Tens of thousands of visitors and local residents joined Cao Dai followers at the “Hoi Yen Dieu Tri Cung”, the biggest festival of the Cao Dai sect, in the southern province of Tay Ninh on September 29 night.

The festival is a great religious banquet for the Great Mother and nine female immortals of the Dieu Tri Palace (Jasper Pond Palace) held annually on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month.

With the main activities including a procession, a five-fruit banquet offering, and prayer, this year, followers displayed 117 booths of fruits, musical instruments, and decorations, among others, to reenact the tales of the goddesses.

In his remarks at the festival, Cardinal Thuong Tam Thanh, Head of the Executive Council of the Cao Dai Church in Tay Ninh, thanked the Party and State for paying attention to and creating favourable conditions for Cao Dai followers to practise their belief and live a happy and peaceful life.

He noted that in the past year, Cao Dai dignitaries and followers seriously practised their religion, act in compliance with the law, actively join charity activities, and build a civilised lifestyle in residential areas.

Vice Chairman of the Tay Ninh People’s Committee Vo Duc Trong appreciated the activities of the local Cao Dai Church, saying it has supported the authorities in new-style rural building, charity work, and socio-economic development.

Three die in Ha Giang motorbike collision

At least three people have been killed and three others seriously injured after two motorbikes crashed in the northern mountainous province of Ha Giang on Friday evening. 

According to a report from Bac Quang Town People's Committee, the accident occurred on the National Road 2 at 7.20pm when two motorbikes carrying three young people each crashed into each other from opposite directions.

"The strong crash left two people aged 23 and 13 dead on the spot," the report said. "Another 14-year-old teenager also died shortly after being brought to hospital due to serious injuries. Three other young men were still being treated at local hospitals with critical conditions."

Security cameras at the area showed that the road was quiet and both two motorbikes were speeding before colliding into each other.

Police are investigating the cause of the accident.

Dong Nai steps up cooperation with Cuba localities

Member of the Party Central Committee and Secretary of the Dong Nai provincial Party Committee Nguyen Hong Linh and a delegation of the southern province paid a working trip to Cuba from September 26-29.

Paying a courtesy visit to Politburo member and Permanent member of the Secretariat of the Communist Party of Cuba Central Committee Roberto Morales Ojeda, Linh affirmed the stance on unceasingly intensify and promote the special friendship and solidarity between the Communist Party of Vietnam and the Communist Party of Cuba, as well as between the two countries' people.

The visit to Cuba has helped the Dong Nai delegation get a better insight into the Caribbean country’s socio-economic situation, he said, stressing that there remains ample room for Dong Nai and Pinar del Río provinces to bolster economic and trade cooperation.

For his part, Morales Ojeda emphasised the importance of the Vietnam – Cuba fraternal relationship, and expressed his wish that both sides will continue boosting cooperation across various sectors.

At a working session with leaders of the Havana Party Committee, the two sides updated each other of the socio-economic development in each locality, exchanged experience in Party building work, and discussed orientations and measures to promote and improve cooperation efficiency between the two localities in the potential fields of healthcare, agriculture, trade, culture and education.

Receiving the Dong Nai delegation, member of the Communist Party of Cuba Central Committee and First Secretary of the Party Committee of Pinar del Río province Ramos Cordero briefed the guests of local potential, particularly in agriculture.

Linh spoke highly of the Cuban province’s efforts to ensure social welfare for local residents, affirming that Dong Nai in particular and Vietnam as a whole are willing to support Cuba, and hope that Cuba will overcome difficulties.

During their stay in Cuba, the delegation also studied the potential of the Mariel Special Economic Development Zone – the most important strategic economic zone of Cuba; had a working session with the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment; met with Head of the Cuban Party Central Committee’s Department of International Relations Emilio Lozada García, and President of the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP) and Hero of the Republic of Cuba Fernando González Llort; laid flowers in tribute to late President Ho Chi Minh at his statue in Havana, and visited Fidel Castro Centre which collects, stores, preserves and honours the Cuban leader’s legacy.

Vietnam - Japan workshop seeks to improve nutrition among mothers, childen

A workshop on solutions to improve nutrition for mothers and babies in the first 1,000 days of life was held in Hanoi on September 30.

The event was jointly organised by the National Children's Hospital (NCH), the  Vietnam Paediatrics Association (VPA),  the Vietnam Nutrition Association, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Asahi Group Foods JSC and the Japanese Embassy in Vietnam.

It  offered a venue for policy makers, nutrition experts, and scientists from Vietnam and Japan to provide more scientific and practical grounds to improve malnutrition in Vietnamese children.

The workshop was also part of activities celebrating the 50th founding anniversary of the Vietnam - Japan diplomatic ties, thus tightening the friendship through cooperation in terms of healthcare and scientific research.

In his opening speech, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Minh Dien, President of the VPA and Director of NCH emphasised the important role played by nutrition in children's development.

He mentioned policy efforts related to health care and nutrition for children made by the Government and the Ministry of Health, as well as the support of international organisations in this work.

However, Dien noted that although Vietnam has made significant progress in reducing the rate of malnourished children in recent decades, the country is still one of 34 countries in the world facing the burden of malnutrition.

Statistics of UNICEF show that 1.8 million children under 5 years old in Vietnam suffer from stunting.  Other statistics also show that only one-fourth of children under six months of age are exclusively breastfed and 59% of children are provided with a diverse and adequate weaning diet, he said.

According to recommendations from the World Health Organisation, the first 1,000 days of life - the time spanning roughly between conception and one’s second birthday - is a unique period of opportunity when the foundations of optimum health, growth, and neurodevelopment across the lifespan are established. Therefore, ensuring adequate and appropriate nutrition for pregnant mothers and babies until two years old is extremely important.

