Various German newspapers have run articles on the 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV), which is underway from January 25 to February 2.

The daily Junge Welt (Young World) on January 25 reported that the CPV’s Congress has begun a nine-day agenda to outline future policies with the focus on renewal and growth targets.

“Groundbreaking changes are decided and put into motion every five years. One of the best-known examples is the Congress in 1986 with the resolution on ‘Doi Moi’ (Renewal), the policy of opening up the economy to private activities,” it said.

The 13th National Party Congress will see the participation of 1,587 delegates representing 5.1 million Party members across the country.

The most important items on the agenda include the Party Central Committee’s report and discussion on the medium- and long-term socio-economic development policies of the country for the next five years.

An election of the next Central Committee is also on the agenda.

Meanwhile, an article on the Neues Deutschland noted that the Congress takes place as the CPV has brought COVID-19 under control.

With stringent preventive measures, Vietnam contained the spread of the pandemic in 2020 and the death toll remained at 35 as of January 24, which is an “impressive proof” in the fight against COVID-19, the article said.

Therefore, the pandemic’s impact on the economy was not big and the country posted an economic growth of 2.9 percent in the year, it continued.

On the same day, Süddeutsche Zeitung, or SZ, Germany's largest broadsheet newspaper, ran an article underlining that the 13th National Party Congress is being held while Vietnam is among a few countries in the world recording growth in 2020 despite the pandemic.

Vietnam’s success in battling the pandemic has been recognised by experts worldwide, with a national count of over 1,500 and 35 fatalities. The Vietnamese economy was able to recover sooner than others thanks to such accomplishment, it underlined.

Earlier, experts of research institutes and major newspapers, including DW and FAZ, also spoke highly of Vietnam’s achievements in the fight against COVID-19 as well as socio-economic development.

Vietnam is playing a greater role in the global economy and supply chain, and the country’s position in the global area has been strengthened, they noted.

Reuters also highlighted Vietnam’s exceptional success in 2020, particularly in economic development and curbing the spread of COVID-19 through concentrated quarantine, testing and contact tracing.

The news agency added that Vietnam eyes an average GDP growth of 7 percent in the next five years./.

13th National Party Congress gains Latin American press coverage

Latin American press on January 25 highlighted the opening of the 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam, which draws the participation of 1,587 delegates representing nearly 5.2 million Party members across the nation.

The website of Telesur, a terrestrial and satellite television network headquartered in Caracas, Venezuela, described the congress as an important political event that takes place every five years in Vietnam.

The congress will last until February 2 under the theme of “Solidarity, Democracy, Discipline, Creativeness and Development”, it said, laying stress on the main topics of the congress which includes reviewing the implementation of the 12th National Party Congress’s Resolution in association with assessing the 35-year renewal cause, and defining socio-economic development orientations and tasks for 2021 - 2025, as well as goals and orientations for 2030 and a national development vision to 2045.

Besides, the congress will look into the Party building work implemented from the 12th National Party Congress, it said.

Meanwhile, Infobae news website and TN television channel of Argentina also covered the event, saying Vietnamese Party and State leaders paid tribute to President Ho Chi Minh, who found the Communist Party of Vietnam in 1930, at his mausoleum in Hanoi ahead of the opening ceremony.

According to Infobae and TN, during the nine-day event, delegates will focus on evaluating the attained achievements, outlining orientations and tasks for national development, and electing key leaders for the new five-year tenure./.

13th National Party Congress makes foreign headlines

The 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam, taking place from January 25 to February 2, has been highlighted by international media.

The Associated Press (AP) on January 25 ran an article, saying that almost 1,600 delegates are attending the congress this week to approve future policy and help select the nation’s top leaders.

Hanoi’s streets are lined with the Party’s hammer and sickle flags, national flags and posters to promote the congress, which is held every five years. Some 4,900 people involved with the event must each take two tests for the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2.

The article cited Murray Hiebert, a senior associate of the Southeast Asia Program at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, as saying that Vietnam has grown an average of 6 percent over the past five years and nearly 3 percent in 2020, when most of its neighbors slumped into recession due to the pandemic.

Japan’s Nikkei Asia newspaper said the same day that the congress is an important political event of Vietnam as it takes place at a time when the country looks to leverage its economic advantage as one of the few countries that expanded gross domestic product in 2020, up 2.9 percent thanks to efficient handling of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Republic of Korea (RoK)’s media also covered the nine-day event, saying the Vietnamese Government targets economic growth of 6.5-7 percent a year during the 2021-2026 period, and aims to turn Vietnam into a middle income country.

