The national COVID-19 caseload rose to 11,480,028 with 671 new cases recorded on October 1, the lowest daily number for nearly three months, according to the Ministry of Health.

With 727 patients given the all clear during the day, the number of recoveries rose to 10,592,592. Meanwhile, there are 91 patients needing breathing support.

One death from COVID-19 was recorded in the past 24 hours. The total fatalities rose to 43,149.

On September 30, an additional 19,430 doses of vaccines were administered, raising the total number of doses of COVID-19 vaccines injected to 260,178,998.

Prime Minister orders active response to natural disasters

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has signed a dispatch requesting ministries, sectors and localities to focus on addressing the consequences of typhoon Noru, the fourth to enter the East Sea this year, and take active measures to respond to possible natural disasters. 

According to the document, the storm caused heavy rain, floods and landslides in the central and Central Highlands regions.

In order to respond and minimise damage caused by natural disasters, the PM requested the National Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control, ministries, agencies and localities involved to focus on prevention and response activities. They include ensuring safety of people's lives, minimising asset losses, implementing search and rescue missions, and providing aid and shelters to victims and the needy.

The dispatch has tasked the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment with closely monitoring developments of rain and floods, with the Ministry of Transport ensuring traffic safety and tackling landslides.

The Ministry of Health is in charge of environmental sanitation and disease prevention during and after floods, while the Ministries of Defence and Public Security will focus on evacuation, search and rescue activities.

Run for Peace takes place this weekend

More than 1,500 athletes will compete in the 47th Ha Noi Moi Newspaper Run for Peace, which is back after two years of absence.

The October 2 tournament's final will be held around Hoan Kiem Lake as usual, with a range of categories for both professional and amateur runners from both Vietnam and abroad.

The Ha Noi Moi Newspaper Run for Peace was not organised because of the pandemic in the last two years, but for its comeback, it lured more than 170,000 people in the qualification rounds in April, said Nguyen Thanh Loi, deputy editor-in-chief of Ha Noi Moi.

After many years, the run has become a prestigious competition, promoting sport to improve people's health and spreading the message of 'Hanoi, a City for Peace', he added.

Athletes will compete in the 1.75km (one lap around the lake), 3.5km (two laps) and 5.25km (three laps) categories for both amateur men and women; and women's 5.25km and men's 8.75km (five laps) for pros.

Organisers will deliver a total of 70 million VND (3,000 USD) for the top five-ranking finishers of each category and the three best teams.

According to organisers, about 150 foreigners living and working in the city will compete in the tournament this year.

The Run for Peace will start at 7am and will be live on VTV2.

Vietnam has huge potential for co-processing of waste in cement industry

The potential for co-processing waste, including non-recyclable plastic, as an alternative fuel in the cement industry in Vietnam is huge.

Vietnam is a major cement producer with a capacity of more than 100 million tonnes of cement per year, said Associate Professor Luong Duc Long, deputy president of Vietnam National Cement Association.

He spoke at a workshop on the co-processing of alternative fuels and raw materials in the Vietnamese cement industry, held by the Norwegian Embassy on September 29 in Hanoi. The workshop is part of the Ocean Plastic Turned into an Opportunity in Circular Economy (OPTOCE) Project funded by the Norwegian Government.

Long said fuel consumption for cement production in the country is now high.

The country now has 82 clinker kilns in operation, which together each year consume over 10 million tonnes of anthracite coal, he said.

The current use rate of alternative fuels in the whole cement industry remains low, although the Government of Vietnam has the policy to increase the rate by 15% by 2030 and 30% after that, he said.

Long also said under the Basel Convention, co-processing is an activity “that can lead to resource recovery and resultant reduction in the use of conventional fuels and raw materials through substitution” of the following categories R1 (“use as a fuel or other means to generate energy”) and R5 (“Recycling/reclamation of other inorganic materials”).

He said there are many waste treatment methods as raw materials and alternative fuels.