He underlined the need to raise public awareness of diets for pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers; and remind and improve knowledge for medical staff about the importance of nutrition in medical examination and treatment, and consultation on children's health care.

Vietnamese nutrition experts briefed participants on the situation related to child nutrition in the northern and southern regions,  and “the first 1,000 days of life” strategy in Vietnam. Meanwhile, Japanese nutrition experts shared  experiences in breastfeeding and weaning diet of Japanese mothers.

Vietnam's National Day marked in Netherlands, Belgium

The Vietnamese Embassy in the Netherlands held a ceremony on September 29 to mark the 78th National Day of Vietnam, inviting 200 guests who are local officials, international diplomats and representatives from the Vietnamese community in the European country.

Addressing the event, Ambassador Ngo Huong Nam reviewed the glorious history of national construction and defence of Vietnam over the past 78 years as well as the country's achievements in external relations, politics, economy and international integration.

Vietnam always treasures and is grateful for the valuable and practical support from international friends, including the Netherlands, he said.

Looking back on the 50-year ties between Vietnam and the Netherlands, the diplomat said that the two countries have become each other's important and priority partners. Currently, the Netherlands is the biggest investor of Vietnam with an investment of 13.7 billion USD, and the largest European importer of Vietnam with two-way trade reaching over 11 billion USD.

He said that the upcoming Vietnam visit by Dutch PM Mark Rutte in November is expected to bring Dutch high-tech firms, especially those in the semiconductor industry to Vietnam, contributing to promoting the relations between the two countries.

Wouter Jurgens from the Netherlands' Ministry of Foreign Affairs highlighted the similarities between the two countries and the fruitful bilateral strategic partnership on climate change, sustainable agriculture and food security, as well as the bilateral comprehensive partnership.

He said he hopes Vietnam will support the Netherlands in strengthening cooperation with ASEAN.

Also on September 29, the Vietnamese Embassy in Brussels also held a ceremony to celebrate the 78th National Day with the attendance of more than 200 guests.

Ambassador Nguyen Van Thao said that so far, Vietnam has set up strategic and comprehensive partnerships with 33 partners, while joining more than 70 international organisations and playing an active role in ASEAN.

The country has become the leading dynamic economy in the region and an important link in economic chains as well as regional and global production chains, a potential destination for high-quality investment flows with more than 500 cooperation agreements in various fields, including 17 free trade agreements (FTAs) both bilaterally and multilaterally, he noted.

He highlighted the growth of the Vietnam-Belgium relations over the last 50 years with strong political trust.

Since the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) took effect, two-way trade has continuously grown impressively, reaching 6.2 billion EUR last year, an increase of 73% compared to 2021, he said. The ambassador pointed to great potential for cooperation between the two countries, especially in important fields such as modern agriculture, health care, logistics, seaport infrastructure, and pharmaceuticals.

Francois Delhaye from Belgium's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Cooperation expressed delight at the growth of the Vietnam-Netherlands relations and affirmed that Belgium is willing to support Vietnam in high technology transfer and capacity building.

Meanwhile Paola Pampaloni, European External Action Service (EEAS) Acting Managing Director for Asia and Pacific, affirmed that the EU considers Vietnam as a bright spot in EU's cooperation with the Indo-Pacific region.

She noted with pleasure that the two sides have signed firm cooperation frameworks and important agreements, including the EU-Vietnam Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA), EVFTA, EU-Vietnam Framework Participation Agreement (FPA), and the Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) on Forest Law Enforcement, Governance, and Trade (FLEGT).

Vietnam is considered a model of successful cooperation between the EU and the region in many important fields, such as trade, climate change response, and environmental protection, she said.

Pampaloni affirmed that in the coming time, the EU will continue to coordinate closely with Vietnam to implement cooperation agreements, and will further enhance experience sharing, technical support, and human resource training for Vietnam.

Hoi An looks to join UNESCO’s global creative city network

Hoi An ancient town in Quang Nam province has sent documentation to UNESCO on securing membership of the global creative city network. If approved, Hoi An would be the second city in Vietnam, following Hanoi, to join the network. Cities hoping to gain membership are expected to place creativity and cultural industries at the heart of their development plans.
 
Over the past 500 years, people in the Thanh Ha pottery village in the ancient town of Hoi An have created a range of products that serve daily requirements. Local people hope such crafts will continue to be preserved through the generations.           

Hoi An has been home to over 100 traditional crafts since the 17th century, when it was a vibrant international trading port and shipped its arts and crafts all over the world.

With efforts from local people and the government to keep the villages’ fires burning, Hoi An is a strong candidate for the UNESCO global creative city network.

Hoi An is a source of inspiration for artists, artisans, and local people in upholding traditional arts and crafts. These trades, in turn, thrive and create sustainable livelihoods for local people. This upwards spiral is a key qualification for cities within UNESCO’s global creative city network.

Joining the global creative city network will not only help Hoi An inherit its ancestors’ efforts but also boost sustainable development by using natural resources and protecting the environment.

Vietnam-Russia friendship association elects leadership for new tenure

The Vietnam – Russia Friendship Association held the fourth national congress on September 30 to outline operation directions and elect its leadership in the 2023-2028 tenure.  

The association has thousands of members in 32 provinces and centrally-run cities and 15 chapters nationwide.

Addressing the event, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha, who chairs the Vietnamese section in the Vietnam-Russia Inter-governmental Committee, stressed that Vietnam considers developing the relations with Russia one of the top priorities in its external policy.

Activities of the Vietnam – Russia Friendship Association have contributed to the implementation of this policy, he said.

