Deputy PM Tran Hong Ha (right) and JBIC Managing Director Tanimoto Masayuki at the meeting in Hanoi on March 29 (Photo: VNA)

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha on March 29 emphasised the important role of banks and financial mechanisms in green energy transition projects when he received Managing Director of the Japan Bank of International Cooperation (JBIC) Tanimoto Masayuki in Hanoi.

During the reception, Ha said that Vietnam and Japan have promoted cooperation within bilateral and multilateral frameworks related to just energy transition. In particular, the Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) Initiative includes many directions and contents of cooperation that the two sides have set out, deployed, and achieved many positive results.

Ha said that the AZEC and the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) are initiatives to realise the agreement reached at the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26).

"Now, countries around the world including the most developed are in the testing phase of reducing gas emissions and using 100% renewable energy sources. For a just energy transition, developed and developing countries should increase support for each other in terms of financial mechanisms and technology," Ha noted.

Emphasising some common goals of AZEC and JETP, the Deputy PM appreciated the feasibility of the AZEC mechanism with many specific solutions.

For his part, Tanimoto Masayuki said that JBIC has cooperated and provided loans for partners in Vietnam. It has also been supporting many Japanese businesses in implementing investment and cooperation activities abroad, including Vietnam.

He said that JBIC will further support Vietnam in green energy development, for example, bringing Japanese and European technology to help Vietnamese businesses reduce carbon emissions and save energy.

He said JBIC hopes that Vietnam can both implement a carbon-neutral strategy and ensure socio-economic development and energy security.

Vietnam is the first partner that Japan supports in the AZEC initiative, he said, adding that key international partners strongly back Japan's cooperation with Vietnam. He hoped that Japan - Vietnam cooperation in AZEC will become a model in the world./.

Vietnam - Japan Cultural Festival opens in Da Nang

A Vietnam-Japan Cultural Festival opened in the central beach city of Da Nang on March 29, as part of celebrations of the 51st anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries (1973-2024).

The festival, held annually by Dong A University featured impressive performances of artists from Japan and local students. Besides, event-goers also had a chance to take part in folk games of the two countries such as bamboo dance, Mandarin square capturing, and sodoku, among others.

Besides, the event also reenacted Japanese Nagashi Somen festival. A flashmob dance with the participation of 50 teams, a cosplay performance and booths presenting Vietnam and Japanese culinary culture were also held.

Speaking at the ceremony, Japanese Deputy Consul General in Da Nang Shimonishi Kiyoshi said the festival can help local students enhance their Japanese language proficiency. He also expressed his hope that Japanese language learners will become a bridge to strengthen the bonds between Japan and Vietnam in the future.

Luong Minh Sam, Chairman of Board of Directors of Dong A University said he hopes the annual festival will become an international exchange channel, creating a playground for the locals to have a better understanding about Japan and its people, contributing to effectively intensifying the two countries’ friendship and cooperative relations./.

Top billiards players competing in TD Pool Master League 2024

The TD Pool Master League 2024 officially kicked off in Hanoi on March 29, bringing together the eight top Vietnamese billiards players.

With a total prize pool of up to 500 million VND (20,833 USD), the champion alone will receive 250 million VND, making it the largest prize in the history of club-level billiards tournaments in Vietnam.

Following the Swiss Chess format, the players will compete in a round-robin format with 7 matches on the first day. The top 6 players with the highest scores will play another round-robin to determine the top 4 entering the semi-finals and finals.

All matches in the two-day tournament are set to be livestreamed on the Vietnam Billiards Promotion YouTube channel/fanpage and the TD Billiards Club website.

Duong Manh Tien, the head of the organising committee, said that Vietnamese billiards has undergone significant transformations in terms of quality, player numbers, and viewership. With each player's unique journey, the event aims to deliver truly outstanding performances, contributing to the development of the sport in Vietnam./.

