Some media agencies in Italy higlighted Vietnam’s economic links with Europe and achievements in ensuring human rights when covering a recent tour of some European countries by National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue.

In an article about Vietnam’s trade and investment links with Italy and Europe, the La Città Futura newspaper said Vietnam is effectively implementing the commitments in the free trade agreements with the EU (EVFTA) and the UK (UKVFTA).

So far, key farm produce of Vietnam like peppercorn, cashew nut, vegetables, fruit, tea, and rubber have benefited from preferential tariffs in the EU, which is one of the five largest markets of Vietnam’s fishery products.

La Città Futura noted Vietnam is a leading partner of Italy in Southeast Asia and also a helpful bridge linking the EU, including Italy, with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Citing the phone talks on April 22 between Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his Italian counterpart Mario Draghi, it emphasised the Italian Government’s pledge to promote the Italian parliament’s ratification of the EU - Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) amid many enterprises of the country wishing to expand operations in the Southeast Asian nation.

Meanwhile, the Marx21 daily underlined that with the second candidacy for membership of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC), Vietnam is showing its right policies on human rights development that centre on people.

It said one of Vietnam’s internationally recognised achievements is poverty reduction and social security safeguarding.

COVID-19: Vietnam confirms 511 new cases on July 3

Vietnam reported an additional 511 COVID-19 cases and no death on July 3, according to the Ministry of Health.

The new infections brought the country’s total caseload to 10,748,639 since the pandemic broke out.

As many as 9,627 patients were declared to be free from coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 on the day, raising the total number of recoveries to 9,708,984.

Meanwhile, the death toll related to the disease was kept at 43,047.

Vietnam to send 155-strong delegation to 11th ASEAN Para Games

The Vietnamese delegation to the approaching 11th ASEAN Para Games is set to comprise 155 members, including 122 athletes, according to the National Sports Administration.

With 14 sports, the 11th ASEAN Para Games is scheduled to take place in Indonesia from July 26 to August 7.

Apart from the 122 athletes, the delegation will also include 18 coaches, two doctors, and 13 cadres. They will compete in eight sports, namely athletics, swimming, powerlifting, badminton, table tennis, chess, judo, and archery.

The administration said the athletes of Vietnam have made thorough preparations, and all are determined to achieve the best possible results to gear up for the fourth Asian Para Games in China’s Hangzhou and the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.

They will also have a chance to learn from and enhance solidarity with other Southeast Asian countries, it noted.

A send-off ceremony for the delegation is expected to take place at the National Sports Training Centre in Ho Chi Minh City on July 23.

Collectives, individuals of Lao Women’s Union honoured with Vietnam’s orders, medals

Orders and medals from the State of Vietnam were bestowed upon some collectives and individuals of the Lao Women’s Union (LWU) at a ceremony held in the central city of Da Nang on July 2.

The event was held by the Vietnam Women’s Union (VWU) to celebrate the two countries’ Solidarity and Friendship Year 2022.

On behalf of the President of Vietnam, the VWU presented the third-class Independence Order to three individuals, the third-class Labour Order to one collective, the Friendship Order to 15 collectives and three individuals, and the Friendship Medal to two individuals of the LWU in recognition of their major contributions to the traditional friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between the two Parties and States.

On this occasion, the two unions signed a cooperation agreement for 2022 - 2027, showing their wish and determination to promote relations via more practical and effective activities in the next five years.

So far, the VWU chapters in 15 Vietnamese localities have had cooperation deals and activities with 13 localities and partners of Laos. Their joint activities include sharing experience in women affairs, developing livelihoods and reducing poverty, providing vocational training and Vietnamese language teaching for female students and cadres of Laos, fighting against human trafficking and domestic violence, and encouraging members to help safeguard the borderline and border markers.

Special programme marks 46 years since city renamed Ho Chi Minh

Ho Chi Minh City held a music show on Nguyen Hue pedestrian street in District 1 on July 2 evening to celebrate 46 years since it was named after the late President of Vietnam.