The deputy PM asked the association to both strengthen ties with existing partners and seek new partners in Russia to expand the friend networks.

The association should also work to expand its membership, particularly among young people, intellectuals and businesspeople, he said.

In the just-concluded tenure, the Vietnam-Russia Friendship Association has implemented diverse and practical activities to enhance mutual understanding among the two nations and deepen the friendship between the two countries.

In the new tenure, Dr. Phan Chi Hieu, President of the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences, was elected as Chairman of the association.

Vietnamese children around the world enjoy Mid-Autumn Festival

Various activities were held for Vietnamese children around the world on the occasion of the Mid-Autumn Festival, a Vietnamese traditional festival that is celebrated annually on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month, which falls on September 29 this year.

In Laos, the Nguyen Du Vietnam-Laos bilingual school held a programme on September 29 to celebrate the festival, gathering a large number of students and parents.

Along with enjoying lion dances and art performances, participants also joined many games and explored the meaning of the festival.

 A lion dance performance at the Mid-Autumn Festival celebration in South Africa (Photo: VNA)
Also on September 29, the Vietnamese Embassy in South Africa held festive activities for Vietnamese children in the country and their local friends.

Ambassador Hoang Sy Cuong introduced the meaning of the Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnamese culture, especially for children.

In a fancy and cozy atmosphere, participants enjoyed Vietnamese mooncakes and joined folk games of Vietnam.

In Russia, the festival was held for children of officials working in the Vietnamese Embassy and other Vietnamese representative offices in Moscow.

At the event, winners of a drawing contest for children themed "Rusia in my eyes" were honoured.

Ambassador Dang Minh Khoi extended greetings to the children. He said that the prize-winning paintings will be printed in New Year postcards of the embassy to introduce the talent of Vietnamese children to international friends.

Festive activities were also organised for about 40 Vietnamese children at the Moscow trade centre which is hosting a large number of Vietnamese traders.

Meanwhile in Cambodia, children from Vietnamese-origin families in Sihanoukville gathered at the headquarters of the Khmer-Vietnamese Association in Preah Sihanouk province to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival. The event was jointly organised by the association and the Vietnamese Consul General in Preah Sihanouk, with the sponsorship of many donors.

The organising board presented 50 gift packages to the children at the event.

Similar activities were also held in seven northwest provinces of Cambodia.

Earlier on September 28, the Vietnamese Embassy in Cambodia held a programme to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival, with many festive festivals and folk games.

Special buses run in HCM City to promote Vietnam-Cuba solidarity

Two special buses made a trip around Ho Chi Minh City on September 30 to promote the special solidarity between Vietnam and Cuba on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of leader Fidel Castro’s visit to the liberated zone in Quang Tri province (1973-2023).

At a ceremony to launch the bus trip held by the Cuban Consulate General in the city, Consul General Ariadne Feo Labrda stressed that Fidel was the first and only head of state in the world to visit the liberated zone in South Vietnam when the war was still going on.

The visit showed the world that Vietnam was not alone in its struggle and affirmed the unconditional support of the Cuban people for Vietnam, she said.

Cuban Minister of Construction Rene Antonio Mesa Villafana said the struggle of the Vietnamese people was not only for Vietnam’s own independence but also for the world revolutionary movement for national liberation.

Vietnam has been, and is still an example and a source of encouragement for Cuba’s struggle, he said.

He highlighted that the Cuba-Vietnam relationship has been expanding across the fields despite the far geological distance, economic difficulties and even during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Following the ceremony, Minister Rene Antonio Mesa Villafana and the head of the municipal Party Committee’s Commission for Polularisation and Education Phan Nguyen Nhu Khue, along with foreign delegates and representatives from agencies and organisations in HCM City boarded the two buses for the trip around the city.

The buses were decorated with pictures of Fidel Castro waving the flag of the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam on Hill 41 in Quang Tri in September 1973.

Forum discusses digital, green transformation for sustainable development

A forum discussing digital and green transformation for sustainable development was hosted by the Ministry of Science and Technology in the northern province of Quang Ninh on September 30 in the framework of the Techconnect and Innovation Vietnam 2023. 

The event was designed to open up connection opportunities for businesses and organisations to accelerate green transformation.

Addressing the forum, Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Bui The Duy said that digital transformation and green transformation are inevitable trends in the world, and highlighted the crucial role played by digital transformation and green transformation in promoting economic growth, improving labour productivity, competitiveness, production and business efficiency, minimising dependence on sources of fuel that cause pollution and reducing carbon footprint.

Scientists and experts underlined the need to promote technological innovation and make changes in managing, training and improving the quality of human resources to create new products, new processes, thus increasing value of businesses as well as creating products for society.

Domestic and international scientists, and representatives from organisations and technology enterprises discussed solutions to speed up green transformation and digital transformation, saying that these efforts will help shorten the process of industrialisation and modernisation of the country.

They stressed that it is necessary to promote Horizon Europe's international cooperation programme on joint research and innovation for Vietnam, and have comprehensive digital transformation solutions for businesses.

Delegates also proposed building a support mechanism for industries in green transformation and digital transformation solutions for Vietnamese businesses.

Within the framework of the forum, representatives of Quang Ninh province, the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations (VUSTA), businesses and organisations exchanged memoranda of understanding on cooperation related to digital transformation and green transformation.

PM issues instruction on overcoming aftermath of traffic accident in Dong Nai

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has issued instructions to relevant ministries, agencies and localities to promptly overcome the aftermath of a serious traffic accident that killed four in the southern province of Dong Nai on September 30 early morning.

