An endangered turtle weighing about 80 kg with a length of 1.2 m and a width of 0.8 m was caught in the net of fishermen and released back to the sea in the Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang on May 5.

Earlier, in the morning of the same day, while on patrol in the waters of Bai Dong area, Tho Chau commune, a working group of Bai Dong Border Guard Station under Tho Chau Border Guard Station discovered the animal.

The turtle, scientifically known as Lepidochelys olivacea, is included on the red book of threatened species.

Vietnamese laws prohibit the hunting, trading, transporting, storing, and killing of such wild animals.

Prime Minister leaves Hanoi for 42nd ASEAN Summit in Indonesia

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh left Hanoi on May 9 morning for the 42nd ASEAN Summit in Indonesia, at the invitation of Indonesian President and Chairman of the Summit Joko Widodo.

He is accompanied by high-ranking officials of the NA and ministries. The 42nd ASEAN Summit is taking place in Labuan Bajo from May 9-11 with the participation of ASEAN member nations’ leaders. Prime Minister Timor Leste was invited to attend the summit for the first time as an observer.

Sessions within the summit will focus on the process of building ASEAN Community with the themed “ASEAN Matters: Epicentre of Growth”, and discuss international and regional issues of mutual concern.

Dialogue sessions between leaders of ASEAN countries and representatives of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA), the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ABAC), and the High-Level Task Force on ASEAN Community’s Post-2025 Vision will be also arranged.

The summit is expected to consider and approve many important documents on cooperation in all three pillars: ASEAN political-security community, economy and socio-culture. 

Vietnam to contribute important ideas at 42nd ASEAN Summit: Ambassador

The Vietnamese delegation to the upcoming 42nd ASEAN Summit led by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh will contribute many important ideas to promote ASEAN cooperation and contribute to the overall success of the summit slated for May 9-11 in Indonesia, according to Ambassador Nguyen Hai Bang, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to ASEAN.

The ambassador said PM Chinh will engage in many multilateral cooperation activities and actively contribute specific ideas to the bloc’s joint efforts to build the ASEAN Community until 2025, and the ASEAN Community Vision from 2024 to 2034.

The PM has a busy working agenda, including participation in the summit’s meetings and bilateral meetings with leaders of other ASEAN countries to strengthen bilateral cooperation, Bang stated.  

Since joining ASEAN, Vietnam has always been an active and responsible member, which is ready to lead and make great contributions to the development of ASEAN, especially in community building. 

Vietnam's contributions in recent years have been appreciated and recognised by other ASEAN member countries, contributing to improving Vietnam's position and reputation in ASEAN. In that context, the attendance of the Vietnamese high-ranking delegation in this summit is of great significance, contributing to finding a common voice of ASEAN in international and regional issues of shared concern while recognising and respecting possible differences in viewpoints and national interests among members.

Regarding community building, the diplomat said that Vietnam will contribute and support initiatives to improve institutional capacity and operational efficiency of ASEAN organs, review the implementation process of the ASEAN Charter with a view of adjusting it in align with reality and the new situation of the region.

Vietnam, together with other ASEAN countries, will also make effective contributions to the building of ASEAN's vision after 2025. The goal is to ensure that ASEAN's community-building efforts are implemented smoothly and effectively across all three pillars of politics - security, economics and socio-culture, stated Bang.

As current emerging international and regional issues are also of great concern, directly affecting ASEAN, the task of the Vietnamese delegation is to give opinions and propose initiatives to build a common stance and ensure solidarity and unity of the bloc. Only then can ASEAN maintain its central role and image in international forums, the Vietnamese representative added.

Lotus Village Festival 2023 to mark birthday of President Ho Chi Minh

The central province of Nghe An is scheduled to hold a wide range of activities from May 10 to May 19 as part of the Lang Sen (Lotus Village) festival to celebrate President Ho Chi Minh’s 133rd birthday (May 19).

Two music galas will be held at Ho Chi Minh Square in Vinh City on the evenings of May 12 and May 19 to open and close the festival. They will feature many songs which illustrate the life and revolutionary career of President Ho.

