A low pressure area in the middle of the East Sea has strengthened into a tropical depression, which is likely to strengthen into a storm this weekend. 
      
A tropical depression is likely to strengthen into a storm to hit central Vietnam this weekend.

At 7am on October 13, the tropical depression was swirling around the area, about 180km north of Vietnam’s Song Tu Tay island in the East Sea, with winds gusting between 39-49kmh.

The tropical depression is forecast to move west and north-west at a speed of 15kph in the next 24 hours, and gain strength into a storm on October 15, according to the National Centre for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting.

The storm accompanied by the ongoing cold air wave from the north will cause rough seas and heavy rain along the central coast of Vietnam in the coming days.

Torrential rain is forecast to fall again in central Vietnam for several days, starting on October 13. Localities from Quang Binh to Khanh Hoa are expected to collect between 100-450mm of rain in the coming 24 hours.

Heavy downpours will trigger water levels in the major river system in the region to swell up to the third alert level.

Weather experts warned about a high risk of flashfloods and landslides in mountainous areas and flooding in low-lying areas.

Foreign media on Vietnam’s success in renewal process

Vietnam is one of the countries that are successful in hunger eradication and poverty alleviation, achieving many economic achievements thanks to the application of private property rights and free-market reforms, according to an article posted on US’s news website washingtonexaminer.com on October 11.

Vietnam was one of the poorest countries in the world in 1990 with per capita gross domestic product of 98 USD. As late as 1993, 79.7% of the Vietnamese population was trapped in poverty but the rate dropped to 50.6% by 2006 and 5% by 2020. This achievement is a testament to the success of the country’s poverty alleviation, it said.

The article emphasised that the Sixth National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam in December 1986 adopted the far-reaching reforms known as "Doi Moi" (Renewal), which laid the foundations for the positive change that was achieved in Vietnam in the years that followed. A new investment law was passed in 1987, opening its doors to foreign investors. For the first time, Vietnam allowed investments that were 100% owned by foreign capital and guaranteed that foreign investors’ capital and property would be safe.

According to the article, Vietnam is now one of the world’s most dynamic emerging countries and offers opportunities for hardworking people and entrepreneurs. Its gross domestic product has increased six folds since the launch of the reforms.

From a country that could not produce enough rice to feed its own people, Vietnam has become one of the world’s largest rice producers and a major exporter of electronic goods, it said.

HCMC proposes issuance of law on digital technology industry

The Ho Chi Minh City Delegation of National Assembly Deputies yesterday held a meeting with voters from HCMC Union of Science and Technology Associations (HCMUSTA).

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Dung, Chairwoman of HCMC Medical Association, expressed the wish that the National Assembly would soon introduce practical and effective measures to help the healthcare sector overcome current obstacles in order to take better care of residents in the city.

Dr. Pham Quang Vinh from HCMC Economic and Business Management Association stated that we have had any market for scientific-technological products, which means no place for suppliers and buyers to meet one another. It is high time to form a trading floor for such products.

Chairman of HCMC Computer Association Lam Nguyen Hai Long proposed the promulgation of the law on digital technology industry soon to replace the content of IT development in the IT Law 2006. He explained that this new law will become a comprehensive legal frame for the development of the digital technology industry, for the birth and growth of innovative or breakthrough products, technologies, models, and for the sustainable development of digital technology to serve the national digital transformation process.

On behalf of the HCMC National Assembly Deputies Delegation, former Secretary of HCMC Party Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan thanked all value opinions and proposals of voters. He promised to categorize their opinions in groups to submit to related state agencies.

Tastin’ France to make comeback in Vietnam

Tastin’ France, a showcase to celebrate French wines and spirits, will be re-launched in Vietnam this month after a two-year suspension due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The event, back for the 12th edition, will be held by the Business France Vietnam at the Melia Hotel in Hanoi on October 13 and at the Sofitel Saigon Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City on October 14, reported Radio the Voice of Vietnam (VOV).

