HCM City official appreciates UN official’s help with gender equality promotion

Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Vo Van Hoan received Elisa Fernandez Saenz, Country Representative of UN Women in Vietnam, on May 4, appreciating his guest’s contributions to the promotion of gender equality and the protection of women and girls.

On behalf of local leaders, Hoan highly valued the initiatives of the UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women to protect women and promote their progress in HCM City and Vietnam at large, noting that many of its programmes and models implemented in the city have proved fruitful and become role models for not only Vietnam but also many other countries.

The Party and State of Vietnam have paid great attention to the protection of women’s and girls’ rights by issuing many specific policies and setting up a specialised agency for this regard, he stressed.

HCM City pledges to maintain close coordination with UN Women in Vietnam and continue to effectively carry out the UN-supported programmes and models on protecting their rights and promoting the progress of local women, the official affirmed.

For her part, Elisa Fernandez Saenz applauded HCM City’s support for the programmes and projects implemented by UN Women here, noting their effective implementation shows local leaders’ attention to and the community’s active engagement in promoting gender equality and protecting women and girls.

She said UN Women in Vietnam hopes that through its programmes and projects, all people, especially women, will have conditions to contribute to local development, and that HCM City will be a place for women to demonstrate their dynamism and creativity and also be safe for women and girls.

The UN official highly valued HCM City as one of the leading localities in protecting women and girls from gender-based violence, asking it to share experience with other Vietnamese localities and cities in the world.

On this occasion, Vice Chairman Hoan presented a badge of HCM City to Elisa Fernandez Saenz in recognition of her contributions to the development of local women.

Ministry urges to conduct routine immunization in EPI

In its guidance, the Ministry of Health urged localities to conduct routine immunization in the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) as the Covid-19 pandemic has lead to major backsliding on childhood vaccinations.

The Ministry of Health yesterday sent an official dispatch to competent agencies and localities urging them to identify demand for the supply of vaccines in the program. The Ministry also had guidance on those who must receive vaccines and compulsory vaccination schedule in the Expanded Program on Immunization.

Specifically, infants must be vaccinated against hepatitis B while children under 1 year old ought to receive vaccines against BCG, bOPV, DPT-VGB-Hib, IPV and measles and children from 1 to 5 years old should be vaccinated against Japanese encephalitis. Pregnant women should get a tetanus vaccine.

The vaccines included in this guide are based on the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO), the Advisory Council on Vaccine Use of the Ministry of Health and the epidemiological situation of infectious diseases in Vietnam.

Recently, WHO and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) issued a press release encouraging urgent efforts in Vietnam to reverse the dramatic decline in vaccination rates of essential vaccines, causing many children not to be protected against vaccine-preventable diseases.

The Covid-19 pandemic has severely disrupted childhood immunization, with 67 million children missing out entirely or partially on routine immunization between 2019 and 2021, leaving them vulnerable to a range of preventable diseases, the statement said. Of these, nearly 250,000 children in Vietnam missed one or more doses of the vaccine.

On the same day, the Ministry of Health said that the country had an additional 1,202 cases of Covid-19, down 42 cases compared to May 1. Worse, four Covid-19 patients in the Central City of Da Nang, the Southern Province of Dong Nai, Ho Chi Minh City and the Northern Province of Lang Son succumbed to the coronavirus on the day bringing the total number of Covid-19 deaths during the last three days to 11.

Vietnam seeking cooperation with Germany’s Schleswig-Holstein state

A Vietnamese delegation led by Ambassador to Germany Vu Quang Minh on May 3 visited Schleswig-Holstein, the northernmost state of Germany, seeking further cooperation between Vietnam and the state.

Speaking with the state authorities, Minh said that Vietnam and Schleswig-Holstein have great potential for cooperation in industries related to maritime, shipping, shipbuilding industry, and marine research as the country has a long coastline with 34 seaports while Schleswig-Holstein is a maritime gateway to the Mediterranean.

