Positive impact of the economic development

Government ensures dual targets of pandemic prevention, economic development

March 3, 2021 by en.nhandan.org.vn

Answering a reporter’s query on stepping up the consumption of agricultural products of pandemic-hit localities, Hai said that over the past time, the Government has instructed ministries, sectors and localities to carry out measures to ensure the implementation of the twin targets.

When the pandemic showed signs of worsening in Hai Duong and Quang Ninh provinces, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc issued Directive No.05 on January 28 on urgent COVID-19 prevention and control measures, in which the Government leader assigned Chairpersons of provincial and municipal People’s Committees to decide social distancing measures to be used based on the level of risk of each area.

However, as several localities put overemphasis on pandemic prevention and control, they imposed several measures which caused difficulties to the circulation of goods, particularly farm produce, in pandemic-hit areas, particularly Hai Duong Province.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) has put forward solutions to address those difficulties, such as working directly with major domestic supply systems and major firms in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to help with the sale of farm produce.

It has also worked with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and localities to seek measures to ease consumers’ concerns about agricultural products from disease-affected areas.

At the proposal of the MoIT, the PM assigned tasks to each ministry and locality to quickly address difficulties in goods circulation and transportation, Hai said, adding that the ministry held a working session with related localities, ministries and agencies on ways to implement the PM’s directions. The ministry then issued a document guiding the consumption of goods produced in pandemic-affected areas, which received consensus from all stakeholders.

27th ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Retreat adopts 10 initiatives, priorities

March 3, 2021 by dtinews.vn

Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Quoc Khanh attended the 27th ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Retreat held via videoconference on March 2 and 3, during which he and other delegates approved 10 initiatives and priorities for economic cooperation in 2021.

Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Quoc Khanh attends the 27th ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Retreat (Photo: VNA)

The initiatives and priorities have been built with three main orientations – recovery, digitalisation, and sustainability – with a focus on such important fields as trade facilitation, tourism, energy, information technology, minerals, and sustainable development.

Of note, several initiatives inherit cooperation contents from 2020 when Vietnam assumed the role of ASEAN Chair.
In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic continuing to have a serious impact, delegates discussed ASEAN’s efforts to recover economies so as to not only fight the pandemic but also boost economic development, particularly the expansion of the ASEAN List of Essential Goods.

In particular, the retreat also reached consensus on 2021 agenda priorities in economy with 68 different contents, such as trade in goods, trade in services, investment, intellectual property, e-commerce, and consumer protection, among others.

At the event, Khanh expressed his support for Brunei’s initiatives during its ASEAN Chairmanship Year 2021, and affirmed that Vietnam will continue cooperating closely with other ASEAN countries to realise the common targets of the ASEAN Economic Community.

Vietnam also shared its experience and efforts to control the pandemic and ensure economic development while implementing its commitments within ASEAN and the ASEAN Plus frameworks.

Together with discussions on intra-bloc economic cooperation, the participants also exchanged views on extra-bloc economic cooperation, such as reviewing the implementation of the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) and collaboration between ASEAN and the EU.

They said their countries are exerting every effort to soon ratify the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement to facilitate post-pandemic recovery.

Within the framework of the retreat, the participants held a consultation with the ASEAN Business Advisory Council to make recommendations on health care and addressing non-tariff measures, and intensifying public-private partnerships (PPPs) in ASEAN and between the grouping and its partners.

Ten initiatives, priorities adopted at 27th ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Retreat

March 3, 2021 by vov.vn

The initiatives and priorities have outlined three major orientations – recovery, digitalization, and sustainability – with a particular focus on such important areas as trade facilitation, tourism, energy, information technology, minerals, and sustainable development.

Of note, several initiatives inherit cooperation contents from 2020 when Vietnam took on the role of ASEAN Chair.

Amid the complicated COVID-19 pandemic, delegates discussed ASEAN’s efforts to boost economic recovery while going ahead with the fight against the pandemic and the important task of boosting economic development, particularly the expansion of the ASEAN List of Essential Goods.

Vietnam also shared its experience and efforts to control the pandemic and ensure economic development while carrying out its commitments within ASEAN and the ASEAN Plus frameworks.

They said their countries are redoubling efforts to soon adopt the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement to facilitate post-pandemic recovery.

Within the framework of the retreat, the participants held a consultation with the ASEAN Business Advisory Council to make recommendations on health care and dealing with non-tariff measures, and enhancing public-private partnerships (PPPs) in ASEAN and between the grouping and its partners.

ASEAN economic ministers endorse 10 priority economic deliverables

March 3, 2021 by hanoitimes.vn

The Hanoitimes – Vietnam is committed to closely cooperating with other ASEAN members in realizing the common goal of an ASEAN Economic Community.

ASEAN economic ministers have endorsed Brunei’s 10 Priority Economic Deliverables (PEDs) as ASEAN Chair for 2021 with theme “We Care, We Prepare, We Prosper.”

Overview of the online conference. Source: asean2021.bn

The information was unveiled following the conclusion of 2-day 27th ASEAN Economic Ministers (AEM) Retreat that took place from March 2-3 via video conferencing.