Vietnamese Embassy to Italy works to boost locality-to-locality cooperation

Vietnamese Ambassador to Italy Duong Hai Hung and Vice President of the Basilicata Confederation of Industry (Confindustria) Antonio Braia on March 28 co-chaired a meeting with businesses from Italy’s regions of Puglia and Basilicata to outline a roadmap for the establishment of relations among Vietnamese and Italian localities.

At the event, the Vietnamese ambassador introduced Vietnam’s strategy to attract investors to representatives of more than 20 businesses from the two regions.

He affirmed that Vietnam always listens to partners and investors' opinions, towards building an environment of peace, stability, cooperation, and development.

He said Vietnam hopes foreign investors, including those from Italy, to boost cooperation, share experience, provide policy consultations, especially those in priority areas such as green transition, and digitalisation, and give financial and technical support and human resources training.  

For his part, Braia said that the participation of Italian businesses and investors at the meeting showed the interest of Italian businesses in Vietnam.

He valued the role of the Vietnamese Embassy in Italy in connecting businesses of the two countries and asked for support to organise business delegations from the two regions to visit Vietnam this November.

At the meeting, participants showed their interest in promoting cooperation with Vietnam in the fields of agriculture, food distribution, especially wine, olive oil, pasta, cereals and dried fruits, machine and automobile manufacturing, as well as cooperation in education and cultural exchange.

They wanted to learn about import policies and distribution channels in Vietnam, while wishing to know which products and technologies that Vietnam can export to Italy, opening up two-way cooperation opportunities.

The Vietnamese Embassy in Italy has paid many visits to localities in the country to promote cooperation in areas including trade, investment, culture, and education. It plans to arrange similar visits and meetings with businesses in regions across Italy in the coming time./.

Meeting looks into draft NA resolution for facilitating Nghe An’s development

National Assembly (NA) Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue chaired a meeting between the NA’s Party Delegation and the Standing Board of the Nghe An provincial Party Committee on March 29, with a focus on a draft NA resolution for continuing to implement the Politburo’s resolution on this central province’s development.

Addressing the event in Hanoi, the top legislator noted that on July 18, 2023, the Politburo issued Resolution No. 39-NQ/TW on the building and development of Nghe An by 2030, with a vision to 2045. With a long-term mindset and vision, this resolution serves as an important political basis for the Government to submit a draft resolution on piloting some specific mechanisms and policies for Nghe An’s development to the NA for consideration and approval.

Agreeing on the necessity for releasing a new resolution of the NA alongside the Politburo’s resolution, officials discussed the political and legal bases and the time for issuance, along with the draft policies to be proposed.

They stressed that the draft resolution must adhere to Resolution No. 39-NQ/TW to include specific mechanisms and policies for maximising the province’s potential and advantages, and boosting comprehensive and focus-driven development. Those policies also need to enable socio-economic development breakthroughs and have their reasonableness and feasibility ensured.

Chairman Hue asked the NA’s Committee for Legal Affairs to work with the Ministry of Justice and the Government to propose the NA Standing Committee include this draft resolution in the parliament’s law and ordinance building programme so that it could be submitted to the NA at the coming seventh session.

He also requested the Nghe An Party Committee’s Standing Board to take in opinions raised at the meeting to perfect draft mechanisms and policies, which should increase resources, enhance decentralisation, tackle local bottlenecks, and facilitate development breakthroughs./.

Binh Dinh calls for Gov’t, businesses’ support to realise development aspirations

 Binh Dinh hopes to receive support from the Government, ministries, central agencies, localities, and businesses to realise its development aspirations, Chairman of the People’s Committee of this central province Pham Anh Tuan has said.

The official made the remark while speaking at an investment promotion conference held on March 29 as part of the Amazing Binh Dinh Fest 2024.

He said the province is applying itself to making some big breakthroughs such as completing the infrastructure system, improving the Quy Nhon port complex’s efficiency, planning some large deepwater seaports in northern areas, and upgrading Phu Cat Airport into an international one.

