Planned action

ASEAN, New Zealand forge stronger cooperation under new plan of action

March 24, 2021 by en.vietnamplus.vn

Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Quoc Dung attends the 28th ASEAN-New Zealand Dialogue. (Photo: VNA)

Jakarta (VNA) – Senior officials from ASEAN and New Zealand reaffirmed their commitment for stronger cooperation at the 28th ASEAN-New Zealand Dialogue held online on March 23, following an important milestone in their strategic partnership.

Last year, the two sides commemorated the 45th anniversary of dialogue relations and adopted a new ASEAN-New Zealand Plan of Action 2021-2025, to mark a new chapter in their relations.

At the dialogue, the officials noted the full implementation of the ASEAN-New Zealand Plan of Action (2016-2020), and underlined the need to further enhance cooperation between the two sides under the new Plan of Action.

The meeting identified a number of key areas in the new Plan of Action, where ASEAN and New Zealand could enhance their collaboration, such as maritime security, fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, sustainable development, marine sustainability, trade, investment and economic recovery plan, renewable energy, disaster risk management, settlement of climate change, healthcare, human capital development, education, and people-to-people connection.

In advancing economic cooperation, both sides look forward to the upgrade negotiations of the Agreement Establishing the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area (AANZFTA), as well as the conclusion of the negotiation of the Regional Air Services Agreement between ASEAN and New Zealand.

They also welcomed the signing of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Agreement in November last year, and look forward to an early entry into force of the agreement next year.

The meeting exchanged views on regional and international issues of common interest, highlighting the importance of ASEAN-led mechanisms and ASEAN’s centrality in maintaining peace, security and stability in the region.

ASEAN senior officials commended New Zealand’s success in mitigating the COVID-19 pandemic and its efforts toward establishing a travel bubble between Australia and New Zealand. They also appreciated New Zealand’s support and contribution to the COVID-19 ASEAN Response Fund./.

VNA

ASEAN, Russia move towards comprehensive Plan of Action

March 31, 2021 by hanoitimes.vn

Russia has been a full dialogue partner of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) since 1996.

Representatives of ASEAN member states and Russia have discussed measures to reach the finalization of the ASEAN-Russia Comprehensive Plan of Action for 2021-2025.

Representatives of ASEAN member states and Russia at the meeting. Photo: Baoquocte

Both sides underscored the necessity to accelerate the action plan at the 19th meeting of the ASEAN-Russia Joint Cooperation Committee (ARJCC) held virtually on March 30.

Ambassador Nguyen Hai Bang, head of Vietnam’s Permanent Mission to ASEAN, attended the event.

They said the action plan creates an important basis for the bilateral cooperation in the next five years, preparing for celebrating the 30th anniversary of the ASEAN-Russia relations and the 25th anniversary of dialogue relations between ASEAN and Russia (1996-2021).

They discussed ways to further strengthen cooperation in several areas of mutual interest, including; political and security; countering terrorism and transnational crime; economy; industry; science and technology; smart cities; disaster management; health; and people-to-people contacts.

The meeting also touched upon regional and international issues of mutual interest and concern, including regional security architecture. ASEAN appreciated Russia’s continued support for ASEAN centrality in ASEAN-led mechanisms.

Russia affirmed that ASEAN is one of its leading partners, vowing to support the bloc in building the community and strengthening the ASEAN Centrality, as well as enhancing the regional connectivity and narrowing the development gap.

Earlier this month, the both sides revealed the possibility of join naval exercise in the near future.

As of February 28, the ASEAN-Russia Dialogue Partnership Finance Fund (ARDPFF) has a total amount of US$8.14 million with an annual contribution of US$1.5 million from Russia.

World Bank confirms key elements of new climate action plan

April 3, 2021 by tuoitrenews.vn

WASHINGTON — The World Bank on Friday announced a new Climate Change Action Plan aimed at helping developing countries achieve measurable reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and pledging to mobilize large-scale resources to aid the transition out of coal.

World Bank President David Malpass said key elements of the plan had been presented to the bank’s board on Thursday and underscored the need to take urgent action.

He said the bank had provided $83 billion in climate finance over the past five years, peaking at $21.4 billion in 2020, but the new plan would see those levels increase.

The new plan, first reported by Reuters Wednesday, commits to making financing decisions in line with efforts to limit global warming, but stops short of promising to halt funding of fossil fuels, as many campaigners had urged.

“Our collective responses to climate change, poverty and inequality are defining choices of our age,” Malpass said in a statement, underscoring the need to “help countries maximize the impact of climate finance, with measurable improvements in livelihoods through adaptation, and measurable reductions in greenhouse gas emissions through mitigation.”

