Edsall chain reaction

VN responsible member of international community, observes international law: Spokesperson

February 25, 2021 by vietnamnews.vn

The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS John S. McCain (DDG 56) transits through South China Sea while conducting routine underway operations, February 5, 2021. — Photo from the US Department of Defense

HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam is a responsible member of the international community and always upholds provisions under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Seas (UNCLOS 1982), spokesperson for the foreign ministry Lê Thị Thu Hằng said.

She made the statement on Thursday in the regular press briefing, held virtually this time due to COVID-19 in Hà Nội, when asked for Việt Nam’s reaction to the US Navy’s first freedom of navigation operation (FONOP) held under the Biden administration in February.

The guided-missile destroyer USS John S. McCain reportedly conducted the FONOP near the Trường Sa (Spratly) and Hoàng Sa (Paracel) archipelagoes in the South China Sea (known as the East Sea by Việt Nam) over which Việt Nam has repeatedly claimed sovereignty, but contested by mainland China and China’s Taiwan.

“By engaging in innocent passage without giving prior notification to or asking permission from any of the claimants,” the US Navy noted in a statement.

Also regarding the recent statement by French Minister of Armed Forces Florence Parly that France had sent the nuclear submarine, SNA Emeraude, to patrol the South China Sea, together with the naval support ship BSAM Seine, the said spokesperson said: “As a responsible member of the international community and a signatory of the UNCLOS 1982, Việt Nam always upholds the provisions of the UNCLOS, including items related to maritime and flight activities over the sea regions set up in accordance with UNCLOS 1982.”

“The maintenance of peace, stability, security and order, safety, maritime and overflight freedom, the rule of law, with respect to sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction of the littoral countries in the South China Sea, in a manner that is consistent with the UNCLOS 1982, is the shared goal, interests, responsibility, and aspiration of all countries and of the international community,” Hằng said.

Việt Nam hopes that all countries would strive for “positive contribution” to the maintenance of peace and stability on the basis of international law in the South China Sea region, the Vietnamese diplomat stressed. — VNS

Vietnamese firms to provide foundations, harbor services for La Gan wind power project

February 25, 2021 by english.thesaigontimes.vn

Vietnamese firms to provide foundations, harbor services for La Gan wind power project

The Saigon Times

The signing ceremony of four memorandums of understanding between the La Gan Wind Power Development Corporation and four Vietnamese suppliers – PHOTO: EMBASSY OF DENMARK IN VIETNAM

HCMC – Four Vietnam-based contractors–CS Wind Corporation, PTSC Mechanical and Construction, Southern Petroleum Construction JSC and Vietsovpetro–will provide foundation and harbor services for the La Gan offshore wind farm project in the central province of Binh Thuan.

On February 24, the La Gan Wind Power Development Corporation, the developer of the 3.5-gigawatt offshore wind farm project owned by Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, Asiapetro and Novasia, virtually signed four memorandums of understanding (MOUs) on foundation supply and harbor services with the four contractors, the Embassy of Denmark said in a statement.

The supply of foundations and harbor infrastructure is among the most critical elements of the offshore wind supply chain. The cooperation between the La Gan offshore wind farm project and the four suppliers will contribute to the ongoing efforts to localize the Vietnamese offshore wind supply chain as well as help build the capacity of local suppliers to compete in the international market.

Under the MOUs, the La Gan offshore wind farm project and suppliers will work together to promote offshore wind power in Vietnam. In addition, the project will facilitate knowledge transfer and provide advice on the foundation’s design, facility layouts, logistics and infrastructure requirements, which will enable the suppliers to take the offshore wind market to international standards.

Kim Højlund Christensen, ambassador of Denmark in Vietnam, said in the statement, “One of the key priorities in our long-term cooperation with Vietnam is to support green development and a green transition in the country’s energy sector.”

The development of foreign investment projects such as La Gan will contribute to further expanding and intensifying Denmark’s close cooperation with Vietnam in knowledge sharing and capacity building for industry experts and practitioners, especially in the offshore wind supply chain, he added.

According to an economic impact study by international experts from BVG Associates-the World Bank’s consultants-the La Gan offshore wind farm project will contribute more than US$4.4 billion to the Vietnamese economy and create over 45,000 full time equivalent (FTE) jobs in Vietnam, where an FTE is a job for a year. The localization rate is projected to be 45% of the full supply chain of the project.

Maya Malik, CEO of La Gan Wind Power Development Corporation, said the signing with the four Vietnamese suppliers confirmed the firm’s serious commitment to facilitate knowledge transfer and promote the localization of the offshore wind industry in Vietnam. The firm wanted to ensure that its investments pass onto the local economy and the Vietnamese people, wherever feasible.

The engagement of the four local suppliers also shows the dedication of local industry leaders to invest in offshore wind energy and to support the Vietnamese Government’s vision for green energy transformation, she added.

With a potential capacity of 3.5 gigawatts, the La Gan offshore wind farm project is one of the first large offshore wind farm projects in Vietnam. It is expected to improve Vietnam’s profile in renewable energy in the region and the world as a whole.

Deputy PM instructs measure to boost consumption of farm produce amid Covid-19

February 25, 2021 by hanoitimes.vn

The Hanoitimes – It is important to avoid stagnation during the transportation process of input materials for production and of agricultural products in Covid-19-hit-areas, Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung has said.

Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung instructed local authorities to soon clear the hurdles for the smooth distribution and sale of farm produce affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

People in Danang are buying farm produce from Hai Duong province. Photo: Quang Hai.

Over the past few days, the fact that Hai Duong province became a pandemic hotspot has caused difficulties for traders to ship agricultural products out of the province, due to strict anti-Covid-19 measures imposed by neighboring localities.

Under this context, Deputy PM Dung requested related government agencies and provinces/cities, including the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Transportation, and Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Development, to create favorable conditions for the movement of goods for timely exports and distribution.

“This is particularly important for input materials for production and agricultural products in Covid-19-hit-areas,” said Dung, adding it is important to avoid stagnation during the transportation process and disruption to economic activities.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Industry and Trade is tasked with promoting and expanding consumption markets for Vietnamese goods and products both at home and abroad.

A report from Hai Duong Department of Industry and Trade revealed over 90,000 tons of agricultural products are facing sales stagnation.

“If not properly resolved, the issue could impact the supply chains and cause disruption to economic activities of multiple provinces/cities,” said Pham Thanh Hai, director of Hai Duong Department of Industry and Trade.

According to the MoIT, the main reason is that drivers from high risk areas are required to have Covid-19 negative testing result certificate, but health facilities currently only carry out such tests for people under quarantine, and not open for on-demand.

“Certain provinces do not accept testing results from private health facilities,” stated the MoIT, referring to the fact that the Hai Duong Center for Disease Control (CDC) was designated by Hai Phong’s authorities as the only qualified center for Covid-19 testing.

The MoIT also raised concern from the lack of a uniform safety procedure during the production and distribution of agricultural products from Covid-19 zones to other localities, leading to conflicting measures from cities and provinces.