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Ordered vs synchronous solid edge

Top leader demands thorough preparations to ensure success of upcoming Party Congress

October 9, 2020 by hanoitimes.vn

The Hanoitimes – Mr. Nguyen Phu Trong, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam and State President, wrote an important article on thorough preparations for the congresses of Party Committees under the Central Committee towards the 13th National Party Congress.

General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam and President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong, who is also the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Party documents of the 13th National Party Congress, wrote an article titled “To thoroughly carry out the preparatory work for, and successfully conduct, the 13th National Party Congress, leading the country to a new phase of development.

Hanoitimes has the honor to publish this entire important article:

General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam and President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong

Over almost a century (90 years since the birth of our Party), for our country, each National Congress has been considered an important event of historic significance marking a new development of the nation. This upcoming 13th National Congress of our Party will take place in the context of very rapid, complicated and unpredictable developments in the region and the world; the country is enjoying many advantages and opportunities, meanwhile feeing various hardships and challenges with numerous newly emerging issues; public cadre, Party members and the people have great expectations on the judicious, strong, clear-sighted decisions and policies of the Party. With the motto “Unity – Democracy – Discipline – Creativeness – Development”, the Congress will review not only the implementation of the Resolution of the 12th National Congress but also the 35-year implementation of the Doi Moi, 30-year implementation of the 1991 Political Platform, 10-year implementation of the amended Political Platform (amended in 2011), the National Socio-economic Development Strategy 2011-2020; setting out directions, tasks for the term 2021-2026, determining the goals, orientations towards 2030 (the centenary anniversary of the founding of the Party) with a vision for national development to 2045 (the centenary anniversary of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, now the Socialist Republic of Vietnam). Thus, this is definitely another important milestone in the development of our Party, people and nation, with the significance of defining the future, continuously pushing forward the renewal, global integration, and development of the country in a comprehensive and concerted manner.

The draft documents to be submitted to this Congress have been in a process of meticulous, professional and thoughtful preparation. In this process, the principles of skillful combination between theories and practice, persistence and renovations, inheritance and development have been profoundly grasped, on the basis of promoting democracy to its fullest, ideas contributed by scientists, public cadre, Party members and people attended to; dedicated and responsible proposals selected, screened, and consulted; the wisdom and innovative capacity of the entire Party, people and armed forces crystallised. The political report is the central document of the Congress, together with the The Report on the implementation of the 10-year Socio-economic Development Strategy 2011-2020, building the 10-year Socio-economic Development Strategy 2021-2030; The Evaluation Report on the implementation of the tasks on 5-year Socio-economic Development 2016-2020 and the orientations, tasks of the 5-year Socio-economic Development 2021-2025; the Report on summing up the implementation of Party building and Party Statutes enforcement. The documents to be submitted to the Congress has reflected the major views, guidelines, orientations, demonstrated the strategic visions and thinking of the Party, the aspirations for development of the nation, and the political determination of the entire Party, people and armed forces in the cause of building and firmly defending our beloved socialist Viet Nam that is prosperous, strong, democratic, equitable and advanced. The recent grassroot-level and upper-grassroot level Party congresses have discussed in a meticulous manner all the Party Congress draft documents. I have learned that the ideas contributed are abundant, diverse, multi-dimensional and viewed from various angles and approaches. The Sub-committees for Documents have compiled and adopted those ideas in order to supplement and complete the discussion. I am not presenting each content of the reports but to touch upon overall issues which are generalized and synthesized, and to suggest some major, important issues to continue to be opined by the Congress.

I- Looking back at the tenure of the 12th Congress , we are happy to see that the entire Party, people and armed forces have brought into full play the spirit of solidarity, demonstrated their mettle, wisdom, and efforts for innovations, overcome numerous difficulties and challenges, successfully accomplished central goals and tasks, obtained many crucial achievements; the nation continues to develop in a rapid and relatively comprehensive way, with positive changes and many outstanding marks:

– Against the backdrop of the regression of the global economy and trade, followed by a serious crisis due to the Covid-19 pandemic’s impacts, our economy still retains its rather high growth rate on average (about 6% annually), being one of the most rapidly growing economies in the region and the world. The quality of growth has been improved; the stability of macroeconomics rather firmly maintained; major balances of the economy basically ensured; disciplines and rules on finance and state budget spending strengthened. Social investment and the capacity of business and production have been strongly enhanced. The inner strength, size and competitiveness of our economy continue to be increased one step higher. The society has been basically stable, people’s lives increasingly improved (the rate of poor household reduced from 58% in 1993 to 9.88% in 2016 and below 3% in 2020); Social welfare, health, education-training, science­-technology, environment and resources protection, cultural development, the building of the qualities of the Vietnamese people, and so on, have seen positive changes, with some rather outstanding improvements.

– The building and rectification of the Party and the political system have been paid special attention to, and carried out comprehensively in all aspects of politics, thinking, ethics, organization and personnel, with outstanding marks. The fight against, and prevention of, corruption, negative phenomena, wastefulness have witnessed drastic changes, and conducted in a determined, methodical, and in-depth way, with breakthroughs and concrete, obvious and positive results. Corruption, negative phenomena, degradation, “self-evolution” and “self-transformation” within the Party and the political system have been gradually curbed. Many economic, and corruption cases, especially big and serious ones have been uncovered, investigated, and tried scrupulously one after another, without any restriction or exception, creating great deterrence and awakening to those with wrongdoings, enjoying high appreciation, sympathy, and support from public officials, Party members, and the people.

– Against the backdrop of complicated international and regional developments and sabotage activities intensified by hostile forces, our national defense and security have continued to be strengthened. Political security and social order and safety have been maintained. Foreign activities and international integration have been intensified, constantly expanded and deepened, contributing to the consolidation of an environment of peace and stability for development; the independence, sovereignty, sovereign rights, unity, territorial integrity, strategic interests of our country resolutely and persistently have been maintained; Viet Nam’s prestige and status in the international arena have been continuously elevated.

– Especially, in 2020, thanks to the sharp and judicious leadership of the Party and State; the forceful and timely guidance and governance of the Government; the concerted and proactive participation of the whole political system; the strong consensus, response, and support of the people across the country and Vietnamese overseas, we have contained, basically controlled and prevented the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic in the community, minimized the damages and loss caused by the pandemic, ensured social security and welfare for the people, gradually recover production and business, exert great efforts to complete at the highest level socio-economic development tasks for 2020 and the 2020 and the 2016 – 2020 period. Vietnam has become a bright spot in successfully containing and preventing the Covid-19 pandemic, which has been recognized and highly valued by the international community, contributing to raising the people’s trust in the Party, State and the socialist regime.

The achievements over the last 5 years are thanks to objective and subjective reasons, the most important of which is the judicious leadership and guidance of the Party Central Committee, the Politburo, the Secretariat, and Party committee at various levels in implementing the 12th Congress Resolution, in timely and fruitfully tackling newly emerging problems in practice; the energetic and forceful management and governance of the Government and various-level authorities; the efforts to innovate the substance and modes of operation of the National Assembly’s work; the solidarity, unity and concerted coordination in the whole political system; the bringing into play of the tradition of patriotism, and the strength constituted by the great all-nation unity; the endeavors made by the pool of the public cadre and Party members; the working spirit of proactiveness, creativeness and responsibility of the people; the credit, agreement and support of the international community.

These achievements are the product of the crystallization of creativity, the result of a process of persistent and continuous efforts through many tenures of the entire Party, people and armed forces. They also contribute to the great achievements of historic significance of our country. I have repeatedly said, with all our modesty, we can still assert that: Never has our country had the fortune, potential, and international position and prestige as it does today. Once a small, poor and backward country of very low development level which was almost absent in the world map, Vietnam has risen up as a developing, middle-income country with nearly 100 million people, having relations with almost all the countries in the world, being member of most of international organizations, and a trust-worthy and responsible member and partner in, the international community. With that, we are more confident, excited and proud to continue to affirm that our path has been right and in accordance with the objective laws, Vietnam’s realities and development trend of the time; that our Party’s policies have been judicious and creative; that the Party’s leadership has been clear¬-sighted and served as the top factor of determining each and every victory of the Vietnam’s revolution; the Party’s political platform has remained the ideological and theoretical flag, leading our nation to firmly strengthen our renewal cause; and has been the Party’s foundation to continue to perfect our policy on Homeland building and safeguarding in the new period.

The 5 years of implementing the 12th Party Congress Resolution constitute a fresh, lively and rich reality for us to continue to confirm, enrich and deepen the lessons and experiences drawn from the previous tenures:

First, Party building and rectification (the building of organization and personnel) must be implemented in a comprehensive, concerted, and regular manner in term of ideology, political work, ethics, and organization and personnel. Remaining steadfast and firm in the Party’s ideological foundation must be in parallel with building the Party apparatus and the whole political system which are truly streamlined, and effective, and efficient. President Ho Chi Minh’s teaching that “cadres is the root of all work”, “Every success or failure is attributed to good or bad cadre” must be thoroughly grasped. Therefore, organization and personnel work must be a breakthrough, the “key” of “key task” as it relates to the survival of the Party and the fate of the regime; and the rapid and sustainable development of the country. Great attention must be paid to the work of building and cleaning the pool of cadre, especially strategic-level cadres whose quality, capacity, and credibility are sufficiently up to their tasks; exemplary role of the public cadre and Party members must be promoted; the higher the positions they hold, the more exemplary they must be.

Second, in leading, instructing and organizing the implementation work, there should be high resolve, great efforts, real dynamism, creativeness, and importance attached to making breakthroughs in development; importance should also be attached to quality and effectiveness of this work while upholding the responsibility of the heads of entities. The weakness, tardiness in leading, instructing, and organising the implementation of orientations and policies must be successfully overcome. Discipline and orders must be strictly maintained in organising the execution of laws, policies and public duties; and at the same time, it is a must to protect the Party’s cadres, members who have high combativeness, exemplify in implementing the Party’s principles and disciplines and the State laws, dare to reform and innovate, to think, speak out, take action, bear accountability, face difficulties, and challenges, and act drastically.

Third, in undertaking tasks, great attention must be paid to harmoniousness and comprehensiveness in order to not only fulfill urgent and immediate targets, resolve once and for all the weaknesses, bottlenecks, and shortcomings; but also build harmonious development institutions to achieve the country’s long-term, fundamental and sustainable goals along the line of ensuring the harmony between economic renewal and political, cultural and social renewal; between economic growth and cultural and human development, the exercise of social progress and equity; effectively resolve social issues, protect natural resources and the environment; between socio-economic development and national defense and security guarantee; between independence, autonomy and the strengthening of external relations and international integration; truly attach importance to, and bringing into full play the role of education and training, science and technology in the new situation.

Fourth, in securing national defense and security, and external relations, it is necessary to proactively research, grasp, and correctly forecast the situation, proactively devise contingency plans to avoid being passive and caught by surprise; properly and effectively handle relations with major powers, strategic partners, traditional friends and neighboring countries; pay attention to heightening the country’s prestige and image, while staying alert to the increasingly sophisticated and malign plots and tricks of hostile and reactionary forces and political opportunists who aggressively sabotage our Party, State and People, especially in the field of politics and ideology.

Fifth, in every Party and State work, it is necessary to always remember that “ the people constitute the roots”, truly trust, respect, and promote the ownership role of the people; persistently follow the principle of “people know, discuss, do, inspect, supervise, and benefit”. People are the center and the subject of the renewal course; all guidelines and policies must truly come from the aspirations, legitimate rights and interests of the people. It is imperative for the Party to take full and thorough care of people’s lives and interests; build flesh-and-blood relationships with the people; rely on the people for Party building, take work performance, and people’s satisfaction and credit as an important criterion to evaluate the quality of the organizational apparatus, public cadre, and Party members. In order to consolidate people’s trust in the Party, it is a must to resolutely and proactively clean the Party’s pool of cadres, address the phenomenon of deterioration and degeneration of quality and lifestyle among a number of public cadre and Party members, consolidate and build truly clean and strong party organizations, making the Party the true leader, and genuinely faithful servant of the people.

Those valuable lessons constitute an important foundation for our Party to continuously apply them in leading and directing work, helping us to gain greater mettle and confidence in facing many new and greater hardships and challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic and the global economic downturn when starting the XIII tenure.

II- About directions and tasks of the XIII Congress term and the coming period: It is forecast that in the coming years, the international and regional context continues to witness many complicated, rapid, and unpredictable changes. Under the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, the world has fallen into a serious multi-faceted crisis, in healthcare, economy, society and governance. Strategic competition, economic competition, and trade wars continue to unfold fiercely. The Fourth Industrial Revolution has strongly developed, creating breakthroughs in many fields, and opportunities for, and challenges to, all countries. Countries are exerting efforts to adjust their strategies and modes of development in adapting to the new situation. The Asia-Pacific region has an increasingly important strategic position. In Southeast Asia, the security environment and sovereignty disputes in the East Sea continue to be complicated. Climate change, natural disasters, epidemics and other non-traditional security issues increasingly create strong and multi-faceted impacts, seriously threaten the stable and sustainable development of the world, the region and our country.

Meanwhile, despite very proud achievements, our country is still facing many difficulties and challenges. Economic growth is not commensurate to the potential, after registering high growth rates consecutively in the first 4 years of the tenure, the year 2020 is witnessing a sharp decline, likely only at 3%, the quality of growth remains low while facing many negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Autonomy and resilience of the economy is not high. The State economic sector, especially state-owned enterprises are still operating inefficiently, facing numerous difficulties and bottlenecks. The domestic private sector and the foreign-invested sector are enjoying rapid but not truely sustainable development. There remain many shortcomings in the leadership and state management of socio-economic fields, ensuring political security, social order and safety, and the protection of the environment and resources, causing animosity in the public. The fight to protect national sovereignty and territorial integrity remains complicated. The historical values, cultural traditions of the Vietnamese nation and people have not been fully promoted. The capacity in institutional building remains limited; the quality of laws and policies remains low. The leading capacity and modes, combativeness of many Party organisations and Party members are not commensurate to their assigned tasks. The mechanism for power control in the Party and State is not yet adequate and synchronous; the efficiency and effectiveness of this work are not yet high. Those difficulties, shortcomings, and mistakes require to be successfully overcome by our entire Party, people and political system through higher determination, greater efforts, and more drastic actions. In continuously promoting the renewal cause, it is imperative for our Party to remain truly steadfast in, and hold firmly, its revolutionary and scientific nature, while keeping close bonds with the people, and being trusted and loved by the people so as to overcome all difficulties and challenges, and lead the nation in successfully realising the goal of building and defending our Socialist Vietnam.

A thoroughly guiding thought of the entire Party, people and armed forces is to remain steadfast and creatively apply and develop Marxism-Leninism and Ho Chi Minh’s thoughts; persistent with the goal of national independence and socialism, and the Party’s renewal guideline to build and protect the socialist Vietnam. This is a matter of vital significance to our regime, a solid foundation of our Party which allows no deviation and wavering. It is necessary to master and well handle the relationship between persistency on one side and innovation and creative application on the other. “Being persistent” in a mechanical way will easily lead to dogmatism, rigidity and conservatism; on the contrary, “being innovative” without persistency and principles may also fall into revisionism, deviation, and “change of colour”. Therefore, it is imperative to clearly understand, correctly apply the dialectic method of Marxism-Leninism: persistency must be closely associated with creativity, and creativity must be on the basis of persistency in accordance with reality, and the requirements of renewal, international integration and national development.

The overall development strategy of our country in the coming period is to develop the country rapidly and sustainably, ensure close interlink and synchronous implementation of various tasks, of which socio-economic development is central; Party building the key; cultural development the foundation of the society; and national defense and security a vital and constant task.

The driving force and resources for national development in the new period are the strongly promoted patriotism, national willpower of self-reliance, aggregated strength of the whole political system, and Vietnamese culture and people; and combination of national strength with the strength of the time. It is a precious national tradition which has been used creatively by our Party throughout the 90 years of leading the people in the fight for national independence and reunification, and building socialism. This is extremely important when the country is at a historic juncture, at which great material and spiritual resources are required for breakthroughs and development. Our successful containment and control of the recent Covid-19 pandemic is a solid example demonstrating the superiority of our regime, the tradition of solidarity, patriotism, compassion and the iron will of our nation and people; however, complacency, subjectivity, and negligence shall never be allowed; the more difficulties and challenges we face, the more strongly these qualities and traditions must be promoted and multiplied.

What determine the success of the cause of building, developing, defending the Fatherland are the intensification of Party building and rectification; enhancement of the Party’s leadership, ruling capacity and combativeness; the building of a clean, strong, streamlined State and the political system with operational effectiveness and efficiency; the building of a pool of public cadre and Party members, particularly those of strategic caliber, who are equipped with sufficient qualities, capabilities, and credits which are commensurate to their assigned tasks, at the same time keeping the organic ties with the people. With a genuinely revolutionary, clean, strong party with sufficient mettle, wisdom, experience, and leading credibility like ours, and with the whole-hearted trust and support of the people, we will have a great strength to overcome all difficulties and challenges, be unimpeded by any force preventing our nation from moving forward, and make new miracles in the cause of building and developing a more prosperous and beautiful country as ever wished by Uncle Ho.

Bringing into full play the willpower and strength of the great all-nation unity, at the upcoming Congress we need to embrace a farther vision to mid-21 st century for our country, in which our country to become a socialist-oriented developed country, concrete goals and tasks for each stage to be determined; the characteristics of inheritance and development, continuity and completion in the progress of building socialism in our country to be clearly demonstrated; reflecting a combination of dedication, wisdom, trust, “the Party’s ideas and people’s aspiration” and the desires, aspirations and willpower to reach a bright future for the country and the entire nation.