The congress has also made headlines on Australia’s websites like canberratimes.com.au, thewest.com.au, and the leader.com.au./.

Vietnam records one imported COVID-19 case

One more COVID-19 infection was recorded in Vietnam on January 25, raising the total to 1,549, according to the National Steering Committee on COVID-19 Prevention and Control.

The new case returned to Vietnam from Indonesia on January 10, and was quarantined upon her arrival at Hanoi’s Noi Bai International Airport.

Among the total, 693 cases were transmitted domestically.

Additional 14 patients were given the all-clear on January 25, bringing the total number of recoveries to 1,425.

Among patients undergoing treatment at medical establishments across the country, eight tested negative for the coronavirus once, eight others twice and 11 thrice.

At present, 20,890 people who had close contact with COVID-19 patients or entered Vietnam from pandemic-hit areas are under quarantine./.

Vietnamese confident about congress’s success, Party leadership

People around Vietnam interviewed by the Vietnam News Agency are sharing a belief that the 13th National Party Congress, being held from January 25 to February 2, will be a success and set out orientations for Vietnam to develop sustainably.

Hoang Ngoc, a resident in Tan Lap village in northern Tuyen Quang province’s Tan Trao district, hoped the congress will select capable leaders who are dedicated to the country and the people, to unify and guide them in building a democratic and prosperous country, and a fair and civilised society in line with the goals set by the Party. Ngoc has been a member of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) for 58 years.

Ngo Thi Huyen from Hung Trung commune in the central province of Nghe An’s Hung Nguyen district said she can’t help but share her joy over the big event.

“As farmers, we don’t understand all of the macro-level issues to be discussed at the congress, but we have a strong belief in the success of the event in developing the country further and changing people’s lives for the better,” she said.

From the Central Highlands, H’Giang Nie, Secretary of the Dak Lak Party, hoped the congress will issue more decisions regarding startups from young people, particularly those from mountainous and remote areas, which will help boost their proactive and innovative engagement in the implementation of the country’s socio-economic development policies.

Do Van Duong, vice rector at the Dak Lak Political School, praised the Party’s “Doi Moi” (renewal) process, saying it wins support from the people and has posted significant historical achievements.

He expects that the next tenure will see the promotion of grassroots participation in the building of the Party and the political system.

Vo Tan Tai, former head of the department for ethnic and religious affairs under the Steering Committee on the Central Highlands, believed that national solidarity will continue to be consolidated and promoted under the Party’s leadership.

Meanwhile, Phan Anh Tuan, a member of the CPV and a retired official living in Ca Mau city in the southernmost province of Ca Mau, agreed that the congress will select a group of talented officials to key positions to push national development to new heights.

Echoing that view, Mai Huu Chinh, chairman of the Ca Mau union of science and technology associations, said pre-congress personnel work has been carried out in a strict and appropriate manner./.

600-kilo bomb detonated in Son La

The 600-kilo bomb found in Son La

An unexploded 600-kilo American War bomb has been detected in the northern mountainous province of Son La.

The bomb was found on Saturday by some local residents when grazing their cattle at Chieng Co Commune, Son La City. 

The bomb is 1.5 metres long and has a diameter of 0.75 metres. It weighs roughly 600 kilos.

After being informed, the provincial military removed the bomb from the residential area for detonation.

Another 600-kilo bomb was also recently discovered in Son La Province by local residents while they were excavating house foundations.

Drivers of overloaded trucks on Thang Long Bridge fined

Fines are being issues for overloaded trucks travelling on the Thăng Long Bridge.

The drivers of overloaded trucks on the Thăng Long Bridge in Hà Nội are being strictly fined to protect the bridge, said Phan Thị Thu Hiền, deputy director of the Directorate for Roads of Việt Nam (DRVN).

The DRVN reported that from January 7-17, it issued fines for 21 overloaded trucks on the Thăng Long Bridge, worth a total of VNĐ400 million.

The Thăng Long Bridge was reopened to traffic on January 7 after five months of repairs. The VNĐ270 billion (US$11.6 million) project to repair the bridge was paid for by the Directorate for Roads of Việt Nam.

Nguyễn Xuân Lâm, deputy director of Road Management Department 1, under the DRVN, said since January 7, traffic inspectors were divided into three shifts around the clock all day.

Each shift included six inspectors, three from the Road Management Department 1 and three others from the Hà Nội Department of Transport.

