Vientiane (VNA) – National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan met with Party General Secretary and President of Laos Bounnhang Volachith on September 26 as part of her official visit to the neighbouring country. The top legislator noted with joy the fruitful development of traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos. Vietnam always gives the top priority to consolidating and enhancing the relationship, she affirmed, adding that the two countries are joining hands in organising activities marking the 55th anniversary of the bilateral diplomatic ties and 40 years of the signing of the Vietnam-Laos Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in 2017. Briefing her host on outcomes of her talks with Lao National Assembly (NA) Chairwoman Pany Yathotou, the guest said the two sides reached consensus on action plans and cooperation orientations between the two NAs in the time ahead. Accordingly, they will increase the exchange of … [Read more...]
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Philippines’ Duterte wants to ‘open alliances’ with Russia, China
President Duterte said the Philippines was at the "point of no return" in its relations with former colonial ruler the United States. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday he would visit Russia and China this year to chart an independent foreign policy and "open alliances" with two powers with historic rivalries with the United States. Duterte said the Philippines was at the "point of no return" in its relations with former colonial ruler the United States, so he wanted to strengthen ties with others, and picked two global powers with which Washington has been sparring with on the international political stage. He last week declared he would soon - and often - visit China, with which ties remain frosty over a South China Sea (Vietnam's East Sea) arbitration ruling won by the Philippines in July. He said Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev was expecting him in Moscow. China claims most of the South China Sea, through which more than $5 trillion of trade moves annually. … [Read more...]
Italy – a companion to Vietnam during development: minister
Hanoi (VNA) - Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc met on September 26 with Italy's Minister of Infrastructure and Transport Graziano Delrio, who said his country will be a companion to Vietnam during the course of development. He rejoiced at the progress seen in bilateral relations since they were lifted to a strategic partnership in January 2013, especially after the Vietnam visits by Italian PM Matteo Renzi in June 2014 and President Sergio Mattarella in November 2015. Italy remains a big trade partner of Vietnam in the EU with bilateral trade growing over the years to 4.3 billion USD in 2015. The PM believes that their economic, trade and investment ties will be strengthened as Italy's Chamber of Deputies ratified the Vietnam-EU Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Partnership and Cooperation, and Vietnam and the EU are working towards signing and implementing a bilateral free trade agreement. The Vietnamese Government supports Italian firms in making long-term business plans and … [Read more...]
Australian students show growing interest in Vietnam
(CPV) - Next year, 340 Australian undergraduate students will study and undertake internships in Vietnam under the Australian Government’s flagship New Colombo Plan (NPC) education program. This number has increased by over 35% compared to 2016 and is more than double the number of students in 2015, when Vietnam first joined the program. In 2017, Vietnam ranks 7th among 38 eligible host countries/locations in the Indo-Pacific region in terms of number of students enrolled. "The outcomes show Australian students’ increasing interest in Vietnam and this is a wonderful compliment to the strong and long-lasting education ties between our two countries. I strongly believe that the new insights and understanding about Vietnam as well as new friendships that Australian students have established here in Vietnam will benefit the bilateral relations between our two countries for a long time,” said Mr Craig Chittick, Australian Ambassador to Vietnam. Twelve Australian design … [Read more...]
Smart toilets challenge users in Nha Trang
Many people have been complaining about the inconvenience of smart public toilets in the southern central coastal city of Nha Trang. Although those smart public toilets were built several years ago to serve the large number of visitors to the popular beaches here, many of them have been rarely used as they appear too intimidating. According to local people and visitors, the problem is that these automatic toilets ask for coins while coins are no longer in circulation. "We are told to exchange coins at tourist offices or parking staff at Thuan Viet Coffee to use the toilets," said a tourist, Nguyen Van Linh. "It’s very inconvenient." Pham Huy Thang, a local man, said that besides the coin problems, they are also made difficult with the long instructions and regulations some of which were hard to follow. "People are not allowed to use the toilets for more than 6 minutes," Thang cited one of the instructions. "If you’re sick maybe this isn’t possible." Nha Trang … [Read more...]
