Lilama 2 Technology International College in the southern province of Dong Nai on January 17 signed a contract with the UK’s BTEC Pearson on the transfer of training programmes in semiconductor technology and carbon credits.

With this transfer, the college becomes the first educational establishment in Vietnam to offer a training programme in carbon credits and the second to provide training in semiconductor technology.

The college principal Nguyen Khanh Cuong said that the first semiconductor technology and carbon credit training courses will be offered in 2024, enrolling 25-50 students in each class.

BTEC Pearson has transferred to the school the curriculum and supported the school in training teachers. In recent years, the college has received equipment from the German Government to facilitate semiconductor technology and carbon credit teaching and learning.

According to Cuong, the value of Vietnam's semiconductor market will increase by around 6.5% a year from now to 2025 but the sector is facing a serious shortage of human resources, with local supply can meet only about 20% of demand.

Le Tuan Dung, Director of BTEC Pearson in Vietnam, said that to develop a green economy and circular economy and realise its climate change commitments, Vietnam needs a big, professional, and competent workforce, and a mandatory carbon credit market.

The cooperation between BTEC Pearson and Lilama 2 Technology International College will help supply quality personnel for the semiconductor and carbon credit industries, he said.

Vietnamese Tet Festival 2024 opens in HCM City

Ho Chi Minh City’s Department of Tourism and the Vietnam Cuisine Culture Association (VCCA) on January 18 evening kicked off the Vietnamese Lunar New Year (Tet) Festival at Le Van Tam Park in district 1.

The four-day event features a range of activities honouring Vietnamese culture and food, and Tet rituals that are expected to help festival goers learn about the traditional cultural values of Tet.

In addition to traditional and contemporary art programmes, the festival will include many national Tet rituals. It also includes more than 150 booths displaying various Vietnamese products and specialities of localities across Vietnam.

VCCA Chairman Nguyen Quoc Ky said that the festival, held in Ho Chi Minh City every Tet for years, has become one of the events that the city's tourism industry can take advantage of to promote traditional Tet cultural elements and help businesses to introduce products and services.

It also helps the city to promote the uniqueness and diversity of culinary culture to international friends, thus bringing Vietnamese cuisine to the world.

Grassroots-level healthcare plays import role in fighting tuberculosis

The diagnosis of tuberculosis at grassroots-level healthcare facilities plays an important role in the fight against tuberculosis as Vietnam stands at high risk of tuberculosis outbreaks.

Dinh Van Luong, Director of the National Lung Hospital and head of the Executive Board of the Vietnam Tuberculosis Prevention and Control Project, said grassroots-level healthcare facilities are a competent, responsible, and dedicated force protecting the community against the disease.

Assessing the COVID-19 impact on tuberculosis prevention and control, he said the pandemic delayed by five to eight years the provision of essential TB services and increasing the global TB burden.

“Vietnam is still a country with a high tuberculosis burden, ranking 11th among the 30 countries with the highest proportion of tuberculosis patients and multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in the world, according to World Health Organization’s Global TB Report 2023,” he told the Vietnam News Agency.

During the pandemic, Vietnam’s TB fight faced challenges with the over 20% decline in the number of infections detected in the community in 2021 compared to 2019 and 2020.

This put Vietnam on the list of countries with the highest rate of reduction in tuberculosis detection in the world due to the impact of the pandemic.

The TB death rate in Vietnam has been also on the rise, reaching 12,000 people in 2021, an increase of 35.8% compared to 2020.

The National Tuberculosis Prevention and Control Programme has strived to launch the TB prevention task at all communes and wards across the country, with 100% of the population getting access to the programme.

Fifty-one out of 63 provinces and cities nationwide have established lung and tuberculosis hospitals.

The programme has expanded cooperation with partners such as the Ministry of Public Security, Department of HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control under the Ministry of Health, World Health Organization, KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as central and provincial general hospitals.

Local authorities have committed to implementing the model of TB detection in the community.

Everyone who has a health check-up at community medical facilities will have TB screening and check-up for other lung diseases, high blood pressure and diabetes.

Thanks to that effort, in the first nine months of 2023, the total number of TB patients detected by public and private healthcare facilities reached 26,300 patients, accounting for 33.4% of total patients.

This has demonstrated the efficiency of grassroots TB detection, Luong said.

The official said the medical sector needs to strengthen TB diagnosis at the community level, focusing on high-risk groups to early detect and treat TB, looking towards ending the infection source in the community, and soon ending the epidemic.

In 2023, one of the most outstanding achievements in the fight against TB in Vietnam was the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the disease diagnosis.

The application of AI will facilitate the detection of tuberculosis, especially cases that are easily missed or difficult to reach, Luong said.

The medical sector has also stepped up TB detection in the community and at healthcare facilities by applying X-ray and Xpert testing for diagnosis.

Thanks to active participation of the community level healthcare system, in the first nine months of 2023, the National Tuberculosis Prevention and Control Programme detected 78,674 cases, a year-on-year increase of 1,909 cases.

Detection of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis during this period also rose by 44% compared to the same period in 2021.

Vice President receives Ford Motor’s senior official

Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan hosted a reception for President of Ford Motor’s International Markets Group Kay Hart in Hanoi on January 17, during which she proposed the US company consider expanding investment cooperation in Vietnam.

Congratulating Ford Motor on its achievements over the past 120 years and Ford Vietnam Co. Ltd. on receiving a first-class Labour Order from the Vietnamese State, Xuan said that Ford has invested 208 million USD in the Southeast Asian country, and created jobs for over 5,000 local labourers.

With its advantages such as a large population and an important role in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Vietnam is speeding up administrative and institutional reforms to create the most favourable environment for foreign businesses, including those from the US, she said.

