Minister of National Defence Gen. Phan Van Giang and visiting Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence, Gen. Tea Banh, reviewed their ministries’ cooperation in 2022 and agreed on a cooperation plan for this year during talks in Hanoi on February 19.

Addressing the talks, which were held following an official welcome ceremony for the Cambodia official, Minister Giang expressed his belief that Gen. Tea Banh’s official visit to Vietnam will be successful and create a new impetus for the two countries’ friendship, including between the two defence ministries and militaries.

The Cambodian official held that cooperation between the two militaries has continued to be enhanced and reaped fruitful results despite the complex COVID-19 pandemic. The two sides have shown their determination to help strengthen the Cambodia - Vietnam ties through promoting extensive partnerships and effectively implementing their annual cooperation plans.

Both host and guest shared the view that 2022, designated as the “Vietnam - Cambodia and Cambodia - Vietnam Friendship Year”, held special significance to the countries’ relations. Nearly 30 symbolic activities were organised by the two defence ministries last year, including the first border defence friendship exchange in May; the ceremony marking 45 years since the start of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen’s journey to topple the genocidal Pol Pot regime in June; the third annual meeting of the defence ministers of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, and the first joint rescue exercise among the three militaries in September.

Agencies and units of both sides have also maintained information sharing, safeguarded security and order along the land border and at sea, and fruitfully carried out the 2022 cooperation plan.

Agreeing on the defence cooperation plan for 2023, the two ministers laid emphasis on some focuses, including increasing information sharing and conducting joint patrols to maintain security and order on land and at sea; coordinating closely with each other to build a long-term communication plan to popularise the solidarity and mutual assistance between the countries’ Governments, peoples, and militaries, especially on the occasion of big anniversaries such as the 70th founding anniversary of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces in 2023 and the 80th anniversary of the Vietnam People’s Army in 2024; working together to effectively implement cooperation activities related to Cambodia’s hosting of the 32nd Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) and the 12th ASEAN Para Games; and continuing joint efforts to search for and repatriate remains of Vietnam’s volunteer soldiers and experts who died during wartime in Cambodia.

Concluding the talks, the ministers inked the 2023 cooperation plan and witnessed the signing of the two defence ministries’ memorandum of understanding on cooperation in military and defence law.

PM hosts Cambodia's Deputy PM, Defence Minister

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh hosted a reception in Hanoi on February 18 for General Tea Banh, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence of Cambodia.

The host congratulated Cambodia on its important achievements, especially in COVID-19 prevention and control as well as socio-economic development, and the success of the communal elections in the fifth tenure, and the successful performance of the role as the ASEAN Chair in 2022.

He said he believes that Cambodia will successfully organise the general elections in 2023 and gain greater attainments in the future.

The Vietnamese leader affirmed that Vietnam always attaches great importance and give priority to reinforcing and promoting the sound neighbourliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive, sustainable and long-term partnership with Cambodia.

Defence collaboration will continue to be an important pillar in the bilateral ties, he said, welcoming the two Ministries of National Defence's coordination in implementing 30 meaningful activities to mark the Vietnam-Cambodia Friendship Year 2022.

PM Chinh asked the two ministries and militaries to continue to work closely together to effectively realise the common perceptions among leaders of the two sides, while strengthening collaboration at multilateral forums and a wide range of areas such as digital transformation, bomb and mine clearance, and economic development.

He requestes the border guard forces of the two sides to increase exchange activities and joint patrols to protect the shared border and border markers, preventing all kinds of cross-border criminals, thus safeguarding the border security and order, boosting border trade and people-to-people exchanges along the border, and building a shared border of peace, friendship, cooperation and development.

The Government leader pledged that Vietnam will support and assist Cambodia in organising important activities in 2023, including the 32nd Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 32) and Para Games.

PM Chinh said he hopes General Tea Banh will continue to make positive contributions to the strengthening of the comprehensive partnership between the two countries across all fields.

For his part, General Tea Banh highly valued the growth of ties between the two countries over the past more than one half a century despite challenges and difficulties, securing the sound neighbourliness, traditional friendship and comprehensive partnership.

He affirmes that Cambodia treasures its ties with Vietnam, and thanked Vietnam for the solidarity and great support that the Party, State, military and people of Vietnam have given to Cambodia during its fight against the Pol Pot genocidal regime in the past and its current national construction and development.

He expressed gratitude to Vietnam for coordination in repatriating remains of 49 Cambodian martyrs.