The ambassador expressed his hope that the state will boost cooperation with Vietnam’s ministries and localities, and affirmed the embassy is willing to promote the cooperation.

Minh said he wishes that the Schleswig - Holstein State Government will continue to create favourable conditions for the Vietnamese community there to further contribute to the development of the state.

On this occasion, the Ambassador invited leaders and business delegations of the state to visit and work in Vietnam.

Schleswig Holstein State Premier Daniel Günther said that the state has a demand for skilled labour and wants the two sides to strengthen cooperation in this field. 

He said that some universities in the state also want to strengthen training cooperation with foreign partners, including Vietnam. Regarding the Ambassador's invitation, Daniel Günther said he will discuss with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IHK) and the state's business community the possibility of a visit to Vietnam in 2024 or 2025.

Museum honours wood carving art of Nguyen Dynasty

The History Museum of HCM City is showcasing a collection of 150 artefacts dating back to the 19th and early 20th centuries to introduce visitors to the wood carving art of the Nguyễn Dynasty.

According to Hoàng Anh Tuấn, the museum’s director, the exhibits in the exhibition entitled “Sắc Mộc – Nghệ Thuật Điêu Khắc Gỗ Thời Nguyễn” (The Colour of Wood – Wood Carving Art of the Nguyễn Dynasty) are only a small part of the museum’s collection of wooden artefacts. However, each work has its own story and beauty which reflects the talent and aesthetic of the artisans at that time.

The exhibition highlights items for worshipping in a Vietnamese traditional house such as altars inlaid with mother-of-pearl shells, and horizontal lacquered boards.

On display are also sets of tables and chairs and windshields decorated with hundreds of pieces of mother-of-pearl shells.

The decorations have themes of tứ linh (four sacred mythical creatures: dragon, kylin, phoenix and tortoise symbolising luck, longevity, prosperity and success), or poems.

The woodblocks used to print books and documents during the Nguyễn Dynasty are introduced as well.

The works were carved with Han Chinese scripts and Vietnamese Nôm ideographic scripts, reflecting the establishment and development of the country through history, literature, militarisation, and legislation.

The showcase also features wooden statues of Buddha worshipped in pagodas in the south such as infant Buddha, and Sangharama Bodhisattva.

The exhibition will be open until June 30. The museum is located at 2 Nguyễn Bỉnh Khiêm Street in District 1. 

Vietnam attends International Maritime Defence Exhibition Asia 2023

A Vietnamese military delegation led by Rear Admiral Nguyen Dinh Hung, Deputy Commander of the Vietnam People's Navy, attended the International Maritime Defence Exhibition (IMDEX) Asia 2023 that opened at the Changi Exhibition Centre of Singapore on May 3.

The three-day exhibition drew 47 delegations from more than 40 countries in the region and the world, and 250 enterprises from 25 nations, showing the latest technologies in the fields of defence and navigation.

Opening the event, Singaporean Minister of Defence Ng Eng Hen said that IMDEX 2023 provided an important platform to maintain and enhance regional stability and security. He called on participants to make use of the event to promote cooperation, consensus and strengthen mutual understanding, contributing to maintain peace and stability in the region.

On this occasion, Rear Admiral Nguyen Dinh Hung paid a courtesy call to Chief of Staff of the Singaporean Navy Rear Admiral Edwin Leong.

The same day, Singapore’s Chief of Defence Force Rear Admiral Aaron Beng visited Vietnam’s 015-Tran Hung Dao ship. Rear Admiral Aaron Beng highly valued Vietnam’s participation in the ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise (AIME) 2023 and IMDEX 2023, showing the country’s commitment to coordinate with the Singaporean Navy and contributing to the success of the events.

Rear Admiral Aaron Beng also expressed his hope to welcome Rear Admiral Tran Thanh Nghiem, Commander of the Vietnam People’s Navy, in Singapore at an appropriate time./.

Vietnam, Cuba hold fifth Theoretical Symposium

The Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) on May 3 co-organised the fifth Theoretical Symposium under the theme of "Some theoretical and practical issues on building socialism in Vietnam and Cuba".