Officials of the load-weight station at Võ Văn Kiệt Street were in charge of examining the vehicle load of trucks moving to the Thăng Long Bridge (from Nội Bài International Airport to the city centre) and employed to check the entire ring road No3.

The Road Management Administration 1 proposed the DRVN request the city Police Department and Department of Transport to increase patrols on roads south of the Thăng Long Bridge to aid these efforts.

Speaking at the reopening ceremony on January 7,  Deputy Prime Minister Trịnh Đình Dũng asked the Ministry of Transport to control trucks crossing the bridge to ensure their loads would not exceed regulations.

The Thăng Long Bridge was built from 1974 to 1985. It was the only road connecting Hà Nội’s city centre to Nội Bài Airport until the Nhật Tân Bridge opened in 2015.

The bridge has two levels, with the upper deck for cars and lorries and the lower deck for motorbikes, bicycles and trains.

Da Nang MICE tourism proves popular as tourists flock to central city

MICE tourism, a form of tourism combined with meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions, is expected to flourish in the central city of Da Nang this year after the locality received 700 tourists on January 22.

The tourists from Hanoi are scheduled to stay in Da Nang city and UNESCO-recognised Hoi An ancient town for a period of three days and two nights. They plan to visit famous sightseeing spots in the local area, such as Ba Na Hills, Linh Ung Pagoda, and Son Tra Peninsula.

Nguyen Xuan Binh, deputy director of the Da Nang Municipal Department of Tourism, said local authorities have vowed to minimise administrative procedures that travel agencies face in order to organise conferences and seminars, while simultaneously boosting MICE tourism in the central city.

The administration of Da Nang plans to devise policies aimed at attracting businesses to hold meetings and conferences, as well as tours, moving forward as a matter of priority, Binh said.

Earlier Da Nang received 1,000 tourists on January 7 - 8 who came to enjoy MICE tourism.

The new MICE tours are part of priority policies and discounts which are anticipated to attract increasing numbers of visitors to the central city in the near future.

Communication campaign launched to improve awareness of asthma management in VN

The health ministry’s Medical Service Administration in collaboration with AstraZeneca Vietnam launched a communication campaign on improving community awareness of asthma management in Hà Nội on Saturday.

The campaign, entitled “Do you control asthma or does asthma control you”, aims to help patients quickly assess their levels of SABA (short-acting beta2 agonist) reliance with six questions on the website http://vilaphoikhoe.kcb.vn and Facebook fanpage https://www.facebook.com/vilaphoikhoe.

These platforms will be updated with the latest treatment guidelines for patients to actively control their conditions, and encourage active consultations with health professionals about how to best control asthma.

MSA director Lương Ngọc Khuê said that ensuring quality of asthma care was one of the Government’s healthcare priorities. In 2020, the Ministry of Health issued "National Guidelines on the diagnosis and treatment of Asthma for adults and children aged 12 years and above" which alerts the frequent or excessive use of reliever medication can pose to the risk of hospitalisation and fatality.

“Asthma treatment in Việt Nam was gradually following this guideline. However, the progress of improving asthma care will require health managers, healthcare professionals and the whole community. Through communication campaigns on the Healthy Lung website and fanpage, we call for the participation of all parties in the management and control of asthma," said Khuê.

“In my observations, many patients feel ‘attached’ to their SABA inhaler, mistakenly believing this to be the best way to control their symptoms. They are often unaware that using their SABA inhaler just three or more times a week is a sign of poor asthma control and increases their risk of an asthma attack. We hope asthma patients will realise that SABA over-reliance will increase the risk of exacerbation and terrible consequences that are preventable," said the HCM City Association of Asthma, Allergy & Clinical Immunology president Lê Thị Tuyết Lan. 

“AstraZeneca aims to play a leading role in reducing the prevalence of Non-Communicable Diseases, especially respiratory diseases by working together with healthcare partners. We are committed to enhancing these partnerships to improve awareness and quality of asthma care, to eliminate preventable asthma attacks and ultimately improve patients’ lives,” said Nitin Kapoor, Chairman cum General Director, AstraZeneca Vietnam.

A survey of the SABA use in Asthma programme pharmacy programme’s in 14 provinces and cities in Việt Nam showed that up to 68 per cent of asthma patients bought three or more reliever medications in 2020. According to GINA 2019, the use of three reliever pills a year will double the risk of hospitalisation. Overuse of SABA has been associated with adverse outcomes such as increased airway overreaction, decreased bronchodilator response, which may lead to an increased risk of emergency admission and possibly an increased fatality risk.