The political report submitted to the upcoming Congress sets out the overall objectives, which are: to enhance the Party’s leadership, ruling capacity and combativeness; build a clean and strong Party and political system in all aspects; to consolidate people’s trust in the Party, State and the socialist system; to promote innovations, the willpower and aspirations for developments and the great all-nation unity strength, combined with the strength of the time; to push forward in a comprehensive and concerted manner the Doi Moi undertaking, national industrialisation and modernisation, rapid and sustainable development of the nation; to firmly defend the Homeland, maintain peace and stability; to strive for our country to become a socialist-oriented developed nation by mid-21 st century.

Based on the principles of ensuring scientificness, feasibility and practicality; continuity and making appropriate supplementation in each stage of national development; with due reference to international experience and globally-recognised development standards, we determine concrete goals towards important milestones of our nation:

-By 2025: to become a developing nation with modernity-oriented industry and surpass the low-middle-income level.

-By 2030, which marks the 100 th anniversary of the founding of the Party: to become a developing nation with modern industry and upper-middle-income level.

-By 2045, which marks the 100 th anniversary of the birth of our nation: to become a developed nation with high-income level.

The overall and specific objectives set out by the Congress serve as crucial basis to determine the orientations of, tasks and solutions for, national building, development and defense; these objectives must be synchronous and feasible, meet long-term requirements while prioritising central tasks and strategic breakthroughs in their implementation; consensus must be created in both awareness and actions of the entire Party, people and armed forces in the period from now to mid-21 st century, specifically:

First, to continue to vigorously reform the way of thinking, to synchronously build and complete institutions for sustainable development in terms of economics, politics, culture, society, environment protection, and so on; to tap upon all potentials and resources, to create new driving force for rapid and sustainable national development. Foremost, to concentrate on comprehensively and synchronously completing the socialist-oriented market economy institution based on a unified perception that this is our nation’s overall economic model during the period of transition to socialism. To focus on building and completing mechanisms and policies to effectively and harmoniously tackle the relationships among the State, market and society. Particularly, to make substantive institutional breakthroughs to resolve issues emerging in reality, which are practical and concrete, such as: mobilising, managing, efficiently usage of the resources for development, redressing corruption, wastefulness and negative practices in the management and use of land, natural resources and public assets; accumulating and concentrating lands for the development of high-tech agriculture; ensuring concerted development and creating links among economic entities and forms of business and manufacturing organisations; reforming and improving the efficiency of the public sector and state-owned enterprises; encouraging and creating favorable conditions for the private sector to develop and become an important driving force of the economy; untangling the inconsistency, contradictions and overlapping in the building and enforcement of laws, strategies, scheming, and planning that are obstructing the development and operation of a full, modern and internationally-integrated market economy.

Second, to vigorously reform the growth model, restructure the economy, accelerate industrialisation and modernisation, give rise to the quality of 13 economic growth, labour productivity and economic competitiveness based on the perception that this is a basic, essential and decisive task for fulfilling the goal of rapid and sustainable national development. To create a fundamental shift of the economy toward a growth model based on the efficient use of resources, scientific and technological advances and innovations, as well as the promotion of the potentials and advantages of all industries and sectors, localities and the entire country. To strive for breakthroughs in building a modern and synchronised infrastructure, creating the groundwork for the development of novel industries and domains, especially digital economy, digital society and digital government. To build a strong and solid national industry; develop large- scale commodity production and apply high-tech in agriculture sector; develop the service sector based on digital economy and the application of latest scientific and technological advances. To consistently follow the guideline of making science and technology a national priority and the most important driving force to develop a modem productive force, renovate the growth model, increase productivity, quality, efficiency and competitiveness of the economy. To make breakthroughs in developing human resources, especially high-quality ones, through fundamental, comprehensive and synchronous reforms in education and training; with importance attached to the concerted building of mechanisms and policies, synchronous reforms of objectives, contents, curricula, modes and methodologies of education and training toward modernisation and international integration, the building of a healthy educational environment, the resolute resolving of the pursuing statistical achievements at all cost, and the strict punishment of negative phenomena in education and training.

Third, to manage properly and sufficiently the sustainable development of the society, tackle harmoniously relations of interests in the society. To address efficiently the relations between the exercise of democracy on one hand and the guarantee of legal enforcement and social discipline on the other. To ensure social progress and fairness; attach importance to the sustainability of population and development policies and social policies, especially social welfare and security, human security, towards sustainable jobs and the development of a comprehensive social welfare system, towards covering the whole population through reforming the social insurance system into a multi-tier and sustainable one based on the principle of calculating retirement allowance on premium payment. To build and bring into full play the Vietnamese cultural values and human strength; complete and realise a system of national values, cultural values and human standards in association with promoting the willpower, the desire for development, and the strength of the Vietnamese people in the new era; strive for breakthroughs and strong measures to effectively prevent the deterioration in ethics and lifestyles and to repel negative phenomena and evils in society.

Fourth, to carry out foreign activities in a concerted, creative and efficient manner; build a modem diplomacy for the interest of the nation-state, with the people and enterprises at the center of its service; pro-actively and actively conduct intensive and extensive international integration. Resolutely and persistently safeguard the independence, sovereignty, sovereign rights, unity, and territorial integrity of the Homeland; protect the Party, State, people and the socialist regime. To build revolutionary, elite, and gradually modem armed forces. To proactively prevent risks of war and conflict early and from afar; detect and resolve timely unfavorable factors, especially those may yield sudden changes; and every plot and activities of hostile forces.

Fifth, to bolster the building and rectification of the Party, State, and entire political system for them to be clean, strong, streamlined, with operational effectiveness and efficiency. To enhance the protection of the Party’s ideological foundation, resolutely and regularly fight, criticize, and refute wrongful and hostile views; fight against, prevent, and roll back deterioration in political ideology, ethics, and lifestyles, and the manifestations of internal “self-evolution” and “self-transformation”. Resolutely and persistently combat and prevent corruption, wastefulness, negative phenomena with higher determination, stronger and more drastic and efficient actions without any restricted area or exception. To continue to build pool of cadre at all levels, especially strategic ones who are sufficiently capable, qualified, and credible, and commensurate to their mandates. To uphold the spirit of self-forging, ethics improving, and exemplar setting of public officials and Party members; the higher the position they hold, the more exemplary they must be. To combine the guarantee of discipline, order, and the rule of law as well as strict Party building with educating and nurturing fine qualities and revolutionary ethics to effectively prevent and combat against the diseases of individualism. To effectively enforce regulations on power control in personnel work, fight against the lobbying for positions and power. To exercise Party’s, administrative, and legal disciplines on officials with in a strict and concerted manner. To strongly renew the work of inspection, oversight, and the exercise of Party discipline and enhance their effectiveness and efficiency in the direction of close and concerted coordination between agencies of control, inspection, audit, investigation, prosecution, trial, state management, as well as the Fatherland Front, and socio-political organizations.

The 35 years of renewal, 30 years of implementing the Platform (amended and developed in 2011), the Strategy for socio-economic development for the 2011-2020 period, and the 5 years of implementing the 12th Congress Resolution have affirmed the need for more profound understanding of, continuous amendment and development of the following relations, and increase the quality and efficiency in tackling them: the major relations on ideological and theoretical work, as well as decisions and policies to remove hurdles and bottlenecks for rapid and sustainable national development, with special attention to better management of the relations between: renewal, stability, and development; economic renewal and political renewal; complying with market laws and ensuring the socialist orientation; development of productive force and building and gradual completion of the socialist production relations; the State on one hand and the market and society on the other; economic growth on the one hand and cultural development, guarantee of social progress and equity, and environmental protection on the other; building socialism and defending the socialist Homeland; independence, autonomy and international integration; Party’s leadership, State’s governance and the people’s ownership; democracy exercise and law enforcement and social order guarantee. These are the major relations reflecting dialectical laws, the core theoretical issues related to the renewal policy in our country which are required to be fully understood, truly imbued with, profoundly grasped for, and thoroughly and effectively managed, by the entire Party, people, and armed forces.

The 13th Congress of our Party is approaching. The remaining workload is daunting while time is running out, the Party committees at all level and members of the Central Committee must uphold higher their sense of responsibility to the Party and people, strive to successfully fulfill the goals set by the resolution of the 12th National Congress and those set by Party congresses at lower level for the 2015-2020 tenure. At this important juncture, we shall deeply engrave on our minds the teachings of our beloved Uncle Ho, “Party Congress bears great relation to the future of the revolution of our Party and people. The Congress shall further unify our united Party, consolidate consensus in thoughts and actions that have been agreed upon”. The entire Party, people and armed forces shall unify in hearts and minds, join forces to carry out thoroughly the preparatory work for, and successfully conduct, the 13th National Congress of the Party, leading the country to a new phase of development with the goal of “prosperous people, powerful, democratic, just and civilised country”, successfully fulfilling the heartfelt wish of great President Ho Chi Minh and the desire of the entire nation.

Filed Under: Opinion Nguyen Phu Trong, party congress, Vietnam, democratic party leaders, party leaders in congress, republican party leaders, democratic party leaders 2017, black tea party leaders, national party leader, party leader ppk, republican party congress, tea party congress, democratic party leader 2016, republican leaders in congress

VIETNAM NEWS HEADLINES FEB. 26

February 26, 2021 by vietnamnet.vn

Hanoi reports case of COVID-19 relapse

A patient has tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 again after being given the all-clear, the Hanoi Centre of Disease Control (CDC Hanoi) said on February 25.

The 48-year-old patient, who resides in Dich Vong ward in Cau Giay district, has been taken to the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases for further quarantine and treatment.

The case does not pose any risk of community transmission, Deputy Director of CDC Hanoi Khong Minh Tuan said.

Hanoi had reported 36 COVID-19 cases between January 27 and 12pm on February 25, according to the municipal Department of Health.

Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Chu Xuan Dung said relevant agencies have been asked to assess infection risks and put forward solutions to reach the “new normal”./.

Citizen protection provided to Vietnamese affected by record cold in Texas

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./.

Localities ordered to work harder on child education, protection

VIETNAM NEWS HEADLINES FEB. 26
Localities ordered to work harder on child education and protection. – Illustrative image (Photo: VNA)

The document states that 2021 is the first year of implementing the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress and many socio-economic development plans in various fields, including the national action programme for children for 2021 – 2030.

The MoLISA asked the People’s Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities to build, promulgate, and organise the implementation of resolutions, programmes, schemes and plans of all sectors and localities, aiming to well perform the child care, education and protection in line with the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress; the Law on Children; resolutions, directives and decisions of the National Assembly (NA) and the Government; and programmes and projects on children in the 2021 – 2025 period, with a vision to 2030.

Accordingly, Party committees and local authorities at all levels were ordered to raise awareness and responsibility, especially of heads, in directing, managing and implementing the Party’s guidelines, and the State’s policies and laws on children’s rights; solving issues related to children, child right violations; and preventing and minimising children’s vulnerability to risks of harm and injury.

Localities need to ensure State management on children, human resources for the work, and allocate local budgets for implementing targets and solutions of the national action programme for children for 2021 – 2030, and local programmes and plans for children.

The People’s Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities were asked to focus on improving and developing child protection service systems, maintaining and expanding models of child protection and care, regularly supervising the implementation of laws, policies, programmes, schemes and plans on children, developing database on children, collecting information and statistics on children, and connecting child database with relevant data systems.

Attention will be paid to promoting interdisciplinary coordination in implementing the child work, and solutions to ensure safe living environment, prevent child sexual abuse, exploitation and violence, and injury accidents, especially drowning./.

Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson: Vietnam appreciates WTO’s central role

Foreign Ministry’s spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang has said as a responsible member of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Vietnam supports the open, transparent and rules-based multilateral system and appreciates the WTO’s central role.

At the Foreign Ministry’s regular press conference held online on February 25, Hang said Vietnam congratulates Dr. Ngozi Okonjo – Iweala on becoming new General Director of the WTO.

With experience and knowledge on finance and trade, the new General Director will succeed in leading the WTO, thus making active contributions to the global trade system, she said.

She added that Vietnam will work closely with the General Director and other members to make effective contributions to the WTO’s activities, thus effectively stepping up its reform process.

About the UK Embassy’s warning on its facebook about the increasing number of attack cases against foreigners in Hanoi, the spokeswoman said the Foreign Ministry’s Consular Department discussed with the embassy in Hanoi to clarify the warning. The ministry also worked with the Vietnamese authorities to verify information and jointly dealt with the issue.

Vietnam always pays attention to ensuring security, social safety and order for domestic citizens as well as foreigners living, studying and working in the country, thus discovering and seriously punishing violators of legal regulations, she affirmed./.

13 Vietnamese COVID-19 patients in Cambodia in stable health conditions

Thirteen Vietnamese people in Cambodia infected by SARS-CoV-2 in the latest outbreak in the country are in stable health conditions, according to Foreign Ministry spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang.

Hang said that Vietnamese representative offices in Cambodia have contacted local authorities and authorised offices to verify information about the cases and request attention and treatment for the patients to ensure the legitimate rights and interests of Vietnamese citizens.

Right after their infection was confirmed the Vietnamese patients were brought to hospitals of the Cambodian Health Ministry in Phnom Penh capital city and Kandal province for quarantine and treatment.Vietnamese representative offices in Cambodia have also contacted the Vietnamese community and the Khmer-Vietnam Association in Cambodia to get updated information, while stepping up communication activities to persuade Vietnamese people and businesses to strictly follow disease prevention and control regulations in the host country.

The citizen protection hotline of the Vietnamese Embassy in Cambodia and the citizen protection call centre of the Foreign Ministry’s Consular Department are ready to receive any information about cases in need, the spokesperson affirmed./.

Hanoi to experience cold and rainy weather in coming days

Due to the impacts of cold air, it turns cold with rain at nights and early mornings in Hanoi and northern provinces from February 26.

Vietnam’s northern provinces, including Hanoi, will experience cold and rainy weather this weekends, according to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting (NCHMF).

In the first four days of this week, it has been sunny in the North and then scattered rains will occur due to the the arrival of the cold snap at the end of this week.

Due to the impacts of cold air, it turns cold with rain at nights and early mornings in Hanoi and northern provinces from February 26, the NCHMF said.

The temperature in Hanoi will fall below 25 degrees. In the highlands like Sapa town, which is 1,500 meters above sea level, the temperature can drop to 15 degrees Celsius.

Tomorrow, Hanoi will see moderate rain with temperatures ranging from 17 to 24 degrees Celsius, 4 degrees lower than a day earlier. Humidity reached 80%.

From February 27, Hanoi will continue to have light rain but sunny lunchtimes and afternoons. The highest temperatures will rise to 25 degrees, the center added.

From February 26 to 28, provinces in the Red river delta will all have rain with the highest temperatures being 25 degrees. The humidity level in the north will stay at 75-80%.

Vietnam to start covid-19 vaccination for health workers from March 1

Health workers in quarantine wards will be the first to receive Covid-19 vaccine shots for free from March 1, said Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long.

According to Minister Long, the country will receive 30 million doses supplied by COVAX Facility and the Ministry has negotiated to have all 30 million doses in 2021. He revealed Vietnam has ordered 30 million doses of vaccine from AstraZeneca and Pfizer respectively.

The Southeast Asian country has also ordered Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine. The manufacturer of Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine announced that it will supply 60 million doses to Vietnam. Therefore, Vietnam will have around 90 million doses of vaccine this year.

He ensured that there will be enough vaccine for all Vietnamese residents and massive vaccination will be carried out as soon as possible.

The Ministry of Health has listed 11 groups of individuals including health workers, staff members of all-level steering committees for Covid-19 prevention and control, quarantine facilities, and reporters in virus-hit areas, diplomats, public security officers, teachers, people over 65 years old, and those with comorbidities who will be the first to receive Covid-19 vaccination next month.

Quang Ninh busts large scale coal theft

50 people have been detained in a massive coal theft in Quang Hanh Ward, Cam Pha City, Quang Ninh Province.

At 8.30 am on February 23, the police in Quang Ninh Province inspected and busted a large illegal coal mining case in the area managed by Ha Long Coal Company, a member of Vinacomin.

About 50 people, 54 vehicles, and 100,000 tonnes of coal that worth VND200bn (USD8.6m) have been seized. After searching the suspects’ houses and offices, the police also seized VND2.7bn and many documents.

Investigation shows that several private firms and individuals colluded with some employees of Ha Long Coal Company and Khe Sim Coal Company to fake a contract to carry rock and soil at the mine to illegally exploit the coal there. Based on the documents, the police in Quang Ninh will start the prosecution against 12 violators for violating regulations on research, exploration and exploitation of natural resources.

The investigation is being expanded.

New Zealand and Viet Nam boost agricultural cooperation

New Zealand and Việt Nam on Wednesday added a new link to their flourishing agriculture relationship by signing an Agriculture Cooperation Arrangement at the first New Zealand – Việt Nam Agricultural Dialogue.

The dialogue was held virtually by Chief Executive of the New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries, Ray Smith, and Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) Lê Quốc Doanh.

At the dialogue, the two sides voiced their commitment to the two countries’ deepening agriculture and trade relationship.

Smith and Doanh affirmed that the Strategic Partnership, which was jointly announced by Prime Ministers in July last year, has created a solid foundation for increasing bilateral agricultural cooperation and connections between the two countries.

Speaking at the dialogue, Smith emphasised that this is a valuable opportunity to consider what both sides can do together as they build resilience and vitality back into their agriculture economies following COVID-19.

The Agriculture Cooperation Arrangement will enable both sides to advance their key agricultural interests in enhancing bilateral trade, reducing agricultural greenhouse gas emissions, promoting food safety, utilising agriculture research and technology, and in rural development.

Speaking at the ceremony, Doanh said that agriculture was critical to the economic wellbeing of our countries.

Both nations were strong agriculture producers and exporters, with complementary products, he said, adding that the establishment of the New Zealand – Việt Nam Agricultural Dialogue and the signing of the Agriculture Cooperation Arrangement would boost their connections, cooperation and two-way trade, in line with what the two Prime Ministers highlighted during last years’ Strategic Partnership dialogue.

