Vietnam always attaches importance to and gives high priority to its good neighborliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive and sustainable cooperation with Cambodia, said Foreign Ministry’s spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang.

During the ministry’s regular press conference in Hanoi on November 19, Hang said Vietnam wants to carry forward substantial and effective ties between the two nations for the benefit of the two peoples.

She emphasized that bilateral ties have developed positively over the recent past. Before the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, the two sides exchanged many high-level delegations, including a State visit to Cambodia by Party General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong in February 2019, and two official visits to Vietnam by Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen in December 2018 and October 2019. The two countries held a meeting marking the 40th anniversary of Vietnam's southwest border defence war and Vietnam-Cambodia joint victory over the genocidal regime on January 7, 2019.

The two countries’ leaders also regularly held phone talks to discuss COVID-19 prevention and control measures and maintain cross-border trade.

The spokeswoman noted that the two countries have maintained economic and trade cooperation. In 2018 and 2019, the two nations signed a total of 21 cooperation documents, including a Supplementary Treaty to the 1985 Treaty on the Delimitation of National Boundaries and the 2005 Supplementary Treaty, a Protocol on border demarcation with about 84 percent of work completed. The two sides also exchanged border topographic maps at 1:25,000 scale last August.

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the Vietnamese Government, ministries, agencies and localities provided medical supplies for Cambodia while fostering bilateral cooperation in various areas and coordinating closely with Cambodia within multilateral mechanisms, as well as at regional and global forums to address common regional issues, she said./.

Spokeswoman: Countries call for sustainable peace in East Sea

Many countries expressed their concern over the situation in the East Sea and affirmed a need to maintain sustainable peace and long-term stability in the important waters, during the 37th ASEAN Summit and the 15th East Asia Summit (EAS), Foreign Ministry’s spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang has said.

During the ministry’s regular press conference in Hanoi on November 19, she said that in order to reach such a goal, they called for the upholding of a sense of responsibility, in particular avoiding actions that could further exacerbate tension and complicate the situation, while refraining from militarisation.

Countries highlighted the need to uphold international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which is a legal framework for every activity at sea and the settlement of disputes by peaceful means.

She said countries urged ASEAN and China to step up the full implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) as well as efforts to resume negotiations on an effective and efficient Code of Conduct in the East Sea in line with international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS.

The above contents were fully reflected in the Chairman’s Statement from the 37th ASEAN Summit and the EAS-15, Hang said./.

Defence Ministry supports Lao counterpart in fighting COVID-19

At the hand-over ceremony

 

Army Corps 11 (Thanh An Company) under the Ministry of National Defence on November 19 presented medical supplies and cash totalling 1.5 billion VND (64,000 USD) to the Lao Ministry of Defence to support the country's soldiers and officers in the fight against COVID-19.

Major General Nguyen Quoc Dung, Commander of Army Corps 11, handed over 500 million Lao kip (53,850 USD) and 25 automatic sterilisers worth nearly 11,000 USD to the Lao Defence Minister, General Chansamone Chanyalath, at a ceremony in Vientiane in the witness of Lao Party General Secretary and President Bounnhang Vorachith.

The Vietnamese officer emphasised that the automatic sterilisers are manufactured by Corps 11 itself.

He also reported to the Lao leader on the construction progress of the Lao National Assembly House, a gift of the Vietnamese Party, State, and people to the neighbouring country.

Army Corps 11 is doing its best to hand over items in the project from the end of February, so that Laos' 9th National Assembly can hold its first session in March 2021 at the house, which would be a symbol of the friendship, solidarity, and cooperation between the two countries.

Lieut. Gen. Thongloi Silivong, Deputy Defence Minister and head of the General Department of Politics of the Lao People’s Army highly valued the support from the officers and soldiers of the Army Corps, saying it is testament to the unique relationship between the two countries in general and their armies in particular.

On the afternoon of November 18, Dung also presented 25 automatic sterilisers to the Lao National Assembly, to join hands with the legislative body in combating the COVID-19 outbreak in the country./.

Senior defence officials in ASEAN, partners discuss preparations for ADMM+

The ASEAN Defence Senior Officials’ Meeting Plus (ADSOM+) was held online on November 19 under the chair of Deputy Defence Minister, Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh.

The meeting involved heads of ADSOM in ASEAN countries and Russia, China, the US, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Australia, New Zealand, and India, as well as ASEAN Deputy Secretary General Hoang Anh Tuan, among others.

It aimed to promote practical defence cooperation between ASEAN countries as well as between ASEAN and partners, evaluate Vietnam’s role as the ASEAN Chair in 2020, and make preparations for the seventh ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting Plus (ADMM+).

Vinh expressed his hope that participants will work together effectively to finalise preparations for the seventh ADMM+ in December.

Recalling the outcomes of the working session in July to seek ways to cope with COVID-19, he affirmed the significance of defence cooperation in settling the pandemic as well as the completion of work in each country and ASEAN as a whole.

He underlined that although the pandemic is still to be tackled, it will not be able to halt defence cooperation thanks to the efforts of all sides in the fight.

ADMM+ is one of the last events to be held by Vietnam as the ASEAN Chair this year.

“I hope we will seek a common voice and encourage the broad cooperation formed 10 years ago, while maintaining the prestige, solidarity, and central role of ASEAN,” Vinh said.

Participants discussed ASEAN intra-bloc cooperation and heard a report on the outcomes of the ADSOM+ Working Group, while sharing views on the global and regional security situation during and after COVID-19.

They adopted a plan of action for the 2021-2023 period from the ADMM+ Experts’ Working Group and opined on the draft joint statement for the seventh ADMM+.

They also underscored the important role of multilateral defence cooperation in responding to COVID-19 in each country.

ASEAN Deputy Secretary General Tuan hailed the efforts of Vietnam’s Defence Ministry in organising ADSOM amid the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

ASEAN energy ministers, IEA gather at online dialogue

A dialogue was held between ASEAN energy ministers and the International Energy Agency (IEA) via videoconference in Hanoi on November 19.