In the current period, Vietnam invites partners to invest under new-generation free trade agreements, and carries out policies on green transformation, digital transformation, and sustainable development. Therefore, it hopes the group will have innovations in technology, corporate governance, and human resources training, Xuan said.

The Vice President also expressed her hope that Ford Vietnam will continue to carry out community activities to support customers and people, especially in remote and disadvantaged areas.

Hart affirmed that Vietnam is one of the company’s key markets in the world, and Ford Motor's factory in Hai Duong province is one of its three important assembly plants in the region.

She informed the host that Ford Motor is considering the development of products and new technologies in Vietnam, and hopes to continue receiving support from Hai Duong province’s authorities and the Vietnamese Government.

Health insurance coverage reaches 93.35% of population

The Vietnam Social Security (VSS) has completed and surpassed all set targets in the coverage of social, unemployment and health insurance, according to VSS General Director Nguyen The Manh.

Health insurance has now covered 93.35% of the country's population, exceeding the goal set in the Government’s Resolution No. 01/NQ-CP as well as the National Assembly’s Resolution No. 68/2022/QH15 on socio-economic development plan for 2023, Manh said at the VSS's conference in Hanoi on January 17 to review the sector’s performance in 2023 and launch tasks for 2024.

Last year, total premium from social insurance, unemployment insurance, and health insurance reached over 472.3 trillion VND (19.24 billion USD), a year on year rise of 8.55%, 1.41% higher than the target assigned by the Prime Minister, while total expenditure was 439 trillion VND.

Meanwhile, the rate of people joining social insurance reached 39.25% of the labour force, or 18.25 million people. The rate for unemployment insurance was 31.58%, or 14.69 million people, said the VSS leader.

In 2023, the VSS paid monthly pensions and social insurance benefits to 95,670 people, along with one-off payout of social insurance benefits to more than 1.3 million people, and sickness, maternity, convalescence, and health recovery benefits to more than 8.8 million people, he added.

Diversity of festivals demonstrates freedom of religion in Vietnam

The diversity of religious activities, including festivals, clearly demonstrates that the right to freedom of belief and religion in Vietnam is guaranteed in line with Article 24 of the 2013 Constitution which stipulates that everyone shall enjoy freedom of belief and religion, and can follow any religion or follow none; and the State respects and protects the freedom of belief and of religion, according to insiders.

Statistics from the grassroots culture department under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism showed that there are 7,966 festivals held in Vietnam every year, including 544 religious ones. Religious festivals are held with strict rituals and ceremonies in accordance with religions’ regulations.

Each religion has its own beliefs and system of doctrines, canons, and rituals, which are characteristics to distinguish this religion from the others. However, in Vietnam, although beliefs and religions have different origins and principles of practice, there is no severe conflict. On the contrary, these religions interact with each other and connect with surrounding communities, which is a unique feature of beliefs in the Southeast Asian country.

It can be said that religious festivals in Vietnam, in addition to possessing sacredness like everywhere else, also have their own strong sense of community.

Important festivals of religions are held on an increasingly large scale, attracting the participation of a large number of followers and people, and receiving respectful congratulations from leaders of the Party, the State, the Vietnam Fatherland Front and the support to ensure social order and safety from local authorities.

Big religious festivals include Vesak Day marking the birth anniversary of the Buddha, Christmas, La Vang Pilgrimage Festival, Kate Festival of Cham Brahman followers, and Cao Dai region’s grand ritual dedicated to the Duc Chi Ton (Supreme Being) or Great Father who they believe to be the ancestor of the world.

According to a survey by the US-based Pew Research Centre, Vietnam is among the 12 countries in the world and six in the Asia-Pacific region with very high levels of religious diversity.

The Government's Committee for Religious Affairs said that the country currently has 26.5 million religious followers, accounting for 27% of the population. Of the total, Buddhism has more than 14 million followers and 18,544 places of worship, and Catholicism has over 7 million followers and 7,771 places of worship.

In the 2003-2022 period, the number of dignitaries, sub-dignitaries, and worship facilities has increased significantly. In 2003, Vietnam recognised six religions with 15 organisations, 17 million followers, about 20,000 places of worship, 34,000 dignitaries, and 78,000 sub-dignitaries. By 2022, it recognised 16 religions with 43 organisations, 26.5 million followers, more than 53,000 dignitaries, about 135,000 sub-dignitaries, and over 29,000 places of worship.

It is worth noting that among the 16 recognised religions, there are nine imported into Vietnam from foreign countries in different historical periods such as Buddhism, Catholicism, Protestantism and Brahman.

The State ensures and creates conditions for religious organisations to establish religious training facilities and open training classes. The country currently has 62 religious training establishments in 36 provinces and cities.

Vietnam closely monitors disease situation amid global COVID-19 reemergence

The Ministry of Health’s Department of Preventive Medicine on January 16 asked localities nationwide to keep a close watch on the disease situation in the face of complex developments of infectious diseases, especially respiratory ones, around the world.

In December 2023, nearly 10,000 deaths from COVID-19 were reported worldwide while the number of hospitalised cases surged 42% from the previous month. New variants of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus have continuously changed, and sub-variant JN.1 is spreading rapidly around the globe, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The US, China, and some European countries have recorded the re-emergence of COVID-19 infections as well as the transmission of other respiratory illnesses like seasonal flu and respiratory syncytial virus.

In Vietnam, the northern region is now in the transitional period between winter and spring, when cold and dry weather is alternated with wet weather, triggering infectious diseases, especially respiratory ones. Meanwhile, the numbers of cases suffering from other infectious diseases like dengue fever, hand-foot-and-mouth disease, and some others which have already had vaccines have also been on the rise in many places, the department pointed out.