The New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries is already supporting agriculture cooperation with MARD with activities in plant health, veterinary epidemiology and electronic certification. These activities complement New Zealand’s ongoing development programme, which has a number of agriculture projects including the premium fruit development project in Tiền Giang, the rural dam safety project in Central Việt Nam, and the safe vegetables project in Bình Định.

Smith said that New Zealand has developed one of the most efficient agriculture sectors in the world, with a reputation for cutting-edge research and technology, robust and safe agricultural practices, and delicious and high-quality products.

He expressed his hope that the newly signed cooperation arrangement will help build value and expand investment opportunities between the two countries:

“We recognise that increased trade is not just about exporting more products, it’s about an exchange of knowledge, expertise, technology, services, and investment. This two-way exchange benefits both of us,” he said.

He said New Zealand also looked forward to doing more to assist MARD’s greenhouse gas inventory capability through the Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases.

The two leaders confirmed their shared commitment to finalising new fruit access for each other this year so consumers can enjoy New Zealand strawberries and squash in Việt Nam and Việt Nam’s limes and pomelos in New Zealand.

Việt Nam is New Zealands’s 14th largest trading partner, with two-way trade valued at NZD$2 billion, at year-end September 2020. While COVID-19 has posed some challenges, Việt Nam remains a promising market for New Zealand and vice versa due to robust demand for key agricultural products.

Movies releases postponed due to on-going Covid-19 outbreak

The release dates of various movies have been rescheduled due to the on-going Covid-19 outbreak.

On February 22, the producer of Thien Than Ho Menh (Guardian Angel) announced that the release date will be moved to April 9 instead of March 19. Because of Covid-19, all Tet movies this year were affected and other movies have also suffered. The producer said instead of releasing the movie in March, the new date would be in the lead to the start of summer movies.

Song Song (Glitch) starring actress Nha Phuong was also delayed to a yet-decided date.

“Public health is the utmost priority so we decided to move the release date as the situation is still complicated. We’ll announce the new release date as soon as possible,” CJ Entertainment wrote in their announcement.

Kieu, a movie funded, directed by and starring Mai Thu Huyen, is another movie that had its release date postponed.

The movie is supposed to be released in March but as of now, cinemas in HCM City are still closed as part of Covid-19 prevention efforts. Since the situation can be unpredictable, the film producer has not decided on a new date yet.

Four movies, FaceOff:48 Hours, The Royal Bride 5, The Adventures of Trang Ti and Old Father, that were scheduled during Tet have been badly impacted, and there’s still no announcement whether these movies will be re-released in the cinema again.

Border localities exert efforts in tackling illegal entry, exit

Localities have stayed vigilant and made constant efforts in preventing illegal entry and exit at border areas, in a bid to curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Border guard forces of the Mekong Delta province of Long An arrested 14 people who were attempting to leave the country illegally on early February 24.

They admitted to trying to move abroad to find jobs. A task force at the Song Trang border post caught them red-handed in Hung Dien B commune of Long An’s Tan Hung district.

Border guard forces also reported the case to the district’s steering committee for COVID-19 prevention and control and joined hands with relevant agencies in further investigation.

Meanwhile, authorities of the south central coastal province of Binh Dinh have ordered relevant agencies to tighten inspection and observe COVID-19 preventive measures, carrying out the dual targets of maintaining socio-economic development and repelling the pandemic.

Although the locality has reported no COVID-19 cases so far, it receives a large number of vessels and travellers at seaports.

To fulfil set targets, an inter-sectoral delegation on COVID-19 prevention and control of the province has been set up, being tasked with rolling out preventive measures at Quy Nhon Port round the clock.

Since the start of this year, the border guard post at Quy Nhon Port and other agencies handled entry and exit procedures for 415 ships carrying 1,918 sailors, as well as examined 694,000 tonnes of freights going through the port./.

Vietnam works to ensure equal access to COVID-19 vaccines

Vietnam’s COVID-19 vaccination will be conducted in line with the Government’s resolution, thus ensuring equal access to the vaccines, heard a recent meeting between the Health Ministry and WHO and UNICEF representatives.

The meeting took place after the first batch of COVID-19 vaccines, jointly studied and produced by AstraZeneca pharmaceutical company and the UK’s Oxford University, arrived in Vietnam on February 24.

Health Minister Nguyen Thanh Long expressed his thanked for efforts by the COVAX Facility programme to help Vietnam soon approach the vaccines.

Vietnam wishes to get quality vaccines at suitable prices and matching the country’s storage capacity, he said, pledging that his ministry will promptly deal with procedure-related issues to facilitate the delivery of COVID-19 vaccines under the COVAX Facility programme.

The ministry has assigned relevant agencies to put forth communication plans for the vaccination.

Representatives from the international organisations agreed on the need to mobilise the involvement of different economic sectors in the storage of certain vaccines like Pfizer that must be kept at minus 70 degree Celsius and can be refrigerated for only five days.

This has been the biggest vaccination campaign in Vietnam so far, with more than 100 million doses, Long said, informing that the ministry has promptly charted scenarios and mobilised the participation of all units both and outside the medical sector in this campaign.

The participants also stressed the significance of supervising and assessing the body’s reactions to the vaccine.

A plane carrying the first batch of 117,600 doses of COVID-19 vaccine landed at Tan Son Nhat airport, Ho Chi Minh City, on February 24.

Deputy Health Minister Truong Quoc Cuong highlighted the significance of the vaccine delivery at a time when the COVID-19 pandemic is erupting in Hai Duong, Hai Phong and Quang Ninh.

With the delivery, Vietnam has become one of the first countries in Asia to access a prestigious vaccine in the world.

Result from clinical trials showed that 22 days after the first shot, AstraZeneca vaccine could fully protect people from serious illness, hospitalisation and death caused by the novel coronavirus. Within 90 days, the vaccine’s potency could reach 76 percent.

Analyses showed that the vaccine could reduce infection risk by two thirds for cases without symptoms./.

Community-based COVID-19 prevention teams work hard during pandemic

Three times a day, members of COVID-19 prevention teams in Cẩm Giàng District visit every house in every hamlet to check people’s temperature and record those who have symptoms of fevers or coughs to timely detect suspected COVID-19 cases.

The members, who are mostly hamlet officers or volunteers, also tell people about COVID-19 prevention and control measures as well as the latest policies of central and local governments to tackle the disease.

Cẩm Giàng District in the northern province of Hải Dương is now under lockdown for having had more than 60 confirmed COVID-19 cases. Other COVID-19 hot spots in the province are Kinh Môn, Nam Sách and Kim Thành districts and Hải Dương and Chi Linh cities. Within a month time, more than 600 locally-transmitted infections have been reported in the province.

Trần Như Dương, Deputy Director National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, who led the institute’s task force sent to Hải Dương Province, said timely detecting people with typical symptoms of COVID-19 would help a lot in curbing infections and treating patients.

“The establishment of COVID-19 prevention teams based every hamlet is an effective strategical measure for the virus-hit area,” Dương said.

Phạm Xuân Thăng, the secretariat of the provincial Party Committee, asked for improved performance of community-based COVID-19 prevention teams.

He said that the teams were the expanded hands of authorities and the healthcare system, reaching every household and individual.

In Cẩm Giang District alone, 764 community-based COVID-19 prevention teams have been set up with the participation of 1,537 members.

Nguyễn Văn Khoái, head of Đào Xá Hamlet, said the hamlet had five COVID-19 prevention teams to cover 420 households.

“In the rain or under the heat, three times a day, we visit every household in the hamlet,” Khoái said.

He said that in some cases, the teams found some residents with a fever and cough, so they were instructed to submit health declarations and get tested for SARS-CoV-2.

Khoái said those who were found not following disease prevention and control measures would be named via the hamlet’s loudspeaker.

Nguyễn Văn Hùng, 70 years old, of Đào Xá Commune, said thanks to members of the hamlet’s COVID-19 prevention team, he now remembered disease prevention and control measures.

“We are now not taking morning exercises in public places. We also store food for a few days to limit going out,” he said.

Nguyễn Quang Huy, a member of the COVID-19 prevention team of Thu Lãng Hamlet in Ngọc Liên Commune, Cẩm Giàng District, said when families were set to have dinner, they still did their job – calling on every house, recording people’s temperature, asking about their health conditions and reminding them about preventive measures.

The hamlet was home to many workers working in industrial zones, so Huy’s team made a separate list to monitor them easily, he said.

He said that people were willing to co-operate with the teams and some residents had reported those with health problems or who had violated disease prevention and control regulations.

Head of Cẩm Giàng District Party Committee’s Publicity Committee Nguyễn Văn Công said the COVID-19 prevention team members were enthusiastic people.

“Whenever being informed about people with health problems in their neighbourhood, they are willing to go to offer help for both the locals and health officers,” he said.

The teams helped inspect and recommend fines of more than VNĐ92 million to those who violated disease prevention and control regulations in the district, Công said, adding that common violations included not wearing face masks, doing exercises outdoors or littering used face masks.

Celebration of International Women’s Day at IDECAF

The French Institute in HCM City will host a series of activities to celebrate International Women’s Day held at the Institute of Cultural Exchange with France (IDECAF) on March 8.

The celebration will open with a photo exhibition featuring portraits of Vietnamese women taken by 15 young artists who participated in a photography workshop hosted by the French Institute in Huế and Đà Nẵng in January. The photos can be seen until April 9.

A talk show about gender equality will be organised featuring speakers of Julia Levivier, head of the French NGO organisation Planète Enfants & Développement (PE&D) in Việt Nam, psychologist Lý Thị Mai, and Lê Thị Hồng Ánh, head of Human Resources of Sanofi Vietnam.

The show will be hosted by Trần Anh Đào, economist, lecturer and researcher at the University of Rouen in France, and the Research Institute on Contemporary Southeast Asia. It will be presented in both Vietnamese and French.

The event will end with a screening of French documentary Des Femmes Et Des Hommes (Women And Men) by female director Frédérique Bedos with Vietnamese subtitles.

The celebration will begin at  5:45pm at 31 Thái Văn Lung Street in District 1.

Quảng Nam and Đà Nẵng to revive Cổ Cò River

Quảng Nam Province and Đà Nẵng City authorities have started dredging the Cổ Cò River to revive the waterway and promote tourism water traffic between Hội An and Đà Nẵng.

The project will cost VNĐ1.336 trillion (US$58 million).

Chairman of the People’s Committee of central Quảng Nam Province Lê Trí Thanh said the two localities had agreed to the project on a 28km section of the Cổ Cò River from 2019, but work was delayed by the COVID-19 and land clearance till late 2020.

He said reviving the river would help boost tourism links and the tourism property market as well as offer a new tourism route between the two parts of central Việt Nam.

The Cổ Cò River, which was known as the Lộ Giang River in the 16th century, was a major water route connecting the Thu Bồn River in Quảng Nam Province and the Hàn River in Đà Nẵng.

It also served as a trading route from the former busy trading port of Hội An and Đà Nẵng from previous centuries, but the river was encroached by rising sand and water flow change in the 18th century.

The dredging plan was initiated by the two localities in 1994 but the project only commenced construction in 2019.

Đà Nẵng started building a 3.6km concrete dyke system in late 2020 and cleared land for building infrastructure facilities including a boat dock and river cross bridges. The city said it would finish dredging a 7km river section in June this year.

Meanwhile, Quảng Nam commenced the 19km river section earlier this month.

The project aims to expand inner waterway services between the two tourism hubs, which have largely been neglected due to the use of roads.

The tourism waterway project will include 50-seat boats, bridges, wharves and recreational centres.

The launch of the project will also help ease traffic between Hội An – a UNESCO world heritage site – and Đà Nẵng.

In the past, Đà Nẵng and Quảng Nam Province inked an agreement on integrated management of the Vu Gia-Thu Bồn river basin and Quảng Nam-Đà Nẵng coastline with support from the World Bank, Asian Development Bank (ADB), Japanese International Co-operation Agency (JICA), International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the Institute for Social and Environmental Transition-International (ISET-International).

Social distancing order removed in Gia Lai’s four localities

The Central Highlands province of Gia Lai will remove social distancing order at the stroke of February 25 in four localities reporting no new COVID-19 cases in the last 14 days, according to its announcement issued on on February 24.

They include Ayun Pa township and the districts of Ia Pa, Phu Thien and Krong Pa.

Students of the province are set to return to school on March 1 while socio-economic activities will resume in the new circumstance.

Gia Lai had logged no COVID-19 infections as of 5 pm on February 24, marking two weeks without new cases.

The province had tested 50,127 people, of which 27 were positive for the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 that causes COVID-19, while 783 are waiting for results.

Seven patients were given the all-clear. Most of those under treatment are in stable conditions, as three of them have tested negative thrice, 7 twice and 4 once.

Gia Lai has to date completed contact tracing in searching for F1 and F2 cases. Local people are asked to strictly follow the Ministry of Health’s 5K message: khau trang (facemask), khu khuan (disinfection), khoang cach (distance), khong tu tap (no gathering) and khai bao y te (health declaration)./.

13 COVID-19 patients recover in Hai Duong province

Thirteen patients in a COVID-19 treatment hospital in Hai Duong province, the country’s current largest coronavirus hotspot, were given the all-clear on February 24.

The patients, who were treated at the COVID-19 hospital set up within the campus of the Hai Duong Medical Technical University in Hai Duong city, will undergo 14-day home quarantine under the supervision of local authorities and test for the coronavirus before the end of the quarantine.

The total number of recovered patients in the province now reaches 225.

According to the provincial Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, over the past 24 hours to 16:00 on February 24, Hai Duong had reported 11 cases, raising its count to 636.

The province has collected nearly 300,000 samples for COVID-19 testing so far. It plans to conduct large-scale testing for the novel coronavirus, using Realtime-PCR technology, from February 24.

The move aims to measure the spread of COVID-19 in the province to help it respond better to the disease while identifying safe areas to boost economic recovery.

People targeted by the testing are divided into three groups: the high-risk group who are people from Chi Linh and Hai Duong cities, and Kim Thanh and Cam Giang districts; the medium-risk including people from the districts of Kinh Mon, Nam Sach and Binh Giang; and the low-risk comprising those from Ninh Giang, Thanh Ha, Tu Ky, Gia Loc and Thanh Mien.

Hai Duong now has six labs for COVID-19 testing using Realtime-PCR, located in the provincial Centre for Disease Control, General Hospital, Hospital for Tropical Diseases, Children’s Hospital, Tuberculosis and Lung Disease Hospital, and the Hospital of Hai Duong Medical Technical University.

The province is now capable of collecting 50,000 to 60,000 samples and processing as much as 8,500 individual test samples on a daily basis. The results normally come out after 24 hours./.

Voters’ confidence – important criteria for NA, People’s Council candidates

Voters’ confidence is an important measurement of eligibility during the selection of candidates for the upcoming elections of the 15th National Assembly and People’s Councils at all levels, according to Ngo Sach Thuc, Vice President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee.

Thuc said a joint resolution of the NA Standing Committee, the Presidium of the VFF Central Committee and the Government stipulates that the credit of candidates is among major criteria to take into account in sorting out the candidates. Those who have low level of credit at their residential areas and workplace will be expelled, he said.

“We find that the negotiation process has been implemented in a tighter manner. Thanks to the high responsibility of agencies, organisations and individuals, candidates who fail to meet the requirements of eligibility have been detected. Meanwhile, the issues on nationality, income and asset are also focused in evaluating the eligibility, with clearer regulations, stated Thuc.

He underlined the major new feature of the upcoming general elections is the specification of relevant legal regulations, such as the regulation requiring that a candidate must win the confidence of over 50 percent of voters in his residential area.

A candidate to the NA must have at least 10 meetings with voters, while candidates to the People’s Council at all levels should have at least five, so that people will have chances to get better understanding about them, he said.

Thuc said that the VFF is currently working hard for the preparations to perform its supervision role in the upcoming elections, which are slated for May this year.

In order to prepare for the election of deputies to the 15th National Assembly and People’s Councils at all levels in the 2021-2026 tenure, the VFF has recently held an online training conference on the supervision and inspection of the elections, he said.

The VFF is responsible in engaging in this process to ensure that the elections take place in a democratic, fair and successful manner, he said, stressing that this is one of the important tasks of the VFF in the building of the administration.

The affairs that the VFF engages in include popularizing and guiding election contents, holding three rounds of negotiation to introduce nominees, and organising election campaigns of candidates as well as supervising the elections, he said.

Thuc said that the purpose of the supervision is to promote the role of the VFF and its member organisations as well as the people, helping to make sure that the elections are implemented in line with law, creating an excited atmosphere and promoting the active involvement of the people in building the administration./.

Quang Ninh to spend 500 billion VND buying COVID-19 vaccines

The northern province of Quang Ninh will spend at least 500 billion VND (21.7 million USD) on purchasing COVID-19 vaccines, targeting mass vaccinations as soon as possible.

Local authorities announced the information during a meeting between the cabinet, the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, and localities on February 24.

Quang Ninh recently issued a resolution stipulating urgent tasks and solutions in the COVID-19 fight.

It will cut 10 percent from regular spending and increase budget contingency to a maximum of 4 percent per total budget spending in order to provide the resources to fight COVID-19 and other diseases and respond to natural disasters and emergencies.

As of February 24, Quang Ninh had reported 61 COVID-19 cases.

Local departments, agencies, and localities have been urged to remain vigilant and take measures seriously, synchronously, and effectively to prevent the spread of the pandemic.

At a meeting on February 23, the standing board of the provincial Party Committee decided to provide 4 billion VND to the neighbouring province of Hai Duong, which is now grappling with COVID-19 clusters./.

Nearly 21,000 flights operated during Tet holiday season

Vietnamese airlines operated 20,944 flights during the Tet holiday season from January 19 to February 18, when travel demand rose sharply, according to the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV).

The figure represented a month-on-month increase of 7.4 percent.

Vietjet Air conducted the highest number of flights among domestic carriers, with 7,881. It was followed by national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines (6,725), Bamboo Airways (4,008), Jetstar Pacific (1,640), Vasco (518), and Vietravel Air (172).