According to Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Dang Hoang An, ASEAN boasts among the world’s most dynamic economic development, with total GDP topping 3.2 trillion USD and trade reaching about 2.8 trillion USD in 2019.

Fast economic growth is being accompanied by a rapid increase in energy demand, posing considerable challenges to every member country to meet such demand while realising commitments to sustainable development and environmental protection.

To achieve these goals, apart from the efforts of each member state, ASEAN needs support from development partners and international organisations, including the IEA, he said.

As an important partner of ASEAN, the IEA has carried out many activities to help the region deal with energy challenges, he noted, adding that aside from technical support it has also helped member countries overhaul their energy policies.

Despite the substantial impact of COVID-19, the agency has maintained its support for ASEAN to implement cooperation activities, especially those prioritised for 2020.

An expressed his hope that the meeting would help push the implementation of the two sides’ three-year rolling work programme for 2019-2021, to help cement an ASEAN of peace, prosperity, and sustainability./.

Four imported cases of COVID-19 reported on November 19

Four imported cases of COVID-19 were reported during 12 hours from 6am to 6pm on November 19, taking the national count to 1,304.

The National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control said among the new patients, all Vietnamese, two returned from Canada on flight VN5028 which landed in Van Don airport in the northern province of Quang Ninh on November 16. They tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 while in quarantine in Ha Nam province.

The two others returned from the UK on flight VN56 which landed in Van Don on November 6. They were found positive while being quarantined in Nam Dinh province.

The same day, 19 COVID-19 patients were given the all-clear, raising the number of recovered patients to 1,142.

Among patients still under treatment, 10 have tested negative for the coronavirus once, ten twice and three thrice. There is no patient in a serious condition at present. The fatalities remain at 35.

A total of 16,888 people who had close contact with COVID-19 patients or came from pandemic-affected areas are under health monitoring, with 197 at hospitals, 15,766 at designated facilities and 925 at home or in accommodations.

The Health Ministry has warned about the risk of the pandemic returning, especially when flights continue to bring in Vietnamese citizens or foreign experts from abroad. It urges the people to continue following preventive measures in the “new normal” situation./.

Ministry orders to recall toxic liquor causing death

 

The Ministry of Industry and Trade ordered an inquiry into the production of the methanol tainted alcohol causing death and recall it. 

Soon after receiving the information of methanol added alcohol -related death in the Northern Province of Bac Giang, the Ministry dispatched its order to the Directorate of Market Surveillance of Vietnam to withdraw the bootleg liquor from market as well as impose penalty on violators as per the present regulations.

According to the Ministry’s press release yesterday evening, the Ministry has just received a report of Hanoi-based Bach Mai Hospital about seven people who drank methanol contaminated alcohol from backstreet distilleries; consequently, one of them died and one suffered poor vision and brain complications.

In its portal, the Ministry of Health also released the news of the death relating to consuming toxic alcohol.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade also warned people not to consume the product named Ruou nep – Ham ruou Viet ( Stick rice wine - Viet cellar) made in a distillery in the Northern Province of Hung Yen. Anyone discovering the product should inform state competent agencies to recall.

Bootleggers often add methanol - a highly toxic form of alcohol sometimes used as an anti-freeze - to their mixture to increase its strength. If ingested in even small quantities, methanol can cause blindness, liver damage and death.

Japanese ambassador to ASEAN speaks of Vietnam’s excellent role

 

Japanese Ambassador to ASEAN Chiba Akira has spoken highly of the role of Vietnam as ASEAN Chair in 2020 with the successful organisation of the 37th ASEAN Summit and Related Meetings despite COVID-19.

The Japanese Ambassador Akira said “It must have been tremendously difficult under COVID-19. But Vietnam, through its excellent chairmanship led the event to a very good conclusion,” he told Vietnam News Agency correspondents in Jakarta.

He went on especially under COVID, this will set a good example to ASEAN as a whole.

 Sharing the message Japan reiterated throughout the summits, Ambassador Chiba said the most important thing is Japan’s support to the ASEAN Outlook on Indo-Pacific (AOIP). The AOIP has many fundamental principles that are shared with Japan's own policy. He affirmed Japan’s willingness to extend support and help realize the AOIP.

Germany to grant scholarships to 200 students of Vietnamese –German University

The Ministry of Higher Education, Research and the Arts of Germany's Hessen State will provide scholarships to 200 students of the Vietnamese-German University (VGU), who have been affected by floods and COVID-19, Minister Angela Dorn announced on November 18.

The scholarships, worth totally 100,000 EUR (118,500 USD), will be channeled through the World University Service (WUS), Dorn said while delivering a speech online at the school opening and graduation ceremony of the VGU on November 18.

The German side will also grant four doctoral scholarships to young Vietnamese scientists at virus research institutes in Marburg, GieBen and Frankfurt in order to enhance cooperation between scientists of Hessen and Vietnam.

In late September, the Vietnamese and German governments and Hessen authorities signed an agreement to establish a legal framework for the development and expansion of the VGU.

The German Federal Ministry of Education and Research has described the university as a “lighthouse” in the bilateral relationship.

The signing of the agreement is expected to offer opportunities for the VGU to become a leading regional research university, focusing on sustainable development, the fourth Industrial Revolution and environmental technologies.

Apart from providing quality human resources for Vietnam, the VGU also aims to promote scientific research and technological transfer.

The VGU is the first public university in Vietnam formed under an agreement between the two governments.

Since its inception in southern Binh Duong province in 2008, the VGU has been regarded as a key project between the two governments as well as the most successful tertiary educational cooperation project of the German government and the Hessen authorities./.

Deputy PM proposes to improve educational facilities in disadvantaged areas

Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam proposed agencies, unions and local administrations to take heed of financial provision to improve educational facilities in remote regions and disadvantaged areas and villages where most minority ethnic groups live.