The method of waste co-processing in the cement industry is a solution with many advantages to thoroughly treat all types of waste, including household waste and industrial waste, especially hazardous waste, thanks to a system of incinerators, he said.

Data from the Vietnam Environment Administration shows that Vietnam has issued licenses for co-processing wastes for four cement manufacturers of Holcim Hon Chong Cement Factory; Thanh Cong Group Joint Stock Company; Nghi Son Cement Company; and VICEM Ha Tien Cement Joint Stock Company.

Thai Cabinet greenlight to host SEA Games in 2025

The Thai Cabinet resolved that Thailand would offer to host the 33rd Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) and the ASEAN Para Games in 2025, the Tourism Authority of Thailand has announced.

Deputy government spokeswoman Traisuree Taisaranakul said the Cabinet on September 27 agreed to spend 2.05 billion baht (53.7 million USD) to host the regional sports events.

Thailand will benefit from the hosting as it will have opportunities to present its positive image, show its comprehensive readiness to international tourists and investors, generate income from the spending of visitors and about 12,000 athletes, staff, representatives of sports organisations and observers, she said.

For venues of the games, the Government eyed sports facilities in Chiang Mai, Chon Buri, Nakhon Ratchasima, Bangkok, Phuket, Songkhla and provinces facing the Andaman Sea namely Krabi, Trang, Phangnga, Ranong and Satun, she added.

The last time Thailand hosted the Games was in 2007 in Nakhon Ratchasima.

Hanoi to welcome screening of seven Italian movies

The Italian Film Festival 2022 will get underway from October 3 to October 9 at the National Cinema Center at 87 Lang Ha Street in Hanoi.

The event is being organised in collaboration with the Asian Film Festival of Rome and aims to offer the Vietnamese public a glimpse at contemporary Italian cinema, reported Radio the Voice of Vietnam (VOV).

Through drama and comedy, intimate stories and urban city life, these seven movies perfectly depict Italian contemporary society which faces new challenges amid efforts to maintain its deep roots in its past.

The movies to be screened include “Everything’s gonna be alright” (Cosa Sara), “The great silence” (Il Silenzio Grande), “Doctor on call” (Una note da dottore), “A girl returned” (L’arminuta), “Breaking up in Rome” (Lasciarsi un Giorno a Roma), “The inner cage” (Aria Ferma), and “The King of Laugh” (Qui rido io).

On the opening night, audiences will have the chance to talk with the renowned Vietnamese journalist and film critic Le Hong Lam, along with the Antonio Termenini, director of the Asian Film Festival of Rome.

Free tickets are available at the National Cinema Center in Hanoi from September 30.

The festival organised by the Embassy of Italy in Vietnam will also take place at the DCINE Ben Thanh at 6 Mac Dinh Chi street in District 1 of Ho Chi Minh City from October 10 to October 16.

Thai Room established at Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam

The Thai Embassy in Hanoi and the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam (DAV) on September 30 co-organised a ceremony to inaugurate the Thai Room at the academy's campus.

The inauguration was part of activities in celebration of the 46th anniversary of the countries’ diplomatic relations.

Supported by the embassy and the Thai Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Vietnam (ThaiCham), the Thai Room, the first dedicated to an ASEAN member state at the academy, is suitable for multipurpose usage, including reception, lecturing and training for government officials, diplomats and students.

Addressing the ceremony, Pham Lan Dung, Acting President of DAV, said the space was conceived in November 2021 at the proposal of Thai Ambassador to Vietnam Nikorndej Balankura. Since then, the diplomat and the embassy have worked closely and effectively with the academy and the Thai business community to implement the project, she added.

The “Thai Room” is a living testament to the strengthening Strategic Partnership between the two countries, particularly regarding cultural and academic exchanges, Dung noted.

Thai Ambassador Nikorndej Balankura affirmed that the space demonstrates Thailand's determination in establishing a long-term relationship with Vietnam in terms of education and human resources development, which are the foundation for the countries’ socio-economic development.

