Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh met with his Thai counterpart Paetongtarn Shinawatra on the sidelines of the 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits and Related Summits in Vientiane, Laos, on October 9.

The two leaders noted with pleasure the fine development of the Vietnam-Thailand Enhanced Strategic Partnership and agreed to increase all-level meetings and exchanges.

They agreed to instruct relevant agencies to effectively implement bilateral cooperation mechanisms as well as the action programme to deploy the Vietnam-Thailand Enhanced Strategic Partnership for the 2022 – 2027 period across spheres.

The two sides consented to soon raise bilateral trade to 25 billion USD in a balanced manner by reducing trade barriers, facilitating market access for goods, removing obstacles, and strengthening trade and investment ties.

The two leaders highlighted the importance of implementing the “Three Connections” Strategy, and linking supply chains and strategic areas such as transport, digital economy, green economy, and energy transition.

They also agreed to quickly establish a joint working group to develop the content and specific plan for materialising this strategy.

The two leaders concurred to expand cooperation in potential spheres like economy, tourism, transport, multimodal connectivity, and locality-to-locality cooperation.

The two sides agreed coordinate with relevant nations to pilot the “Six Countries, One Destination” tourism cooperation initiative.

PM Chinh stressed the importance of strengthening coordination and information exchange in the fight against terrorist and reactionary organisations, ensuring that no individual or organisation is allowed to use one country's territory to resist the other.

The Thai PM affirmed that she will arrange an official visit to Vietnam soon and co-chair the 4th Vietnam-Thailand joint cabinet meeting.

Vietnam is one of Thailand's key partners in Southeast Asia, PM Paetongtarn noted, expressing her desire to quickly elevate the relationship to a new height.

The two leaders agreed on the need to strengthen cooperation, maintain solidarity and unity within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and promote its centrality in international and regional issues, including the sustainable management and use of the Mekong River's water resources.

They also emphasised the significance of ensuring peace, stability, security, safety, and freedom of navigation and overflight in the East Sea based on international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), fully and effectively implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in East Sea (DOC), and soon finalising a practical and effective Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC)./.

Vietnamese Prime Minister meets with Sultan of Brunei

Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh met with Sultan of Brunei Haji Hassanal Bolkiah in Vientiane, Laos, on October 9 on the sidelines of the 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits.

At the meeting, PM Chinh thanked Sultan Bolkiah for sending a messge of sympathy and emergency aid to help Vietnam overcome the consequences of typhoon Yagi, emphasising that this is a clear demonstration of the friendship and sharing between the leaders and people of the two countries.

The two leaders expressed their satisfaction to see that the Vietnam - Brunei Comprehensive Partnership has continued to maintain positive development momentum. They agreed to deepen the bilateral relationship in a more practical manner, contributing to building a strong, resilient and sustainable ASEAN Community.

Regarding the focus of cooperation in the coming time, the two leaders agreed to increase the exchange of high-level delegations; coordinate to effectively deploy bilateral cooperation mechanisms and the Action Programme to implement the Vietnam - Brunei Comprehensive Partnership for the period of 2023 - 2027.

PM Chinh proposed Brunei pay attention and create favourable conditions in licensing Vietnamese fishing vessels and fishermen to exploit seafood in Brunei; soon extend the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation on the use of the hotline to exchange information to address illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

The Sultan of Brunei affirmed that he will soon arrange a state visit to Vietnam; agreed to further deepen the friendly relations with Vietnam, strengthen cooperation in trade, agriculture, fishery, and oil and gas. The Sultan also highly appreciated that the two countries will soon sign a MoU on cooperation in the field of Halal, agreeing to promote cooperation and participation in the global supply chain of Halal goods and food.

The two leaders also discussed international and regional issues of mutual concern, agreeing to maintain solidarity, unity and the central role of ASEAN in the region; ensure peace, stability, security, safety, freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea on the basis of international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS); soon achieve an effective and efficient Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) in accordance with international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS./.

Former German ambassador to Vietnam awarded Friendship Order

Vietnamese Ambassador to Germany Vu Quang Minh presented the Friendship Order to Dr. Guido Hildner, former Ambassador of Germany to Vietnam, in Berlin on October 9, in recognition of the latter’s significant contributions to strengthening the countries’ strategic partnership and friendship during his tenure, which concluded in mid-2024.

At the ceremony, Minh remarked that the award reflects the Vietnamese State’s appreciation of Hildner’s contributions to fostering bilateral relations, particularly his engagement in supporting medical supplies, equipment, and vaccines for Vietnam during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The former ambassador collaborated with Vietnamese experts and organisations for the sustainable preservation of architectural works and cultural heritage sites in Hue – Vietnam’s ancient capital, as part of the German Federal Foreign Office’s cultural conservation programme. Additionally, he contributed to the effective operation of the Vietnamese-German University in Vietnam.

In January 2022, he facilitated the visit of the German frigate Bayern to Ho Chi Minh City, reflecting Germany's commitment to maritime security cooperation with Vietnam. He was also instrumental in arranging German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s official trip to Vietnam in November 2022, and President Frank-Walter Steinmeier’s state visit to the nation in January 2024.

Upon receiving the award, Hildner expressed his deep appreciation and addressed himself as a loyal friend of Vietnam./.

RoK volunteer association supports Lang Son's Typhoon Yagi victims

The Republic of Korea (RoK)’s Daejin International Volunteers Association (DIVA) had a working session with leaders of the northern mountainous province of Lang Son on October 9 to discuss cooperation measures between the two sides and present 1 billion VND (over 40,200 USD) in international emergency aid to 15 households suffering damage from Typhoon Yagi.

Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Ho Tien Thieu said the province received support from RoK localities, agencies and organisations, including DIVA that has worked closely with Lang Son in the areas of humanitarian aid and personnel training for years.

He expressed his hope that the association will continue its support for localities with difficulties in health care, education – training, and the improvement of local livelihoods.

DIVA President Yun Eun Ho, for his part, highlighted the robust relations between DIVA and Lang Son province through the association’s support projects in the locality, pledging that it will continue assistance to residents in disadvantaged areas, particularly those facing water issues.

On the occasion, DIVA provided free medical checkups for residents in Van Lang district.

The association and the provincial Department of Foreign Affairs also inked a memorandum of understanding on cooperation.

DIVA is a non-governmental organisation that has provided scholarships and Korean language teaching, built houses for the poor, and offered medical supplies and free examinations and treatments for the needy both domestically and internationally./.

Capacity project promotes sustainable, low-carbon rice production in SE Asia

The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) organised a conference in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho on October 9 to launch the Capacity Building for Sustainable and Low-Carbon Rice Innovations in Southeast Asia (CABIN) project. The aim is to promote rice straw management in Southeast Asia in the 2024-2028 period, and low-carbon, sustainable agriculture for the future.

The project, funded by the Taiwan International Cooperation and Development Fund (Taiwan ICDF) covers five the Southeast Asian countries of Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Indonesia and the Philippines. It is expected to help open a new beginning in sustainable rice production in the region.

