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16/09/2023 11:03 (GMT+07:00)

VIETNAM NEWS HEADLINES SEPTEMBER 16/2023

PM urges development of technical regulations for expressways

Part of the Mai Sơn - National Road 45 expressway. VNS/VNA Photo

Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính issued an urgent directive on Tuesday to develop standards for expressways and for solutions to ensure the progress and quality of transportation infrastructure investment projects.

The directive was sent to the Ministers of Transport, Construction, Science and Technology, Natural Resources and Environment, Agriculture and Rural Development, as well as the Chairpersons of the People's Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities. It outlined the following:

In recent times, with strong guidance from the Government and the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Transport has actively coordinated with various ministries, sectors, and localities to vigorously implement crucial national transportation infrastructure projects. This effort has yielded some encouraging results, contributing to the country's socioeconomic development and instilling confidence and enthusiasm among the people. Specifically, eight out of 11 component projects of the North-South Expressway East Phase (2017-2020) have been put into operation, increasing the total length of the country's expressways to 1,822km. Furthermore, construction has commenced on 12 component projects of the North-South Expressway East Phase (2021-2025), as well as on the Khánh Hòa - Buôn Ma Thuột, Biên Hòa - Vũng Tàu, Châu Đốc - Cần Thơ - Sóc Trăng expressways, the Ring Road No 3 of Hồ Chí Minh City, and the Ring Road No 4 of the Capital Region. Construction has also started on the passenger terminal at Long Thành International Airport and Terminal 3 of Tân Sơn Nhất International Airport. At the same time, efforts continue to be made to commence and complete several other projects in the near future.

Despite the achieved results, there are still some existing issues related to transportation infrastructure investment, such as some expressways lacking continuous emergency lanes and limited operating speeds, certain expressways having only two lanes, insufficiently logical and scientific arrangements and investments in transportation interchanges, especially the width and connection of expressways to the local transportation network, including industrial zones, urban areas, tourism sites, and services, as well as weak solutions for handling weak ground conditions and inadequate research into using sea sand for key transportation infrastructure projects, which has affected the construction progress of critical transportation projects.

To promptly address these issues, the Prime Minister has instructed the Ministry of Transport to develop and issue expressway design standards urgently. These standards will serve as the basis for planning, designing, investing, constructing, and managing the expressway system and interchanges, as well as for determining investment rates and mobilising appropriate funding for the construction of suitable expressway routes. The process of developing these standards should involve studying international experiences, summarising the practical experience of investing in the construction of expressways in recent times, and ensuring their suitability for Việt Nam's practical conditions. The ministry should also gather opinions from relevant ministries, sectors, localities, experts and scientists.

The standards should address key aspects such as the number of lanes, cross-sections, median dividers, appropriate design speeds, and rest stops. They should also outline principles for the arrangement and organisation of intersections and junctions, ensuring the operation is seamless, convenient, safe, efficient, and compatible with the socioeconomic development requirements of localities and regions. This should maximise the efficiency of investment in expressway routes, creating new development spaces and driving economic and social development in provinces and regions.

The Prime Minister has urgently instructed the review and guidance for localities (as the managing authorities and competent agencies responsible for implementing expressway projects) to review and enhance solutions for handling weak ground conditions in projects, especially those in the Red River Delta and Mekong Delta regions. This is to ensure that the technical requirements and quality of work, especially the settlement time, are suitable for controlling ground subsidence. There should be scientific and reasonable construction solutions that both meet the overall project timeline and address the technical requirements for handling weak ground conditions, without allowing any technical shortcomings or procedures to affect the quality of the works and projects.

Regarding the use of sea sand as foundation material for infrastructure projects, the Ministry of Transport, in coordination with the ministries of Natural Resources and Environment; Construction; Agriculture and Rural Development; and Science and Technology, will expedite the research and use of sea sand for road construction projects, national highways, or even ground preparation for industrial zones and urban areas. This is aimed at reducing reliance on river sand, proactively securing construction materials, and accelerating the construction progress of infrastructure projects in the near future. Additionally, the use of sea sand must adhere to technical standards and not have negative environmental impacts. This should be completed by October 2023.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment will closely collaborate with the Ministry of Transport to thoroughly assess the environmental impact of using sea sand as foundation material for expressway projects. They will calculate, identify, and delineate sea sand areas, provide guidance on survey procedures and extraction, and environmental impact assessments to facilitate timely exploitation for the construction of expressways and other infrastructure projects once research and assessments yield results.

The ministries of Science and Technology, Construction, Natural Resources and Environment, and Agriculture and Rural Development, in line with their functions and tasks, will actively coordinate with the Ministry of Transport in the development and issuance of standards for expressways and the research on sea sand usage for infrastructure projects, ensuring compliance with the specified timeline mentioned above.

The People's Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities, as the governing bodies and authorised agencies responsible for the implementation of expressway projects, will promptly execute the directives of the Prime Minister as per Official Dispatch No 769/CĐ-TTg dated August 26, 2023. They will cooperate with the Ministry of Transport to review the placement of rest stops and junctions connecting expressways to the local and regional transportation networks within their respective areas. This aims to ensure a reasonable and appropriate distance for safe and efficient operation, fostering connectivity and synchrony between expressway routes and local roads to develop new economic spaces and maximise the advantages provided by the expressway routes.

These directives also include overseeing and enhancing solutions for addressing weak soil foundations in projects, following the guidance of the Ministry of Transport at point b, clause 1 of this Dispatch. It is imperative to avoid any technical flaws or procedure-related issues that could affect the quality of the construction works and projects.

The Government Office will regularly monitor and urge the implementation of this Dispatch, with monthly reports to the Prime Minister on the progress of its execution.

HCM City looks to set up ties with France’s Nevers City

Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Vo Van Hoan and Mayor of France's Nevers city Denis Thuriot discussed orientations to develop relations between two localities during their meeting on the sidelines of the HCM City Economic Forum 2023 (HEF 2023) on September 15.

The host thanked the guest and French businesses for their attendance at HEF 2023, while speaking highly of Nevers city’s development.