Local authorities will lay floral tributes in front of President Ho’s Monument at Ho Chi Minh Square, and offer incense at Kim Lien relic site and Chung Son Temple in Kim Lien commune of Nam Dan district – the hometown of the late President.

The festival will also consist of many cultural activities, including a singing competition, a culinary contest on dishes made from lotus, as well as a photo exhibition showcasing the life and revolutionary career of President Ho, a hero of national liberation, a world cultural celebrity and a historical figure known worldwide.

Performances of Vi-Giam singing, a type of traditional folk music practiced in the central provinces of Nghe An and Ha Tinh, along with traditional games, will also get underway on this occasion.

The festival has been held annually in Nghe An province since 1981, allowing people from all walks of life to come and show their love and respect for President Ho. It was postponed in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and resumed last year.

Vovinam fighter grabs silver at SEA Games 32

Vovinam (Vietnamese traditional martial arts) fighter Huynh Khac Nguyen on May 8 pocketed the silver medal in the men's ying-yang sword form event at the 32nd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games hosted in Cambodia.

Nguyen's impressive performance earned him a total of 447 points, falling just short of Aik Soe Lin of Myanmar, who secured the gold medal with 449 points. Phupakorn Wongthanachet of Thailand claimed the bronze with 437 points.

The morning's events also saw several athletes from Vietnam qualify for the finals in athletics, and swimming.

In swimming, Vietnam sent two young athletes, Nguyen Thuy Hien and Pham Thi Van, to the final of the women's 100m freestyle.

Their seniors, Le Thu Thuy and Vo Thi My Tien, qualified for the women's 400m freestyle. Nguyen Quang Thuan and Tran Hung Nguyen will compete in the men's 400m individual medley final.

Nguyen Huu Kim Son and defending Nguyen Huy Hoang received byes to compete in the men's 1.500m freestyle in the evening.

In athletics, Ngan Ngoc Nghia will be present in the men's 200m, while newbies Tran Thi Yen Nhi and Kha Thanh Truc will run in the women's 200m.

Also, Vietnam's hope for medals in the triathlon collapsed in the morning.

Both men's and women's representatives, Lam Quang Nhat and Nguyen Thi Kim Cuong, could not finish their race.

Nhat quit when he was in the running stage because of exhaustion, while Cuong was ruled out by an injury during cycling.

After a medical check, boxer Nguyen Thi Tam announced bad news for supporters. She had a torn ligament of the left knee and now faces a long spell out of the ring.

The world silver medalist was expected to win SEA Games gold three times in a row, lost via technical knock-out in her first match against Jutamas Jitpong of Thailand in the women's 54kg after suffering her injury.

The injury might prevent her from participating in the September Asian Games in China and qualifications for the Paris Olympics.

Various activities to respond to Int’l Day for Biological Diversity

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment is planning a number of activities in response to the International Day for Biological Diversity (May 22).

In particular, a ceremony will be held to mark the Day. Other activities will include a workshop on the coordination of actions to implement the Kunming - Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, planting trees and releasing wild animals at the Ba Be National Park in Bac Kan province, along with painting and photo exhibitions on nature and biodiversity conservation.

They aim to highlight the importance of biodiversity to human life and raise public awareness of conserving and bringing into play biodiversity values to help with the country’s sustainable development.

Vietnam issued a plan of action on biodiversity in 1995, shortly after it became a signatory to the Convention on Biological Diversity. In 2013, the Prime Minister also approved the national biodiversity strategy by 2020, with a vision to 2030.

Meanwhile, the 2020 Law on Environmental Protection took effect in 2022. To curb biodiversity losses, at the start of last year, the Government also gave the green light to the national biodiversity strategy by 2030, with a vision to 2050.

This strategy encourages non-governmental organisations, enterprises, and people to take part in the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and ecosystem services. It also looks to facilitate the private sector’s engagement in the conservation.

It targets that onshore nature reserves will account for 9% of the mainland area; protected coastal and marine areas make up 3 - 5% of the country’s natural sea area; an additional 15 Ramsar sites, 14 biosphere reserves, and 15 ASEAN heritage parks be recognised; the nationwide forest coverage maintained at 42 - 43%; and at least 20% of the degrading natural ecosystem area be recovered.