At the yesterday meeting with 63 ethnic teachers who were honored in the program “ Chia se cung thay co” ( Sharing with teachers) in 2020 launched by the Ho Chi Minh Youth Communist Union at the government’s office in Hanoi, Deputy PM Dam made the proposal.

He added the financial aid will be for education reform and purchase of teaching and learning equipment. Moreover, local administrations should pay attention to teachers who volunteered to teach in underprivileged regions.

Additionally, he said that the Party and the government has always prioritized investment in education in above-mentioned areas and ethnic teachers.

On the same day, ethnic teachers met with leaders of the Ministry of Education and Training.

HCMC striving to reduce greenhouse gases
 
In order to fulfill the aim of decreasing greenhouse gases in accordance with the Paris Agreement regarding climate change, Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) has already carried out policies to help businesses upgrading their machinery, production technologies. It has also focused on promoting the use of public transports.

The grave effects of climate change have increasingly appeared in all socio-economic fields in Vietnam, especially in HCMC.

Environment monitoring reports in 2011 showed that the sea level in Vung Tau City grows by 1.33mm per year on average. Adding to this is a rise of precipitation each year owning to climate change, making urban flooding in HCMC worse and worse.

Normally, HCMC is rarely affected by typhoons. However, lately, typhoons seem to have moved southwards gradually, not to mention their level becoming more severe and even reaching the classification of super typhoon. Along with that are regular whirlwinds in the rainy season, causing damage to humans and properties.

According to Mr. Nguyen Trong Nghia, an expert in energy and planning and a HCMC consultant in the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group (C40), the principal reason leading to climate change is the uncontrollable release of exhaust fumes into the air, particularly greenhouse gases.

He cited that HCMC in 2016 discharged over 52 million tonnes of CO2, compared to 38.5 million tonnes 3 years before, mostly from traffic and energy harnessing.

In order to alleviate this environmental problem, the HCMC Department of Natural Resources and Environment has already performed several tasks related to monitoring and managing emissions in the fields of traffic, energy production, waste processing, industrial activities, agriculture, forest and land use.

Simultaneously, HCMC is boosting its cooperation with global organizations to receive proper help on human resources, finance, and advanced technologies.

Notably, HCMC has signed a collaboration memo with C40 about publicizing carbon emission volume and with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) about reducing greenhouse gases (Support the Planning and Implementation of National Appropriate Mitigation Action – SPI-NAMA).

Sadly, results of recent emission reduction activities are not as expected due to certain limits.

Therefore, the municipal authorities have decided to launch 20 schemes from 2021-2030 citywide, many of which will be research on alternative energy for vehicles in HCMC to replace the current popular petrol and diesel fuel, in hope of reducing about 57,000 tonnes of CO2 a year.

HCMC People’s Committee reported that the upcoming 5 urban subway routes in the period from 2021-2030 will firstly address the thorny issue of traffic congestion. Additionally, they will help to decrease greenhouse gas emission in the whole city by over 100,000 tonnes of CO2 per year.

Regarding manufacturing activities, the city will support businesses to upgrade their own production technologies, leaning towards greener ones, and to effectively conserve energy.

As to waste processing, there will be a close network within the city to transport and treat sewage using thermal hydrolysis in order to produce power.

Representative of C40 Ellie Kilroy shared that her organization will introduce the Pathways model – a citywide planning tool to provide strategic analyses for necessary greenhouse gas mitigation actions. The tool also allows the city to see predictable results of those actions in reality and compare among possible actions to choose the optimal one so that emission can reach the zero level.

Being a member of C40, HCMC is expected to greatly contribute to reducing greenhouse gas release in Vietnam, reaching the aim of being a zero-carbon-emission society.

HCMC to build network for recycled waste collection, treatment

The Ho Chi Minh City Urban Environment Company Limited (Citenco) and Packaging Recycling Organization Vietnam (PRO Vietnam) yesterday signed a cooperation agreement on building a network for recycled waste collection and treatment from the solid waste classification program at source. 

Accordingly, the two sides will cooperate in infrastructure development to support the collection, classification and preliminary treatment of recyclable waste. Besides that, the parties will build cooperation networks between recyclers to develop waste recycling models.

In the long term, it is recommended to implement policies to create incentives and favorable conditions for recyclable waste. At the same time, it is important to expand communications on source separation to households and independent garbage collectors.

Traffic regulation in airport displays inadequacy towards tech-based taxis
 
In order to ensure traffic safety and reduce congestion in front of the domestic terminal, Tan Son Nhat International Airport has performed traffic separation for pick-up vehicles to and fro the airport. However, after 3 days, the traffic status has yet witnessed much improvement, especially the area for taxi and vehicles operating under ridesharing app services.

These days, to enter the domestic terminal of the airport, after exiting Truong Son Road, most taxi drivers must slam on their brake in order to turn left into Lane D instead of going straight ahead like they used to. This poses great danger to road users as many drivers are still not familiar with the new route, making the traffic flow more stuck.

After adjustment, Lane A now is reserved only for passengers coming to the airport. Lanes B and C are only for private cars to pick up passengers. All these vehicles are allowed to stop for no more than 3 minutes. All these lanes have very light traffic.

In contrast, Lane D, which is reserved for both traditional and tech-based taxis, is constantly facing congestion despite having 12 stops. Adding to this problem is the issue of taxi drivers trying to fight over passengers, leading to disorder and unsafety.

The situation is even worse in the TCP Park, where passengers usually wait for their tech-based taxis like GrabCar or BeCar. Some drivers shared that they have to pay VND25,000 (approx. US$1.2) for parking fee to wait for their customer. Meanwhile, passengers do not have a better case as they often need to wait for a long time, even 1 hour sometimes, to spot the precise taxi they ordered.