In the period, the CABIN project will see experts work together to build annual plans for sustainable and low-emission rice production, developing training materials, field demonstrations, and technology transfer.

Vietnam Rice Industry Association (VIETRISA) Chairman Bui Ba Bong said that promoting sustainable development of the rice sector is an important task of all Southeast Asian countries.

He held that the countries need to quickly convert unsustainable practices to sustainable ones, mitigate the negative impacts of climate change and protect the environment, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and enhance farmers' resilience, productivity and rice quality.

Financial support from Taiwan ICDF and technical support from IRRI will make important contributions to water, straw and fertilizer management for rice production in Vietnam.

In Vietnam, the project will be combined to the project to develop 1 million hectares of high-quality and low-carbon rice area in association with green growth in the Mekong Delta region.

Le Thanh Tung, Deputy Director of the Department of Crop Production under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, estimated that the total annual straw output from rice cultivation in the five countries under the CABIN project is about 150 million tonnes, accounting for about 20% of the total global output. Every year, Vietnam produces about 43 million tonnes of rice, with 43 million tonnes of straw, of them 24 million tonnes by the Mekong Delta. Therefore, how to use this straw source is a matter of concern, he said.

Taiwan ICDF representative Ming Hong Yen committed to joining efforts to enhance sustainable rice development, improving livelihoods and income for farmers in Southeast Asian countries.

With scientific and technological advances and innovations deployed in small, sustainable rice hectares within the project, it will make a start towards a path of sustainable, low emissions rice production, circular economy, and green economy./.

Workshop on child drowning opens to journalists

Dozens of journalists from various media agencies joined a training workshop to improve communication skills to help prevent child drowning.

Addressing the opening ceremony, in Hanoi on October 8, Dang Hoa Nam, Director of the Department of Children Affairs under the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs stressed: "Through the training programme, the organising board hopes that the press and media agencies will join in more strongly, helping society and the community understand the true nature of the current situation of child drowning prevention and control."

He added there should be in-depth articles to help raise awareness of the responsibility of families, communities, levels and sectors in contributing to reducing child drowning numbers.

The director said the numbers of children dying from drowning has been falling, however, the number of deaths is still high. The risk of drowning is highest when children play in rivers, lakes, ponds or beaches, including water areas in construction sites or water tanks.

"Therefore, we need to further promote communication on drowning prevention solutions for children such as teaching swimming and water safety skills. In addition, communication is not only about sympathetic stories, but also about how to get everyone to act together to avoid repeating sad stories about drowning like in the recent years," Nam added.

Within the framework of the training programme, reporters were informed of the current status of injury prevention and drowning prevention for children.

Technical Officer of the World Health Organisation (WHO) in Vietnam, Duong Khanh Van, gave out background statistics about the importance of injury prevention and drowning prevention for children. Drowning is one of the top 10 causes of death in the 1-24 age group, men are twice as likely to drown as women, over 90% of drowning deaths occur in low and middle-income countries and drowning is the cause of over 2.5 million preventable deaths in the past decade.

"Drowning does not happen randomly,” she said. “Drowning is a public health problem that can be predicted and prevented.”

Doan Thi Thu Huyen, the Country Director in Vietnam, of the Global Health Advocacy Incubator, under the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, offered up six drowning prevention interventions which could be applied in Vietnam.

They included building fences to control children's access to water sources, keeping pre-school children away from open water, teaching children of primary school age and above swimming skills and water safety skills and training people in rescue and first aid.

Since 2017, the agency has implemented a drowning prevention programme for children in 15 provinces and cities. As many as 44,398 children aged 6-15 have learned safe swimming, 52,250 children aged 6-15 have learned safety skills and 30,204 parents, caregivers and preschool teachers were instructed on child drowning prevention.

Former Director of the Centre for Journalism Training, Dinh Thi Thuy Hang, under the Vietnam Journalists Association, emphasised a number of communication goals on preventing and combating child accidents and injuries for authorities at all levels, communities, parents, caregivers and children, as stated in the Government's Child Accident and Injury Prevention Programme.

At the workshop, journalists shared experiences in Vietnam and internationally, working collectively to develop ideas, messaging and communication stories for articles on drowning prevention for children./.

Mekong targets low-emission rice production with carbon credit initiative

Carbon credits could become a key measure of success in sustainable rice farming, according to Dr Nguyen Do Anh Tuan, Director General of the International Cooperation Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD).

Speaking at a workshop in Hanoi on October 8, he emphasised the significance of carbon credits in achieving low-emission rice farming in the Mekong Delta.

The event, jointly organised by the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and the MARD, focused on technical solutions for high-quality, low-emission rice production in the region. It provided insight into research on climate-adaptive rice varieties and sustainable cultivation practices, reflecting the global shift towards reducing emissions in agriculture.

IRRI also presented its support for localities involved in Vietnam’s scheme for one million hectares of high-quality, low-emission rice linked to green growth by 2030. This support includes the development of a measurement, reporting, and verification system, as well as capacity-building initiatives.

Dr Tuan said the core objective of the programme is to reorganise rice production by establishing specialised farming zones that follow sustainable methods. These zones play a crucial role in adapting to climate change and achieving emissions reduction targets.

He noted that verified carbon credits will serve as clear evidence of progress in sustainable rice cultivation.

MARD has already finalised technical guidelines for low-emission rice production in the Mekong Delta and developed plans to enhance capacity among agricultural cooperatives.

In the coming seasons, the ministry will expand pilot projects to measure carbon emissions from rice farming.

To support these efforts, MARD has reviewed the state of irrigation infrastructure in the scheme’s target areas. It has compiled provincial proposals and is now seeking resources to upgrade canal systems and transportation networks in these specialised farming zones.

A recent survey of 12 participating localities indicated that approximately 3 billion USD in funding will be needed to meet the scheme’s goals by 2030.

Around 60% of this total is expected to come from businesses and farmer organisations, while concessional loans will cover the remainder.

Tuan said that infrastructure investment is the biggest challenge and suggested special mechanisms to access foreign loans to address this bottleneck.

IRRI experts presented promising data at the workshop, showing that low-emission rice farming technologies could cut methane emissions by as much as 65%.

Specifically, using alternate wetting and drying (AWD) irrigation methods can reduce methane emissions by 33%.

Other techniques, such as avoiding straw burning and incorporating straw into the soil, further contribute to emissions reductions.

However, Le Thanh Tung, Deputy Director of the Department of Crop Production, pointed out that many localities still focus on short-term economic goals and food security, while emissions reduction is often overlooked.

“The emphasis on immediate yields and income has slowed the implementation of environmental mitigation measures in rice production,” he said.

Another obstacle is the lack of clear incentives for farmers to adopt low-emission farming methods. Without specific policies encouraging these changes, many farmers remain reluctant to abandon traditional high-emission practices.

The high cost of adopting low-emission techniques further complicates efforts to scale up these methods, particularly for small-scale farmers.

Infrastructure also poses a challenge.

In many areas, inadequate irrigation systems hinder the adoption of AWD and other advanced technologies. This lack of uniformity across regions makes it difficult to implement low-emission practices consistently.