Hoan hoped that Nevers city would share its experiences in urban development with HCM City, thus helping the southern metropolis of Vietnam address challenges during its urban development scheme.

HCM City stands ready to collaborate with the French city in promoting connections between the two cities’ authorities and businesses, towards realising opportunities for bilateral collaboration in investment, trade, education - training, and science, the official affirmed.

For his part, Thuriot marvelled at HCM City’s dynamic development, and highlighted the significance of HEF 2023’s agenda for many localities across the world.

Nevers city has achieved positive results in cooperation with Vietnam in training medical human resources, and it wants to further spur collaboration with Vietnam, including HCM City, the guest said.

The French city is ready to coordinate with HCM City authorities to carry out investment and trade promotion activities and turn partnerships between businesses of the two localities into specific cooperation projects in the future, he said.

Vietnam, Japan promote partnership in UN peacekeeping operations

Sen. Lieut. Gen Phung Si Tan, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA) had a meeting in Hanoi on September 15 with Lieut. Gen. Ueda Kazumasa, Chief of Staff for Japanese Ground Component Command.

Affirming that Vietnam attaches great importance to promoting the extensive strategic partnership with Japan, Sen. Lieut. Gen. Tan said that defence has been one of the important pillars in bilateral relations, particularly regarding education, training, and UN peacekeeping operations.

The two sides have supported each other at multilateral military and defence operations and forums in the region, including the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM ) and the ASEAN Regional Forum, he noted.

On the foundation of the memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the field of UN peacekeeping signed in 2015, the two sides have effectively conducted joint activities in professional training and experience sharing in UN peacekeeping operations. This has included the exchange of experts and working groups and the participation in UN peacekeeping training courses.

On September 13, Vietnam launched the Competency Evaluation Programme for Prospective UN Peacekeepers (CEPPP) and the Experts’ Working Group on Peacekeeping Operations Cycle 4. The programme is within the framework of the ADMM-Plus co-chaired by Vietnam and Japan.

Sen. Lieut. Gen. Tan underlined that the co-chair of the working group and activities in the current cycle showed the commitment by the Defence Ministries of Vietnam and Japan in promoting cooperation within the ADMM and the UN peacekeeping missions.

The official proposed that in the time to come, the two sides continue to effectively implement cooperation activities as in agreements reached by leaders of the two ministries, while seeking new areas for cooperation that fit the demand and capacity of each side.

For his part, Lieut. Gen. Ueda appreciates the position and role of Vietnam as well as the Vietnam-Japan defence relations. He hailed Vietnam’s preparations and coordination between the two sides in organizing the CEPPP, expressing his belief that the programme will be a success, contributing to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

He said that after withdrawing the engineer unit from the UN Peacekeeping Mission in the Central African Republic (UNMISS), this is the first time since that Japan sent another large force to a UN peacekeeping activity. Therefore, the Japanese side paid special attention to successfully coordinate with the Vietnamese Defence Ministry to implement the CEPPP, he stated.

The CEPPP aims to affirm the role and responsibility of Vietnam and Japan in multilateral and bilateral cooperation mechanisms regarding UN peacekeeping within the framework of the ADMM . This serves to enhance the UN peacekeeping performance of ADMM member states.

This is also a chance for ADMM member countries to improve their capacity in coordinating with each other in preparing and deploying forces for UN peacekeeping operations, while contributing to fostering the friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and ADMM members in this field.

Vietnam attaches importance to ties with Cuba: VUFO President

Vietnam attaches importance to further strengthening solidarity, special and loyal friendship with Cuba as well as stepping up cooperation in fields of their strength, President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) Phan Anh Son told Vice President of the National Assembly of People's Power and the Council of State of Cuba Ana María Mari Machado during a reception in Hanoi on September 15.

Son said the VUFO and the Vietnam-Cuba Friendship Association (VCFA) have worked closely with the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP), the Cuba-Vietnam Friendship Association (CVFA), the Cuban Embassy in Hanoi, and the Vietnamese Embassy in Cuba to organise numerous activities within the framework of the cooperation agreement signed between VUFO and the VCFA in 2020.

Since its foundation on January 25, 1965, the VCFA has engaged in a wide range of meaningful activities, contributing positively to the preservation of shared values and traditions, enhancing solidarity between the two countries’ people, and playing an important role in promoting the special friendship between the two Parties and countries, he added.

He affirmed that with its role as the core people's diplomacy agency, VUFO and the VCFA will continue closely partnering with the ICAP, and the CVFA. They will also closely link with the Cuban Embassy in Hanoi to follow directions of the leaders of the two Parties, Governments and legislatures. The goal is to further strengthen the bond between their people and step up the continued development of bilateral relationship.

Ana María Mari Machado, for her part, stressed that Cuba highly values its special friendship with Vietnam. She expressed her appreciation for the close-knit cooperation and strong bond between the two countries, as well as between the ICAP and the VUFO in particular over the past years.

Cuba places great importance on educating the younger generation about the special and loyal friendship between the two nations, she said, adding that Cuba is thankful and deeply appreciates Vietnam's invaluable and sincere assistance, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

She believed the bilateral relationship will continue to grow in the near future.

Vietnam, Belgium’s Flanders cooperate toward buidling climate-resilient cities

A networking event on building cities that are economically sustainable and climate-resilient between Vietnam and the Flemish Region of Belgium (or Flanders) took place in Ho Chi Minh City on September 15.

The event, co-organized by the HCM City Investment and Trade Promotion Centre (ITPC) and the Flanders Investment & Trade (FIT), was an opportunity for Vietnamese and Belgian enterprises to meet, interact, and form partnerships in sectors of Belgium’s strength such as smart construction, renewable energy, and a circular economy.

According to Vice Chairman of the municipal People's Committee Ngo Minh Chau, the bilateral relationship between Vietnam and Belgium has transformed from purely humanitarian cooperation to an increasingly effective economic partnership over the past five decades. Belgium runs 89 active projects worth nearly 1.1 billion USD in Vietnam, of which 43 valued at almost 9.5 million USD are located in HCM City.