The reason is that among a crowd of cars, it is so challenging for customers to find the location of their own taxi; yet, these taxis are now allowed to stop for more than 3 minutes. This means drivers and passengers must maintain their communication all the time just to find each other, which is a true nuisance, not to mention the heavy luggage.

The story does not stop there, as tech-based taxi drivers request their customers to pay an extra of VND15,000 ($0.65) parking admission fee and VND10,000 ($0.43) toll. This is illogical because passengers themselves do not use parking services.

It seems that this traffic regulation scheme has displayed its inadequacy towards both travellers and tech-based taxis.

According to Mr. Ngo Hai Duong, Head of the Land Infrastructure Management Division under the HCMC Department of Transport, the traffic flow in front of the airport has seen improvement when applying the regulation program.

Regarding traditional and tech-based taxis, there is now no case of drivers fighting over some passengers like before.

However, to provide more convenience for travellers and taxi drivers, the HCMC Department of Transport has already sent its request for Tan Son Nhat Airport to more sensibly rearrange the in and out flows to ensure order and safety for airport visitors.

Mr. Duong shared that the adjustment scheme for internal road routes of the airport is an agreement among the airport’s management board, the HCMC Department of Transport, HCMC Police Department and the People’s Committee of Tan Binh District.

At present, related state units have finished installing traffic signs and posters in catchy locations to deliver proper guiding. Vehicles entering and exiting the airport need to strictly follow these instructions to travel in correct lanes. Additionally, to reduce congestion in front of the airport, drivers are suggested to park their cars in TCP Park.

Receiving feedbacks from passengers and taxi drivers, the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam asked that the Southern Airports Authority recheck the current status of passenger picking-up activities in Tan Son Nhat Airport, especially concerning taxis.

The airport also reported a clearer front for private vehicles. As to parking space for tech-based taxis, traditional taxi companies have signed contracts with the airport, meaning they should be prioritized to use Lane D for public transport.

Vietnam loses over 8.5 percent of GDP due to air, water source pollution

Vietnam is one of the countries with its great efforts for sustainable development target and ranked 70 out of 190 countries in terms of competitiveness; however, the country is also facing natural resources depletion, increased energy consumption, pollution and land degradation, especially climate change is seriously impacting on the economic development. 

With more than 1.8 million tons of waste released to the ocean annually, Vietnam ranks the fourth among the highest in the world for ocean plastic waste pollution. 

Air pollution causes 5.18 percent of GDP loss for Vietnam every year, meanwhile 3.5 percent of GDP loss is due to water source pollution. 

According to experts, the transition from the traditional economy model to the circular economy is expected to be an appropriate and vital solution for rapid and sustainable development in the current context.

Residents in Central region recover in aftermath of storm

Residents in the Central region have begun recovery process in the aftermath of storms by doing what they can to restore production and farming; however, it could be weeks or months before a sense of normalcy returns to storm-ravaged Central region.

People have been struggling to clear up the aftermath.

Resident Huynh Thi Tuyet in Tay An Vinh village in Ly Son Island of the Central Province of Quang Ngai complained while clearing her 1,200 square meter onion farm. Her neighbor, Nguyen Van Co, sadly said he is now penniless as his 3,000 square meter farm was destroyed.

Though the winter-spring crop has not been raise, the agriculture sector in Quang Ngai and Binh Dinh have planned to delay the crop till December for worrying next storms.

The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in Binh Dinh Province said that three storms which hit Vietnam lately have caused loss worth around VND1,043 billion (US$44.3 million) mostly in the field of agriculture and livestock. First of all, Binh Dinh Province petitioned the government to give urgent aid of VND 543 billion for restoring production.

The three storms resulted in raging waters which drowned thousands of poultry and cows as well as ruined rice paddies. A 54-year-old farmer Nguyen Thi Hue in the field in Binh Son District of Quang Ngai said farmers in the district tried to clear up waste in the paddies to prepare for the next crop.

Le Van Thu, Director of Dong Phu Cooperative in Quang Dien District of Thua Thien – Hue Province said all members of the cooperative were mobilized to kill mice and cleared up litter on the field for preparation of the winter-spring crop. In the meantime, veggie farmers in Quang Tho village in Quang Dien District are working in their farms.

To assist residents, the People’s Committee in Thua Thien - Hue distributed 1,000 tons of rice seeds and 1.5 tons of vegetable seeds meanwhile the People’s Committee in Quang Tri distributed VND100 billion to aid production restoration.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien leading a mission team to Ha Tinh, Quang Binh and Quang Tri to check the situation giving assistance to residents. He noted that people should re-raise poultry first for the upcoming Tet holiday ( the Lunar New Year ).

Deputy Minister Tien revealed the Ministry is implementing solutions to help people including launching an appeal to local and international organizations asking to supply seedlings and seeds, and essential items.

Metro line contractor to return site of Le Loi Blvd in Q2, 2021

The construction barriers set up on Le Loi Boulevard since 2016 to make room for the construction of a tunnel for HCMC’s first metro line will be removed by the project contractor in the second quarter of 2021.

The contractor is carrying out some final steps for the construction of the tunnel on Le Loi Boulevard with the section from Nguyen Hue Boulevard to Pasteur Street, the Management Authority for Urban Railways (MAUR) of HCMC said on November 17.

To restore the road surface, MAUR has held numerous meetings with relevant units to handle the affected infrastructure facilities.

The contractor will return the site of the boulevard so that it can combine with Nguyen Hue Walking Street to become a pedestrian-only street in the future in line with the city’s plan.

As for the tunnel under the boulevard  from Pasteur Street to the roundabout in front of Ben Thanh Market, the work has started with concreting floors and waterproofing. Some 240 workers are present at the construction site to ensure the component can be completed in late 2021 at the same time as the completion of Ben Thanh Station.

Given 800 workers working at the station, work on the Ben Thanh Station is expected to finish in late 2021 so that the city’s first metro line, which connects Ben Thanh Market in downtown HCMC and Suoi Tien Theme Park in District 9, can officially be put into operation as scheduled.