As the head of the Organising Board of SEA Games 32, General Tea Banh thanked Vietnam's goodwill and showed hope for more support from Vietnam in hosting the sport event.

He pledged that the military and Ministry of National Defence of Cambodia will actively implement agreements reached by high-ranking leaders of both sides, and he himself will work for the strengthening of the sound neighbourliness, comprehensive cooperation, and long-term sustainability between the two countries and two militaries.

Vietnamese, Cambodian Parties hold high-level meeting in Hanoi

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Nguyen Phu Trong and President of the Cambodian People's Party (CPP) and Prime Minister Hun Sen co-chaired a high-level meeting between the two Parties in Hanoi on February 18.

The event aims to enhance the good neighbourliness, traditional friendship, and comprehensive, sustainable and long-term cooperation between Vietnam and Cambodia.

At the meeting, the leaders briefed each other on the situation of their respective Parties and countries, and compared notes on the regional and international situation.

The leaders called the solidarity between Vietnam and Cambodia, as well as Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos a priceless asset, one of the most important factors and a great source of strength for the past struggle for national liberation, and the present cause of independence defence, construction and development of each country.

They rejoiced at the intensive and extensive developments of the relations between the two Parties, States and peoples across spheres, with stronger political, defence and security cooperation, and improvements in collaboration in economy, culture, education, and science-technology.
 
Both extended their congratulations on major achievements recorded by the two peoples in national construction and development.

Trong stressed the strategic significance of the Vietnam-Cambodia relations to security and development of each country, for peace, stability and development in the region and the world.

For his part, Hun Sen suggested that apart from consolidating and promoting the bilateral political ties, the two countries should step up partnership in economy and trade in service of their development cause.

On this occasion, Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh spoke highly of the bilateral cooperation in economy, trade, investment, culture, education, science-technology, national defence and security, and proposed some specific cooperation orientations.

The two sides consented that the two Parties need to strengthen their solidarity, continue their close coordination and mutual support, and consider the political ties leading importance to orienting the relations between the two Parties and States.

The two countries will also work to consolidate collaboration in national defence and security, and forge the bilateral diplomatic ties, as well as cooperation in economy, culture, education and science-technology by utilising their potential and advantages.

They will intensify cooperation between agencies of the Parties and the National Assemblies, Governments, Fatherland Fronts, people’s organisations and localities of the two countries.

Lao Party officials visit Hanoi craft village, university

A delegation from the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee's Office led by Thoongsalith Mangnomek, Secretary of the Committee and Head of the office, visited the centre of the Vietnamese craft village quintessence and Vin University (VinUni) in Hanoi's Gia Lam district on February 18.

At the centre in Bat Trang commune, the Lao delegation had an insight of the pottery craft and the history of Bat Trang village, as well as the role of craft villages to Hanoi and Vietnam throughout the history.

Visiting VinUni, run by the Vietnamese conglomerate Vingroup, Thongsalith expressed impression at the model and scale of the facility, and its role in training high quality human resources for Hanoi.

He said he hopes in the future, Lao students and lecturers will make their presence in VinUni.

WBA Asia champions Toan, Hoang to defend belts next month

Originally scheduled for February 26 in the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak, the title fights were rescheduled for March 25 in HCM City after the provincial authorities declined to grant the necessary licence to the organisers.

Toan will take on World Boxing Council (WBC) No. 8 Garen Diagan from the Philippines for the World Boxing Association (WBA) Asia minimumweight (48kg) strap.

Hoang will go up against Korean No.1 and WBA Asia No. 11 Baek Dae Hyun for the super middleweight (76kg) WBA Asia belt.

Originally scheduled for February 26 in the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak, the title fights were rescheduled for March 25 in Ho Chi Minh City after the provincial authorities declined to grant the necessary licence to the organisers.

This will be Toan's second title defence after he beat Filipino Jake Amparo on points after 12 rounds in Bangkok, Thailand.

The victory pushed him to the WBA's No. 8 place in the world rankings.

Diagan is a top athlete in his home country and No. 6 in the WBC rankings. The 26-year-old is No. 15 in the world, eight places higher than the Vietnamese representative.

Diagan has recorded nine wins (5KOs) and three losses (1KO).

He won a local professional championship in 2019 before challenging for the WBC Asia belt last July but came up short.

The March 25 match against Toan is his third continental title bout.