For the Vietnamese southern metropolis, the European nation is one of its key trade and investment partners. Between 2015 and now, both sides have implemented numerous practical projects in seaport development, agriculture, health, and social development. Their import-export turnover reached nearly 400 million USD in the first seven months of 2023.

Chau went on to note that the city and Flanders signed a memorandum of understanding in December 2016 on agricultural cooperation. This is an important foundation for enhancing their collaboration in high-tech and sustainable farming. The pact has paved the way for joint works in other areas like building sustainable urban areas capable of adapting to climate change.

At the workshop, towards a goal of creating green, nature-friendly, and smart urban areas, foreign experts proposed various solutions such as appropriate urban planning based on population density, sustainable construction techniques, flood prevention measures, and more.

Steven Petit, the creative director of the Belgian-based Omgeving company specializing in architecture and urban planning, said that in large cities like HCM City, there are numerous challenges posed by climate change. To adapt, it is necessary to design urban areas with a focus on nature, which may include creating water zones within the city to provide green environments for the residents.

National Assembly official welcomes IPU President

Chairman of the National Assembly’s Committee for External Relations Vu Hai Ha expressed his pleasure to welcome President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Duarte Pacheco to the ninth Global Conference of Young Parliamentarians, during a reception in Hanoi on September 15.

Ha hailed Pacheco’s efforts during his term, which have contributed to the remarkable growth in the number of the IPU’s member countries. Currently, the IPU consists of 179 members, the largest number in its history.

He stressed that Vietnam will continue making active contributions to IPU's common activities and hopes to host more conferences and mechanisms within the framework of IPU's activities, particularly the World Conference of Speakers of Parliament.

The host wished that the IPU President would continue taking concrete actions to encourage other countries to join the IPU, as well as issue mechanisms to support their participation in the IPU so as to fully benefit from the contributions of all nations.

Pacheco thanked the Vietnamese NA for the warm and well-prepared welcome provided for delegates attending the conference.

He highly praised Vietnam's experience in holding international multilateral diplomatic events, notably the success of the 132nd IPU Assembly, which demonstrated Vietnam's clear understanding and strong commitment to ensuring the success of IPU's agenda.

Hailing Vietnam's participation in international activities and IPU's activities in particular, he hoped that in IPU's endeavors, the group of Asian-Pacific nations, including Vietnam, will work efficiently, foster stronger unity, and make collective contributions to the outcomes and achievements of the IPU.

Recent successes push VN ahead of tough Asian Games

The recent regional victory and a place in the continental championship are strong motivations for coach Hoàng Anh Tuấn and his players at the 19th Asian Games next week in China.

His young squad won the AFF U23 Championship last month in Thailand and secured their place in the Asian U23 Championship Final last week for the fifth time.

"The successes of our team at the AFF event is a happiness for me, the players, the coaching board and the national supporters," said Tuấn.

Tuấn on September 13 called 24 players for his squad - four goalkeepers, six defenders, eight midfielders and six forwards - to prepare for the China campaign. This list will be reduced to 22 in the next few days.

Among them, forward Bùi Vĩ Hào successfully scored two goals at the Asian championship. Midfielder Nguyễn Đình Bắc won the MVP of the V.League 1 2023 despite being only 19 years old. Two over-23 players are goalkeeper Đỗ Sỹ Huy and forward Nhâm Mạnh Dũng, who are expected to support their junior teammates to reach the highest result are also included.

Việt Nam are in Group B against powerhouse Saudi Arabia, Iran and Mongolia - the only team in lower than Việt Nam in the world rankings.

Tuấn and his players have three days of training in Hà Nội before leaving for Hangzhou on September 16. They will have another two days of training prior to their first match against Mongolia on September 19 at the Linping Sports Center Stadium.

Việt Nam will then play Saudi Arabia and Iran on September 21 and 24. Quarter-final matches are on September 30. The semi-finals are three days later and the final is on October 7.

Twenty three teams are divided into six groups. The top two teams from each group along with the four best third-placed teams among all six groups to advance to the knockout round.

The Việt Nam Football Federation does not set any target for the team but expects Việt Nam will qualify for the knockout stage.

"We just have several days working with each other for the tournament," said Tuấn. "Time does not wait for us. We need to set high determination for the Games."

Midfielder Nguyễn Thái Sơn added: "Việt Nam are not afraid of anyone. The more we play the better we will be. We will improve our ability and fix our mistakes. We will be focused and do our best in each game.

"Yes, we have little time to train together for the Asian Games but in fact, we have known each other and competed as a team for a while. We understand each other."

His teammate forward Võ Nguyên Hoàng shared in an interview prior to the training: “We are getting our best fitness and ready for the ASIAD.

"People think that Saudi Arabia and Iran are very strong. Yes, they are but if we can play the best of us, things would be easier. I believe that the strongest rival is ourselves."

In the previous Games five years ago in Indonesia, Việt Nam under beloved coach Park Hang-seo set a milestone when they advanced to the semi-finals. The team lost 1-3 to South Korea which went on to win the championship trophy.

NA Chairman offers incense to fire victims in Hanoi

A delegation of the National Assembly led by Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue on September 15 offered incense and observed a minute of silence in tribute to 56 victims in a fire at a mini apartment building in Thanh Xuan district, Hanoi in late September 12.

Chairman Hue conveyed profound condolences of the Party and State leaders, and particularly those from leaders of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and delegates to the ninth Global Conference of Young Parliamentarians to the victims and their families.

He asked local authorities to offer both material and spiritual support to the victims’ families both in short and long-term, and prevent similar occurrences in the coming time.

According to Hue, the NA Committee on National Defence and Security is reviewing law enforcement regarding fire prevention and control.

In the process of considering and adopting the revised Housing Law and the amended Land Law, the NA will carefully consider all policies related to this issue, he said.

Later, the delegation visited and presented gifts to victims under treatment at Bach Mai hospital.