Vietnam-China relationship makes big strides: workshop
Delegates at a workshop in Hanoi on September 26 emphasized the need for Vietnam and China to enhance their cooperation in all aspects, and join hands in removing difficulties for the sake of the two countries’ people. The workshop was jointly held by the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences (VASS) and the National Institute of Chinese Studies (VNISC) to review the Vietnam-China relations after 25 years of normalization and seek ways to step up the bilateral ties. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Quang Thuan, VASS President, said since the two countries normalized their relations in 1991, their affiliation in politics, economics and culture has made big strides. Assoc. Pr. Nguyen Huy Quy from the VNISC said in the field of politics and diplomacy, Vietnam and China have upgraded their “abnormal relations” during the 1975-1990 period to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership based on the principle of the “16-word” motto (friendly neighborliness, comprehensive … [Read more...]
Fishery catching reaches 2.3 million tonnes in nine months
Hanoi (VNA) – Fishery catching in the first nine months of this year was more than 2.3 million tonnes, up 2.7 percent over the same period last year, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD). Thanks to favourable weather at sea during the period, especially in southern central and Mekong Delta regions, seafood catching reached nearly 2.2 million tonnes, a rise of 2.8 percent compared to the same time last year. Reports from localities showed that tuna outputs of three southern central provinces of Khanh Hoa, Binh Dinh and Phu Yen in January-September period were nearly 7.3 million tonnes, drop 0.03 percent year on year. Meanwhile, aquatic farming output in September was 319,000 tonnes, a rise of 7.4 percent over the same period last year, raising total figure in nine months to 2.6 million tonnes, an increase of 1.8 percent year on year. So far this year, the low demand of export markets has posed difficulties to seafood shipment. At the same time, the … [Read more...]
German television features Vietnam and its people
Ha Giang (VNA) – A team from the German television ARD has been working on a programme to discover Vietnam and its people. Philipp Abresch, head of the ARD Office Southeast Asia in Singapore and a member of the team, said this is the second time the team has produced a programme on Vietnam. The team travelled throughout Vietnam to record the beautiful landscapes and cultural traditions of the country, especially of ethnic minority groups. Besides Hanoi, Ha Long and Hoi An, the German producers came to the northern mountainous province of Ha Giang to capture landscapes and locals’ farming methods in Hoang Su Phi. All the team members were impressed at colourful terraced fields as well as the warm welcome of local ethnic people in traditional costumes, he said. The 45-minute programme is scheduled to air in 2017.-VNA … [Read more...]
Fuyo scholarships awarded to 80 outstanding students
Hanoi (VNA) – Fuyo scholarships, each worth 300 USD, were awarded to 80 university students across Vietnam who made outstanding performance in the 2015-2016 school year at a ceremony in Hanoi on September 26. The annual scholarship is a joint effort by the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the Ministry of Education and Training and Japan’s Fuyo Group to encourage Vietnamese students to study and do scientific research at universities, thus contributing to the country’s human resources development. Since it was set up in 1997, the Fuyo scholarship fund has granted scholarships to 1,342 students from universities nationwide with a total amount of 260,000 USD. Bilateral relations between Vietnam and Japan have prospered over the past years. The Japanese Government has actively supported Vietnam in developing education through a number of projects.-VNA … [Read more...]
Agro-forestry-fisheries export hits 23.3 billion USD in nine months
Vietnam's agro-forestry-fisheries export in September is estimated at 2.5 billion USD, bringing the total nine-month figure to 23.3 billion USD, up 6 percent year on year. According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the country exported 396,000 tones of rice worth 176 million USD during the month. On the January-September calculation, the volume of exported rice hit 3.76 million tones, valued at 1.69 billion USD, down 16.4 percent in volume and 12.5 percent in value, respectively. China remains the largest importer of Vietnamese rice with a 35.5 percent market share, followed by Ghana and Indonesia with respective market shares of 11 percent and 9.4 percent. Meanwhile, coffee recorded a 22 percent export growth - the strongest among industrial plants from the same period of last year. As many as 113,000 tones worth 221 million USD were shipped overseas during the month, driving the total volume and value for nine months to 1.39 million tones and 2.48 billion USD. … [Read more...]