The event was co-chaired by Nguyen Xuan Thang, Politburo member, President of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics (HCMA) and Chairman of the Central Theory Council, and Roberto Morales Ojeda, Politburo member and permanent member of the Secretariat of the Communist Party of Cuba Central Committee.

In his opening remarks, Thang emphasised that sharing experience, theoretical and practical issues in the process of building socialism in Vietnam and Cuba is an important content of cooperation between the two Parties with an aim to enhance mutual understanding, tighten and promote the special relationship between the two Parties and peoples.

The organisation of such kind of symposium is vivid evidence of the exemplary, faithful and pure solidarity between Vietnam and Cuba, he stressed.

Within the framework of the event, delegates, theorists and ideologists of the two Parties presented speeches and exchanged opinions on building and developing Party organisations in economic sectors; developing a contingent of cadres, especially strategic ones; the work of political and ideological education among youths; strengthening communication governance, and ensuring security and safety in cyberspace; and building Vietnam's socialist-oriented market economy and updating Cuba's socio-economic model.

Roberto Morales Ojeda affirmed that the two Parties highly agree on the urgent need to continue strengthening political and ideological consensus and selectively absorb international experience in combination with fundamental ideology of each country.

On May 3 afternoon, Thang received Rosario Penton Diaz, member of the PCC Central Committee, and director of the Nico Lopez Senior Party School.

They shared experience in personnel planning and strategic cadre training of each Party.

On this occasion, the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics and the Nico Lopez Senior Party School renewed the Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation for the 2023 – 2028 period.

Quang Ngai proposes spending $10.6 million on rainwater collection for Ly Son Island

The Quảng Ngãi Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has proposed investing in a rainwater collection system for Lý Sơn Island.

The system is expected to collect one million cubic metres of rainwater per year with a fund of VNĐ250 billion (US$10.6 million).

Võ Quốc Hùng, deputy director of the department, on Thursday said that the technical plan would be proposed to the Quảng Ngãi People’s Committee in the next few months.

Under the plan, of the one million cubic metres of water, 600,000cu.m will be used for agricultural work, and the remaining will be used for daily life and tourism activities on Lý Sơn Island.

The Lý Sơn Island district now has the Thới Lới water reservoir, two concentrated water supply works and 2,149 wells.

The Thới Lới reservoir was built in 2012 with a capacity of about 270,000cu.m.

In recent years, the Lý Sơn District has faced a serious shortage of fresh water.

The main reason is that groundwater on the island is over-exploited to grow onions and garlic.

The province’s statistics show that, with an area of only 10sq.m, the Lý Sơn Island district has a density of freshwater wells up to more than 210 wells per square kilometre.

These wells exploit nearly 22,000cu.m per day, mainly in the dry season, leading to freshwater resources decrease and saltwater intrusion.

It is estimated that the total amount of rainwater on the island is about nine million cubic metres per year.

If subtracting the amount of water infiltrating into the ground and evaporating, the remaining of about three million cubic metres will pour into the sea.

The proposed project will collect one-third of the rainwater, which will pour into the sea, equivalent to about one million cubic metres per year.

This is a feasible and less expensive option for the State and the people than the option of turning seawater into fresh water.

Vietnam upholds importance of trust-building in sustaining peace

In a world riddled with uncertainties and strategic complexities, trust plays a critical role in conflict prevention and solution, and is the bedrock for a multilateral system that can achieve and sustain peace, Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the United Nations, told the UN Security Council’s open debate on “Futureproofing trust for sustaining peace” on May 3.

Stressing that trust cannot be coerced or manufactured but rests on the principles of fairness and equality, Giang called on all actors in international relations, especially the major powers, to act in good faith and uphold their responsibility, while fully considering the legitimate interests of all parties and stakeholders. 

Multilateralism and respect for international law, including the UN Charter, should be the core elements of trust-building, he emphasised.

