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Citizen protection provided to Vietnamese affected by record cold in Texas

February 25, 2021 by en.vietnamplus.vn

Snow storm in Texas (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) – The Vietnamese Consulate General in Texas and Vietnamese representative offices in the US are keeping a close watch on the record cold temperatures in Texas, have appointed staff on-duty around the clock, and are coordinating with host authorities to conduct necessary citizen protection measures, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang said on February 25.

Hang told reporters that a majority of the 300,000 or so Vietnamese people in Texas have been seriously affected by the record-breaking snow storm and cold spell, which cut power and water supplies.

According to official information from Texas authorities, four Vietnamese Americans were killed in a fire in the state, Hang said, adding that the Vietnamese Consulate General in Houston has contacted Vietnamese people and students in the local area to offer support.

People seeking help are advised to contact the citizen protection hotlines of the Vietnamese Embassy in the US and the Vietnamese Consulate General in Houston, or the Citizen Protection Call Centre of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Consular Department./.

VNA

Vietnam lures 5.46 billion USD in foreign investment

February 25, 2021 by en.vietnamplus.vn

As much as 5.46 billion USD worth of foreign direct investment (FDI) is injected into Vietnam as of February 20. (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) – As much as 5.46 billion USD worth of foreign direct investment (FDI) was injected into Vietnam as of February 20, equivalent to 84.4 percent of the figure recorded in the same time last year, according to the Ministry of Planning and Investment .

As many as 126 foreign projects were granted investment licences with total registered capital of 3.31 billion USD, a year-on-year fall of 33.9 percent.

Meanwhile, 115 existing projects adjusted their investment capital with a total additional sum of 1.61 billion USD, or 2.5 times higher than the same time last year.

Capital contributions and shares purchases by foreign investors stood at 543.1 million USD, down 34.4 percent.

Foreign investors pumped capital in 17 sectors, with processing and manufacturing holding the lead with over 3 billion USD or 55.7 percent, followed by power production and distribution with 1.44 billion USD (26.5 percent), real estate 485 million USD, and science-technology nearly 153 million USD.

Japan topped the list of 46 countries and territories landing investment in Vietnam , with 1.64 billion USD, equivalent to nearly 30 percent of the total. Singapore came second with 1.07 billion USD (19.6 percent), and the Republic of Korea third with 1.05 billion USD (19.3 percent).

The ministry said the southern province of Can Tho lured the lion’s share of FDI with 1.31 billion USD, accounting for 24.2 percent of the total. Hai Phong city was the runner-up since it attracted nearly 918 million USD, or 16.8 percent. Bac Giang came third with nearly 573 million USD (10.5 percent).

So far this year, the foreign-invested sector has earned 38.07 billion USD from exports, up 34 percent year-on-year, and making up 76.1 percent of the nation’s total export turnover. At the same time, it spent 31.6 billion USD on imports, up 31.2 percent year-on-year, and accounting for 66.6 percent of the country’s total import value. That resulted in a trade surplus of nearly 6.5 billion USD./.

VNA

Localities launch tourism stimulation products

October 15, 2020 by en.nhandan.org.vn

The programme, themed “Seven localities – attractive and safe tourism”, will be implemented by Ho Chi Minh City and six other provinces including Ba Ria – Vung Tau, Binh Duong, Binh Phuoc, Binh Thuan, Dong Nai and Tay Ninh.

Under the programme, the localities will enhance their cooperation to effectively promote and explore tourism products as well as stimulation activities such as the reduction of prices for accommodation services, entrance fees and vouchers for tourists attractions.

In Lao Cai province, Sapa is one of the destinations pioneering the second tourism stimulation initiative with a programme entitled “I Love Sapa”.

Accordingly, Sun World Fansipan Legend is applying the programme “Love Vietnam” with a free buffet lunch worth VND200,000 for tourists buying cable car tickets to the top of Fansipan mountain or a return ticket on the Muong Hoa train worth VND100,000 on all weekdays from now until the end of December.