He also underlined local efforts in reforming administrative procedures, enhancing relations between investors and the administration, providing professional, modern, efficient and effective administrative services, boosting information and digital technology application, and strengthening regional connectivity.

Addressing over 1,000 delegates, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang spoke highly of Binh Dinh’s trade and investment promotion efforts as well as development aspirations.

He asked the province to harmonise several factors, including its competition with other localities in the region, the capitalisation of its own advantages, infrastructure connectivity with nearby provinces, and investment attraction.

Quang also asked the province to meet high-quality manpower demand, assist investors, and conduct digital transformation so that more investors will choose Binh Dinh as their long-term destination.

On this occasion, the Binh Dinh People’s Committee signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on tourism development cooperation for 2024 - 2028 with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Vietnam Airlines Corporation, and the Binh Dinh F1 JSC.

It also handed over cooperation deals and MoUs to six investors with 18 projects, along with investment policy approval decisions and investment registration certificates to five projects.

Binh Dinh is part of the central key economic region and serves as an important tourism hub of Vietnam. Together with Da Nang city, it is considered one of the two locomotives of the region’s economic development./.

120th birth anniversary of prominent leader celebrated in Russia

The Vietnamese Embassy in Russia held a ceremony on March 29 to mark the 120th birth anniversary of Nguyen Luong Bang, a prominent leader of the Vietnamese Party and revolution and also the country’s first ambassador to the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe.

As one of the first members of the Party, throughout his revolutionary career, Bang showed a strong mettle and unyielding trust in the goals and ideals of the Party and revolution, surmounted multiple dangers, and excellently fulfilled all assigned tasks, thereby significantly contributing to revolutionary successes of the Party and the nation.

In 1952, when Vietnam was still in a resistance war against the French colonialists, he was appointed the country’s first ambassador to the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. In this position, he worked hard to help leaders of the Soviet Union’s Party, State, and people to better understand and support the resistance war and create conditions for enhancing solidarity between the two Parties, States, and peoples.

Addressing the ceremony, Vietnamese Ambassador to Russia Dang Minh Khoi emphasised his predecessor’s example of practicing thrift, paving the way for diplomatic activities in the Soviet Union, making self-improvement, and training the first diplomats of Vietnam here.

The activities in those early days laid a firm foundation for the sound diplomatic ties between Vietnam and the Soviet Union, now between Vietnam and Russia, he added.

Khoi asked all the staff members of the embassy, diplomats, along with press, trade, military, and security representatives of Vietnam in Russia to follow the late leader’s example to continue reforming, building, and developing the modern and comprehensively strong diplomacy of Vietnam that is deeply imbued with the characteristics of Vietnamese bamboo./.

HCM City promotes cooperation with US state of Indiana

Ho Chi Minh City and the US state of Indiana have the potential for cooperation in many fields, particularly industrial production, agriculture, education, and healthcare, said Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Vo Van Hoan at a meeting with US Senator from Indiana state Todd Young on March 29.

Speaking at the meeting, Hoan said that the two sides need to increase exchanges and connections to seize opportunities for further development.

Hoan said that Vietnam and the US are important economic and trade partners of each other. Since the two countries upgraded their relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership, many US business delegations and congressmen have come to Vietnam, particularly Ho Chi Minh City, which shows the US business community’s interest in the southern metropolis.

Hoan said that HCM City is a major economic hub, contributing 27% of the country’s budget. The city is thriving strongly towards green growth and digital transformation, developing new industries and applying high technologies.

It has many favourable conditions for developing high-tech industry, for example, its high-tech parks are planned to expand by 600 ha to attract investors into semiconductors and electronic chips. With more than 60 universities and 10 international schools, the city’s human resources can meet the requirements when it develops new and high-tech industries.