The campaign is part of the Healthy Lung programme, a partnership between AstraZeneca, national governments and specialised associations in nine Asian countries including Việt Nam to raise the profile of respiratory diseases and build the capability of healthcare systems in these countries to manage these diseases. 

Hoi An launches unprecedented tourism product

The live entertainment show will partly reproduce the atmosphere of Hoi An trade port in the past. (Photo: VGP)

A live entertainment show entitled “Hoi An show – Gratitude”, which is considered an unprecedented tourism product, will be held on January 30 in the ancient city of Hoi An.

The programme will partly reproduce the atmosphere of the prosperous trade port in Hoi An from the 16th to 18th centuries and in the 20th century.

In addition, several legendary stories as well as highlights on the culture, history and people of Hoi An will be recreated at the programme.

The weekly show will be a harmonious combination of dancing art, monologue, drama and Cham dances.

The highlight of the show is that local people will be the main actors in addition to professional actors, actresses and artists from many provinces and cities around the country.

Through the event, visitors will know more about the history of the ancient city of Hoi An as well as the spirit and integrity of local people who have constantly risen up to catch up with the new life.

HCM City Red Cross begins blood donation campaign

The Việt Nam Red Cross Society’s HCM City chapter on January 23 began the Lễ Hội Xuân Hồng (Red Spring) blood donation campaign as part of its annual efforts to mitigate the blood shortage during the Tết (Lunar New Year) holiday.

The event, to run until March 9, is expected to collect 44,000 bags of blood for the city’s Blood Bank, each containing 250ml, 350ml, or 450ml.

Nguyễn Trọng Nghĩa, a student at FPT University who gave blood, said: “There is usually a shortage of blood supply for medical emergencies during the Tết holiday and the COVID-19 pandemic will worsen the shortage. It is important to encourage the public to donate blood to mitigate the shortage.”

The annual event helps ensure there is adequate blood supply since donation is disrupted during the Tết holiday, Trần Trường Sơn, chairman of the HCM City chapter, said.

Despite the pandemic, last year more than 215,600 people donated more than 279,500 units, exceeding the target, he said.

The Red Cross hopes to collect 220,000 bags of blood this year, with 3 per cent of the city’s population expected to donate. 

Lao party official spotlights CPV’s leadership role in Vietnam’s success

Sounthone Sayachak, head of the Lao Party Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations

Sounthone Sayachak, head of the Lao Party Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations has attributed comprehensive achievements and progresses of the country during the national defence and construction process to the leadership role played by the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV).

During a recent interview granted to Laos-based Vietnam News Agency’s correspondents on the occasion of the CPV’s 13th National Congress, Sounthone Sayachak spotlighted successes made by the Vietnamese Party, State and People in recent times, especially in maintaining political stability and economic growth, responding to the COVID-19 pandemic and overcoming consequences of natural disasters.

Vietnam has also recorded outstanding achievements in Party building, making the CPV stronger and stronger, consolidating public trust in the Party and the Government, she noted.

Sounthone also pointed out Vietnam’s successes in ensuring security and defence, promoting socio-economic development and poverty reduction, as well as in foreign affairs and international integration, noting that in 2020, Vietnam excellently completed its role as the Chair of ASEAN and a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the 2020-2021 term.

These achievements and contributions have enhanced Vietnam’s role and position in regional and international forums, she said.
Looking back at Vietnam’s history, the official stressed that all the success and progresses of the Vietnamese people and revolution are attributable to the leadership of the CPV.

She highlighted that the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos have constantly been consolidated and developed in all fields, bringing practical benefits for both countries.

She took the occasion to express gratitude to the Vietnamese Party, Government and people for their valuable and effective support to Laos’s revolutionary cause in the past and its defence and construction at present.

She wished the CPV a successful Congress, expressing the hope that the Vietnamese Party will continuously lead the country to move forward, fulfilling the goal of building a strong country with prosperous people, and equitable, democratic and civilized society./.

Viettel FC to face Thai rivals in 2021 AFC Champions League

Vietnam’s defending V.League champions Viettel FC are likely to take on their Thai rivals at the 2021 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League as they have been placed in the third seed group for the competition.

Viettel FC have been selected in the third seed group in East Asia, alongside United City of the Philippines, Johor Darul Ta'zim of Malaysia, Tampines Rovers of Singapore, and Kitchee of Hong Kong (China).