It warned that the coming Lunar New Year (Tet) holidays and spring festive season, when trading and travel demand surges, along with abnormal weather changes are favourable conditions for diseases to spread, particularly among children with weak immunity and the elderly with comorbidities, who are more vulnerable to infectious diseases.

Given this, the Department of Preventive Medicine asked provincial-level departments of health to propose their provinces and cities’ administrations soon issue plans on infectious disease prevention and control for 2024. They were also told to engage all local sectors and socio-political organisations in the work, especially during Tet.

In particular, local health departments were demanded to order grassroots health units like disease control centres and preventive medicine bodies keep a close watch on the disease situation and the increase in infections of respiratory illnesses and severe cases of viral pneumonia.

They need to maintain constant monitoring to detect infections early so as to make timely response, control transmission, and minimise severe cases and deaths, the Department of Preventive Medicine added, requesting the expanded programme on immunisation be properly maintained.

Hanoi's art exchange programme helps promote international friendship

An international art exchange programme to welcome New Year 2024 was held by the Hanoi Union of Friendship Organisations (HAUFO) on January 16 as part of activities to nurture and strengthen the friendship between the people of Vietnam and foreign nations around the world.

The event saw the participation of ambassadors, representatives from foreign embassies in Vietnam, international and non-governmental organisations, and foreign students studying in Hanoi.

Addressing the event, HAUFO Chairman Nguyen Ngoc Ky affirmed that 2023 was a successful year for the capital city's foreign affairs in the context of intertwined challenges and opportunities, and many bilateral and multilateral relations between Hanoi and other countries and territories, localities, and foreign organisations were established and upgraded.

Many exchange and friendship activities were organised, opening up orientations for cooperation in the areas of economy, politics, culture, and society, helping to improve the position of Hanoi and Vietnam in general in the international arena, he said.

The official expressed his gratitude to international delegates for their support and for standing side by side with Vietnam on its path of integration and development.

Participants reviewed and shared experiences in foreign affairs, particularly people-to-people diplomacy, throughout 2023. They emphasised the crucial role of Hanoi in developing and elevating diplomatic relations between Vietnam and countries worldwide.

Palestinian Ambassador to Vietnam Saadi Salama, who is Head of the Diplomatic Corps in Vietnam, expressed his hope that HAUFO will make more successes in promoting people-to-people diplomacy and fostering solidarity and friendship between the people of Hanoi and Vietnam with the international community.

The diplomat took this occasion to wish the people of Hanoi a New Year full of peace, happiness, and prosperity.

Phu Quoc emerges as new trending destination among Koreans

Phu Quoc island in the southern province of Kien Giang has emerged as a new trending destination, spurred by the introduction of new air routes by Korean Air.

Despite a shorter Lunar New Year holidays from February 9-12, major Korean travel companies such as Hana Tour, Very Good Travel and Kyowon Tour Travel Easy on January 17 reported a remarkable annual surge in tour bookings, averaging around 50%.

Hana Tour revealed a substantial 48% increase in overseas travel bookings during the holidays, demonstrating the highest growth in Southeast Asia at 57%, followed by Japan at 25%, Europe 6%, South Pacific 6%, and China 5%. This underscores a discernible customer preference for destinations with shorter distances.

Breaking down the data by region, the demand for travel to Vietnam and Japan collectively constituted over half of the bookings, with 27% heading to Vietnam and 25% to Japan.

Analysing holiday booking data, Kyowon Tour Travel Easy identified Japan as having the highest proportion of reservations, accounting for 20.8% of the total. Vietnam secured the second position with a share of 11.7%.

Very Good Travel anticipated a booking growth of more than 10%. Among all international travel bookings, Southeast Asia took the lead with the highest share at 37.2%, followed by Japan at 29.1%, Europe 11.2%, Oceania 8.1%, and China 6.4%.

According to its data, newly emerging tourist destinations gaining popularity among travellers include Siem Reap in Cambodia, Phu Quoc in Vietnam, Taichung in Taiwan (China), and Matsuyama in Japan.

Renowned for its long beaches with gleaming white sand nestled beside inviting turquoise waters, Phu Quoc island received accolades from the American travel magazine Condé Nast Traveler (CN Traveler) as one of the world’s top islands in 2023, marking its second consecutive year on the prestigious list.

Beyond its stunning landscapes, Phu Quoc stands out as one of Vietnam's most alluring destinations, offering a kaleidoscope of cultural-historical experiences and a range of accommodations, from affordable housing to luxurious resorts.

Hanoi aims to green up bus system ahead of schedule

Hanoi is taking steps to complete the “greening up” of local bus services 15 years ahead of the roadmap designed by the Government, which aims to convert buses from using petrol to green energy (electric or CNG) in Hanoi by 2050, according to Vice Chairman of the Hanoi municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Manh Quyen.

In order to achieve the goal, the city has assigned the municipal Department of Transport to work with 11 public transportation service providers in the city on the conversion, said Quyen, adding that all the firms have shown support to the scheme.

The official said that to ensure the quality of the service after the conversion, the city will seek businesses that meet the requirements in both vehicles and service quality.

Dao Duy Phong, Vice Director of the Hanoi Department of Transport, said that the department has propose the launch of nine additional electric bus routes right in the first quarter of 2024.

However, Chairman of the Hanoi Transport Association Bui Danh Lien said that Hanoi’s ambition to complete the scheme 15 years ahead of the schedule is a tough goal.

Among the greatest difficulties in the work are capital mechanism and spare part supply, he said, stressing that the cost for the scheme is huge.