To achieve these goals, Malpass said 35 percent of World Bank Group financing, on average over the next five years, would have climate co-benefits, and 50 percent of the bank’s climate financing would support adaptation and resilience.

The bank would also adopt new metrics that facilitated a greater focus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, adaptation and resilience, and expand its climate diagnostics through new Country Climate and Development Reports.

Malpass said the bank would support “transformative” investments in energy, food systems, transport and manufacturing, the systems that contribute most to emissions, and significantly increase support for countries seeking to transition away from coal.

The World Bank would align its financing flows with the objectives of the 2015 Paris climate agreement by July 1, 2023, he said, with 85 percent of new International Finance Corp and Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency operations to be aligned by then, and 100 percent by July 1, 2025.

Vietnam Plastic Action Partnership: Joint approach to tackling plastic pollution

December 23, 2020 by hanoitimes.vn

Vietnam expects to reshape the plastics industry to deliver a more sustainable marine economy by 2030.

A locally-driven national platform, that brings together the most committed and influential stakeholders in Vietnam, will promote joint efforts in tackling plastic pollution.

Vietnam’s Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung at the launching recemony of NPAP on December 23. Photo: Nhat Bac/VGP

The Vietnam National Plastic Action Partnership (NPAP), a locally-led platform launched in Hanoi on December 23 under the support by the World Economic Forum and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Vietnam, will address the fragmented landscape of regulation and complement existing voluntary measures.

Spearheaded by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE), NPAP will seek to unite and uplift a large number of successful and inspiring initiatives working on the ground across Vietnam to address this issue.

The partnership will serve as a neutral, inclusive convening place for sharing knowledge, amplifying diverse voices and stories through the World Economic Forum’s platforms, and discovering new ways of working together.

Participants at the ceremony. Photo: Nhat Bac/VGP

Situation in Vietnam

Around 3.7 million tons of plastic waste are generated in Vietnam each year, a figure that is projected to increase by 36% between 2018 and 2030.

Only around 10-15% of Vietnam’s plastic waste is collected for recycling.

To change the situation, the country’s National Assembly on December 4, 2020 revised and approved Law on Environment Protection with specific provisions on solid waste management and plastic waste management in particular.

Under Prime Minister’s Decision No.1746, the country has pledged to meet three major targets by 2030 namely reducing the flow of plastics into the ocean by 75%; completely eliminating single-use plastics and non-biodegradable plastic bags from coastal destinations; and ensuring that marine protected areas are free of plastic waste.

Børge Brende, president of the World Economic Forum speaks at the ceremony. Photo: Baotainguyenmoitruong

Achieving these goals will mean an absolutely transformative transition for Vietnam’s marine economy.

It will secure the livelihoods of people and communities in the fishing and tourism industries, as well as catalyzing investment into innovation and capacity-building at all points of the value chain: reduction, substitution, reuse, recycling, and safe disposal.

It will restore Vietnam’s pristine beaches and islands and create a foundation for sustainable waste management practices, particularly as tourism rebounds in the post-Covid-19 recovery, according to the World Economic Forum.

Global support

The World Economic Form-initiated NPAP is impartial and inclusive platform whose work in each country is guided by three strategic pillars, including convening communities and curating conversations, generating new knowledge and action roadmaps, and catalyzing strategic investment for high-potential solutions.

NPAP has been launched in Indonesia and Ghana before it activated in Vietnam.

To put its recommendations into action in Vietnam, the World Economic Forum will assemble five national Task Forces to move progress forward in the areas of policy; metrics; innovation; financing; and communication and education.

Mine action in Vietnam making progress: UNDP country chief

April 10, 2021 by sggpnews.org.vn

Caitlin Wiesen, UNDP Resident Representative in Vietnam. (Photo: VNA)

In an exclusive writing to the Vietnam News Agency ahead of the upcoming Vietnamese-led United Nations Security Council (UNSC) open debate on April 8 titled “Mine action and sustaining peace: Stronger partnerships for better deliver”, United Nations Development Program Resident Representative in Vietnam Caitlin Wiesen also made it clear that the strong sector coordination and collaboration are a “key driving force” to reach the milestones required to make Vietnam impact free by 2030.

“To the extent possible, the international community should commit to making the support predictable and long-term to align resources with government plans,” she wrote.

“Placing mine action at the forefront of Vietnamese chairmanship of the UNSC during this month is signal of global commitment, rooted in a conviction that the issue can be dealt with through strong regional and national institutions.”