Under the strategy, Vietnam is striving so that no more wild species will become extinct, the populations of at least 10 endangered species be improved, and at least 100,000 genetic sources be collected and stored.

Vietnamese beauty appointed Youth Goodwill Ambassador of IIMSAM

Nguyen Thanh Ha, Miss Eco International 2023 winner, has assumed her role as Youth Goodwill Ambassador of the Autonomous Inter-governmental Institution of Microalgae Spirulina's use against Malnutrition (IIMSAM).     

She will therefore become a youth goodwill ambassador for social activities fighting against malnutrition in the world.

Furthermore, Ha will work with concrete deeds in support of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development of the UN.

IIMSAM represents the only inter-governmental organisation in the world with observer status at the UN Economic and Social Council. The organisation works as a humanitarian instrument in fighting malnutrition worldwide. According to the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), acute-malnutrition makes up the world's number one killer.

Ha, 19, first rose to prominence after she was crowned Miss Eco Vietnam 2022 last June. She became the first Vietnamese beauty to be crowned Miss Eco International 2023 last March. Elsewhere, Ha also picked up a win in the “Best in Eco Dress” sub-contest.

The young girl has spent more than VND1 billion from her bonus in local and global pageants carrying out charity activities across the country. Most notably, she helped to build new bridge for villagers in Ben Tre province, one of the localities in the Mekong Delta region heavily impacted by salt intrusion and severe droughts.

Vietnamese Karate fighters conclude competitions in SEA Games 32 with six golds

Vietnamese Karate fighters bagged one more gold medal, the sixth one at the 32nd Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 32) after defeating their Philippine rivals at the female team kumite event on May 8.

With two victories of Nguyen Thi Ngoan and Truong Thi Thuong, the Vietnamese female team won gold without having to wait for the results of the third match of Dinh Thi Huong.

At the same time, the male team, comprising Chu Van Duc, Do Thanh Nhan, Do Manh Hung, Vo Van Hien, Tran Le Tan Dat, Nguyen Viet Ngoc Hiep and Lo Van Bien also won a gold medal in the male team kumite after a close win 3-2 over their Malaysian rivals in the final match.

Overall, the Vietnamese Karate team concluded their competitions at SEA Games 32 with six gold medals, doubling the target set before the largest regional sports event kicked off.

Earlier on May 7, Hoang Thi My Tam beat her Indonesian rival 4-3 in the women's kumite 55kg event to bring home a gold medal. In the women's under 68kg categories, Dinh Thu Huong defeated an athlete from the Philippines by 7-4 to seize another gold medal for Vietnam. On May 6, Vietnam also won two gold medals in the team performance events.

Meanwhile, Vietnam's billiards team also won a silver medal with a victory of Phung Kien Tuong in the women's 3-cushion carom singles. Nguyen Hoang Yen Nhi will play Pheavy from Cambodia in the final match of the event this afternoon.

SEA Games 32 with 38 sports is taking place from May 5-17 in the capital city of Phnom Penh and four other localities, including Siem Reap, Preah Sihanouk, Kampot, and Kep.

Players to train in South America ahead of 2024 AFC Futsal Asian Cup qualifiers

The futsal team of Vietnam, led by head coach Giustozzi Diego Raul, will gather later this month for training in South America to prepare for the 2024 AFC Futsal Asian Cup qualifiers, the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) said on May 8.

The Argentinian coach has decided to maintain 16 outstanding players among the 23 called for the February gathering and give chances to three new ones basing on their performance.

The team will undergo training at the futsal gymnasium of District 8 in Ho Chi Minh City. A shortlist of 16 players will be announced on May 31.

Their training in South America will start in Paraguay, where the team will have three friendlies with the Paraguayan futsal team on June 4, 6, and 8. In Argentina, they will play against the team of this country on June 10, 12, and 14.

Paraguay currently rank ninth in the world’s futsal rankings while Argentina are at the fourth place and also won the 2016 FIFA Futsal World Cup.

