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Ambassador of India, Pranay Verma, writes to Việt Nam News to mark International Day of Yoga 2021 (June 21)

Nearly seven years ago, on December 11, 2014, the United Nations General Assembly declared June 21 would be celebrated as the International Day of Yoga every year. The declaration came after the call for the adoption of June 21 as International Day of Yoga by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his address at the UN General Assembly on September 27, 2014, when he stated: “Yoga is an invaluable gift of India’s ancient tradition. It embodies unity of mind and body; thought and action; restraint and fulfilment; harmony between humankind and nature; a holistic approach to health and wellbeing.”

Every year since then, the Embassy of India has held International Day of Yoga celebrations in Việt Nam in close co-operation with local governments and various socio-cultural organisations. It is heartening to see the popularity of yoga today across the length and breadth of Việt Nam. Last year, thanks to the successful containment of COVID-19 in Việt Nam, we worked with the provincial authorities of Quảng Ninh Province to hold an impressive event on the shores of the UNESCO cultural heritage site at Hạ Long Bay. This year, due to the constraints brought by the complex development of the COVID-19 situation, we will be observing the 7th International Day of Yoga using a virtual platform.

People join a mass yoga performance by Hạ Long Bay last year. Photo courtesy of the embassy

A gift of ancient India to the world, yoga has become a way of life for millions across the world, including in Việt Nam. Literally, the word ‘yoga’ means ‘to unite’. Indeed, yoga symbolises our mutual affinity and a strong bond connecting the entire humanity in the shared pursuit of wellbeing and happiness. Yoga also helps create harmony between humankind and nature. Today, when the world is facing the onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic, yoga has become even more relevant – by helping us maintain a healthy regimen and boosting our immunity and sense of balance in these extraordinary times.

In a message sent to Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính on the occasion of the International Day of Yoga this year, Prime Minister Modi underlined yoga’s inherent power to connect humanity and highlighted the special relevance of this year’s theme for the International Day of Yoga – ‘Yoga for Wellness’ – in the current context of the COVID-19 pandemic. This theme reflects the collective concern for the good health and wellbeing of people across the globe as well as our endeavour to ensure that we focus on both fitness and wellness.

By celebrating the International Day of Yoga on June 21 – from our homes and with our friends and families – let us celebrate our common humanity and contribute to the global healing process. Let us embrace yoga to make wellness a part of our lives.

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To celebrate the 7th International Day of Yoga, the Indian Embassy’s Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre will hold a series of virtual Yoga sessions in association with various partner organisations in Việt Nam during June 19-27.

These include the Việt Nam Buddhist Sangha, Việt Nam-Indian Friendship Association of Hà Nội, Centre for India Studies at the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, the Việt Nam Institute of Indian and Southwest Asian Studies (VIISAS) at the Việt Nam Academy of Social Sciences, and the Indian Business Chamber (INCHAM) in Hà Nội.

In the run-up to the IDY 2021, Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre has also been organising a series of virtual yoga demonstration classes and lecture series on the benefits of yoga in the current context.  In addition, the Cultural Centre is also organising an online yoga quiz for yoga enthusiasts. VNS

A view of Thủ Thiêm new urban area in the new Thủ Đức City. Nguyễn Văn Nên, secretary of the HCM City Party Committee, has said the city’s newly adjusted master plan must give priority to residents’ interests. Photo vietnam-briefing.com

HCM CITY — The newly adjusted master plan for HCM City must ensure that its residents’ interests are a top priority, Nguyễn Văn Nên, secretary of HCM City Party Committee, has said.

Speaking at a meeting on Thursday, Nên said: “The adjustments to the master plan by 2040 must focus on people’s quality of life.

“A number of urban plans that have been approved but haven’t been implemented for many years due to lack of feasibility are seriously affecting the legitimate interests of the people.”

He added: “The city must think carefully about the feasibility of plans to ensure that they will not be postponed for so many years.”

For example, a number of urban planning projects have been delayed for 30 years or more, mostly because of a lack of city funds and site-clearance and compensation problems, requiring a large amount of money.

The delays have seriously affected the interests of the people, according to Nên.

Trần Hoàng Quân, director of the Department of Construction, said the city should also increase residential land and reduce the amount of agricultural and illegal construction that often occurs. He said that agricultural land in HCM City still accounted for a large proportion (54.4 per cent) of total land, especially in Bình Chánh District (65 per cent).

Lê Hòa Bình, vice chairman of the city People’s Committee, said that the adjusted master plan should be regularly reviewed to ensure its feasibility.

Financial hub in Asia Pacific

The city has set a goal by 2060 to become an international trade and financial centre in the Asia-Pacific region. It aims to have an attractive working environment with diverse culture and heritage conservation and a scenic river system. Sustainable urban infrastructure and climate-change adaptation are among the goals set by 2060.

According to the revised master plan submitted to the city government by the Department of Planning and Architecture, one of the city’s new urban areas includes the new Thủ Đức City, formed recently by merging districts 2, 9 and Thủ Đức District.

The new Thủ Đức City will accommodate 1.9 million people. The new city will have 18,930ha of land for urban construction by 2030, and 19,994ha by 2040.

It currently has a population of more than 1 million. The figure is expected to reach 1.5 million by 2030, and 1.9 to 2.2 million people by 2040 and 3 million by 2060.

Under the plan, the new city will implement major projects to create an innovative ecosystem.

These include projects to build the Quang Trung Thủ Đức Software Park, the Advanced Technology and Innovation Centre (under the Department of Science and Technology), a High-Performance Computing Centre, a Creative Start-up Centre, an Advanced Research Institute (under the National University of HCM City), and a Centre for Research and Pharmaceutical Production Products, among others.

The new city will also focus on developing quality human resources. HCM City will offer special incentives to attract investment in these projects.