The 20-kilometer metro line will pass through districts 1, 2 and 9, as well as Binh Thanh and Thu Duc in HCMC and Di An Town of Binh Duong Province. The project includes 2.6 kilometers of tunnel and 17 kilometers of elevated track.

FAO to support central provinces to restore food security

Recent continuous storms have hit the central region of Vietnam, severely affecting local farmers.

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Vietnam plans to run an emergency humanitarian assistance program valued at US$587,000 (more than VND13.6 billion) to restore food security in three central provinces -- Quang Binh, Quang Tri and Thua Thien-Hue.

The information was recorded after a meeting between Thua Thien-Hue’s leaders and the FAO Vietnam delegation led by Nguyen Song Ha, assistant to chief representative of FAO in Vietnam, on November 16.

They discussed how to support households severely affected by floods and storms in Thua Thien-Hue Province as well as in the two neighboring provinces of Quang Tri and Quang Binh.

In Thua Thien-Hue, FAO will support 1,500 households in Phong Dien and Quang Dien districts to overcome difficulties by donating VND2.7 billion.

The beneficiaries will be chosen based on FAO’s standards. The organization will work with the provincial Red Cross to implement the relief program.

At the meeting, Nguyen Thanh Binh, vice chairman of Thua Thien-Hue People's Committee, suggested the FAO help local farmers restore their livelihoods after the storms, including support in the form of seeds, animals and farming tools.

In another development, Thua Thien-Hue Province has received a sponsorship of VND104 million from HelpAge International in Vietnam to support 200 households with elderly people who were severely affected by floods and storms.

Numerous activities to honor Hanoi's ancient citadel

Ten years after earning UNESCO’s recognition as a world cultural heritage site, Hanoi’s ancient citadel has gradually gained popularity among both domestic and foreign tourists.

Numerous activities will be organized from November 21 to 23 in Hanoi to mark the 10th anniversary of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)’s recognition of the Thang Long Imperial Citadel as a world cultural heritage.

Accordingly, the activities include thematic exhibitions "Ten years of researching, preserving and promoting the world heritage value of Thang Long Imperial Citadel" and "Provins Ancient Urban Area - Central Citadel of Thang Long, cultural heritage in the heart of the city"; the Vietnam Cultural Heritage Festival (on November 21 and 22); the International scientific seminar titled "Ten years of researching, preserving and promoting the world heritage value of Thang Long Imperial Citadel" and the main celebration at Kinh Thien palace on November 23.

The Thang Long Imperial Citadel was built in the 11th century under the Ly dynasty, marking the independence of the Dai Viet. The core area of the citadel was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site on July 31, 2010.

On October 1, 2010, on the occasion of the 1,000th Anniversary of Thang Long - Hanoi, UNESCO’s general director handed over the World Cultural Heritage Certificate of Thang Long Imperial Citadel to Hanoi’s government.

In 2020, the 10th anniversary of Thang Long Imperial Citadel being honored by UNESCO is an opportunity to review the cultural and heroic traditions of Thang Long - Hanoi. Besides, it is an opportunity to promote the outstanding global values ​​of the Thang Long Imperial Citadel, a heritage with more than a thousand years of history of the Vietnamese nation and an invaluable heritage of humanity.

Ten years after earning UNESCO’s recognition as a world cultural heritage site, the Thang Long Imperial Citadel has gradually gained popularity among both domestic and foreign tourists and served a venue for many major cultural events in Hanoi.

Over the past decade, the dissemination of information on the citadel has been promoted in diversified forms, such as through exhibitions and on websites and social networks, thus helped bring the heritage closer to the public.

Vietnam has turned a crisis into an opportunity for success: Diplomat

Vietnam did a good job as the ASEAN Chair this year, and the more than 80 documents adopted at the 37th ASEAN Summit and related summits last week is a proof that the country has turned a crisis into an opportunity for success, the Republic of Korea (RoK)’s Ambassador to the bloc Lim Sung-nam has said.

In an interview with the Vietnam News Agency, Lim said Vietnam did a very good job, and the summits from November 12 to 15 were a great success in three regards.

First and foremost, ASEAN together with the dialogue partners and the regional community could confirm the commitment to fight the COVID-19 in a very cooperative manner. Secondly, ASEAN also charted a blueprint for the post-pandemic economic recovery which is called the ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Framework. And last but not least, the signing of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) was another historical milestone.

The diplomat held that the Vietnamese Mission to ASEAN, Ambassador Tran Duc Binh and his team all deserve credit as the leadership they exerted was cohesive and responsive.

“To be more specific, they exerted patient and persistent leadership in navigating very difficult negotiation,” he said, citing the adoption of five statements by the East Asia Summit (EAS) as an example since it's not easy to bring all together EAS member states on the same boat so that they could adopt five statements, which is unprecedented in the history of the EAS.

Regarding the ASEAN-RoK cooperation this year, Ambassador Lim said his country did prove to ASEAN that a friend in need is a friend indeed.

The two sides are all in very difficult times because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but they also have taken advantage of the crisis to show the world and ASEAN that the RoK is a true friend of the bloc, he added, highlighting the RoK’s launch of a mega project worth 5 million USD for enhancing ASEAN member states’ capacity of COVID-19 detection, its donation of 1 million USD to the ASEAN COVID-19 response fund, and the contributions to the ASEAN medical supplies stockpile system.

Talking about the ASEAN-RoK cooperation for the time ahead, Lim noted that his country will promote the implementation of the New Southern Policy Plus, through which the RoK will continue to upgrade the level of cooperation in seven key areas, including health care, human resources development, trade and industry, cultural exchanges, non-traditional security, infrastructure, and the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

One of the key goals of the New Southern Policy Plus is to create the foundation for sustainable and mutually beneficial trade and investment, and that's more or less in line with the ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Framework.