At the workshop, former MARD Deputy Minister Bui Ba Bong, who now chairs the Vietnam Rice Industry Association (VIETRISA), noted that while farmers may not fully grasp the concept of emissions reduction, they are keenly aware of the need for sustainable production.

He suggested that the term green rice might resonate more strongly with farmers, who are already familiar with environmentally friendly farming practices.

VIETRISA is currently working to build a sustainable rice brand and aims to register the trademark "Green and Low-Emission Vietnam Rice" by the end of this month.

Can Tho is one of the provinces where MARD has piloted a 50 hectare low-emission rice farming model.

Pham Thi Minh Hieu, chief of the Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection, said despite the region's limited experience with large-scale demonstration models, the initial results have been promising.

Mechanisation expert Phan Hieu Hien said expanding low-emission farming to one million hectares requires technological infrastructure to complement advances in biology and agronomy.

He called for stronger collaboration between MARD and the Ministry of Industry and Trade to boost mechanisation, which is essential for improving production and strengthening the rice value chain.

This integrated approach could position Vietnam as a leader in global low-emission rice production./.

Tra Vinh: nearly 100 more houses transferred to poor households

Nearly 100 more houses of the over 3,200 built as part of the movement “Mai Am Cho Dong Bao Toi” (Houses for Our Compatriots) were transferred to poor and near-poor households, families with difficult circumstances, and policy families in the Mekong Delta province of Tra Vinh on October 9.

Speaking at a ceremony, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Tra Vinh chapter Pham Van Cuong said the locality had mobilised many resources to build and upgrade houses for thousands of local disadvantaged households.

In the past nine months, over 3,200 gift houses worth 180 billion VND (7.24 million USD) were completed, using the sources of the Ministry of Public Security and the locality’s social welfare fund.

Most recently, the ministry inaugurated and transferred 1,300 houses of the total to local residents.

By the end of 2023, Tra Vinh still had 3,416 poor households and 6,773 near-poor families, accounting for 1.19% and 2.35% of the total households in the province, respectively.

Currently, there are over 7,000 households still facing difficulty with accommodation.

Tra Vinh is seeking support from organisations, agencies, businesses, and donors to implement social welfare policies, caring for the poor and those in difficult circumstances, towards doing away with temporary and fixing dilapidated houses in the locality by 2025, Cuong said./.

Young Vietnamese karatekas aim high at world championships

The most promising karate competitors in Vietnam will take on international rivals this week in Italy to clash for gold at the highly anticipated 2024 World Junior, Cadet and U21 Championships.

The future stars will be crowned after the tournament takes place at the Palazzo del Turismo in Lido de Jesolo, Venice from October 9 to 13.

The championships are the sport's most important event for this age group, and are held every two years.

This year, nearly 2,000 karatekas from 113 countries have registered to participate in the event's kata (performance) and kumite (combat) for men's and women's individual and team categories. This is a record-breaking number of participants, exceeding the number of competitors in previous editions.

In Venice, the powerhouse nations of Brazil and Turkey will introduce the largest delegations, with 42 martial artists each.

Egypt, the US, Spain and hosts Italy will also bring a large number of competitors with 41 athletes.

Vietnam have registered 10 fighters, including defending champion Nguyen Thi Dieu Ly, Chu Van Duc and Hoang Thi Thu Uyen, who are all expected to take a place at the podium.

The Vietnamese coaching board said the martial artists are in good condition and are showing high spirits ahead of the tournament. They promised to do their best to win gold.

The competition in Venice follows a knock-out format. Eliminations will be held from October 9 to 11, while the bronze medal bouts and finals are scheduled for October 12-13.

Last year's event was held in 2022 in Konya, Turkey. Powerhouse Japan topped the medal table during the competition, with 13 medals including 10 golds. Turkey and Egypt also showed successful performances with 12 medals each.

Vietnam's talented Ly won gold in the women's 53kg kumite event. The 20-year-old has just claimed an Asian championship women's team title./.

Vietnam, Singapore strengthen cooperation in transnational crime combat

Politburo member and Minister of Public Security Sen. Lieut. Gen. Luong Tam Quang met with visiting Permanent Secretary of Singapore’s Ministry of Home Affairs Aubeck Kam in Hanoi on October 9 afternoon.

He said the two ministries have actively implemented various cooperation activities, including high-level delegation exchanges and collaboration in combating drug trafficking and cybercrime, and in emergency response. Their 2018 cooperation agreement on transnational crime prevention and control remains a crucial legal framework for competent agencies to step up cooperation in the areas of shared concern.

Expressing his gratitude to the Singaporean ministry for its training programmes for Vietnamese public security officers, Quang proposed that both sides maintain all-level delegation exchanges to share information and enhance political trust. He also recommended completing legal documents to facilitate collaboration in law enforcement, and suggested signing, amending and supplementing the cooperation agreement on transnational crime prevention and fight, and the agreements on extradition, and the transfer of sentenced persons.

The ministries should also continue supporting and consulting each other at multilateral forums to reach consensus on matters of mutual concerns, contributing to peace, stability, and development of both countries and the region, he suggested. It is necessary to exchange more information on criminal activities affecting both nations in a bid to ensure security and safety for joint business activities as well as safety of their citizens in respective countries.

For his part, Kam stated his ministry wishes to strengthen its sound collaboration with the Vietnamese ministry, noting that the sides reached a high level of consensus on expanding their cooperation during the 12th annual meeting.

The official recommended further enhancing joint efforts in law enforcement, crime combat, and technological applications in this regard to help ensure peace and stability in the countries, their region, and the world./.

NA Chairman welcomes new Japanese Ambassador

National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man hosted a reception in Hanoi on October 9 for newly-appointed Japanese Ambassador Ito Naoki, affirming Vietnam's consistent foreign policy of considering Japan a top important and long-term partner.

NA Chairman Man thanked Japan for its timely support to Vietnam in the wake of the recent typhoon.

Naoki announced that Japan, through the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), has decided to provide additional assistance in the form of water purifier, mosquito net, and essential supplies to seven Vietnamese provinces, namely Yen Bai, Cao Bang, Ha Giang, Lang Son, Bac Giang, Tuyen Quang and Dien Bien.

He also hinted at further support from Japan in disaster prevention and response, highlighting the deepening cooperation between the two nations.

Underlining the vast potential and advantages both countries possess, Man called for further deepening of their comprehensive strategic partnership to yield benefits across various sectors.

According to him, Japan is now the largest supplier of official development assistance to Vietnam, with two-way trade projected to surpass 30 billion USD in 2024. Japan's strengths in digital transformation, green transition, semiconductors, and artificial intelligence (AI) are expected to significantly aid Vietnam's development in sci-tech, education-training, and energy.

The NA leader and the ambassador agreed that future cooperation should focus on economy, trade, tourism, education and training, health care, and public health. They also emphasised the importance of regular exchanges between parliamentarians, especially young and female ones, and friendship groups to share experiences in different areas.