Toàn is currently working with Do Dong, a coach from the Philipines who has played a role in converting Truong Dinh Hoang into Vietnam's first WBA East Asia and WBA Asia champion.

Toàn added his WBA world No. 8 was motivation for him to push on to fifth place and a potential world title fight.

In the later fight, 'The King' Truong Dinh Hoang will face Baek, the Republic of Korea's leading pro boxer.

The 25-year-old Korean is No. 102 of 1,371 boxers in his weight class in the world. He is 303 places higher than Hoang.

The other fights on the card feature Nguyen Ngoc Hai, Do Ngoc Hoan, Lam Dat Phat and Doan Gia Thành.

Local badminton players ready for Thailand Int’l Challenge 2023

Vietnamese badminton players will compete at the Thailand International Challenge 2023 scheduled to take place from March 7 to 12 in Nakhon Ratchasima city (Thailand).

Nguyen Thuy Linh is set to be the only Vietnamese player starting from the first main round where she will almost certainly be selected as the No. 1 seed in the women's singles.

Elsewhere, her teammates Vu Thi Trang and Vu Thi Anh Thu have to compete for their places by joining the qualification round. 

In the men’s events, Nguyen Tien Minh and Nguyen Hai Dang will play in their first international tournament of the year at the Thailand International Challenge 2023.

Both of them will start from the first main round.

Meanwhile, Le Duc Phat, another Vietnamese badminton player, will begin in the qualifiers.

The Thailand International Challenge 2023 includes men’s singles and doubles, women’s singles and doubles, as well as mixed doubles. The winner in the singles will receive US$1,200, whilst the winner in the doubles will get US$1,350.

After the tournament the Vietnamese players will return home for the Vietnam Challenge 2023 which is slated to take place in Hanoi from March 21 to 26.

Four more bridges spanning Red River to take shape in future

Consultants have completed survey designs for an additional four bridges spanning the Red River in Hanoi to be built in the coming months.

The four bridges, namely Van Phuc, Thuong Cat, Tu Lien and Tran Hung Dao, are designed to help the capital city reduce congestion and complete traffic infrastructure as planned.

The four bridges are scheduled to take shape by 2027

They are among 17 bridges that span the Red River under a transport planning for Hanoi till 2030 approved by the Prime Minister.

Among the 17 bridges, seven have been formed, namely Long Bien, Chuong Duong, Thanh Tri, Vinh Tuy, Thang Long, Nhat Tan, and Vinh Thinh.

The remaining 10 bridges will be built from now till 2030, with Van Phuc, Thuong Cat, Tu Lien and Tran Hung Dao due to take shape by 2027.

Regulator proposes solutions to better manage vehicle registration

Vietnam Register (VNR) said that it has reviewed car registrations and worked out long-term solutions to create favourable conditions and better management.

Under its proposal, VNR will review legal regulations and outline amendments related to the assessment and establishment of new vehicle registration centres.

In addition, it will periodically inspect the operation of registration centres and check the technical safety and environmental protection of vehicles.

The VNR has proposed a specific plan for an exemption from the first registration for new cars and strengthen inspection, examination and handling of violations of traffic inspectors and traffic police in vehicle inspection activities.

The VNR has also outlined a plan to allow car service centres to carry out inspections of technical safety and environmental protection for vehicles. This is the latest proposal made by the VNR.

To cope with widespread violations at auto inspection centres, the VNR has required transport departments at the local level to strengthen inspection, supervision and instruct registration centres to strictly comply with the provisions of Transport Ministry’s Circular No.16./2021 on technical safety and environmental protection inspection of road motor vehicles. The move aims to stop registration centres from making it difficult for residents and businesses who want to have assessments of technical safety and environmental protection of their vehicles, as well as raise awareness and professional ethics for effective solutions to reduce congestion, difficulties and troubles for residents and businesses.

The proposal also aims to carry out recruitment and training of human resources for registration centres. In addition, it is recommended that registration centres should offer employees appropriate salaries and bonuses so as to ensure their daily lives.

HCM City vows to improve ethnic people's lives

HCM City has implemented a number of policies to improve the lives of ethnic people, Trần Kim Yến, chairwoman of the local unit of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee, has said.

Speaking at a meeting between city authorities and representatives of ethnic peoples on February 16, she said their contributions to revive the economy post-COVID had been significant.

The city had numerous policies for improving ethnic people’s lives, including for education and cultural preservation, she said.

She hoped ethnic minorities would continue to contribute to the city’s development.

