 
The award encourages the creation of positive changes in the daily lives of millions of people on the Earth via bolstering scientific research and technological innovation.
 
VinFuture Prize honours outstanding intellectuals regardless of their nationalities, genders and ages, whose research studies and inventions help address global challenges such as raising quality of health and life, poverty eradication, elimination of famine, and access to advanced education and clean water.
 
It comprises VinFuture Grand Prize and three special prizes totalling 104.5 billion VND (4.5 million USD).
 
The 3-million-USD VinFuture Grand Prize is one of the most impressive awards in the field of science-technology worldwide. 
 
The three special prizes worth 11.5 billion VND (500,000 USD) each will be presented to those of developing countries, pioneers in new fields and female researchers or scientists, which is the largest cash prize for them so far.
 
The jury includes prestigious scientists and inventors across the globe, notably Prof. Gérard Mourou, who was awarded a Nobel Prize in Physics in 2018, and Sir Richard Henry Friend - a Cavendish Professor of Physics at the University of Cambridge.

The jury of the award (Photo: VinGroup)
Founders have committed an initial sum of 2 trillion VND to ensure the long-term operation of the award, which is managed by the VinFuture Fund, an independent non-profit organisation. 
 
Nomination for the first year of the award will begin in January until June.
 
Winners will be announced next December and an awards ceremony is slated for January 2022./.

Free surgeries to bring smiles for children with cleft lips, palates

A doctor gives check-up to a child under the cleft lip and palate surgery programme in Dak Lak province

A cleft lip and palate surgery programme kicked off in Dak Lak province on December 18, expected to benefit children with the deformities in seven provinces in the central and Central Highlands regions.

2020 is the sixth consecutive year the programme has been organised by Operation Smile Vietnam and the Dak Lak provincial Fund for Children.

The prorgamme, targeting Gia Lai, Kon Tum, Dak Lak, Dak Nong, Lam Dong, Khanh Hoa, and Phu Yen, is set to provide screening for 120 - 150 patients and give free surgeries and treatment for 80 - 100 of them.

Surgeries will be conducted at the Central Highlands General Hospital, based in Dak Lak, from December 19 to 22 by 50 voluntary doctors from nationwide.

Patients coming for screening and surgeries will also receive some financial aid covering their travel, food, and accommodation expenses.

Vice Chairwoman of the Dak Lak People’s Committee H’Yim Kdon, who is also head of the provincial Fund for Children’s patronage council, said there are currently 4,089 children with disabilities and fatal illnesses needing support in the province.

In the five years the programme was organised in Dak Lak, nearly 1,000 local children received operations at the total cost of over 5.5 billion VND (238,000 USD).

She thanked Operation Smile Vietnam and the voluntary doctors for this meaningful deed, adding that the programme is helpful in easing the burden on the poor and bringing smiles back to children.

On the programme’s sidelines, the Dak Lak Fund for Children and Operation Smile Vietnam will also give dental check-ups and treatment to 2,000 - 3,000 primary students in Buon Don district from December 21 to 25./.

Vietnam-France Friendship Association marks 65th anniversary

The Vietnam–France Friendship Association, a member of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO), celebrated its 65th founding anniversary (July 2, 1955 – 2020) in a Hanoi ceremony on December 19.

The association has spent the last 65 years to contribute to strengthening mutual understanding and friendship between peoples of Vietnam and France, said Chairman Tran Thi Kim Tien in her opening remarks. The association has played a part in the constant growth of the bilateral ties for peace, cooperation and development, she said.

She went on to say that in recent years, the Vietnam-France Friendship Association has organised a variety of activities to maintain close relations with France’s Embassy and Consulate General in Vietnam as well as other French partners. It has also hosted a number of gatherings marking the two countries’ major events, workshops, photo exhibitions, French singing competitions and friendly football matches.

The association has raised donations and presented close to 2 tonnes of face masks and personal protection equipment to France which was among countries with the highest COVID-19 deaths when the pandemic first broke out globally, she continued.

Tien said the association will expand its network of member associations in the coming time to further cultivate the Vietnam-France relations.

Ambassador of France to Vietnam Nicolas Warnery, for his part, highly spoke of the association’s activities over the last 65 years and thanked Vietnamese people, particularly members of the Vietnam-France Friendship Association, for their donations to aid French people at the time of hardship.

The Embassy of France in Vietnam will continue supporting the association in organising more activities to further bolster the bilateral cooperation and friendship, Warnery pledged.