The matches with high-level rivals will generate considerable benefits for the Vietnamese futsal team, the VFF noted, adding that it is also a result of the VFF’s efforts to help the team make the best preparations for the 2024 AFC Futsal Asian Cup qualifiers, set to kick off this October.

Vietnamese culture introduced at Spotlight International Art 2023

The Vietnamese Embassy in Mongolia introduced the nation’s lands and traditional culture to international friends at the Spotlight International Art 2023 held in Ulaanbaatar on May 7.

The event saw a number of videos introducing scenic spots, cultural beauty, and delicious cuisines of several regions and ethnic groups of Vietnam.

Visitors also had the chance to take part in Vietnamese paper cutting games and make paper handicraft products.

Addressing the event, Vietnamese Ambassador to Mongolia Doan Khanh Tam thanked the Mongolian Culture Council and Mongol Art Gallery for creating an interesting and meaningful playground for countries and territories to come together and enhance cultural exchanges and promote tourism cooperation.

He also emphasised the importance of cultural ties and humanistic exchanges held between countries and territories, as well as the role children play in creating the future.

The second Spotlight International Art 2023 aimed to introduce cultural characteristics of the participating countries through a variety of games and folk art forms.

As part of this festival, embassies and representative agencies of countries and territories had the chance to present videos promoting their countries' tourism potential, strengths, and resources.

SEA Games 32: One more gold for Vietnam in Vovinam

Nguyen Thi Hoai Nuong and Nguyen Hoang Du earned one gold for Vietnam in the women’s self-defence event of Vovinam (Vietnamese traditional martial arts) on May 8 afternoon at the 32nd Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 32).

With the latest medal, the Vietnamese Vovinam team have so far brought home three gold, five silver and one bronze.   
      
The same day, Bui Thi Thao Ngan of the team also won a slot in the final match of the women's 65kg combat event, meaning one more medal is on the way for Vietnam.

Anti-human trafficking law needs amendments: Official

After over 10 years of implementation, the Law on Human Trafficking Prevention and Control revealed a number of shortcomings, Chairwoman of the National Assembly's Committee for Judicial Affairs Le Thi Nga told the NA on May 8 during an explanatory session on the law's observance.

Nga said that a number of regulations in the law and relevant legal documents no longer fit with the current reality. At the same time, the implementation of the law has yet to be effective in many places, she added.

According to the Vice Chairwoman of the committee Mai Thi Phuong Hoa, in the 2018-2022 period, 440 human trafficking cases with 876 criminals and 1,240 victims were uncovered. However, the number of detected and handled cases has been lower than the reality, said Hoa.

Authorised agencies have rescued 352 victims; and received and verified infomation on 545 victims returning home from abroad. International cooperation in human trafficking prevention and combat has been effective with the smooth implementation of bilateral agreements in the field between Vietnam and other countries, she said.

NA deputies raised concern about the increasingly complicated human trafficking crime situation and requested relevant ministries and agencies such as the Ministry of Public Security, Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Information and Communications, and the Supreme People’s Court to give explanations on the situation and a roadmap to amend the Law on Human Trafficking Prevention and Control and relevant documents.

They asked the Government to direct the Ministry of Public Security to coordinate with relevant ministries and agencies to complete dossiers for a draft Law on Human Trafficking Prevention and Control (revised) and submit to the NA to add to the law and ordinance building programme of 2024.

At the same time, it is necessary to strengthen communications and law population and education related to human trafficking prevention and control, while integrating the work to socioeconomic development programmes and increasing the inspection of business facilities with high risk of human trafficking, they said.

Programme promotes Vietnam-RoK culture exchange

A Vietnam-Korea culture exchange programme was held in Uijeongbu city of Gyeonggi province on May 7, bringing together crowds of overseas Vietnamese living, studying, and working in the Republic of Korea (RoK).

The event was hosted by the Vietnam Women’s Association (VWA) in the RoK, with the support of the Vietnamese Embassy in the country.