In addition to the Government's support policies, the city has its special mechanism with attractive incentives on land, corporate income tax, and personal income tax to attract strategic investors. Investors in the high-tech industrial sector are also facilitated with simple investment procedures, Hoan said.

For his part, Senator Young spoke highly of HCM city's achievements and sustainable development orientations.

He said Indiana state is prioritising the development of high-quality industrial production, agriculture, food, and education sectors. In the context that the relationship between Vietnam - US relations has been elevated to a new height, there is a lot of cooperation potential for the two countries' localities.

Indiana is a friendly, open state and is ready to connect with other countries through investment and trade activities, he said, adding that it is strong in education and health, research and development, and technology transfer./.

Ninh Thuan, RoK’s Gwangju city join forces to target tourism cooperation

The Ninh Thuan provincial People’s Committee on March 29 held a meeting with tourism businesses from Gwangju city, the Republic of Korea (RoK) to exchange information and discuss cooperation opportunities between the two localities.

Speaking at the meeting, Vice Chairman of the Ninh Thuan provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Long Bien said that the locality has identified tourism as one of the six pillars it will focus on to attract investment.

Ninh Thuan hoped the Gwangju city’s Tourism Association would help facilitate the cooperation, particularly in the tourism sector between the south central province and Gwangju city as well as other localities in the RoK, Bien said.

He proposed the two sides' tourism associations continue to connect towards the signing of their tourism cooperation agreement, develop tours connecting the two localities, supporting investors and businesses from Gwangju city to explore and invest in Ninh Thuan.

Bien said that the provincial People's Committee is committed to creating favourable conditions for investors and tourism businesses to seek investment opportunities, and take investment registration procedures.

Chairman of Gwangju city's Tourism Association Seon Sughyeon highlighted Ninh Thuan's potential, such as natural beauty of mountains, forests, and beaches, saying it boasts advantages in attracting investment, especially in the tourism industry.

According to travel agencies from Gwangju city, destinations in Ninh Thuan are very impressive. After their visit, the agencies will promote local tourism among tourists in Korea.

Ninh Thuan has attracted 35 foreign investment projects with a total capital of over 1.2 billion USD, including three Korean-invested projects. These are the Hanbaram wind power plant of Landville Energy Ltd Company with an investment of 150 million USD, the Lotte Cinema project of Lottecinema Vietnam Ltd Company with an investment of 2.4 million USD, and a toy factory project of Innoflower Ninh Thuan Ltd Company with an investment of 138 billion VND (5.52 million USD).

Ninh Thuan has received 31 non-refundable aid projects from the RoK with a total committed fund of 2.4 million USD, not including related costs and other support from the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA)./.

Binh Thuan workshop seeks feedback on revised State capital law

A workshop took place in the south central province of Binh Thuan on March 29 to collect feedback on the revised Law on Management and Use of State Capital Invested in Production and Business in Enterprises.

The event was co-hosted by the 15th National Assembly’s Committee on Finance and Budget, Germany’s Konrad Adenauer Foundation, and the NA Standing Committee’s Institute of Legislative Research.

Delegates said the law has introduced a mechanism for transparent public disclosure of information for the first time, marking a significant step towards transparency in State enterprise management. Additionally, the elimination of State subsidies and loss compensation for these enterprises was seen as crucial for Vietnam's global integration efforts.

However, concerns were raised regarding outdated capital-related concepts causing confusion. Delegates emphasised the need for amendments to ensure clear distinctions between various forms of State-owned capital and enterprise assets.

Leif Dustin Schneider, Vice Chairman of the European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam’s Legal Sector Committee, advocated for leveraging the best practices in governance and structure during the revision process. He stressed the importance of effective and transparent mechanisms to maximise benefits and minimise risks associated with State ownership in commercial entities.

Bui Thi Hong Thuy, Deputy Director of the provincial Department of Finance, suggested the drafting agencies carefully review and retain relevant provisions with a proven positive impact from the current law./.