The ambassador expressed his belief that by utilising those two frameworks, the RoK and ASEAN will continue to cooperate very closely for the mutually beneficial operation of the RCEP and at the same time to create a people-centered community of prosperity between the two sides in the coming years.

As for the RCEP, he said it will be a very important regional framework for further expanding trade and investment regionally and globally. In the post-pandemic years, the RCEP will provide a platform upon which the region as well as the global community will be able to recover from the economic recessions brought about by the COVID-19.

Besides, ASEAN has been the second largest trading partner of his country, and the RoK has been ASEAN's fifth largest trading partner. The bloc has also been the number two destination of foreign direct investment from the Northeast Asian nation. All these trade and investment ties will be further bolstered by the RCEP, according to him./.

Vinh Phuc ranks sixth in IT application nationwide

 

A corner of Vinh Yen city of Vinh Phuc province (Photo: nhandan.com.vn)

 

Northern Vinh Phuc province ranked sixth in the level of information technology application among the State agencies nationwide in 2019, surging by 33 places against the previous year.

The results were recently unveiled by the Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC).

Vinh Phuc also enjoyed progress in providing online public services, according to the rankings.

A report of the provincial People’s Committee said that all departments and sectors have access to internet and administrative procedures are handled online through the single-window system and the public service portal.

The rate of documents with digital signatures in the province now averages 88 percent.

The northern province is among the three localities rated Level A in cyber information security assessment for 2019 made by the Authority of Information Security (AIS) at the MIC.

The ratings covered the 63 provinces and centrally-run cities, and 26 ministries, ministerial-level agencies and Governmental agencies (except the ministries of public security, defence and information and communications).

Vinh Phuc, along with the central city of Da Nang and the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho, are rated Level A, while the State Bank of Vietnam is the only agency to achieve Level A./.

30-year response to HIV/AIDS in focus of national action month

The national action month on HIV/AIDS prevention and control is underway, providing an occasion for Vietnam and partners to look back on anti-HIV/AIDS achievements obtained over the last 30 years.

This year’s national action month, from November 10 to December 10, is themed “30 years of response to and opportunities to end the AIDS epidemic in Vietnam”, as 2020 is the 30th year since the first HIV infection was recorded in the country, according to the Vietnam Administration of HIV/AIDS Control (VAAC) under the Ministry of Health.

On August 14, the Prime Minister approved the national strategy for HIV/AIDS prevention and control for the new period, which targets an end to the AIDS epidemic by 2030.

Given this, the national action month is an important occasion for Vietnam and partners to review HIV/AIDS prevention and control attainments during the last three decades and learn lessons from them, the VAAC noted.

It said that there will be a number of practical activities to be held during the month, including a conference reviewing the 30 years of anti-HIV/AIDS efforts which will also mark the national action month and the World AIDS Day (December 1).

Authorities will also present gifts to disadvantaged children infected with HIV or affected by the epidemic at a treatment centre in Hanoi’s Ba Vi district.

VAAC Deputy Director Hoang Dinh Canh said the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the community has continued to ease while HIV testing services have been expanded and diversified, helping to detect nearly 10,000 new HIV cases.

Besides, social organisations’ participation in HIV/AIDS prevention and control has also been enhanced, the treatment of opioid addiction maintained and reformed, and the provision of PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) for HIV prevention implemented very well.

The antiretroviral (ARV) therapy has also been further expanded with higher quality, he noted, adding that more than 153,000 patients have successfully changed the ARV therapy from free drugs to those covered by health insurance.

However, Canh also acknowledged certain difficulties in the HIV/AIDS combat such as the emergence of new groups with high-risk behaviour, the shortage of personnel for prevention and control efforts, and the shortage of funding due to foreign sponsors’ aid reduction.

In the national strategy for ending AIDS by 2030, Vietnam targets to bring the number of newly detected HIV infections to under 1,000 each year, the fatalities linked with HIV/AIDS less than one per 100,000 people, and that HIV/AIDS will be no longer a public health concern./.

Nearly 280 Vietnamese citizens repatriated from Europe

A Vietnam Airlines plane brought close to 280 Vietnamese citizens back home from over 20 European nations on November 18 and 19.

The passengers included children under 18, students who completed their studies, the elderly and others in extremely disadvantaged circumstances.

The Vietnamese Embassies sent staff to Germany’s Frankfurt airport, where the citizens gathered, to assist them with boarding procedures.

In-flight safety and preventive measures against the COVID-19 pandemic were rigorously enforced to protect the passengers’ health and prevent the spread of the disease.

Upon arrival at the Van Don international airport in the northeastern province of Quang Ninh, all passengers and crew members received medical check-ups and were sent to quarantine in line with regulations.

The repatriation of Vietnamese citizens in disadvantaged circumstances abroad will continue to be conducted in line with their wishes, the developments of the COVID-19 pandemic, and quarantine capacity in Vietnam./.

Indonesian diplomat highlights significance of RCEP signing

The signing of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Agreement is ASEAN’s most outstanding achievement this year, Permanent Representative of Indonesia to ASEAN Ambassador Ade Padmo Sarwono said in an interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency (VNA)’s correspondent in Jakarta on November 18.

“RCEP should not be viewed simply as a trade agreement, but as a comprehensive economic cooperation agreement that contribute to regional political security and stability, and reinforces ASEAN centrality in Southeast Asia and the Indo-Pacific,” he said.

The diplomat noted the trade pact was originally proposed by Indonesia during ASEAN Chairmanship in 2011. Indonesia was the Chairman of the Trade Negotiating Committee (TNC), and after an eight-years long of relentless negotiations, it was finally signed on November 15.

According to the representative, the RCEP is the biggest trade agreement in the world with GDP accounting for 30.2 percent of of global GDP. It is also the most extensive free trade agreement to date which covers a great deal of essential trading and business issues, such as goods and services, investment, economic and technical cooperation, intellectual property rights, disputes settlement, e-commerce, and micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).