This showcase will give an opportunity to professionals in Vietnam’s alcoholic beverages sector to sample wines and spirits from the most renowned French wine regions and potentially establish partnerships and business relationships with 30 French companies. These 30 companies represent the regions of Champagne, Burgundy, Loire Valley, Rhone Valley, Languedoc, Provence and Bordeaux.

Naval ship safely tugs fishing vessel in distress to mainland

Ship 302 of Naval Region 3 tugged a fishing vessel in distress of Quang Binh province to the mainland and handed over it authorities of Da Nang city on October 12.

After the fishing vessel had arrived in the mainland, Deputy Commander Col. Nguyen Quoc Quang and Deputy Chief of the Staff of Naval Region 3 Col. Ho Sy Dung visited and offered encouragement to fishermen.

They affirmed that the naval force in particular and law enforcement forces at sea in general always stand side by side with fishermen during fishing trips.

The fishermen were transferred to the border guard force of Da Nang and now in stable health condition. 

Vessel QB-98065TS with seven fishermen on board departed the Gianh fishery port of Quang Binh province on October 5. It encountered an engine breakdown on October 10 afternoon and went adrift at some 45 nautical miles to the northeast of Con Co Island.

Receiving the distress signal, the Naval Region 3 Command deployed Ship 302, which was operating near the boat’s location at that time, to give help. It accessed the fishing vessel at about 7am on October 11.

East Asian Seas countries cooperate to deal with marine plastic pollution

East Asian Seas countries are currently in the process of negotiating a global agreement to put an end to plastic pollution and marine plastic litter, said Pham Thu Hang, Deputy Director-General of the Vietnam Institute of Seas and Islands (VISI) on October 12.

The regional countries are close to a new agreement on global biodiversity goals through the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, aiming to conserve and protect the nature and essential natural ecosystem services for humans, Hang told the 25th Inter-governmental Meeting of the Coordinating Body on the Seas of East Asia (COBSEA), Part Two, underway in Hanoi.

The event brought together representatives from nine COBSEA member states, namely Cambodia, China, Indonesia, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

It is a very promising joint initiative by countries in the East Asian Seas region, she said, noting that the marine and coastal ecosystems of the Seas of East Asia are at risk of habitat loss, pollution and climate change due to human activities.

Standing Committee prepares for NA’s fourth session

The National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee wrapped up its 16th session on October 12, during which it stepped up preparations for the parliament’s coming fourth session.

Delivering his closing remarks, NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue said the session had focused on the issues to be considered at the fourth session of the 15th parliament, including Government reports on this year’s socio-economic development and State budget, the socio-economic development plan for 2023, and the central budget allocation plan for next year, the implementation of the 2022 public investment plan, and the public investment plan for 2023.

The Standing Committee also discussed Government reports on the implementation of the national strategy on gender equality in 2021 and the first half of 2022, along with the management and use of health and social insurance funds in 2021.

Legislators looked into the settlement of voters’ opinions sent to the NA’s third session earlier this year, the handling of citizens’ complaints and denunciations, and people’s opinions to be submitted to the NA’s fourth session.

They also considered some personnel affairs which will be decided at the approaching session of parliament, Hue noted.

Police of Vietnam, Cambodia intensify border protection efforts

The Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security and the Cambodian Ministry of Interior held a conference on border security reinforcement in Tay Ninh province on October 12.

Representatives of both countries gave assessments of bilateral coordination in information exchange and crime fighting in border areas. They also submitted proposals for guaranteeing border security and order.

Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Public Security Sen. Lt. Gen. Luong Tam Quang asked the two countries’ police forces, firstly those in border provinces, to continue building plans for implementing important legal documents signed between Vietnam and Cambodia, as well as between the two ministries.

He recommended they increase sharing information on plots and activities of hostile forces, crimes, especially drug crime, human trafficking, hi-tech crime, illegal migration, gambling, and forced labour, to prevent and combat transnational crime between Vietnam and Cambodia.

He also called for police to increase patrols and communications to raise border residents’ awareness; respect each country’s independence, sovereignty, laws, and customs; and adhere to border management regulations to safeguard border security and order.