Dozens of stalls on Ha Tinh beach to be relocated

Many stalls on Thien Cam Beach in the central province of Ha Tinh will be relocated as they block access to the sea.

According to Ha Van Binh, chairman of Cam Xuyen District, local authorities will relocate the stalls to the south of Thien Cam Beach and the work will be started from this month.

Sixteen stalls will see their contracts expire this year, meanwhile the remainder will run until June 2025.

Thien Cam is among the nicest beaches in Ha Tinh. By the end of 2009, the province approved the Thien Cam tourist site planning.

However, over the past years, the site has witnessed little improvement in infrastructure, service quality and tourism products to attract visitors. Currently, some 40 food and drink stalls obstruct the path to the beach.

The beach is also located near a six-hectare cemetery with around 3,600 graves, which is another factor discouraging visitors.

The province has planned to spend VND26 billion to relocate the cemetery.

Tragic apartment building inferno warning about lax management of fire safety

Apartment building inferno tragically claiming at least 56 lives - the most catastrophic ever in Hanoi - is a warning about lax management of fire safety.

Mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers of the fire victims were unable to hold back tears as they were suffering from the heart-wrenching pain after receiving the bad news of the blaze. Many were anxiously waiting for information from their loved ones at the Khuong Dinh Ward Police headquarters or in front of the Funeral Home of Hospital 103.

Hanoi City Police said that the fire killed 56 people and injured 37 others and it destroyed all people's property. Furthermore, this fire also showed major inadequacies in the management of construction orders and fire safety, especially with residential houses and mini apartments.

According to the construction permit issued by the People's Committee of Thanh Xuan District to owner of the mini apartment building Nghiem Quang Minh in Hanoi’s Cau Giay District, the house is licensed to have six floors in a total construction floor area of 1,165.9 meter squares, mezzanine, and an attic.

However, in reality, the house was built with 10 floors including 1 basement and 1 attic. The police have decided to detain the owner of the apartment building, Nguyen Quang Minh for four months to investigate violations of the fire safety code.

Yesterday afternoon, when visiting and encouraging the fire victims, Secretary of the Hanoi City Party Committee Dinh Tien Dung said that the Police Department and the City Party Committee's Inspection Committee would conduct an inspection of responsibilities of those involved in the incident.

After the apartment building inferno killed 56 people in Hanoi, the HCMC People’s Committee has prompted firefighting and rescue police agencies across the city to inspect the compliance with fire prevention and fighting regulations at apartment blocks and boarding houses.

The capital city of Hanoi authority gave financial support including VND37 million (US$1,519) for a dead person and VND12.4 million per injured person.

The Hanoi Children's Protection Fund provides additional support of VND5 million to bereaved families of dead children and VND10 million for injured children. Families in the blaze will receive more support from other socialization sources of cities, districts and social organizations.

The city also gave financial support to students, workers, and renters with VND1.5 million each month for 6 months. Injured people will receive free-of-charge medical treatment. Families also received money to buy books and school supplies for children with VND5 million each child. Local authorities will take measures to support stable housing and essential living conditions to ensure the lives of the fire victims soon return to normal.

The Hanoi Department of Education and Training said that 29 students and 1 teacher were among the victims of the incident. In particular, one student died, while the remaining students and teachers were injured to various degrees.

Currently, the Hanoi Department of Education and Training has directed the Thanh Xuan District Department of Education and Training and relevant schools to continue reviewing teaching staff and students involved in the fire.

The Hanoi Department of Education and Training assigned the Thanh Xuan District Department of Education and Training and other units to visit and assist famillies of the dead victims to organize the funeral, pay visits to teachers and students in hospitals for psychological support.

Workshop talks restoration of flooded areas in Mekong Delta

A workshop on launching a project to take nature-based solutions for the restoration of flooded areas and natural processes in the Mekong Delta took place in An Giang province on September 15.

The event was co-hosted by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) in Vietnam and the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

At the event, a WWF Vietnam representative said they will conduct studies and propose nature-based solutions for the restoration of flooded areas and natural processes in the Mekong, such as Tram Chim national park, Vo Doi special-use forest, and Tra Su melaleuca forest landscape reserve.

Among these initiatives, the Tra Su melaleuca forest will be the first project conducted by the WWF Vietnam, aiming to restore about 60ha of forest and adopt nature-based cultivation forms in 200ha of flooded fields in the forest's buffer zone. WWF Vietnam will also research and build a strategy for water resource management in the reserve, helping maintain flood flows and keep flood water in fields for various purposes such as restoring and preserving local eco systems, preventing bush fire and serving tourism.

Once it is completed, similar projects will be implemented throughout the region.

Delegates discussed various issues, including enhancing resilience and recovery from the impacts of climate change, restoring wetland biodiversity, expanding natural-based livelihood models in the upstream areas of the Mekong Delta.

Experts also provided an overview of the project and offered suggestions related to water resource management in flooded areas and livelihood models based on natural-based solutions in the upstream provinces of the Mekong river.

Thai Nguyen promotes cooperation in mining, education with Australia

A delegation led by Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Andrew Goledzinowski held a working session with leaders of northern Thai Nguyen province on September 15 to explore cooperation prospects and opportunities in the locality.

Secretary of the provincial Party Committee Nguyen Thanh Hai said last year, the province’s gross regional domestic product (GRDP) grew by over 8.59%, surpassing the set target. The province has zoned off 12 industrial zones and 41 industrial clusters, covering a total area of more than 6,000 hectares and attracting major global investors such as Samsung, Dongwha, Hansol from the Republic of Korea. At present, there are 173 projects with a total registered capital of over 10 billion USD in the province.

She added that Thai Nguyen exported goods worth over 534 million USD to Australia last year while spending nearly 16 million USD on import of goods from the country. It also possesses rich and diverse resources, with around 200 mineral deposit locations, including significant reserves of minerals like tungsten and coal.

According to Hai, education is also a local strength. Thai Nguyen University is one of the largest regional universities nationwide, comprising nine member universities known for their high-quality curricula.