He underscored the need for the authorities’ support to bus service suppliers in policy and capital, along with efforts to boost the growth of spare part supply facilities to meet the increasing demand of spare parts for electric vehicles.

Lien suggested that along with importing spare parts, the city should promote domestic production, while carefully calculating the work to ensure electric buses can operate smoothly when the scheme is expanded.

First Vietnam golf festival to be held in Da Lat

Sai Gon Giai Phong (Liberated Sai Gon) Newspaper and Global Entertainment JSC on January 18 signed a cooperation agreement for co-organising the Vietnam Golf Festival 2024 in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong.

The first event of this kind is scheduled to take place from May 24 – 26 in Da Lat city as part of activities to celebrate the 78th anniversary of the Vietnam Sports Day (March, 27, 1946 – 2024).

The event will help bring the sport closer to people, creating a meaningful playground for connecting golfers and golf lovers.

It is expected to offer a good chance to promote Vietnam's potential and strengths in golf-related tourism economic development, especially golf tourism to the world.

The event is also to raise funds and resources for a charity programme launched by the newspaper to support the building of schools, and give clean water and lighting projects, scholarships, uniforms, and textbooks to schools in remote and border areas, thus encouraging and facilitating their students’ study.

Previously, on December 20, 2023, the provincial People’s Committee issued an official dispatch giving in-principle approval for the newspaper to organise the festival.

Get-together marks 74th anniversary of Vietnam – China diplomatic ties

The Ho Chi Minh City Union of Friendship Organsiations (HUFO) organised a get-together on January 18 to celebrate the 74th founding anniversary of Vietnam – China diplomatic relations (January 18, 1950 - 2024).

At the event, Nguyen Huu Hiep, Secretary of the Party Committee of Thu Duc city and Chairman of the Vietnam - China Friendship Association (VCFA) of HCM City, laid stress on the sound cooperation between the two Parties, States and localities over the past time, saying it will chart a path for the bilateral ties to develop into a stronger and more practical fashion.

He recalled mutual visits by top leaders of the two Parties and States in 2023, with the most notable one being the state visit by Party General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping in December which aimed at unceasingly consolidating and developing the traditional friendship – a precious asset of the two nations' people.

Hiep said that HUFO, VCFA, the Consulate General of China and the Chinese business community in Ho Chi Minh City have worked together to organise an array of friendship, cultural, art, social and exchange activities with a view to promoting mutual understanding between the Vietnamese southern economic hub and Chinese localities, helping to nurture the time-honoured friendship between the Vietnamese and Chinese people.

Wei Huaxiang, Consul General of China in Ho Chi Minh City, also attributed the practical cooperation between Vietnam and China to the regular high-level contacts and vibrant cultural exchange programmes.

Besides being a leading investor with 707 new projects in 2023, accounting for 22.1% of the total number of new projects in Vietnam, China has maintained its position as the largest trading partner of the Southeast Asian country, he said, adding bilateral cooperation has brought practical benefits to the two countries and their people.

The traditional friendship between the two countries have been nurtured by generations of leaders of both sides, becoming a common valuable asset of the two Parties, States and people, he stressed, highlighting the Consulate General of China in HCM City pledged to continue its bridging role to promote exchanges, cooperation and mutual understanding between HCM City and Chinese localities, helping to enrich the Vietnam – China Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership.

NA Chairman attends ceremony announcing establishment of Viet Yen township

National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue on January 18 evening attended a ceremony to announce the National Assembly Standing Committee's resolution on the establishment of Viet Yen township and its wards in the northern province of Bac Giang.

According to the resolution, Viet Yen township will be established based on the entire natural area and population of Viet Yen district. The township will comprise 17 commune-level administrative units, including nine wards and eight communes.

NA Chairman Hue said the establishment of Viet Yen township serves as a crucial premise to stimulate economic development and improve the material and spiritual lives of local people.

He highlighted the significance of the event, saying that it marked a milestone not only for the Party Organisation, administration and people of Viet Yen township but also in Bac Giang’s development and integration journey, and its acceleration of industrialisation and modernisation.

The top legislator urged the Party committees and administrations at all levels, and local people to focus on leveraging its internal resources, potential, and strengths, fully tapping advantages in geographical location and historical-cultural landscapes, and opportunities, and making stronger efforts to overcome challenges towards ensuring the rapid and sustainable development of Viet Yen township.

He said that the locality should also pay heed to mobilising and effectively using resources, especially high-quality human resources working in State management, business management, and promoting science - technology development; and concentrate on investing in and improving the quality of urban areas, linking urban development with economic growth moving towards a green and smart urban model that adapts to climate change, helping to turn Viet Yen into a socio-economic development driving force of Bac Giang.

The NA Chairman also emphasised the need for the locality to better the leadership of Party organisations, build a streamlined and effective political system, accelerate administrative reforms and application of information technology, and take measures to better State management, especially land management.

Resources should be arranged for developing technical infrastructure, protecting the environment, and training high-quality human resources, he added.

In its development process, Viet Yen district became a bright spot in Bac Giang province and the northern midland and mountain region, with the production value growing by 19.94% in 2023, and 25.56% per year in the period 2020 – 2023.

These results have contributed to Bac Giang province's rapid and steady development, helping Bac Giang to lead the country in GRDP growth in 2023.

PM sketches out major tasks to boost cultural industries’ growth

The Government Office has issued a notice on Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s conclusion at a recent national teleconference on the development of Vietnam’s cultural industries.

The conclusion clarified that cultural industries refer to industries that produce artistic and creative products with tangible or intangible nature through exploiting cultural values and intellectual products and services with social and cultural significance to generate economic benefits.