Neth Savoeun, Commissioner General of National Police at the Cambodian ministry, stressed that the two countries’ traditional friendship, and comprehensive, sustainable and long-term cooperation have always been treasured and promoted by their administrations, armed forces, and peoples.

He expressed his hope that the police forces of Cambodia and Vietnam will press on with cooperation to consolidate border security and order in the spirit of solidarity, friendship, and common development.

The two sides agreed to strengthen ties, including in border protection, to ensure security and safety for the Vietnam - Cambodia Friendship Year 2022.

Vietnam and Cambodia share 1,137km of land border that runs across 10 Vietnamese provinces and nine Cambodian provinces.

Vietnam, Japan look to push digital transformation cooperation

Vietnam wishes to continue receiving close coordination and assistance from the Japanese Government and businesses in promoting their strategic partnership on digital transformation, Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Information and Communication Nguyen Huy Dung said on October 12.

He made the statement at a forum themed “Digital Transformation for an Inclusive Digital Society”, which was co-organised by the Ministry of Information and Communications (MoIC), the Japanese Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, and the Digital Agency of Japan and the Centre for International Cooperation for Computerisation (CICC).

The event, part of the Vietnam International Digital Week 2022, provides an opportunity for participants to share experience in the field of digital transformation and digital society, thereby enhancing cooperation between Vietnam and Japan in the information and communications sector, contributing to building a digital partnership between the two countries.

The Deputy Minister said that Japan has succeeded in the industrialisation process and caught up with many advanced countries. The East Asian nation has experience in solving social problems such as population aging, resources management and climate change, he noted.

Dung said that valuable experience shared by Japanese speakers was useful for the Vietnamese side.

Francophone Book Space opens in Hanoi

The National Library of Vietnam (NLV) in collaboration with the International Organisation of Francophonie (OIF) inaugurated a Francecophone Book Space on October 12 to meet readers' needs relating to learning and researching documents in French.

Similar spaces will also be opened in Hai Phong, Quang Ninh, Nghe An, Khanh Hoa, Lam Dong, Can Tho, Ben Tre and Binh Duong provinces in the coming time.

According to Kieu Thuy Nga, NLV Director, the establishment of the Francophone Book Space at the NLV and eight libraries nationwide will provide useful knowledge for Vietnamese people in the fields of culture, society, science and technology of the Francophone community.

Tran Thi Mai Yen, acting chief representative of the OIF in the Asia-Pacific region, said she believed that the spaces will help popularise French in Vietnam, for the benefit of learners, teachers and people who love the language.

With nearly 6,000 works by authors from many French-speaking countries, the Francophone Book Spaces are hoped to contribute to enriching the existing books of these libraries, she added.

Initiated in 2012, OIF’s Francophone Book Space project aims to strengthen the public library network in Francophone countries by sponsoring French books. It has been implemented in Ghana, Seychelles, Guinea and Armenia.

Two dead after floods hit central provinces

A man has died after he was swept away in flash floods, moments after rescuing a 9th grade student.

Đoàn Văn Hương, 54, was one of two fatalities reported in Quảng Nam Province. Lương Thị Mỹ Linh, 37, also died in the floods.

And a third man is unaccounted for after the electricity generating station where he was working was buried by a landslide.

Quảng Nam Province has also been hit hard. There, 28-year-old Hồ Thị Dâu is missing after she was swept away by floods. Authorities in both provinces have assigned a number of cranes and rescue forces to support the recovery efforts.

More than 400 households of Tam Thăng Commune, An Sơn and Phước Hòa wards were moved to safer places.

The Quảng Nam Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control said that many highways were submerged.

Lifter Thanh dominates Asian weightlifting championships

Phạm Thị Hồng Thanh has been the most successful athlete from Việt Nam at the 2022 Asian Weightlifting Championship in Manama, Bahrain. The SEA Games champion on Tuesday grabbed three gold medals in her class of 64kg.

Thanh, who also set records at the Hà Nội Games in May, dominated the continental tournament in all events of snatch by lifting 100kg, clean and jerk of 117kg and her total of 217kg.