Overall on-time performance (OTP) reached 94.6 percent during the period, a year-on-year rise of 9.3 percentage points.

Despite the impact of COVID-19, the Hanoi-HCM City route remained one of the world’s busiest domestic routes.

It is ranked second globally, with 1.085 million passengers in February, just behind the Jeju-Seoul Gimpo route in the Republic of Korea, according to a report released in February by OAG, a global travel data provider headquartered in the UK.

Ensuring the safety of flights, passengers, airport staff, and crew members remains the top priority of the airlines.

The traditional Tet holiday took place from February 10 to 16./.

Campaign gets underway ahead of Earth Hour 2021

A countdown has been launched for Earth Hour 2021 due to take place on March 27 to encourage local people to turn off lights in support of nature, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

The Ministry requests that cities and provinces co-operate with each other in order to hold activities in response to this year’s Earth Hour campaign.

All residents and various organisations are also being encouraged to participate in the nationwide event to turn off all lights between 20:30 p.m. to 21:30 p.m. as a way of highlighting the cause of environmental protection.

As part of the event, the country will launch activities in response to Earth Hour, with co-ordination from the Ministry of Industry and Trade, along with support from the Electricity of Vietnam (EVN).

Vietnam first joined the Earth Hour campaign in 2009 as part of efforts to meet its commitments to reducing 8% of greenhouse emissions by 2030 in response to global climate change.

Earth Hour is a worldwide movement organised by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). It has been described as the largest global grassroots movement for environmental causes, with the involvement of roughly 7,000 cities across 172 countries and territories.

Internationals highlight Vietnam’s strategies for successful response to COVID-19

Vietnam was ranked second for successfully handling the COVID-19 pandemic, and its contact tracing was so good it barely had to lock down, says a headline on the US-based Business Insider.

The newspaper quotes a report published by thinktank The Lowy Institute in January as saying Vietnam was ranked second, behind New Zealand, out of 98 countries in their response to COVID-19.

Kamal Malhotra, a United Nations resident coordinator in Vietnam, said the country’s success in handling the virus came down to three things: contact tracing, strategic testing, and clear messaging.

“Instead of testing everyone, they tested those identified in contact tracing. The borders were shut down and everyone who came into the country was quarantined in government facilities — for free.”

Credendo Group’s offices in Germany and Austria have published a study to evaluate the level of risk in Vietnam, which emphasised that the Southeast Asian country is continuing its successful economic story after its good performance in controlling the COVID-19 pandemic.

The article quoted the latest country study of Credendo, saying that Vietnam has been one of the few highly resilient countries during the unprecedented COVID-19 shock.

Khanh Hoa reclaims 10,000m2 of leased sea surface for public use

The government of Khanh Hoa Province has reclaimed 10,000 square meters of the sea surface in Nha Trang City, which was previously leased to businesses, for public use, said Nguyen Tan Tuan, chairman of the province, on February 24.

The 10,000 square meters of sea surface is located in the Bai Duong area in the eastern part of Tran Phu Street in Loc Tho Ward. The south-central province had earlier leased the water area to the Sovico Khanh Hoa Company to serve the tourists of the Ana Mandara Resort, reported Thanh Nien Online.

As of now, the province has no intention of extending the lease contract and the company is also willing to return the property. Thus, the province took it back and handed it over to the authorities of Loc Tho Ward to manage it as a public beach.

The Ana Mandara Resort was built in 1995, covering an area of 26,000 square meters, with its lease term having expired. The provincial government had handed over the area to an investor at the Bai Dai area to develop a new project. Once the first phase of the Ana Mandara Cam Ranh project reaches completion by the end of this year, the Ana Mandara Resort will have to be relocated.

Transport Dept. proposes banning rudimentary vehicles in HCMC after 2025

The HCMC Department of Transport has written to the city’s government proposing to restrict three-wheeler and rudimentary vehicles from entering downtown HCMC and to eliminate these vehicles from the streets after 2025.

The department suggested the municipal government limit the use of these vehicles in two phases, reported VnExpress news site.

From now until 2022, all three-wheeler and non-motor vehicles are banned from entering the inner-city areas which are confined by the following roads: Hai Ba Trung – Ton Duc Thang – Ham Nghi – Pham Ngu Lao – Nguyen Thi Nghia – Cach Mang Thang Tam – Dien Bien Phu – Hai Ba Trung.

Besides this, these vehicles are not allowed to enter some routes such as Phan Dinh Giot, Truong Son, Nam Ky Khoi Nghia and Vo Van Kiet.

Also, between 5:00 and 13:00 and 16:00 and 22:00, the vehicles are banned from entering the inner-city locations confined by streets such as National Highway No.1, Hanoi Highway, Mai Chi Tho, Dong Van Cong, Vo Chi Cong, Phu My Bridge and Nguyen Van Linh.

The department also suggested that the vehicles should be banned from travelling on eight streets including National Highways 1, 1K, 13, 50, 22 and the Hanoi Highway between 6:00 and 8:00 and 16:00 and 19:00.

In the 2022-2025 period, the streets limiting the entry of these vehicles will remain unchanged, but the restriction time should be extended. From 2025 onward, these vehicles should be completely banned, said the department.

HCMC sends enlistment invitation to nearly 4,000 young people this year

The Ho Chi Minh City Military Services Council informed that nearly 4,000 young adults in the age group of 18 to 25 were sent enlistment invitations this year.

Accordingly, around 41.95 percent of the enlistees hold intermediate level, college and university degrees and 2.5 percent of them are party members.

The figures were informed at the meeting of the Ho Chi Minh City Military Services Council under the witness of Major General Nguyen Van Nam, Member of the Standing Board of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee, Standing Deputy Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Military Services Council on February 25.

In order to ensure strict implementation of the Covid-19 pandemic prevention and control measures, most of enlistees will be taken samples for SARS-CoV-2 testing before the enlistee handover ceremonies on March 3.

Major General Nguyen Van Nam praised activities and practical programs of the party committees and authorities at all levels for recruitment such as granting saving books and gifts to recruited soldiers, supporting enlistees’ families with difficult circumstances with the total funds of nearly VND6 million (US$260) a person.

Amidst the current complicated Covid-19 pandemic situation, the enlistee reception and handover ceremonies in localities are recommended to take place quickly with athe maximum time of 20 minutes as well as minimize their relatives in seeing off ceremonies, emphasized Mr. Nam.

Can Gio sea reclamation project comprises financial, economic subdivisions

The People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City has just approved the detailed plan of 1/500 proportion for four financial and economic subdivisions of A, B, C and D covering on a total area of 2,870 hectares of Can Gio sea reclamation tourist urban area, aiming to turn Can Gio into a sustainable eco-urban area.

Accordingly, subdivision C has a scale of 303.47hectares of land, which will become a financial, economic, commercial and service center with harbors, luxury resorts, villas, skyscrapers. This area will have an estimated population of about 26,300 people.

In addition, theme park, golf course, luxury resorts, townhouses, villas, apartments, commercial services, offices, hotels will be built in 771.05- hectare subdivision A with the maximum population of 65,113 people.

Meanwhile, subdivision B will have residential areas, tourism resorts, service facilities, urban green tree spaces and key technical infrastructure area on 586.88 hectares with a capacity of accommodating around 71,300 people.

Spreading over nearly 450 hectares, subdivision D will become a center for commercial, luxury resort, modern urban area with many townhouses and villas.

Can Gio sea reclamation tourist urban area project covering 2,870 hectares is invested by Can Gio Tourist Urban Joint Stock Company (CTC). After coming into operation, the urban area is expected to serve more than 228,000 residents and welcome nearly 9 million visitors per year.

The project was officially begun construction in 2007, and until now, the investor has completed the first phase with an area of 908 hectares and the second phase is being implemented with a total area of over 1,577 hectares.

The project has a total investment capital of VND217,054 billion (US$9.4 million) after expansion adjustment from 600 hectares to 2,870 hectares.

VIETNAM NEWS HEADLINES FEB. 26

Source: VNA/VNS/VOV/VIR/SGT/Nhan Dan/Hanoitimes

Filed Under: Uncategorized Vietnam breaking news, Vietnam news, Vietnam latest news, last week news headlines, almeria news headlines, english news headline, aaj tak english news headlines, ethiopian news headlines, the nation news headlines, state news headlines, georgia state news headlines, news headlines news headlines, news headlines breaking news, cnn news headline news, cnn world news headlines and breaking news

VIETNAM BUSINESS NEWS FEB. 18

February 18, 2021 by vietnamnet.vn

Logistics sector to step up digital transformation

VIETNAM BUSINESS NEWS FEB. 18

Logistics, considered a backbone of Vietnam’s economy, is among eight sectors prioritised by the national programme for digital transformation until 2025.

According to the Vietnam Logistics Business Association (VLA), the sector has grown 14-16 percent annually over recent years. It now gathers together some 3,000 domestic firms and 30 others offering transnational services.  Of those, 89 percent are domestic businesses and 10 percent are joint ventures while the number of foreign-funded companies represents just 1 percent of the total.

The VLA said the cost of logistics in Vietnam as a proportion of GDP is 18 percent, compared to 9-14 percent in developed countries. The high cost is attributable to limited sea port infrastructure and weak cost reduction efforts. Together with fierce competition, the digital economic boom, and pressure from the COVID-19 pandemic, these have made digitisation in the sector a must.

Vietnamese logistics companies offer between 2 and 17 services, mostly in transport, warehousing, and fast delivery. About half apply technology in their operations.

Nguyen Tuong, VLA Deputy General Secretary, said investment shortages from the very beginning, difficulties in choosing suitable technological applications, a sense of distrust in technology, and a fear of change are hindering the sector from pressing ahead with digital transformation.

Tran Thanh Hai, Deputy Director of the Agency of Foreign Trade at the Ministry of Industry and Trade, said transformation in this core sector would trigger a similar process in other parts of the supply chain.

Experts have said that smart logistics involve master plans and strategies with the involvement of cloud computing technology, adding that it will be conducive to improving customer services, information flows, and automation.

To reduce logistics costs, Nguyen Hoang Long, Deputy General Director of the Viettel Post Joint Stock Corporation, said the engagement of both the Government and enterprises is needed. While the Government should offer planning and assistance for the building of national logistics centres, as well as preferential land and port taxes, enterprises need to invest in better management and boosting connectivity within the sector, he said.

Administration reform and capital support are also necessary for logistics firms undertaking digital transformation, insiders have said./.

US removes anti-dumping duty on Minh Phu frozen shrimp

The Minh Phu Seafood Joint Stock Company announced on February 17 that US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has cancelled a decision issued on October 13, 2020 on the imposition of anti-dumping tariffs on the company’s frozen shrimp products exported to the US.

Its CEO Le Van Quang said the latest CBP decision allows Minh Phu to continue exporting frozen shrimp to the US without being subject to an anti-dumping duty imposed on shrimp from India or any other anti-dumping duties.

Minh Phu has also been refunded anti-dumping duties it temporarily paid under the October 13 decision, Quang added.

The CBP had applied the Enforce and Protect Act (EAPA) to conclude that frozen shrimp products exported by Minh Phu to the US should be subject to duties in accordance with the anti-dumping order imposed on shrimp from India. It said the company did not provide sufficient evidence as requested by the CBP to prove that it was not using shrimp originating from India for export to the US.

Minh Phu decided to send an administrative complaint to the CBP’s senior agency, because the decision ignored key evidence that it had an effective traceability system and was not using raw shrimp from India for exports to the US.

In fact, Minh Phu clearly demonstrated its separation and traceability method approved by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) under the US Department of Commerce, based on its requirements for the Seafood Import Monitoring Programme.

Minh Phu successfully applied and effectively operated a high-tech shrimp farming model at its two farming areas of Minh Phu Kien Giang on 600 ha and Minh Phu Loc An on 300 ha. It has also been establishing a network of shrimp suppliers across the Mekong Delta and Vietnam’s south that use diverse models of sustainable shrimp farming./.

HCM City sees sharp fall in number of tourists

Ho Chi Minh City recorded 1,800 visitors booking hotel rooms during the Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday from February 9 to 17, the municipal Department of Tourism reported after summarising figures from 22 of the 124 local 3 to 5-star hotels.

Tourists numbers were down sharply compared to Tet last year, primarily due to the COVID-19 outbreak right before the holiday.

Recognising that many people had decided not to return to their homeland because of the pandemic, many travel companies offered various short tours to nearby safe destinations.

Department Director Nguyen Thi Anh Hoa said it coordinated with accommodation providers to manage those coming from pandemic-hit regions while strictly implementing safety standards for COVID-19 prevention and control.

Providers were also asked to ensure guest safety by applying the Ministry of Health’s message featuring 5K (in Vietnamese) Khau trang (facemask)- (Khu khuan) disinfection- (Khoang cach) distance- (Khong tu tap) no gathering – (Khai bao y te) health declaration.

Analysts have forecast that fluctuations will be seen in the number of visitors to local accommodation providers this year, which are posting occupancy of less than 10 percent./.

Hapaco eyes investment in 4-trillion-VND wind power project

The Hapaco Group JSC is planning to invest 4 trillion VND (174.1 million USD) in a wind power project in the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai.

The project is among those to be submitted for approval at the group’s annual shareholders’ meeting, which is slated for March 14.

The meeting will also discuss an investment in building a 23-ha care centre for the elderly in the northern city of Hai Phong’s Thuy Nguyen district as well as Hapaco’s new development orientations in social housing and guest worker services.

Hapaco (stock code HAP) was one of the first listed on Vietnam’s stock market. As of December 31 last year, its total asset exceeded more than 808 billion VND.

Last year, the group reeled in 335 billion VND in revenue, an annual decrease of 11 percent. Its after-tax profit, meanwhile, hit 34.3 billion VND, up 69 percent on-year./.

HCM City: Consumer prices see slight rise after Tet holiday

Consumer prices in Ho Chi Minh City showed slight fluctuations on February 16, or the fifth day of the new lunar year and the last day of the Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday, with most traders in wet markets resuming business.

It is noteworthy that prices of fresh vegetables and fruit increased remarkably compared to before Tet, as consumers tend to buy more of those goods after feasting during the holiday.

Reports of the Thu Duc wholesale market said supplies of vegetable, fruits and flower are abundant at stable prices.

Besides wet markets, most supermarkets, convenience stores and shopping centres in the city are scheduled to re-open on February 17, ensuring supplies of goods when residents return to the city after the holiday.

In the context of unpredictable developments of the COVID-19 pandemic in the city and the country, businesses in HCM City have stocked 57.5 million facemasks and 3.39 million bottles of hand sanitizer to meet epidemic prevention demands./.

Brand building – key to add value to business

Vietnam enterprises need greater efforts to build their brand names so as to better competitive edge amidst rapid integration, according to experts.

According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade’s Trade Promotion Agency, although the number of businesses honoured with the Vietnam National Brand increased throughout years (from 30 in 2008 to 124 in 2020), it lagged behind expectations.

Deputy head of the agency Hoang Minh Chien said the Vietnam National Brand (Vietnam Value) Programme has raised awareness of many local firms and corporations of the important roles of brand name in improving value of their products and the businesses themselves.

It is difficult to develop Vietnam brand for specific products, he said, adding despite being the world’s leading agro-forestry-fisheries exporter, Vietnam lacks in branded products in its shipments.

Up to 80 percent of Vietnamese agricultural exports are yet to have brand name. Many exports in the nation’s “one-billion USD” club such as timber, rubber, pepper and cashew nuts have not their own brand names yet, according to agricultural specialist Hoang Trong Thuy.

Chairwoman of the Ngan Ha Science and Technoloy Company Limited Pham Thi Kim Loan said a good brand is developed from good-quality products as well as fine customer service and marketing strategies.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the Advice Council to the Institute for Brand and Competitiveness Strategy Nguyen Quoc Thinh stressed that besides financial resources, businesses need dogged determination and in-depth knowledge of brand building.

Chien said the Ministry of Industry and Trade will accompany enterprises to develop and popularise their brand names, adding focus will be sharpened on raising public awareness of brand development, helping businesses to satisfy criteria of the Vietnam National Brand Programme, and introducing the brands to domestic consumers and international partners.

According to the Brand Finance, value of the Vietnam Nation Brand skyrocketed 175 percent from 141 billion USD in 2016 to 319 billion USD in 2020. The country also jumped 17 places from 2016 to 33rd in the list of the world’s 100 most valuable brands compiled by the UK consultancy./.

Ninh Binh strives to host 7 million visitors in 2021

Ninh Binh  has launched promotion activities on social networks, among other activities.It is also working with the provincial tourism association to mobilise travel agencies’ engagement in demand stimulus activities and increase service quality.

Ensuring related security and order, environmental sanitation, and COVID-19 prevention and control are also key tasks, noted the official.

According to statistics from the department, during the recent three-day New Year holiday, the province received more than 32,000 visitors. Most of them went to local renowned destinations like Trang An Landscape Complex – a world cultural and natural heritage site, Cuc Phuong national park, and Van Long submerged natural reserve.

In 2020 the province hosted 2.8 million tourists, equaling to just 37 percent of the 2019 figure. The reduction was largely due to the impact of the pandemic./.

Kien Giang promotes border trade infrastructure connectivity with Cambodia

The southern border province of Kien Giang has facilitated the implementation of a memorandum of understanding on border trade infrastructure development and connectivity between Vietnam and Cambodia.

Ha Tien city and Giang Thanh district have been asked to build a list of border trade infrastructure items, with priority given to connectivity with Cambodian localities, according to the Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Chin.

Kien Giang has also supported trade promotion and the attraction of investments in border trade infrastructure construction.

Local competent agencies have taken measures to simplify administrative procedures in order to make it easier for traders and border residents in customs clearance.

The province has effectively implemented cooperation agreements with Cambodian localities and joined hands with the Cambodian side in national defence as well as external affairs in border areas./.