“The negotiation was successfully concluded after a grueling eight-year process and the pact was finally signed in the most challenging time made RCEP stands out even more as the most rewarding achievement,” Sarwono said.

He further said that the RCEP is the latest example of ASEAN’s long-term, staunch commitment to open regionalism and regional integration. Since the 1980s, and even more so following the 1997 Asian financial crisis, ASEAN’s response to both regional and global political and economic turmoil has been to double down and strengthen its integration efforts.

“With this agreement, Indonesia hopes it can create a favorable environment for economic and trade relations in the Indo-Pacific region as well as for contributing to economic recovery efforts,” the diplomat said.

He described the results of the 37th ASEAN Summit and related meetings as “very essential” and “timely,” given that the summit was held in the midst of COVID-19 which has significantly affected people’s lives, health and well-being, and exerted severe pressure on the world and regional economy.

The ambassador suggested ASEAN to start to implement the ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Framework (ACRF) which contained various immediate and integrated efforts to mitigate the impact of the pandemic on health and safety, while at the same time conducting economic recovery and maintaining supply chains and connectivity in the region.

Within the framework, Indonesia has proposed an ASEAN Declaration on ASEAN Travel Corridor Arrangement Framework to facilitate essential business travels among its member states while prioritizing public health safety, particularly in controlling the spread of the novel coronavirus without precluding the application of the framework to other categories of travel in the future. The Declaration has been adopted by ASEAN leaders at 37th Summit on November 13. Indonesia expects the Framework could be finalized in the first of next year so it can revive the regional economic interaction and then ASEAN citizens can travel again.

Sarwono went on to say that Vietnam has done its utmost efforts to execute the role as ASEAN Chair 2020 amid the unprecedented situation.

He urged ASEAN to maintain its cohesiveness and unity in the midst of global rivalry in the coming years. ASEAN also needs to maintain its centrality in all ASEAN led-mechanism, and must be firm in its principles including those outlined in the ASEAN Outlook on Indo-Pacific, he added.

“We must be able to response in a unison to regional and global challenges. Together we are stronger, and I believe with the spirit of togetherness, cohesiveness, ASEAN can response and overcome any kind of challenge lie ahead of it in the future,” the diplomat stressed./.

Cross-border drug trafficker arrested in Tay Ninh

Trinh Hoang Khang and the drug which is kept inside his automobile

 

The anti-drug police of the southern border province of Tay Ninh on November 19 said a man was recently captured for smuggling 17kg of drug.

Trinh Hoang Khang, born in 1994 and residing in Dong Hai district of the Mekong Delta province of Bac Lieu, was caught red-handedly in Tay Ninh’s Duong Minh Chau district.

The force and relevant agencies also seized an automobile and other exhibits.

The smuggler admitted that he was hired by a person in Cambodia to smuggle the drug into Vietnam.

The case is being further investigated./.

Vietnam, Panama boost bilateral cooperation and friendship

Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son on November 18 held talks via video conference with his Panamanian counterpart Federico Alfaro Boyd as part of activities marking the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations.

Son said Vietnam considers Panama an important partner in Latin America and wants to enhance its friendship and multifaceted cooperation with the country, especially in economy, trade, and investment.

The diplomat informed the Panamanian official about Vietnam’s socio-economic and political situation as well as its experience in COVID-19 control and prevention, and measures to recover the economy and ensure social security amid the pandemic.

In turn, Alfaro Boyd shared with Son Panama’s current situation and measures to sustain socio-economic stability during this challenging time.

He said Panama highly valued Vietnam’s achievements as the Chair of ASEAN in 2020 and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for 2020 – 2021, particularly in pandemic control and socio-economic development.

The officials reviewed cooperation areas between the two nations and two foreign ministries and discussed measures to step up bilateral partnership in the future.

They agreed to work closely in maintaining the growth momentum of the bilateral relationship, organise high-level visits whenever possible, and sustain the mechanism of joint committee on economic, trade and investment cooperation as well as political consultation between the two foreign ministries.

They agreed to promote Vietnam – Panama trade and investment exchanges via business delegation exchanges as well as collaboration in marine transport, agriculture, education and people-to-people exchanges.

The deputy ministers affirmed to coordinate closely at international organisations and multilateral forums and continue mutual support for each other’s candidacy for posts at the UN’s agencies and organisations.

They affirmed their support for multilateralism and the peaceful settlement of disputes based on international law.

Malaysia hails Vietnam’s ASEAN 2020 chairmanship

The 37th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits, despite the constraints posed by COVID-19, was able to bring together all the 10 ASEAN heads of Government, 10 foreign ministers, and eight representatives of the bloc’s dialogue partners, Kamsiah Kamaruddin, Permanent Representative of Malaysia to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), has said.

Calling the event a success, she told the Vietnam News Agency in an inclusive interview that 2020 marked an extraordinary year for ASEAN and the world as a whole.

The Malaysian diplomat underscored that Vietnam, as the Chair of the ASEAN 2020, has shown its tremendous leadership in steering ASEAN, ensuring that the bloc continues its work, given unprecedented COVID-19 challenges.

The country spearheaded and supported new initiatives that address the challenges faced by ASEAN and ASEAN member states during the pandemic, she noted.

According to her, the most meaningful achievement for Malaysia at the summit was the official release of the ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Framework (ACRF), which was first proposed by Malaysian Prime Minister YAB Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin during the ASEAN Plus Three Special Summit on COVID-19 held in April this year.

It reflects the bloc’s solidarity and capabilities in facing regional and global challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, she said.

The diplomat talked about the achievement of ASEAN initiatives on COVID-19, namely the COVID-19 ASEAN Response Fund, ASEAN Regional Reserve of Medical Supplies, and the establishment of the ASEAN Centre for Public Health Emergencies and Emerging Diseases.