In addition, Sapa town will welcome visitors with unique art performances by local artists.

In the near future, huge discounts and promotions will be offered by a series of travel businesses, hotels and restaurants in the town.

However, the locality will continue to strictly implement measures to prevent and control the epidemic.

Da Nang has been the locality most affected by the second COVID-19 outbreak in late July. Once the epidemic was brought under control, the city’s tourism sector launched the campaign “Da Nang misses You” campaign to attract tourists.

Ho Chi Minh City also has a programme themed “Hello Ho Chi Minh City” to introduce the image of a safe, dynamic and friendly city. Accordingly, tickets to tourist attractions and tourism service providers have been reduced.

Meanwhile, Quang Ninh province issued a stimulation package worth around VND100 billion; offered a 50% discount on tickets to destinations in Ha Long Bay, entrance fees to famous sights and selected accommodation in the locality.

On the occasion, Binh Thuan and Khanh Hoa provinces have also developed many new tourism products as well as expanding their stimulation programmes to attract more visitors.

Art show “Only love remains” to honour doctors and medical staffs

February 25, 2021 by hanoitimes.vn

The Hanoitimes – The program is even more meaningful as the country is combating the Covid-19 pandemic, in which many doctors and nurses are devoting their utmost efforts to cure the infected people and rescue the most critical patients.

An art event entitled “Only love remains” will broadcast live on VTV2 channel of Vietnam Television at 9pm on February 26 on the occasion of the 66th anniversary of the Vietnamese Doctor’s Day (February 27).

The 90-minute event is expected to highlight outstanding achievements of Vietnamese doctors and instill a sense of pride and admiration among audiences.

The art performance is a once-in-a-year occasion for the Party, government and Vietnamese people to appreciate achievements and great efforts made by doctors, scientists and medical staffs who overcame many difficulties and hardships to fulfill their tasks, and encourage them to contribute more to the nations’ healthcare system.

The “Only love remains” art performance also honors the outstanding individuals who have great contributions to the Vietnamese medicine, including Doctor Nguyen Tai Thu, the renowned acupuncture master who passed away some days ago.

Late professor Nguyen Tai Thu – Photo: Kinh te & Do thi.

Thu’s life and work story featured in the program will bring to the audience an authentic perspective on medical ethics of the acupuncturist.

Late professor Thu is a leading Vietnamese acupuncturist who developed acupuncture into a scientific and academic technique applied locally and around the world. His contributions to Vietnamese acupuncture will never be forgotten and are being passed on by the next generations.

The professor is also renowned as “the doctor of the poor”. Thu spent most of his time studying acupuncture therapies and helping poor people. He mobilised financial resources to offer free treatment for poor children with disabilities or hereditary complications.

The program is even more meaningful as the country is combating the Covid-19 pandemic, in which many doctors and nurses are devoting their utmost efforts to cure the infected people and rescue the most critical patients. Thanks to their great contributions, Vietnam has achieved remarkable results in the fight against Covid-19 pandemic.

The “Only love remains” art performance will draw the attendance of some distinguished guests such as Associate Professor, Dr. Tran Van Thanh, Director of the Central Acupuncture Hospital; Doctor Tran Phuong Dong, Deputy Director of Central Acupuncture Hospital; Professor, Dr. Ta Thanh Van; writer Dieu An; and journalist Dinh Duc Hoang, among others.

Hanoi strives to accelerate disbursement of public investment

September 4, 2020 by en.nhandan.org.vn

Low disbursement rate

The important project of building urban railway line No.3 connecting Nhon and Hanoi Station (with a total length of 12.5km and an investment of VND32.9 trillion) is facing slow progress with only 43% of investment disbursed.

Investment capital in railway line No.2 connecting Nam Thang Long and Tran Hung Dao also cannot be disbursed in time in 2020 due to project adjustments after the Law on Public Investment was enacted.