The association took the occasion to announce three new member organisations – the chapters at the University of Science and Technology of Hanoi; Hospital K; and Hospital E and University of Medicine and Pharmacy under the National University-Hanoi.

It was also honoured with a merit of certificate from the VUFO in recognition for its outstanding contributions to COVID-19 response./.

Celebration marks 45 years of Vietnam-Mozambique diplomatic ties

The 45th founding anniversary of Vietnam-Mozambique diplomatic relations was celebrated with an event held in Maputo, the capital of the African nation, on December 18.

In his opening remarks, Vietnamese Ambassador Le Huy Hoang emphasised the significance of the day bilateral diplomatic ties were set up, June 25, 1975, which was also when Mozambique declared its independence.

This important milestone opened up a new chapter in their relations, which have enjoyed proud, substantive, and effective achievements, he said.

The ambassador noted relations between the two ruling parties, the Communist Party of Vietnam and the Mozambique Liberation Front (FRELIMO), have continually been tightened and served as a firm foundation for the increasingly substantive cooperation in various fields, from investment, telecommunications, and trade to agriculture, healthcare, and education.

Notably, Movitel, a 600 million USD joint venture between Vietnam’s telecoms group Viettel and the SPI company of Mozambique, has been operating fruitfully, thus contributing to local socio-economic development.

Highlighting Vietnam’s successes during 35 years of reforms and its 2020 ASEAN Chairmanship, Hoang affirmed that Vietnam is always willing to assist and share experience with Mozambique, which is acting as Chair of the Southern African Development Community, in socio-economic development, disease outbreak prevention and control, along with regional and international integration.

Mozambique Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Manuel Gonçalves said his country always treasures the two countries’ traditional relations, including Vietnam’s solidarity with and precious assistance for Mozambique during the fight for national independence in the past as well as development and pandemic and disaster settlement efforts at present.

Mozambique views Vietnam as an important partner in Asia, he affirmed, speaking highly of the Southeast Asian nation’s achievements in industrialisation, modernisation, and human resources development, which have helped improve its people’s living standards.

The official said he hopes the two countries will keep reinforcing their friendship, increase all-level mutual visits and people-to-people exchange, and boost cooperation, especially in agriculture, aquaculture, science-technology, education-training, healthcare, defence, security, and natural disaster response.

He also asked Vietnam to encourage more businesses to invest in Mozambique in such priority areas as mining and agriculture./.

Prime Minister directs provision of seeds to flood-hit provinces

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has instructed the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to provide seeds free of charge to four central provinces hard hit by flood this year, to help the localities restore agricultural production.

Specifically, Quang Tri province will receive 1,000 tonnes of rice seeds and 80 tonnes of maize seeds.

Quang Binh province will be given 640 tonnes of rice seeds and 120 tonnes of maize seeds.

Ha Tinh will receive 500 tonnes of rice seeds and 100 tonnes of maize seeds, and Thanh Hoa 200 tonnes of rice seeds, and 200 tonnes of maize seeds.

The ministry will also provide each of the provinces with 10 tonnes of vegetable seeds.

Successive floods and storms hit the central region in October and November, causing serious losses in human lives and properties to the region./.

Vice President visits Evangelical Church of Vietnam (South)

Vice President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh visited and extended Christmas and New Year greetings to the Evangelical Church of Vietnam (South) and its President, Pastor Thai Phuoc Truong, in Ho Chi Minh City on December 19.

Offering the best wishes to pastors of the Evangelical Church of Vietnam (South), Thinh appreciated contributions by pastors, dignitaries, and followers of the Church to national development, and voiced her hope that Protestants will continue to lead a good secular and religious life and help with national construction.

She noted Protestants have complied with the Party’s guidelines and the State’s laws and greatly contributed to their localities in various aspects while many dignitaries have served as members of Vietnam Fatherland Front committees at all levels.

In particular, the Vice President added, in the face of recent disasters in the central and Central Highlands regions, the Church has carried out many practical and effective activities to assist residents there in addressing disaster consequences.

For his part, Pastor Truong highlighted Protestants’ consistent trust in the Party and State and their active participation in local campaigns.

The followers have also striven to overcome difficulties and engage in voluntary activities to help the poor and support compatriots in the central and Central Highlands regions to weather the pandemic’s impact and natural disasters’ aftermath, he added./.