Divided into three strategic thrusts, the PEDs among others will focus on:

(i) Recovery of the region through initiatives such as streamlining non-tariff measures and investment facilitation, providing a recovery plan for ASEAN tourism sector, and open new market and partnership for ASEAN with the launch of the possible ASEAN-Canada FTA negotiations;

(ii) Digitalization for a resilient ASEAN by focusing on the work in providing a safe, secure, and harmonized e-commerce environment and digital ecosystem. This includes initiatives such as the ASEAN Agreement on E Commerce and a regional action plan in the area of cyberspace; and

(iii) Sustainability efforts towards advancing an inclusive and sustainable economic growth through initiatives such as support and guidance for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), development of a regional framework for Circular Economy and cooperation in sustainable energy transitions.

Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Quoc Khanh. Source: MoIT

Attending the meeting, Vietnam’s Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Quoc Khanh expressed support for Brunei’s initiatives as the Chair of ASEAN in 2021, stressing the country is committed to closely cooperating with other ASEAN members in realizing the common goal of an ASEAN Economic Community.

“Vietnam will share its experience with other countries in efforts to contain the Covid-19, aiming to realize economic development goals along with realizing commitments under the ASEAN and ASEAN+ frameworks,” Khanh said.

The meeting also discussed and provided guidance on the post COVID-19 recovery efforts in the region including initiatives implemented under ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Framework; Progress under the ASEAN Economic Community including 2021 priorities of sectoral bodies under the purview of AEM and the Post 2025 Vision for the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC); ASEAN external economic relations including progress in ratifying the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Agreement as well as status of the review on ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA).

In this regard, ministers stressed the importance of accelerating each country’s internal approval for the RCEP to aid the region’s economic recovery in the post-Covid-19 period.

Hanoi seeks to develop cultural industry after earning UNESCO Creative City

November 27, 2020 by hanoitimes.vn

The Hanoitimes – Hanoi will have to materialize with long-term programs and action plans the city’s vision and policies, create favorable conditions to take the field of design to new heights.

Twenty years after being honored as the City for Peace by UNESCO, Hanoi became a member of UNESCO’s Network of Creative Cities in the “Design” category in 2019, which brings the capital city to a new height and opens up opportunities for it to develop the cultural industry, Kinh Te & Do Thi reported.

These titles will enhance the position of Hanoi, with a forward-looking vision and the national aspiration to become an innovative and responsible member in the regional and in the world community.

Hanoi book street. Photo: Nam Nguyen

Hanoi became one of the 66 cities in the world to be recognized as UNESCO Creative City in October 2019, on the occasion of World Cities’ Day (October 31).

Hanoi chose the “Design” category for the postulation to the title of Creative City because this field may give the capital more opportunities when it comes to international integration.

The “Design” was also chosen for running by other 31 cities worldwide, of which 12 cities chose the category as a pillar field to develop into creative cities.

According to UNESCO Chief Representative in Vietnam Michael Croft, a vision of Hanoi as a Creative Capital will act as a catalyst to create new development opportunities as well as help to drive inclusive and sustainable growth in a time of economic uncertainty.

Following two decades of profound expansion, Hanoi now seeks to position itself at the forefront of the rapid socio-economic transformation of Vietnam through its cultural legacy to define a new model of economic activity based on creativity and strong youth empowerment, wrote Michael Croft in an article.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs cum Chairman of the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO Le Hoai Trung said that Hanoi can meet all the criteria of creativity. However, only the “Design” category can show the vision and strategy for sustainable development which is inclusive of the other criteria and promote all of the city’s resources.

The fact that Hanoi has officially become one of the UNESCO Creative Cities has facilitated the city to turn creativity and cultural industry into the core of development; created opportunities for Hanoi to strengthen international integration; mobilized resources, knowledge and learned experiences from other member cities and from UNESCO.

“Hanoi will have to materialize with long-term programs and action plans the city’s vision and policies, create favorable conditions to take the field of design to new heights, raise people’s awareness on the matter and attach it to the community to gradually realize the initiatives,” Secretary of the municipal Party Committee Vuong Dinh Hue emphasized at a high-level seminar in early October to celebrate the 1,010th anniversary of Thang Long – Hanoi and the 17th Congress of the city Party.

The “UNESCO Creative Cities” network was established in 2004 to promote international cooperation among the recognized cities. With the latest designation, UNESCO Creative Cities Network is currently comprising of 264 city members which have invested in culture and creativity in such fields as music, traditional handicraft, design, literature, digital art, and cuisine as an accelerator of sustainable development.

Culture in developing Hanoi, a Creative City: A thousand-year history advantage

September 28, 2020 by hanoitimes.vn

The Hanoitimes – Hanoi Party Committee and People’s Committee on September 28 held a seminar on “Culture resource in the development strategy of Hanoi Capital to become a Creative City”.

The seminar is a forum for scientists and managers to share ideas, and propose policies and solutions for Hanoi to become a Creative City, with the participation of leaders of the city’s government, ministries, and departments; scientists and managers.

Seminar on “Culture resource in the development strategy of Hanoi Capital to become a Creative City”

Culture – the foundation of society

Speaking at the event, Hanoi Party Committee’s Permanent Deputy Secretary Ngo Thi Thanh Hang stressed the important role of Hanoi as the capital and the country’s political and administrative head as well as the centre of culture, science, education, economics, and international transactions. Hanoi has a long history of culture and is honored by UNESCO as City of Peace and Creative City for the convergence and spread of values of the nation. In particular, with the history of over 1,000 years of establishment and development, Hanoi has its own advantage of a huge invaluable cultural heritage, where the cultural traits from every regions of Vietnamconverge.

Nurturing human values

In addition, all the heritage and cultural and artistic works of Hanoi should also be nurtured and developed to shape the human personality of those who live and work in Hanoi.