According to the diplomat, in the near future, the embassy wants to cooperate with DAV in organising lectures and seminars on aspects of interest to both nations, including issues of sub-regional and regional cooperation mechanisms such as the Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS), the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC).

The embassy also plans to connect the academy to leading educational institutions in Thailand to promote bilateral cooperation in educational and professional exchange. The sides will also work on developing the first "Thai studies" curriculum at DAV.

Cuban Prime Minister meets friendship association

Cuban Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz met leaders and members of the Vietnam-Cuba Friendship Association in Hanoi on September 30.

Addressing the event, he said at the high-level meetings and exchanges he has attended in Vietnam, Cuban and Vietnamese leaders demonstrated their mutual trust, responsibility to the nations’ solidarity, and commitment to fostering bilateral cooperation.  

Chairman of the National Assembly’s Committee for Foreign Affairs Vu Hai Ha, who is also Chairman of the Vietnam-Cuba Friendship Association and Chairman of the Vietnam-Cuba Friendship Parliamentarians Group, expressed his delight at the growing special traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation, and mutual trust between Vietnam and Cuba.

The relationship was established by their revolutionary leaders Jose Marti, Ho Chi Minh and Fidel Castro, and cultivated by generations of their leaders to be consolidated, developed and deepened in all fields for the benefit of the two parties and nations.

Vietnam always respects and never forgets Cuba's solidarity and sincere support, both spiritually and materially, for its struggle for national liberation, construction, protection, and development over six decades, he affirmed.

Ha said he believed that generations of Vietnamese and Cuban people will continue to preserve and write new pages of a deepening relationship of solidarity, friendship and fraternal cooperation between their countries in contribution to the cause of national construction and defense to ensure peace, stability and development regionally and globally.

Former deputy health minister has sentence reduced

Former Deputy Health Minister Truong Quoc Cuong has had his sentence reduced to three years from four years for showing “lack of responsibility causing serious consequences” over the trading of counterfeit medicine labelled as Health 2000 Canada.

During the appeal on September 30, judges at the High-Level People’s Court in Hanoi explained their decision for the fact that Cuong paid 500 million VND to remedy the consequences. While working in the medical sector, he was awarded over 50 certificates of merit and order. During the investigation, he also confessed and repented.

Pham Anh Kiet, former General Director of Saigon Pharmaceutical Company, also had his sentence reduced by one year to 16 years for trading fake medicine.

The court upheld sentences for other defendants who were given terms ranging from 2 to 16 years.

According to the verdict of the Supreme People’s Procuracy, as head of the Health Ministry’s Drug Administration (DAV) from 2007 to 2016, Cuong failed to fulfill his responsibility in supervising and inspecting the work of experts in assessing and granting licences for seven kinds of drugs, leading to the approval of dossiers for the import and consumption of six out of seven counterfeit drugs, labelled Health 2000 Canada, in Vietnam with a total value of over 148 billion VND (6.43 million USD).

After the drugs were imported and consumed in Vietnam, although he received information about the suspected origins of the drugs, Cuong did not try to stop their circulation. As a result, domestic medical establishments continued to use counterfeit drugs to treat patients at a total value of over 3.7 billion VND.

Meanwhile, former DAV deputy director Nguyen Viet Hung did not perform his assigned tasks and duties, thus failing to detect and stop wrongdoings of his subordinates in assessing and licensing the drugs.

Vietnam, US legislatures push ties in science, tech, environment

A delegation from the National Assembly’s Committee on Science, Technology and Environment and the Vietnam-US Friendship Parliamentarians' Group had a busy trip to the US from September 21–28.

Led by Le Quang Huy, chairman of the committee and head of the group, the Vietnamese delegation held meetings with US congresspersons, senators and officials, particularly those overseeing science, technology and environmental affairs, such as congresswoman Haley Stevens, Vice Chair of the US House of Representatives’ Science Space and Technology Committee, and Tomas Carbonell from the US Environmental Protection Agency.

During the meetings, Huy said his visit aimed to deepen the Vietnam-US comprehensive partnership as well as promote collaboration between the two countries’ legislatures, especially in the fields of science, technology and environment.