Nguyễn Hồ Hải, deputy secretary of the local Party Committee, said the city had always communicated with ethnic peoples, focused on implementing policies and provided safety nets to improve their lives.

Relevant organisations should adhere to the city’s policies for ethnic minorities, such as waiving tuition fee for Chăm and Khmer students and providing subsidies to ethnic teachers and researchers, he said.

It would carefully listen to their opinions and suggestions, he promised.

Lang Phúc Hương, chairman of the Tân Quý Ward Association for Promoting Education in Tân Phú District, called on the city to help ethnic students take advantage of encouragement policies, provide them with vocational training and help them find jobs. 

The meeting was held by the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee to discuss ethnic cultural development plans. 

There are 54 ethnic groups in the country. 

Binh Thuan to kick off National Tourism Year 2023 in March

National Tourism Year 2023 will kick off in the central coastal province of Binh Thuan on March 25, bolstering the tourism potential of the locality and its diversity of historic and cultural identities.

The opening ceremony of the National Tourism Year themed “Binh Thuan - Green Convergence” will take place in Phan Thiet City and will be broadcast live by the national TV Vietnam Television.
National Tourism Year will feature 204 cultural, sports and tourism events, including 13 events of national scale hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Binh Thuan will host 31 cultural, sports and tourism events and 41 other provinces and cities will host 164 events as part of the National Tourism Year throughout the year.

An international cuisine festival, a rowing and canoeing competition, a national golf championship, and Binh Thuan Tourism Week are some highlights of the programme.

It is expected to boost the province’s tourism development and attract domestic and foreign investors.

With a coastline of 192 km, stunning beaches, beautiful landscapes, rich natural resources and a diversity of historic and cultural identities, Binh Thuan has become a popular tourist destination for domestic and foreign visitors.

The province is home to around 600 hotels and resorts with a total of 18,000 rooms and 1,000 condotels.

It welcomed nearly 700,000 visitor arrivals last month, double the number from the same period last year.

The tourism revenue was estimated at 1.79 trillion VND (76.1 million USD) last month, nearly triple the amount from a year ago.

Eight earthquake monitoring stations installed in Kon Tum Province

Eight earthquake monitoring stations have been installed in the areas of Thuong Kon Tum Hydropower Plant and Dak Drinh Hydropower Plant in the Central Highlands province of Kon Tum.

Le Nhu Nhat, director of the provincial Industry and Trade Department said that the installation of the two newest earthquake monitoring stations have recently been finished by the Dak Drinh Hydropower Joint Stock Company – the investor of Dak Drinh Hydropower Plant.

It aims to accurately and fully record earthquakes occurring in Kon Plong district and surrounding areas, he said.

Based on warnings from the earthquake monitoring stations, local authorities and people in earthquake zones can take proactive measures to prevent damage to people and property that may occur due to earthquakes, he said.

Since 2021, the district has recorded more than 300 earthquakes. The strongest earthquake was 4.7 magnitude with strong tremors felt in the coastal central city of Da Nang.

Initially, scientists from the Institute of Geophysics said that recent earthquakes in the province were stimulated earthquakes, caused by the accumulation of water in hydroelectric reservoirs.

But to confirm the cause and have a basis for forecasting, the institute needs to conduct surveys, observations and detailed geological studies in the area, scientists said.

Binh Duong: thousands of factories to be moved from residential areas

About 2,900 businesses and factories in residential areas of the southern province of Binh Duong will be re-located into industrial zones and clusters in the locality from 2024-2030, according to a plan sketched out by the provincial People’s Committee.

According to the provincial Department of Industry and Trade, the number of enterprises that need to be relocated into industrial parks and clusters accounts for 71% of the total number of local industrial production establishments.

The implementation of the scheme aims to prevent and control environmental pollution, noise, fires and explosions in residential areas, and contribute to adjusting the province’s urban planning, the department said.  

It is also expected to help transform service development models and promote civilised and modern urban areas in Thu Dau Mot, Di An and Thuan An cities.

According to Vice President of the Binh Duong Ceramics Association Vuong Sieu Tin, local authorities should have appropriate measures to support businesses that are required to relocate, helping them stablise their production activities after relocation.  

The Director of the provincial Department of Industry and Trade Nguyen Thanh Toan said this is a major policy of the locality and it will notify businesses in advance so that they have time to prepare.

In a recent dialogue with representatives of businesses operating in the locality, Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Vo Van Minh said that the locality will prioritise production models applying high technologies associated with environmental protection.