Kien Giang moves to promote marine economic growth

The Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang has planned to further promote sustainable marine aquaculture in line with the “Strategy for the Sustainable Development of Vietnam’s Marine Economy by 2030 with a Vision to 2045”.

Local leaders said the province will fully tap its potential and advantages to promote marine aquaculture in a modern manner in connection with tourism development, while ensuring the environment and national defence and security at seas and islands.

The plan aims to contribute to accelerating the restructuring of agriculture, promoting marine economic growth, and improving competitiveness and local incomes.

It aims to have 7,500 farming cages by 2025, including 4,700 traditional fish cages, 1,900 hi-tech fish cages, and 900 cages for breeding other seafood.

The water surface areas for cage farming and mollusc farming are expected to reach 7,000 ha and 24,000 ha, respectively.

The farming yield is to reach 113,530 tonnes and be worth 7.54 trillion VND (327.6 million USD), including 29,870 tonnes from cage farming and 83,660 tonnes from mollusc cultivation. The sector is forecast to employ 18,510 workers.

According to the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, farming areas in Phu Quoc city, Kien Hai island district, the island commune of Tien Hai in Ha Tien city, and Son Hai and Hon Nghe in Kien Luong district will focus on farming groupers, cobias, yellow-fin pompanos, and seabass, as well as blue lobster, mantis shrimp, crab, and oysters for pearl farming.

Meanwhile, coastal areas in Ha Tien city and the districts of Kien Luong, Hon Dat, An Minh, and An Bien will develop zones for farming molluscs such as blood cockles, saltwater mussels, green mussels, and oysters.

Local authorities must also fully tap the potential and effectively use the sea for farming, towards promoting agricultural economic restructuring, increasing productivity and output, and ensuring food hygiene and safety.

The locality has worked hard to create more jobs and improve incomes in coastal communities and those on islands, cut inshore fishing activities, preserve the environment, and minimise activities that deplete natural aquatic resources.

It aims to develop marine farming at an industrial-scale using modern technologies that can produce a large volume of products for both export and domestic demand.

The province also attaches special importance to promoting links and cooperation in producing raw materials, processing and consuming aquatic products, ensuring food hygiene and safety, and protecting the environment, contributing to protecting and regenerating aquatic resources and preserving biodiversity.

It has synchronously implemented solutions on land and water surface areas for marine farming, and mechanisms and policies to boost production and attract investors to high-tech aquaculture.

The locality has also paid heed to applying credit and incentive policies to support aquaculture development and high-tech agriculture, as well as to improving the quality of human resources in the sector./.

Lao Cai aims to welcome 5 mln visitors this year

The northern province of Lao Cai, home to the popular holiday town of Sa Pa, has set a target of welcoming 5 million visitors this year and earning more than 696 million USD in tourism revenue.

The province will exert efforts to attract more domestic holidaymakers.

Sa Pa has long been among the country’s leading destinations. Of note, young people accounted for more than 70 percent of tourist arrivals to the town in 2020.

Lao Cai also aims to devise 130 new tourism products to meet demand from tourists and encourage them to return in the future.

Lao Cai’s tourism sector bore the brunt of the ill-effects of the pandemic and welcomed just 2.2 million visitors last year, down by more than half against 2019./.

Opportunities forecast for Vietnam’s economy in 2021: experts

Apart from challenges, many opportunities will be offered to the Vietnamese economy in 2021, experts have said.

Such agreements as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) to which Vietnam is a signatory will open up wide doors for the country to further integrate into the world.

Economist Nguyen Minh Phong forecast that Vietnam’s agriculture, industry, export-import, and the domestic financial, stock and real estate markets will grow further in the year.

Notably, with the current growth rate of the local processing sector, Vietnam would join the group of newly-emerging industrialised countries in the coming years.

Pham Dinh Thuy from the General Statistics Office said that the GDP growth target of 6.5 percent set by the Government is feasible in the normal situation. However, this would be a challenge for the country as 2021 is the first year of implementing the 2021-2025 socio-economic development plan.

The official pinned hope on the development of such sectors as food, garment-textile, wood processing, metal production, construction and electricity production.

To achieve the set economic targets, it is a must to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, he said, suggesting stepping up economic restructuring, churning out typical products, streamlining administrative procedures, improving the domestic investment environment, and improving the country’s competitiveness.

Thuy also highlighted the significance of trade promotion and foreign investment attraction, which, he said, needs specific plans.

Pham Viet Hoai, Chairman of Kym Viet JSC, said the application of digital technology would bring about positive results to any firm.

According to Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Tran Duy Dong, after the PM adopted the national digital transformation programme, many sectors have reaped significant outcomes, benefiting people and the entire economy.

Digital transformation is vital as it helps enterprises improve their business governance and adapt to the latest changes in technology, market and consumer taste, he said./.

Exports from six ASEAN countries drop only 2.2 pct despite pandemic: JETRO

Exports from six Southeast Asian countries fell 2.2 percent in 2020 from a year earlier to a combined 1.35 trillion USD, a relatively marginal decline despite COVID-19, according to data from the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO).

Of the six, only Vietnam posted an increase in exports for the year, up 7 percent to 282.66 billion USD, with a 5.2 percent drop to Japan more than offset by a 25.7 percent rise to the US and an 18 percent expansion to China.

Meanwhile, the Philippines logged a 10.1 percent fall in exports last year, followed by a contraction of 6 percent in Thailand, 4.1 percent in Singapore and 2.6 percent each in Malaysia and Indonesia.

The combined trade surplus of the six ASEAN members more than triple to 133.66 billion USD, as easing energy prices and shrinking domestic demand led to steeper declines in imports than exports.

Thailand’s trade surplus surged 144.5 percent, compared with an increase of 83.5 percent for Vietnam, 43.9 percent for Singapore and 25.6 percent for Malaysia.

The Philippines narrowed its trade deficit by 46.3 percent to 21.84 billion USD. Indonesia chalked up a trade surplus of 21.74 billion USD, a turnaround from a deficit of 3.6 billion USD in 2019.

Singapore accounted for 27.4 percent of the six countries’ total trade by value in 2020, followed by Vietnam at 21.3 percent, Thailand at 17.1 percent, Malaysia at 16.5 percent, Indonesia at 11.9 percent and the Philippines at 5.8 percent./.

Central Da Nang city to build duty-free zone

Da Nang’s authorities are building a detailed plan for the city’s first international duty-free zone and smart urban area for investors, with construction set to commence soon as the Import-Export Pan Pacific Group (IPPG) has asked the city to allocate land for the project.

Director of the city’s Investment Promotion Agency Huynh Thi Lien Phuong told Vietnam News that the project had been finalising the city’s first international standard downtown duty-free zone and factory outlet centre.

Lien said the city would offer the best conditions for the investor to start the project.

She said the city also planned a downtown free-duty shop at the coastal crown plaza in Ngu Hanh Son District to seek investment.

In 2019, IPPG proposed the project with an investment of 434 million USD, but an appropriate land area was yet to be offered.

In 2018, chairman of the group, Jonathan Hanh Nguyen, urged the city to build a third terminal to ease congestion and design an international standard duty-free zone and recreational area to funnel tourism towards Hoi An, Hue and Da Nang.

He said Da Nang would be a new location for a luxury shopping centre for future development and investment attraction.

Da Nang has been designing the 1,100ha Hi-Tech Park as Vietnam’s ‘Silicon Valley’ to earn revenue of 1.5 billion USD each year with 25,000 jobs and a satellite city of 100,000 people after 2023.

The US-based aviation firm Universal Alloy Corporation (UAC) put the Sunshine Aerospace Components Factory into operation in the first phase in 2020.

The Republic of Korea’s LG Electronics also debuted its research and development (R&D) centre – the second in Vietnam – at the Da Nang Information Technology Park Tower

CMC Corporation, the second-largest information and communications technology (ICT) group in Vietnam, plans to build the Da Nang-based CMC creative space – a digital hub in the Asia-Pacific region – with an estimated investment of 522 million USD.

To date, Da Nang has 876 foreign direct investment projects worth a total of 3.52 billion USD./.

More trade remedy probes predicted for Vietnamese enterprises this year

The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) is set to bolster action while Vietnamese enterprises have been recommended to gear up preparations as more trade remedy investigations are expected in 2021.

Vietnam’s participation in 14 free trade agreements (FTAs) has helped fuel its trading activities.

MoIT data shows that export turnover boomed from 15 billion USD in 2001 to nearly 100 billion USD in 2011 and then 281.5 billion USD in 2020. The figure is expected to rise 4-5 percent this year.

Sharing the same upward trend in exports, however, is the number of trade remedy cases instigated against Vietnamese goods.

Vietnamese exports, including major foreign currency earners like shrimp, tra fish, steel, and wooden products, have been subject to nearly 200 trade remedy cases so far.

The country has successfully dealt with about 43 percent of cases, thus ensuring the continued export of basa fish and shrimp to major markets like the US and the EU at zero percent or very low tariffs.

It has also launched 19 trade remedy probes itself into imported goods, including steel, chemicals, plastics, fertiliser, monosodium glutamate (MSG), and sugar.

Chu Thang Trung, Deputy Director of the MoIT’s Trade Remedies Authority of Vietnam (TRAV), said trade remedies are appropriate policy tools that the WTO recognises and permits its members to use in international trade.

WTO figures show that more than 4,500 trade remedies have been applied by members since the organisation was established in 1995. Such measures are clearly not an abnormal phenomenon, Trung said.

Vietnam’s membership of many FTAs has sped up the removal of tariff barriers on its exports, giving its goods a greater degree of competitiveness in import markets. It has also put more pressure on producers in importing countries, forcing them to use legal trade policy tools to protect their interests, including trade remedies, the official added.

TRAV Director Le Trieu Dung said trade remedies are increasingly common and are legal measures permitted by the WTO to ensure fair competition between domestically-made goods and imported equivalents.

He pointed out that due to some countries’ trade protection policies and lingering difficulties in the global economy in 2021, the number of trade remedy investigations targeting both Vietnamese exports and imports into the country is predicted to remain high for the foreseeable future.

This will expose domestic manufacturers to new challenges, especially as key FTAs like the EU-Vietnam FTA (EVFTA), the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) will present fierce competition.

Therefore, he added, TRAV has recommended businesses equip themselves with knowledge on trade remedy regulations, particularly those of Vietnam and its export markets, while gearing up resources to cope with any trade remedies.

Pointing out certain shortcomings, experts have said the capacity of local businesses in regard to trade remedies remains modest, while there are ongoing problems in legal regulations and coordination among related agencies.

MoIT has developed a plan on improving the capacity of Vietnamese enterprises to handle trade defence measures now the country is party to many new-generation FTAs.

Experts also held, however, that enterprises themselves need to change their thinking and turn competitive pressure into momentum for reform, development, and product improvement.

Nguyen Thao Hien, Deputy Director of the MoIT’s European – American Market Department, said that to help reduce trade remedy cases, businesses should promote the manufacturing of goods for which domestic material supplies are at hand, as well as those with high added value and rich growth potential amid the pandemic, such as agricultural products, food, and medical equipment.

They must ensure strict quality control and update processing technology so as to raise the value of their products, she added.

Trade remedy investigations can be initiated by one or just a few foreign companies but they pose risks for entire sectors, analysts said, suggesting that Vietnamese firms stay updated with information and actively work with their business associations and State agencies on an effective response.

TRAV Director Dung said that this year, apart from plans on enhancing trade remedy-related capacity and coordination, the authority will also implement plans on building and operating an early warning system for trade remedies and overhaul rules of origin./.

Tens of wind power projects to be operational in Quang Tri

As many as 22 wind power projects with a combined capacity of 907 MW are set to be put into operation in the central province of Quang Tri by year end.

To meet the deadline, the locality has urged project investors to speed up the construction, while pushing ahead with the maintenance of National Highway 9 and other routes to facilitate project equipment transportation.

The local Department of Industry and Trade has also suggested the provincial People’s Committee instruct relevant agencies and units to swiftly remove bottlenecks to site clearance.

As of January, the Ministry of Industry and Trade had approved 31 wind power projects in Quang Tri to date, with an accumulative capacity of 1,177 MW, of which seven are under construction.

Earlier, Huong Linh 1 and 2 wind power projects in the province came into service, significantly contributing to local budget collection.

Apart from projects that had received the green light of the ministry, Quang Tri has tens of others that are under study with a total capacity exceeding 3,600 MW.

The locality has adopted various solutions to support businesses operating in energy in general and wind power in particular such as providing them with consultations in tax, insurance, contract, land and environment, and building the e-government.

Estimations by the ministry showed Vietnam would face a shortage of 6.6 billion kWh in 2021, 11.8 billion kWh in 2022 and 13 billion kWh in 2023. It would require a total investment of 130 billion USD in new power projects by 2030 to make up for the shortages, equivalent to 12 billion USD annually.

The country’s power demand was forecast to increase by 8.5 percent per year over the next five years and seven percent between 2026 and 2030.

Research showed Vietnam had the potential to develop around 8,000MW hydroelectricity from small plants, 20,000MW of wind power and 3,000MW of biomass power and 35,000MW of solar power by 2030./.

UKVFTA hoped to promote Vietnam’s exports

The UK-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (UKVFTA), which became effective on January 1, is expected to create a strong motivation pushing Vietnam forwards on the path of economic development and international integration.

According to Kenneth Atkinson, head of the British Business Group in Vietnam (Britcham), the deal will help strengthen trade and support employment, while promoting growth in both countries.

The erasing of 65 percent of the total tariff immediately after the deal takes effects and 99 percent of the tariff in 6-7 years will bring about practical benefits to British exporters of machineries, chemicals, and brandy, he held.

Along with the reduction of legal barriers as well as burden in administrative procedures in the two markets, the official said, highlighting that the UKVFTA will help observe the regulations and commitments that the two Governments and business communities have agreed on.

The deal will also ensure the increase in the trade by more than 3,000 UK businesses engaged in export activities to Vietnam, while meeting the demand for Vietnamese goods of UK customers, he said.

Atkinson asserted that the area of solar and wind power will receive priorities from the business communities and governments of both sides.

Experts held that Vietnamese products account for only 1 percent of the 700 billion USD import revenue of the UK, so Vietnam has high potential to provide more products to the promising market, including telephones, accessories, garment and textile products, footwear, seafood, wood and furniture, computers, cashew, and peppercorn.

The UK is currently the third largest trade partner of Vietnam in Europe.

Hoang Quang Phong, Vice President of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), said that the UKVFTA not only facilitates the trade of goods and services but also helps promote partnership in many other areas, including green growth and sustainable development.

As the UK has officially left the EU, which means the preferential policies that Vietnam enjoys thanks to the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) will not be applied in the UK anymore, the UKVFTA has eased concern of the business community about the interruption of trade with the European country, he added./.

VIETNAM BUSINESS NEWS FEB. 18

Vietnam targets modernity-oriented agriculture: Minister

Vietnam will continue with the building of a modernity-oriented agriculture sector with complete value chains in 2021, according to Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Cuong.

Cuong told the Vietnam News Agency (VNA)’s reporter that such production chains will be developed on the basis of three groups of major products – the club with export revenue of at least 1 billion USD, agricultural products that are of localities’ strength like longan in northern Hung Yen province and lychee in northern Bac Giang province, and “One Commune, One Product” (OCOP) goods.

Vietnam has paid attention to product quality during its international economic integration, Cuong said, stressing the significance of organic agriculture.

The sector will also take various solutions to call for the involvement of businesses, while promoting the linkages between them and farmers and cooperatives.

To attract more enterprises, the sector will further provide consultations for the Prime Minister in order to complete mechanisms and policies, as well as administrative reforms, he said.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) will also closely coordinate with localities to facilitate investment, the minister said, adding that greater efforts will be made to step up the formation of new-style cooperatives.

Cuong said the application of digital technology should be intensified in spheres, and the MARD will join hands with the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Information and Communications in this regard.

In another interview with the Dien dan Doanh nghiep (Business Forum) newspaper, Cuong said that 2020 was a year full of challenges and difficulties for Vietnam’s economy, including the agriculture sector, due to the COVID-19 crisis. The sector also had to face natural disasters, including unprecedented drought.

The growth and trade targets for the sector last year were also the highest ever, with exports set at over 41 billion USD.

However, Cuong noted, thanks to the efforts of the entire political system, ministries, sectors, localities, and economic elements, the agricultural sector managed to secure growth of about 2.65 percent and post export earnings of 41.25 billion USD, with nine groups of commodities enjoying shipments of over 10 billion USD.

The agriculture sector’s export target of 44 billion USD this year, set by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, is a high but feasible goal. Vietnam earned about 3.49 billion USD from exports of agricultural, forestry, and fisheries products in January, up 27.1 percent year-on-year, data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development shows.

Under a plan recently approved by the PM, Vietnam expects the annual figure to reach some 60-62 billion USD by 2030./.

Thanh Hoa looks to develop tourism into spearhead economic sector

The north-central province of Thanh Hoa has set a target of turning tourism into a spearhead economic sector by 2030.

Amid the difficulties posed by COVID-19, the province welcomed 7.3 million visitors in 2020, earning 10.394 trillion VND (over 453.6 million USD), representing 65.5 percent and 50.7 percent of targets, respectively.

Thanh Hoa’s tourism sector has posted impressive growth in recent years.

But Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Van Thi said that its development is still not commensurate with potential.

Thanh Hoa lacks high-quality products to attract and meet the demand of international tourists, while its promotional activities remain ineffective and tourism human resources fail to meet requirements in the context of integration, he said.

According to Deputy General Director of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) Nguyen Thi Thanh Huong, Thanh Hoa needs to introduce changes to take its tourism industry forward.

It should propose that the Government allow it offer incentives for tourism investment, she said.

Attention should be paid to accelerating the implementation of priority strategies for tourism development and administrative reform, and supporting businesses towards attracting strategic investors in developing infrastructure facilities serving tourism development, especially transport infrastructure.