The instructions are detailed in an official dispatch sent on the same day to the Minister of Public Security, Minister of Transport, the chairperson of the People’s Committees of Dong Nai and Binh Thuan provinces and HCM City, and leaders of the National Committee for Traffic Safety, and the Directorate for Roads of Vietnam (DRVN).

According to the National Committee for Traffic Safety, the accident happened in Phu Vinh commune, Dinh Quan district, Dong Nai at 02:30 on September 30 when a speeding sleeper bus collided with a 16-seat passenger car, resulting in four deaths and many others suffering from injuries. 

The dispatch requires the chairperson of the Dong Nai provincial People’s Committee to direct relevant agencies and units to mobilise sufficient health workers, medicines and medical equipment to treat the injured people; quickly conduct procedures related to the deceased; and visit the families of the victims.

Dong Nai’s authorities were also requested to coordinate closely with relevant units of the Ministries of Public Security, and Transport, the People Commitees of HCM City and Binh Thuan province to carry out comprehensive inspection of compliance with business regulations and conditions for auto transport business for businesses and business households with vehicles and people involved in the accident; and strictly handle any violations in accordance with legal regulations.

The Ministry of Public Security was ordered to direct the police of Dong Nai and relevant units to urgently investigate the cause of the accident, and strictly handle organisations and individuals violating regulations and causing the serious traffic accident.

The PM also requested the Ministry of Transport to direct the DRVN to coordinate with relevant agencies to review and strengthen traffic organisation and improve the safety of the transportation infrastructure system on National Highway 20.

PM urges utmost efforts to complete targets for 2023

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has required utmost efforts to fulfil to the highest possible level the targets and tasks for 2023 while chairing the regular Government meeting for September and an online meeting between the Cabinet and localities on September 30.

He emphasised the need to strongly promote growth drivers, speed up industrial production development, especially the manufacturing-processing industry in the context of continued difficulties and challenges in the world situation as well as in the country.  

The government leader reiterated the overall goal of maintaining macro-economic stability, reining in inflation, propelling growth, ensuring major balances of the economy, paying attention to social welfare, protecting socio-political stability and social order and safety, intensifying anti-corruption activities, strengthening national defence-security, promoting external relations, and maintaining a peaceful environment for development.

He asked agencies, sectors and localities to get plans and scenarios readied to respond to all circumstances.

It is necessary to focus on boosting industrial production with a goal of about 10% in the fourth quarter to make up for the slow growth in previous quarters, he said, ordering ministries, sectors and localities to continue to remove difficulties facing production and business activities.

He highlighted major tasks and solutions to boost socio-economic development in October and the remaining months of the year, including the active and flexible management and harmonious coordination of policies, especially fiscal and monetary policies, the promotion of the three growth drivers of investment, exports and consumption, and the speeding up of public investment disbursement.

The PM also emphasised the need to continue to speed up administrative reform and corruption prevention and control.

Reports presented at the meetings pointed to improvements in socio-economic development results through months, with inflation controlled and major economic balances ensured. 

In the third quarter, the country posted a gross domestic production (GDP) growth of 5.33%. The consumer price index (CPI) rose 3.66% in September and 3.16% on the average in the first nine months of this year. The interest rates continued to reduce, with lending interest rates dropping about 1% over the end of 2022.

Industrial production has increased again, expanding 4.57% in the third quarter, with the manufacturing-processing sector growing 5.61%.

In the first nine months of this year, State budget collection completed 75.5% of the yearly estimate. Meanwhile, import-export turnover rose 3.6% year on year. In the January-September period, the country enjoyed 21.68 billion USD of trade surplus. 

At the same time, the country drew 20.21 billion USD in foreign direct investment (FDI), up 7.7% year on year. The disbursement of public investment capital was equivalent to 51.38% of the yearly plan.

Improvement was also recorded in other fields such as culture, society, education, health care, social welfare, and administrative reform. Vietnam has been named by HSBC as an attractive destination for foreign businesses, while the ADB predicted that Vietnam will fully recover in a short time.

At the meeting, the PM also assigned specific tasks to particular ministries, sectors and localities.

ASEAN-Australia high-level dialogue on climate change, energy transition takes place in Hanoi

The ASEAN-Australia High-Level Dialogue on Climate Change and Energy Transition took place in Hanoi on September 29.

The event co-organised by Vietnam, Australia, and Laos is within the framework of the implementation of the ASEAN-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, towards the 50th anniversary of ASEAN-Australia relations (2074-2023).

Speaking at the dialogue, Deputy Foreign Minister Do Viet Hung said that Vietnam is committed to climate change response and calls for international partners’ support in this process.

Vietnam is well aware of climate change impacts on sustainable development and people’s livelihoods, which is why at the 26th UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in 2021, the country committed to bring emissions to net zero by 2050, he said.

Vietnam and the International Partners Group have also adopted the Political Declaration on establishing the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP).

Speaking about ASEAN’s shared interest in climate change response and accelerating energy transition, Hung said that the bloc’s member countries have been working closely together in various strategies and action plans.

He added that ASEAN, including Vietnam, sees Australia as one of the key partners in this process.

“We have been coordinating to realise the commitments to peace and sustainability in the region, and ASEAN recognises Australia’s support to the bloc,” said Hung.

Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Ekkaphab Phanthavong also emphasised the need for joint efforts in climate change adaptation.

The cooperation and support with partners such as Australia, especially in energy transition, is crucial to ASEAN.

Australia's Ambassador for Climate Change Kristin Tilley said that Australia wishes to cooperate with ASEAN in all aspects, especially climate change and energy transition. Australia hopes to support ASEAN for its green and prosperous growth, she added.

