Saarc general secretary list

Chau Bui is a famous Vietnamese fashionista. Photo courtesy of Chau Bui.

“Selected from over 2,500 nominations and vetted by our team of reporters and a panel of A-list judges, this year’s list features 300 young entrepreneurs, leaders and change makers across the Asia-Pacific region who are braving the challenging environment brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic and finding new opportunities amidst the new normal,” the Forbes magazine noted.

The list selects 30 honorees for each of the 10 categories.

The criteria for honorees making the list include their “demonstration of leadership, how they embody the entrepreneurial spirit that is synonymous with Forbes , and their potential of success in their industry. Other factors like innovation, disruption – and size and growth of their ventures in some categories – play a role in making the final decision,” the magazine said.

Last year, Vietnam had six representatives in the 30 under 20 list.

The Minister of Health has just decided to establish the Steering Committee for the safety of people after Covid-19 immunization comprising of leaders of the Ministry of Health, leaders of relevant departments including departments under the Ministry of Health, leading experts in the fields of immunization, infectiousness, emergency resuscitation, active resuscitation, hematology, cardiology, neurology who will screen and treat people suffering allergic reactions happening within 4 hours of getting vaccinated.

According to the Ministry of Health, treatment of unusual vaccine-associated blood clots after Covid-19 vaccination is the same as normal coagulation disorders. At present, the Covid-19 vaccination groups of scientists and medical workers have outlined the treatment approaches for blood clots with low platelets after vaccination.

Assoc. Prof. Dr Dao Xuan Co, Deputy Director of Hanoi-based Bach Mai Hospital, General Secretary of the Vietnam National Association of Emergency, Intensive Care medicine and Clinical Toxicology, said treatment of coagulation disorder after vaccination against Covid-19, an extremely rare reaction, is like common blood clotting disorders.

The Ministry of Health has deployed the remote medical examination and treatment system (Telehealth) to 1,500 locations in 63 provinces and cities nationwide; therefore, leading experts can instruct grass-root medical facilities to cure people suffering from the disorder.

The will of the Vietnamese and US people has not only contributed to the end of the war between the two countries, but alsk further strengthen the bilateral relations in the future.

The friendship between people from both Vietnam and the US, especially of the young generations, would contribute to further the bilateral comprehensive partnership.

Overview of the meeting. Photo: baoquocte.vn

Chairwoman of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations (VUFO) Nguyen Phuong Nga stressed the view at a meeting marking 50th anniversary [1971-2021] of the People’s Peace Treaty between Vietnam and the US on April 20.

On this occasion, Nga expressed her gratefulness to the contribution of those individuals who  had overcome difficulties to realize an initiative on a peace treaty between students of the two countries when both were at war.

The event was held through face-to-face and  online meeting in Vietnam and the US, co-chaired by Representative of Vietnam Peace Commemoration Committee John McAuliff and Secretary General of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations Vietnam-US Society Bui Van Nghi.

Attending the event from the US were four individuals participating in the US student delegation signing the treaty in 1971, namely Douglas Hostetter, Larry Magid, Jay Craven and Rebecca Wilson.

US and Vietnamese student peace delegations in Hanoi, Vietnam pose for a photo in December 1970. Source: Larrysworld.com

Nguyen Thi Chau, former member of the Saigon – Gia Dinh (now Ho Chi Minh City) Youth Union expressed her thanks for the US students for their efforts for peace in Vietnam.

“US students showed their most sincere love for people in southern Vietnam and of the country in general,” said Chau.

Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Peace and Development Foundation Pham Van Chuong noted the anti-war movement of the US people and the People’s Peace Treaty itself has been unprecedented in the world’s history, showing “the desire for peace of not only the US people but also those from all over the world.”

Delegation leader David Ifshin (l), president of the National Student Association signs treaty. Source: Larrysworld.com

The People’s Peace Treaty was signed in 1971 among representatives of the South Vietnam National Student Union, the South Vietnam Liberation Student Union, the North Vietnam Student Union, and the US National Student Association. The treaty indicated a joint-desire for peace from both Vietnamese and US students, while calling for the end of the war between the two countries. The People’s Peace Treaty had gained strong influence among US universities and encouraged anti-war movements of the youth and peace-lovers in the US, as well as for the fight for independence of Vietnamese people.