Thanh Hoa should also focus on enhancing its cooperation with other localities to create new tours, develop high-quality and competitive products, and promote digital transformation and the application of information technologies in tourism activities./.

Kien Giang eyes 60-100 million USD in FDI over next five years

The Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang has set its sights on pulling in 60-100 million USD worth of FDI over the next five years, according to Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Chin.

It will focus its efforts on fulfilling plans on medium-term public investment and socio-economic development in 2021-2025, striving to attract 40 to 50 FDI projects with registered investment of 60-100 million USD in total, Chin said.

It aims for local social investment to reach 48 trillion VND (2.07 billion USD) this year.

The province has been accelerating communications campaigns on its strengths, potential, and investment incentives to attract both domestic and foreign investors.

Priority is being given to numerous areas, including road infrastructure; river ports; sea ports; electricity; water supply; solid waste treatment; renewable energy; infrastructure development in industrial parks and clusters; fishing, aquaculture and fish processing; intensive farming and industrial agriculture; supporting industries; tourism; services; education; and high-quality healthcare.

It also wants to attract large-scale projects with advanced technologies in high-tech agriculture and food processing.

Cooperation with ministries and government agencies will be stepped up to take part in investment promotion events in major partners such as the Republic of Korea, Japan, Singapore, and the US, as well as those who are members of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA).

The province will also increase dialogue with local businesses and investors to help them tackle any difficulties and create an open and fair business climate.

Kien Giang is calling for investment in 144 projects in priority fields. It has to date granted in-principle approval and investment licenses to 49 projects with total investment of 22.66 trillion VND.

The Mekong Delta province welcomed 206 projects during the 2016-20 period, including 22 foreign projects with nearly 133 trillion VND in total capital./.

Outlook positive for Vietnam’s retail market

Despite a raft of difficulties facing Vietnam’s retail market, economists and insiders are still optimistic about the outlook for the sector in the time ahead, according to the Vietnam Report JSC.

In a recent survey, Vietnam Report found that nearly 42 percent of Vietnamese retail companies have been seriously impacted by COVID-19, while half said the impact has not been too serious and 8 percent experienced only minor effects.

Many people have had to cut their spending after becoming jobless or having their wages reduced due to the pandemic. Retail companies, meanwhile, have had to face a shortage of capital and disrupted supply chains.

However, Vu Dang Vinh, General Director of Vietnam Report, said economists and insiders remain optimistic about the sector’s outlook.

In following COVID-19 prevention and control regulations, many consumers have opted for online shopping, convenience stores, shopping centres, and supermarkets, rather than traditional markets.

Vinh pointed to the increased popularity of multi-channel marketing, both online and in-person, while adding that thanks to quick changes, many retail businesses, including giants like Lotte Mart, have posted online sales growth of 100 to 200 percent, especially in Hanoi and HCM City.

Mergers and acquisitions (M&As) are also expected to boom in Vietnam’s retail market in the time ahead, he said, explaining that more than 60 percent of local retailers are of small and medium-size and have significant demand for capital, so are ready to enter into partnerships.

Analysts also said the mini-supermarket model has proven superior amid the pandemic, as it can limit large gatherings.

Retailers have therefore poured more investment into this model while introducing more changes to better meet customer demand./.

Tra Vinh-based business promotes coconut product export

An enterprise based in the Mekong Delta province of Tra Vinh has been stepping up the export of coconut shell activated carbon and other coconut products as a way to benefit the company itself and local farmers.

Between January 1 and February 10, the Tra Bac Joint Stock Corporation (TRABACO) shipped more than 900 tonnes of coconut shell activated carbon to various markets, including the US, the UK, the Republic of Korea, Japan, Peru, Ecuador, Israel, and China.

General Director of the firm Huynh Khac Nhu said his company has inked a number of contracts with both new and existing partners since the year’s beginning, with 2,000 tonnes of coconut shell activated carbon to be delivered between now and June 2021.

TRABACO’s activated carbon, used for air purification, gold refining, electroplating, and odor control in different industries, meets environmental and health safety standards, thus winning over trust from many domestic and foreign businesses and consumers, he noted.

The product has been exported to more than 30 countries and territories in around the world.

Apart from coconut shell activated carbon, the company also produces and exports others made from coconut like coir carpets, dried coconut shreds, and frozen coconut milk.

To improve product quality and ensure stable material supply, it has contracted farmers to develop a 300ha organic coconut farming zone in Tieu Can district and partnered with a local agricultural cooperative in coconut purchase.

Nhu added these are initial steps in the firm’s plan to form a zone of clean material supply, which will help promote TRABACO’s product quality as well as income for farmers in Tra Vinh province./.

Source: VNA/VNN/VNS/SGGP/VOV/NDO/Dtinews/SGT/VIR

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Highlights of Party Chief speech at National Congress

January 26, 2021 by hanoitimes.vn

The Hanoitimes – Party’s personnel must be the most important task, focusing on building a contingent of cadres, especially strategic-level cadres, of high qualification who are competent and reputable leaders.

Secretary General of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and State President Nguyen Phu Trong delivered a speech at the opening session of the CPV’s 13th Congress on January 26.

Secretary General of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and State President Nguyen Phu Trong at the opening session on January 26. Photo: VGP

The speech comprises two main parts, including one focusing on lessons learned from the previous congress in 2016-20 and key points for the upcoming term.

Hanoitimes has the honor to introduce his speech in brief.

LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE 12TH CONGRESS AND REVIEW BACK ON DOI MOI JOURNEY

The President named five valuable lessons of experience.

From the reality of the Doi moi (Renewal) process, especially the experience learned from the implementation of 12th Party Congress’ resolution during the last five years, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong pointed out five valuable lessons as below:

Firstly , the Party building and rectification must be drastically, comprehensively, synchronously carried out on a regular basis and effectively deployed in terms of politics, ideology, morality, organization and personnel.

It’s a must to build up a clean, strong, comprehensive State and political system; creating a perfect mechanism of strict control of power; fighting against the moral degradation; preventing “self-evolution” and “ self-transformation” behavior; and stepping up the battle against corruption and wastefulness within the Party.

Party’s personnel must be the most important task, focusing on building a contingent of cadres, especially strategic-level cadres, of high qualification who are competent and reputable leaders.

Secondly , people should be considered the “root” in all affairs of the Party and State. It is necessary to trust, respect, and promote the people’s right to mastery, and persistently follow the motto of “People know, People discuss, People do, People inspect, People supervise and People benefit.”

People are always placed at the center position, and the subject of the renovation, construction and defense of the country; all policies must come from the real life, aspirations, rights and interests of the people, taking the happiness and well-being of the people as the target to strive for.

In addition, the Party needs to tighten ties with the people, relying on them to build up the Party, while consolidating and enhancing the people’s trust in the Party, the State, and socialism.

Thirdly , in its leadership, instruction, management and implementation, the Party must have strong determination; exert great efforts; take drastic action; be dynamic, creative, and active; take the appropriate steps to promote all resources and driving force as well as superiority of socialism; promptly remove bottlenecks and problems; uphold the responsibilities of the heads associated with promoting the synchronous strength of the entire political system; promote democracy together with maintaining discipline; and well perform coordination in leadership, management and administration to create breakthroughs for development.

Fourthly , the Party’s priority should be given to synchronously building development institutions, ensuring harmony between being unwavering and innovative, between inheritance and development, between economic renovation and political and socio-cultural renovation, between the compliance of market regulations and the assurance of socialist orientations, between economic growth and cultural and human development, between the settlement of social issues and the protection of natural resources and the environment, between socio-economic development and ensuring defense-security, and between independence, self-reliance and international integration. The Party also needs to pay special attention on promoting the key role of human, culture, education and training, and science and technology as drivers for national development.

Fifthly , the Party needs to proactively study and accurately forecast the situation to avoid passivity and surprise; consistently safeguard independence, sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity in parallel with maintaining a peaceful, secure and stable environment for national development; and actively step up international integration intensively and extensively on the basis of maintaining independence, self-determination and self-reliance.

It’s also important to properly and effectively handle relationships with major powers and neighboring countries; effectively bring into play the country’s combined strength in combination with the power of the times; efficiently exploit all resources to meet the requirements of the nation’s construction, development and protection in the new situation.

“These five experienced lessons are important foundations for the Party to continue making use of and promoting creativeness in leadership and instructions to help the country remain firm and resolute to overcome new difficulties and challenges as well as heavier tasks in the 13th tenure,” he confirmed.

Representatives at the opening session. Photo: Vietnam News Agency

KEY MISSIONS FOR THE 13TH CONGRESS AND YEARS TO COME

For the orientation and objectives of the 13th Party Congress and subsequent years, Mr. Trong said the growing global uncertainties, climate change, natural disasters and non-traditional risks, especially cyber security, are posing major challenges to Vietnam’s stability and sustainable development.

“Amid difficulties, Vietnam has attained major results, but still faces with numerous difficulties, risks and shortcomings,” said the Party Chief.

He noted Vietnam’s economic growth has not been as expected, and the GDP growth suffered a sharp decline in 2020 as a result of the pandemic and natural disasters.

Among issues of the economy, the top leader emphasized the necessity to improve the economy’s resilience and independence, and urged greater efficiency in the operation of state-owned enterprises.

The State President also called for a focus on sustainable growth from the private and foreign-invested sectors.

Meanwhile, there are urgent needs to ensure social security and public order, while inefficiency in environmental protection and utilization of natural resources are causing public discontent.

Mr. Trong expressed concern at the low quality of certain laws and regulations, along with the limited capacity from government agencies in law enforcement processes.

“Such issues and shortcomings require stronger efforts and determination to deal with,” Mr. Trong stressed, warning of complacency and the lack of vigilance.

In order to push up further reform in the next period, Mr. Trong emphasized the importance of understanding five guiding viewpoints.

The Party leader said Vietnam will continue to stand firm on and apply Marxism-Leninism and Ho Chi Minh’s thought in a creative way. As such, the country remains steadfast in pursuing independence and socialism, defending the national interests based on international laws.

“This is the key principle and matters most to our regime, while laying a solid foundation for the Party,” stated the president.

In Vietnam’s overall development strategy, Mr. Trong said the priority is to step up comprehensive renovation towards rapid and sustainable development.

“In this process, no effort would be spared to promote socio-economic-cultural development, Party building, and ensure national defense-security.”

He expected Vietnam to accelerate the application of technology, science, and innovation from the Fourth Industrial Revolution to aid the development process.

“A strong Communist Party of Vietnam with the support of the people is capable of overcoming any challenge and difficulty and creating new miracles in the process of country building and developing,” stressed Mr. Trong.

In the 2021-25 tenure and subsequent years, the overall development goals will enhance the leadership capabilities and the fighting spirit of the Party; keep a strong and pure political organizations; build public trust toward the Party, the government and socialism; and inspire people to join hands in realizing the goal of a prosperous Vietnam.

Mr. Trong pointed out specific milestones for Vietnam, in which Vietnam will become a middle-income country with a certain level of modernization and industrialization by 2025. Five years later, in 2030, Vietnam is set to be an upper middle-income country, and by 2045 to become a developed and high-income country.

Key breakthroughs are required, Mr. Trong said, including the finalization of legal framework for development, with the foremost being the legal environment to promote the socialist-oriented market economy; develop high-skilled workforce and socio-economic infrastructure, focusing on priority projects on transportation and climate-change resilience; invest in IT and telecommunication infrastructure to lay the foundation for national digital transformation.

The Party leader set the tasks and solutions that will be submitted to the congress as followed:

Promoting Party Building and strong political system

The report vows to continue the fight against group interests and self-interested rent-seeking practices, political pluralism and multiparty practices, “peaceful transformation”, “self-evolution” and the division of power among the legislative, executive and judicial branches.

Improving qualifications of cadres, mostly key successors, is set to be another issues in the Party building. The move is aimed to ensure good working environment for them together with completing streamlined political system.

Enhancing the operations of state agencies in terms of institutionalization. It will result in disciplined working style and effective performance of political system from the grassroots to central levels.

Efforts to reform justice procedures are also included to win more trust and engagement to the Party, State, and the socialism.

Continuing growth momentum with science and technology-led approach

The report focuses on restructuring economic sectors, mainly in agriculture and rural development together with stepping up the industrialization and modernization pace. To make the goal achievable, it requires the encouragement of private sector, service sectors, and maritime economy with an aim to attain economic targets and protect the sovereignty.

The report calls for improving the management capability in macroeconomy. In terms of finance, it is necessary to curb the public debts, supervise budget spending, and restructure public procurement.

Making long-term goals and master planning in every sector is aimed to have well-prepared strategy for the sustainable development.

Applying advanced technologies and boosting digitalization, including 4.0 in the development, to make the economy more competitive and keep pace with regional peers is another priority mentioned in the report.

Rousing the national spirit and will to pursue the goal of a strong, prosperous and happy nation

It needs to put central point on patriotism, pride, self-reliance, compassion, solidarity, social consensus and national development aspirations of the entire nation.

Another goal is mobilizing both domestic strengths and international support to take advantages of local resources, ensuring social welfare and people-centered approach for fair and inclusive society.

Promoting social welfare is a must by conducting altogether programs on poverty eradication, calling on the state agencies to address the root causes of poverty, providing all people with basic needs and ensuring the poor to have accessed to productive resources.

In addition, making suitable policies and closing legal loopholes are also included in this topic.

Maintaining independence and strengthening national defense and security

It requires efforts to boost foreign affairs and international integration together with persistently keeping position on independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity to maintain peace and stability for the development.

Accordingly, socio-economic development and security and defense must be conducted together with intensified investment in armed forces, mostly strengthening the military forces towards modernization and elite by 2030.

It needs to be active in every case to fulfill given security and defense tasks. Meanwhile, promoting the external relations also requires tireless efforts.

Promoting the national solidarity by paying more attention to policies on ethnic minorities and religious practice

To make this goal attainable, it requires a political system working in a stable and transparent manner.

Tightening management of natural resources for environment protection and towards climate resilience

Authorized agencies need to complete legal framework and build strategies to effectively supervise natural resources, including land and water.

Meanwhile, more efforts are required to spend on information sharing and research to ensure water and food security, energy transition, carbon emissions, and green growth.

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VIETNAM BUSINESS NEWS FEBRUARY 15

February 15, 2021 by vietnamnet.vn

VIETNAM BUSINESS NEWS

Rice exports enjoy opportunities for breakthrough in 2021

High hopes are pinned on Vietnam’s rice exports in 2021 when major export markets such as the Philippines and Africa continue to sign contracts to buy rice from Vietnam, while many others have great demand for fragrant rice and sticky rice – which are advantageous staples of Vietnamese enterprises.

The bilateral and multilateral free trade agreements between Vietnam and other countries such as the EU-Vietnam and the UK-Vietnam FTAs with preferential tariffs would create favourable conditions for Vietnamese rice to compete with that from rival countries, the Vietnam Food Association said.

According to the Vietnamese Trade Counsellor in the UK Nguyen Canh Cuong, rice shipments to the country this year will sharply rise against 2020. He added more UK firms will purchase Vietnamese rice under the UK-Vietnam FTA, creating a chance for Vietnamese rice to expand its market share in the UK this year.

In 2019, rice exports from Vietnam to the UK had a leap forward with a turnover growth of 376 percent. That meant the UK has great potential as a rice export market for Vietnam.

In order to tap into the advantages under FTAs, rice export giants such as Intimex JSC, Loc Troi Group, VRICE Co, Trung An High Technology Agriculture JSC are planning to seek new customers in markets where Vietnam had signed FTAs, especially in the UK.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade said it would provide rice export firms with information about the market demand situation in a timely manner while implementing trade promotion activities to help Vietnamese rice exporters better access customers.

Detailed information about the regulations and barriers under these FTAs’ commitments will be also offered by the ministry so that businesses can improve their understanding and draw up suitable business plans.

As part of its efforts to facilitate Vietnam’s rice exports, the VAF has built up online sales channel and participated in online trade seminars to develop the rice industry.

It suggested rice exporters focus on high quality products with good export results, ensuring food hygiene and safety to be able to enter fastidious markets such as Europe, America and Canada.

Experts have said that if Vietnam wants to maintain rice export growth in 2021 it needs to focus on building a complete rice value chain and controlling quality in production, processing, and distribution.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Vietnam’s rice output totalled 42.8 million tonnes in 2020, down about 0.2 percent because of the shrinkage of some 192,000 hectares in farming areas. However, the productivity rose 50kg per hectare from a year earlier.

The areas of high-grade rice varieties have expanded to 74 percent, compared to 50 percent in 2015, as a result of the country’s efforts in improving the value of the Vietnamese rice.

Thanks to that, the shipments of high-grade rice made up more than 85 percent of the total, resulting in the growth of average rice price from 440 USD per tonne in 2019 to 496 USD per tonne in 2020.

The country exported 6.15 tonnes of rice for 3.07 billion USD last year, down 3.5 percent in volume but up 9.3 percent in value year-on-year.

The Philippines was Vietnam’s leading rice importer, making up 34 percent of the total. Rice exports to this market in 2020 reached 2.22 million tonnes and 1.06 billion USD, up 4 percent in volume and 19.3 percent in value compared to 2019.

Other outlets with significant export growth in 2020 were Indonesia, (nearly triple 2019’s figure) and China, up 93 percent year-on-year.

VFA Vice Chairman Do Ha Nam described 2020 as a successful year for Vietnam’s rice exports, which he attributed to increasing demand in many countries and the improved competitiveness of Vietnamese rice around the world.

Amid the difficulties posed by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, rice exporters quickly made appropriate adjustments and actively sought new markets while fully tapping into the advantages brought about by FTAs.

The EU-Vietnam FTA had created a major opportunity for Vietnamese rice to enter European markets and then make inroads into other choosy markets, Nam said./.

Online trade promotion helps businesses adapt to COVID-19

The spread of COVID-19 around the world created difficulties for businesses in promoting their products and seeking new customers but many were prompted to change trade promotion strategies and adapt.