Vietnam sees the US as one of its leading partners, he said, expressing his appreciation for US support for a strong, independent and prosperous Vietnam.

He held that Vietnam wants to sustain a stable, long-term comprehensive partnership with the US on the basis of respect for each other’s independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and political institutions; and to step by step upgrade bilateral ties.

He informed his hosts about the establishment of the Vietnam-US Friendship Parliamentarians' Group, proposing the US side push for the founding of a similar group in the US Congress.

The two sides discussed ways to further boost relations between the two legislatures and promote suitable mechanisms for better coordination, information and experience exchanges.

The US side shared various information and practices in law building and enforcement and voiced support for strengthened cooperation in energy transition, greenhouse gas emission reduction, environmental protection and climate change response. On these matters, the Vietnamese side expressed hope to receive US assistance in the transfer of carbon and energy storage technologies, green finance, human resources development and policymaking in an effort to enable Vietnam to successfully fulfill its commitments made at COP26.

The two sides also exchanged information and experience in lawmaking and supervision in the areas of digital transformation, ensuring water and energy security, fighting illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, and several regional and global issues of mutual interest.

The Vietnamese delegation also met executives of a number of US-based tech giants, including Apple, Amazon and Meta; visited the University of California Berkeley, and had a discussion with the dean of the UC Berkeley Rausser College of Natural Resources; and visited California Waste Solution’s waste treatment and recycling plant./.

Seminar explores human resources development to achieve net-zero emissions target

An international seminar took place in Hanoi on September 30 to discuss ways to develop human resources for the realisation of Vietnam’s net-zero emissions commitment.

In his opening remarks, Dr Nguyen Dinh Tuan, Deputy Director of the Institute of Human Studies under the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences, said to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 as Vietnam committed at the 26th UN Climate Change Conference (COP26), the country has approved a national climate change strategy for 2050, a plan on methane reduction, and the transport sector’s action plan on energy transition.

To reach these targets, Vietnam should focus on energy transition and human resources. Aside from macro-efforts by the Government, ministries, and sectors, it is also necessary for people, businesses, training establishments, research institutes, scientists, and environmentalists to engage, he added.

Talking about labour-related challenges, Assoc. Prof. and Dr Nguyen Thi Hoai Le, Director of the Institute of Human Studies, pointed out the shortage of experts for new sectors and technologies, workers’ lack of core skills, the education system and vocational training that has yet to meet requirements and the impacts of digital transformation and the COVID-19 pandemic.

She recommended plans for each group of rural residents to ensure their livelihoods; devising a roadmap for training workers to meet requirements during the net-zero transition, and increasing public services in rural areas.

At the seminar, domestic and foreign scholars exchanged opinions on theoretical and practical issues related to human resources.

Tra Vinh promotes cultural cooperation with Cambodia

Chairman of the People’s Committee of Tra Vinh province Le Van Han on September 30 received a delegation from the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts of Cambodia led by Minister of State Long Ponnasirivath who is in Vietnam to attend the Cambodia Culture Week.

Lauding Tra Vinh’s strong performance in preserving cultural heritage and great attention to improving the material and spiritual life of Khmer community, Ponnasirivath expressed his hope that the Mekong Delta province will continue to provide best conditions for Cambodian students in the locality.

Han said that about 31% of Tra Vinh population are from the Khmer ethnic minority group. The province is home to 143 Buddhism pagodas, many of which have been recognised as national cultural heritage. They have received regular restoration and upgrade, he added.

At the same time, the locality has paid great attention to the preservation of cultural values of the Khmer community, he said, adding that schools in the Khmer community-inhabited areas have taught both Vietnamese and Khmer languages.

Tra Vinh University is the only in the country that has a Southern Khmer language, culture and arts faculty, he added.

Han said that along with the socio-economic and cultural development in the locality, the level of literacy of Khmer people in recent years has increased markedly, while the cultural identity of the community has always been preserved and promoted.