In her opening speech, Chairwoman of VWA Mai Thi Hong Ngoc said that as part of activities to celebrate the 31st anniversary of the Vietnam-RoK diplomatic ties, the event aims to strengthen mutual understanding, promote Vietnam’s cultural values, and tighten the friendship between the two nations.

Addressing the event, Ambassador Nguyen Vu Tung spoke highly of efforts made by the VWA’s executive committee in organising the exchange, saying that it contributes to promoting the cultural exchange between Vietnam and the RoK.

He highlighted the fruitful development of the bilateral relations across fields from politics, economy, security-defence, to culture and people-to-people exchange, stressing that senior leaders of the two countries agreed to upgrade relations to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership last year, creating a foundation to further strengthen the relationship in the next decades.

Currently, there are about 80,000 Vietnamese women living in the RoK. They are actively contributing to the host country’s socio-economic development, and become a diplomatic bridge between the two countries.

The event offered a chance for participants to enjoy food and art performances, and play folk games of Vietnam. An Ao dai (Vietnam's traditional long dress) show was held within the framework of the programme.

SEA Games 32: Vietnam men's gymnastics team stirkes gold

The Vietnamese gymnastics team won a gold medal in the men's team all-around event with 313 points on May 8 - the first day of their competition at the ongoing 32nd SEA Games in Cambodia.

The silver went to the Philippine team with 305.25 points and the bronze was carried off by Malaysia with 295 points.

In the men's individual all-around event, Le Thanh Tung from the Vietnamese team earned a silver and Dinh Phuong Thanh grabbed a bronze.

On May 9, the Vietnamese team will enter the second day of competition, in which their toughest opponent will be Carlos Yulo from the Philippines.

In the afternoon of the same day, Vietnamese track-and-field athlete Tran Thi Nhi Yen won a silver in the women's 200m event with a time of 23.54 seconds.

Meanwhile, the gold went to Shani Pereira of Singapore with a time of 22.69 seconds and the silver belonged to Zaidatul of Malaysia with 23.60 seconds.

In the men's 200m event, athlete Ngan Ngoc Nghia won a silver, finishing second, just behind a Thai athlete.

Earlier, in the final of the petanque event at the Olympic Petanque Complex, Vietnamese duo Danh Sa Phanl and Ngo Ron won a bronze in the men's doubles event.

In Kun Bokator, Vietnamese martial artist Nguyen Thi Thanh Tien defeated her Philippines opponent with a "Golden Point" and won a gold medal in the women's 50kg combat event.

Tien had previously knocked out a Cambodian rival in the semifinals.

Earlier, martial artist Pham Thi Phuong also won a gold in the women's 45kg event.

In Vovinam, female martial artist Bui Thi Thao Ngan won a gold in the women's 65kg category after defeating her Philippine opponent.

With this latest achievement, the Vovinam team has contributed four golds, five silvers, and one bronze to the Vietnamese sports delegation at the SEA Games 32.

NA Standing Committee’s 23rd meeting to open on May 9

The 23rd meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee will open on May 9 and close on May 12 in Hanoi, the NA Office has announced.

NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue will attend, deliver the opening speech, and co-chair the meeting with NA Vice Chairpersons.

During the meeting, the legislators will offer their opinions on draft Law on Credit Institutions, the draft Law amending and supplementing several articles of the Law on Entry and Exit of Vietnamese Citizens and the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam.

They will also mull over the draft Resolution amending and supplementing the Resolution No. 85/2014/QH13 dated November 28, 2014, on vote of confidence on the holders of positions elected or approved by the NA or People's Councils, the NA’s draft Resolution on piloting several special mechanisms and policies for the development of Ho Chi Minh City, and propose the building of the draft Gender Affirmation Law.

The draft Resolution on the arrangement of administrative units at the district and communal levels for the 2023-2030 period is also scheduled to be passed.

The committee will offer feedback on the additional report on socio-economic performance and State budget for 2022 and the first months of 2023, a report on the State budget finalisation in 2021 and another on the State financial situation in 2021.

They will discuss a draft report summarising the opinions and recommendations of voters and people sent to the 15th NA’s fifth session, a report on the settlement of voters' suggestions sent to the 15th NA’s fourth session, the NA’s ombudsman work in April, and the Government's report on the results of thrift practice and wastefulness prevention in 2022.

