At the international seminar on achievements, difficulties and challenges facing ASEAN’s integration (Photo: VNA) Moscow (VNA) – Russian experts have highly valued the role and strategic position of ASEAN in the region and in the world, particularly given recent global fluctuations. They made the comment at an international seminar on achievements, difficulties and challenges facing the bloc’s integration held Moscow on May 25 and 26. The event, co-organised by two academies and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia, gathered representatives of ASEAN embassies and 40 Russian and international experts. The hybrid event saw 30 presentations in five working sessions, whose topics revolved around ASEAN’s external relations policy, relations with strategic partners, experience in regional integration, and sustainable development. Participants analysed ASEAN ’s roles and stances on building a regional security structure; and development orientations in digitisation, … [Read more...] about Russian scholars praise ASEAN’s role, position
Costly drinking water in world
Green Tourism – An ideal way to spread Muong ethnic culture
That is the statement of Le Quoc Thinh, Director of Cuc Phuong Tourism Services Joint Stock Company (Vedana Resort) when introducing events aiming at promoting Cuc Phuong and Ninh Binh tourism after a long period of shutdown due to COVID-19. According to Chairman of Nho Quan district People’s Committee Hoang Khac Tiep, “Nho Quan is endowed with many historical relics and landmarks such as Van Trinh cave, Yen Quang lake, Dong Chuong lake, Cuc Phuong hot mineral water.” In particular, with the natural reserve area and new-stone-age cultural relics, Cuc Phuong National Park has received the title of Asia's leading national park for two consecutive years (2019, 2020) rated by World Travel Awards. It is worth mentioning that Nho Quan has nearly 30,000 ethnic people living in Muong villages. The strategy set by the district is to exploit existing indigenous cultural elements to combine with the trend of ecotourism, which is thriving in Ninh Binh province. Tourists have opportunities to … [Read more...] about Green Tourism – An ideal way to spread Muong ethnic culture
Legislators give ideas for revision of Medical Examination and Treatment Law
Modern equipment help improve medical examination and treatment service quality at Hospital A in Thai Nguyen province (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Legislators at the 15th National Assembly (NA) discussed in groups the draft Law on Medical Examination and Treatment (revised) on May 26 during their ongoing third session. Many deputies pointed out that after 10 years of implementation, the law has created an important legal framework for the caring and protection of people’s health through the management of medical activities, ensuring rights of patients. However, it has exposed a number of shortcomings and limitation, making it no longer suitable to the reality. According to Bac Ninh province’s representative Nguyen Thi Ha, the bill should specify policies to encourage the research and application of science and technologies in medical examination and treatment through support in land use, tax and finance, thus drawing more investment and knowledge from other countries. Deputies … [Read more...] about Legislators give ideas for revision of Medical Examination and Treatment Law
G7 nations vow to stop fossil-fuel financing abroad by end 2022
G7 nations vow to stop fossil-fuel financing abroad by end 2022, illustration photo source: freepik.com "We commit to end new direct public support for the international unabated fossil fuel energy sector by the end of 2022," G7 energy and climate ministers said in a joint statement following talks in Berlin. The term "unabated" refers to projects that do not employ techniques to offset some of the pollution caused by carbon dioxide emissions. Ending subsidies for the international fossil fuel energy sector was already part of a series of commitments agreed to by around 20 countries at last year's COP26 climate summit in Glasgow. Six of the G7 club of rich nations were among the signatories at the time -- Britain, Canada, Germany, France, Italy and the United States -- but Japan had resisted until now. "It is good that Japan, the world's largest financier of fossil fuels, has now joined the other G7 countries in making a shared commitment to end overseas fossil fuel … [Read more...] about G7 nations vow to stop fossil-fuel financing abroad by end 2022
Lao government urges against unnecessary travel to save fuel
People in Laos line up to buy petrol (Photo: AFP) Vientiane (VNA) – The Lao Ministry of Industry and Commerce and the Lao Fuel and Gas Association are urging people to be frugal in their use of fuel and not to travel unnecessarily. The call is to ensure that enough reserves of petrol are available for use for farming and other essential activities. Some farmers have complained that they are unable to cultivate their crops because of the petrol shortage and called on the relevant parties to take speedy action to tackle the crisis. Khammuan is one of the many provinces suffering from a lack of fuel, and pumps at some petrol stations have run dry, meaning that many motorists are unable to use their vehicles. The National Assembly of Laos has passed a resolution to reduce the excise tax on fuel s in order to attempt to avert a fuel crisis in the country, reports Laotian Times. Excise tax on diesel fuels will be reduced from 21 percent to 11 percent, while … [Read more...] about Lao government urges against unnecessary travel to save fuel
Myanmar prohibits foreign currency in local payments
People wait to withdraw money from an ATM outside a branch of Myawaddy Bank in Yangon on February 23. (Photo: AFP/VNA) Hanoi (VNA) - The Central Bank of Myanmar (CBM) has banned the use of foreign currency for local payments to stabilise the foreign exchange rate in the country, reported Xinhua news agency. The CBM asked government agencies to pay with only Myanmar kyat, saying the use of foreign currencies for domestic payments could lead to higher demand for dollars and cause exchange rate instability. The move came after it found out that some government agencies and organisations were using foreign currencies for local payments . They were using and accepting foreign currencies in some of their activities including renting lands, capital investments for insurance business and income from joint ventures, said Win Thaw, CBM deputy governor. The notification has already been sent to all ministries, region and state governments and municipal committees of … [Read more...] about Myanmar prohibits foreign currency in local payments