Participants in the dialogue shared experience and proposed recommendations and solutions to remove difficulties, overcome challenges in responding to climate change, and accelerate the energy transition process as well as effectively take advantage of opportunities and potential for cooperation in clean energy development in the region.

They appreciated ASEAN's efforts over the past time and recommended that ASEAN and Australia, as comprehensive strategic partners, support each other and enhance self-reliance to effectively respond to emerging common challenges including climate change.

Lao leaders applaud cooperation between Vietnamese, Lao public security ministries

Vietnamese Minister of Public Security Gen. To Lam paid courtesy calls to General Secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith, and Prime Minister of the country Sonexay Siphandone in Vientiane on September 29.

The meetings were part of an official visit to Laos by a high-ranking delegation of the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security (MPS). The delegation also attended the inauguration ceremony of the Academy of Politics of the Lao People's Public Security, a gift from the Vietnamese Government and MPS to the Lao MPS.

Lam thanked the Lao leaders for creating conditions for the Vietnamese MPS and its Laos counterpart to cooperate closely and effectively in fighting crimes and safeguarding security and order in each country.

He informed his hosts about the two ministries’ cooperation results and the outcomes of their talks held earlier the same day.

The Vietnamese official noted the two ministries have affirmed that security - defence cooperation remains one of the three pillars of the countries’ relations, and that they will stay determined and persistent to guarantee peace, stability and development along the Vietnam - Laos border.

The two sides also stated that one country’s security is also the other’s. Vietnam and Laos will not allow hostile, opposition, and reactionary forces to take advantage of this country’s territory to sabotage the other or drive a wedge into bilateral relations. They will also work closely in preventing and fighting “colour revolution”, “peace evolution”, and transnational crimes, according to Lam.

Both General Secretary and President Thongloun Sisoulith and PM Sonexay Siphandone spoke highly of the fruitful cooperation results between the two ministries, especially the coordination in building the Academy of Politics of the Lao People's Public Security.

The General Secretary and President of Laos expressed his hope that the two countries’ public security forces will keep promoting comprehensive cooperation in the time ahead to meet requirements and fulfil tasks in the new context for the sake of the two peoples, regional and global peace, stability and development, as well as the special friendship and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos.

Meanwhile, PM Siphandone asked the two forces to further enhance cooperation in combating transnational crimes, drug crimes, human trafficking, and hi-tech crimes. He also told them to coordinate closely to ensure absolute security and safety in 2024, when Laos will hold the chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

 Vietnamese Minister of Public Security Gen. To Lam (front, left) and Lao Deputy PM and Minister of Public Security Gen. Vilay Lakhamphong sign the cooperation plan for 2024 after their talks on September 29. (Photo: VNA)
Earlier on September 29, the Vietnamese MPS delegation held talks with its Lao counterpart, led by Deputy PM and Minister Gen. Vilay Lakhamphong.

The two sides highly valued the implementation results of the 2023 cooperation plan, especially in guaranteeing national security and fighting transnational and drug crimes. They emphasised that amid complex and unpredictable developments in the region and the world, Vietnam and Laos should continue upholding their great and traditional friendship to surmount difficulties and develop further for regional peace and security, along with the two peoples’ prosperity and happiness.

Concluding the talks, the Vietnamese minister and the Lao Deputy PM and Minister of Public Security signed the cooperation plan for 2024.

HCM City, Cuba promote cooperation in construction

Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Bui Xuan Cuong on September 29 hosted a reception for Cuban Minister of Construction Rene Antonio Mesa Villafana who is on a working visit to the southern metropolis.

At the reception, Cuong highlighted the thriving special cooperative relationship between Vietnam and Cuba, while proposing the Cuban minister support and pay attention to promoting cooperation between HCM City and Cuban localities in areas that the two sides are interested in.

He expressed his impression of the traffic and urban development in Cuba, saying that the city stands ready to promote cooperation with the country in the field of construction and urban development.

For his part, Minister Rene Antonio Mesa Villafana said his current visit aims to seek opportunities for cooperation with Vietnamese partners, including businesses in the city.

Cuban construction firms are eager to engage in the construction market in Ho Chi Minh City, he said, adding that Cuba is willing to provide Ho Chi Minh City with high-quality human resources in the construction field.

Cuba highly values the development potential of Ho Chi Minh City and wishes to promote cooperation with the city in fields, particularly construction and urban development, he said.

Tra Vinh organises 3rd Vietnam-Japan cultural exchange programme

The Mekong Delta province of Tra Vinh held the third Vietnam – Japan cultural exchange programme at Tra Vinh University on September 29.

The event aimed to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Vietnam-Japan diplomatic relations ( 1973-2023), tighten the two countries’ friendship, and promote Japan’s images among Vietnamese as well as introduce Tra Vinh to international friends and investors.

At the event, Chairman of the provincial People's Committee Le Van Han thanked the Japanese Government for its support to the province in job creation, poverty reduction, and socio-economic development.

Japan is one of the most important strategic partners, and the largest official development assistance (ODA) supplier  of Vietnam and a traditional partner of Tra Vinh province, he said, adding projects funded with Japan’s ODA have brought great economic benefits to people in the province.

In particular, a branch of Japan's Yazaki EDS Vietnam Company Limited is operating in the locality with a total investment capital of nearly 49 million USD, creating jobs for over 5,000 local workers.

Currently, colleges and universities in Tra Vinh have signed memoranda of understanding with Japanese schools and localities to cooperate in training on Japanese culture and language; and support small and medium-sized enterprises in technology development and employment.

Nearly 1,200 workers from Tra Vinh are working abroad, including 1,140 in Japan.

Masuo Ono, Consul General of Japan to Ho Chi Minh City, said that he hopes Japanese businesses will invest more and more in Tra Vinh, thus promoting local potential and strengths.