The host committed to open and favourable policies, improving the quality of administrative reform and digital transformation, thus creating the best possible conditions for investors when they come to explore and invest in the locality.

Sharing Australia’s strength in mining and education, Goledzinowski said Australian investors are interested in Vietnam and Thai Nguyen in particular.

He believed that Thai Nguyen will be an attractive destination for Australian investors in the coming time, and pledged to share information to step up the increasingly deep and effective cooperative relationship between the two sides.

Top legislator hosts Tongan parliament speaker

Chairman of the National Assembly (NA) Vuong Dinh Hue received the Speaker of the Tongan Parliament, Lord Fakafanua, in Hanoi on September 15.

Hue stated that Vietnam wants to strengthen relations with South Pacific island countries and always supports them, including Tonga, in connecting more closely with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

He informed the guest that the leaders of Vietnam have approved the establishment of diplomatic ties with Tonga, which Hue said will be a very important start for the two countries to roll out cooperation in both bilateral and multilateral frameworks.

The Tongan parliament speaker said the King of Tonga has also approved the establishment of diplomatic ties with Vietnam, adding that the move reflects the wish of Tonga to further strengthen cooperation with the Southeast Asian country.

Both leaders expressed joy at the forthcoming establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, saying it meets the aspirations of the two peoples. They shared a view that both countries are ready to be friends with nations worldwide, for peace, cooperation, and development.

Lord Fakafanua agreed with the NA Chairman that on the basis of the Vietnam-Tonga relationship, their bilateral parliamentary cooperation will be strengthened, particularly in delegation exchanges. Both nations have the potential for joint works in such fields as agriculture, consumer goods, agricultural machinery, rice production, and fisheries.

The Tongan official noted that South Pacific island nations, including Tonga, view climate change as a significant threat and expressed a wish for international cooperation to mitigate this challenge.

He also conveyed the greetings of the King of Tonga to Hue and hoped to soon welcome the top Vietnamese legislator in an official visit to Tonga in the near future.

NA Chairman receives Deputy Speaker of People’s National Assembly of Algeria

Vietnam prioritises the strengthening of friendly cooperation with its traditional friends, including Algeria, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue told Deputy Speaker of the People’s National Assembly of Algeria Monder Bouden during a reception in Hanoi on September 15.

Chairman Hue thanked the Algerian Government and people for providing Vietnam with great support during the past struggle for national defence and the current national development.

Bouden, for his part, spoke highly of the session on enhancing digital capacity for the youth, the opening, the first and second plenary sessions of the ninth Global Conference of Young Parliamentarians which is underway in Hanoi. He said the Algerian delegation made positive contributions to these activities.

He took the occasion to convey greetings from Speaker of the Algerian legislature to Chairman Hue.

He expressed his wish that the two sides facilitate the bilateral exchange of their friendship parliamentarians groups. He also suggested the Vietnamese NA back the Algerian legislature's bid to become an observer in the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA).

Both leaders pledged to reinforce economic, trade, and investment ties that match fine bilateral political and diplomatic relations and the huge potential of each nation.

The guest affirmed that Algeria is ready to act as a bridge and gateway for Vietnam to enter the African market.

In reply, Hue stressed that Vietnam is ready to be a bridge and gateway for Algeria to access ASEAN, a dynamic market with 650 million people and the fifth largest economy in the world.

Sharing the view that both countries need to facilitate the exchange of delegations at all levels, they also hailed the twinning and exchange of localities.

On the occasion, the host extended his invitation to the Speaker of the Algerian legislature to visit Vietnam soon. He also mentioned his plan to pay an official visit to Algeria in the near future.

Salinity intrusion to threaten rice fields, orchards in Mekong Delta

The rice yield in the Mekong Delta sees an increase, yet salinity intrusion in the near future might harm rice fields and orchards here. This is the conclusion in the summary meeting for crop production in the Mekong Delta 2023 yesterday.

The functional agencies of Hau Giang Province regularly check the salinity level of water in the dry season to actively cope with trouble

Accordingly, Deputy Director Le Thanh Tung of the Department of Crop Production (under the Agriculture and Rural Development Ministry) informed that the surface area for rice production in the Mekong Delta this year is over 3.8 million hectares. The estimated yield is almost 24 million tonnes, a rise of 416,000 tonnes compared to this time last year.

In the meeting, participants all agreed on the positives in rice and fruit production and export in the Mekong Delta. They also discussed the disadvantages, along with possible solutions to grow and other crop types in adverse weather conditions.

According to the Irrigation Department as well as centers for meteorological and hydrological forecasting, due to disadvantageous developments of the water flow on the Mekong River plus El Nino, agricultural production activities in the Mekong Delta will see various challenges in the upcoming dry season.

In November 2023, the 4-permille saline boundary will intrude 25-30km and then farther in the future. Hence, about 400,000ha of land for rice fields and orchards in the Mekong Delta will face water lack and salinity intrusion. In particular, 26 percent of the winter-spring rice crop (375,000ha) will suffer this state in the coastal area of the provinces of Long An, Ben Tre, Tien Giang, Tra Vinh, Soc Trang, Bac Lieu, and Kien Giang. Salinity intrusion will also affect nearly 43,300ha of fruit crop land in the four provinces of Long An, Tien Giang, Ben Tre, and Soc Trang.

The Irrigation Department warns that localities must store freshwater as much as possible to use when the intrusion goes deep inland and the salinity concentration is high.

There should be more incentives to lure young doctors to suburban infirmaries

More preferential policies to attract young doctors working in infirmaries in suburbs are needed because a few of them applied for a position in medical facilities in outlying districts.

At the recent job fair organized by the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health, no young doctors registered to work at medical facilities in Can Gio district and many other suburban districts. This shows that specific policies and more radical solutions are still needed to attract doctors to remote areas of the city.

At the end of 2022, Nha Be authority started the construction of the local hospital on a land area of 3 hectares, including 2 blocks of 4-storey and 6-storey buildings, 300 inpatient beds along with examination rooms, paraclinical area and four negative pressure operating rooms with a total investment nearly VND500 billion (US$ 20,869,014).