Earlier, Quàng Thị Tâm and Nguyễn Trần Anh Tuấn won two gold medals for Việt Nam on Monday. Tâm made a brilliant international debut as a national team athlete at the age of 19 in the women's 59kg class although she was not considered a contender as much as her teammate Hoàng Thị Duyên who won golds and set a record at the May SEA Games.

She claimed her title in the snatch with a lift of 93kg. In the clean and jerk, the Thái ethnic minority woman came third with a 115kg result. In total, her 208kg brought her a silver. She was second overall. Her total result was 8kg heavier than what she did two months ago at the Asian junior championship in Uzbekistan, where she won three golds.

Meanwhile, senior Duyên had a poor result because of her back injury, placing fourth in all events.

Tuấn, in the men's 61kg class, triumphed in the clean and jerk with an attempt of 161kg. He was second in the snatch (134kg) and total (295kg).

After three days of competition, Việt Nam secured nine golds, six silvers and one bronze.

The Asian competition will close on Sunday.

Embassy warns about “easy work, high salary’ scam in African countries

The Vietnamese Embassy in Angola on October 10 warned Vietnamese citizens to avoid “easy work, high salary” scam in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia, and the Republic of Congo.

According to Nguyen Tien Binh, Charge d'Affaires at the Vietnamese Embassy in Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia, and the Republic of Congo, the embassy has received requests for help from Vietnamese citizens stuck in those African countries.

These citizens said that they were tricked into going to work in the above-mentioned countries by offers of high salary by Vietnamese and foreign brokers. Upon arrival, their passports were seized by employers, while their salary was deducted for accommodation and transport expenses. They were even owed wages. Some women were forced to work in karaoke bars or casinos. When they wanted to return to Vietnam, they were told to pay compensation to employers. Most of them do not know foreign languages, so it is very difficult to seek help and protection from the local authorities.

Vietnamese workers in Angola and at home need to carefully check information before deciding to work in these African nations, Binh said. 

Along with its warning, the Vietnamese Embassy in Angola is making efforts to protect citizens trapped in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia, and the Republic of Congo.

Those who need help could contact the Vietnamese Embassy in Angola at 244 922 668 019, or emails vnemb.angola@mofa.gov.vn; and sqvnangola@gmail.com.

New rice festival recognised as national intangible cultural heritage

The People’s Committee of Dien Bien Dong district, Dien Bien province, has worked with the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism to hold a ceremony recognising a local new rice festival as a national intangible cultural heritage in Vietnam.

The new rice festival in the northern mountainous province of Dien Bien is an occasion for local people to offer their ancestors traditional dishes, invite them to taste rice from freshly harvested crops, and pray for good health and bumper harvests.

The Xinh Mun ethnic minority group considers the new rice festival their traditional New Year celebration, as it marks the end of past activities and the beginning of a new cycle of life.

They often conduct agricultural rituals, praying to other-worldly forces for good health and bumper crops.

Grandparents and parents take the occasion to teach their children to appreciate work and the tradition of ancestor worshipping, for the formation of close-knit family clans.

Pre-feasibility study of Thủ Thiêm-Long Thành light rail to be completed next year

The Railway Project Management Board is preparing a pre-feasibility study for the Thủ Thiêm-Long Thành light rail project, the Ministry of Transport said. The study is expected to be completed next year. The project is part of a strategy to connect Ring Road No.3 of HCM City with roads and railways.

The light rail is expected to be about 38km long passing through HCM City and the neighbouring province of Đồng Nai with total investment of VNĐ40.5 trillion (US$1.7 billion).

Along with the North - South railway, there are five railway lines connecting HCM City with other localities including Nha Trang – HCM City (high-speed rail), HCM City – Cần Thơ, HCM City – Lộc Ninh, HCM City - Tây Ninh and Thủ Thiêm - Long Thành.

The HCM City – Cần Thơ high-speed railway project will pass through five localities including HCM City, Long An, Tiền Giang, Vĩnh Long and Cần Thơ with nine stations.