It highlighted the Party and State’s policies, orientations and laws aiming to promote the development of cultural industries, as well as the effective investment of capital in the industries.

However, compared to other sectors, the development of Vietnam’s cultural industries has yet to match the distinct potential, outstanding opportunities, and competitive advantages of the country, it said, underlining a number of difficulties and challenges in the work, including the unclear role, responsibility and authority of State management in a number of areas.

The conclusion sketched out a number of fundamental viewpoints in the development of cultural industries, including associating the process with the spreading of the image of Vietnam and its people as well as preserving and promoting the national cultural identity, meeting the creative, characteristic, professional, healthy, competitive and sustainability requirements, generally creating national trademarks for Vietnam’s cultural products and services to join global value chains.

In the conclusion, the PM stressed the need to implement tasks and solutions in a synchronous, drastic and consistent manner with certain focal points, focusing on realising breakthrough policies to transform potential cultural resources into products and services with high competitiveness.

The Government leader called for stronger determination and efforts as well as more drastic and effective actions in the work, thus encouraging creativity, respecting the freedom to creativity, and increasing the cultural industries’ contributions to the country’s GDP by 2030.

The PM asked the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to coordinat with relevant agencies, organisations and localities to build a draft directive of the PM on developing Vietnam’s cultural industries and submit the draft document to the authorised agency for approval in 2024.

Deputy PM welcomes heads of EP’s International Trade Committee

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang received Chairman of the Committee on International Trade (INTA) at the European Parliament Bernd Lange in Hanoi on January 18.

Affirming that the EU is a partner of leading importance in Vietnam’s foreign policy, the host official applauded the positive results of Vietnam’s cooperation with the EU as well as members of the bloc.

He called on the EU and its member countries to continue sharing experience and giving financial, technological, and capacity building assistance in climate change response and energy transition to help Vietnam realise the commitment to net zero emissions by 2050 and secure green and sustainable development.

The Deputy PM asked Lange, with his role and prestige, to raise an important voice to promote the 10 remaining EU members’ ratification of the EU - Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) so as to step up equal and mutually beneficial investment ties.

Quang also suggested his guest help persuade the European Commission to remove the “yellow card” warning for Vietnam’s seafood exports on the basis of the recognition of Vietnam’s efforts against illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

Recalling the negotiation on and signing of the EU - Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), Lange stressed that the deal is successful in terms of both political and economic aspects for both sides, helping the Southeast Asian country gain a growth rate many EU members dream about.

He held that Vietnam and the EU boast stable and trustworthy relations and sound cooperation in multiple areas with many agreements inked, so both sides need to work closely to continue developing this relationship in a more intensive and extensive manner in the future.

With regard to the issue of IUU fishing, he spoke highly of Vietnam’s efforts over the recent past, particularly in monitoring fishing vessels and perfecting the legal corridor, and recommended the country promote law enforcement in its localities.

Vietnamese, Chinese leaders exchange greetings on anniversary of diplomatic ties

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong and President Vo Van Thuong have exchanged messages of congratulations with General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and President of China Xi Jinping on the occasion of the 74th founding anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries (January 18, 1950 - 2024).

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh exchanged messages of greetings with Chinese Premier Li Qiang while National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue exchanged congratulatory messages with Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) of China Zhao Leji.

On this occasion, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son also exchanged congratulations with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi.

Vietnam attends preparatory meeting for 19th NAM Summit

Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the United Nations, attended a ministerial-level meeting in Kampala capital of Uganda on January 17 - 18 to prepare for the 19th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).

The meeting was attended by nearly 80 delegations from NAM member countries, along with many countries and regional and international organisations as observers of NAM.

It completed the negotiation on the final draft document to be submitted to leaders for approval at the summit.

The draft recognises the results on the East Sea issue of the recent ASEAN foreign ministers’ meetings, especially the event held in July 2023, and calls on all the parties concerned to exercise self-restraint, resolve all sovereignty and territorial disputes in the East Sea by peaceful means, and not use or threaten to use force.

It also emphasises member countries’ commitment to multilateralism, highlights the compliance with and the promotion of the implementation of international law and the UN Charter, and points out the urgent need to reform the multilateral system amid a new international context with many non-traditional security challenges emerging, especially to reform the UN, the international economic system, and the work methodology of NAM, to further bring into play their role and voice in global processes for the sake of peace, security, and sustainable development.

The draft document also reflects the deep concern over the worsening situation in Palestine and, especially, the serious humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.

The 19th NAM Summit is scheduled to take place in Kampala on January 19 - 20. The Vietnamese delegation, led by Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan, will attend the event.

Vietnam, UNESCO expand cooperation in natural sciences, culture, education

Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Tran Hong Thai on January 18 had a working session with Chief Representative of UNESCO in Vietnam Jonathan Baker.

Thai congratulated Jonathan on starting his working term in Vietnam in the context that Vietnam and UNESCO have committed to promoting a deeper and more practical relationship by signing a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the 2021-2025 period signed during Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's visit and working session with UNESCO in November 2021. The two sides pledged to expand cooperation in natural sciences, culture, and education.

Emphasising that Vietnam's legal corridor on science and technology has been increasingly improved, creating favourable conditions for research and innovation activities, Thai said that in 2021, Vietnam passed some important documents, including a national strategy on research, development, and application of artificial intelligence (AI) until 2030.

Thai believed that the Vietnam - UNESCO cooperation on science and technology will contribute to realising Vietnam's socio-economic development goals as well as proactively promoting cooperation and international integration on science, technology, and innovation.

Promoting Vietnam’s participation in the network of science and technology centres recognised and sponsored by UNESCO will create trust, enhance national prestige and position, and help Vietnamese science integrate deeply into the region and the world, he said.