As the city’s eastern gateway, the new Thủ Đức City covering 21,156ha will be developed into a centre of innovation to assist the growth of HCM City and seven key economic hubs in the South.

Speaking at the meeting, Nguyễn Thanh Nhã, director of the city Department of Planning and Architecture, said the adjusted city master plan by 2040 covers ​​2,095sq.km and 28.7sq.km of Cần Giờ urban encroachment area.

Under the adjusted plan, the city will be developed into the nation’s largest economic hub for tourism, industrial services and high-tech agriculture, and will adapt to climate change and rising sea levels.

The city is expected to have 13-14 million people by 2040 and 16 million by 2060. It plans to allocate 100,000-110,000ha of land for urbanisation by 2040. — VNS

Vietnamese President Nguyễn Xuân Phúc hosted  reception on Wednesday in Hà Nội for Ambassador of New Zealand Tredene Cherie Dobson. — VNA/VNS Photo Thống Nhất

HÀ NỘI — President Nguyễn Xuân Phúc on Wednesday held separate meetings in Hà Nội with ambassadors of New Zealand, Argentina, Pakistan and Romania.

At the reception for Ambassador of New Zealand Tredene Cherie Dobson, President Phúc said he hoped that the ambassador would raise initiatives to promote future cooperation between the two countries, especially when the bilateral relationship was developing intensively and extensively in the spirit of the strategic partnership.

He called on New Zealand to share its experience in COVID-19 combat, and suggested the two sides step up high-level visits after the pandemic is controlled.

The two countries also should foster trade ties, particularly the export of fruits, Phúc said, suggesting New Zealand further assist Việt Nam in education, especially English language teaching.

Việt Nam also wished to tighten coordination with New Zealand and relevant parties in realising the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and accelerating the ratification and implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) in the coming time, he added.

The ambassador pledged to make every effort to contribute to strengthening the bilateral relations, and support Vietnamese firms to access the New Zealand market.

Argentina’s Ambassador to Việt Nam Luis Pablo Maria Beltramino and President Nguyễn Xuân Phúc. — VNA/VNS Photo Thống Nhất

Meeting with Argentina’s Ambassador Luis Pablo Maria Beltramino, President Phúc expressed the wish that the two countries would enhance all-level delegation exchanges and bring into full play dialogue and cooperation mechanisms to advance the bilateral comprehensive partnership to a new high.

The President called for joint efforts to press ahead with negotiations of a free trade agreement between Việt Nam and the Southern Common Market (Mercosur), and suggested both sides maintain their mutual support and cooperation at multilateral forums.

The ambassador said he hoped to coordinate with Vietnamese agencies to elevate the bilateral ties to a new level.

Pakistani Ambassador to Việt Nam Samina Mehtab shakes hands with Vietnamese President Nguyễn Xuân Phúc. — VNA/VNS Photo Thống Nhất

At a meeting with Pakistani Ambassador Samina Mehtab, the State leader expressed his hope that the diplomat would have measures to forge economic and trade ties between the two sides.

Việt Nam and Pakistan should optimise their strengths and beef up cooperation in trade, while tightening their collaboration at regional and multilateral forums, the President suggested.

Mehtab said she hoped that Việt Nam would serve as a bridge between Pakistan and ASEAN, and the sides would intensify tourism cooperation.

Romanian Ambassador to Việt Nam Cristina Romila presented her credentials to President Nguyễn Xuân Phúc. — VNA/VNS Photo Thống Nhất

Receiving Romanian Ambassador Cristina Romila, Phúc said Việt Nam always attached importance to the traditional friendship with Romania, and bore in mind the country’s valuable support during Việt Nam’s struggles for national independence and national development.

He also praised Romania for its efforts in pushing ahead with the signing of the EU-Việt Nam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and the EU-Việt Nam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) when Romania held the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union.

Phúc asked the ambassador to convey his invitation to the Romanian President to visit Việt Nam at an appropriate time.

Ambassador Romila, in reply, said that Việt Nam remained Romania’s important partner, and congratulated the Southeast Asian nation on its achievements in the fight against the pandemic. — VNS

Paralympics

Despite injury, powerlifter Lê Văn Công still hopes to defend his title at the Tokyo Paralympics. Photo paralympic.org.vn

HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam will send an 11-strong contingent to the Tokyo Paralympics this summer.

The athletes include three who will compete in track-and-field, four in swimming and three in powerlifting.

The Paralympians are currently in intensive training in HCM City and Đà Nẵng. They are expected to have both shots of the COVID-19 vaccine 10 days before leaving for Tokyo on August 18.

They must have PCR tests with negative results within 72 hours upon their arrival.

According to the deputy head of Việt Nam Sports Administration (VSA) Nguyễn Hồng Minh, no specific targets have been set for the athletes.

“There have been no international training camps and competition for athletes in the last two years. Our athletes are aged (from 35 to 40) and one of them is still in injury treatment so their performance would not be as good as it was in 2016 in Brazil,” said Minh, who is also the team’s chef de mission.

“However, we still expect to see good results from them,” he said.

Speaking with the media, Vũ Thế Phiệt, general secretary of the Việt Nam Paralympics Association, said weightlifter Lê Văn Công, who won Việt Nam’s first Paralympic gold, is still recovering from injury. Therefore, medal hopes could be on lifters Nguyễn Bình An and Đặng Thị Linh Phượng, swimmer Võ Thanh Tùng and track-and-field athlete Cao Ngọc Hùng.

Five years ago, Tùng claimed a silver in the men’s 50m freestyle. Phượng secured a bronze in the women’s 50kg class and Hùng took a bronze in the men’s javelin.

“We receive good care from the sports officials and support from enterprises. These would be strong pushes for us to earn high results in Tokyo,” said Công. VNS