HCMC streets in chaos after downpour
Heavy downpours during rush hour have frozen Saigon traffic with flood water even penetrating into buildings in central districts. The heavy rain since 4 p.m. in the afternoon of September 26 has caused severe traffic jams in several districts. Pasteur-Ham Nghi junction (District 1), Nguyen Huu Canh Street and Nguyen Duy Trinh (District 2) are inundated in 0.5m water. The ground floor of Bitexco Tower in District 1 has been submerged by the water. Even higher grounds in the city such as the area of Nam Ky Khoi Nghia and Tran Hung Dao streets (District 3) cannot escape from the flood. Series of vehicles have broken down on the streets, forcing passers-by to push them along. Traffic on Phan Thuc Duyen, Phan Dinh Giot, Nguyen Hong Dao (Tan Binh Dictrict), Le Duc Tho, Quang Trung (Go Vap District), Pham Hung (District 8) and Huynh Tan Phat (District 7) streets is reported to be chaotic due to the flood. Truong Son Street, which leads to Tan Son Nhat Airport was also submerged, … [Read more...]
Regiment 28’s veterans gather in Ho Chi Minh City
PANO – More than 200 war veterans gathered in HCMC in celebration of the 50th founding anniversary of Artillery Regiment 28 under Division 5, Military Zone 7 (April 16, 1966). The meeting was held on September 25 by the regiment’s liaison panel, in presence of MZ 7’s leaders, representatives from the Division 5 Command. At the gathering, the delegates recalled the unit’s heroic tradition over 50 years of construction and development. During the war against American imperialists for national salvation and in its international service in Cambodia, the unit’s troops overcame difficulties to fight the enemy and build the unit. The regiment engaged in over 1,000 battles, and achieved many resounding feats of arms in contribution to the cause of Southern liberation and reunification of the country, and the international missions. As a result, the regiment was conferred with the title “Hero of the People’s Armed Forces” by the Party and State. … [Read more...]
ABG5’s diary: Phan Thi Phuong bags first gold medal for Vietnam
PANO - Phan Thi Phuong was the first athlete bagging the first gold medal for the Vietnam team atthe ongoing fifth Asian Beach Games (ABG5) hosted by Vietnamese central city of Da Nang. In the final of Beach Woodball’s Women’s Fairway Single on September 25 afternoon, Phuong defeated her Vietnamese rival Nguyen Huyen Trang by 3-0. Also on the day, two other gold medals for the Vietnam team came from Kurash athletes Hoang Thi Tinh in women’s 48kg and Nguyen Thi Thanh Thuy in women’s 52kg. Other Vietnamese bronze medalists included Muay athletes Le Hoang Duc for men’s 48-51kg and Tran Thi Truc in women’s 51-54kg, Kurash athlete Vo Pham Hoang An and Le Thanh Chuong in men’s under 60kg and Woodball athlete Vu Hong Quan in men’s Fairway Single. Meanwhile, in the final of Marathon Swimming, with the results of 2 hours 2 minutes and 7 seconds and 58 minutes and 3 seconds, Kazakhstani swimmer Khudyakov Vitaliy won the gold medals in men’s … [Read more...]
FDI attraction hits over 16 bln USD in nine months
Vietnam attracted 16.43 billion USD in foreign direct investment (FDI) as of September 20, equivalent to 95.8 percent of the amount reported in the same period last year, according to the Foreign Investment Agency (FIA). Of the total, 11.17 billion USD came from 1,820 new projects, and the remaining 5.26 billion USD from investment added to 851 existing projects. In the period, FDI disbursement surged 12.4 percent year on year to an estimated 11.02 billion USD, the agency said. Foreign investors poured money into 19 sectors, with manufacturing and processing industries topping the lead with 12.15 billion USD, accounting for 73.9 percent of the total registered FDI. It was followed by the real estate and sci-tech sectors, with 1 billion USD and 649 million USD, or 6.1 percent and 3.9 percent of the total FDI, respectively. As many as 65 countries and territories invested in Vietnam in the reviewed period. The Republic of Korea (RoK) remained the leading investor, with 5.58 billion USD, … [Read more...]
Vietnamese mathematicians oppose multiple-choice questions for maths
Viet Nam News HÀ NỘI - The Việt Nam Mathematical Society (VMS) has asked the Ministry of Education and Training (MoET) to postpone the introduction of multiple-choice math questions for the 2017 national high school examination. VMS Secretary General Phùng Hồ Hải said the society has suggested to the ministry to retain the current written format for math. The ministry should organise national seminars to analyse scientific arguments on whether to introduce multiple-choice questions for math and evaluate the effectiveness of multiple choice math tests at some universities in Việt Nam over the years, he said. Based on the results of the seminars, the ministry should make a decision, Hải said. In case there is a change in the test format, students and teachers should be given some time to prepare for the transition, he said. The Executive Committee of VMS has proposed a dialogue with MoET leaders to reach a social consensus and meet the educational goals and aspirations of students, … [Read more...]