The Deputy Minister expressed his belief that Baker, during his term in Vietnam, will further promote cooperative relations between Vietnam and UNESCO in areas, including natural sciences, oceanography, water security, biodiversity, water resource management, sustainable development, and climate change response.

For his part, Baker said that UNESCO is a leading multilateral organisation in making recommendations related to important, contemporary issues, including recommendations on ethics in AI.

He said UNESCO will support Vietnam and provide it with recommendations on ethics in AI and integrity in research.

Vietnam determined to win against Indonesia: defender

Defender Pham Xuan Manh has said the Vietnamese national team is determined to secure all three points against Indonesia when the two sides meet on January 19 in Group D of the 2023 AFC Asian Cup finals.

The Vietnamese team has resumed training with a full squad of 26 players, and Manh, who plays for Hanoi FC, shared his thoughts on their next opponent.

He said: "It's crucial for us to defeat Indonesia in order to have a chance of advancing to the next round. Personally, my goal is to contribute by playing on the field.

"I aspire to make as much of an impact as possible. As one of the more experienced players on the team, I am ready to guide and mentor my teammates when the time is right."

This is the third time he has been called up to the national team under the guidance of French coach Philippe Troussier. Manh considers himself fortunate and has put in significant effort to learn new tactics.

"I meticulously study the tactics in every training session, whether with or without the ball. I always need to be prepared for my teammates to pass to me," Manh said.

"On January 15, the entire team watched the match between Indonesia and Iraq together, in which Indonesia lost 1-3 to Iraq. I noticed that Indonesia played with high spirit, unity, and determination.

"The strength of the Indonesian players lies in their spirit; they are not afraid of challenges. However, I personally believe that there is a lot of space behind their midfield."

The player from Nghe An province acknowledged that the match against Indonesia will be very challenging and the Vietnamese team must swiftly put aside their 2-4 loss to Japan and focus on this match.

Both Vietnam and Indonesia currently sit at the bottom of Group D following their respective defeats to Japan and Iraq. The match against Indonesia holds significant importance for the Vietnamese team. If they wish to progress further, Vietnam must secure a victory and obtain a favourable result in their final match against Iraq.

In recent years, the Vietnamese team has frequently emerged victorious when facing Indonesia. In their last six encounters, Vietnam remained undefeated against this opponent, winning three matches and drawing three. In their most recent meeting at the AFF Cup 2022, the Vietnamese team won 2-0.

However, what makes the match on January 19 even more special is that this will be the first meeting of two Southeast Asian teams at the Asian Cup in 52 years, since the third-place match between Thailand and Cambodia at the 1972 Asian Cup.

Politics academy seeks cooperation with Dutch training, research institutions

The Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics (HCMA) wishes to cooperate with leading educational and training institutions or policy consulting research institutes of the Netherlands on leadership science, governance and public policy in the coming time, Director of HCMA Nguyen Xuan Thang told Dutch Ambassador to Vietnam Kees van Baar during a reception in Hanoi on January 18.

Thang, who is also a Politburo member and  Chairman of the Central Theoretical Council, highlighted the growing relations between Vietnam and the Netherlands, saying his academy and Dutch partners have had an exchange programme related to public administration reform and local government building.

He said the HCMA hopes to continue to cooperate with the International Institute of Social Studies (ISS) of the Netherlands, with focus on implementing research projects of mutual interest, delegation exchanges, and training.

The Dutch Ambassador said that Vietnam and the Netherlands have many similarities.

He affirmed that he will continue to make efforts to strengthen the good relationship between the two countries.

HCM City business union proposes measures to speed up green growth

The Ho Chi Minh City Union of Business Associations (HUBA) has proposed a number of measures to help businesses overcome challenges and foster green growth and digital transformation this year.

Speaking at a meeting held on January 17 to review the association’s performance last year and set tasks for 2024, its vice chairman Nguyen Phuoc Hung called on the city’s administration to provide financial, legal and technological support to firms registering for green transformation.  

He exhorted the central government to start a programme for reducing greenhouse emissions with a specific road map, build a green index, establish a carbon credit market and develop rooftop solar power, helping businsses improve their competitiveness and participate in the global supply chain.

He urged the city to have solutions to attract new FDI inflows and reform long-standing industrial parks and export processing zones, speed up public investment, and enable businesses to bid for public projects and borrow from the city’s stimulus programme.

Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Vo Van Hoan praised HUBA’s contributions, saying it has played an important role in connecting the municipal administration and businesses, helped the city administration improve the investment environment and promoted administrative reform.

Considering the challenges this year, it is again expected to make a significant contribution to the economy and business sector, he said.

Hoan noted that the city has set two important tasks for the business community this year: adopting green growth and fostering digital transformation so that they could expand their international market share.

“Green growth is an inevitable development trend, and businesses must embrace it to meet requirements, especially in fastidious markets.”

He said the city would focus on three pillars this year: policies to help adopt green transformation, criteria to measure emissions by businesses and industries so that they could find ways to reduce them and creating a good role model for green growth.

It also plans to establish a centre for supporting digital transformation, he said.

The city is welcoming a wave of foreign investment in semiconductors and artificial intelligence, and it is also an opportunity for businesses, he said.

They need to take advantage of this wave and participate in the supply chains of leading corporations, he said.

The city has sufficient resources in all aspects like land, industrial parks and high-quality human resources to meet the needs of these high-tech industries, he assured.

HUBA Chairman Nguyen Ngoc Hoa said last year it took a number of measures to help business overcome difficulties.

It passed on to authorities various recommendations made by businesses to remove hurdles they faced in many areas such as real estate and corporate bonds, and this helped eliminate many long-standing bottlenecks, he said.

