Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son received Chinese Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Nong Rong, who is also Secretary General of the China - Vietnam Steering Committee for Bilateral Cooperation, in Hanoi on February 5.

The host expressed his delight at the sound development and historic achievements of the two countries’ relations since the visit to China by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong in late October 2022 and the trip to Vietnam by Party General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping in December 2023.

He emphasised the importance and practicality of bilateral coordination in implementing the high-level joint statements in a strong, effective, and substantive manner for the sake of businesses, localities, and people.

Welcoming Nong’s opinions and proposals on some orientations and measures for promoting bilateral ties, the Vietnamese minister recommended the two foreign ministries continue bringing into play their role as the standing bodies of the two countries’ steering committees for bilateral cooperation, and properly carry out the two foreign ministries’ agreement on further intensifying cooperation in the new period. He asked them to focus on properly organising exchanges and meetings at all levels in 2024, boosting the connection of development strategies, and stepping up result-oriented partnerships.

Son called on China to increase importing goods and farm produce from Vietnam, coordinate to tackle problems of some joint projects, foster sustainable tourism cooperation, facilitate people-to-people exchanges and locality-to-locality ties, and maintain opinion sharing and coordination at multilateral mechanisms and forums.

For his part, Assistant Minister Nong said his working visit to Vietnam aims for in-depth and comprehensive discussion between the two foreign ministries about measures, orientations, and tasks for enhancing bilateral relations in accordance with the common perceptions reached between the countries’ leaders.

Informing his host of the outcomes of his meeting with the Secretary General of the Vietnam - China Steering Committee for Bilateral Cooperation on February 4, he affirmed that China wishes and is ready to join Vietnamese agencies in maintaining opinion sharing, coordinating closely, and promoting high-level strategic discussion by properly arranging bilateral visits and meetings between the countries’ Party and State leaders.

China is also ready to enhance collaboration in such fields as diplomacy, defence, and security; and continue to reinforce result-oriented cooperation in different spheres, particularly the connection of development strategies, transport infrastructure, trade facilitation, people-to-people friendship exchanges, and locality-to-locality links, he added.

With regard to sea-related issues, both sides underscored the importance of seriously implementing the agreements and common perceptions on the better control and settlement of sea-related differences reached by senior leaders of the two Parties and the two countries, fully and effectively implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), and promoting substantive progress in the negotiations on a code of conduct (COC) in the waters.

Minister Son asked the two sides to respect each other’s legitimate interests, in line with international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, to help maintain regional peace, stability, and development.

New MVs Celebrating Tet released

POWERFUL COMBO - Actress and singer Miu Lê and rapper Yuno Bigboi release MV Mơ Là Phải Mở (Dare to Dream) to welcome Tết. Photo courtesy of the producer

Local producers and singers have released new music videos celebrating Tết (Lunar New Year).

Well-known producer group DTAP collaborated with actress and singer Miu Lê and rapper Yuno Bigboi to release MV Mơ Là Phải Mở (Dare to Dream) to welcome the new year.

The video portrays a young woman who has to face numerous issues and worries about life when Tết is coming.

The work has a folktronica melody to create a Tết atmosphere as well as attract young listeners.

Nguyễn Thuý Hạnh of Đồng Nai Province said, “I love Miu Lê’s street voice and naturalistic performance style. She spreads joy and positive energy to audiences when Tết is coming.”

Miu is known for acting in dozens of movies such as Cô Gái Đến Từ Hôm Qua (The Girl from Yesterday), an adaptation of the novel of the same title by Nguyễn Nhật Ánh, a best-selling author in HCM City; and Em Là Bà Nội Của Anh (Sweet 20), a Vietnamese remake of the South Korean movie Miss Granny.

She has released several music products such as Gác Lại Âu Lo (Put Your Concerns Aside) and Cô Đơn Đã Quá Bình Thường (Loneliness is So Common). She has also performed several soundtracks in her movies.

According to DTAP, the MV sends the message to be brave to break free of your comfort zone, dare to dream and make it happen to gain happiness.

DTAP consists of three talented music producers, Nguyễn Trần Hoàng Thịnh, Trần Quốc Khánh and Võ Thanh Tùng, who have produced numerous award-winning productions.

The group won Production of the Year at the Cống Hiến (Devotion) Music Awards given by the Thể Thao – Văn Hoá (Sports and Culture) Newspaper in 2020 and 2023.

The MV was released on February 1, earning more than 89,000 views on YouTube.

Young singer Doãn Hiếu has released the music video Về Nhà Thôi (Let’s Come Home), which is written by Hiếu and Khánh Jenda and produced by Khánh.