NA Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan holds talks with Lao counterpart
(VOVworld)- On Monday, Vietnamese National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan held talks with her Lao counterpart Pany Yathotou. The two legislators discussed ways to further bilateral cooperation between the two legislatures and the two countries. They agreed to strengthen cooperation in human resource training, share their experience in institution building, and law building and the oversight of law enforcement. They will work together to inaugurate the Vietnam-Lao Revolutionary History Relic Site in Son La marking the 55th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties and 40th anniversary of the Vietnam-Laos Friendship and Cooperation Treaty. The Lao National Assembly supports the Joint Statement on the East Sea of the 49th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. Laos pledged to sustainably and effectively use water resources in the Mekong River and seriously implement agreements signed by the two countries’ leaders. … [Read more...]
Mekong Delta’s response to climate change
(VOVworld)- A conference on climate change adaptation and water resource management in the Mekong River Delta took place in Ca Mau on Monday. In his address, the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Hong Ha said climate change seriously threatens the Mekong River Delta. In addition, the exploitation of upper stream water, especially hydro-power dams in the Mekong River are affecting the currents and exhausting water resources in the region. Mr. Ha said:“Due to the impact of climate change, the Mekong River Delta has become less fertile. We need to change our mindset for development. We cannot depend on nature but must use our wisdom and technology to develop sustainably. We need to turn the challenges of climate change into development opportunities”. At the conference, delegates discussed the impact of climate change and sea-level rises in the Mekong Delta. They introduced solutions to properly manage water resources, reduce drought and salt water … [Read more...]
PM receives Chinese Minister of Public Security, Deputy Chief of Indonesia’s National Police
(VOVworld)- Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has pledged to create favorable conditions for the public security ministries of Vietnam and China to deepen their results-oriented cooperation, contributing to the bilateral comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc receives Chinese Minister of Public Security Guo Shengkun At a meeting with the Chinese Minister of Public Security Guo Shengkun in Hanoi Monday, PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc urged the two public security ministries to carry out their cooperation agreements more effectively, guided by the common perception reached by leaders of the two countries. Specifically, the PM suggested both sides increase delegation exchanges, enhance the sharing of information and experience in combating crimes, particularly hi-tech crime and the sabotage of national security, while launching more joint drives to crack down on transnational crimes such as drug and human trafficking. PM Phuc called for the boosting … [Read more...]
Police issue wanted notice for murder suspect
Viet Nam News QUẢNG NINH - The Quảng Ninh Police yesterday issued a most wanted notice for Doãn Trung Dũng, the prime suspect in the murders of a grandmother and her three grandchildren in Phương Nam Ward of Uông Bí City. The police also initiated legal proceedings against the suspect. Dũng, 45, also of Uông Bí City, has a rectangular-shaped face, a small scar some 4cm from the left corner of the mouth and is about 1.8m tall. At the scene of the crime, police found traces of fingerprints, shoeprints with blood and other objects, pointing to Dũng as the prime suspect. During the past two days, security along roads in the city is being monitored strictly. The police have checked thousands of hotels and other places of interest in the city and Quảng Ninh Province to search for Dũng. The police asked anyone who finds the suspect to call the telephone number 069.280.8133, 091.325.1857 or 091.326.3421 to contact the police immediately. The bodies of 61-year-old Nguyễn Thị Hát and … [Read more...]
NA Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan meets Lao Party General Secretary and President
(VOVworld) – National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan on Monday paid a courtesy visit to Lao Party General Secretary and President Bounnhang Volachitht. She informed him of the outcome of her meeting with Chairman of the Lao National Assembly Pany Yathotou. Both sides agreed on more cooperation in the future and pledged to exchange legislative information and experience to carry out their law-making functions. Lao Party General Secretary and President Bounnhang Volachitht appreciated Ms. Ngan’s visit to Laos to deepen the two countries’ special relationship and comprehensive cooperation. … [Read more...]