This year it would organise programmes such as the HCM City Economic Forum, HCM City’s ‘Exemplary Products and Services’ and Green Business Awards, ‘Business Café’, trade promotions at home and abroad, and trade fairs to showcase Vietnamese goods, he said.

Also at the event, the association launched the new interface of its website, huba.vn.

International seminar reviews 50 years of Vietnam – Japan relations

An international seminar was held in Hanoi on January 18, reviewing the 50-year relations between Vietnam and Japan and putting forth visions and new orientations to strengthen the bilateral ties.

Jointly held by the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics (HCMA) and the Japanese Embassy in Vietnam, the event is part of the activities to celebrate the 50th founding anniversary of the Vietnam – Japan diplomatic ties (1973 – 2023).

Addressing the event, Nguyen Xuan Thang, HCMA President and Chairman of the Central Theory Council, highlighted the long-lasting relations between the two nations, which were established on the foundation of cultural and historical similarities, and affinity among the people of the two countries.

He said that the Vietnam - Japan relationship is vivid evidence of persistent efforts and perseverance to overcome difficulties and challenges, paving the way to build a good model of a relationship with increasingly similar interests, growing comprehensive cooperation, and deepened strategic trust.

From the Investment Agreement signed in 2003, just five years later, the two countries upgraded it to an economic partnership agreement, creating a solid legal basis for promoting extensive cooperation across fields.

In 2009, Japan was the first G7 country to establish a strategic partnership with Vietnam, and also five years later, they upgraded their relations to an extensive strategic partnership for peace and prosperity in Asia.

Notably, in November 2023, the two countries issued a joint statement on the elevation of their relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership for peace and prosperity in Asia and the world, opening a new stage of development in the bilateral relations.

Thang expressed his belief that the Vietnam – Japan relations will grow stronger, deeper, and more comprehensive in the coming time.

For his part, Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Yamada Takio said that the factor that makes the relationship between Japan and Vietnam increasingly close as it is today is the special ties between the two countries which were formed on the basis of the historical and cultural connection.

The bilateral relations, now in the best stage ever, are becoming increasingly close, the diplomat stressed, adding that preserving and deepening this bond is a solid foundation for further elevating the relationship.

Participants analysed and discussed theoretical and practical issues in the Vietnam - Japan relations over the past 50 years, and proposed many practical recommendations and solutions to realise the visions and development orientations of the bilateral relations.

Vietnamese, Hungarian PMs hold talks

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh held talks with his Hungarian counterpart Viktor Orban in Budapest on January 18 afternoon (local time) as part of his official visit to the European nation from January 18-20.

The Hungarian PM underlined the significance of the Vietnamese PM’s visit in the context that the two countries have marked five years of the comprehensive partnership (2018-2023) and are looking towards the 75th anniversary of their diplomatic ties (1950-2025).

PM Orban affirmed that Vietnam is always Hungary’s partner of leading importance in Southeast Asia and believed that the visit would contribute to deepening the two countries’ relations.

PM Chinh expressed his joy with Hungary’s socio-economic achievements and believed in the country’s further development in the near future.

He affirmed that Vietnam always treasures and wishes to intensify cooperation with Hungary – its first comprehensive partner in Central and Eastern Europe.

The Vietnamese Government leader took the occasion to thank the government and people of Hungary for their valuable assistance to Vietnam in the past struggle for national independence and reunification as well as the present national construction and development, most recently the provision of hundreds of thousands of doses of vaccines and medical equipment for Vietnam at a time when the COVID-19 pandemic was developing complicatedly.

The two PMs discussed major orientations and specific measures to elevate the Vietnam-Hungary comprehensive partnership to a new height.

On politic-diplomatic cooperation, the two sides agreed to increase contacts and delegation exchanges at all levels through Party, State, Government, parliament and people-to-people channels to strengthen political trust and mutual understanding, creating a foundation to promote and expand bilateral cooperation in all fields.

Regarding economic-trade-investment collaboration, they agreed that this is an important pillar in the bilateral relations, while affirming the need to further promote existing cooperation mechanisms, including the early organisation of the 10th meeting of the joint committee on economic cooperation between Vietnam and Hungary. They encouraged agencies and businesses of both sides to continue fully, effectively implement the European Union - Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA).

Chinh suggested Hungary create favourable conditions for more Vietnamese goods to Hungary, especially agro-forestry-fishery products, while affirming Vietnam stands ready to serve as a gateway for Hungarian commodities to access the Vietnamese and ASEAN markets.

He also thanked Hungary for its support to Vietnam in the negotiation and signing of the EVFTA and being the first EU member to ratify the EU - Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA)

Orban affirmed that Hungary, as President of the EU for the last six months of 2024, will promote the remaining countries to ratify the agreement.

Chinh proposed the European Commission (EC) soon remove the “yellow card” warning for Vietnam’s seafood.

Orban said Vietnam is one of Hungary’s most promising markets in the Asia-Pacific region and many Hungarian businesses are interested in expanding investment and business in the Southeast Asian nation. He welcomed the two sides’ organisation of a Vietnam-Hungary business forum during Chinh’s visit, offering opportunities for the direct exchange and connection of both countries’ firms. He vowed to create favourable conditions for Vietnamese enterprises to invest in Hungary in such potential areas as information technology and auto industry.

On education and training, the two sides welcomed recent positive outcomes. Chinh thanked the Hungarian government for its provision of 200 scholarships for Vietnamese students every year. Both sides also welcomed the direct, closely and effective cooperation mechanism between the two countries’ universities, reflected via a series of memoranda of understanding (MoU) signed by Vietnamese and Hungarian training establishments during the visit.