Techconnect and Innovation Vietnam 2023 kicks off in Quang Ninh

The Techconnect and Innovation Vietnam 2023 was launched in Ha Long city, the northeastern province of Quang Ninh on September 29, drawing nearly 1,000 delegates from businesses and experts inside and outside the country.

Speaking at the event, Minister of Science and Technology Huynh Thanh Dat highlighted that it is one of the ministry’s activities to promote the application and transfer of technology, and innovation for businesses and localities in the northern region in particular and the country in general, improve the competitiveness of local goods, facilitate scientific  application in production and business, bringing practical results to enterprises and contributing to the country's socio-economic development. It also helps accelerate cooperation, investment, and transfer of technology between local and foreign companies, contributing to promoting the role of businesses in innovation.

Additionally, the event features new solutions in renewable energy, technology supply chain and biomedical equipment management systems, food and pharmaceutical technology, digital health, information technology, and the application of artificial intelligence to production processes in factories.

The two-day event also includes forums on technology and energy, digital transformation, green transformation for sustainable development, a conference featuring the application and transfer of technology in localities. 

Besides, it features about 200 booths showcasing products and technologies such areas as textile materials, microchips and electronic devices, green energy, logistics and supply chain, energy storage, and management and reuse of materials and waste.

On this occasion, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang, Minister of Science and Technology Huynh Thanh Dat and Secretary of the Quang Ninh Party Committee Nguyen Xuan Ky witnessed the handover of documents on cooperation, technology transfer, and innovation to eight organisations and investors.

Border defence forces of Vietnamese, Chinese provinces hold joint patrol

The A Pa Chai border guard station under the Border Guard Command of the northwestern province of Dien Bien, and the Qushui border police station under the Jiangcheng border management company of China, conducted a joint patrol on September 29.

The activity aimed to continue enhancing the coordination in managing and protecting the border, fighting against cross-border crimes, and safeguarding political security and social order and safety in border areas.

The two sides patrolled an over-3km stretch from Marker No.2 to Marker No.3 on the Vietnam - China border. They examined the markers and exchanged information about border management and protection.

They shared the view that the borderline stretch they are in charge of always faces latent risks of crimes, especially illegal exit and entry, smuggling, and illegal cross-border transportation of goods.

Since the A Pa Chai (Vietnam) - Longfu (China) border crossing was reopened, both sides have stepped up communications among local residents to raise public awareness of regulations on exit and entry and related rules, and encourage them not to engage in or lend a hand to illegal cross-border trading and transportation of goods.
 
Joint patrols are regular activities of the two sides’ border defence forces to guarantee stability and security in border areas of Muong Nhe district of Vietnam’s Dien Bien province and Jiangcheng district of China’s Yunnan province, thereby helping maintain peace, stability, and development along the shared border.

60-year Party membership badge presented to former Party chief Nong Duc Manh

A ceremony was held at the headquarters of the Party Central Committee in Hanoi on September 29 to present a badge of the 60-year Party membership to former Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh.

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong presented the badge to his predecessor at the event, which also saw the presence of President Vo Van Thuong, Chairman of the National Assembly (NA) Vuong Dinh Hue, and Permanent member of the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat and Chairwoman of the Party Central Committee’s Organisation Commission Truong Thi Mai.

Congratulating the former Party leader on receiving the badge, General Secretary Trong said Manh used to serve in many positions from the grassroots level to the Secretary of a provincial Party committee, the NA Chairman in the 9th and 10th tenures, and the General Secretary of the Party Central Committee in the 9th (2001 - 2006) and 10th (2006 - 2011) tenures.

In any posts, Manh has always stayed loyal to the Party, the Fatherland, and the people, persistent in the Party’s goals and ideals, made unceasing self-improvement efforts, and strived to successfully fulfill all assigned tasks.

He has also stayed close to the public, upheld principles, respected and maintained solidarity, brought into play the collective wisdom and democracy in leadership, and shared experience with successors.

General Secretary Trong wished his predecessor good health, happiness, longevity, and more contributions to the glorious revolutionary cause of the Party, State, and people.

Expressing his honour to receive the badge – a recognition of his dedications to the Party and the revolution over the past 60 years, former General Secretary Manh pledged to keep his absolute loyalty to the Party’s ideals and guidelines, and set a good example in studying and following late President Ho Chi Minh’s ideology, morality and style so as to deserve the membership of the Communist Party of Vietnam.

Vietnam helps Laos’ police build academy of politics

A handover ceremony of the Academy of Politics of the Lao People's Public Security, the gift of Vietnam for Laos, took place in Vientiane on September 29.

With its construction starting in the Lao capital city on August 25 last year, the 6.5ha academy worth 250 billion VND (10.28 million USD) aims to meet the infrastructure needs for training, teaching, learning, and accommodation of 150 educational staff and lecturers as well as some 1,200 students per year.

Speaking at the ceremony, Vietnamese Minister of Public Security To Lam expressed his hope that the academy will become a major centre for political theory research and teaching of the Lao ministry and country.

He affirmed that the Vietnamese people's police force will always stand side by side with its Lao counterpart in the construction and development of the two countries, ensuring their political security and social order.

Lam said in the near future, the Ministry of Public Security of Vietnam will work closely with the Lao ministry to effectively operate the educational establishment, with readiness to collaborate in developing curricula and teaching materials, and sending experts to assist the academy.

In his speech, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Security of Laos Gen. Vilay Lakhamphong stated that the facility was a testament to the comprehensive cooperation between the two Parties, States, and police forces. He pledged to operate the academy to its fullest with the highest efficiency.