Man proposed that the two legislatures should strengthen coordination and mutual support at global and regional inter-parliamentary forums such as the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA), and the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF), contributing positively to maintaining peace, security, and stability in the region and the world.

He also expressed hope that Ambassador Naoki would visit various Vietnamese localities during his tenure to gain a deeper understanding of the country and its people, thereby propelling cooperation and realising agreements between localities.

Turning attention to the 560,000-strong Vietnamese community in Japan, Man suggested that Japan continue to assist this community, enabling them to serve as a bridge between the two countries.

Ambassador Naoki noted the significance of draft laws regarding public investment, bidding, State budget, and public-private partnership, which will be reviewed at the Vietnamese NA’s upcoming 8th session.

He urged the Vietnamese legislative body to continue creating favourable conditions in terms of mechanism, policy, and legal framework for foreign investors and businesses, particularly those from Japan, to operate in the country./.

Defence Minister receives Spanish Ambassador

Minister of National Defence General Phan Van Giang hosted a reception in Hanoi on October 9 for newly-appointed Spanish Ambassador to Vietnam Carmen Cano De Lasala, during which he highlighted ample room for the two countries' cooperation in defence.

Giang expressed Vietnam’s appreciation for the cooperative relationship with Spain and wished to lift bilateral ties to a new height that matches cooperation potential.

According to him, Vietnam-Spain defence cooperation has seen steady progress in recent years in line with a relevant memorandum of understanding signed in 2010, especially in the exchange of delegations and training, defence industry, and the United Nations peacekeeping operations.

Highlighting the vast potential to boost defence ties tailored to their respective needs and capabilities, Giang proposed increasing the exchange of all-level delegations and training, with an emphasis on the Spanish language.

He also underscored the importance of stepping up collaboration in the UN peacekeeping operations, engaging in strategic exchanges, sharing experiences and assisting the Vietnamese Ministry of Defence in post-war recovery efforts, and working closely together at multilateral forums.

Vietnam is ready to welcome military Spanish students for Vietnamese language training at the Military Science Academy, and an international defence officials’ course at the National Defence Academy, he said.

Ambassador De Lasala, for her part, commended the Vietnam People's Army for its disaster response capabilities.

Regarding bilateral defence ties, she suggested continuing with close coordination, especially in training and the UN peacekeeping operations./.

Vietnamese, Lao defence officials agree on key cooperation items

Vietnamese Deputy Minister of National Defence Sen. Lieut. Gen Hoang Xuan Chien held a working session with his Lao counterpart Vongkham Phommakon in Vientiane on October 9.

Chien is accompanying Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh to the 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits and related meetings.

Both sides lauded the robust bilateral defence ties that have flourished over the years, highlighting their positive contributions to maintaining peace, stability, and development in both countries. This cooperation has further solidified the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between the Parties, States, armies, and people of Vietnam and Laos.

They shared updates on preparations for the second Vietnam-Laos Border Defence Friendship Exchange, scheduled to take place in Vietnam’s northern Son La province and Laos’ Houaphanh province from October 22-23.

Host and guest agreed to co-chair a final rehearsal and inspection on October 21 to ensure the activities proceed smoothly, contributing to the success of the exchange.

The officials also reached a consensus on key upcoming activities, including the annual meeting of the defence ministers of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia, along with relevant activities in Cambodia in November 2024. Additionally, they planned for the Vietnam-Laos Defence Policy Dialogue slated for the first quarter of 2025 in Luang Prabang of Laos and the Vietnam-Laos young officers’ exchange in 2025, among others.

On the occasion, Chien suggested that Laos continue to support cooperation initiatives between Vietnam’s military-run telecom provider Viettel and the Lao Defence Ministry’s units, as well as high-tech defence and industrial products developed by Viettel./.

NA Chairman mourns passing of former Chinese leader

National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man has expressed condolences following the passing of Wu Bangguo, former Chairman of the Standing Committee of the 10th and 11th-tenure National People’s Congress of China on October 9.

His message was addressed to Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China Zhao Leji and Wu’s family.

In his message, Man paid tribute to Wu's role in advancing socialism with Chinese characteristics, highlighting his significant contributions to strengthening the Vietnam-China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.

He also underscored Wu's instrumental efforts in fostering comprehensive cooperation between the Vietnamese NA and the National People’s Congress of China./.

Nghệ An sounds alarm on resurgence of wild bird hunting and trapping

For almost a month, residents of several communes in Diễn Châu District in the central province of Nghệ An have been taking advantage of the seasonal migration of wild birds by setting up large-scale nets to trap them.

The birds flock to the area seeking shelter and food during the rainy season, but residents can make money selling them to eat or as part of the illegal wildlife trade.

Despite active campaigns by the provincial Forest Protection Department and other authorities warning against the practice, many residents still brazenly continue to trap and catch wild birds.

This method of indiscriminate hunting has severely impacted the bird population and has harmed the natural ecosystem.

Every year, during the rainy season from August to November, residents in coastal and near-coastal areas like Diễn Kim, Diễn Hùng, Diễn Hải, Diễn Hoàng, Diễn Mỹ and Diễn Phong set up nets, sticky glue traps, or bait and broadcast bird sounds to trap swallows, storks, herons and egrets.

After the harvest season, tens of hectares of fields in these areas are covered with bird-trapping nets.

The nets, made from thin but durable white thread with fine mesh, are densely spread across the fields, creating death zones for wild birds as they come down to feed or fly over.

To reinforce the net systems, bird hunters use numerous support poles, each equipped with bells that ring when birds get caught in the net.

Across fields, marshlands, ponds and river mouths, makeshift huts are set up for bird hunters during the trapping season. Next to these huts are numerous bird cages, tubes of sticky glue and equipment like batteries and speakers broadcasting fake bird sounds. Scattered piles of feathers, remnants of bird processing, can also be found in many areas.

Bird decoys such as storks and swallows which are used to lure flocks down to the traps, have had their eyelids sewn shut by the hunters, causing them to flap their wings helplessly. Dead swallows can also be seen left behind in the nets.

Lê Văn Thông, Chairman of the People's Committee of Diễn Kim Commune, said that for many years, residents during the rainy season had trapped and caught wild birds in the fields bordering Diễn Hải Commune and in the mangrove areas near the Lạch Vạn Estuary.

To prevent this, the local government has directed police and land management forces to develop a plan to tackle the hunting and trapping of wild birds.

In many semi-mountainous areas like Diễn Phú, Diễn Lợi, Diễn Lâm, Diễn Hoa and Diễn Thái in Diễn Châu District, where the sparsely populated landscape is scattered with fields and forests, bird hunters have also been setting up traps. The Forest Protection Department of Diễn Châu District has identified these areas as hot spots for the hunting and trapping of wild birds.

Thái Bá Thế, Chairman of the People's Committee of Diễn Phú Commune, noted that despite efforts to raise awareness and asking for help from police, residents continue to use glue traps and other methods to capture birds.

The local government plans to direct the commune police to conduct surprise raids to crack down on the trapping of wild birds, while also reviewing and inspecting individuals in order to enforce strict penalties.