Tourism campaign to bring more sunseekers to Da Nang

A tourism stimulus programme named “Enjoy Da Nang 2024” was launched in Da Nang on March 29 to strengthen communication effects and introduce local tourism attractions to attract more visitors to the central city.

Director of the municipal Department of Tourism Truong Thi Hong Hanh said the city recorded positive results in the first quarter of 2024. It served more than 1.88 million visitors in the period, up 23.4% year-on-year, including 636,000 international tourists (up 21.6%). Total earnings from tourism activities hit over 7.6 trillion VND (nearly 303.5 million USD), representing a year-on-year increase of 25.6%.

To meet the demand of various tourist markets, improve the quality of transportation services, and diversify tourism products, the department’s Da Nang Tourism Promotion Centre has collaborated with the Vietnam Railways Corporation and the Sun Group to develop railway tourism products, contributing to increasing options for tourists.

The centre has also set up partnerships with the national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines, HG Vietnam Investment and Development JSC, and the Asia Destination Management JSC to boost promotion and communication activities to attract both domestic visitors and international tourists from key markets such as China, the Republic of Korea, India, Thailand, Japan, Singapore, and Malaysia.

Hanh said in 2024, Da Nang will host a series of events and festivals such as the Brazil - Vietnam Football Festival 2024, the Da Nang International Fireworks Festival, Enjoy Da Nang 2024, Vinfast Iron Man 70.3 Vietnam, Danang International Marathon 2024, the 13th Southeast Asian Student Sports Games, and the Da Nang Asian Film Festival.

Many new tourism products will be introduced throughout the year in various phases to meet the demand of tourists, including water music performance, water puppetry show, water motorbike performance, Danang River Show, Bach Dang walking street, and pilot nighttime tourism services on Nguyen Van Troi Bridge.

Addressing the launch ceremony, Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Tran Chi Cuong praised joint efforts of local departments and sectors, and travel firms to promote the tourism industry, which recorded quite impressive results and bright spots.

He expressed his hope that travel companies in the central region will continue to collaborate and leverage existing advantages of localities to effectively develop new products./.

Fisheries sector’s 65th traditional day marked in Hanoi

A ceremony was held in Hanoi on March 29, marking the 65th traditional day of the fishery sector (April 1, 1959 – 2024) and the 10th debut anniversary of the Vietnam Fisheries Resources Surveillance (April 15, 2014 – 2024).

In his remarks, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan stressed the importance of developing the sector towards transparency, responsibility, sustainability, and integration, with a focus on the three strategic fishery economic pillars of exploitation reduction, increased aquaculture, and marine conservation.

It is also necessary to restructure the sector based on the fishing industry, fishermen, and fishing grounds and work together in combating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and having the European Commission's “yellow card” warning against Vietnamese seafood lifted as soon as possible, the minister stressed.

Looking back on the past 65 years, Tran Dinh Luan, Director of the ministry’s Directorate of Fisheries, stated that the sector has made progress in development and integration.

The fisheries production structure has undergone positive changes, with the proportion of aquaculture productivity increasing to nearly 57% in 2023 from 31% in 1995. With its products exported to over 170 markets, Vietnam has been placed third among the world's biggest seafood exporting countries.

According to Nguyen Quang Hung, Director of the ministry’s Vietnam Fisheries Surveillance Department, the surveillance force has always supported and accompanied fishermen in offshore fishing, promoted maritime economic development, enforced laws, protected fisheries resources, and combated IUU fishing for a sustainable, green sector that progresses toward global integration./.

Joint efforts help prevent IUU fishing

Along with authorities of 28 coastal localities nationwide, relevant agencies and forces, including the Border Guards, have been actively promoting legal popularisation and education to raise fishermen's awareness on the fight against the illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, and the compliance with regulations regarding their offshore operation.

Law enforcement agencies have been stepping up inspections and imposing strict penalties on violations by Vietnamese fishing vessels to prevent and put an end to IUU fishing.