The video has a gentle but also joyful melody with lyrics about the journey back home for Tết.

Hiếu said, “The MV is a reminder to people who are working and studying far from home. Tết is a special time for family gatherings, so let's come back home to reunite with family.”

Hiếu, 20, is a student at the HCM City Conservatory of Music.

He has become popular among young audiences since 2022 with his own songs such as Nụ Cười 18, 20 (Smile at 18, 20) and Họ Yêu Ai Mất Rồi (They Love Someone Else), which have earned millions of views on YouTube. 

Hà Nội Museum delivers the flavour of traditional Tết

Hà Nội Museum organises numerous exhibitions and events to celebrate Tết (Lunar New Year) 2024, introducing traditional cultural values, especially Tết customs in the capital city to the general public.

With the theme Phong vị Tết xưa Hà Nội (Flavours of Traditional Tết in Hà Nội), the exhibition introduces the custom of wrapping bánh chưng (square sticky rice cake), enjoying couplets and Vietnamese traditional calligraphy during Tết, and appreciating bonsai, Tết fireworks and Tết market.

To reflect the traditional customs, practices and cultural essence of the past, the exhibition features a collection of images by Vietnamese and foreign photographers, integrated with installation art in the Nếp Xưa (Ancient Tradition) exhibition space.

Along with the exhibition, Hà Nội Museum also organised a discussion themed Phong vị Tết xưa Hà Nội (Flavours of Traditional Tết in Hà Nội) to help the general public understand the traditions expressed at the exhibition. 

The speakers discussed traditional Tết preparation customs of Hanoians and traditional New Year greetings.

Bùi Xuân Đính, Associate Professor at Hà Nội Open University, underlined that Tết (Lunar New Year) is one of the most special holidays for Vietnamese people.

"The journey to prepare for Tết has numerous customs, and each custom has its specific requirements. Therefore, the ancient Hà Nội citizens must be meticulous and thoughtful, with unanimity among family members," Đính said. 

In addition, Hà Nội Museum also presents the thematic exhibition Năm Thìn kể chuyện Rồng (The Year of the Dragon Tells Dragon Stories).

The dragon is a mascot of this new lunar year and also a mascot associated with the land of Thăng Long – the ancient name of the capital city.

The exhibition includes three themes: the dragon mascot in religious and belief, the dragon mascot in daily life, and the dragon mascot in contemporary life.

The exhibition introduces more than 100 documents and artefacts related to dragon symbols in architecture, religious and belief artwork through the Hà Nội Museum's collection of artefacts. 

Craft village products and handicraft products displayed at the exhibition also convey the application of dragons in contemporary life and fine arts.

Nguyễn Tiến Đà, director of Hà Nội Museum, highlighted that the specialised exhibition of Năm Thìn kể chuyện Rồng conveys good fortune for Tết, ushering in luck, happiness and prosperity to every home. 

National futsal tournaments in good hands after diamond sponsorship deal

HDBank will continue their diamond sponsorship for the national futsal tournaments over the next five years.

The Việt Nam Football Federation and the Voice of Việt Nam revealed the news at a sponsorship announcement on February 1 in Hà Nội.

Following the deal, the 2024 HDBank Futsal National Championship will feature eight teams competing from February 22 to July 31 in Hà Nội, HCM City and Nha Trang under a two-leg home-away format.

All participants can sign one foreign and one overseas Vietnamese player.

The winners will walk away with the golden trophy and VNĐ500 million (US$20,300). The second and third finishers will pocket VNĐ200 million and VNĐ100 million, respectively.

The 2024 HDBank Futsal National Cup will be held in a centralised venue in HCM City. The organisers expect to see up to 10 clubs to compete while timetable will be confirmed later.

Prizes for the tournament will be announced as soon as the VFF publishes the rules and regulation.

Thái Sơn Nam are reigning champions of both tournaments.

"With changes in organisation and careful preparation of teams, we expect the National Championship and the National Cup competitive events where we can find talented players to serve the national team towards important goals in the near future," said Trần Minh Hùng, co-head of the organising committee.

Lê Thành Trung, deputy general director of HDBank added: "HDBank accompanies futsal tournaments as an activity of the sustainable development programme.

"With this activity, HDBank hopes to join hands in improving the quality of the tournament, creating an good playground for futsal clubs, and diversifying local sports activities in Việt Nam.

"HDBank has been accompanied with the national events for seven seasons and hopes to witness another successful year for Việt Nam's futsal in particular and sports in general. It will help Việt Nam integrate to the international competitions and highlight Vietnamese sports in the world." 