Lawmakers will also consider and decide on the additional purchase of disinfectants for national reserve, the continued allocation of mid-term public investment and funding for the socio-economic recovery and development, as well as preparations for the NA’s fifth session.

Vietnam looks to promote comprehensive cooperation with Qatar: Vice President

Vietnam wants to foster its comprehensive cooperation with Qatar, particularly the ties between their legislative agencies, Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan has affirmed.

Xuan made her statement at a meeting with Speaker of the Consultative Assembly of Qatar Hassan bin Abdullah Al-Ghanim during an official trip to the country on May 7 and 8. The speaker said Vietnam is one of Qatar's priority partners in Southeast Asia.

Affirming the Consultative Assembly’s support for the promotion of the friendship and multifaceted cooperation with Vietnam, he proposed the two sides study the establishment of a Vietnam - Qatar friendship parliamentarians association.

The two leaders agreed that in the time to come, the countries’ parliament will strengthen cooperation and exchange experiences to create a legal framework for the two countries’ collaboration; increase their exchange of delegations; and closely coordinate and support each other at international parliamentary forums.

While in Qatar, the Vietnamese Vice President had separate meetings with Khalifa Bin Jassim Al Thani, Chairman of the Qatar Chamber of Commerce & Industry (QCCI), and President of Qatar University Dr. Hassan Rashid Al-Derham.

Xuan and the QCCI Chairman lauded progress made in the nations’ economy-trade-investment cooperation in the past time, with the former asking the QCCI to work more closely with the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and the Vietnamese Embassy in Qatar to review cooperation deals, send business delegations on field trips in both nations, and assist Vietnamese firms in exporting their farm produce, seafood, and apparel to Qatar.

Meanwhile, the President of Qatar University told the Vietnamese official that the educational establishment is willing to grant more scholarships for Vietnamese students and proposed cooperation in publishing Vietnamese books in Arabic and books of Qatar and Arab countries in Vietnamese.

In her two-day trip, Xuan also had a meeting with Sheikha Al-Mayassa bint Hamad Al-Thani, Chairperson of Qatar Museums, during which the sides agreed to increase sharing of experience in preserving and restoring relics, conserving cultural heritages, expanding cooperation in the field of museums and organisation of art exhibitions.

The Vice President also met with the Vietnamese expatriate community in Qatar, wishing them grow and integrate well into the host country.

PM: Vietnam attaches importance to ties with Palestine

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh affirmed that in its foreign policy, Vietnam always attaches importance to ties with Palestine, while receiving Palestinian Minister of the Interior Ziad Hab Al-Reeh in Hanoi on May 8.

At the reception, PM Chinh conveyed the regards of Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, President Vo Van Thuong, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and PM Mohammad Shtayyeh.

He said since the establishment of bilateral diplomatic ties 35 years ago, Vietnam and Palestine have seen positive progress in their cooperation in politics-diplomacy, economy, culture, education-training, national defence-security.

PM Chinh added that going through many wars and understanding the value of peace, Vietnam always pays attention to and follows the situation in Palestine, shares the difficulties that the Palestinian people have endured after years of conflict. Vietnam's consistent stance is to support justice and peace, and to support dialogue and peaceful settlement of conflicts.

According to him, after 36 years of renewal and integration, Vietnam has obtained many important achievements. The size of its economy reached over 400 billion USD while the value of the national brand hit 431 billion USD last year.

In the near future, he wished that Vietnam and Palestine would work closely together to uphold the role, position and reputation of each country and support each other within bilateral and multilateral cooperation frameworks. Firstly, the two countries will organise activities celebrating the 35th anniversary of their diplomatic relations, facilitate the exchange of all-level delegations, promote cooperation in areas where one side has a demand and the other has strengths, such as Arabian and Vietnamese language training.

The host suggested the Palestinian Ministry of the Interior and the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security strengthen cooperation, share information, deal with transnational crimes, ensure security and safety of representative offices and citizens in each territory, support training and improve the capacity of law enforcement, contributing to deepening bilateral ties in an effective and practical manner.