To protect wild birds during the storm season, the Forest Protection Force has conducted numerous raids, seizing and burning thousands of fake storks, tens of thousands of glue sticks, dismantling various structures used by bird hunters as hideouts and releasing hundreds of decoy birds back into the wild.

But the practice of indiscriminate hunting and trapping continues.

Trần Ngọc Quyền, Deputy Head of the Diễn Châu District’s Forest Protection Department, stated that their unit has actively and proactively deployed forces and organised raids on hot spots where wild birds are hunted and trapped.

The biggest challenge, however, is the large area they are tasked with overseeing, as their unit is understaffed and spread too thin across many communes.

Currently, the department is intensifying efforts to raise awareness and encourage people to comply with the directives issued by the Diễn Châu District’s People's Committee and to continue enforcing Prime Ministerial Directive No. 4 on the protection of wildlife.

On August 12, the Diễn Châu District’s People's Committee issued a directive instructing communes, towns, the Forest Protection Department, the District Police and the Diễn Thành Border Guard Station along with other relevant departments to widely inform residents not to hunt, trap or illegally trade wild birds.

Policy realises poor people’s dreams for sturdy houses

Replacing temporary and dilapidated houses with safe and sturdy ones is a meaningful and practical policy to help disadvantaged people enjoy better living conditions, reflecting the efforts by the entire political system in ensuring social welfare and leaving no one behind.

'Settling down and making a living' has been a goal for many people, especially poorer families, as well as those in disaster-prone, remote and mountainous areas. However, for many, it has remained a distant dream.

Data from the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs reveals that there are currently more than 153,000 temporary and dilapidated houses in need of rebuilding or repairs. To fund the construction, each new house would cost VNĐ50 million (US$2,000) and each upgrade of dilapidated houses would require VNĐ25 million, adding up to a total of VNĐ6.5 trillion needed, the ministry said.

Over the past decades, with the determination of the entire political system, many policies on housing support, especially for poor households across the country, have been implemented. Thanks to funding from the State budget, the community, businesses, organisations and individuals, many houses across the country have been built or upgraded, easing urgent housing needs.

From 2000 to 2023, more than 1.7 million houses were built or repaired for poor people and those with disadvantaged backgrounds.

House building and repairs are among the major policies of the Party and State - considered a regular political task comprehensively performed by the entire political system, from Party Committees, administrations and the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committees at all levels, to collectives, organisations, businesses and individuals.

Many practical projects have been launched to ensure that the poor have access to safe, solid houses, thereby creating good conditions for them to escape poverty.

This is also one of the large-scale social welfare programmes, with great humanitarian significance, demonstrating the superiority of the socialist regime, the spirit of mutual support, the aspiration to ease others' difficulties and sympathy for those less fortunate.

As part of the efforts to promote the policy, on November 24, 2023, the 13th Party Central Committee issued Resolution No. 42-NQ/TW on continuing to renovate and improve the quality of social welfare policies. The Resolutiuon sets the goal of "completely eliminating temporary and dilapidated houses for poor households, near-poor households, and people affected by natural disasters and climate change" by 2030.

On April 14, 2024, Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính, Chairman of the Central Council for Emulation and Commendation, launched a movement calling on the whole nation to partner up to eliminate temporary and dilapidated houses by 2025. The Government leader requested that the administrations at all levels, sectors, localities, agencies, people and businesses across the country promote their activeness, creativity, and responsibility towards the community and society, especially the poor, striving to complete the task.

At a meeting between Cabinet members and the VFF, ministries, and agencies on October 1, on support for poor and near-poor households to build and repair houses, the PM called for a 450-day peak campaign to mobilise the synergy of the whole society for the work nationwide.

He specifically requested that ministries, sectors and local areas show high determination, great efforts, drastic actions, and thorough implementation of tasks, with a clear assignment of jobs and responsibility to specific individuals, ensuring that the campaign is implemented extensively, widely and substantively. Donations must be closely managed with strengthened supervision and examination, he said.

The policy has received strong public support. However, to effectively realise the movement, stronger engagement from all stakeholders is needed to spread good deeds, turning small contributions into large ones. This will help build more stable and safe houses for the poor, not only enabling them to escape poverty but also gradually improving their living standards and contributing to sustainable poverty reduction.

Vietnamese, French firms partner in vaccine production

The Việt Nam Vaccine Joint Stock Company (VNVC) and Sanofi on Tuesday signed a document guiding the cooperation in manufacturing some vaccines of the French pharmaceutical group in the Southeast Asian country.

Accordingly, Sanofi will broadly share its knowledge and expertise on biotechnology with the Vietnamese partner to create conditions for gradually manufacturing essential vaccines at the VNVC factory in Việt Nam.

This important partnership will not only facilitate Vietnamese people’s access to vaccines but also help ensure stable vaccine supply and reduce many expenses.

Addressing the signing ceremony in Paris, general director of Sanofi-Aventis Việt Nam Burak Pekmezci said Sanofi is one of the world’s leading vaccine producers, with over half a billion people around the globe using its products each year. In Việt Nam, it supplied more than 7 million high-quality vaccine doses in 2023.

With its vaccine production experiences, Sanofi wishes to share its knowledge and contribute to the development of the health sector as well as the improvement of community health in Việt Nam, he said.

Ngô Chí Dũng, Chairman and CEO of the VNVC, said his company is about to build a vaccine and biologicals factory using cutting-edge technology and complying with the EU Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards in Long An Province. It prioritises cooperation with Sanofi and other pharmaceutical firms so as to manufacture important vaccines and drugs, helping ensure sufficient supply for Việt Nam.

He expressed his hope that the partnership between Việt Nam’s leading vaccination system and the world’s leading pharmaceutical group will assist with improving the Southeast Asian country’s capacity of producing high-quality vaccines. It matches the VNVC’s mission of ensuring sufficient supply of important vaccines and delivering high-quality, accessible, and affordable vaccination services to all Vietnamese people.

Under its plan, the VNVC will negotiate to gradually engage in manufacturing and receive technologies for producing some vaccines transferred by Sanofi.

Speaking to the Vietnam News Agency, Nguyễn Thị Kim Tiến, former Vietnamese Minister of Health and Honorary President of the Việt Nam - France Friendship and Cooperation Association (AAVF), described this as a memorable event in the field of vaccine production of Việt Nam. It reflects efforts by the country’s science sector and enterprises in mastering advanced technologies and techniques for vaccine research and manufacturing, helping the country guarantee vaccine self-sufficiency in the future.

Meanwhile, Vietnamese Ambassador to France Đinh Toàn Thắng described the partnership between VNVC and Sanofi as a continuation of the two countries’ traditional cooperation in health care and pharmaceuticals, adding that he hopes the health and pharmaceutical collaboration will become more effective as it comes in line with the consensus reached by Vietnamese and French leaders during the freshly concluded visit to France by Party General Secretary and State President Tô Lâm. 

Limit the use of electronic devices to reduce myopia in children

Recent medical studies have shown that the rate of myopia in Vietnamese children is increasing, especially in cities. In some classes, more than 50 per cent of the students have myopia.