Eleven sailors on sunken Panamanian ship rescued

Medical workers of Ba Ria-Vung Tau province come to conduct COVID-19 testing for 11 sailors of the Xin Hong cargo ship at the wharf of the coordinating centre for maritime search and rescue Region III (Photo: VNA)

Rescue forces have found 11 alive sailors and the bodies of two others after their Panama-flagged cargo ship sank near Phu Quy island, offshore the south central province of Binh Thuan, late December 17.

The rescued sailors were brought to a port in the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau in the morning of December 19 by ship 6007 of the Command of the Coast Guard Zone 3.

Two remaining sailors on the ship are still missing.

The Xin Hong cargo ship with 15 crew members, 11 Chinese and four Vietnamese, on board capsized in rough seas off Vietnam on December 17 while transporting 7,800 tonnes of clay from Malaysia to Hong Kong.

The ship’s captain had contacted Vietnam for help earlier on the day when it began to list in rough seas.

The Binh Thuan Border Guard High Command sent a rescue team to the waters.

The coordinating centre for maritime search and rescue Region III is working with Binh Thuan authorities to instruct vessels operating in the waters where the Xin Hong was in distress to search for the remaining two missing sailors./.

Thailand detects community infections of COVID-19 after relaxing restrictions

Thailand announced on December 18 four new community infections of COVID-19 just one day after the country eased restrictions to allow tourists to return.

The new cases comprised a 67-year-old woman and three of her family members in the Samut Sakhon province.

Health authorities said the woman did not have a history of travelling outside the country, adding they were waiting for the results of the tests of 165 other people who had been in close contact with the woman.

"We are collecting information to find the origins of this infection," said Disease Control Department director-general, Opas Karnkawinpong.

Over recent months the new cases of COVID-19 in Thailand have been in the single-digits, with most of them found in people in quarantine. Most recent cases in the country were imported.

Thailand has so far recorded 4,297 cases of COVID-19 and 60 fatalities from the coronavirus.

Meanwhile, Indonesia recorded 6,689 new COVID-19 cases on December 18, raising the total count to 650,197 , along with 124 deaths, bringing the total fatalities to 19,514./.

ASEAN forum talks protection of social security for PWDs in face of COVID-19

The ASEAN Disability Forum (ADF) was held virtually on December 18 with a focus on protecting social security for persons with disabilities (PWDs) during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Speaking from Hanoi, Nguyen Van Hoi, Director of the Social Assistance Department at Vietnam’s Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, said ASEAN has a population of more than 625 million, including about 100 million PWDs.

Member countries have always paid attention to issues related to the disabled, but PWDs in not only Vietnam but also other ASEAN countries still face numerous difficulties, especially in accessing healthcare, education, vocational training, employment, and credit, he noted.

Hoi described 2020 as a special year when the COVID-19 pandemic has posed unprecedented challenges to healthcare and social security, requiring governments to take action to realise the twin targets of containing the outbreak and boosting socio-economic development, particularly for vulnerable groups of which PWDs, women, and children are more susceptible.

The official also shared some of Vietnam’s experiences and programmes in supporting PWDs in the post-pandemic period, as well as certain shortcomings that need cooperation between the State and people to handle.

Agreeing about COVID-19 impacts on vulnerable groups, including the disabled, President of the Vietnam Union of PWDs Associations Dang Huynh Mai said to help PWDs weather difficulties, the union has worked with its member organisations, ministries, and sectors to carry out many activities such as boosting communications to raise PWDs’ awareness of the coronavirus, providing essential goods to those in need, and encouraging donations.

She also expressed her hope that experiences shared at the forum would help minimise the pandemic’s impacts and effectively implement the “ASEAN Enabling Masterplan 2025: Mainstreaming the Rights of Persons with Disabilities” for the sake of a cohesive and responsive ASEAN Community.

At the event, participants looked into ways to ensure PWDs’ response during and after the pandemic via the implementation of the ASEAN Enabling Masterplan 2025. They also discussed social security measures and essential public services with specialised groups./.

HCM City, Shanghai seeks stronger cooperation

Leaders of Ho Chi Minh City and China’s Shanghai City held a virtual meeting on December 18 to discuss ways to further promote bilateral cooperation.

At the meeting with Deputy Secretary of the Communist Party of China Shanghai Municipal Committee Yu Shaoliang, Deputy Secretary of the HCM City Party Committee Nguyen Ho Hai said the virtual meeting showed the two cities’ determination and desire to maintain their friendship and cooperation.