The programme featured special singing and dancing performances by famous artists such as Duyen Huyen, Pham The Vi, Thanh Su, Thanh Tam, Ngoc Tuan, Luu Hien Trinh, Ho Trung Dung, and Hien Thuc.

It highlighted local residents’ national pride, aspiration for reforms, and joyfulness at national development.

The city, previously called Sai Gon - Gia Dinh, was renamed Ho Chi Minh by the National Assembly on July 2, 1976, aiming to honour its enormous contributions to Vietnam’s struggle for independence as well as local development.

Women’s U18 football team of Vietnam train in Japan

The U18 female footballers of Vietnam have wrapped up a training course in Okayama prefecture of Japan to prepare for the coming ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) U18 Women’s Championship in Indonesia.

During the course starting on June 16, the team of head coach Ijiri Akira also played friendlies with the Vietnamese people’s team of the Vietnam - Japan Sports and Culture Exchange Association in Kansai, and Okayama Yunogo Belle – a club playing at the Japan Women’s Football League 2.

The Vietnamese footballers also engaged in exchange activities with primary and secondary schools in Okayama prefecture.

Nguyen Vo Huyen Duong, a representative of the Vietnam Football Federation in Japan, said aside from the women’s U18 team, the women’s U15 and men’s U20 teams are also set to undergo training in Japan this August.

Hue Festival helps revive economic recovery, development

The “Festival Hue” is a famous “brand name” of central province of Thua Thien Hue. The 2022 version has a special significance as the province breaks out of its Covid-19 hangover. This year’s festival is the remedy for economic recovery and development for Thua Thien Hue.

According to statistics, the number of visitors coming to Thua Thien Hue during Festival week increased 40 percent.

During 2022, the province will organize a special festival under the theme of “four seasons” with several events that will be held year round to attract more tourists.

After two years of hiatus due to Covid-19, Festival Hue 2022 will come on strong this year and bring with it new tourism dollars.

Heritage tourism is as always at the forefront, but the province has also introduced many new and attractive tourism products in recent times.

Within the framework of the festival, modern cultural events, and trade promotion activities are implemented. 

Besides, trade fairs also created new business for the region and those can be scheduled year round as well.

Tens of wild animals released back to nature

As many as 58 animals of eight species, including civet, king cobra, keeled box turtle, crested bird, cuckoo, yellow-billed starling, red-breasted parakeet, and Japanese zosterop, along with some cobras, were released back to Cuc Phuong National Park on July 2.

The activity was organised by the management board of the Cuc Phuong National Park and the Hanoi Wildlife Rescue Centre (HWRC) of the Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

These animals are all exhibits that have been rescued in illicit wildlife trading cases or voluntarily handed over by organisations or individuals.

International Day of Yoga marked in Ba Ria - Vung Tau

More than 600 yogis in the southern province of Ba Ria - Vung Tau gathered at an event on June 2 to celebrate the International Day of Yoga 2022 (June 21).

Currently, the province is home to nearly 60 Yoga clubs and 80 training facilities. Yoga has been practiced by a large number of local residents, she added.

For his part, Indian Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City Madan Mohan Sethi said that Yoga connects the mind and body of humans, and is a gift that ancient India handed down to today.

He believed that the connections among sport lovers of Vietnam and India as well as the two governments will be further strengthened in the future.

The official invited participants to visit India to explore the nation and people of India, and pledged to bring more Indian friends to Vietnam and Ba Ria - Vung Tau in the future.

The 600 local yogis engaged in a Yoga performance at the event.

Lao Women’s Union delegation visits Da Nang

A delegation of the Lao Women’s Union led by its President Inlavan Keobounphan had a working session with representatives from the Party Committee of central Da Nang city on July 1.

Inlavan Keobounphan told the hosts that the Lao Women’s Union and its Vietnamese counterpart have maintained their close coordination and intensified cooperation activities.

She pledged to uphold the achievements to contribute to boosting the traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos, as well as between Da Nang and southern and central provinces of Laos, bringing practical interests to people and women of the two countries.

Secretary of the municipal Party Committee Nguyen Van Quang highlighted the significance of the Lao delegation’s visit, during which, he said, Da Nang and five Lao localities will sign memoranda of understanding on cooperation for 2023-2027.