Elsewhere, BG Pathum United FC of Thailand are in the first seed group, whilst the other Thai club in the competition Port are in the second seed group.

This means Viettel FC are likely to play one of the Thai clubs in order to cruise into the next round.

The 40th iteration of the tournament features the participation of 40 teams from both East Asia and West Asia.

In total 20 teams from East Asia have been divided into five groups, with the five group winners and three second-placed teams set to progress through to the knock-out stage.

The draw for the AFC Champions League’s group matches is scheduled to be held on January 27 at the AFC’s headquarters in Malaysia.

Group matches will then be held from April 21 to May 7 with home and away games to take place in a specific venue.

Vietnamese scholar in France highlights national unity as strength for development

Prof. Nguyen Duc Khuong, Deputy Director of Research at IPAG Business School and President of the Association of Vietnamese Scientists and Experts in France (AVSE Global) has highlighted national unity as the root factor for national development.

In an interview granted to a Vietnam News Agency reporter on the eve of the 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Khuong, who is also a member of the Prime Minister’s economic consulting group, pointed to Vietnam’s impressive achievements in the past five years, including a steady economic growth of over 6.5 percent during tenure of the 12th National Party Congress and political stability.

The economy is re-directing towards sustainability with use of more technological and innovative advances. In particular, Vietnam also succeeded in maintaining economic activities despite the adverse impacts of the global medical crisis caused by COVID-19 pandemic last year, he said.

According to him, the Vietnamese Party and State made sound and timely decisions that hold significance to the national development strategy for the next decades. He cited as examples the Politburo’s Resolution on proactive involvement in the fourth industrial revolution, a resolution on attracting quality foreign investment, and another on reshuffle and arrangement of the apparatus of the political system.

The scholar highlighted national unity as the root factor for national development, adding that the role of the overseas Vietnamese community in national development had been affirmed very early. In recent years, the younger generations of Vietnamese abroad have gained more influence in the fields of artificial intelligence, big data, digital transformation and automation. With the support of the previous generations, those aged 30-50 are in a good position to foster cooperation between Vietnam and the countries they are living in.

In Khuong’s view, many Vietnamese leaders in the previous tenure were very open, willing to listen to public opinions and paid attention to attracting talents to contribute to the nation. He highlighted a need to issue more specific and stronger policies to effectively use this resource in the near future.

The scholar described the 13th National Party Congress as an important turning point to pave the way for breakthroughs in development and define the position of Vietnam in the global landscape with an active and guiding role.

“Without making breakthroughs in the way of thinking and action, we will not be able to quickly advance forward and realize the nation’s aspiration for rising up,” he said.

Apart from issuing sound policies and mechanisms to seek and tap talents, he called for building and making use of the soft power of the nation for development goals, thereby continuing to improve Vietnam’s stature on international arena and build public trust, which he said, is also the expectation of experts at home and abroad, and each Vietnamese citizen.

About the AVSE Global’s work, Khuong said operating in over 20 countries from four continents and connecting more than 10,000 experts together, the AVSE Global is collecting their collective brainpower via policy reports, strategic consultations at the central and local levels, training of senior executives, forums and research projects, towards creating breakthroughs in efficiency for Vietnam’s sustainable development.

AVSE is also building platforms to turn global science knowledge into practical knowledge applicable for production and social progress, with priority given to fields of creative economic models, connectivity of regions and competitive economic sectors, innovation, climate change prevention technology , marine-based economy and marine space, renewable energy and hydrogen./.

Vietnamese graphics’ journey reflected through three generations of painters

The wooden engraved painting, entitled "Bac Ha rural market" by painter Tran Nguyen Dan.

 

Despite a long-term development process, graphic paintings have not been well-known Vietnam.

The fine art exhibition entitled “Khac hoa” (Depicting), which opened in Pan Pacific Hotel in Hanoi, was one of Lunet Art Galerie’s efforts to partly introduce the development of Vietnamese graphics through historic periods with three typical artists: Tran Nguyen Dan, Le Mai Khanh and Pham Khac Quang.

Not merely a gathering of artworks by three painters who present three generations, the exhibition is like a sketch of the development of the sector that helps viewers know more about the contributions made by Vietnamese graphic artists in the past and present time. Over 50 exhibits, mainly visual graphics, have highlighted their uniqueness and creative ideas both in content and form. They expressed their views, distinctive expressions and characteristic styles.