The provincial leader also briefed the guest on the potential development of the locality, which has 65km coastline and great advantages in wind power production. Tra Vinh is home to 11 wind power projects and three thermal power projects, he added, suggesting that the Cambodian Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts will help popularise the local tourist destinations to international friends.

The Cambodia Culture Week in Vietnam is taking place from September 27 to October 2 in Ho Chi Minh City and Tra Vinh on the occasion of the 55th anniversary of the Vietnam-Cambodia diplomatic ties and the Vietnam-Cambodia Friendship Year.

Duong Hoang Sum, Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said that during their stay, the delegation of the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts of Cambodia will visit a number of beautiful landscapes and tourism destinations of Tra Vinh.

Social Sciences Academy head receives warning for wrongdoings

The Politburo on September 30 decided to give a warning to Bui Nhat Quang, President of the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences (VASS), as a disciplinary measure for his wrongdoings as the head of the Standing Board of the Party Committee of the VASS in the 2015-2020 and 2020-2025 tenures.

The decision was made at the Politburo’s meeting chaired by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.

After considering the proposal of the Party Central Committee’s Inspection Commission, the Politburo concluded that Quang, a member of the Party Central Committee and member of the Standing Board of the Party Organisation of Central Agencies’ Bloc, and Secretary of the VASS Party Committee, must bear the prime responsibility for the wrongdoings of the Standing Board of the VASS in the 2015-2020 (from November 2019 to August 2020) and 2020-2025 tenures.

Quang violated the principles of the Party organisation and activities, as well as the working regulations of a Party Committee, leading to a state of poor solidarity among members of the Standing Board of the VASS Party Committee and leaders of the academy.

He also infringed the regulations on things that Party members must not commit, and those on the responsibility to set a good example, and power control in the personnel work. He also showed a poor sense of responsibility and management and direction, and a lack of inspection and supervision, resulting in prolonged wrongdoings by VASS and a number of agencies under its management in various fields, and failure to implement directions and conclusions of the Party organisations at higher levels, according to the Politburo.

It underlined that Quang's wrongdoings have caused serious consequences and harmed the internal solidarity, angering officials and Party members and negatively affecting the reputation of the Party organisation, the VASS and himself.

Authorised agencies are requested to give adequate administrative disciplines to Quang.

Earlier, the Inspection Commission decided to issue a warning against the Standing Board of the Party Committee of the VASS for 2015-2020 and 2020-2025 tenures./.

Vietnam stresses ASEAN’s commitment to enhance development cooperation

On behalf of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Vietnamese Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang affirmed the bloc’s strong commitment to enhance development cooperation at a general debate of the Social, Humanitarian, and Cultural Affairs Committee of the 77th session of the UN General Assembly on September 29.

Ambassador Giang, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN, expressed ASEAN’s concern that while the COVID-19 pandemic has yet to be over, food and energy crises, natural disasters like flooding and drought, inflation, mounting debt, and growing inequality have caused unprecedented pressure on people’s life, especially those in developing countries and vulnerable groups.

He stressed that it’s high time for the international community to put social development at the centre of recovery strategies to improve resilience, sustainable livelihoods, and welfare for people.

Representing ASEAN, he underlined that the bloc pledges to press on with social development issues, realise the ASEAN Vision 2025, the Hanoi Plan of Action, and other relevant documents of ASEAN to build a resilient and inclusive ASEAN community that leaves no one behind.

ASEAN is also committed to strengthening cooperation in sustainable development with the UN through promoting complementarities between the ASEAN Community Vision and the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development to build a better and more sustainable future, he noted.

Giang revealed that the grouping is also making some guidelines for the implementation of the Hanoi Plan of Action on enhancing social work towards a cohesive and responsive ASEAN that is able to generate benefits for millions of people, thereby reflecting its increasingly strong commitment to promoting social protection in the region.