The project has a total length of 134.9km with an investment of about US$10 billion.

Well-known writers’ books reprinted

Seven books by famous writers of the country’s contemporary literature from the 1980s to 1990s have been reprinted by the Trẻ (Youth) Publishing House in HCM City.

The publications include novels and short stories collections by late authors Nguyễn Huy Thiệp, Bảo Ninh, Hồ Anh Thái, Nguyễn Việt Hà, Nguyễn Bình Phương, Dương Hướng and Đỗ Phấn.

These books were selected from many of the writers’ bestsellers featuring the history, culture and lifestyle of northern people.

Highlighted works include Ninh’s Nỗi Buồn Chiến Tranh (The Sorrow of War) released in 1990 and Thiệp’s Tướng Về Hưu (Retired Army General) in 1987.

Tiến Linh reaches milestone of 50 goals for Bình Dương

Nguyễn Tiến Linh's recent two goals at Hòa Xuân Stadium in Đà Nẵng City not only helped Bình Dương to a 4-0 win, but also marked a significant milestone for Việt Nam's No 1 striker - his 50th goal for his club.

Since joining the V.League 1 in 2016, Linh has scored 47 goals in the Vietnamese top flight, adding two more goals in the 2019 National Cup and one in the 2019 AFC Cup.

Linh has scored eight goals in the V.League 1 2022, cementing his position as the No 1 domestic striker. He was the second-highest score last season, behind only Rimario Allando Gordon of Hải Phòng, with 13 goals.

The 2018 season was the most successful period for Linh when he surpassed striker Nguyễn Công Phượng to score the most goals as a domestic player with 15 goals.

In the 2021 season, Linh also played very well, scoring six goals in 11 appearances for Bình Dương before the V.League 1 was postponed and then cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Linh has even missed nearly a month this season due to injuries after a busy schedule, including the 2022 World Cup qualifiers, AFF Cup 2020, SEA Games 31 and the national top-flight league.

Currently, Linh is the second highest-scoring domestic striker ever, just behind senior striker Nguyễn Văn Quyết who plays for Hà Nội FC with a total of 141 goals.

At the age of 25, Linh is expected to continue to shine. Hopefully, the milestone of 50 goals for Bình Dương will help him make more efforts to improve himself and to contribute to Bình Dương as well as to the Vietnamese national team. 

Vietnamese in Kiev do business as usual amid tension

Small Vietnamese businesses in Kiev said their activities remain normal, amid increasing tension in Ukraine since October 10.

Speeking to the Vietnam News Agency, Ngo Thi Dung, a Vietnamese merchant at the Troeshina market in Kiev which houses many other Vietnamese businesses, said that her family of three returned to the capital from Germany in mid-June.

According to her, about 30 Vietnamese households from Germany, Czech Republic, and Poland have also returned to continue their business here between the end of April and September.

She said since October 10, the market became less crowded, as the buyers from far away cities were blocked at the gateway to the capital.

Dung said the situation at her residence is still normal, with the supply of electricity and water. Vietnamese people are also used to the situation and do not feel much anxious. Food in Kiev remains stable and plentiful, although goods are more expensive due to the appreciation of the US dollar.

According to Ho Sy Truc, Vice President of the Vietnamese Association in Kiev city, a large number of Vietnamese who fled to European countries have returned to Ukraine. Currently, there are about 500 Vietnamese living in Odessa.

Vietnamese Ambassador to France meets Vietnamese community in Marseille

Vietnamese Ambassador to France Dinh Toan Thang had a meeting with the Vietnamese community and Vietnamese students in the French port city of Marseille, as part of his trip to Aix Marseille Provence metropolis from October 9-11.

The Ambassador briefed the attendants on Vietnam - France relations, especially the development of bilateral ties after Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's visit to France at the end of 2021 as well as the results of cooperation between localities of the two countries, including Marseille.

He affirmed that the embassy and its offices always support the Vietnamese community in their activities.