The aim is to create harmony in socio-economic development and green growth, thus contributing to developing Binh Duong as a smart city.

Thái Nguyên Province to grow 3,400ha of new forest

The authorities in Thái Nguyên Province aim to maintain local forest coverage above 46 per cent, alongside activities for forest protection and a sustainable forestry economy.

Specifically, in 2023, the province aims to grow 3,434 hectares of new forest, of which protection forest accounts for 245ha, production forest 3,190ha, large timber forest 640ha, and small timber forest 2,550ha.

In addition, a project growing seven million trees across the province from 2021 to 2025 will also be implemented.

Lê Cầm Long, director of Thái Nguyên Forest Protection Department, said that to ensure the quality of the programme, the unit has worked with authorities to ensure the quality of forest tree seedlings.

The number of seedlings for this year’s forest growing season has reached 28 million various varieties.

As of January 2023, local people have re-grown 16.5ha after harvest. More than 4,000 trees were planted in the Tết (Lunar New Year) tree planting festival.

The province also promotes the growing of large timber forests and medicinal plants to increase the value of the grown woodland.

Instructions on sustainable forest management, fire prevention and forest certification will also be given.

Forestry product processing, trading, and projects with different use of forests will also be under strict supervision.

Forest management is also aimed at sustainability and utilising the advantages to develop eco-tourism.

Long added that the provincial forestry sector is also actively working on digital transformation in forest management and protection, an example being the application Thai Nguyen SmartTrees.

The application has helped local people and authorities to receive updates on the situation of trees and forest areas.

Currently, the number of trees in the Thai Nguyen SmartTrees’ database is 6.3 million.

Technology is also applied to create barcodes for forestry product management, remote sensing for early fire detection, environmental monitoring system, traceability and certification.

Last year, Thái Nguyên Province grew nearly 4,200ha of concentrated forest, surpassing the initial plan by 12.5 per cent, along with 1.8 million trees outside the forest area.

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certificate is also given to 1,331ha.

The local forestry production value reached VNĐ649 billion (US$27.4 million) last year, an increase of VNĐ41.3 billion ($1.7 million) compared to 2021. 

Science, technology, innovation to contribute over 50 per cent to agricultural growth by 2030

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) is striving to increase the proportion of science, technology and innovation’s contributions to the sector’s growth by over 50 per cent by 2030 through research, transfer and application activities.

The number of businesses engaged in innovation will account for 60 per cent of the total working in the sector by 2025, and 85 per cent by 2030.

The sector will support the construction and development of at least 200 hi-tech agricultural enterprises nationwide, and 50-100 high-tech agricultural zones in agroecological ones.

More efforts will be made to turn science, technology and innovation into a breakthrough to strongly develop Việt Nam's agricultural economy; transform to a green and environmentally sustainable growth model; and improve productivity, quality, efficiency and competitiveness of the industry.

The MARD will also strengthen public-private partnerships in scientific research technology development and innovation; and mobilise resources from State budget, businesses and the community for these works.

At the same time, it will create conditions for enterprises and economic sectors to participate in research, complete technology and transfer or purchase technology inside and outside the country.

Police discover illegal sand miners on Đồng Nai River

Traffic police of southern Đồng Nai Province discovered four boats transporting illegally mined sand along the Đồng Nai River on February 15 and 16.

According to Đồng Nai Province’s police, Long Hưng Waterway Police in Long Thành District found a wooded boat set up with sand mining equipment at midnight February 15. Knowing they were being followed by the police, people on the boats jumped into the river to escape.

By 1am February 16, the police team discovered two other boats driven by Nguyễn Văn Láo, 50, from Long An Province and Võ Thanh Tú, 34, from Tiền Giang Province on the Đồng Nai River, carrying about 20cu.m of sand.

Láo and Tú were unable to present legal documents for the sand the boats were carrying.

On February 15, Đồng Nai Traffic Police discovered a boat driven by Võ Thành Vĩnh, 33, from Tiền Giang Province, carrying 26cu.m of sand. Vĩnh was not able to present legal documents for the vehicle or the sand.

The police are completing dossiers for prosecutions according to the law.

Đồng Nai Province’s police said they would continue to strengthen patrolling, controlling and synchronously using professional measures to check and handle acts of arbitrarily changing the use of vehicles or installing additional equipment for pumping and sucking sand and acts related to illegal mining, transportation and trading of minerals (sand) on river routes. 

