Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development Ha Cong Tuan said that wood and forestry products export turnover reached US$9.4 billion last year, accounting for more than 25 percent of total exports of agricultural industry with trade surplus hitting $7.1 million. Processing and exporting wood and forestry products have brought the highest export value for agricultural industry and contributed to economic growth of the country. There are more and more firms investing in processing wood companies. Figures from the Vietnam Administration of Forestry show that there are 4,500 wood and forestry products processing companies so far. Of which private companies accounts for 95 percent and more than 1,800 firms processing wood for export, up more than 300 firms compared to that in 2017. In 2005, Vietnamese wood products were exported to 60 countries and territories. By 2018, they have been exported to 120 countries and territories with best-selling products, including … [Read more...] about Wood processing industry concerns about material shortage
Trump, Kim portraits portray aspiration for peace: Vietnamese artist – VnExpress International
In an exposed brick-wall café in Hanoi, Binh is busy with his brush and messy palette, adjusting details on around ten colorful paintings placed around him. Binh, 37, is a freelance painter. He has been working on a series of portraits of U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, a project he began as soon as it was announced that their second summit would be held in Hanoi. "I hope to invite the two leaders here and gift them my paintings," Binh said with a smile. Binh, who started working nearly two weeks ago, expects to complete around 60 paintings by the summit on February 27-28. He said he was excited when he heard about the summit. "I want to mark a historical moment, as I am here to witness this summit as it happens," Binh said. "For this, the paintings would have historical value." Binh has done nearly 50 paintings of U.S president Donald Trump, and later 45 others of other presidents. Photo by VnExpress/Bao Ngoc The paintings, which use striking … [Read more...] about Trump, Kim portraits portray aspiration for peace: Vietnamese artist – VnExpress International
Trump, Kim lookalikes turn heads on Hanoi streets – VnExpress International
Australian-Hongkongese Howard X and Russel White of hitherto unconfirmed nationality attracted the attention they expected as they took a walk in Hanoi Friday. They walked from the Sofitel Legend Metropole hotel to the Hanoi Opera House for their summit and were mobbed by both passersby, local and international reporters. Vietnam is beautiful and safe, they remarked, adding they would stay in the capital city until February 28, when the summit ends. The duo announced plans to go to town on two of famed Vietnamese specialties, the pho rice noodle soup and nem cuon, Vietnamese spring rolls. Howard said these are his favorite dishes. They also plan to visit museums in the city to learn more about Vietnamese history, the said. As befits leaders of their stature, the duo were accompanied by four bodyguards, and a private car was on hand to take them around Hanoi. The Trump-Kim impersonator duo is accompanied by bodyguards. Photo by VnExpress "I have only seen [the duo] on photos … [Read more...] about Trump, Kim lookalikes turn heads on Hanoi streets – VnExpress International
Vietnam’s first private orchestra, Japanese violinist present concert in Hanoi
The performance titled "Dance to the Sun" will present to music lovers works by composers, including Grigor Arakelian, Felix Mendelssohn, Antonin Dvorak and Edvard Grieg. Keiko Urushihara is the youngest performer and the first Japanese winning the first prize as well as six other prizes at the 8th Wieniawski International Competition at her age 18 in 1981 while she was still a student of the high school attached to the Tokyo University of Arts. Keiko Urushihara has toured in Japan and abroad, appeared on TV, performed in major international music festivals, such as "Prague Spring", Haydn Festival, Euro Music Festival, Kiso Music Festival, Miyazaki International Music Festival, and Karuizawa International Music Festival. She has performed with such orchestras as the Moscow Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra, the Hungarian National Symphony Orchestra, the Slovak Philharmonic, the Vienna Radio Symphony, the Toulouse National Chamber Orchestra, and St. Petersburg Philharmonic. The Japanese … [Read more...] about Vietnam’s first private orchestra, Japanese violinist present concert in Hanoi
Party chief Trong’s Laos visit aims to consolidate bilateral special relationship
The visit, scheduled from February 24-25, demonstrates Viet Nam’s consistent policy of attaching special importance and giving high priority to advancing the bilateral ties. Over the past years, the two countries have effectively implemented high-level agreements and cooperation contents adopted at the meetings of the Intergovernmental Committee for Bilateral Cooperation. Increasingly strong political relation and trust play the core role guiding the bilateral cooperation while security-defense and diplomacy is a key pillar of the two countries’ relationship. The two sides have gradually handled undocumented migration and marriage along the shared border and coordinated in searching and repatriating remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who laid down their lives in Laos. According to statistics, as many as remains of 233 Vietnamese volunteer soldiers were repatriated to homeland between 2017 and 2018. On economic front, the two sides have effectively … [Read more...] about Party chief Trong’s Laos visit aims to consolidate bilateral special relationship