Within the framework of the visit to Aix-en-Provence, the ambassador laid flowers at a memorial plate dedicated to President Ho Chi Minh which is attached to the front wall of the headquarters of La Marseillaise newspaper, and visited an exhibition by Vietnamese painter Tia-Thuy Nguyen at Château La Coste.

Vietnam among most searched tourist destinations on Google by Australians

Vietnam ranks fourth in the list of most Googled tourist destinations by Australians over the past 20 years, according to Google.

Japan took the lead in the ranking, followed by New Zealand and Thailand, Google said.

In July, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) also revealed that Vietnam was among the top 10 most popular destinations for Australian travelers in July, with more than 18,500 Australians visiting the Southeast Asian country in the month.

Before the COVID-19 broke out in 2019, Australia was the ninth biggest source of tourists to Vietnam, with about 383,000.

After both countries reopened their borders, the number of Australian visitors to Vietnam has risen considerably.

Vietnam earned some 394.2 trillion VND (16.05 billion USD) from tourism in the first nine months of this year, equivalent to 78% of the figure recorded in 2019.

Hanoi launches “Month for the Poor”

Chairwoman of the Hanoi Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Nguyen Lan Huong has called on organisations, businesses and individuals at home and abroad to continue supporting the poor, contributing to the “Fund for the Poor” as well as other social security programmes of the capital city. She made the appeal at a ceremony in Hanoi on October 11 to launch a “Month for the Poor”, which will last until November 18.

Hanoi targets to reduce the number of poor households by 25-30% and the number of near-poor by 10% per year, which eventually leads to no poor families by late 2025.

The goal was set in the city’s action plan on sustainable poverty reduction in the 2022-2025 period that was announced in April this year.

The total budget allocated for the programme is estimated at 1.58 trillion VND (nearly 66 million USD).

According to Hanoi VFF committee, the city’s “Fund for the Poor” has received 56.2 billion VND (2.3 million USD) from organisations, enterprises and individuals since 2021.

Classical ballet Giselle returns to HCM City

The Ho Chi Minh City Ballet Symphony Orchestra and Opera (HBSO) will stage the classical ballet Giselle at the municipal Opera House in the evening of October 21 and 22.

The two-act Giselle was written by French dramatist and novelist Theophile Gautier and playwright Jules-Henri Vernoy de Saint-Georges.

The ballet tells the story of a young peasant girl, Giselle, who dies of a broken heart after discovering her lover, Albert, is engaged to another woman and deceives her. The Wilis, a group of ghostly spirits of girls who die from a broken heart and have the ability to control men and make them dance until they die, targets Albert, but Giselle defends him with the power of her great love.

The ballet was first performed by the Paris Opera Ballet in 1841.

The upcoming performance of Giselle in HCM City is directed by French dancer and choreographer Chloe Glemot and Japanese dancer Yuki Ohmori.

Francophone Book Space opens in Hanoi

The National Library of Vietnam (NLV) in collaboration with the International Organisation of Francophonie (OIF) inaugurated a Francecophone Book Space on October 12 to meet readers' needs relating to learning and researching documents in French.

Similar spaces will also be opened in Hai Phong, Quang Ninh, Nghe An, Khanh Hoa, Lam Dong, Can Tho, Ben Tre and Binh Duong provinces in the coming time.

With nearly 6,000 works by authors from many French-speaking countries, the Francophone Book Spaces are hoped to contribute to enriching the existing books of these libraries, she added.

Initiated in 2012, OIF’s Francophone Book Space project aims to strengthen the public library network in Francophone countries by sponsoring French books. It has been implemented in Ghana, Seychelles, Guinea and Armenia.

Vietnam attends 215th session of UNESCO Executive Board

The nation attended the 215th session of the Executive Board of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) that took place from October 5 to October 19 in Paris with the participation of 58 member countries.

This represents the second annual meeting of the year of the Executive Board, with a specific focus summarising activities and budgetary spending in the first half of implementing the Program and Budget for the 2022 to 2023 period in different areas of expertise, including education, culture, science, information and communication, global priorities, and UNESCO priority groups.