Thousands of households in HCM City have water supply disrupted

Saigon Water Corporation (Sawaco), Ho Chi Minh City’s water supplier, will cut or reduce its service in five districts and several wards in Thu Duc City from late Saturday night to early Sunday morning to carry out maintenance.

The water cut will affect thousands of households in Thu Duc City and five districts of 7, 8, Binh Chanh, Nha Be, and Can Gio.

The maintenance will take place in three hours between 11 pm on Saturday and 2 am on Sunday, during which pumps to the entirety of districts 7, Nha Be, and Can Gio will be completely closed, the company said.

Meanwhile, some other localities including districts 8, Binh Chanh, and Thu Duc City will also see their water off in some wards.

Sawaco said the firm will arrange tank trucks to ensure water supply for key areas during the outage.

Thu Duc Water Plant started operation in 2010 with a total investment of VND 1.60 trillion, supplying water for nearly a million residents in some districts in the south and east of Ho Chi Minh.

HCMC wants to build multi-storey car parks

The government of HCMC has written to the Ministry of Construction proposing developing multi-storey car parks to meet the huge parking demand in the city.

In a document sent to the Ministry of Construction, the city proposed building prefabricated modular car parks, which maximize the number of output car spaces.

The city is crowded with automobiles and motorcycles, especially in downtown areas. The city has plans for multiple car parks but none of them has yet to get off the ground.

The advantages of building prefabricated modular car parks include a short period of assembly and disassembly, occupation of a small site, low investment cost and flexible modification.

Prefabricated modular car parks can be constructed on land reserved for future roads, parks or sites for public works that have yet to be developed.

Work starts on medical university campus in HCMC

Work began on the second campus and a teaching hospital of the Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine yesterday, February 17. The VND2.4-trillion project is expected to be completed in 2025.

The university’s second campus and teaching hospital will be located in Tan Kien Commune, Binh Chanh District, HCMC.

This project will span over 77,640 square meters, with 10 floors and one basement.

The project will help improve the training capacity and quality, and provide medical human resources for the health sector in HCMC and the country as a whole.

The Government approved the project in 2017.

The Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine is a public medical school in HCMC, offering graduate and postgraduate programs. Established in 2008, the university has eight faculties and 10 majors, with a total enrollment of about 10,000 students.

An Giang targets eight million tourist arrivals in 2023

The Mekong Delta province of An Giang expects to attract eight million tourist arrivals and make VND5.5 trillion in tourism revenue this year, according to the An Giang Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

The province wants to develop the tourism sector into a driving force for socio-economic growth.

An Giang will improve the quality of tourism services, ensure a safe and friendly tourism environment, and develop infrastructure and human resources.

The Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism will carry out tourism campaigns, including boosting the image of the province in the media and social networks.

As for its socio-economic development strategy, An Giang will join hands with neighboring provinces in the Mekong Delta to develop regional tourism and carry out a tourism cooperation program between HCMC and the 13 provinces of the Mekong Delta.

An Giang will launch new tours, connect tourist attractions, improve the quality of tourism products, and organize holiday tourism promotions.

The province welcomed around 7.5 million tourists in 2022, surging 127% year-on-year and reaching 163% of the full-year plan. It earned over VND4.7 trillion from tourism services, up 119% over the previous year.

Can Tho police issue indictment for bidding violations related to Viet A Company

After being transferred to the investigation agency for more than eight months, the Can Tho City Police recently issued an indictment for the case of “violating regulations on bidding, causing serious consequences” related to Viet A Company.

On February 18, the Can Tho City Police Investigation Agency stated that they had initiated legal proceedings in the case of "violating regulations on bidding, causing serious consequences" related to Viet A Company.

Previously, in June 2022, the Inspectorate of Can Tho City issued a report on the inspection conclusions regarding the procurement and use of medical equipment, materials, and supplies at the Can Tho City Health Department, the Can Tho City Center for Disease Control (CDC Can Tho), and related agencies and units in the area.

Specifically, the Inspectorate conducted inspections on 413 out of 576 bidding packages, with a value of over VND238 billion, regarding the procurement and use of equipment, materials, and vehicles for Covid-19 prevention and control, as well as various types of Covid-19 rapid diagnostic and biological tests.