This information was given at the launch of the 'Healthy Eyes Brighten the Future' programme organised by the National Center for Health Communication and Education under the Ministry of Health (MoH), in coordination with the Việt Nam National Eye Hospital (VNEH) and other partners.

The event, with the theme 'Prioritising children's eye care', was held on Monday at the Hoàng Diệu Primary School in Hà Nội’s Ba Đình District to mark World Sight Day on October 10.

Speaking at the programme launch, Deputy Minister of Health Nguyễn Thị Liên Hương said that in recent years, the MoH had paid special attention and care to children.

Currently, all children under six nationwide are granted free health insurance cards, and nearly 100 per cent of Vietnamese children are fully vaccinated, according to the deputy minister.

However, a survey on vision problems -- specifically, refractive errors -- in children in some primary and secondary schools in Hà Nội and HCM City conducted by the VNEH in 2020 and 2023 showed that 51 per cent of children in Hà Nội have refractive errors, of which myopia accounts for 37.5 per cent.

In HCM City, 75.6 per cent of surveyed children had refractive errors and 52.7 per cent of those had myopia.

The Deputy Minister said that one of the targets for child and student healthcare set out in the MoH’s Việt Nam Health Programme was to increase the rate of students screened for vision loss, prescribed glasses and instructed on vision training to 40 per cent by 2025.

The programme aims to spread awareness about the importance of protecting eye health and work with parents and schools to protect and care for children's eyes.

Vũ Mạnh Cường, Director of the National Center for Health Communication and Education, said that in the near future, the programme would be spread through many different activities, such as a healthy eye festival combined with eye exams, games for students and seminars for parents at 20 kindergartens and primary schools in Hà Nội and HCM City.

The programme is a practical activity, not only helping examine and detect early eye diseases in children, but more importantly sharing knowledge to guide parents and children in learning about the benefits and effectiveness of caring for the eyes, avoiding refractive errors and detecting eye diseases.

The programme has also released a series of education topics and a theme song with cheerful and lively lyrics to help spread the message.

Analysing the current state of eye diseases in children, Associate Professor Phạm Ngọc Đông, Deputy Director in charge of management and operation of the VNEH, added that according to the latest studies, the rate of myopia in children is increasing, especially in big cities.

Scientists have not yet determined the exact cause of myopia, but there are some risk factors that increase the condition, including spending too much time looking at close-up objects in narrow spaces, limited outdoor play and too much time reading books and using electronic devices.

Myopia and eye diseases can limit children's ability to learn.

If not detected early and given early intervention, the progression of myopia will accelerate, making the condition more severe.

Intervention will limit complications as well.

In order to prevent refractive errors in children's eyesight, parents need to increase the time children play outdoors, giving them open spaces and limiting the use of devices with screens, according to Đông.

In the current digital age, children are inevitably exposed to smart electronic devices such as computers and mobile phones, so parents need to remind children to regulate their usage so that they do not spend too much time using the devices.

Parents should understand the 20-20-20 principle to guide children. After 20 minutes of looking at an electronic device screen, they should let their eyes rest for at least 20 seconds and focus their eyes on an object more than 20 feet (about six metres) away. 

Localities speed up construction of key transport projects in the South

Local authorities have been asked for the acceleration of key transport projects by removing bottlenecks and speeding up investment procedures and site clearance work in the remaining months of this year.

According to the HCM City Department of Transport, as of September 2024, the progress of the 47km Ring Road 3 passing through the city has only reached 16 per cent of the contract value.

Meanwhile, the section passing through Long An Province reached about 50 per cent of the total construction volume of the project by the end of September.

To avoid delays in the project in the future, the City Department of Transport has proposed that the Prime Minister direct the provinces of Tiền Giang, Vĩnh Long and Bến Tre to speed up licensing procedures for mining and supplying sand for roadbed construction as committed.

Regarding traffic projects in Bình Dương Province, the province is urgently studying the expansion of the 15.3 km Mỹ Phước-Tân Vạn section to synchronise with the Ring Road 3 project when put into operation.

In Đồng Nai Province, the progress of compensation and site clearance for the Biên Hòa-Vũng Tàu Expressway section through Biên Hòa City is currently continuing as quickly as possible to serve the construction.

According to the leaders of Đồng Nai Province, the total number of households that agreed to the compensation plan was 585 with an area of ​​over 22.8 hectares, of which 193 households with more than 11 hectares have been compensated, reaching a rate of over 48.5 per cent.

Deputy Minister of Transport Lê Anh Tuấn suggested that Đồng Nai should pay more attention to the project's site clearance, as this is the key point in terms of progress. The locality needs to concentrate maximum human resources to speed up site clearance.

Along with that, Tuấn also requested that provincial leaders closely coordinate with ministries, departments and units to speed up procedures for granting licences for land mining to speed up the construction progress of the Biên Hòa-Vũng Tàu Expressway Project.

With a length of 58km, the Bến Lức-Long Thành Expressway Project, part of the North-South Expressway passing through Long An, HCM City and Đồng Nai, was started in July 2014 and was expected to be completed in 2019. However, the implementation process encountered many difficulties, so the construction time has been prolonged until now.

After resuming construction, the total output of the project has reached about 75 per cent and it is expected that by the end of this year, part of the expressway will be put into operation to reduce traffic congestion at the HCM City - Trung Lương Expressway.

Director of the Southern Expressway Management Board Đặng Hữu Vị said the Bến Lức-Long Thành expressway project is focusing on constructing the Bình Khánh Bridge across the Soài Rạp River, connecting Cần Giờ-Nhà Bè districts in HCM City, which has reached nearly 82 per cent of the construction volume, and is expected to be completed in September 2025.

When Bình Khánh Bridge is completed, Bến Lức-Long Thành Expressway will be connected with HCM City-Trung Lương Expressway.

As a key national project in the Mekong Delta region, as of September 21, the construction output of the Cần Thơ-Cà Mau Expressway Project reached 42 per cent, 15 per cent behind schedule.

In order to ensure the project is completed by the end of 2025 as planned, Mỹ Thuận Project Management Board (investor) requires contractors to prioritise financial resources and mobilise equipment and machinery. Construction personnel work must work 24/7, throughout the holidays, and regularly check and supervise progress, quality and technique. 

Bình Dương plans to spend more than $785 million to complete infrastructure

Bình Dương Province plans to invest VNĐ20 trillion (US$785.5 million) from now to 2030, with a vision to 2050, to complete infrastructure to facilitate economic development, thereby helping to increase average incomes and improve people's quality of life.

Well-developed infrastructure will be an important foundation for Bình Dương to affirm its position as a strategic economic center of the Southeast region and move towards becoming a centrally-governed city.

Võ Anh Tuấn, Chief of Office of the Provincial People's Committee, said that the province will focus on implementing 37 key infrastructure tasks with public investment capital mobilised from many sources, including land auctions and calling for investment from the private sector.