Vietnam will hold a global conference on volcanoes at Dak Nong Global Geopark from November 24 to November 26, to mark the 20th anniversary of the implementation of the 2003 Convention for the Protection of Intangible Cultural Heritage in  2023.

As part of the occasion, the head of the Vietnamese delegation held a sideline meeting with Tamarac Rastovac, chair of the Executive Board, and a number of heads of delegations from other countries in order to discuss bilateral ties, issues of mutual concern, as well as co-ordination in realising the agenda of the meeting.

More Vietnamese repatriated from Cambodia

Border guards at the southern central province of Tay Ninh’s Moc Bai International Border Gate on Tuesday received 78 Vietnamese who had been tricked into illegally working in Cambodian businesses.

According to provincial authorities, one of the returnees had an international wanted notice for smuggling issued by the HCM City police nine years ago.

The Vietnamese Embassy in Cambodia worked with Cambodian authorities to repatriate the people.

On September 21, 92 Vietnamese also returned to Vietnam through Moc Bai International Border Gate after fleeing from a casino in Cambodia.

On August 18, 40 Vietnamese swam across the Binh Di River to An Giang Province to escape from the Phoenix Casino in Cambodia.

Between January and June this year, the Ministry of Public Security raided human traffickers involved in sending people to work in Cambodia.

Vice President welcomed in Kazakhstan for CICA 6

Vice President of Vietnam Vo Thi Anh Xuan on October 12 met with Ashimbayev Maulen Sagathanuly, chairperson of the Senate of Kazakhstan, ahead of her participation in the sixth Summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA 6).

Xuan briefed his host on Vietnam’s recent socio-economic development achievements and affirmed Vietnam always attaches importance to the good traditional friendship with Kazakhstan. She conveyed National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue’s invitation to visit Vietnam to Senate chairperson Maulen Ashimbaev. 

Sagathanuly welcomed Xuan’s visit which he said is taking place at a time when the two countries are celebrating 30 years of bilateral diplomacy. He expressed his belief that her visit would help elevate the Kazakhstan – Vietnam relations to new heights.

The two sides welcomed the close and effective coordination between the legislative bodies of the two countries over the past time through regular exchanges of delegations and especially the establishment of a Friendship Parliamentary Group in Hanoi.

They agreed to continue boosting the exchange of delegations and experiences in legislation as well as coordination in monitoring and promoting the effective implementation of bilateral agreements.

To further enhance bilateral economic - trade - investment cooperation, Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan suggested the two sides work closely together to bring into full play their potential strengths as both Vietnam and Kazakhstan are gateways to Southeast Asia and Central Asia respectively.

In her opinion, both sides should better take advantage of opportunities from the Free Trade Agreement between Vietnam and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) of which Kazakhstan is a member as well as the opening of their direct air routes in the near future.

Both host and guest also discussed a number of regional and international issues of mutual concern, agreeing that all disputes and conflicts should be resolved by peaceful means on the basis of international law.

Vietnam treasures sound traditional friendship with Kazakhstan: vice president

Vietnam always treasures the sound traditional friendship with Kazakhstan, affirmed Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan at a meeting with Chairman of the Senate of the Kazakh Parliament Maulen Ashimbayev in Kazakhstan on October 12.

On the day, Xuan began her trip to the country to attend the sixth Summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) and conduct a number of bilateral activities.

At her meeting with Ashimbayev, the Vietnamese official expressed her delight at progress recorded in political ties between the nations via maintaining exchanges of their State and parliament delegations.

She conveyed to her host an invitation to visit Vietnam from Vietnamese National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue.

Lauding tight and effective collaboration between the two parliaments, the officials agreed to further the ties via boosting the exchange of delegations and experiences on legislative works and coordinating in monitoring and promoting the effective implementation of bilateral agreements.

Xuan suggested the countries capitalise on opportunities brought about by the free trade agreement between Vietnam and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU - including Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan) as well as on an official direct air route expected to be launched soon.