Artist Tran Nguyen Dan (1941), former Deputy Director of Vietnam Fine Art Museum, who has showcased many artworks at exhibitions in the country and abroad, was honoured with State Award for Literature and the Arts in 2007. His paintings are rustic and true to life with diverse contents reflecting nature, landscapes and the daily life of people in rural and urban areas around the country. The artworks such as Hoi An Ancient City, the Bac Ha rural market, Ben Duc and Huong Pagoda are imbued with traditional folklore and national identities while reflecting surreal and spiritual features. They are quite monumental with large arrays of space. However, the details are harmonious and compact. The painter has devoted his whole career to graphic art, leaving in an indelible mark on Vietnamese fine arts.

Viewers always feel the academic style in both expression and graphic depiction as well as full emotions and reason of the late painter Le Mai Khanh in her artworks. Born in 1952 and died in 2017, the late painter left many impressive works that expressed her emotional, compassionate, and intellectual spirit. Her paintings are very ordinary but rich in emotions, containing profound outlooks on life. In her bronze, zinc and wooden engraved paintings, the landscape, people and daily life were reflected through clear and definitive lines with harmonious colours in a space blending super real and present. They are images of the railways, the spaces under the bridges, the boat docks, and the familiar symbols in water puppetry performances. Notably, Le Mai Khanh’s paintings always depict modern features that proved the contributions made by Vietnamese graphic arts to the world’s graphic arts.

As a student who followed the graphic career of late painter Le Mai Khanh, painter Pham Khac Quang (born in 1975) focused on highly expressive graphic works with new ideas both in structure, shades of light and shapes. He has always searched for new directions and used new materials to express familiar content, bringing a multidimensional perspective and feelings. He shared: “Art has no limits and no destination. Art is a journey for us to take. Creativity is always changing, as are artists who always desire that the new will come to them”.

The exhibition contributed to honouring the creations and contributions made by graphic painters through a collection of artworks by three painters who represent three generations. In the coming time, Lunet Art will create similar spaces for talented artists, towards seeking new opportunities for artists to develop their career. So far, Lunet Art successfully sponsored many impressive exhibitions with high art values, receiving great support from artist and art lovers.

Argentinian party chief praises Vietnamese Communist Party’s decisive role

The leadership role of the ruling Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) has been proved in reality with great success in Vietnam’s struggle for national independence, construction and defence, as well as in building Vietnam’s international prestige, stressed General Secretary of the Communist Party of Argentina Victor Gorodeki Kot.

The leader made the evaluation during an interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency on the occasion of the 13th National Congress of the CPV, which is scheduled for January 25 – February 2 in Hanoi.

He said the Vietnamese Party’s leadership has overcome challenges in the most difficult times, when the Party had to make key decisions for changes, as seen at its 6th congress with the decision to launch Doi Moi (renewal).

The official added with the Party’s right decisions at decisive moments, Vietnam has achieved significant development progresses in the past years, including high economic growth, improved people’s living standards and an increasing international position.

He also mentioned his impression when he was invited to the CPV’s 8th congress in Hanoi in 1996, when he saw with his own eyes how the CPV’s leadership was built based on practical discussions on specific issues and how it represented the people to act and overcome hardships.

Argentinian communists are also highly impressed by Vietnam’s success in COVID-19 prevention and control under the Party’s leadership amid the current pandemic-caused global medical crisis, he said, adding that the country is a role model for the world to follow.

In his opinion, the 13th congress of the CPV takes place in a special period for not only Vietnam but also the world as a whole, a period full of difficulties. Therefore, the event is important in that it will affirm Vietnam’s socio-economic development policies as well as its open and peaceful foreign diplomacy.

He underscored that the congress will be a milestone in the country’s political life, creating an opportunity for the Vietnamese communists to review their past successes and learnt lessons to serve the future development.

He concluded the interview by expressing his hope for the relations between the CPV and his party to be further fostered and for the CPV’s 13th National Congress to be a success, marking a step forward in Vietnam’s cause of socialism building./

Pop-up and painting workshop ‘Art in a Bottle’

A painting workshop on the theme ‘Art in a Bottle’ will be held by Xưởng Merin on Saturday, January 23. — Photo courtesy of Xưởng Merin

The Đà Lạt-based L'atelier, concept design and clothing brand Xưởng Merin will have a pop-up event and workshop in Hà Nội this weekend.

Taking place at Tender Bar at 8/29 Nguyễn Chí Thanh Street, the event will showcases products by Xưởng Merin such as clothes, handmade leather items, handmade soap and indigo scarves.