Over 300 ferry flights sent to Tan Son Nhat Airport to serve travel surge
 
More than 300 flights had been operated without passengers from other localities to HCM City's Tan Son Nhat Airport to pick up passengers as travel demand to the north and central regions surged ahead of the Tet Lunar New Year holiday. 

According to the airport, over 310 flights were sent here with no passengers onboard between February 1-4, including 104 on February 4. Most of the flights were operated by Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet Air.

Tan Son Nhat Airport served a total of 893 flights with nearly 130,000 passengers on February 4.

Many flights have been delayed over the past three days due to this sharp increase in flight numbers and the bad weather in some northern and northern central regions.

Between midnight February 1 to 4 pm on February 3, Tan Son Nhat operated over 1,100 flights, and 659 were delayed. VietJet Air recorded a delay ratio of 74 percent, and Vietnam Airlines 59 percent. These two carriers operated the largest number of flights.

The southern airport expects to serve between 120,000-150,000 passengers daily during this Tet, an increase of 30 percent on normal days.

Tan Son Nhat is the biggest in Vietnam with a capacity of 28 million passengers a year, but it already operated at 150 percent of its capacity, or 41 million passengers, in 2019. A third terminal is scheduled to be completed at the airport next year to increase the total capacity to 50 million passengers a year.

Vehicles to be banned from many Hanoi streets for lightshow

Hanoi will ban vehicles on many streets in Tay Ho District due to a lightshow scheduled to be held in the area around the West Lake.

The event is slated to take place from 6-11 pm on February 5 and February 7, and 6 pm on February 9 to 2 pm on February 10. Therefore vehicles will be prohibited on a section of Van Cao Street linking Thuy Khue-Van Cao Intersection to Nguyen Dinh Thi-Van Cao-Trich Sai T-junction. 

Vehicles will be not allowed to travel on the section linking Alley 128 on Thuy Khue Street-Nguyen Dinh Thi to Nguyen Dinh Thi-Van Cao-Trich Sai T-junction and on the section from Alley 152 Thuy Khue-Nguyen Dinh Thi to Nguyen Dinh Thi-Van Cao-Trich Sai T-junction.

Vehicles will also be banned on part of Trich Sai Street.

Drones will be used for the light performance, the first kind to be organised in the city.

Russian national detained for killing compatriot in Vietnam

The police have detained a Russian national suspected of murdering another Russian in Binh Thuan province, southern Vietnam.

The victim is a man who was found dead on February 1 near a rice field in Thien Son village (Thien Nghiep commune – Phan Thiet city– Binh Thuan province).

Hearing about the news, the police of Phan Thiet city were dispatched to the scene to investigate the case.

The victim was a 44-year-old Russian national, whose body was wrapped in a blanket. His head also had a huge wound.

A notice was issued, asking people who know or have information related to the Russian victim to report to the police.

The police later arrested a Russian national suspected of killing his compatriot. The suspect confessed that the two men had had a quarrel while looking for a room to rent, leading to the murder.

Further investigations are underway.

Flower streets bring spring to patients in HCM City

When Tet (Lunar New Year) comes, hospitals in Ho Chi Minh City are often decorated with flowers to encourage the spirit of their employees and patients who have to stay at the hospitals during the Vietnamese people’s biggest and longest festival.

This year, the floral arrangements were designed to stretch along major pedestrian zones at hospitals like Cho Ray, Tu Du, and Children’s Hospital 2, bringing a cheerful vibe to every corner.

Nguyen Tri Thuc, Director of the Cho Ray Hospital, said that each year, 800-1,000 patients have to welcome Tet at the hospital.

Therefore, the hospital has organised the flower street over the past six years, with the hope of bringing a cheerful spring atmosphere, filled with flowers, to encourage the spirit of patients, helping them overcome their illness, and return to their families soon.

Hundreds of gifts are also being presented to its patients on this occasion.

Virtual gathering connects Vietnamese “blue beret” soldiers together before Tet

The Ministry of National Defence on February 5 held a virtual event connecting with the Vietnamese forces engaged in the United Nations peacekeeping mission on the threshold of the upcoming Lunar New Year (Tet) festival.

The event facilitated a connection between Hanoi’s Military Radio and Television Centre, Ho Chi Minh City’s 175 Military Hospital, and key UN peacekeeping missions, including the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA), the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), the UN Peacekeeping Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) and the UN headquarters in the US.