Bui Thi Thanh An, Vice Director of the Trade Promotion Agency at the Ministry of Industry and Trade, said nearly 50 national-level trade promotion programmes were cancelled or postponed last year due to the pandemic.

This had a major effect on export activities and the economy in general, she said.

To address the situation, the agency has sped up the introduction of information technology (IT) and changed how trade promotion activities are held.

Since March when COVID-19 spread globally, the agency has changed all trade promotion activities to online. More than 500 international online trade conferences have now been organised, along with more than 1 million online trade exchanges.

These events helped connect more than 2,000 businesses with foreign partners in different markets, An said.

The agency has also coordinated with foreign customers based in Vietnam, such as AEON and Central Group, to organise special “weeks” featuring Vietnamese products, through which many goods have been selected for sale in foreign-owned supermarket chains around Vietnam and then headed to foreign markets.

It has also made use of social networks and Vietnamese trade offices abroad to support businesses seeking markets, An added. Such efforts contributed to maintaining export growth and speeding up economic recovery, while helping enterprises remain updated on market developments, trends, and demand, she added.

Though online trade promotions have become more common since the pandemic broke out and were initially considered just a temporary solution, experts and enterprises agree that they will now become a key part of the trade promotion ecosystem.

Vietnam’s economy is heavily reliant upon exports, so the country must adapt to sudden disruptions to international trade. Taking advantage of IT platforms to seek trade opportunities is considered the most feasible option at this time.

Zacharie Blondeau, Sourcing Director at Source of Asia, said business-to-business (B2B) is the most effective method of connection, but in certain contexts, such as pandemics and travel restrictions, businesses should actively connect online.

An underlined that even after COVID-19 is fully brought under control, online trade promotions will continue to be organised.

The Trade Promotion Agency is developing digital technology-based platforms to create a new promotion ecosystem comprising of online trade fairs and exhibitions and online databases and origin tracing, creating the conditions necessary for enterprises to access trade promotion programmes at the lowest cost and with the greatest efficiency.

She advised businesses to regularly participate in online and direct trade exchanges, conferences, and workshops, while actively digitalising their operations by improving websites and joining large and reputable e-commerce platforms.

Online shops see robust business amid a global pandemic

While various businesses reported losses and difficulties, online shops have had a solid development in 2020.

According to Vietnam’s e-Commerce and Digital Economy Agency under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the growth rate of the local e-commerce sector in 2020 was 18% and valued at USD11.8bn. It accounted for 5.5% of the country’s retail goods and consumer service revenue.

Nguyen Chanh Trung, a shop owner on Lazada, said he started his online business after working for five years in the construction sector. His shop was opened on the first days of the Covid-19 outbreak in Vietnam and gained unexpected profits.

“I learned everything from scratch and tested out new ideas. I also attended training classes offered by Lazada to optimise the business and take care of the customers,” he said. “Online trading minimise staff and rental costs. After a year, staff numbers fell from 20 to 10 and revenue increased by 10%.”

Even though Trung had a website to introduce his products before, his business was mostly offline and badly affected by Covid-19.

Another online seller also saw great profits from selling face masks and handwash.

The number of sellers on Lazada doubled in 2020. LazMall, a trade site based on Lazada saw both customers and orders double on normal days and triple during festivals. Another e-commerce platform Tiki said in March and April 2020, the number of orders on the platform increased by 15% compared to the two busiest months in 2019. Sometimes, there were 4,000 orders placed per minute.

Vietnamese sellers also went to international e-commerce platform to sell their products overseas like Amazon or Alibaba. Over USD1m worth of products were sold via Amazon in 2020, triple the total amount sold in 2019.

Dang Hoang Hai, head of Vietnam’s e-Commerce and Digital Economy Agency said Covid-19 actually gave a strong boost to online businesses, forcing many firms and individual sellers to go online. Decision 645 issued by the government about the e-commerce development plan for 2021-2025 also helped speed up the transition.

Estimations from Google, Temasek and Bain and Company showed that Vietnam’s e-commerce market would be worth USD52bn and stand among the three biggest markets in ASEAN in 2025 if the growth rate stays at 29% a year.

Tran Toan Thang from the National Centre for Socio-Economic Information and Forecast said the e-commerce market would have developed strongly with or without the pandemic. However, Covid-19 has been a strong boost to the local market.

“Some product sales increased by 300% online. Because of the pandemic, shopping online has become a habit now,” he said.

HCM City Real Estate Association optimistic about 2021

HCM City Real Estate Association (HoREA) is optimistic that the real estate market in 2021 will see strong recovery and provide a large amount of accommodation for the city in the next 5-10 years.

One of the main development areas is the newly-established Thu Duc City which has the highest number of real estate projects in HCM City. It will attract various kinds of real estate projects. Cu Chi, Hoc Mon, Binh Chanh and Nha Be districts will all be upgraded and urbanised.

Both the number of farmers and farming lands in these districts will be reduced by 3-31%. Can Gio District was planned to become a seaside and eco-friendly town with the mangrove forest which is a part of Can Gio Biosphere Reserve.

According to the HoREA, HCM City has been allowed to convert 26,000ha of agricultural land in several outskirts districts into industrial and commercial lands. The government also issued many support policies to help real estate investors operate and complete procedures more smoothly.

Le Hoang Chau, chairman of HoREA, confirmed that Resolution 148 which took effect on January 1, 2021, the 2020 Investment Law and the adjusted 2020 Construction Law have helped make the policies and regulations clearer and more suitable.

“In 2021, the government will issue more detailed regulations and directives about the Investment Law and adjusted Construction Law to speed up the renovation of dilapidated apartment buildings and apartments for low-income people. This will help boost the real estate market in 2021 and the following years,” he said.

Quick action required to attract high-quality FDI

The US-China trade war and the COVID-19 pandemic have provided Vietnam with an opportunity to attract foreign investment (FDI) as global capital flows tend to shift to safe havens. This is also a time when our country needs to drastically change our thoughts and actions in the selection of FDI partners and projects to move more towards high-quality capital flows as directed in Politburo Resolution No. 50. These factors make FDI attraction become a focal point of the “COVID year” in 2020 and will continue to do so in the years to come.

At a seminar held between Vietnam’s chief representatives abroad for the 2020-2023 term and the Committee for the Management of State Capital at Enterprises, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son said that Vietnam is now a bright spot in investment attraction and more than 126 large corporations shifting their investments are now looking to invest in Vietnam.

Meanwhile, Director of the Foreign Investment Agency under the Ministry of Planning and Investment Do Nhat Hoang revealed that although investment activities were interrupted due to the impact of the pandemic, the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) and senior leaders of large corporations around the world still maintained discussions about investment cooperation opportunities through many channels. In particular, a number of online seminars were held at the operation centre of the MPI to connect with destinations across the world so that large corporations can find out more investment information regarding Vietnam. Through this activity, many large corporations started negotiations to bring investment projects into Vietnam with registered capital of billions of US dollars.

According to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) global investment in 2020 declined by 40%, but FDI inflows into Vietnam saw a much lower rate than other countries in the world and the region, especially in disbursed capital. Export and import turnover of FDI enterprises also decreased slightly compared to the same period in 2019.

“Despite the many difficulties that arose due to the COVID-19 pandemic, FDI enterprises have still maintained relatively good production and business activity levels. This is a positive signal, demonstrating the confidence of foreign investors in the investment environment in Vietnam and also proving that Vietnam is still seeking further FDI,” Hoang emphasised.

In 2020, not only manufacturers, but also supply companies shifted investment to Vietnam, as well as providers of logistics and warehouses services and others doing likewise. Big manufacturers are considered “queen bees” coming to Vietnam to build a hive, bringing along “worker bees” – suppliers and supporting manufacturers, and creating a new ecosystem and supply chain in Vietnam.

This trend is happening in the electronics industry, as the story of Samsung has shown and is now also evident in the story of animal feed, e-commerce, consumption, and auto parts industries.

Acting fast to seize opportunities

Dr Nguyen Dinh Cung, a member of the Economic Advisory Group to the Prime Minister, expressed his concerns about FDI attraction in Vietnam. According to the expert, opportunities for Vietnam in terms of the shifting of global investment capital flows is great, but the “eagle” itself will not come if we take no action.

“I have just had the opportunity to work in Quang Ninh and Hai Phong, a region with a lot of potential in terms of its land and synchronous infrastructure, thanks to its seaport system and airport linked with Hung Yen ,creating a large industrial park capable of attracting the world’s leading technology enterprises. If there is a policy of regional linkage, these localities can create further intrinsic attractiveness to lure “eagles” to turn Vietnam into an important global production location. If these localities still compete in the attraction of FDI as before, they will only scatter and reduce Vietnam’s attraction in the eyes of foreign investors,” Cung said.

To seize the opportunity, it is advisable to take quick action and change the methods of attracting investment. First of all, the concept of “high quality investment” must be clearly defined to set screening criteria and formulate suitable policies for each industry and region in order to actively attract investors. To do this, it is necessary to have a new approach tailored to specific projects and investors, not applying a general policy to all projects.

Meanwhile, investors pouring capital into Vietnam can enjoy outstanding incentives but must also meet set conditions and be a reputable and socially responsible investor.

Referring to the concept of “preparing the nest to welcome the eagles”, used recently to regarding the attraction of high-quality FDI in Vietnam, Prof. Nguyen Mai, President of the Vietnam Association of Foreign Invested Enterprises (VAFIE) said that there were “eagles” but so far only Asian and a few European or American eagles. This is the time for Vietnam to proactively direct the flow of FDI and prepare conditions to attract high-tech and pervasive projects to meet the needs of the country’s new development period.

In the context of a decline in global investment activities due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, although Vietnam has many advantages and has emerged as a bright spot in investment attraction, FDI inflows have not yet strongly recovered. This is the time for Vietnam to improve its investment and business environment to stand ready to welcome big waves of FDI.

Shrimp exports set target of US$ 4.4 billion in 2021

Despite the complicated developments of the Covid-19 epidemic, shrimp was still a commodity that brought high economic value in 2020, with export turnover of US$3.7 billion, an increase of 11% over the same period in 2019. It is expected that in 2021, shrimp exports can increase by 15% compared to 2020, the export turnover would reach over US$ 4.4 billion.

In order to achieve the goal, businesses should focus on promoting deep processing and increasing added value, while at the same time proactively seizing opportunities from changes in the market due to the impact of Covid-19 translation.

High growth forecast

Looking through the whole year 2020, shrimp exports achieved very encouraging results.

According to Tran Cong Thang – Director of Institute of Policy and Strategy for Agriculture and Rural Development (IPSARD), compared to rival countries in 2020, Vietnam had an advantage due to better control over the Covid-19 epidemic. The main consuming markets such as the US, the European Union (EU), and China gave priority to buying shrimp from Vietnam.

While major shrimp producing countries such as India, Ecuador, and Thailand, etc. all suffer from the negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, such as stagnated production and transport of goods, the decrease in shrimp prices is leading to a decrease in shrimp production.

In addition, the proactive market rotation, taking advantage of the opportunities created by the changes in the market caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, diversifying products suitable for each market segment, has helped businesses in the industry to not only maintain but also increase export turnover. Therefore, the shrimp export turnover reached US$3.7 billion, up 11% compared to 2019. Shrimp have been exported to 135 markets through 508 export enterprises.

The major markets that kept positive growth rates were: the US, with an increase of 33%; the EU (6.1%); the Republic of Korea (ROK) (3.3%), and the UK (20.1%).

In addition, to achieve the good growth in export turnover, the domestic supply also plays a significant role.

In the first months of 2020, shrimp production faced difficulties due to Covid-19 epidemic accompanied by saltwater intrusion in key farming areas, leading to a decrease in brackish water shrimp production, especially black tiger shrimp.

By the end of 2020, brackish water shrimp production had recovered, with the disease under control. The export of brackish water shrimp has been restored; the disease on farmed shrimp is also under control, helping brackish shrimp production grow well, ensuring a sustainable supply for export.

According to the General Department of Fisheries, in 2020, the production of black tiger shrimp reached 267,700 tons, an increase of 1%, and white leg shrimp reached 632,300 tons, up 8.5% over the same period.

In Ca Mau Province, the first months of 2020, many seafood importers have suspended, postponed or canceled deliveries, making seafood export difficult. However, the Government, ministries, central branches, and provincial People’s Committee have promptly implemented many support measures to ensure stable production and business conditions.

At the same time, the EVFTA took effect to create more favorable conditions for businesses to export to EU countries (by 2020, seafood export turnover to the EU reached about US$100 million, accounting for 9.7% of the province’s export turnover, up more than 400% over the same period in 2019).

Experts say that, if the farming and processing stage is well ensured, Vietnam’s shrimp export growth milestones will be achieved in 2021. The introduction of Covid-19 vaccine together with the advantages from FTAs being utilised by businesses will be the driving force for shrimp export activities in 2021.

These forecasts are grounded, as from the beginning of 2021, eight cargo containers, with more than 160 tons of shrimp, owned by Minh Phu Seafood Corp. (at Song Hau Industrial Park, Chau Thanh District, Hau Giang Province), have been exported to potential markets of Vietnam, namely the EU, the US and Japan. This shipment is a good signal for the export shrimp industry in 2021.

Taking advantage of opportunities

According to experts in the fisheries sector, in 2021, Vietnam’s the good control of Covid-19 epidemic and joining bilateral trade agreements with other countries will create favourable conditions for exporters.

According to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), world shrimp demand will continue to increase, especially in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, while the demand for processed seafood eaten at home will increase sharply. VASEP forecasts that shrimp exports can reach an export turnover of US$ 4 to 4.4 billion in 2021.

However, in order to continue good export growth, it is necessary to have specific solutions:

Firstly, it is necessary to organise the production management and management of suitable cultured shrimp breeds, control diseases well and ensure the quality of seed supplied, avoid production risks to stabilise supply, increase high quality products.

Second, it is necessary to ensure the supply of raw materials with sufficient quantity and quality, especially in the farming stage by applying new science and technology.

Third, it is necessary to make good use of market expansion opportunities through increasing supply capacity to compensate for production shortages because other supplying countries are being negatively affected by the Covid-19 epidemic that affecting production and export supply chain; it is necessary to increase competitiveness and market share in big and strategic markets such as the EU, the US, Japan, South Korea, and the UK. It is necessary to improve the quality of export products, take advantage of tariff advantages for pure Vietnamese origin of farmed shrimp products in the new generation of free trade agreements (FTAs).

In order to effectively implement the above solutions, according to IPSARD’s Director Tran Cong Thang, it is necessary to improve the processing capacity of enterprises, focus on technology investment, intensive processing, to meet the needs of importing countries.

The enterprise should develop deeply processed products and value added products to serve a wide range of customers and market segments. Enterprises and farmers need to prepare well the conditions and stocking according to the 2021 seasonal calendar.

It is necessary to attach importance to disease prevention and control, control impurities, chemical and antibiotic residues in shrimp products to ensure disease safety and food safety. In addition, it is necessary to strengthen links between units participating in the production chain in order to improve quality, ensure traceability, and continue to increase the proportion of value-added goods in exporting.

It is necessary to replicate effective models and production chains while maintaining and developing the “output” market. It is also necessary to participate in trade promotion programs to promote seafood products, including processed shrimp, seek new markets and toward sustainable export.

Experience in implementing FTAs

Despite violent pandemic and geopolitical upheavals, 2020 marked an important milestone in Vietnam’s international economic integration.

In addition to the effectiveness of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) since August 1, 2020, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement was signed under the framework of the 37th ASEAN Summit, helping to create a market with 2.2 billion consumers, accounting for about 30% of the world’s population and a total GDP of approximately VND26.2 billion (about 30% of the global GDP). This is a happy ending after eight years of intense negotiations, even without the participation of India.

By the end of November 2020, Vietnam had been negotiating 16 free trade agreements (FTAs) that cover almost all continents including nearly 60 economies, with total GDP accounting for about 90% of world GDP, as well as 14 agreements set to come into force.

The signed FTAs ​​also contribute to creating optimism in the business community, consolidating business confidence as well as promising a bright economic outlook.

“Despite a difficult year for international trade in 2020, our survey shows that Vietnam’s quick and effective response to the global pandemic has proved its efficiency. Leaders of European enterprises feel more positive about their businesses as well as Vietnam’s trade and investment environment,” said Chairman of the European Chamber of Commerce (EuroCham) in Vietnam Nicolas Audier at the ceremony to announce the Business Climate Index (BCI) in the fourth quarter of 2020.

Caring for orchard in the wait to pick fruit

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc expressed his delight at the effectiveness of the EVFTA but also reminded that results gained from FTAs ​​have yet to match the potential and raised many big bottlenecks that must be removed. It is the necessity to improve communication efficiency about international economic integration and FTAs in particular, to remove invisible barriers for businesses, and to change the mindset of doing business in a more proactive manner to meet the requirement of FTAs, among other tasks.

Indeed, if you compare FTAs ​​to an orchard, the gardeners must invest both capital and effort in the orchard every day before they can enjoy the fruit from this garden. And almost no single enterprise can do this alone; the process requires cooperation and linkage.

According to General Director of Garment 10 Corporation Than Duc Viet, Garment 10 produces 18 million shirts and 1.5 million suits each year, so it needs 30 million meters of shirt fabric and 5 million meters of suit fabric. However, the company has to import 60-70% of materials from China to serve its production because raw materials produced in Vietnam are more expensive than imports from China while the speed of development of models and production time is also longer.

It means that the company cannot benefit from EVFTA and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) because it does not meet requirements on origin of products.

“The policy of promoting multilateral relations through Vietnam’s participation in a series of FTAs ​​is absolutely correct, but it will only bring into full play when Vietnam can successfully solve challenges regarding labour conditions, environmental protection and social responsibility,” said Dr. Vo Tri Thanh, Director of the Institute for Brand and Competitiveness Strategy.