In addition, the two sides concurred to enhance cooperation in other traditional areas such as culture – sports – tourism, labour, science-technology, environment, agriculture and water management, while striving to expand collaboration in new fields such as circular economy, innovation, green finance, renewable energy and digital transformation.

PM Orban spoke highly of the role of the Vietnamese community in Hungary. PM Chinh proposed the Hungarian government continue creating favourable conditions for the Vietnamese expats to deeply integrate into local society, thus contributing to promoting traditional friendship between the two countries in all fields.

Discussing international and regional issues of shared concern, the two PMs affirmed to support resolving disputes by peaceful measures, in line with international law and the United Nations Charter, including not using force or threatening to use force; and ensuring peace, stability and development in the region and the world.

Following the talks, PMs Chinh and Orban witnessed the signing and hand-over of cooperation documents between the countries’ ministries, sectors, and agencies, including an agreement between the two governments on cooperation in combating organised transnational crimes, a memorandum of understanding on cooperation between the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and a cultural cooperation programme between the Vietnamese Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Hungarian Ministry of Culture and Innovation for the 2024 - 2026 period.

After that, the two PMs co-chaired a press conference announcing the outcomes of their talks.

PM Orban told the media that amid the world situation’s volatility, Hungary has recently implemented a Look East policy that considers the cooperation with Vietnam, an emerging country with a growing role in the region and the world, as critically important.

Since the two countries share many similarities in terms of history, culture, and geopolitical positions in the international arena, they agreed to further enhance cooperation in all spheres, including making use of the EVFTA and EVIPA and boosting ties in education, training, science, technology, and tourism, he said.

Orban added that having undergone many wars, both countries have a common viewpoint about peace, so they will support each other at regional and international forums and attach importance to peace, stability, cooperation, and development.

PM Chinh highlighted Vietnam’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification and multilateralisation of external relations, being a good friend, trustworthy partner, and responsible member of the international community, and following the “bamboo” diplomatic style. In its foreign policy, Vietnam treasures the traditional relations with Hungary, the only in Central and Eastern Europe to have a comprehensive partnership with it.

During the talks, the two sides expressed their wish to promote cooperation in all fields, agreeing to increase mutual visits at all levels and supporting each other at multilateral forums, including setting up a mechanism for bilateral interactions when they attend multilateral activities, the Vietnamese Government leader noted.

He said that he also called on Hungary to soon recognise the Vietnamese community in Hungary as an ethnic minority so that they can benefit from policies as equally as other ethnic groups of Hungary.

PM Chinh added he called on Hungary to support ASEAN’s stance on and centrality in the East Sea issue, which are peacefully resolving disputes in line with international law, especially the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS); ensuring security, safety, and freedom of navigation and overflight in the East Sea; and supporting the effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and the negotiation on a substantive and effective code of conduct in the waters (COC).

Concert to feature new pieces of traditional music

New pieces in Vietnamese traditional music style will be debuted in a concert at Hàng Buồm Culture Centre in Hà Nội on Saturday.

The pieces are composed by international and Vietnamese artists to highlight đàn bầu (monochord) performance and ả đào singing. They will be performed by đàn bầu artist Ngô Trà My and traditional singer Vũ Thùy Linh.

In the concert, Trà My and Thùy Linh will perform seven pieces by composers from Colombia, England, Italy, Germany, Iran and Việt Nam, written especially for đàn bầu instrument and ả đào singing in combination, or confrontation, with electronics.

This will be the fourth TRAIECT project of the Hanover Society for New Music (HGNM) taking place in close collaboration with the electronic studio, FMSBW of the Hanover University of Music, Theatre and Media, funded by the Federal Cultural Foundation, the Lower Saxony Foundation, and the city of Hanover.

The project aims to combine traditional Asian instruments and electronics. TRAIECT I was in South Korea 2017, TRAIECT II in Iran 2018, and TRAIECT III in Taiwan (China) 2021. And this fourth version will focus on Vietnamese traditional music.

Under the project, the Vietnamese musicians met the seven international composers for a three-day workshop in Hanover last April. They explained about đàn bầu and ả đào singing in its historical and geographical manifestations and in the present cultural reality.

The composers, including British James Anderson, Colombian Michele Abondano, Italian Emanuele Grossi, German Julia Mihály, Iranian Ehsan Khatibi and two Vietnamese Hà Thúy Hằng and Lương Huệ Trinh, gave some insights into their music.

Đàn bầu artist Ngô Trà My (left) and traditional singer Vũ Thùy Linh will perform at Hàng Buồm Culture Centre on Saturday.

The pieces are not seen as an effect, but as independent partners. They give additional possibilities of combination or confrontation, of complementation or transformation.

Trinh's Đốm is for ả đào singer, experimental voice, đàn bầu, fixed media and video. Trinh wrote the piece to dedicate to her beloved cat which died after suffering prolonged pain.

"It makes me think about relationships between human and pets, and between humans as well," Trinh said. "Years-long relationships, with or without common language, make us upset when witnessing the last days of a pet or a person."

Trinh is the project co-ordinator to organise the concert in Việt Nam. She has a Master Degree in Multimedia Composition at Hochschule für Musik & Theater Hamburg and she is interested in exploring traditional and experimental elements in music and visuals, in scenography, and in creating artwork for specific sites.

Not only active as a composer but also an improviser, she got commissions for exhibitions, contemporary dance projects, films and live performances in many different countries in Asia, Europe, Australia, Canada, North America and Africa.

The pieces were performed successfully at concerts in Sprengel Museum Hanover, Übersee-Museum Bremen and Akademie der Künste Berlin.

The Hà Nội concert will begin at 7.30pm with free admission. 

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