Regarding post-conflict peace-building, the Vietnamese representative emphasised the importance of enhancing mutual understanding and trust, especially between UN Peacekeeping Missions and authorities, people as well as political and armed forces of the receiving countries.

He also called on the international community and the UN Security Council to promote solutions to build confidence in dealing with the root causes of conflicts such as poverty and inequality, on the basis of improving transparency and inclusive in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, while identifying trust-building as one of the key components of the UN Secretary-General's New Agenda for Peace.

Vietnam always places great importance on weaving trust and trust-building into its domestic and foreign policies. This helps maintain national unity and enhance international integration. It is clearly reflected in the country’s consistent foreign policy of diversification and a commitment to being a trusted international partner.  It is also shown in the country’s contribution to the UN work, UN peacekeeping operations and other multilateral forums, he added.

At the debate, delegates expressed concern about the erosion of trust in international relations and in multilateral mechanisms that results in an increase in the risk of conflicts and challenges for the international community in building and maintaining peace.

Relevant countries and organisations also emphasised the need to restore and strengthen trust at both the global and regional levels as well as at the national scale for the sake of sustainable and long-term peace.

Vietnam’s airports serve nearly 37 million passengers in last four months

Airports in Vietnam served nearly 37 million passengers in the first four months of this year, up 55% compared to the same period of last year, according to the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV).

Of the total, there were 9.7 million foreign and 27.2 million local passengers, marking a year-on-year increase of 976% and 18% respectively.

In April, airports across the country served 9.17 million passengers including 2.65 million foreign ones.

Vietnamese airlines carried 18.2 million passengers in the first four months of 2023, an increase of 56% compared to the same period last year. according to the CAAV.

Meanwhile, the volume of goods through airports decreased by 24.3% compared to the same period in 2022 with only 378,400 tonnes.

Particularly, the airports dealt with only 272,000 tonnes of international cargo, down 32.1% from the same period in 2022.

Expectations for forest carbon credits from Central Highlands

The Central Highlands of Vietnam boasts around 2.5 million hectares of forest, with approximately 2.2 million hectares classified as natural forest and the remainder as planted forest. The average forest cover in the region is 46.19 percent.

Given its vast forested area, the Central Highlands is regarded as a significant carbon sink and accumulation source that can generate a substantial amount of carbon credits for trading, thereby creating economic opportunities for both businesses and individuals.

Nam Tay Nguyen Forestry Company is currently managing over 27,200 hectares of forests, consisting primarily of evergreen broadleaf forests in various stages. Given the current area and status, the forests managed by Nam Tay Nguyen Company are undergoing recovery and development after exploitation and accumulating a substantial amount of carbon annually. Consequently, building commercial forest carbon credits is expected to yield significant economic benefits for the company in the near future.

According to Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Binh, Director of Nam Tay Nguyen Company, the forest area under the unit's management includes several recovering states, which have a high potential for carbon accumulation and the formation of carbon credits. Currently, the company has requested the People's Committee of Dak Nong Province and the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to pilot a model of building carbon credits from forests and has been encouraged to implement it. The company has also hired domestic and foreign consultants to develop carbon credits from the managed forests. It is a new model that the company believes will bring economic benefits to the company as well as the forestry industry in general, Mr. Binh remarked.

Mr. Pham Tuan Linh, Director of Yok Don National Park in Dak Lak Province, has been studying the legal procedures necessary to plan for building carbon credits from forests. According to Mr. Linh, the park currently manages 115,000 hectares of special-use forests, mainly dipterocarp forests with rapid regeneration and growth, which have great potential for forming a large number of carbon credits. Mr. Linh believes that building carbon credits is an inevitable need for forestry units in the future, as it can solve the economic problems faced by forestry units and improve the lives of forest keepers thanks to the benefits that carbon credits bring.

According to Prof. Bao Huy, an independent consultant on forest environment and natural resource management, the forest carbon credit market is not yet widespread in Vietnam, with only a few projects currently being implemented. Moreover, there is no actual trading market for these credits. Meanwhile, carbon markets have long been established overseas, where industries and factories that exceed their carbon dioxide quota must purchase additional carbon credits.