The official also noted his hope that the two women’s unions will step up exchanges, experience sharing and personnel training, and continue their coordination at regional and international forums.

Lao national academy includes Ho Chi Minh's complete works into curriculum

The Lao National Academy of Politics and Public Administration on July 1 announced and guided the teaching and studying of Ho Chi Minh's complete works with a collection of 15 books and a Ho Chi Minh study dictionary at the facility.

At the event, Dr. Khamla Keoounkham, vice director of the academy, said that the teaching and studying of the works has a practical meaning, creating favourable conditions for researchers, scholars and teachers as well as other people interested in President Ho Chi Minh's ideology to access the late Vietnamese leader’s works.

He highlighted the viewpoints in the Ho Chi Minh ideology, underlining they have guided Vietnam’s development towards socialism with Marxism-Leninism playing the role as revolutionary theory.

In his works, President Ho Chi Minh showed a pure diplomacy spirit with the famous words of “helping our friends is helping ourselves,” said  Khamla.

He underscored that each work of President Ho Chi Minh carries a profound theoretical and practical value, providing valuable lessons not only for the Vietnamese people but also for all mankind, peace-loving people to study.

Chief Justice of Supreme People's Court pays working visit to Germany

Chief Justice of the Supreme People's Court Nguyen Hoa Binh has been leading a high-ranking delegation to visit Germany from June 29 to July 3 at the invitation of the German Federal Ministry of Justice.

The visit aims to study a number of issues in the current judicial reform, including the institution of people's participation in trial activities, juvenile justice and court governance.

During their stay, the Vietnamese delegates visited and had working sessions with representatives of the Federal Court of Justice in Karlsruhe, the Federal Ministry of Justice, and the Moabit Criminal Court in Berlin; and met with the secretary general of the European network of non-professional judges.

At the working sessions, the delegation enquired about the model of amateur judges, the organisational structure and operations of the federal and state-level court systems, and the independence of judges in trial activities.

Notably, the Vietnamese delegates were updated on Germany’s juvenile justice system, which is constantly being updated and improved in line with international standards to avoid causing stresses for children who break the law, and to promote education of teenage delinquents to help prevent them from re-offending.

At the meeting with the delegation, Vietnamese Ambassador to Germany Vu Quang Minh briefed on cooperation between the two countries in the fields of law, political security, trade, investment, and education, as well as the situation related to the Vietnamese community in the European country.

As scheduled, the Vietnamese delegation will continue to pay a working visit to France from July 4-9 at the invitation of the Court of Cassation.

Pandemic-induced reduced fees back to normal in July

July marks the return of 37 fees to their normal level after being temporarily reduced in the first half of this year in aid of groups affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Earlier, the Ministry of Finance issued a circular to add three types of fees to those subjected to cuts by 10-50% in support of the groups, bring up the total number to 37.

The fees are for the issuance of chip-based ID cards, passports, road use, and registration certificates, among others.

The duration of the temporary reduction was from January 1 to June 30.

Vietnam attends Turkey security, defence expo

Lieutenant General Phung Si Tan, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army, attended security and defence exhibition SEDEC 2022 in Ankara from June 28 – 30.

The SEDEC, one of the largest of its kind in Western Asia, is held biennially under the patronage of the Turkish Presidency of Defence Industries (SSB).

This year’s event brought together more than 300 exhibitors in defence and security industries from 51 countries. It featured not only exhibitions but also symposiums in domestic security, border security, information and cyber security as well as business meetings.

On his trip, Tan met with SSB head Ismail Demir and head of SEDEC 2022 organising committee Hilal Unal to learn Turkey’s experience in holding international defence expo and invited Turkish exhibitors to the Vietnam Defence 2022, the first international defence exhibition held in Vietnam in December.

Vietnam effectively contributes to dialogue, cooperation within UNHRC

It is necessary for the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to have members that have shown and are ready to act as a bridge for cooperation and dialogue like Vietnam, especially in the context of complicated developments in the world, and differences between countries and groups of nations, said President of the UNHRC Federico Villegas.