Responding to barriers

Although the dispute settlement mechanism will be more complete because both the CPTPP and the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) have provisions to improve the transparency of the proceedings, Vo Tri Thanh warns that once tariff barriers are no longer an effective tool for protection, importing countries tend to use non-tariff measures (anti-dumping, anti-countervailing and trade remedies measures) to protect their own domestic manufacturing industry.

As an experienced lawyer in handling international economic disputes, Dinh Anh Tuyet, an arbitrator from the Vietnam International Arbitration Centre (VIAC) said that: “It is important to note that signed FTAs are not only a “sweet fruit”, but also a “bitter fruit” for Vietnamese enterprises because if businesses do not comply with the standards stated in the FTA, the partners will apply new handling measures, and even lawyers like us do not know what the measures are, because they all appear for the first time in the agreements.”

The implication that the lawyer wants to talk about is that Vietnamese enterprises need to have the right attitude and actively respond to the risks of commercial disputes. It is also the choice that proves the correctness that shrimp exporting enterprises have applied from 2004 to present.

The preparation is sometimes very simple things such as maintaining detailed traceability records, accounting records, and production records in order to request timely support from the State and lawyers to protect their interests when there are violations under trade and investment agreements or when there are signs of trade fraud and tax evasion.

The cooperation with associations and importers and the coordination with investigating bodies when under investigation are also obvious recommendations but are sometimes neglected by enterprises. Besides FTAs, institutional reform and efforts from each enterprise are also key forces for long-term development.

A historical milestone in this Spring

The year 2020, with so many difficulties and challenges, has passed. Vietnam has shone once again! The world showed admiration and the people were excited and believed in.

The COVID-19 pandemic has cast a shadow across the globe. Millions of people have died, and the world economy has declined dramatically. Although the pandemic has been quite well controlled, our economy with large openness and deep integration could not avoid difficulties. Natural disasters, storms and floods raged in the Central region; and droughts and salt water intrusion in the Mekong Delta, etc.

In that very special context, under the sound leadership of the Party, the management and administration of the State, the entire political system and the entire people joined in a drastic, synchronous and persistent manner to comprehensively fulfil almost all set targets and tasks. The year 2020 is still considered the most successful year in the whole tenure, having gained remarkable achievements. Vietnam is considered a bright spot for disease prevention and control and socio-economic development. People’s living conditions are constantly being improved; and national defence, security, social order, and safety have been maintained. The work of Party building and rectification as well as the fight against negative activities, corruption and wastefulness has been drastically directed, achieving many positive results. Foreign affairs have been carried out effectively, contributing to consolidating and enhancing the position of Vietnam in the international arena.

The Party Congresses at all levels were a success, creating a premise for the successful 13th National Party Congress.

In difficulties, the tradition of patriotism, solidarity and mutual care of the people has been promoted, and the superiority of the socialist regime has been confirmed.

The New Year has come with intertwined opportunities and challenges. The situation of the world, the region and the East Sea (South China Sea) is still complicated and unpredictable, while our country is still facing numerous difficulties and challenges in socio-economic development and adaption to climate change, as well as ensuring national defence and security.

Along with the achievements obtained in the past year, the gift to celebrate the Spring has a very important meaning to decide the direction and development of the country in the next five years, with a vision to 10 years and 20 years from now is the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress. In his speech at the year-end virtual conference of the Government, Party General Secretary and State President Nguyen Phu Trong affirmed that the entire political system needs to be proactive, actively grasp and well implement the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress and resolutions of the Party Central Committee, the National Assembly and the Government right from the beginning of the year, with specific programmes and working plans that are in line with reality and have high feasibility, with the general spirit of being more proactive, active, and creative in order to achieve higher overall results than in the previous years and the previous tenure.

This spring, the success of the 13th National Party Congress marked another historic milestone on the path of national construction!

Long Thanh Airport expected to promote regional socio-economic development

The Long Thanh International Airport Project is a key project in the country’s transport infrastructure network approved by the National Assembly at the Resolution No. 94/2015/QH13 dated June 25, 2015 on the investment policy of the project and the Decision No. 1777/QD-TTg of the Prime Minister dated November 11, 2020 on approving the first construction phase of the Long Thanh International Airport Project with the total investment of US$4,664 billion.

The first items in the first phase of Long Thanh International Airport Project officially began construction on January 5. It is expected to create a hitch to promote socio-economic development not only in Dong Nai Province but also in the Southeastern region and the whole country after coming into operation.

Since the National Assembly approved the investment policy for the project, there have been more changes in people’s lives so far in the context of urbanization development in Binh Son Commune as well as in Long Thanh District.

Particularly, people whose land was acquired or affected by the project have received acceptable compensation to do their own business, to change jobs from agriculture sector to other careers.

If the agricultural land price around the airport project was only about VND1 billion (US$43,000) per hectare in advance the National Assembly’s approval, the price has increased by 10-15 percent following the approval. The compensation price from the State for people whose land was acquired to build the airport is about VND400 million (US$17,000) per hectare.

Mr. Vo Dinh Viet, a resident living in Long Thanh Town, has received VND21.4 billion (US$926,000) for 4.4 hectares of rubber trees affected by the project. After receiving the compensation, his family used the money to pay loans which they had got before for building a 3-star hotel and restaurant in the town’s center since 2016 and to continue to invest into land.

The project implementation also opens up opportunities to develop the finance and services industry for Dong Nai Province and attract large-scale banks to open their branches and transaction offices in the locality, thereby helping Dong Nai Province as well as the Southeastern region develop high-quality human resources.

Nearly US$1 billion has been disbursed in compensation for 5,000 hectares of land reclaimed for construction of the airport. So far, the project- affected people have been resettled, bought land and built houses. This has created more jobs in the fields of banking industry, land brokerage services and construction materials.

According to the leaders of the People’s Committee of Dong Nai Province, since the Long Thanh International Airport Project has not been started works yet, many domestic and foreign investors want to seek investment opportunities in the promising area.

When the airport comes into operation with a smoothly connected traffic infrastructure system, it is expected to certainly stimulate investment attraction and technology development in the Southeastern region. Currently, local economists are expected the approach and transfer of the latest and most modern technologies as well as machinery and equipment from the world’s leading technology corporations for construction of the project.

Once the airport comes into operation along with a smoothly connected traffic infrastructure system, it is expected to certainly stimulate investment attraction and technology development in the Southeastern region.

Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee cum Chairman of the People’s Committee of Dong Nai Province Mr. Cao Tien Dung informed that in the development plan for the upcoming years, Dong Nai Province has defined the construction of Long Thanh Airport Project as a motivation for socio-economic development.

According to the plan, the local authorities and private sectors will focus on certain investments to determinedly build an airport city, which is expected to create a great opportunity to develop the high technology, create a driving force for the province to boost the development of high-tech parks and head to export.

Dong Nai Province will focus on the development plan of socio-economic and traffic infrastructure to fuel industry and services development in districts near the airport.

Besides, the province will also re-plan agricultural development in remote districts, determine areas appropriate for fruit trees or vegetables and domestic animal breeding to invest in road and electricity infrastructure.

On the other hand, Dong Nai Province has just approved an Israeli-style high-tech agricultural development program. Experts from this Middle Eastern country will accompany local farmers to build and widen hi-tech models.

As for Ho Chi Minh City, once the Long Thanh airport comes into operation, it will contribute to reducing the overloading at Tan Son Nhat International Airport as well as traffic jams around the airport.

In order to make this plan soon come true, it is necessary to early build an overhead urban railway system connecting the two airports, strengthen investment into transport network systems, speed up building key projects through the airport such as Ben Luc – Long Thanh Expressway, Ring Road 3 and Cat Lai Bridge to reduce traffic pressure through the inner of Ho Chi Minh City, notably Cat Lai port area, National Highway No.1 through Binh Chanh District, National Highway No.22 running through districts of Hoc Mon and Cu Chi.

Source: VNA/VNN/VNS/SGGP/VOV/NDO/Dtinews/SGT/VIR

Filed Under: Uncategorized vietnam economy, Vietnam business news, business news, vietnamnet bridge, english news, Vietnam news, vietnamnet news, vietnam latest news, Vietnam breaking..., vietnam travel news, vietnam business visa, vietnam english news, vietnam economy news, vietnam breaking news, vietnam pepper news, vietnam today news, vietnam football news, february 15 birthstone, News February

Canadian professor on tireless quest to develop Vietnam’s beekeeping industry

February 21, 2021 by tuoitrenews.vn

For nearly three decades, Canadian entomologist Gard Otis has dedicated himself to the study of behavior patterns in a native Vietnamese honeybee species, as well as to the development of local bee farming talent and technology in the north-central province of Ha Tinh.

Otis spent 36 years as a professor at the University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada, where he specialized in honeybee biology and behavior, insect ecology, and forest entomology.

The distinguished researcher currently serves as an adjunct professor at the university’s School of Environmental Sciences.

A key area of Otis’s research and interest is focused on ‘murder hornets,’ commonly known as Asian giant hornets ( Vespa mandarinia ).

While working on National Geographic Society-funded beekeeping projects in north-central Vietnam several years ago, Prof. Otis began conducting extensive research on Vespa soror , a sister species to Vespa mandarinia.

Both hornets share similarities in size and behavior, including their tendency to attack and even ‘slaughter’ honeybee colonies.

In a video call with Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper in late January, the professor proudly shared the results of a recent study he undertook with the help of associates in Vietnam and the U.S., during which he discovered a collective defense strategy adopted by honeybees ( Apis cerana ) against swarms of Vespa soror .

The article was published late last year in PLOS ONE, a peer-reviewed journal launched by PLOS — a nonprofit, Open Access publisher which empowers researchers to accelerate progress in science and medicine.

According to the article, honeybees in Asia have evolved under predatory pressure from social wasps in the genus Vespa , the most formidable of which are the giant hornets that attack colonies in groups, kill adult defenders, and prey on broods.

The team’s documentation revealed for the first time that, in response to attacks by V. soror, which frequently land on their way into nests, A. cerana workers foraged for and applied animal feces to their nest entrances.

‘Murder hornets’ slaughter a colony of honey bees in Japan. Photo courtesy: Getty Images

‘Murder hornets’ slaughter a colony of honeybees in Japan. Photo: Getty Images

Fecal spotting intensified after colonies were exposed either to naturally occurring attacks or to chemicals that scout hornets employed to zero in on colonies for mass attacks. Spotting persisted for days despite the cessation of attacks, the study showed.

Moderate to heavy fecal spotting stamped out attempts by V. soror to penetrate nests by reducing the incidence of multiple-hornet attacks and significantly lessening the likelihood of the ferocious wasps approaching and chewing nest entrances.

These findings are the first official report of honeybees using tools to repel aggressive predators, as well as the first published evidence of insects foraging for non-plant-based solids from livestock and poultry.

The study also includes an in-depth description of the sophisticated portfolio of defenses that honeybees have developed to cope with the constant predatory threats they face, including physically shielding the colony from predators by building enclosed walls and closely guarded small entrances; synchronized body shaking or wave-like visual displays; and producing hissing or buzzing sounds in response to predators.

Another effective defense employed by honeybees involves killing hornets by overheating and suffocating individual attackers in a ball of bees.

While it remains a puzzle as to how animal dung repels hornets, the research team found that honeybees use a variety of smelly filth to repel aggressors, including human urine and soap.

“We’re not in favor of animal feces being applied as textured spots on the fronts of hives, as no one would want to consume honey from such hives,” Prof. Otis noted.

“The key is likely the odor itself, not a particular substance.”

Though much remains to be understood about this predator-prey interaction and repellency mechanism, the groundbreaking study suggests that bee farmers can apply substances with a strong, long-lasting odor, such as clove oil, around hive entrances to keep predatory hornets at bay.

A bond with buzzers in Vietnam

Prof. Otis’s enduring interest in the defensive behavior of Asian honeybees began more than a decade ago when he initiated a beekeeping development project in several rural communes in north-central Vietnam’s Ha Tinh Province.

Managed by the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada, faculties from several Canadian universities worked with colleagues from the Vietnam Bee Research and Development Center to devise and execute the extensive research and training project.

Canadian professor Gard Otis (right, seated) and his associates are pictured during a field trip to Ba Vi District in suburban Hanoi, Vietnam in 2013 in this supplied photo

A research team from Canadian Professor Gard Otis’s project work during a field trip to Ba Vi District in suburban Hanoi, Vietnam in 2013 in this supplied photo.

During his time working on the project, Otis was stumped by the black spots which covered local honeybee nests. Locals seemed equally puzzled and only knew that the spots typically appeared following hornet attacks.

Only one seasoned beekeeper who had witnessed the insects’ defensive behavior first-hand was able to offer up an answer: “It’s buffalo dung.”

In 2012, Prof. Otis persuaded his former student, Heather Mattila, an associate professor of biology at Wellesley College in Massachusetts, the U.S., to join him in his research on the honeybees’ ‘feces applying’ behavior.

The duo also managed to enlist help from two Hanoi-based experts – Dr. Pham Duc Hanh from the National Institute of Animal Sciences of Vietnam and Dr. Nguyen Thi Phuong Lien from the Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources.

“It turned out the four disciplines we major in allowed us to make our research a success in 2013,” Prof. Otis said, adding the data analysis took six years.

Mattila, the study’s head, shared in an email to Tuoi Tre that both Prof. Otis and herself considered their research experience in Vietnam a highlight of their academic careers.

Each passing day during the research period was unforgettable, she stressed, adding that she hoped to one day work with an equally wonderful and diverse team.

To prove the honeybees’ unique defensive behavior, the scientists needed ‘invincible’ hives in a controlled experiment with attacked nests.

The team used a white balloon tied to a stick held by research assistants to drive the hornets away.

To make sure they always had enough feces at their disposal for the honeybees to take their pick, they built a small ‘feces shop’ with solids from poultry and cattle, Prof. Otis shared.

By the end of the day, around 140 honeybees would drop by the ‘shop’ before buzzing off with a morsel of dung in their mouth.

“The interesting thing is we were actually at a loss what to look for and observe at first. We just had to learn about the honeybees’ behavior little by little each day,” shared Phan Thanh Ngoc, a member of Prof. Otis’s research team.

Later, with Otis’s mentoring and assistance, Ngoc was able to skip earning his master’s and move directly on to earning a Ph.D. in entomology at the University of Pennsylvania in the U.S.

A buzz around beekeeping

Dr. Ngoc is not Otis’s only mentee.

Back in 1996, Prof. Otis attended a conference organized by the Asian Apiculture Association in Vietnam.

By the end of the trip, he had made a commitment to seek funding for a project to foster the development of bee farming in the Southeast Asian country.

The pundit was particularly impressed with researchers from the Vietnam Bee Research and Development Center (VBRDC), who tried to answer his thorny questions with complete honesty.

“That was when I decided to get them involved,” he said.

To prepare for his project, Prof. Otis took a trip across Vietnam to collect samples of the country’s honeybee species.

After 10 years, he managed to earn sponsorship from the Canadian International Development Agency in order to provide training in beekeeping techniques for more than 190 households in six communes in Huong Son and Vu Quang Districts in Ha Tinh between 2007 and 2012.

Exceeding the project developer’s expectations, the trainees were able to maintain bee farming businesses well before the project’s end and were even able to share techniques with bee farming newcomers.

“We knew we had to get the people working with the bees and doing things with the bees. Everything fits together in a system that’s integrated with the seasonality,” he shared in a video clip posted on the University of Guelph’s website in 2012.

“These trainees have actually put it all together into a system that they’re able to innovate.

“The beekeeping technology is extending more quickly than I would imagine.

“Within a small area, they now have essentially all the components of a complete industry.

“I think it will allow them to be sustainable with this activity far into the future.”

Huong Son and Vu Quang Districts’ products have made their way on to the country’s honey map.

A first and foremost part of the project includes providing training for lecturers at VBRDC so that they can properly teach new students.

During this training, Otis met Hanh, a VBRDC researcher, who later became his Ph.D. student and a co-author in their latest study on honeybees’ ‘feces applying’ defensive practice.

According to the professor, financing a Ph.D. student’s program spanning three or four years accounted for a big part of the project’s budget.

They need a well-trained scientist capable of raising valuable research questions and gaps, designing viable experiments, training younger generations and also fluent in English, he explained.

“With all of Vietnam’s indigenous bee species in sight, I’m like a kid in a candy store,” Prof. Otis shared, adding that there is only one species of honeybee in North America and it has lost its novelty among researchers.

The giant hornets habitually disappear around November each year to prepare for a new queen bee ‘empire’ before making their comeback in August the following year.

During that time, colonies of honeybees stop applying new fecal spots and old spots are washed away by natural elements.

Prof. Gard Otis felt sorry that no Vietnamese experts or farmers had seemed to question this abnormal phenomenon, which occurs for around two and a half to three months each year.

How honeybees use feces to defend colonies

Apis cerana defended their colonies from group attacks by Vespa soror by applying fecal spots around hive entrances.

  • A hive front with heavy fecal spotting around the entrance opening
  • A marked A. cerana forager on a dung pile
  • A forager holds a clump of fecal solids in her mandibles.
  • A forager applies a fecal spot to a hive front after being paint marked on a dung pile.
  • An entrance-focused group attack on a colony of honeybees by V. soror workers
  • Damage to a hive entrance after entrance margins were chewed on by V. soror workers, with the attack disrupted by experimenters before the hive was breached.

Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development conferred on Prof. Gard Otis the ‘Order in recognition of contributions to Vietnam’s agriculture and rural development’ in late 2014.

His dedication to the Southeast Asian country’s apiculture sector is also something personal.

Born in the U.S., Otis would have been conscripted for the American war in Vietnam, which ended in 1975.

When he first visited Vietnam, he was psychologically geared up for anger and unfriendly attitudes that he thought awaited him. To his great surprise, this never happened.

“There’s another reason that I want to work with Vietnamese people. You’re so kind and forgiving and even nominated me for a prize,” he shared, adding that he threw a party with those who had given him their full backing.

“I really love Vietnam, where many of my friends are.”

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