Mr. Le Trong Yen, Vice Chairman of Dak Nong Provincial People's Committee, stated that the province is taking various measures to promote the creation of forest carbon credits. Dak Nong province has developed a plan to manage and protect natural forests strictly, and at the same time, cultivate forest trees that can generate carbon credits effectively.

Based on Decree No.06/2022/ND-CP issued on January 7, 2022, a carbon credit trading floor will be established and piloted by 2025. By the end of 2027, regulations for managing carbon credits and exchanging greenhouse gas emission quotas and carbon credits will be developed, along with regulations for operating carbon credit trading floors. In 2028, a carbon credit exchange will be established, facilitating the connection and exchange of domestic carbon credits with regional and global carbon markets. This decree provides a crucial legal foundation for Central Highlands forests to potentially generate carbon credits.

Chief Justice of Supreme People's Court visits Netherlands

Chief Justice of the Supreme People's Court Nguyen Hoa Binh visited the Netherlands from May 2-3, aiming to enhance relations between Vietnam and relevant organisations and agencies.

During the visit, Binh and his entourage also learned about some issues in judicial reform in service of amendments to the Law on the Organisation of People’s Courts, and the compilation of a law on justice for juveniles.

They visited Secretary General of The Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH) Christophe Bernasconi, Deputy Secretary General of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) Martin Doe, and Chairwoman of the Council for Child Protection at the Dutch Ministry of Justice and Security Mirjam Zeevaart.

Bernasconi briefed the delegation on the operation of the HCCH that comprises 91 members, including Vietnam.

The two sides exchanged views on issues emerging in the enforcement of international judgements in Vietnam, as well as Vietnam’s judgements in foreign countries.

They also discussed Bernasconi’s proposals regarding some conventions which Vietnam would join such as the 2005 Choice of Court Convention and the 1980 Hague Convention on International Child Abduction.

At the working session with Doe, Binh spoke highly of the operation of the PCA, especially its recent rulings on international disputes, and stressed that the court’s opening of its representative office in Hanoi demonstrates the attention it pays to Asia-Pacific and Vietnam in particular.

At the meeting with the Chairwoman of the Council for Child Protection, Binh stressed the need to build a law on justice for juveniles, given shortcomings in law enforcement in reality.

Vice President meets business leaders, OV representatives in UAE

Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan held separate working sessions with leaders of the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy (AGDA), Masdar Clean Energy and Mubadala Investment Company, and representatives of the  Vietnamese community in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on May 3 and 4 during her trip to the country.

Meeting with AGDA leaders, Xuan hailed the important role of AGDA in research and training of diplomats and Government leaders of the UAE. 

She affirmed Vietnam’s consistent diplomatic policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation and development, mutilateralisation and diversification of external relations; being a friend, a trustworthy partner and an active and responsible member of the international community.

Both sides agreed to promote cooperation between AGDA and Vietnam's Diplomatic Academy and research institutes, build specific cooperation programmes in personnel training, sharing of research outcomes and assessments on the world and regional situation, and co-organise conferences and seminars on areas of mutual interest.

Visiting Masdar Clean Energy and Mubadala - the leading energy corporations of the UAE, Xuan hailed their pioneering role in developing clean and renewable energy projects in the UAE and the region. She also introduced incentives provided by the Vietnamese Government to attract foreign investment, especially in sustainable green development.

She affirmed that Vietnam and the UAE hold great potential of cooperation in this field and wished that the two corporations would consider investing in energy projects in Vietnam.

Leaders of Masdar Clean Energy and Mubadala agreed with Vice President Xuan’s cooperation proposals and affirmed their wish to meet Vietnamese partners to discuss specific cooperation opportunities in priority areas such as clean and renewable energy.