The Yen Xa wastewater treatment plant project started in October 2016 with investment of over VND16 trillion but only 40% of construction items has been completed.

These are key public investment projects in Hanoi that are stagnant, with low disbursement rates. In addition, there are a number of other sluggish projects such as 11 projects to build police headquarters at district, commune and ward levels with a total investment of VND237 billion and only 40% of capital disbursed as well as the project to build the Le Van Luong – Belt road 3 underground tunnel with an investment of VND50 billion but with onlyVND5.8 billion disbursed, among others.

Vice Chairman of Hanoi People’s Committee Le Hong Son said that the city decided to spend VND45.5 trillion worth of public investment on public projects in 2020. The city has disbursed VND26.6 trillion in the first eight months of this year, up 2.8% over the same period last year and equivalent to 58.6% of the yearly plan.

Regarding infrastructure construction projects, the city set the target of allocating VND14.8 trillion to 272 projects but only 50 projects have been completed, Son noted.

Removing problems

According to the Hanoi municipal People’s Committee, the disbursement of public investment and the implementation of public projects remains slow mainly due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, inadequacies in legal documents, prolonged land clearance and the weaknesses of deployment units.

Director of the Urban Railway Project Management Board Nguyen Cao Minh said that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, foreign experts could not go to Hanoi while equipment and components ordered from abroad were also delayed, slowing down the progress of urban railway lines.

In addition, land clearance and resettlement of affected residents continues to encounter problems including the identification of the origin of land and complaints against compensation policy and prices, which also affect the construction progress.

The complicated overlapping of regulations between the Law on Public Investment and other laws also reduces the speed of public projects.

Director of the Hanoi Management Board of Projects on Water Supply, Drainage and Environment Nguyen Van Hung added that the stagnant disbursement is also attributable to irresponsibility in the operating process of investors and the lack of capacity of staff on project management boards.

To speed up the disbursement of public investment, Hanoi will continue to implement ten groups of tasks and solutions. In particular, the city will focus on directing investors to urgently carry out projects on the list of medium-term public investment plans as approved by the City People’s Council.

The city will also strengthen the inspection and supervision of investment projects with low disbursement results to promptly handle delayed projects. Meanwhile, departments and agencies should continue to review and implement administrative reform for procedures regarding construction investment and compensation for land clearance and land acquisition, amongst others.

“The city will closely monitor the implementation of projects and promptly adjust the capital plans from projects with slow disbursement to other projects. The city will also give specific directions on the handling of problems regarding each project while strengthening management and supervision at construction sites to achieve the disbursement target of 97% to 100% of public investment capital in 2020 and in January 2021, making an important contribution to achieving set growth targets,” said Standing Vice Chairman of Hanoi People’s Committee Nguyen Van Suu.

Vietnam attracts US$23.48 billion in FDI in ten months

October 27, 2020 by en.nhandan.org.vn

The FDI capital includes newly registered capital, supplemented capital, share purchasing and the capital contributions of foreign investors during the ten-month period.

In the January-October period, a total of US$15.8 billion worth of FDI was disbursed, equivalent to 97.5% of the corresponding period in 2019.

About 2,100 new FDI projects were licensed during the period with a total registered capital of US$11.66 billion, down 32.1% and 9.1% in terms of the number of projects and volume of capital during the same period last year.

As many as 109 countries and territories invested in Vietnam with Singapore being the leading investor, having poured US$7.51 billion into Vietnam, accounting for 31.9% of total FDI capital in Vietnam.

The Republic of Korea was the runner-up with US$3.42 billion, accounting for 14.6% of the total FDI capital in Vietnam while China came in third.

Investors injected finance into 18 areas with 45.7% of total capital invested in the manufacturing sector.

Ho Chi Minh City attracted the largest number of projects with 776, followed by Hanoi with 438 projects and Bac Ninh with 125 projects.