According to Director of Nha Be District Hospital Dr. Nguyen Huu Tho, the hospital currently has 256 nurses, and doctors, but the facility still needs 400 medical staff for several deep specialties such as orthopedics, and general surgery. He expressed concern because the hospital could only recruit one eye specialist at the job fair.

Due to Can Gio's isolated location, HCMC authorities have paid much attention to the district's health sector by spending much on facilities and equipment so that local inhabitants don’t need to go to big hospitals for examination and treatment.

Medical facilities citywide need 484 doctors and nurses; however, at the job fair on May 18, 244 of 270 young doctors who have just completed an 18-month pilot practice program at a hospital attached to a medical station applied for positions in healthcare institutions. Of the 64 public medical facilities participating in the job fair, 51 facilities succesfully recruited doctors. Among them, Thu Duc Regional General Hospital recruited 21 doctors, followed by Ho Chi Minh City Rehabilitation - Occupational Disease Treatment Hospital employing 20 doctors.

Many medical units mainly suburban districts such as districts 4, 6, 11, Can Gio, Cu Chi, and Binh Tan could not recruit doctors and nurses because there are no registered candidates whereas these districts are in need of 10-20 doctors. At the end of the fair, many medical unit leaders worried about the ongoing shortage of doctors, leading to the inability to invest in equipment and machinery and affecting people's health care.

According to Deputy Director of the Department of Health of Ho Chi Minh City Associate Professor Nguyen Van Vinh Chau, many young doctors still believe that working in grassroots medical centers will not help improve their professional skills so they are not interested in applying. To remove this bottleneck, the Department of Health has advised the city to have policies to attract young doctors, especially in remote districts.

Moreover, in addition to the general regime and policies of the city, local administration also supports additional income and free accommodation. Moreover, hospital leaders will create conditions for postgraduate study to improve expertise and skills to encourage young doctors to work in medical facilities in suburban districts.

Deputy Director of Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health Nguyen Van Vinh Chau also said that the health sector continues proposing solutions to improve grassroots medical capacity, including accelerating the construction project of a hospital in Tan Binh District and investing in modern equipment for medical stations. Last but not least, the sector will have policies on promotion, salaries, and working environment to make doctors feel secure in their long-term contributions.

Sales of children’s books increase for two consecutive years

For the past 2 years, summary statistics from Ho Chi Minh City Book Street show that revenue from children's books tends to increase.

Specifically, some 115,169 books for children had been sold in the first 6 months of 2023 or an increase of 26 percent against the same period last year bringing about revenue of nearly VND4.6 billion (US$189,143) up 10 percent over the same period in 2022.

Director of Ho Chi Minh City Book Street Le Hoang commented that publishing houses have recently published more children's books with more eye-catching books attracting a large number of small readers. Publishers and bookmaking companies have constantly found and made books and book series to stimulate children’s senses and imagination as well as raise children's passion.

According to Director of Seednet Books Nguyen Thuan Thanh, publishers will find many opportunities if they have watched not only the book market but the science books for children. In addition to books, educational centers teaching STEAM, Science, and Roboticts have been booming recently. He added that a STEAM, Science, and Robotics course like this costs VND40 million-VND50 million and many parents signed up for these courses, proving parents’ need for children to get knowledge to become global citizens in which science is an important bridge.

However, it should be acknowledged that children's science books in the domestic market are still mainly translated books whereas no books written by Vietnamese authors are seen. Ms. Dao Mai Ly, Head of the Communications Department of Tre Publishing House, said her publishing house always invests in children's books, including science books. However, most children's science books of Tre Publishing House come from abroad, domestic authors often write more literary books than science books. Thus, she hoped that scientists and educators will spend time writing books for children, especially scientific knowledge associated with the country's characteristics.

At Ho Chi Minh City Book Street, Seednet Books Company in association with Thanh Nien Publishing House has just introduced to readers the comic book series The Young Scientists, published for 23 years in Singapore, bringing STEAM science knowledge associated with children's school curriculum, including Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Maths.

Before the publication of The Young Scientists series, domestic publishing companies such as Kim Dong Publishing House, Nha Nam, Dong A, and Dinh Ty Books all had quality publications, providing knowledge in many different fields for children. For example, Tre Publishing House sold a Horrible Science book series covering all fields of science, geography, history, and mathematics. It also published the National Geographic Kids, Little Scientist, and Vietnamese History in English series, and Journey of Discovery.

Sharing about the importance of science books for children, Mr. Nguyen Tran Vy, a specialist in research on conservation ecology and implementing environmental education programs at the Institute of Tropical Biology under the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, said that science books are a useful and important tool, helping children explore their surrounding environment most effectively because, after all, children develop their thinking through why questions, such as Why does it rain? Why do birds have to migrate, not to the North but to the South?

In his opinion, science books initially help children explain those questions and children who have knowledge will be much more confident.

Airport, coach stations in HCMC required to handle abandoned vehicles

Major General Le Hong Nam, Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Public Security required the localities to collaborate with the functional forces to verify and handle abandoned vehicles at the airport and coach stations in the city.

As for the abandoned vehicles without any violations, the parking lot owners can handle them by the Civil Code.

Besides, they can exchange and hand over the abandoned vehicles to the police agencies, thereby performing the procedures of appraisal, verification, search, publishing in newspapers and confiscation of property to the State budget for derelict absent, abandoned assets and so on according to the law.

Previously, the media informed about the situation of numerous abandoned vehicles at Tan Son Nhat International Airport, Mien Dong (Eastern) Coach Station and Mien Tay (Western) Coach Station which have been parked for many years and most of them are rotten with a high risk of fire and explosion.

Over 1,000 abandoned vehicles have been parked at the Mien Dong (Eastern) Coach Station and Mien Tay (Western) Coach Station for several years to 10 years. It is estimated that the parking fees for them are up to dozens of million dong.

Representatives of parking lots said that there are more and more abandoned vehicles.

The main reason was expensive parking fee, rotten vehicles or dead owner. Besides, some vehicles could be exhibits of criminal cases.