According to Thanh Hai Border Guard station in the south-central coastal province of Binh Thuan, the unit maintains 24/7 check and management of the vessel monitoring systems (VMS), thus providing timely assistance fishermen to address technical issues and take strict actions against violations.

Meanwhile, the force of the northern province of Thai Binh said during the peak of combating illegal fishing activities at sea, which will extend until later April this year, they continue to prioritise popularisation activities and focus on detecting and strictly handling vessel owners who violate IUU fishing regulations, in a bid to swiftly have the “yellow card” warning against Vietnamese seafood lifted by the European Commission (EC).

The Border Guard High Command has implemented concerted measures and plans to review, classify, and closely manage violating vessels, and fishing boat groups in high risk of violating foreign water, thus detecting early signs and behaviours of IUU violations to promptly take measures for preventing and addressing them.

In 2023, the command coordinated with local authorities and relevant agencies to disseminate information to nearly 460,000 fishermen, and send messages to 2,357 mobile phone subscribers. Furthermore, 26,583 leaflets and 7,095 documents were also distributed.

The force has closely coordinated with relevant agencies such as the Coast Guards, Navy, and Police, as well as other authorised agencies to advise local authorities on inspecting and urging the implementation of tasks in combating IUU fishing.

Recently, the command, in collaboration with the Military Industry and Telecoms Group (Viettel), organised training sessions to guide the use of software for managing and controlling fishing vessels under a project implemented by border stations in the 28 coastal localities.

Thanks to such efforts, the number of Vietnamese fishing vessels violating foreign waters has been gradually decreasing each year./.

Key transport projects progressing well: Prime Minister

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on March 29 acknowledged that key transport projects are progressing more effectively.

Chairing the 10th hybrid meeting of the State Steering Committee on key national transport projects, the Government leader, who is also the committee's head, called for the engagement of the entire political system to fully address site clearance issues for the north-south expressway project for the 2021-2025 period before April 30, along with three East-West expressway and two ring road projects in the second quarter of this year.

The southern province of Dong Nai was singled out for attention, with PM Chinh urging an increase in workforce to accelerate land clearance for key projects such as Ho Chi Minh City Ring Road No.3’s Tan Van - Nhon Trach section, Bien Hoa - Vung Tau expressway, and the road to Long Thanh international airport which is now under construction.

Additionally, close collaboration with the Ministry of Planning and Investment was urged to expedite approval for adjustments to the site clearance project for the airport.

Each locality was tasked with collaborating with relevant ministries and agencies to address issues related to construction material supply, including sea sand, and to streamline investment procedures to hasten the progress of the road construction projects.

Furthermore, he directed Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to oversee investors and contractors, closely work with relevant agencies to quicken necessary procedures for the completion of the Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien metro line and the elevated section of the Nhon - Hanoi railway metro line.

Specific tasks were also assigned to relevant ministries and units in attendance.

According to the Steering Committee, there are 34 major projects and 86 nationally important component projects, focusing on transportation across 45 provinces and centrally-run cities. Among them are five railway and two airport projects while the remainder are primarily road projects, including expressways and ring roads in the Hanoi Capital Region and Ho Chi Minh City./.

Hanoi’s tourism revival boosted

Hanoi welcomed about 6.54 million tourist arrivals in the first quarter of this year, of them some 1.4 million international, representing year-on-year rises of 10.9% and 40%, respectively, the municipal Department of Tourism said.

The office reported that the capital city earned 25.48 trillion VND (1.02 billion USD) from tourism activities, up 17.8% from the corresponding time last year, attributing the increase to the ongoing peak season in Hanoi.

To attract more visitors, the sector is developing products associated with heritages, relic sites, and craft villages, and others based on strengths of each locality like sports tourism in the outskirts district of Soc Son, and community and medical tourism in Soc Son and Ba Vi districts.