She also highlighted the timely conclusion and signing of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) on November 15 on the sidelines of this annual summit, calling it a “holistic huge achievement” of the bloc and its five free trade agreement partners – China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Australia, and New Zealand.

Government allocates rice for disaster-hit central provinces

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has assigned the Ministry of Finance to allocate more than 4,303 tonnes of rice from the national reserve for residents affected by recent storms and floods in three central provinces.

Accordingly, 3,000 tonnes of rice will be provided for Ha Tinh province, 303 tonnes for Nghe An province and 1,000 tonnes for Binh Dinh province.

The PM asked the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs to prepare information and data for reports while the People’s Committees of the three provinces to promptly receive and distribute the allocated rice to right people in line with regulations.

Natural disasters have claimed 280 lives and caused a total loss of approximately 29.9 trillion VND (close to 1.29 billion USD) to Vietnam since the beginning of this year, according to the National Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control.

The natural disasters also injured 856 people and left 66 others unaccounted for. Torrential rains, floods and landslides collapsed over 3,420 houses, damaged over 327,700 and submerged nearly 509,800 others, affecting livelihoods of millions of people.

The country has so far recorded 13 typhoons entering the East Sea, 114 flash floods and landslides, 86 earthquakes and 264 thunderstorms and whirlwinds while drought, saltwater intrusion and river and coastal erosion have wreaked havoc across the Mekong Delta provinces.

Typhoon Vamco, the 13th storm to enter the East Sea this year, has so far caused 24 people in central Vietnam to suffer injuries.

Seven houses collapsed and more than 7,500 others were damaged or had their roofs blown away. The tropical storm also sank and destroyed 27 vessels and eroded close to 39km of riverbank and sea dykes./.

PM joins Hai Duong people in great national solidarity festival

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc holds a child while joining people in the great national solidarity festival in Hai Duong province on November 18

 

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc shared the joy of the great national solidarity festival with residents in Phu Lien hamlet of Hong Phong commune, Nam Sach district, the northern province of Hai Duong, on November 18.

The event was held to mark the 90th anniversary of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) (November 18).

Expressing his delight at improvements of the village, the commune and the province as a whole, PM Phuc said Hai Duong as well as its Nam Sach district and Hong Phong commune, has successfully realised the ultimate goal of the national target programme on new-style rural area building, which is promoting people’s material and spiritual lives.

He congratulated the province on its achievements over the past years, attributing those successes to all-level administrations’ leadership and the Vietnam Fatherland Front units’ active role in bringing into play the solidarity and unanimity in the entire Party and people.

The Government leader asked local administrations at all levels to work out solutions to continue promoting socio-economic development and people’s living standards.

They also need to have the high political resolve, make use of the public’s support, capitalise on the great national unity bloc, and boost the application of scientific and technological advances so as to turn Hai Duong into a development role model in the country, he noted.

Besides, local residents should uphold the traditional solidarity and have aspirations for a better life, the PM added./.

Vietnam attends 5th Senior Officials's Meeting for ASEAN+3 Cooperation on Civil Service Matters

Minister of Home Affairs Le Vinh Tan attended the 5th Senior Officials’ Meeting for ASEAN Plus Three Cooperation on Civil Service Matters (ACCSM +3) held virtually on November 18.

Chaired by Thailand, the Chair of the 20th ACCSM (2019 – 2020), the meeting gathered heads of civil service bodies of ASEAN member states and of China, the Republic of Korea (RoK), and Japan.

Delivering a report on the ACCSM Work Plan for 2016 – 2020, a representative from the ASEAN Secretariat said ASEAN Plus Three cooperation has boosted related commitments on COVID-19 prevention and control and built a coordination plan for countries involved.

Representatives of Thailand, Myanmar, China, Japan, and the RoK shared their nations’ practical experience in fighting the pandemic, including IT application in management, the organisation of teleconferences, and the encouragement of the working-from-home method.

Speaking at the meeting, Tan hailed Thailand’s effort and responsibility during its chairmanship, which have facilitated ACCSM initiatives in 2020 when several challenges arose.

The minister said this year is also a challenge to Vietnam as the Chair of ASEAN, adding that the Vietnamese Government has overcome these challenges to fulfill its chairmanship for a cohesive and responsive community, particularly in successfully hosting the 37th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits.

He hoped achievements of Vietnam’s ASEAN 2020 chairmanship will practically and effectively contribute to activities for building the ASEAN Community in the years to come.

Tan informed participants of the ministry’s master plan to be implemented during Vietnam’s upcoming chairmanship of the 21st ACCSM (2021-2022), whose proposed theme highlights civil service modernisation toward a cohesive and responsive ASEAN Community.

According to him, preparatory and official meetings of senior officials on ACCSM and a workshop on IT application in administrative service modernisation are slated for 2021, while meetings of heads of ACCSM and ACCSM 3 and a forum on national management will take place in 2022.

Tan expressed his hopes that the ministry, with cooperation and support from the ASEAN Secretariat and other ASEAN member states, will successfully undertake the chairmanship./.

University of Medicine and Pharmacy established

The Vietnam National University – Hanoi (VNU) on November 18 held a ceremony to announce the Prime Minister's decision on the establishment of its 8th member – the University of Medicine and Pharmacy (VNU-UMP).

Speaking at the ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam called the establishment a milestone of the VNU and of the health sector, and stressed the importance of caring for people’s wellbeing.

The official listed a number of the country’s medical shortcomings, including a lack of doctors, caregivers and educational facilities on medicine and pharmacy.

He said he wants graduates from the VNU-UMP in a decade from now will be prioritised workforce of centrally-run health establishments.

The VNU-UMP has been upgraded from a faculty on medicine and pharmacy to serve the VNU’s plan to become a multidisciplinary educational centre of Vietnam.

Employing 180 staff and teachers, it is offering six university disciplines and is capable of training up to 1,500 students.  In 2020, the university began its master programme covering three disciplines of pediatrics, eye health, and dentistry.

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