Minister Ziad Hab Al-Reeh, for his part, said the potential of bilateral coordination remains huge. He wished to continue stepping up bilateral ties across the board, including economy and security, and vowed to further contribute to bilateral relations, especially in security and Arabic language training.

He informed PM Chinh about the current difficulties faced by Palestine and suggested the international community, including Vietnam, help Palestine settle disputes and differences through peaceful means.

On regional and global issues, the two sides agreed to support each other at international forums of which they are members, back ASEAN and Vietnam’s stance on the East Sea issue, including ensuring safety and freedom of navigation and overflight in the region, settling disputes peacefully in accordance with international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Vietnam reaps more gold medals at SEA Games 32

Vietnam has secured new gold medals for athletics, Kun Bokator, and swimming on May 8 at the ongoing SEA Games 32 in Cambodia.

Accordingly, track and field athlete Nguyen Thi Oanh successfully pocketed a gold medal in the women's 5,000m event when she finished with a record of 17 minutes and 0.28 seconds. The athlete, born in 1995, has dominated the Southeast Asian arena in the 29th, 30th, and 31st SEA Games by seizing a total of eight gold medals in the women’s 1,500m, 3,000m obstacle and 5,000m events.

Athletes Tran Nhat Hoang, Nguyen Thi Hang, Tran Dinh Son, and Nguyen Thi Huyen obtained another gold medal for Vietnam in the mixed 4 × 400 metres relay event with a record of 3 minutes and 20.19 seconds. Athlete Luong Duc Phuoc, meanwhile, won the silver medal in the men's 1,500 m race.

In the javelin throw event, Nguyen Hoai Van won a silver with a record of 69.55m, 5cm less than that of the gold medalist.

Nguyen Thi Tuyet Mai, Huynh Van Cuong, and Tran Vo Song Thuong ruled the women’s 50kg combat, men’s 65kg combat, and women’s 60kg combat events in Kun Bokator, respectively, to add to Vietnam’s golden haul at the tournament.

Swimmer Tran Hung Nguyen grasped another gold medal for the nation after emerging triumphant in the 400m individual medley with a record of 4 minutes and 19.12 seconds, with his teammate Nguyen Quang Thuan coming second in the event and earning the silver medal.

In the women's 100m freestyle event, swimmer Nguyen Thuy Hien finished third. In the men's 1,500m freestyle event, two Vietnamese contestants Nguyen Huy Hoang and Nguyen Huu Kim Son respectively pocketed the gold and silver medals.

Also on the day, Vietnam beat Thailand 3-0 in the men's volleyball to win a bronze medal.

Ballet Kieu to be staged at HCM City Opera House

The HCM City Ballet Symphony Orchestra and Opera (HBSO) will stage Ballet Kieu at the Opera House on May 13 and 14.

The ballet is based on Truyen Kieu (The Tale of Kieu), the 18th century poetic masterpiece by great poet Nguyen Du (1765-1820).

Truyen Kieu recounts the life, trials and tribulations of Thuy Kieu, a beautiful and talented young woman who sacrificed herself to save her family.

The dance piece was written by celebrated choreographer Tuyet Minh in 2018. She is also the ballet’s director.

Minh, a pioneer in popularising contemporary dance, has written, directed and choreographed 14 ballets and contemporary dances such as Con Tao Xoay (The Spinning Top) and Vo Chong A Phu (A Phu and His Wife).

Minh invited choreographer Nguyen Phuc Hung to co-create the choreography for the ballet.

Hung, a graduate in choreography of Fontys Dance Academy in the Netherlands, is general director in charge of HBSO's programmes. He has choreographed several contemporary dances such as Nhung Manh Ghep Cua Giac Mo (Dream Puzzles), Cham Tay Vao Qua Khu (Touching the Past), Di Qua Tinh Yeu (Gone Through Love), and Falling Angels.

Musicians Viet Anh and Chinh Ba are in charge of music for the show.