Meeting staff of Vietnamese representative agencies and representatives from the Vietnamese community in the country, Xuan affirmed the Vietnamese Party and State’s policy of paying special attention to the overseas Vietnamese (OV) community and asked the Vietnamese Embassy and the Community Liaison Board in the UAE to play a better role in connecting and helping OVs settle down lives, holding more community activities to preserve the cultural identity of the Vietnamese people.

Chief Justice of Supreme People's Court visits Netherlands

Chief Justice of the Supreme People's Court Nguyen Hoa Binh visited the Netherlands from May 2-3, aiming to enhance relations between Vietnam and relevant organisations and agencies.

During the visit, Binh and his entourage also learned about some issues in judicial reform in service of amendments to the Law on the Organisation of People’s Courts, and the compilation of a law on justice for juveniles.

They visited Secretary General of The Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH) Christophe Bernasconi, Deputy Secretary General of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) Martin Doe, and Chairwoman of the Council for Child Protection at the Dutch Ministry of Justice and Security Mirjam Zeevaart.

Bernasconi briefed the delegation on the operation of the HCCH that comprises 91 members, including Vietnam.

The two sides exchanged views on issues emerging in the enforcement of international judgements in Vietnam, as well as Vietnam’s judgements in foreign countries.

They also discussed Bernasconi’s proposals regarding some conventions which Vietnam would join such as the 2005 Choice of Court Convention and the 1980 Hague Convention on International Child Abduction.

Embassy meets Swiss friends advocating peace for Vietnam

The Vietnamese Embassy in Switzerland held a gathering on May 3 with some Swiss friends who supported peace for Vietnam during the wartime.

The event took place on the occasion of the 48th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification Day (April 30, 1975 - 2023).

Among the Swiss friends, there were three special guests – Bernard Bachelard, Olivier Parriaux, and Noé Graff, who travelled from Switzerland to Paris to fly the flag of the National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam on top of Notre Dame Cathedral Paris on January 18 - 19, 1969 to protest the war and advocate peace for Vietnam.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Switzerland Phung The Long said that 2023 marks 50 years since the signing of the Paris Agreement on Ending the War and Restoring Peace in Vietnam (January 27, 1973).

He expressed his belief that the Swiss guests at the gathering will continue cherishing their memories of the days when they joined other peace-loving people around the world in protesting the US administration’s unjust war and supporting the Vietnamese people’s just struggle for national independence and reunification.

Hanoi’s double-decker buses run free trips for 6,681 passengers during holidays

Double-decker buses provided 127 free trips for 6,681 passengers during April 28 – May 2 holiday in the capital city of Hanoi, reported the municipal Transport Department.

During the period, buses across the city also ran 97,995 trips, or 99.9% of the plan and 15% higher than the same period last year, with over 7.56 million passengers.

Furthermore, urban railway line 2A completed 1,045 trips with 174,434 passengers.

The Hanoi Public Transport Management Centre also adjusted the routes of three bus lines to serve local tourist destinations.

No accidents involving buses were recorded during the holiday.

Photo exhibition highlights Vietnam through lens of int'l photographers

A photo exhibition showcasing Vietnamese landscapes through the lens of international photographers will be held as part of the second Vietnam International Photography Festival 2023 in the central coastal province of Binh Thuan.

According to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the event will contribute to promoting activities within the National Tourism Year 2023 in Binh Thuan, and simultaneously elevating the locality’s culture and tourism to the world.

The exhibition is to popularize beautiful and vivid images snapped by photographers around the world, and at the same time to provide an ideal venue for both international and Vietnamese photographers to share their experience and introduce their creative artworks.

The exhibition will be divided into two themes, featuring the natural beauty of people, as well as the landscapes and culture, of both Vietnam and Binh Thuan province.

Each author is eligible to submit up to 20 single photos and send their artworks directly to the email address haoct.cmtna@bvhttdl.gov.vn.

The deadline for submissions will be on June 30, with all of the information about the photo exhibition being updated at the website http://ape.gov.vn.

Winners of the photo exhibition will receive prizes worth VND10 million each. The opening ceremony of the event is scheduled to take place on October 20 in Binh Thuan province.

