Vietnamese Defense Minister General Phan Van Giang delivered a pre-recorded speech at the second session of the conference. The MCIS-10 draws the participation of 700 delegates from 70 countries and six international organizations. During the event, there will be plenary sessions with topics on global security in a multipolar world, and regional issues amid global security: Asia-Pacific, Africa, Middle East, and Latin America. In his video address, Russian President Vladimir Putin emphasized the significance of the conference in consolidating peace and stability in the region and boosting partnership and dialogues in a constructive manner. Russian Minister of Defense Sergei Shoigu also had an opening speech at the event. In his pre-recorded speech at the second plenary session of the conference, Vietnamese Defense Minister Phan Van Giang spoke highly of the MCIS, saying that it is an important multilateral forum for participating countries to exchange points of view on … [Read more...] about Vietnam attends 10th Moscow Conference on Int’l Security
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The art of motorbike repairs in Vietnam
Well you got caught with a flat? Well, how 'bout that Well babies, don't you panic By the light of the night, it'll all seem alright I'll get you a Satanic mechanic (Lyrics from the Rocky Horror Show) You hear that chunk and feel the dump and know you’re in trouble. Yes, it’s that wonderful time when you get a flat tire and need to find the repair shop pronto. Murphy’s Law (anything that can go wrong will go wrong!) applies here: 1) it nearly always happens when you are the furthest away from a repair shop; 2) it will happen when you are in a hurry to get somewhere; or 3) just when you’ve achieved that perfect mood to get through the day… (A note for English learners – ‘tire’ is used in America and Canada, however most of the rest of the world spells it ‘tyre’ – the rubber outside part of a wheel.) A mechanic repairs a motorbike for free during a rainstorm in Da Nang in December 2018. Photo: Doan Nhan / Tuoi Tre Your magic words will be ‘sửa chữa’ … [Read more...] about The art of motorbike repairs in Vietnam
Green standards top policies for fresh foreign ventures
The approval of Vietnam’s circular economy development plan, announced in June, aims to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 15 per cent of GDP by 2030 (as compared to 2014). The commitment at COP26 by Vietnam to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 is considered the main call for investment into green technologies and friendly-environmental projects, as well as approval of plans such as the aforementioned circular economy one. These messages have sent a strong signal regarding the country’s direction towards low-carbon, green development, and a circular economy, and could be a new driving force for Vietnam’s sustainable socioeconomic development, helping to improve its competitiveness and foreign direct investment (FDI) into the country. While governments have committed to lowering CO2, companies are also following suit for the good of the planet, Photo: Shutterstock As a result, numerous groups have made decisions in terms of investment and other operations … [Read more...] about Green standards top policies for fresh foreign ventures
Vietnam visa policy rebuffs foreign retirees’ love
Peter Zimmermann from Germany said he and his wife have been coming to Vietnam for 5-6 months every winter since 2013 and they always rented a house or a large apartment in the beach town of Nha Trang. "Vietnam is really an excellent place to live as a retiree as local people are open and very friendly. There are good hotels, resorts, restaurants, cafes and apartments. Great beaches by the sea and lots of culture and history to discover," he told VnExpress International . However, current visa policies remain a major barrier for pensioners looking to settle down in Vietnam because the country has not resumed its pre-pandemic visa policies. Apart from granting visa exemption to 24 tourism markets for stays of 15-30 days, Vietnam only issues a one-month single-entry e-visa to visitors from other countries, instead of the three-month multi-entry visas it used to issue. "It is not reasonable for pensioners like us to leave the country every 30 days and return with a new … [Read more...] about Vietnam visa policy rebuffs foreign retirees’ love
Will the sorting of waste at source become a non-starter?
That worries me. Seven years ago, I got to spend nine months living and studying in Ghent, a small, beautiful ancient city in Belgium with many well-preserved medieval castles and churches. I rented a cheap room for students. On the first day, the landlord gave me a tour of the house, showed me how to use the heater and kitchen utensils. In the kitchen, there was a corner with two steel frames holding a blue plastic bag and a yellow plastic bag with "IVAGO" printed on them, as well as a cardboard box next to the bags. The landlord told us that our waste must be sorted thus: the yellow bag for daily household waste; the blue for plastic waste, aluminum cans and milk cartons; and the big box for cardboard, pizza boxes and glass bottles, especially beer bottles. Then, after posting a waste collection calendar on the kitchen wall, he asked us to check the dates then decide among ourselves who would take out the garbage on which day. The calendar was colored yellow, blue and … [Read more...] about Will the sorting of waste at source become a non-starter?
Overseas Vietnamese strengthen Danang’s investment climate
On August 12, the Danang People's Committee in collaboration with State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs (SCOV) held a seminar in Ho Chi Minh City to introduce Danang’s investment climate. The event attracted overseas Vietnamese to participate online from 19 countries and territories including the United States, Canada, Japan, South Korea, China, Taiwan, Australia, Germany, Russia, Poland, Slovakia, England, France, Italy, Belgium, Switzerland, Hungary, Thailand, and Mongolia. The event also saw the participation of 100 enterprises run by Vietnamese abroad. At the seminar, Do Thi Quynh Tram, deputy director of the Investment Promotion and Support Department shared a report about Danang’s strategies for development and called for investment in the city. The report covers preferential policies as well as projects calling for investment in the fields of high-tech industry, IT, supporting industries, and industrial park infrastructure construction. She also … [Read more...] about Overseas Vietnamese strengthen Danang’s investment climate