Chairing the event, Deputy Minister of National Defence Sen. Lieut. Gen Hoang Xuan Chien, who is also Chairman of the Defence Ministry's steering committee on participation in the UN peacekeeping operations, extended his warm Tet wishes to the Vietnamese "blue beret" soldiers.

He reminded them to enjoy Tet while fulfilling their duties, especially ensuring the safety of the forces stationed in peacekeeping missions amid conflicts and instability in Africa.

Exchanges between officers, soldiers and their relatives were also held at the event.

As a guest at the Abyei point, Minister of Education and Construction of Abyei region Nyinkwany Aguer Bol commended the Vietnamese peacekeeping force in Abyei for going beyond their mission, not only fulfilling their peacekeeping duties but also making specific contributions to assisting the local people.

Over the past nearly a decade, Vietnam has sent nearly 800 officers and soldiers to the UN peacekeeping missions at UN bases and headquarters, in alignment with the country's commitment to realising the Party and State's foreign policy of multilateralisation and diversification of external ties, and being a responsible member of the international community, in which the military and police forces have been at the forefront.

Rare sea turtle released back to wild

A 6.5kg hawksbill sea turtle that was accidentally caught by a local man was released back to the sea off the coast of the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau on February 5.

Border guards in Phuoc Thuan border station in Xuyen Moc district organised the release.

On February 4, the wild animal was handed over by a local man who accidentally caught it near Ho Tram beach.

The turtle, whose scientific name is Eretmochelys imbricata, is one of the five sea turtle species in danger of extinction in the world and Vietnam. Many of them are living in the territorial waters around the province's Con Dao district.

Deputy PM urges strict punishments of IUU violations

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang has urged the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), ministries, agencies and localities to prevent fishing vessels from encroaching on foreign waters and take stringent measures against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing activities.

While chairing the 9th meeting of the National Steering Committee for IUU Fishing Prevention and Control in the southern province of Kien Giang on February 5, Quang, who is also head of the committee, suggested bringing serious violation cases to People's Courts for trial as a deterrent measure.

The MARD was tasked with continuing to arrange inspection teams and instruct localities in combating IUU fishing and reporting the results to the PM. Additionally, it should collaborate with relevant agencies and localities to increase more effective and widespread communications about the collective effort.

Specific tasks were also assigned to the Ministry of National Defence, the Ministry of Public Security and authorities of coastal cities and provinces.

At present, there are about 15,198 unregistered, unlicensed and technically-unchecked fishing vessels nationwide, with the highest number in the south central province of Binh Thuan, with 1,868 vessels.

Since the beginning of 2023, nearly 5,000 cases have emerged wherein vessels lost connection with the Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) for more than 10 days. Only 8 out of 37 vessels detained by foreign countries have undergone verification and subsequent penalties, accounting for 21.62%.

To achieve the goal of having the European Commission's "yellow card" warning lifted this year, heads of ministries, agencies and localities were requested to fully fix shortcomings as recommended by the EC during its fourth inspection, ensure concrete results and data to work with the EC's fifth inspection team scheduled for April.

Homeland spring programme held in Sri Lanka

The Vietnamese Embassy in Sri Lanka held a “Xuan Que Huong” (Homeland Spring) programme on February 3 to bring a warm Lunar New Year (Tet) atmosphere to the Vietnamese community in the South Asian nation.

Vietnamese people who are living, studying, and working in Sri Lanka gathered at the embassy and together prepared traditional Vietnamese dishes.

Speaking at the event, Vietnamese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Ho Thi Thanh Truc briefed the participants on Vietnam’s socio-economic achievements, foreign affairs results, and international integration in 2023.

According to the ambassador, the embassy organised various activities in political, economic and cultural diplomacy. The activities helped the two countries' people understand more about each other, creating a foundation for further people-to-people exchanges, and contributing to the continued development of Vietnam - Sri Lanka relations.

She extended her Tet greetings to the Vietnamese community in Sri Lanka.

President ratifies Vietnam-Italy agreement on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters

President Vo Van Thuong has signed Decision No. 99/2024/QD-CTN approving the agreement on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters between Vietnam and Italy.

The ratification is an objective requirement in the new situation, creating a direct and full legal basis for the two nations' law enforcement agencies to cooperate in mutual legal assistance in criminal matters, and better protecting the legitimate rights and interests of each country's citizens, thus contributing to promoting the collaboration between the two countries' judicial agencies in particular, and between Vietnam and Italy in general.

It also aligns with Vietnam's foreign policy of active and proactive integration into the world in a comprehensive manner in its capacity as a responsible member of the international community. It is a testament to Vietnam's delivery on international commitments in the field of criminal justice and its efforts to prevent and combat crimes.