Hai expected that both Vietnam and China, including HCM City and Shanghai, will make the most of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement signed at the 37th ASEAN Summit to further bolster their bilateral relations.

Briefing his counterpart on the outcomes of HCM City’s 11th Party Congress and its development orientations, Hai expressed his hope that the two cities will together organise short-term training courses for their officials and public servants, and strengthen coordination in the areas of mutual interest such as finance, smart city development and innovation.

Yu, for his part, thanked HCM City for its support to Shanghai over the past years. He said he wants the two cities will further reinforce their partnership and nurture the friendship and cooperation between the two nations in the coming time.

He updated Hai on Shanghai’s socio-economic development situation, including the fight against COVID-19, and spoke highly of Vietnam’s successful containment of the pandemic.

Yu proposed the two sides to step up cooperation in traditional fields, including economy, trade, urban management, and culture, and increase exchanges of officials and youths.

Additionally, he urged both sides to develop and effectively implement cooperation programmes in trade, economy, monetary management and experience sharing in Party building, personnel management and anti-corruption./.

Hanoi forum discusses global political, economic impacts of COVID-19

The Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences (VASS) hosted a forum on December 18 in Hanoi on the COVID-19 pandemic and its political and economic impacts on the world and different regions.The forum gathered together nearly 400 delegates, including researchers, business leaders, policymakers, and representatives from a range of institutes, universities, and international organisations.

Addressing the forum, Dr. Dang Xuan Thanh, VASS Vice President, said the forum focused discussions on global political, economic, security, and diplomatic affairs and international relations, and the impacts of the pandemic on several regions, such as Europe, Southeast Asia, and Africa, and countries like the US, Japan, China, and the Republic of Korea. It will also hear international experience in responding to the coronavirus and how Vietnam reacted to changes in the pre- and post-pandemic world.

Associate Professor Dr. Cu Chi Loi from VASS’s Vietnam Institute of Americas Studies, said that, from a political perspective, COVID-19 has resulted in a world of contrast, with a number of countries enjoying advantageous positions while others are still struggling.

From an economic perspective, COVID-19 is wreaking havoc on the US and EU economies, he said, adding that the US economy experienced a 32 percent contraction in the second quarter of this year, while China suffered less. The world has entered a new period of uncertainty, with increasing international tensions disrupting cooperation for development.

Many countries are therefore adopting a more deliberate and flexible approach to international relations, he added.

Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen An Ha from VASS’s Vietnam Institute of European Studies said the EU has called upon member states to unite and develop a common strategy to tackle COVID-19, which includes a set of solutions and initiatives in the short, medium, and long terms.

Delegates also passed comments on Vietnam’s post-pandemic socio-economic development policies between 2021 and 2030./.

Over 21 trillion VND needed to supply electricity for rural households

Over 21 trillion VND (913 million USD) is needed to supply electricity to most rural households currently without access, heard a consultation conference in Hanoi on December 18 to pool investment for power supply projects in rural, mountainous, and island areas in the 2021-2025 period.

Speaking at the conference, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Dang Hoang An said Vietnam has posted major achievements in rural electrification, with the rate of power consumers increasing steadily.

By 2025, the country targets supplying electricity to over 871,000 households in more than 6,800 villages of 2,100 communes, and over 2,600 small and medium-sized pumping stations in the Mekong Delta, and connecting to the national grid or providing renewable energy to islands belonging to Quang Tri, Kien Giang, and Khanh Hoa provinces.

The 21.1 trillion VND in funding will come from the State budget. If Con Dao Island is also connected to the national grid, the investment will rise by a substantial 4.8 trillion VND.

An said that the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) has held working sessions with the World Bank (WB) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on two separate loans of about 360 million USD and 400 million USD.

Deputy Director of the MoIT’s Electricity and Renewable Energy Authority Bui Quoc Hung said 1.55 million households in 9,890 villages in all communes have been provided access to electricity, about 21,000 of whom were given access to renewable energy.

Programme Leader for the Energy Sector at the World Bank (WB) in Vietnam, Rahul Kitchlu, said Vietnam has become a global model in terms of electrification, and many countries hope to learn from its experience in the endeavour over the last two decades.

He added that the WB has raised nearly 2 billion USD out of 5 billion USD it committed to Vietnam, affirming that electrification is one of its priorities in the country.