The minister noted the first academic year at the academy already commenced on September 26, describing it as a historic turning point in the two ministries’ traditional cooperation in law enforcement training.

Philippine crew member in distress brought ashore safely

Vessel SAR 412 of the Vietnam Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Centre in Da Nang on September 29 safely brought ashore a Philippine crew member who met with an accident at sea.

The victim has been transported to a hospital in the city for treatment. He is now out of danger and receiving further medical care.

Previously, on September 28 afternoon, 51-year-old Rallos Rory Jerome, fell and struck his head into a metal wall, causing unconsciousness and a suspected traumatic brain injury, when his vessel DHT Sundarbans was en route from Huizhou port (China) to Singapore.

The ship's captain contacted the centre to request emergency rescue measures for the victim.

Upon receiving this information, the centre immediately instructed the vessel to redirect its course towards Da Nang, and simultaneously coordinated with relevant units to implement a rescue plan. It dispatched the specialised search and rescue vessel SAR 412 for duty.

SAR 412 approached DHT Sundarbans at around 10:57 am on September 29. Medical personnel of the Da Nang Emergency Centre urgently provided initial aid for the victim before transporting him to the mainland 

"Homestay programme" helps Lao students better Vietnamese language skills

"Homestay programme", which has provided Lao students with real experiences by staying with local families in the northern province of Thai Nguyen, has helped them well integrate into the host society, improving their Vietnamese language skills and supporting them during their study, heard a conference on September 29 to summary the programme in the 2022-2023 academic year.

The programme is an advanced studying model, which combines theory and practice to enhance Vietnamese language training for Lao students.

According to Nguyen Nang Dac, Permanent Vice President of the Vietnam-Laos Friendship Association of Thai Nguyen, the programme has been piloted in the locality since 2016 at Thai Nguyen University of Pedagogy and Thai Nguyen College of Economics and Finance.

In the 2022-2023 academic year, 112 activities were carried out within the programme’s framework with the participation of more than 3,500 turns of Lao students and 2,800 Vietnamese people.

Along with helping the students enhance their Vietnamese language skills, the programme has also contributed to promoting people-to-people exchanges with Laos, helping to preserve and develop the Vietnam-Laos special relations.

Currently, Thai Nguyen is hosting nearly 1,400 Lao students who are studying in 11 local universities and colleges. By joining the homestay programme, the students can get a deeper insight into Vietnam’s traditional customs, culture and society.

On the occasion, the Vietnam-Laos Friendship Association of Thai Nguyen honoured nine collectives and 22 individuals with outstanding contributions to the Vietnam-Laos people-to-people diplomacy in the 2022-2023 period.

RoK newspaper hails Vietnam’s historic ASIAD gold in shooting

The Republic of Korea (RoK)’s Asia Today newspaper on September 29 published an article on shooter Pham Quang Huy, who made history as the first Vietnamese to win an ASIAD gold medal in shooting.

At the ongoing 19th Asian Games (ASIAD) in China on September 28, Huy, born in 1996, achieved an impressive score of 240.5 points in the men's 10m individual air pistol final, securing the top position and claiming gold. Lee Wonho of the RoK took silver with 239.4 points, while Vladimir Svechnikov of Uzbekistan earned bronze with 219.9 points.

With an impression on Huy’s achievement, the article also underscored the contributions of Coach Hoang Xuan Vinh, a legend in the field of shooting in Vietnam, and Coach Park Chung Gun, a RoK national, in training the athlete.

It reported that Huy's interest in shooting was influenced by his parents and that the coaches carefully guided him in the national shooting team. Vinh, also a student of Park, won Vietnam's first Olympics gold medal in the men’s 10m air pistol at the 2016 summer games in Rio de Janeiro.

German Unity Day marked in HCM City

The Ho Chi Minh City Union of Friendship Organisations (HUFO) held a ceremony on September 29 to mark the 33rd anniversary of German Unity Day, showing the solidarity and friendship between the people of the city and Germany.

Addressing the event, President of the Vietnam-Germany Friendship Association of HCM City Nguyen Anh Tuan extended greetings to the German people and expressed delight at the growth of the Vietnam-Germany strategic partnership in all fields from politics, diplomacy to economy, trade, science-technology, justice, education and culture.

Tuan highlighted the association’s efforts to contribute to the promotion of friendship between the two countries, and pledged that it will continue to work to connect the Vietnamese and German people and bolster the strategic partnership between the two countries.

For her part, German Consul General in HCM City Dr. Josefine Wallat affirmed that Germany has paid great attention to and highly valued its relations with Vietnam.

The German business community highly evaluated Vietnam's economic development potential and wished to promote cooperation with Vietnam, considering the country as a gateway to enter the Southeast Asian market, she said.

The German diplomat said that the relations between German localities and HCM City have also developed positively thanks to delegation exchanges and cooperation in many areas, including people-to-people diplomacy.

Wallat said she wants to continue partnering with the Vietnam-Germany Friendship Association of HCM City in organising people-to-people exchange activities, contributing to enhancing mutual understanding, solidarity and friendship between the people of Germany and HCM City.

Vietnam Coast Guard contributes to national defence in cyberspace

The Vietnam Coast Guard (VCG) Party Committee has seriously and comprehensively implemented the Politburo’s resolutions regarding national border safeguarding and national defence in cyberspace, heard a meeting in Hanoi on September 29.

The meeting reviewed the five-year implementation of the Politburo's Resolution No. 33-NQ/TW on national border protection strategy and Resolution No. 29-NQ/TW on the strategy on national defence in cyberspace.