In addition, during the visit to Hà Nội, Merin will also organise a painting workshop on the theme ‘Art in a Bottle’ with acrylic on canvas.

According to Merin, drawing is for relaxing and fun. Art therapy is a painting school, which can heal, soothe the soul and can help to relax and offers tender moments. With the motto 'Take care of your soul, don't let it get dark', Merin focuses on manual and creative activities, such as painting, sewing, embroidery, pottery making and tree planting.

The workshop will start at 9.30am on Saturday, January 23. Limit: 5-10 people. Fee: VNĐ400,000 (including drinking water and painting materials). To join, message the Facebook page of Xưởng Merin. 

Four foreign sailors successfully rescued

Four sailors from the Philippines have been rescued following their ship being left adrift at sea since January 23, with the vessel eventually being detected close to Son Ca island.

Fisheries Surveillance Team No. 4 stated on January 25 that the sailors had been successfully rescued from the sea by a Vietnamese fishing boat QNg97079TS.

The victims include Ednor Villacino, 30, Rolly Baleso, 30, Rommel Evan, 32, and Eraed Dayot, 41, all of whom are crewmembers aboard the Athan fishing boat of the Philippines.

Issues for the vessel started on January 23 when the four sailors got lost whilst fishing on their own. After a search operation, the group were found afloat at sea approximately 24 nautical miles southeast of Son Ca island.

Upon detecting the vessel, the Vietnamese fishing boat then sent a request for an emergency rescue to the centre before handing over the victims to local authorities on Song Tu island for treatment.

With the rescue mission proving a success, novel coronavirus (COVID-19) prevention and control measures were also strictly conducted throughout the process.

Vietnamese, Swiss educational establishments partner in hospitality training

Cityland Education (CE) and Switzerland’s famous hospitality management school École hôtelière de Lausanne (EHL) recently inked a cooperation agreement at a ceremony which saw the attendance of Vietnamese Ambassador to Switzerland Le Linh Lan.

Under the deal, CE has become a partner of the training programme that follows EHL's world-renowned quality-assurance standards in hotel management.

In her remarks, Lan welcomed CE’s vision that contributes to a peaceful future, stable society and economic growth of Vietnam via capacity and skill development for the country’s high quality young human resources.

The Vocational Education & Training Licensing (VET) programme by EHL is a blended skills training model based on a Swiss competency framework.

The curriculum emphasises practical learning, designed to enable graduates to be work-ready upon completion.

The programme will comprise four courses and be held in Phu Quoc island city in the Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang.

CE is a member of CityLand Investment Company Limited (CityLand) which develops and operates a multi-industry business.

Switzerland is the sixth largest European investor of Vietnam, with a total investment worth about 2 billion USD. Meanwhile, Vietnam is the fourth leading trade partner of Switzerland in ASEAN.

Two-way trade surpassed 3.6 billion USD in 2019.

The countries are celebrating the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties in 2021./.

Khanh Hoa fishermen enjoy bountiful catches before Tet

Fishermen at Hon Ro Port in Khanh Hoa Province are enjoying big catches of tuna after 20 days at the sea. 

The two fishing boats owned by Duong Teo from Nha Trang City caught over five tonnes of tuna. Teo said this was the first bountiful catch after several losses. The tuna prices also increased by VND10,000 (USD43 US cents) per kilo to VND90,00-VND115,000.

"After this catch, I'll see a profit of over VND300m (USD12,900)," he said.

Tran Chung, the captain of another fishing boat said up to 40% of the boats that went out to the sea this time had good catches and would make significant profits.

"During this time, the tuna often appear near the Spratly and Paracel islands and the DK1 rigs. We were able to catch over one tonne of tuna this time and probably earn VND40m (USD1,700) to VND50m," he said.

Both the amount of fish and the fish quality have greatly improved compared to recent months so the tuna prices have marginally increased.

According to the management board of Hon Ro Port, tens of fishing boats went to sea in the past months leading up to Tet and brought back good catches.

German Embassy showcases Vietnamese cultural diversity through photos

The photos on Vietnamese cultural diversity on the wall of the German

The German Embassy in Hanoi is displaying 21 large-sized colour photos about the beauty and diversity of Vietnamese culture on the wall around the embassy grounds.
The photos were selected from a photo contest held by UNESCO in partnership with the German Embassy and Ngay Nay Magazine from August to November 2020.

The contest, aiming to honour the beauty of Vietnamese cultural heritage and creativity in Vietnam, attracted 250 contestants from 6 countries, who submitted over 2,000 photos.