Kitchul suggested that Vietnam introduce a mechanism on cooperation between relevant ministries, agencies, and units and adopt technological advances in the field./.

Philippines calls on ASEAN to uphold 1982 UNCLOS

The Association of the Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) needs to uphold the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Seas (UNCLOS) as the legal framework under which all ocean activities are regulated, a Philippine official has said.

Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary of ASEAN Affairs and ASEAN-Philippines Director-General Junever Mahilum-West made the call at the recent 10th ASEAN Maritime Forum (AMF) and the 8th Expanded ASEAN Maritime Forum (EAMF) via video conferences.

"We urge the members of the AMF and the EAMF to work towards fulfilling their obligations under the 1982 UNCLOS for the peace, stability, and prosperity of our region," Mahilum-West said in a news release on December 17.

The official also expressed the Philippines’ steadfast commitment to achieving the early conclusion of an effective and substantive Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) that is in accordance with international law, particularly the 1982 UNCLOS.

The diplomat highlighted the Philippines’ priorities in maritime governance and cooperation, including the establishment of the National Coast Watch Council to strengthen interagency coordination on maritime affairs, and cited the Trilateral Cooperation Arrangement with Indonesia and Malaysia to combat transnational maritime crimes in the Sulu-Sulawesi Sea.

Established in 2010, the AMF is a venue for dialogue on a wide range of maritime issues such as maritime security trends, maritime cooperation, maritime domain awareness, and maritime environmental protection, among others./.

German state presents nano water purifiers to central region

Minister of Economy, Science and Digitalisation of Germany’s Sachsen-Anhalt state, Armin Willingmann, through the World University Service (WUS), has presented 20 nano water purifiers to flood-hit localities in Vietnam’s central region.

WUS president Kambiz Ghawami handed over the purifiers to a flight repatriating Vietnamese citizens in Germany on December 17. The gifts will be sent to schools in the hardest-hit areas of Binh Dinh and Quang Nam provinces.

Ghawami said such solidarity helps strengthen Vietnam-Germany ties, adding that when Germany faced a shortage of face masks in April to fight COVID-19, the Vietnamese Government and Vietnamese citizens in Germany presented more than 120,000 face masks to German hospitals and humanitarian facilities through the WUS.

The WUS has worked to support Vietnamese people who suffered from the terrible recent flooding, he said, expressing his honour at contributing to Vietnam-Germany relations.

Sachsen-Anhalt has to date presented 61 water purifiers to Vietnam, while the WUS has helped some 110,000 students, teachers, and residents in remote and mountainous areas access clean water by presenting a total of 210 purifiers./.

Japan provides non-refundable aid for seven projects

The Japanese embassy in Vietnam on December 17 signed contracts to provide non-refundable aid worth over 1.14 million USD for seven small-scale projects in 2020, which are under a non-refundable programme for Vietnam at grassroots levels.

The seven projects are in different fields such as: bomb and mine detection and clearance in the central province of Quang Binh; building clean water systems in the northern mountainous province of Bac Kan, building classrooms in the central province of Thanh Hoa and the northern mountainous province of Lai Chau, building inter-village roads in Lai Chau rovince, supplying Braille printing equipment for three northern provinces, and tuberculosis screening X-ray equipment.

Addressing the event, Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Yamada Takio said the small scale projects would address the urgent needs of local residents.

“The Japanese government wants to further strengthen the bilateral relationship through the efficient use of Japanese technology. I hope the programme will touch the hearts of the people of the two countries,” said the Japanese ambassador.

The bomb detection and clearance project in Quang Binh is the one with the largest cost of the seven projects, with a total aid amount of over 636,000 USD./.

Over 240 Vietnamese citizens repatriated from Singapore

A Bamboo Airways flight carried more than 240 Vietnamese citizens home from Singapore on December 20.

The passengers included the elderly, children under 18 years old, people with illnesses, and other people in extremely difficult circumstances.

The Vietnamese Embassy sent staff members to the airport to help the citizens with boarding procedures.

To prevent the spread of COVID-19, disease prevention measures were strictly carried out during the flight. Upon landing at the Can Tho International Airport in the Mekong Delta City of the same name, all crewmembers and passengers were given health check-ups and quarantined in line with regulations.

The repatriation of Vietnamese citizens in disadvantaged circumstances abroad will be arranged based on citizens’ wish, the developments of the pandemic and domestic quarantine capacity./.

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