Discussing regional and international issues of mutual concern, they agreed that all disputes and conflicts must be resolved by peaceful means on the basis of international law.

Also on October 12, Xuan received Ambassador Kairat Sarybay, Executive Director of the CICA Secretariat; and Meenakashi Lekhi, Indian Minister of State for External Affairs and for Culture.

Hosting Sarybay, Xuan lauded CICA’s efforts for peace, stability, and prosperity over the past three decades.

She said she hopes CICA will continue to uphold its credo, aims, and operating principles; and support the positions of ASEAN and Vietnam in order to ensure peace, security, safety and freedom of navigation and overflight, and to settle disputes by peaceful measures on the basis of respecting the UN Charter and international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

The Vice President stated that Vietnam will continue to make active and responsible contributions to CICA operations.

For his part, Sarybay hailed Vietnam’s contributions at CICA and wished Vietnam and other ASEAN member states to back the formation of a partnership between the secretariats of CICA and ASEAN.

Meeting with Xuan, Lekhi, who heads the Indian delegation to the summit, affirmed her wish to further strengthen the Vietnam-India comprehensive strategic partnership and recommended the sides increase their collaboration in trade-investment, clean energy development, economy, people and cultural exchanges; and tourism, particularly in the post-pandemic period.

Echoing the view, Xuan stated Vietnam attaches importance to the bilateral partnership, proposing the increase of delegation exchange and programmes in economy, trade, tourism, and culture and the facilitation of goods transactions between the two markets.

On the day, the Vietnamese official also met the liaison committee of the Kazakhstan-Vietnam Friendship Association; attended a ceremony marking the 30th anniversary of the Vietnam-Kazakhstan diplomatic relations; an event opening Vietjet Air’s direct air route between Cam Ranh of Vietnam and Almaty of Kazakhstan.

Vietnam, ASEAN commit to poverty reduction, food security

Vietnam highlighted the country and the ASEAN’s commitment to poverty reduction, food security and sustainable agricultural development, at a joint meeting of the 77th session of the UN General Assembly’s Economic and Financial Committee in New York on October 12.

Addressing the meeting, Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN, affirmed that agriculture is a key sector in Southeast Asia, creating jobs for 30% of the population, making up 12% of the GDP, and significantly contributing to the regional efforts towards poverty alleviation, sustainable development and reducing hunger. 

He cited statistics as showing that there will be 670 million people, or 8% of the world population, face food shortage in 2030. Facing this challenge, the ASEAN continues to commit to strengthening regional food security through the implementation of the cooperation strategy on food and agro-forestry, the Food Security Framework and Food Security Action Strategy for the 2021-2026 period and Nutrition Strategy Framework and Action Programme for the 2018-2030 period.

Giang stressed that the ASEAN will continue to make strong commitments and contributions to joint efforts in the work and cooperate with the international community in realising sustainable development goals regarding poverty reduction, sustainable development and food security for all.

Vietnam calls for end to conflicts in Ukraine

Vietnam continues to call for an end to conflicts, the restoration of peace, and the protection of people’s security and safety and essential infrastructure facilities, Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN, said at a recent emergency session of the 77th UN General Assembly on the situation in Ukraine.

The ambassador noted that Vietnam keeps a close watch on and has special concern over recent developments in the European country.

He stressed the need to observe the UN Charter and basic principles of international law, including those prescribing no intervention in each other’s internal affairs, neither use of force nor threat to use force in international relations, the peaceful settlement of disputes in line with international law, and respect for independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of countries.
 
The diplomat also called on sides to persistently promote dialogues and negotiations to seek long-term solutions to disputes in accordance with international law and the UN Charter, with legitimate interests of relevant sides taken into account, for peace and stability in the region and the world.

Vietnam welcomes and supports diplomatic efforts to ease tensions, including the endeavours by the UN Secretary General and other concerned parties, and stands ready to actively contribute to the efforts as well as the reconstruction and restoration in Ukraine, he said.

The General Assembly on October 12 adopted a resolution on the situation in Ukraine.

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