Villegas made the remark this during his meeting with Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Do Hung Viet on the occasion of the Vietnamese official’s attendance at the third working week of the 50th regular session of the UNHRC from June 27 to July 1 in Geneva, Switzerland.

Villegas said that the message “Mutual Respect. Dialogue and Cooperation. Ensuring All Human Rights, for All.” for Vietnam's candidacy for a member of the UNHRC in the 2023 –2025 term is the spirit that countries need to pursue when participating in the council.

Viet also had working sessions with UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet, Director General of the UN Office at Geneva (UNOG) Tatiana Valovaya, and ambassadors, head of delegations from other countries attending the session.  

During the meetings, Viet briefed on Vietnam’s efforts and achievements in socio-economic development, protection and promotion of human rights, and responding to global problems.
 
He said Vietnam will continue to support and always make efforts to contribute to enhancing the role of multilateral mechanisms, including the UN in promoting cooperation in solving global issues.

Vietnam has just successfully completed its term of non-permanent member of the UN Security Council in 2020-2021 with many imprints and initiatives, contributed to UN peacekeeping operations and pioneered in promoting reform of the UN development system, the official said.

The Southeast Asian nation is currently running for membership of the UNHRC in the 2023 – 2025 term with many commitments and priorities.

UNOG General Director Valovaya appreciated Vietnamese senior leaders' recent attention and participation in international organisations within the UN system, affirming that UNOG will continue to support Vietnam in promoting the image of its land, people and cooperation potential at international organisations in Geneva.

Meanwhile, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet said Vietnam’s socio-economic achievements have created a foundation for improving living standards and ensuring rights for Vietnamese people in recent years, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic and post-pandemic recovery period.
 
She hoped that Vietnam will continue to ensure the full participation of people, organisations, non-governmental organisations, scholars and development partners in the process of policy and law making. 

Ambassadors and heads of delegations of countries spoke highly of Vietnam’s activities at the UNHRC’s 50th session, as well as the country’s efforts and achievements in promoting socio-economic development and ensuring human rights.

They also proposed new directions to promote bilateral relations of their countries with Vietnam.

Vietnam backs UN’s efforts to improve road traffic safety

Vietnam has reaffirmed its support and contributions to the UN's efforts to improve road traffic safety at a UN General Assembly session being held on June 30 and July 1.

The session adopted the “Political declaration of the high-level meeting on improving global road safety”, with the 193-member General Assembly committed to drive the implementation of the Global Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021–2030, including the goal to half road traffic deaths in the next eight years. 

Speaking at the event, Ambassador Nguyen Phuong Tra, Charge d'affaires a.i. of Vietnam to the UN, affirmed that Vietnam totally supports the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021–2030.

For the realisation of its goal, she said it is necessary to strengthen road safety legislation at global, regional and national levels to address current and emerging challenges. In addition, more investment is needed in developing infrastructure and road safety capacity in low- and middle-income countries, where 90% of traffic accidents are reported.

Tra also emphasised the need to build a culture of traffic safety through education and awareness of obeying traffic laws such as using seat belts and helmets, as well as through the application and implementation of IT and innovation. In this process, developed countries and international financial institutions play an important role in transferring technology, sharing best practices, and providing financial support for developing nations, the diplomat added.

First Vietnamese language course for Venezuelans concludes

A fundamental Vietnamese language course for Venezuelan people closed at a ceremony held by the Vietnamese Embassy in the country on June 30.

In his remarks, Ambassador Le Viet Duyen said the course will contribute to advancing the traditional friendship between people of the two countries to a new height.

Similar classes will be held in the time ahead, both online and offline, to help Venezuelans understand more about the culture, land and people of Vietnam, and enhance the friendship and people-to-people exchanges, he noted.

President of the Venezuela-Vietnam Friendship Association Carolus Wimmer expressed his hope that apart from such courses, the embassy will open classes on Vietnamese culture and cuisine to help bring the beautiful country of Vietnam closer to Venezuelans.

Jointly held by the embassy and the association, the three-month course brought together more than 30 trainees from Venezuelan ministries, agencies, universities and press agencies.

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