The city has also set up connectivity with other cities and provinces such as Ha Nam, Ninh Binh, Son La, Lao Cai, and Lai Chau to form travel routes where their key, reciprocal products are brought into full play.

At the same time, the department has coordinated with districts and township to boost tourism at pedestrian streets like those in Hoan Kiem, Hai Ba Trung, and Son Tay, while opening new ones.

Attention has also been paid to tourism digitalisation, covering information about tourist sites, services, and market./.

Rewards must be given to right person, at right time: Acting President

Acting President Vo Thi Anh Xuan on March 29 asked Central Highlands and central coastal localities to pay due attention to emulation and reward work as it can stimulate motivation for the political system and people to perform their tasks.
 
Addressing a conference in the south central province of Binh Dinh that reviewed emulation movements in the central coastal and Central Highlands regions, the leader, who is also First Vice Chairwoman of the Central Council for Emulation and Rewards, said rewards must be given to the right person, at the right time, to create a pervasive effect in society.

As the localities all have advantages in socio-economic development and hold strategic positions in defence and security, they need to strive to create breakthroughs in socio-economic development and ensure national defence and security by making the most of their potential and advantages, and cooperate with and complement each other to create general strength for the whole region, she requested.

Last year, economic growth rates of many localities in the region reached or exceeded the set targets, investment in construction produced effective results, industrial production values increased, and the investment environment continued to improve. Social welfare was ensured, and political security in the localities remained stable as well.
 
The localities have responded warmly to emulation movements launched by the Prime Minister and created campaigns of their own, through which many exemplary models and practices as well as individuals have been discovered and rewarded. 

At the event, leaders of Central Highlands and central coastal localities signed a mutual agreement on emulation for 2024 with the witness of the Acting President./.

Vietnam and Poland strengthen sci-tech research cooperation

Vietnam wishes to boost cooperation in various fields with Poland, of which science-technology and innovation is one of Vietnam’s priorities.

Vice Chairman of the National Assembly of Vietnam Tran Quang Phuong was speaking during his working session with Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Affairs Krzysztof Gawkowski in Warsaw on March 28.

Vietnam is ready to further expand cooperation and learn Poland’s experience in this field, said Phuong who was paying a working trip to the EU nation.

Vietnam welcomes Polish investors, scientists, as well as Vietnamese-Polish scientists to engage in joint research projects in the country, he added.

He expressed hope that the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Affairs would continue to closely direct Polish ministries and agencies to coordinate with the Vietnamese side to effectively implement the high-level agreements reached between the two countries.

Gawkowski for his part briefed his guest on Poland’s digitalization development policy that is focused on digital technology development, artificial intelligence and quantum computing.

Poland’s ambition is to lead Europe in digitalization and it is willing to cooperate with Vietnam in this field, said Gawkowski.

According to the minister, a number of Polish firms in the digital industry want to introduce digital products to Vietnam and help the Southeast Asian nation develop digital technology.

At the meeting, the two sides expressed their desire to promote cooperation in fields where Vietnam and Poland have strengths.

Flight frequency to be increased ahead of Liberation Day holiday

The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) has decided to increase take-off and landing frequency at Tan Son Nhat International Airport to meet the rising travel needs on Southern Liberation and National Reunification Day (April 30) and May Day.      

The CAAV will adjust the takeoff and landing frequency at the airport from 42 flights per hour to 44 flights per hour from 6:00 a.m. to 11:55 p.m. and from 32 flights to 36 flights per hour between 0:00 a.m. and 5:55 a.m. (Hanoi time).

Currently, all six Vietnamese airlines own about 170 planes, a drop of between 40 and 45 planes compared to the same period last year.

Travel demand is forecast to rise by about 5% to 7% during the upcoming holiday and summer season.

The CAAV has so far granted operating rights to six domestic airlines with a total of 213 aircraft, meaning that local airlines can still rent aircraft for the coming peak season.

Many airlines are rushing to boost capacity and they may be able to add a number of aircraft to their fleets in early April.