Vietnam and UAE increase renewable energy cooperation

Vietnam and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) hold much potential for cooperation in clean and renewable energy.

Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan was speaking at meetings with leaders of Masdar and Mubadala, the two leading firms of the UAE in the field of energy and renewable energy, in Dubai on May 4.

She briefed the UAE CEOs on the incentives Vietnam is offering to foreign investors, especially in the field of green and sustainable development, and said Vietnam expects UAE firms to consider investing in energy projects in the country.

Leaders of the two firms affirmed their desires to discuss with Vietnamese partners specific investment cooperation opportunities in prioritized areas, such as clean energy and renewable energy.

While staying in the UAE for the 2023 Global Summit of Women, Xuan also met with leaders of the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy in Dubai.

The two sides emphasized the important role diplomacy plays in preserving and creating a peaceful and stable environment for cooperation and development amid complicated and unpredictable changes in the world.

Xuan informed about major orientations in Vietnam’s foreign policy and affirmed Vietnam is a friend, a reliable partner and an active and responsible member in the international community.

She also called at the headquarters of the Vietnamese Embassy in the UAE where she met and talked with the embassy’s officials and representatives of the Vietnamese community in the UAE.

Xuan was scheduled to attend and deliver a speech at the opening ceremony of the 2023 Global Summit of Women on May 4.  

SEA Games 32: Vietnam Jiu-jitsu fighters seize three bronze medals

Jiu-jitsu fighters won three bronze medals for Vietnam on May 4 at the ongoing 32nd Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 32) in Cambodia.

In the men's duo event, Ma Dinh Khai và Trinh Ke Duong earned a bronze, with the gold medal going to Kongmona Mithora and Touch Pikada of the host Cambodia.

In the women’s Ne-Waza GI 52kg event, Dang Huyen, in spite of her injury, still managed to win by knockout against her Singapore rival, securing a bronze medal. The gold and silver medals were obtained by Kaila Isip Napolis of the Philippines and Jessa Khan of Campuchia, respectively.

The third bronze for Vietnam in the sport was brought about by Hoang Thi Lan Huong and Nguyen Minh Phuong in the women’s show event. Kunsatri Kumsroi and Suphawadee Kaeosrasaen of Thailand topped for the gold medal, Cambodia’s Heng Seavheang and Tim Sovanlina seized the silver medal.

The Games will officially begin on May 5 and finish on May 17 in Cambodia’s capital city and four other localities, with more than 12,400 athletes, coaches, officials, staff and volunteers set to participate.

Team Vietnam has 1,003 members, including 702 athletes competing in 31 sports. They target to win between 90-120 gold medals for a place in the top three finish.

Peak heat forecast to sweep Hanoi in the next two months

According to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting (NCHMF), Hanoi and other northern Vietnamese towns and provinces will experience blistering heat in the upcoming days. The capital city will have the hottest days in the next two months.

Vietnam's northern and central areas will endure sweltering temperatures from May 5 to May 7 due to low pressure and the potent Foehn wind effect.

The northeastern region will face heat waves with temperatures reaching up to 37 degrees Celsius on May 5 and 6, the NCHMF said, adding that the temperatures ranging from 37 to 39 degrees Celsius will bake the north central provinces between May 4 and 7.

“From mid-May, temperatures will increase by 1.5 degrees Celsius against those in the previous years. Some areas in the northwest will be 2 degrees hotter than usual," said Nguyen Van Huong, head of NCHF's climate forecasting department.

"The northern region will experience the highest temperature in June and July, while the central region will experience the highest temperature between late June and August," Huong stressed.

He added that due to the effects of El Nino, heat waves are likely to be more frequent and intense in 2023 than in 2022, and the number of scorching days is likely to be higher this year than the last.

Huong pointed out that because May marks the beginning of summer, heat waves and cold waves will collide, potentially resulting in severe weather conditions like tornadoes, hail, and strong winds during the storm. 

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