Anh, who was musically trained in New Zealand, is known for his instrumental works, including Spring Prayer Suite for orchestra and choir, Vo De Cam (Untitled Instrument), Truong Son Suite and Chan Troi (Horizon), while Chinh Ba is an independent performance artist currently based in Hoi An, experimenting across a range of poetry, art, sound and music.

The performance will feature Vietnam’s leading dancers such as Meritorious artists Tran Hoang Yen, Ho Phi Diep and Dam Duc Nhuan.

Young dancers Kim Tuyen, Khang Ninh and Sung A Lung, and HBSO dancers will be featured as well.

Ballet Kieu was first staged in HCM City and Hanoi in 2020, and received a warm welcome from critics and audiences.

The work won the excellence award at the National Dance and Music Festival in the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak in June 2022.

The Ballet Kieu’s performance will begin at 8pm at 7 Lam Son Square in District 1. Tickets are available at the venue and ticketbox.vn.

Vietnamese, foreign contributors to community in UK honoured

The Ladies of All Nations International UK-Vietnam (LOANI VNUK) on May 7 (local time) held a ceremony to honour Vietnamese individuals and organisations for their contributions to the community.

Speaking at the event, LOANI VNUK President Hoang Hai Ha said it organised the award ceremony on the occasion of the coronation of King Charles III and the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the UK, with the hope to tighten the relationship and create prosperity and sustainable development to both countries.

She said organisations and individuals nominated for the award are inspirational figures, entrepreneurs, young leaders, and young talents operating in the fields from education, health, culture, and art to volunteering, humanitarian activities, and community connectivity.

The Inspiring Global Leader of the Year award was given to Katrin Kandel, CEO of Facing the World - a British charity that supports surgeries for Vietnamese children with congenital maxillofacial malformations, provides professional training for Vietnamese surgeons and sponsors medical equipment and technology for remote medical examination and treatment for Vietnamese hospitals.

The Prestigious Organisation of the Year Award was given to the Vietnamese Intellectuals Association in the UK and Northern Ireland - an organisation gathering more than 100 professors, associate professors, and senior lecturers at more than 60 universities in the UK and Ireland.

Nguyen Thi Minh Thu, CEO of An Phu Pearl and Jewelry Company, received the Entrepreneur of the Year award as her company has supported to build bridges and houses, and giving gifts to people in disadvantaged areas in Vietnam. The company also participates in the project to build 200 libraries for schools across Vietnam.

The School of the Year Award was presented to Ark Oval Primary Academy (London) for its contributions to promoting the culture of minority communities, including organising a Vietnamese Lunar New Year celebration.

The Star of the Year Award went to William Nguyen, a 13-year-old boy known as a musical prodigy with many achievements in music and mathematics.

Many other awards were also given to others that have had community support activities such as disaster relief, free medical examination and treatment for the poor, and support for Vietnamese during the pandemic.

LOANI VNUK is a member of London-based global LOANI founded by British African-American Professor Caroline Makaka in 2017.  It focuses on activities to raise awareness about equal rights of women and children, mental health, training young leaders, preserving Vietnamese culture, helping children and people elderly in Vietnam, the UK, and Africa.

National flag raised on Co To island to mark late leader’s trip

A flag-raising ceremony was held by the Party Committee and the People’s Committee of Co To district in the northern province of Quang Ninh on May 9 to mark the 62nd anniversary of late President Ho Chi Minh’s trip to the island of the same name (May 9, 1961 - 2023).

The island district is over 100 km from the mainland and covers an area of 46.2sq.km.

The late leader visited Co To island in 1961 and 1962, and this showed that he highly valued the importance and national defence and security strategic position of the island.

The island has great potential and advantages to develop the marine economy and tourism services. Co To has transformed itself into a shining pearl in the northeast region of the nation. The district completed the new-style rural area building programme in 2015. Its annual economic growth is 15 - 16%.

Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of the People’s Committee of the district Nguyen Viet Dung said Co To has become an attractive destination with world-class tourism products.

The island district has improved the quality of community tourism service associated with promoting tourism connection via air and maritime routes from Ho Chi Minh City and Can Tho to Van Don and Co To, he added.

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