As for the Tan Son Nhat International Airport alone, there are around 650 abandoned vehicles.

First, only specialised diabetes application in VN launched

A smart application for diabetic patients and relatives called iCARE+ was launched by the Việt Nam Association of Diabetes and Endocrinology (VADE) in collaboration with Sanofi-Aventis Vietnam Co., Ltd. (Sanofi Vietnam) at an event held on Thursday in HCM City.

In Việt Nam, the estimated incidence of diabetes in adults is 7.3 per cent, equivalent to nearly five million people with the disease, according to Ministry of Health survey results from 2021.

Of those with diabetes, 65 per cent are undiagnosed while only 23.3 per cent are being treated at medical facilities, and only 36.1 per cent meet the HbA1C target of below 7.0 per cent.

Prof. Dr. Trần Hữu Dàng, President of the Việt Nam Association of Diabetes and Endocrinology, said many studies have shown that in addition to care from medical professionals, self-management of the disease plays an important role in controlling the disease and preventing long-term complications.

“The ability of patients to self-manage the disease is the foundation that helps patients achieve specific blood sugar goals and best control the disease,” he said.

Nowadays, many advanced technology solutions that help manage and support health care are increasing available.

For diabetic patients, technology applications can help patients clearly understand information about blood sugar status, assist doctors in evaluating treatment therapy, and provide guidance on diet, exercise, and medication for optimal blood sugar control, he said.

Emin Turan, Country Lead of Sanofi Vietnam, said that, based on a deep understanding of patients, the iCARE+ application was developed with technology, interface, and functions that are easy to use and are high efficient.

The app has outstanding features such as scanning prescriptions, setting automatic medication reminders, recording blood sugar levels, and the constant companionship of virtual assistant MiMi.

“It helps patients and their relatives monitor their physical and mental condition, and increase connection and information sharing, thereby becoming more motivated in their health care journey,” he said.

The app is now available for download and use on the Google Play app store.

Workshop looks into 50 years of Vietnam-Japan diplomatic ties

A scientific workshop on Vietnam-Japan relations was held in Hanoi on September 14, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Vietnam-Japan diplomatic ties.

The event was co-hosted by the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences (VASS), the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Japan Foundation (JF).

Speaking at the event, VASS President Dr. Phan Chi Hieu emphasized that over the past five decades, the Vietnam-Japan ties have been growing rapidly, with significant and comprehensive achievements in politics-diplomacy, economy-trade and national defence-security.

The event provides a platform for experts, scientists, policymakers and businesses from both countries to discuss research findings and practical experience related to Vietnam-Japan relations in various fields, thereby identifying new challenges and opportunities and contributing to deepening bilateral cooperation.

Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Yamada Takio said the Japanese Government will assist the Vietnamese Government in energy transition, including biomass, hydro and ammonia, through the "Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC)" initiative. Japan will also collaborate with partner countries to support carbon reduction process through renewable energy, as part of the "Just Energy Transition Partnerships (JETP)".

According to him, the connection between Vietnamese IT engineers and the Japanese manufacturing sector may be a promising form of cooperation and deserves more attention from both countries.

A majority of delegates at the event agreed that Vietnam-Japan relations in politics and security not only positively impact the development of both countries but also have the potential to drive new trends of cooperation and development in the region.

Competency evaluation programme for prospective UN peacekeepers opens in Hanoi

A ceremony was held in Hanoi on September 13 to open the competency evaluation programme for prospective United Nations peacekeepers (CEPPP) under the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM-Plus) Experts’ Working Group on Peacekeeping Operations.

The opening ceremony was attended by representatives of the Ministry of National Defence, the embassies and military attachés of the ADMM-Plus countries in Vietnam, the ASEAN Secretariat, and 18 delegations of the ADMM-Plus countries (Australia, Brunei, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, New Zealand, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea, Russia, Singapore, Thailand, the US, Vietnam, and Japan).

Addressing the event, Sen. Lt. Gen. Phung Si Tan, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army, said the programme drew the participation of nearly 300 experts, trainees, and observers from ADMM-Plus members. It is the last activity of the ADMM-Plus Experts’ Working Group on Peacekeeping Operations Cycle 4 (2021 - 2023) under the co-chairmanship of Vietnam and Japan.

This is the first time Vietnam has hosted such a large-scale multilateral activity on UN peacekeeping operations, helping affirm the country’s role, stature, and contributions to multilateral cooperation mechanisms on UN peacekeeping operations in the region and within the ADMM-Plus framework, he emphasised.

Co-chairing the Experts’ Working Group on Peacekeeping Operations Cycle 4, Col. Nguyen Nhu Canh, Deputy Director of the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations under the Ministry of National Defence, and Matsuzawa Tomoko, Director for Defence Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region at the Japanese Ministry of Defence and head of the Japanese experts’ working group, affirmed that the two sides have coordinated closely and obtained targets of the events they jointly organised, including the CEPPP.

The CEPPP closing ceremony is slated for September 21.

Vietnamese, Japanese culture promoted in Dak Lak

A Vietnam – Japan cultural exchange programme was held in Buon Ma Thuot city, the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak, on September 14 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam – Japan diplomatic ties (1973-2023).

Tran Vinh Canh, Chairman of the Vietnam-Japan Friendship Association’s branch in Dak Lak province, emphasised that the programme aims to strengthen solidarity, friendship and cooperation between the two peoples.

The event featured songs, dances, and performances of traditional musical instruments of Japanese people and ethnic groups in the Central Highlands region. praising the land, culture, and people of Vietnam and Japan.

Booths were also installed to introduce typical Japanese dishes and products qualified for the standards of the One Commune-One Product (OCOP) programme in the city.

Japan is the most important strategic partner and the largest official development assistance (ODA) provider of Vietnam, contributing to the development of large-scale infrastructure projects, creating motivation to promote sustainable socio-economic development while supporting advanced technology transfer to and human resources training in Vietnam.

Japan is also Vietnam's major partner in the fields of labour, investment, tourism, and trade with more than 5,000 valid investment projects in the Southeast Asian country.