State-owned firms asked to help motivate growth of other economic sectors

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has asked the Commission for Management of State Capital at Enterprises (CMSC) to build and implement future development strategies for State-owned groups and corporations under its management, with a view to better clarifying their role in leading, motivating and promoting the growth of other economic sectors.

Speaking at a working session with the commission and 19 groups and corporations under its management in Hanoi on February 5, PM Chinh instructed that the commission should focus on removing legal obstacles to create a favourable legal framework for the SOEs, while intensifying supervision and power control. 

He required that the SOEs must pay more attention to investment in development with clear focus and priority, and restructure their administration, finance, input materials and fields of operation in line with the development trends. 

The CMSC and the 19 State-owned groups and corporations must strictly follow conclusions and resolutions of the Party Central Committee, the National Assembly and the Government in implementing their goals and tasks for 2024, the PM said, adding that the groups and corporations must operate in line with the socialist-oriented market mechanism. 

Last year, the total revenue of the 19 groups and corporations reached nearly 1.13 quadrillion VND (46.34 billion USD), equivalent to 105.15% of the yearly plan.

Their combined pre-tax profit hit 53.25 trillion VND (excluding Vietnam Electricity) was equal to 166.09% of the 2023 plan and 110.92% compared to the same period in 2022. The groups and corporations paid 79.25 trillion VND to the State budget, reaching 199.96% of the plan for the year and equivalent to 120.22% of the figure recorded in the same period of 2022.

Particularly, of the 19 groups and corporations, 15 completed and surpassed their revenue plans, 16 reached and exceeded their pre-tax profit plans, and 16 completed and surpassed their State budget payment plans.

However, PM Chinh pointed out that the firms have shown a number of shortcomings, including limited development investment, inadequate contributions to the GDP compared to asset values, and modest business and investment efficiency.

He demanded that ministries, sector and the CMSC coordinate closely to promptly handle problems related to the enterprises. 

At the same time, the PM emphasised the need to prevent and combat corruption, negative phenomena and group interest, and improve the living conditions for labourers.

He also reminded the groups and corporations of the need to ensure the supply of electricity, coal, petrol, and materials for production industries as well as transportation activities and national security and defence.

Vietnamese in UK celebrate traditional Tet

Vietnamese people living in the UK have joined local people in a series of activities imbued with Vietnam’s traditional cultural features to welcome the Lunar New Year of the Dragon.

The biggest annual festival of the Vietnamese community in the UK, the event attracted a large number of participants, with folk games, martial arts performances, and singing in Vietnamese.

A contest to wrap ‘banh chung’ (square sticky rice cake), a traditional dish for the Lunar New Year (Tet) Festival of Vietnamese people, was also held and joined in by many people.

Participants also had an opportunity to attend the spring fair, with traditional specialties such as Tet jam, salted/sugared dried fruits, green tea, banh chung, spring rolls, fresh fruits imported from Vietnam, and flowers and ornamental plants such as peach blossom, apricot blossom, and kumquat.

Speaking at the event, Vietnamese Ambassador to the UK Nguyen Hoang Long affirmed that the embassy always accompanies overseas Vietnamese in the UK in community activities, contributing to preserving and promoting the cultural and humanistic values of the Vietnamese people.

Vietnamese citizens still safe in Israel amidst hostilities: Embassy

There have been no casualties or loss in both human and assets recorded among the Vietnamese citizens in Israel after four months of the  fierce hostilities between Israel and Hamas, according to the Vietnamese Embassy there.

Ambassador Ly Duc Trung said around 700 Vietnamese citizens are living in Israel.

He said last year, the embassy kept a close watch on and gave timely warning to the Vietnamese community on the situation as well as safety measures.

An array measures to protect the citizens were taken. The embassy’s officials maintained regular contact with the Vietnamese community, coordinated with the host country's relevant agencies and diplomatic corps to carry out the citizen protection work. They also made concerted efforts to provide food and necessities for the Vietnamese students stranded in Sderot  and evacuate them.

Regular meetings with the Vietnamese people were held, helping them get updated on the situation, Ambassador Trung said, adding the embassy has advised the Vietnamese citizens and families to avoid areas of conflict, move to the third countries of come back to the homeland.

In preparation for the worst, the embassy also outlined a plan in which it will join hands with competent sides of Jordan to support Vietnamese citizens with immigration procedures at the border gate with Israel, and help them continue their journey to the third countries or Vietnam in case all airports in Israel are shut down.

Life of the Vietnamese community is returning into normal, the diplomat added.

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