As for the procurement at the Can Tho City Health Department, the Inspectorate pointed out that the department's borrowing and signing of advance purchase agreements with the contractor and then designating the winner of the bid did not comply with the bidding rules; the selection of contractors for some bidding packages did not meet the capacity requirements; some bidding packages did not complete all steps for bid designation according to the shortened process and did not publicly announce the results of contractor selection.

The responsibility for the limitations and shortcomings lies with the Deputy Director in charge of the department, the Planning and Finance Division under the department, the Deputy Director, who is also the Head of the Procurement Unit, and the members of the unit.

The procurement process of Can Tho City CDC appears to have several limitations and shortcomings. For instance, the product proposal from Viet A Company was made without stating the criteria used for selection, while the Ministry of Health had advertised several other test kits. Some bidding packages lacked cost estimates and contractor selection plans. The application of equipment prices according to the appraisal certificate is not suitable in terms of time.

It prepared the bidding documents without specifying evaluation criteria; the contractor appointments by Can Tho City CDC show signs of intentionally favoring Viet A Company and Hop Nhat Company in implementing the bidding package to legalize procurement documents. The price setting without referring to market prices leads to price differences, causing losses to the State budget.

From the inspection results, the Chief Inspector of Can Tho City proposed to transfer to the investigation agency five bidding packages for procurement of test kits manufactured by Viet A Company, appointed by the Can Tho CDC.

These bidding packages showed signs of intentionally choosing products of Viet A Company and appointing Hop Nhat Company as the supplier and legalizing the procurement documents to make payments to the contractor not in compliance with legal regulations, violating the bidding regulations, causing serious consequences, and leading to losses to the State budget.

At the same time, the Chief Inspector also proposed to transfer to the investigation agency a procurement package of test kits manufactured by Viet A Company, appointed by Can Tho General Hospital, with signs of irresponsible behavior resulting in serious consequences in the procurement process, and a procurement package for a digital mobile X-ray machine to serve the Covid-19 prevention and control at the Traditional Medicine Hospital that violated bidding regulations.

Le Quang Liem, Nakamura teammates at Pro Chess League 2023

International chess grandmaster Le Quang Liem is attending the 2023 Pro Chess League team tournament and Liem's teammate is grandmaster Nakamura Hikaru.

Pro Chess League 2023 is a team tournament and online competition. Some of the 2023 Pro Chess League’s brightest stars have been divided into 16 teams and will be competing for their part of the US$150,000 prize fund. Eight teams will be eliminated, and eight will move on to the playoffs.

The tournament plays fast chess according to the Swiss system with 9 specified games. The qualifier began on February 1, the Main Event on February 14, the playoffs will be on March 28, and the finals will be on May 11-14 .

The organizers said that at the end of the third week, the top two teams advance to the playoffs. The bottom two teams are eliminated. At the end of the fifth week, the top three teams from each week advance to the playoffs and the bottom three teams are eliminated.

Le Quang Liem participated in this tournament in a chess team named Gotham Knights with grandmasters Hikaru Nakamura (USA), Andy Woodward (USA), Nataliya Buksa (Ukraine). This team is temporarily ranked sixth with 2 points obtained in the first week of the tournament.

In the first week, the opponent of the chess team Le Quang Liem was the Berlin Bears from Germany. Le Quang Liem won three and lost one when competing against members of the Berlin Bears team.

The first week of the tournament takes place from February 14 to 18, the second week from February 21 to 24, the third week from February 28 to March 3, the fourth week from March 8 to 10 and the fifth week from March 16 to 17.

The quarter-finals of the tournament will start from March 30 to March 31, then the organizers will announce the semi-finals and quarter-finals.

Sixteen teams will vie for a championship worth $25,000 for first place and $150,000 overall.

Two outbreaks of chickenpox reported in Central Highlands

Two outbreaks of chickenpox were reported to occur in a Central Highlands province in Vietnam.

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) of the Central Highlands Province of Dak Lak said that the province had just recorded two outbreaks of chickenpox in Lak District and Buon Ma Thuot Town.

According to the CDC in Dak Lak, there has been 44 cases of chickenpox in two outbreaks in Buon Ma Thuot city and Lak district from the beginning of 2023. Chickenpox is a common childhood illness with 90 percent of the cases occurring in children younger than fifteen years of age and kindergartens and primary schoolers usually get chickenpox.

A 14 year old boy in Lak District was the first chickenpox patient who was detected on February 9. Then six other people who are living near the first patient experienced similar symptoms. In Buon Ma Thuot City, the first patient was a six year old boy in Buon Tong Ju.