Major themes of the photos include landscapes of cultural heritage sites, cultural inheritance and transfer, arts and creativity, and the harmony of humans and nature.

The cooperation with UNESCO in this photography contest is a continuation of Germany’s efforts to protect culture and promote cultural creativity in Vietnam.

Within the framework of the German Federal Foreign Office’s cultural preservation programme, Germany has sponsored the conservation and restoration of many historical sites in Vietnam, with the most recent example being Phung Tien Palace in Hue.

Such substantive activities have made significant contributions to the preservation of cultural heritage in Vietnam.

13th National Party Congress a highlight in regional media

The on-going 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV), which opened in Hanoi on January 25, is a focus of attention of the media in Southeast Asia over the last few days.

Singapore-based The Straits Times said the nine-day event with the participation of nearly 1,600 delegates will select new leaders and shape policy for the next five years and beyond. It also highlighted Vietnam’s success in containing COVID-19, that has helped its economy outstrip much of Asia in the past year, and further noted that Vietnam is already eyeing average annual gross domestic product growth of 7 percent over the next five years.

Malaysia’s The Star, meanwhile, reported that the total of 1,587 delegates representing more than 5.1 million Party members nationwide at the congress makes this the largest number ever in the history of Party congresses.

It quoted Mai Van Chinh, deputy head of the CPV Central Committee’s Organisation Commission, as saying that women and members of ethnic minority groups account for 13.99 and 11.03 percent of the delegates, respectively.

The guests will include former Party and State leaders, ambassadors, and heads of international organisations in Hanoi, representatives from the intelligentsia and arts community, outstanding youth union members and religious officials, among others, it said.

Nguyen Xuan Thang, Director of Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, was also quoted by The Star as saying that among the documents submitted to the Congress, there were “numerous new items, especially in terms of approach.”

The agenda of the congress focuses on reviewing the implementation of the Resolution of the 12th Party Congress associated with the evaluation of 35 years of the implementation of “Doi moi” (Renewal) policies and the 10-year socio-economic development strategy 2011-2020, and outlines the socio-economic development orientations and tasks for the 2021 – 2025 period and goals and orientations to 2030 and the national development vision to 2045, it added.

According to the Malaysian news agency, all the preparations for the congress have been completed, from security to logistics and reception.

It reported that Vietnam has gone through 53 consecutive days without any new COVID-19 cases in the community. The total confirmed cases in the country was at 1,548 with 35 deaths as of January 23.

The UK’s BBC and Financial Times and the US’s AP also ran articles on the first day of the congress./.

Humanitarian Lunar New Year fair for the poor in Ninh Binh

The Red Cross Society of northern Ninh Binh province held a humanitarian Lunar New Year fair in support of the poor and the disabled in Yen Thanh, Yen Dong and Yen Thai – the poorest communes of Yen Mo district, on January 25.

Joining the event, 180 poor households and those living with disabilities had a chance to receive vouchers worth 500,000 VND (21.7 USD), which could be used once to buy necessities for free at stalls.

Chairman of the provincial Red Cross Society Bui Trong Ky said the event is a joint effort among the provincial Red Cross Society, businesses and philanthropists with an aim to ease difficulties faced by the poor.

Initiated by the Central Committee of the Vietnam Red Cross Society, the event will be held in all districts and city in the province between now and the Lunar New Year festival which will fall by the middle of this month./.

Israeli ambassador values Vietnam’s development policy under Party leadership

Israeli Ambassador to Vietnam Nadav Eshcar (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam has a good development policy under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam, according to Israeli Ambassador to Vietnam Nadav Eshcar.

In an interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency, the diplomat said the Party leadership and the Government’s socio-economic development efforts have received support from people at home and abroad.

He expressed his belief that Vietnam will show more rapid development in the coming time, with its improving global position.

The ambassador praised Vietnam for its achievements made in recent years, especially in the COVID-19 fight. Vietnam is one of the few countries in the world that has succeeded in the anti-pandemic model via control efforts at border gates that help prevent the pandemic from entering from outside.

By doing so, Vietnam has been able to control the situation, ensuring safety for its people and keeping a stable environment for economic development amid the complicated international context.

With its current orientations, the country will continue to attain stable successes in the years to come, he noted.

Vietnam is increasingly raising its position in the region and is one of the most important members of ASEAN, he said, adding that it is also a responsible member and has been making positive contributions to the international community./.

Source: VNA/VNN/VNS/SGGP/VOV/NDO/Dtinews/SGT/VIR