Vietnam has 104 investment projects in Japan with a total registered investment capital of 19.2 million USD.

Dak Lak currently has two FDI projects invested by Japanese investors. The Japan International Cooperation Agency has sponsored 21 ODA programmes in the province with a total investment capital of more than 24.2 million USD.

In the coming time, the province will continue to coordinate with Japanese localities to organise promotion activities, connect investment, and bolster cooperation in tourism development.

Seminar seeks to enhance digital capacity for young people

Digital transformation is an inevitable trend that is taking place in all aspects of social life and on a global scale that no country, organisation and individual can stand outside this process, First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union (HCYU) Bui Quang Huy has said.

Huy made the statement on September 14 at the opening of a seminar entitled “Enhancing digital capacity for the youth” which discussed the best case practices and listened to young people’s voices on how to engage them in digital transformation.

The seminar was part of the 9th Global Conference of Young Parliamentarians which is taking place in Hanoi from September 14-17.

Digital transformation poses challenges to the youth but also offers an opportunity for them to make breakthroughs and create new values, contributing to the strength and prosperity of the country in the future, he noted. Huy also emphasised the need to enhance the digital capacity of young people.

The seminar was expected to serve as a forum for young parliamentarians from across the world, experts in the field of digital transformation and Vietnamese youths to share issues of common concern, he said.

In his remarks at the event, Secretary-General of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Martin Chungong said motivating and empowering the youth is one of the most important tasks defined since the IPU's inception. The IPU always strongly supports the role of young parliamentarians and wishes to take advantage of the power of digital technology, he went on.

Chungong highlighted Vietnam’s new approaches in the digital transformation process and the pivotal role of young people in this field.

Noting how the world is going through a time of changes with various challenges from climate change to poverty, Chungong underlined the need for innovative solutions to mitigate these issues.

The IPU is formulating new strategies for 2022 - 2026, placing digital transformation at the centre, he said.

Vietnam, Algeria strengthen judicial cooperation

Vietnam and Algeria signed an agreement on judicial cooperation programme for 2024-2025 period, during a recent two-day working visit by Deputy Minister of Justice Nguyen Khanh Ngoc to the North African country.

Ngoc said the signing reaffirms desire and determination of the two countries' ministries in strengthening legal and judicial collaboration in order to help them well perform theirs functions and tasks, actively contributing to strengthening the sound friendship between the two countries.

Speaking after the ceremony, Director General of Algeria’s Department of Legal and Judicial Affairs Ben Salem Abdarrazzak stressed that the relationship between Vietnam and Algeria is deep and sustainable, highlighting the Southeast Asian country is also a strategic partner of Algeria.

He also spoke highly of the cooperation programme, and expected it will help the two sides boost existing activities while opening more cooperative opportunities in judicial of the two countries.

Since Vietnam and Algeria established bilateral diplomatic relations in 1962, the two countries’ relationship has achieved positive outcomes in various fields, including legal and judicial cooperation. They signed three Memoranda of Understanding on civil and commercial, and criminal and extradition matters.

Over the past years, the two sides have implemented many cooperative activities, including exchanges of delegations at the ministerial level, department level, experts to share mutual experiences in legal and judicial works, particularly in building and perfecting their legal systems, judicial reforms, management of judicial professions, and training of judicial officials.

Artworks raises awareness and emotions about nature

"In The Forest", an exhibition presented by twin artists Lê Ngọc Thanh and Lê Đức Hải in a gallery in the capital reflects the authors' perspectives on nature and the environment.

The showcase features a range of expansive oil-on-canvas artworks that have subsequently been transformed into painted antique door and wardrobe frames.

These vast horizontal oil paintings have neither a start nor a finish. They are marked by intersecting bands of colours, varying from warm and vibrant shades to cool and sombre ones.

"In The Forest", their latest endeavour, stands out from their previous works. Rather than merely serving as a backdrop for their mind-body-spirit narrative, this project portrays the entities of the external world as beings co-existing with the artists, facilitating a dialogue between them and their surroundings.

In this exploration, the artists convey their sentiments and cognisance of nature. Their emotions, deeply intertwined with nature, metamorphosed into the physical acts of painting – splashing, scratching, sanding, and caressing, resulting in the dynamic surfaces of the artworks.

Accompanying the paintings are moving-image videos, captured during their journeys through forests.

The recurring thought, "Tree, how old are you?" echoed in the artists' minds as they travelled through the forests of the northern Trường Sơn Range in the central province of Thừa Thiên Huế, wandered the mountainous terrains of the Central Highlands in Tây Nguyên, and journeyed to regions beyond their homeland.

Born in 1975 in the central province of Quảng Bình, Thanh and Hải initially gained attention for their Vietnamese lacquer paintings centred on war subjects. Both completed their studies at the Huế College of Art in 2000.

Subsequent to their painting careers, the duo ventured into performance and video art. They are renowned for their distinctive take on history, identity, and the juxtaposition of past within the present.

Their works have been showcased both nationally and internationally, with exhibitions at The Nord gallery in Berlin, Vietnam Eye in START at the Saatchi Gallery in London, Kumamoto Contemporary Art Museum in Japan, and the Live Performance Biennale 2015 in Canada.

Numerous national and international private collectors and museums, including the Singapore Contemporary Art, Museum Gwangju Museum of Art, and The Jim Thompson Art Center, house their pieces.

In a bid to foster global artist connections, they pioneered Việt Nam’s inaugural artists-in-residence initiative, the New Space Arts Foundation. Launched in April 2008, it stemmed from a gallery they had established in 2000.

"In The Forest" is viewed as an addition to the historical dialogues between the flow of human consciousness and nature. The exhibition seeks to map out the journey of the concepts and efforts conveyed by the artists to their viewers, as noted by curator Tuấn.

The exhibition is open until October 29, from 9am to 8pm, Tuesday to Sunday, at Mơ Art Space, located at B3 136 Hàng Trống Street.

Recent successes push Việt Nam ahead of tough Asian Games