The committee has effectively carried out a project disseminating the Law on Vietnam Coast Guard in the 2019-2023 period, consolidated the all-people defence posture in border areas, and supported fishermen in 28 coastal cities and provinces.
 
The force detected, seized and handled 4,490 cases of smuggling and trade fraud with 5,730 individuals involved, 987 drug cases with 1,377 individuals, and imposed administrative fines and asset liquidation worth 1.5 trillion VND (61.71 million USD).

They have also enhanced international cooperation and improved the efficiency of defence dialogue and external affairs.

The committee has coordinated with agencies, organisations and local authorities to popularise outcomes of building and protecting the Party’s ideological foundation, and refuting wrong and hostile views.

Secretary of the VCG Party Committee Lieutenant General Bui Quoc Oai, who is also Political Commissar of the VCG, said the committee will work harder to build a more elite and modern force.

The force will also play a more active role in preventing cyber-attacks and sabotage attacks of hostile forces, contributing to protecting State and army secrets in cyberspace, he added.

Vietnamese, Cambodian navies strengthen friendship

A delegation and Ship 263 of the Naval Region 5 Command under the Vietnam People's Navy and has visited units under the Royal Cambodian Navy in Preah Sihanouk province to strengthen the friendly relations between the two countries’ naval forces.

During the four-day trip from September 26 – 29, the Vietnamese delegation led by Colonel Trinh Xuan Tung, Deputy Commander and Chief of the Staff of the Naval Region 3, held talks with units of the coastal and island defence command and Ream Naval Base of the Royal Cambodian Navy.

Art and sport exchange activities have also been organised, including a friendly volleyball tournament between crew members of Ship 263 and naval officers of Ream Naval Base.

The Vietnamese naval delegation’s visit has contributed to deepening the friendship, cooperation, understanding, and trust between the armies and naval forces of the two countries, thus maintaining peace and stability in the bordering waters and historical waters between Vietnam and Cambodia.

On the occasion, the delegation laid a wreath at the Cambodia–Vietnam Friendship Monument in tribute to Vietnamese volunteer soldiers who sacrificed their lives in the struggle to overthrow the Pol Pot genocidal regime in Cambodia.

Previously, on September 25 – 26, Ship 263 of Naval Region 5 and Ship 1142 of Ream Naval Base joined the 72nd joint patrol session in the Vietnam - Cambodia historical waters.

Vietnam a popular destination for Koreans on Chuseok holiday: survey

Vietnam is among destinations favoured by people from the Republic of Korea (RoK) for the Mid-Autumn holiday, known as Chuseok in the country.

According to a recent survey conducted by the Incheon International Airport Corporation from August 7 to August 24 regarding passenger opinions, Vietnam is chosen by 14.5% of the respondents, ranking second on the list of most favoured international travel destinations for Chuseok. Japan topped the list with a rate of 28.2%.

Vietnam also placed second among preferred travel destinations for those aged 20 and 30 (13.8% of respondents) and those aged 40 and 50 (12.8% of respondents).

This year, for the first time, the RoK government designated October 2 as a one-off temporary holiday, extending the length of the Chuseok holiday to six days. If employees use their annual leave, they can enjoy a free-from-work period of up to 12 days.

According to the survey, 38.2% of respondents preferred longer trips of more than a week, an increase from the 30.3% rate for the summer vacation this year. The proportion of people intending to travel abroad was 9.3%, the highest since the survey began in 2017.

HCM City updates OVs on regulations on residence, identity cards

The Ho Chi Minh City Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs held a conference on September 29 to disseminate legal regulations on permanent residence registration and identity cards for OVs.

Held in both in-person and online formats, the event gathered 50 OVs in the city and connected with the Vietnamese communities in Europe, the Republic of Korea, Japan, Singapore and Australia.

Speaking at the event, vice chairwoman of the committee Dinh Thi Phuong Thao affirmed that the Vietnamese Party and State always consider the Vietnamese communities abroad an inseparable part of the Vietnamese people.

In recent years, more and more OVs have returned home for study, investment and settling down their lives. Many of them also expressed their desires to obtain identity cards to make their administrative procedures, civil transactions and public services easier in Vietnam.

The Politburo’s Conclusion No. 12-KL/TW on OV affairs in the new situation focuses on helping OVs have a strong legal status and integrate into the host society while creating favourable conditions for them to make effective contributions to the process of national construction and defence, she added.

At the event, representatives from the municipal Department of Public Security and the Department of Justice updated the participants about the Residence Law and current legal regulations regarding permanent residence registration and identity cards for Vietnamese nationals abroad. They also answered questions about relevant issues.

Damaged road isolate many Nghe An residents

Dozens of households in the central province of Nghe An have still been isolated as local roads have been badly damaged due to the recent floods.

As of Friday evening, the only road leading to Minh Chau Village in Quy Chau District had yet to be restored. A section of 10 metres on this road had been swept away by the flood on September 27, isolating nearly 30 households with over 100 residents.

A local man, Nguyen Quang Quyen, said that this was the only road to their homes so they have been isolated since.

“The floods rose so fast and strong that the road broke and was swept away," he said. "Many of our assets were also gone."

Chairman of Chau Hanh Commune People's Committee, Vi The Long, said that Minh Chau Village has over 70 households with nearly 300 people. The road damage has affected 26 households."We've had to transport necessities to affected people over the past few days," the official said. "We've also sent a team to check the road and build a plan to repair it."

The serious flooding triggered by heavy rains following a low tropical pressure has badly affected many northern and central provinces and cities between September 26-28, with Nghe An being the hardest hit.

Over 1,700 houses in the province had been flooded and over 830 households were isolated by the floods. Nearly 3,000 cattle and poultry have died and thousands of hectares of crops damaged in the floods.

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