The same day, in a speech for Vietnam, Minister Counsellor Le Thi Minh Thoa, Deputy Resident Representative of the country to the UN, highlighted Vietnam’s efforts and achievements in realising the Sustainable Development Goals, responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, working towards net zero emissions by 2050, eliminating poverty, and ensuring social security and people’s rights.

She underlined Vietnam’s support for the role of the UN and the country’s active contributions to the international community’s common efforts in response to challenges to social development.

Regarding solutions to social development issues, Thoa stressed the need to resolve causes of poverty and inequality through vocational training, income generating chances, provision of quality educational and life-long learning services for all people, training of high-quality human resources, empowerment of people, and creation of favourable conditions for vulnerable groups.

The international community and development partners should also reinforce international cooperation, implement commitments on official development assistance (ODA), and mobilise resources for inclusive recovery, she added.

Hanoi calls for donations for poor people

The Hanoi committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) has sent an open letter to agencies, organisations, businesses and people in the city calling for donations to the city’s ‘For the poor’ fund, on the occasion of the “For the poor” month.

In its letter, the Hanoi VFF committee said that 0.16% of the city’s households are poor. Therefore, community support would be of great significance, contributing to the city’s fulfilment of its target of creating conditions for households living in difficult circumstances to escape poverty.

All donations will be announced at a live programme to launch the “For the poor” month in the city, scheduled to be held on October 11.

The Hanoi VFF committee receives support through the following accounts: Vietnam Fatherland Front – Hanoi chapter – “For the poor” Fund, account number: 3761.0.9057259.91046 at the Hanoi State Treasury, or bank account: 1500201116868 at the Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development - Hanoi branch.

The city’s “For the poor” month lasts from October 17 to November 18, with various activities.

HCMC to restore two landfill sites with over VND7 trillion

The authority of HCMC plans to carry out two landfill restoration projects with an estimated investment of over VND7 trillion in the 2021-2025 period.

The HCMC Department of Natural Resources and Environment wrote to the Economic and Budget Committee of the HCMC People’s Council on September 21, reporting on its plan to transform the landfills of Go Cat and Dong Thanh into urban residential land.

According to the report, the landfill restoration projects will be carried out under the public-private partnership (PPP) format.

The Go Cat landfill in Binh Tan District was put into operation in 2001 and closed in 2007, with nearly six million tons of waste buried there. The restoration of the 25-hectare Go Cat landfill requires an estimated cost of VND2.8 trillion.

The 45-hectare Dong Thanh landfill started to receive solid waste in 1991 and was closed in 2002, with the volume of buried waste amounting to nearly 11 million tons. The cost of landfill restoration is estimated at VND5.4 trillion.

Besides, the compensation and tree planting projects at the Tay Bac Waste Treatment Complex in Cu Chi District and Da Phuoc Waste Treatment Complex in Binh Chanh District have been lagging behind schedule and facing cost overruns.

According to the HCMC Department of Natural Resources and Environment, the changes in land laws and policies led to increased compensation costs and cost overruns of those projects.

HCMC seeks nod to restart half-finished bridge project

The Department of Transport sought approval from the HCMC People’s Council on September 21 to restart work on the half-finished Tan Ky Tan Quy Bridge project in Binh Tan District.

The cost of the project is over VND490 billion, which will be covered by the State budget.

VND168 billion will be needed for construction and nearly VND200 billion for site clearance compensation. The rest of the capital will go to project management and backup plans.

Work on the Tan Ky Tan Quy Bridge project began in early 2018 under the build-operate-transfer (BOT) contract with an estimated cost of over VND312 billion. The investor would recover the capital for this project by collecting tolls at An Suong-An Lac toll station on National Highway 1A.

The investor suspended construction work due to land clearance difficulties when the project was 70% completed.

In a review of the project, the State Audit concluded that BOT was not an appropriate form of investment for the project due to the clash of interests between the investor and the public. The city then decided to suspend the BOT project and shift to using State funding.

With a length of 80 meters, the Tan Ky Tan Quy Bridge was built to replace the old bridge spanning Tham Luong-Ben Cat Canal and help ease traffic congestion in the surrounding area.

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