The official also highlighted the remarkable achievements in the mine action sector in Vietnam over the recent past, pointing to the surveying of over 16,880 ha of land and the clearing of 9,000 ha of hazardous land in Quang Binh and Binh Dinh provinces as a result of the combined resources and perseverance of the Vietnam National Mine Action Centre, KOICA Vietnam and UNDP Vietnam.

Last December, Vietnam hosted a conference on “Women, Peace and Security”, following which the “Hanoi Commitment to Action” with 75 co-sponsors was submitted to the President of the UNSC and the President of the General Assembly, highlighting the importance of including women in building and sustaining peace, including mine action.

“We continue to encourage all partners to join this call for a decade of mine action to give back cleared land to local communities, leave no one behind and ensure we persevere in fulfilling the development aspirations of those most in need,” she concluded.

Railway struggling to survive, waiting for a new restructuring plan

March 21, 2021 by vietnamnet.vn

Vietnam’s railway sector is struggling to cope with increasing challenges as it awaits a new restructuring plan.

A traincrosses Hai Van Pass in the central region of Viet Nam.

The Vietnam Railway Corporation (VNR) was formed in 2003 as part of the reorganisation of the Vietnam Railway Federation.

In 2013, it implemented its restructuring plan’s Phase 1, focusing on equitisation of its member companies, particularly Hanoi Railway Transportation and Sài Gòn Railway Transportation.

However, after being equitised, the two companies did not operate as effectively as expected, resulting in a reduced market share of the railway sector.

The railway sector in Việt Nam is now seen to be failing to compete with other ground transportation methods and airlines.

Vice head of Vietnam Railway Authority under the Ministry of Transport Nguyen Huy Hien said that VNR’s current plan has faults which need to be fixed in the new one.

In 2017, the corporation proposed a new plan for the period 2016-2020.

Chairman Vũ Anh Minh said that after 41 months, the draft plan was still waiting for Government approval.

Meanwhile, last year, the Vietnam Railways Corporation suffered a record loss of VNĐ1.32 trillion (US$57.4 million) in revenue due to the COVID-19 pandemic and flooding in the central region.

Revenue last year dropped 21.7 per cent to VNĐ6.56 trillion ($284.5 million).

The railway sector was falling into a bigger crisis, Minh said, as he called for the Government to allow it to implement urgent restructuring actions this year.

VNR plan to merge the two joint stocks companies – Hanoi Railway Transportation and Saigon Railway Transportation and make full use of its available resources to reduce operation costs, then reduce transportation prices.

After the merging, VNR would focus on passenger transportation. It would establish a subsidiary operating in freight, Minh said.

The Commission for the Management of State Capital at Enterprises has also recommended merging the two companies. It also recommended establishing a Centre for Sciences, Technology and Services after re-organising VNR’s units.

The commission suggested VNR divest its capital at its 13 member companies.

According to Deputy Minister of Transport Nguyen Ngoc Dong, over the past decade, the railway sector failed to mobilise resources for development. Meanwhile, the investment in the sector had increased slightly by VNĐ4-4.5 trillion, mainly for infrastructure maintenance and social welfare but not for development.

Đông also said it would be difficult to eliminate the problems facing the sector in a short time.

At a meeting on VNR’s restructuring plan earlier this year, Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Bình said that the corporation must focus on simplifying its organisation, address overlapping among sections and speed up information technology and advanced railway technology.

The corporation must increase its ability to master in making carriages, locomotives and reduce reliance on foreign supply and transportation costs, Bình said.

He also asked for an upgrade of cross-border railways to boost international transportation.

Professor and Dr Bui Xuan Phong, chairman of Vietnam Railway and Economy Association said that the merging of the two companies, Hanoi Railway Transportation Station and Sai Gon Railway Transportation, could lead to a compatible system for organisation and operation the railway from the north to the south in terms of staff and facilities like locomotives, carriages or warning systems.

“Among the factors to boost the railway sector, Government’s investment to railway infrastructure is needed first,” he said.

Professor and Dr Dang Dinh Dao, former chairman of Institution for Economic and Development Studies under National Economies University said that for a long time, the railway sector survived with few infrastructure improvements.

“Once the railway sector is striving to change, it requires a huge investment. This poses a difficulty for the Government to arrange,” he said.

In the past, Vietnam paid more attention to develop its roads rather than railway and waterways, Dao said, adding that the imbalance in investment led to high logistic costs and reduced the country’s competitiveness.

“A plan to increase investment is needed, particularly a high-speed railway system,” Dao said, adding that elsewhere in the world, in places like Japan or China, the railway was a proven effective form of transportation. — VNS