Vietnam and Angola identify priority areas of cooperation at Luanda meeting

Vietnam and Angola hammered out future cooperation orientations during the seventh meeting of their Inter-Government Committee held in capital Luanda on March 28 (local time).

The two sides agreed to strengthen traditional areas of cooperation, including politics, diplomacy, security, health, education, and agriculture, while considering the possibility of opening up a number of new cooperation directions in areas of defense, justice, telecommunications, broadcasting and local cooperation.

They agreed to resume sending Angolan students to study in Vietnam under the agreed scholarship programme; increase the number of Vietnamese education experts working in Angola; and continue to enhance cooperation in medical expertise assistance.

The two sides stressed the need to promote the import and export of their key products such as rice, machinery, agricultural equipment and supplies, pharmaceuticals, and medical supplies, while creating favourable conditions for their businesses to boost economic cooperation.

They requested relevant ministries, agencies and businesses of the two countries to put forward initiatives and maximize the potential as well as opportunities for bilateral trade and investment cooperation.

Despite constant efforts made, the results of bilateral cooperation over the years are not commensurate with the longstanding friendship and potential of the two countries, according to Vietnamese Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Kim Son, who is head of the Vietnam – Angola Inter-Government Committee.

The two sides should cooperate closely and introduce appropriate solutions to make their cooperation more effective and substantive in the fields of trade - investment, finance - banking, industry, agriculture, oil and gas, security, national defense, health, education and higher education, and science and technology, he suggested.

Son proposed that relevant ministries and agencies of the two sides jointly examine in detail draft cooperation agreements in the fields of industry, public works, territory planning, trade and seaports, air transport, television broadcasting, and legal assistance in criminal matters, to be signed at an appropriate time in future.

Meanwhile, Minister of Higher Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation Maria do Rosário Bragança for her part said Angola wants to learn from Vietnam’s economic development models as the government is focusing on diversifying the economy and attracting foreign direct investment (FDI).

She called on Vietnamese businesses to explore investment opportunities in Angola’s priority fields of industry, tourism, mining, health care, education, agriculture, sports, and housing.  

The two ministers later signed the minutes of the meeting and witnessed the signing of a cooperation document between the two countries’ educational institutions.

This is the first time after 10 years the two countries have resumed the Inter-Government Meeting.

Two-way trade turnover between Vietnam and Angola remains modest, at less than US$100 million a year in the 2018-2022 period. Last year saw Vietnamese export turnover to Angola fell 3% compared to the previous year to US$25.5 million.

Angola currently has four investment projects in Vietnam with registered capital of US$118,000, ranking 49th out of 144 foreign investors in the country.

Vietnam also has four investment projects in Angola with capitalization of US$2.98 million, ranking 49th out of 80 countries and territories that receive Vietnamese investment abroad.

HCM City, Chile’s capital explore cooperation opportunities

A delegation of Ho Chi Minh City led by Standing Vice Secretary of the municipal Party Committee Nguyen Ho Hai held a working session with Manuel Gallardo Soto, Vice-Governor and City Manager of the Santiago Metropolitan Region, within the framework of a working visit to Chile.

At the event, the delegation briefed the host about HCM City’s achievements and development orientation in the field of high-tech agriculture as well as its strengths in other fields so that the Santiago metropolitan area and Chilean businesses can explore investment cooperation opportunities.

Hai noted that HCM City and the capital city of Santiago share many similarities and expressed the desire for both localities to fully tap their potential to enhance cooperation across various sectors.

The HCM City official affirmed that HCM City administration is willing to engage in activities aimed at strengthening the comprehensive partnership between the two countries and leveraging the strengths of each side, thereby contributing to the development of both nations.

He also took the occasion to extend an invitation to leaders of Santiago to visit HCM City.

During their stay, the delegation also held a working session with Chilean Agriculture Minister Esteban Valenzuela.

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