Bình Dương’s goal by 2050 is to increase per capita income to $15,000 per year. However, to achieve this goal, the province is facing many challenges, especially in terms of investment capital and budget regulation.

Previously, to partially solve the shortage of capital for infrastructure investment, the locality has proposed to the Government to borrow VNĐ10 trillion ($392.7 million) to fund critical transportation infrastructure projects.

Phạm Trọng Nhân, director of the provincial Department of Planning and Investment, said that to ensure effectiveness and feasibility, the department will provide detailed advice on specific tasks and solutions to implement the 37 infrastructure tasks in the province's plan.

Bình Dương holds a series of important events in September. The events include the inauguration of Bạch Đằng No 2 Bridge, connecting Bình Dương with Đồng Nai Province, along with the groundbreaking ceremony of key projects such as the A1 roundabout and Cây Trường Industrial Park in Bàu Bàng District.

This is an opportunity for Bình Dương to affirm its role as a center for attracting investment and sustainable economic development, while creating momentum for the province in the process of moving towards the goal of becoming a centrally-governed city.

One of the highlights of the event series was the groundbreaking ceremony of Cây Trường Industrial Park, a strategic project invested in by Becamex IDC Corporation.

This project has a scale of up to 700ha and is expected to create jobs for 35,000 workers, focusing on key industries in line with the province's socio-economic development orientation.

Cây Trường Industrial Park is expected to continue to attract domestic and foreign investors, especially businesses that are looking to relocate or expand production from neighbouring provinces and HCM City.

The construction of industrial park infrastructure not only helps the province expand its land fund for development but also creates favourable conditions for attracting high-quality FDI capital flows.

This year, the province aims to attract 130-140 investment projects to industrial parks (IP), securing $1.2-1.3 billion from foreign capital and VNĐ1.1-1.2 trillion from domestic investors.

The management board of Bình Dương Province's industrial parks reported that there are currently 28 operational IPs in this area, with an impressive occupancy rate of over 93 per cent.

This makes Bình Dương the locality with the highest IP occupancy rate in the entire country.

To date, Bình Dương's IPs have attracted 3,080 active projects. Among them, there are 2,400 foreign-invested projects with a registered capital of nearly $29 billion and 680 domestic projects with a registered capital of nearly VNĐ93.6 trillion.

From 2023 to 2025, the province has developed 10 IPs, covering a total land area of about 3,154ha.

For 2026-30, the plan expands to 19 IPs, with a total land area of around 5,537ha. This includes the completion of the ongoing development of the IPs from the 2023-25 period, covering an area of about 2,063ha, and the addition of nine new IPs, spanning 3,474ha.

These IPs will follow the "3-in-1" model, combining IPs, urban areas, and service areas. They will feature comprehensive and modern technological and social infrastructure.

The investment for these IPs will be more focused and selective, emphasising specialisation, ecological considerations and smart development. 

Project to reduce motorcycle crashes with vision interventions launched in HCM City

AIP Foundation in collaboration with its partners, including the National Traffic Safety Committee, the Transport Development & Strategy Institute, the Việt Nam's Ministry of Transport as well as the University of Medicine and Pharmacy in HCM City hosted the launching event of the STABLE Trial, ahead of World Sight Day 2024.

The STABLE (short for 'Slashing Two-wheeled Accidents By Leveraging Eyecare') trial is a preliminary study examining the intersection of vision and road safety, employing contemporary methodologies and focusing on the most vulnerable populations in road safety, namely youth.

It brings together a series of international funders and partners including The Chen Yet-Sen Family Foundation, Clearly, The Hyundai Motor Chung Mong-Koo Foundation, Wellcome Trust, Queen's University Belfast and Yonsei University.

“STABLE aims to investigate innovative strategies in road safety, focusing on addressing the challenges young drivers face, such as safely accessing education and improving overall road safety,” Sangchul Yoon, Professor at Yonsei University, said.

The objective of the launching event was to introduce the new programme to national and local government partners, project universities and media and to strengthen the engagement among all government partners and university collaborators in the program implementation.

In addition, during the launching event, national and local governments gathered with five universities in HCM City including the University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Nông Lâm (Agriculture & Forestry) University, HCM University of Education, College of Foreign Economic Relations, HCM City University of Technology and Education.

World Sight Day, which takes place annually in October, focuses the world’s attention on the importance of eye care in young people. This day also marks an opportunity to advocate for eye health as a global issue, raise awareness on the importance of eye care within families, individuals and communities and help to activate demand for eye health services globally.

“On behalf of the National Traffic Safety Committee, I am very pleased to have the opportunity to participate in today's event. Hopefully, the project's research results will contribute to providing innovative and practical solutions to promote knowledge and skills to ensure health conditions for safer traffic of young people, our future generation of Việt Nam,” remarked Trịnh Thu Hà, Deputy Chief of Office, National Traffic Safety Committee,

Before the launch event, students from different participating universities took part in the eyes screening using the WHOeyes App. WHOeyes is a free mobile application that checks near visual acuity, checks distance visual acuity, is language agnostic (uses the tumbling E chart) and provides educational messages on how individuals can protect their eyes.

Visual acuity is the most common assessment of visual function. It is a simple, non-invasive measure and critical to determine the presence of vision impairment (WHO 2023).

Mirjam Sidik, Chief Executive Officer at AIP Foundation, in closing remarks, highlighted the urgent importance of embracing our youth as active participants, not beneficiaries in our society.

Change is only possible if it is brought about for youth by youth, she said.

“AIP Foundation is proud to be part of this pioneering trial in HCM City, Việt Nam. We are joined today by an international array of partners who are dedicated to safeguarding university students and their journeys to study. Our shared commitment will continue to shine this World Sight Day 2024 and beyond to ensure their safety,” Mirjam Sidik noted.

The innovative initiative is poised to drive significant progress for road safety across the southern economic hub. 

Four injured by falling trees during storm in HCM City

Four people were injured, including a six-year-old child, when a tree fell during a storm in HCM City yesterday evening.

The incident occurred at 6:30 pm on Mạc Đĩnh Chi Street, Đa Kao Ward, District 1.

At that time, a tree with a diametre of nearly 30cm and a height of over 10m fell on the street.

Four people on two motorbikes, including a child, were hit by the falling branches of a tree causing them injuries.

The victims were then taken to the hospital with minor injuries.

Local authorities dispatched workers to address the incident.

On August 9, a tree branch fell on five people in Tao Đàn Park, District 1, HCM City, killing two and injuring three.

Hospital's free IVF programme to accept applications on October 11

Mỹ Đức Hospital’s 11th charity programme called Ươm Mầm Hạnh Phúc (Nurturing the Seeds of Happiness) will accept applications for providing free in vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment to 100 couples from October 11 to 22.

The annual programme is an initiative by Professor Nguyễn Thị Ngọc Phượng, former director of Từ Dũ Obstetrics Hospital in HCM City and the first doctor in Việt Nam to offer fertility treatment in which embryos are introduced directly into the uterus, called IVF.

During the past 11 years, it has helped hundreds of couples’ dream of being parents come true, especially those facing financial pressure.

