Ppp projects

Illustrative Photo (Source: SGGP)

At a working session on the construction project of HCMC-Thu Dau Mot-Chon Thanh expressway between HCMC and Binh Phuoc Province that is held on March 18. (Photo: SGGP)

By Quoc Hung – Translated by Kim Khanh

Scientists are examining the geological value of Ly Son – Sa Huynh Global Geopark. (Photo: SGGP)

² , which does not observe the Resolution of the 19 ^th Provincial Party Congress. This land use has not received a consensus approval from the localities.

Chairman Minh expressed his determination to cease this Geopark Project, but the final decision must wait for the approval of the Standing Committee for Quang Ngai Province Party Committee.

Dr. Tran Van Nam from the Vietnam Institute of Geosciences and Mineral Resources – Ministry of Natural Resources & Environment, voiced his regret, not only for the 6 years he spent on promoting this project but also for its 90-percent complete status for UNESCO to certify this global geopark in Vietnam.

In his opinion, the benefits gained from this decision cannot at all make up for the losses. First of all, there will be no more strongest foundation, mechanism, and policy for a sustainable development of natural and geological heritages in Ly Son District when facing the fierce urbanization process.

Secondly, a certified global geopark does promote the image of that location to people nationwide and worldwide effectively, like the case of Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark in the northern province of Ha Giang. In only 9 years after being certified, that park welcomed an increasing quantity of tourists from 300,000 in 2010 to 2 million in 2019.

Head of the Vietnam Institute of Geosciences and Mineral Resources Tran Van Tan added that it would be such a waste of money and effort of many scientists and state officers to discontinue the construction project at the moment, not to mention the neglect of the public’s view.

In addition, this cease after necessary documents have been submitted to UNESCO would create an undesirable image of Vietnam to the international community and UNESCO itself, which might negatively affect the approval to registration for other global heritages, world biosphere reserves, and global geopark in the nation.

Dr. Tran Van Tan further explained that the concern of Quang Ngai Province’s authorities over complexities in frequently asking for UNESCO’s permission regarding this geopark is rather unreasonable. Unlike world heritages or world biosphere reserves, which normally require strict protection, a geopark has much more space for socio-economic development like mineral exploitation areas, resorts, industrial parks.

Dr. Guy Martini, General Secretary of UNESCO’s World Network of Geoparks said that he could not predict the international effects of this cease. He and his fellow-scientists find this intention incomprehensible. Many countries in the world hope to have even one global geopark inside their nation, but now Quang Ngai Province wants to stop this valuable project. This would mean thousands of working hours of the local authorities, international councils, scientists, and indigenous residents become a complete waste.

Since Vietnam for many years has tried to boost its image and status among the international community via the fulfillment of its duties and the efforts to protect the environment, to fight against climate change, and to promote sustainable economic strategies, such an intention of discontinuing the Geopark Project is not at all recommended.

Dr. Guy Martini hoped that Quang Ngai Province could hold a cooperative discussion between the local government, the Management Board of UNESCO’s Geoparks and domestic scientists to clear up any possible misunderstanding and reach a more sensible decision so that Ly Son – Sa Huynh Global Geopark becomes the fourth UNESCO’s geopark in Vietnam.

By Ngoc Oai – Translated by Vien Hong

Authorities in the central city of Danang have listed 17 commercial housing projects which foreign organisations and individuals are allowed to buy homes from.

Monarchy Complex is among apartment buildings that allow foreign people to buy homes

According to the city’s construction department, the 17 projects include Blooming Tower Danang, Golden Square Complex, Quang Nguyen Apartment Building, Lapaz Tower, Danang Plaza, HAGL Lakeview, Thuy Tu Urban Area, Harmony Tower, Danang FPT Technological Urban Area, Monarchy Complex, The Summit, An Vien, Hoa Binh Xanh Danang, Garden Tower, Azura, P.A Tower, and Danang Cruise Port.

These projects, most of them near completion, locate near the beach and river in some central districts of Hai Chau, Son Tra, Thanh Khe, Lien Chieu, and Ngu Hanh Son.

The department has also announced that foreigners were banned from owning property at three projects of F-Home Apartment complex, Danang Diamond Tower, and IndoChina Riverside Tower as they situate near the military area and the headquarters of the Danang City People’s Committee.

The department also proposed the grant of home ownership permission to foreign organisations and individuals in other projects that are not included in the list.

A traffic jam during rush hour in Thanh Xuân District in Hà Nội. Vehicle emission is one of Việt Nam’s biggest source of pollution. — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — The Steering Committee of the project ‘Support to Việt Nam for the Implementation of the Paris Agreement’ (VN-SIPA) held its second meeting in Hà Nội yesterday with the participation of representatives from ministries, sectors, and localities.

Addressing the meeting, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Lê Công Thành highlighted the project’s support in implementing Việt Nam’s nationally determined contributions (NDC) and the Paris Agreement on climate change.

To speed up the project, he asked participants to make proposals and discuss the 2021 plan, especially activities relating to State management of climate change and enhancing Việt Nam’s role and responsibility as a signatory to the Paris Agreement and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

Weert Borner, Deputy Ambassador of Germany in Việt Nam, noted Việt Nam was one of the first countries to build an action plan to realise the Paris Agreement and one of the first to submit and update its NDC.

He said the VN-SIPA supports Việt Nam in creating the necessary conditions for the deal, to mitigate the impacts of climate change and bring environmental and socio-economic benefits for the country.

Phạm Văn Tấn, Vice Director of the Climate Change Administration at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, said as COVID-19 is still a major issue, ministries and localities should prepare alternative measures and speed up the implementation of approved plans.

Kia Fariborz, Chief Advisor of the VN-SIPA project, said last year, Việt Nam completed and updated its NDC report in September, a move lauded by the international community as it was one of the first 20 countries to do so.

The four-year VN-SIPA project was approved by former Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc on April 3, 2019, and has a total cost of 10.3 million euros (US$12.31 million), funded by non-refundable official development assistance (ODA) from Germany. It aims to strengthen the legal framework and national capacity in implementing the Paris Agreement, with the core conducting Việt Nam’s NDC.

So far, it has assisted in the building of a climate change programme in the revised Law on Environmental Protection 2020 as well as climate change management documents and sectoral plans for climate change response. It has defined solutions in the central provinces of Quảng Bình and Hà Tĩnh based on their local ecosystems. — VNS

Monarchy is among the projects that are available for foreign buyers. (Photo: thanhnien.vn)

Da Nang – The Construction Department of central Da Nang city has listed 17 commercial housing projects in which foreign organisations and individuals can buy units.

The projects include Blooming Tower, Golden Square complex, Quang Nguyen Apartment complex, Thuy Tu urban area, Harmony Tower, and Da Nang FPT Technological Urban Area.

The city also disallows foreigners from owning property in three projects, namely F-Home Apartment complex, Da Nang Diamond Tower, and IndoChina Riverside Tower.

The department suggested the Department of Natural Resources and Environment and relevant agencies review the grant of licences to foreign organisations and individuals in projects that are off-limits to foreign buyers.

VNA