The patient was detected on February 1 with mild fever, but the family still sent him to school at Ea kao Kindergarten in Ea kao Commune. Currently, 22 cases of similar disease have been recorded in Ea kao Kindergarten. After recording the cases, the medical force conducted surveillance and investigation of cases at home and the surrounding.

HCMC Police prosecute 128 violators at registration centers

By February 17, the Ho Chi Minh City Police have prosecuted 128 people for violations at registration centers.

As of this morning, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Public Security held a press conference to provide information about violations at automobile registration centers in the city and other provinces and cities.

According to the department, on February 5, the investigation agency under the municipal Department of Public Security continued to receive denunciations related to violations during the registration of inland waterway ships at the Vietnam Register Branch Office No.6 in HCMC and Vietnam Register Branch Office No.9 in Ba Ria- Vung Tau Province.

Based on the documents and evidence, the city Police yesterday decided to launch criminal investigation into the case and prosecute 14 people. Of these, Thai Viet Anh, Bui Long Khuong, Pham Manh Hung and Duong Xuan Che being brokers were prosecuted for the crime of giving bribes.

In addition, a group including Hoang Van Duy, Director of Vietnam Register Branch Office No.9; Le Hai Hoa, Vu Phuong Huy and Nguyen Van Hien who are registrars of Vietnam Register Branch Office No.9; Pham Viet Dung, Pham Tien Binh, Pham Van Duong, Nguyen Van Duan, Mai Ngoc Cuong and Nguyen Van Dong who are registrars of Vietnam Register Branch Office No.6, were prosecuted for the crime of receiving bribes.

Currently, the Ho Chi Minh City Police is continuing to consolidate documents and evidence, investigate and clarify the case to strictly handle the violators in accordance with regulations; and clarify shortcomings and violations in the registration management work for waterway ships.

Vietnam Register (VR) also required registration centers proactively review the conditions of facilities, verification processes and human resources; report on the status of human resources and proposals to the VR in advance of March 1.

Viet Nam, Thailand cooperate to fight illegal fishing

Viet Nam and Thailand will ink a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to tackle illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing in March this year.

Thai deputy government spokesperson Ratchada Thanadirek said the Cabinet has approved a proposal to sign this kind of MoU with Viet Nam. 

The signing of the MOU will take place during the 7th Meeting of Viet Nam-Thailand joint working group on anti-IUU fishing to be hosted by Viet Nam next month, she said.

The Department of Fishery under the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives of Thailand and the Department of Fishery, under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Viet Nam are going to sign the document.

Under the MoU, the two countries are expected to share experience, information, and measures pertaining to IUU fishing, especially on encroachment of fishing vessels, catch certificate, and traceability, to prevent IUU fishing products from entering the supply chain, shared Ratchada Thanadirek. 

Scope of cooperation including exchanging information on transshipment and landing of aquatic lifeforms at port, traceability, and verification of catch certificates, she added.

Both sides will enhance capacity of anti-IUU fishing activities, such as compliance with port state measures, inspection, control and surveillance; and collaborate and exchange information on illegal fishing vessels under ASEAN network mechanism, Ratchada Thanadirek stated.

She noted that the MoU will take effect for five years.

Ambassador hails contribution of France-Vietnam medical federation to bilateral ties

Vietnamese Ambassador to France Dinh Toan Thang lauded the contributions of the France-Vietnam Medical Federation to bilateral healthcare ties at a reception for the federation’s delegation on February 17.

The ambassador highlighted the federation's support for Vietnam's health sector in human resources training, technical assistance and donation of equipment for the country’s health facilities.

In particular, the federation has made great efforts in seeking vaccine supplies and medical equipment to help with Vietnam's fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Thang suggested the federation actively participate in major activities in Vietnam-France relations in 2023 such as the 12th meeting on decentralised cooperation between the two countries in Hanoi, celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the Paris Agreement, the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations, and the 10th anniversary of the Vietnam-France strategic partnership. The ambassador affirmed that he is always ready to cooperate with the federation in implementing activities in the coming time.

For their part, the delegates of France-Vietnam Medical Federation expressed their wish to continue to receive the support of the Vietnamese Government in general and the Vietnamese Embassy in France in particular in carrying out collaboration projects and activities.

Founded in 2015, the federation groups about 25 associations in France, including medical associations, health care experts, investment funds, pharmaceutical and medical equipment companies, and French and Vietnamese French doctors in France.

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