This year, the programme will provide free IVF treatment to the couples, starting November 11.

Couples can download registration forms and criteria for being chosen to get the free IVF treatment at Mỹ Đức website https://ivfmd.myduchospital.vn/ and Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/IVFMD.Vietnam/

In 2023, 59 out of 97 chosen couples became pregnant while the rest have returned to IVF Mỹ Đức health facilities across the country to continue treatment and receive embryos.

So far, nearly 600 infertile couples have benefited from the programme since it first launched in 2014.

Dengue outbreak concerns rise in Hà Nội

The number of dengue fever cases in Hà Nội has risen significantly in recent weeks, raising concerns among health officials.

According to the city's Center for Disease Control (CDC), there were 284 confirmed cases reported between September 27 and October 3, five more than the week before.

The disease has been now reported in 29 out of 30 districts and towns. The most hard-hit so far were Đan Phượng with 35 cases, followed by Thanh Xuân with 30 and Hà Đông with 25.

The city also saw an increase in outbreaks across 13 districts and towns, particularly in the hot spots of Chương Mỹ, Hoàn Kiếm and Thạch Thất, bringing the total number of outbreaks to 206 for the year, with 39 still active.

Despite the recent uptick in weekly cases, this year's case count has dropped by 80 per cent compared to last year, indicating a less severe situation.

In addition to dengue, Hà Nội also recorded a small number of measles cases. Health officials urged parents to ensure their children are vaccinated against these and other preventable diseases.

The Hà Nội Department of Health has implemented various measures to stem the spread of dengue, including monitoring, outbreak investigations and public health campaigns. 

Việt Nam has slow adoption rate of genetically modified crops, gap with world widening: Ministry

Biotechnology has revolutionised agriculture, driving key innovations that have strengthened global food security, reduced pesticide usage and enhanced both soil quality and environmental sustainability over the past 30 years.

Associate Professor Dr Nguyễn Hữu Ninh, Deputy Director of the Department of Science, Technology, and Environment at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), said that the advantages of genetically modified (GM) crops are undeniable and should be embraced swiftly in today’s era of international integration.

During the workshop titled “Achievements and Future Directions in Biotechnology Application for Sustainable Agricultural Development in the Context of International Integration,” hosted by MARD in Hà Nội on Saturday, Dr Ninh emphasised the importance of close collaboration between scientists, businesses, and farmers.

State policies also play a crucial role in encouraging the application of biotechnology in agriculture and fostering sustainable development.

He also stressed the need for policies aimed at training skilled human resources in biotechnology and facilitating the implementation of new research projects.

Building a brand for Vietnamese agricultural products based on biotechnology would enhance their value and competitiveness in international markets.

According to MARD, there are approximately 200 million hectares of GM crops being cultivated globally, with soybeans accounting for nearly 80 per cent of that total. Maize also covers over 25 per cent.

Beyond maize, biotechnology has advanced the use of biological products, ensuring better crop yields and increasing farmers' incomes.

“Unfortunately, Việt Nam's adoption of biotechnology has been slow, and the gap between Việt Nam and the rest of the world is widening. We have yet to meet the targets set by the Party and the State, primarily due to a lack of awareness,” said Dr Cao Đức Phát, former minister of MARD and chairman of the International Rice Research Institute.

It is necessary to remove barriers to the adoption of GM crops in Việt Nam.

According to the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications, 73 countries have already embraced GM crops, recognising their importance in boosting farmers’ incomes, saving time and labour and reducing pesticide use significantly.

During the forum, experts highlighted significant achievements, particularly the development of new crop varieties using biotechnology. These varieties exhibit greater resistance to pests and diseases, improving both yield and product quality.

Biotechnology has also been applied in post-harvest preservation, reducing losses and increasing export value.

Furthermore, microbial technologies have been widely adopted to improve soil quality and reduce the use of chemical fertilisers, enhancing the sustainability of farming systems.

Dr Đỗ Tiến Phát, head of the Plant Cell Technology Department at the Biotechnology Institute, said that Việt Nam’s agricultural sector must accelerate its adoption of biotechnology to meet the demands of international integration.

Technologies such as gene editing and precision agriculture will enhance Việt Nam’s competitiveness in global markets and help the sector adapt to climate change. Biotechnology, he said, is not just a trend but the key to building a sustainable and competitive agricultural industry in Việt Nam.

Director of Biotechnology at CropLife Asia, Sonny Tababa, highlighted the importance of biotechnology in addressing global agricultural challenges like climate change and rising sea levels.

She praised the Vietnamese government’s efforts in promoting biotech crop solutions, particularly through scientific research, technology transfer partnerships, and the continuous refinement of regulatory frameworks to maximise the benefits of these solutions.

Việt Nam is one of the countries with the most advanced legal frameworks for GM crops. CropLife is eager to continue supporting public-private partnerships to introduce the next generation of biotech crops to Vietnamese farmers, providing them with improved farming tools to achieve their mission of ensuring food security and fostering sustainable agriculture.

Young scientist Nguyễn Duy Phương and his team have developed the TBR225 mutant rice variety, which reduces cadmium contamination in high-cadmium areas, protecting public health. Enhanced through gene-editing, it also resists bacterial leaf blight, with stable resistance proven across three generations, while maintaining traits similar to the original variety.

However, Dr Phương expressed concern about the lack of clear regulations for gene-edited crops in Việt Nam. He noted that gene-edited varieties take three to four years to develop at a fraction of the cost of GM crops.

He urged the government to establish a legal framework to support testing and commercialisation.

By September 30, MARD had recognised 31 GM maize varieties, with six deemed biosafe.

Since 2015, Việt Nam has imported over 13,000 tonnes of GM maize seeds, covering 662,000 hectares, with official cultivation starting in March 2015. 

Vietnam, Netherlands hold seminar on sustainable development

Vietnam and the Netherlands, together with the Sustainable Trade Initiative (IDH), co-organised a seminar in Geneva, Switzerland on October 8 to discuss Vietnam’s trade integration, development, and environmental management. 

The event was held on the occasion of the World Trade Organisation (WTO)’s Trade and Environment Week. 

In his opening remarks, Ambassador Mai Phan Dung, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the United Nations (UN), WTO, and other international organisations in Geneva, said that the two countries have established strategic agreements to ensure food security, as climate change response and the development of sustainable food systems form the backbone of their partnership. 

Dung stated that Vietnam is committed to restructuring its agricultural sector and embracing green transition to adapt to new trends in the areas of free trade, climate change response, and smart agriculture, while pushing for energy transition and the building of a low-carbon economy. 

Dutch Ambassador to the WTO Audrey Goosen commended collaborative programmes between the two countries and affirmed the Netherlands' readiness to support Vietnam across various fields, including sustainable agriculture. 

She expressed her delight at positive outcomes reported in Vietnam’s food production and noted the growing awareness among Vietnamese people of sustainable production and development. 

The Dutch diplomat said the two nations can continue to work together to help Vietnamese products meet higher standards and gain access to demanding markets./.

VNA/VNS/VOV/VNN