Suez Canal incident keeps Vietnamese exporters busy, photo AFP

Furniture exporter Viet Products Corporation last week said that even though the backlog has been cleared up at the Suez, it has still borne the growing costs for shipping. “The expense per container has increased to $5,000, from $3,000 last year,” said Nguyen Van Sang, managing director of Furnist, a brand under Viet Products. Sang said that due to operating under the free-on-board form, its partners have been afraid to book new orders, resulting in interruption in its performance.

“It takes us several attempts to ship a container. For example, with a 10-container booking, we can only ship about three or four containers, and the remaining ones will have to wait. That has hampered us from delivering on schedule,” Sang said.

The seafood industry has also been put in the same corner. Truong Dinh Hoe, secretary-general of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), said that the sector is facing accumulating costs for hiring frozen containers to export to the European Union and the United States. The problem stemmed from the effect of the Suez Canal and also serious shortages of containers which has been an issue in recent years.

Kelly Dung, sales manager at international transport firm T&M Forwarding, said that lasting impacts of the recent Suez incident will continue to force growing expenses for shipping. “Shipping companies will have to cut some vessels because of that as well as the ongoing impacts of COVID-19,” Dung told VIR.

With the logistics industry being paralysed due to the pandemic for over a year, now congestion at EU ports may send vessels back to Asia, adding complexity to the situation.

“The current expense is on average about $4,000 per container travelling to the US and about $7,500 per container to the EU,” Dung added. “The price may even double in late April and early May.”

According to Thetech Co., Ltd, a small electronic component importer and exporter, the sums are “too heavy” for its operation. For over a year, the company has been angling for solutions to solve its transport cost issue and has resorted to accelerating shipping through air routes. However, the expense has still ballooned by 10 per cent compared to last year.

Hoe from VASEP said that local seafood exporters are still looking for solutions.

Meanwhile, local rice exporters have been lowering prices for their products in an attempt to enhance the items’ competitiveness against Thai and Indian components. Moreover, they have been attempting to negotiate with overseas partners to extend the shipping timeline, according to the Vietnam Food Association.

The wave of importing goods from Asia to the United States is causing congestion at ports on the latter’s west coast, deepening the global shortage of containers and accumulating shipping costs. The number of containers at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach in February increased by 45 per cent on-year, an eighth consecutive month of growth. In March, the sum was estimated to have grown by 80 per cent. Dozens of other container ships are anchored and waiting offshore. The two ports have received about 40 per cent of imports but still fail to keep pace with the expenditure demand of the US consumer, according to Gene Seroka, managing director at Los Angeles Port.

Hanoi would do its utmost to contribute to the Vietnam – US relations, as well as the city’s cooperation with US cities, said Hanoi’s Party chief Vuong Dinh Hue.

The US is looking to further boost the comprehensive partnership with Vietnam in general and Hanoi in particular, especially in the fields of technologies, tourism and trade, according to US Ambassador to Vietnam Daniel Kritenbrink.

Hanoi would do its utmost to contribute to the Vietnam – US relations, as well as the city’s cooperation with US cities, said Hanoi’s Party chief Vuong Dinh Hue. Photo: Thanh Hai.

Hanoi plays a key role in the US – Vietnam relations, said Kritenbrink at a meeting with Secretary of Hanoi’s Party Committee Vuong Dinh Hue on July 6, adding cooperation and trade activities between Vietnam and the US have been on the rise despite the Covid-19 impacts.

Kritenbrink thanked Hanoi’s authorities and its people for supporting the US Embassy, as well as the US diplomatic mission in the city.

The US Ambassador considered the gift of 150.000 face masks from Hanoi to the US as a symbol of friendship between the people in the two countries.

According to Kritenbrink, the US Embassy would hold a number of activities to celebrate 25 ^th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and US, including a tilework and a conference on the bilateral relations in October.

Hanoi’s Party Chief Vuong Dinh Hue expressed his delight about the strong relations between Vietnam and the US, especially in investment and trade.

Hue said in the first six months of 2020, Hanoi has been a pioneer city in Vietnam in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as during the economic recovery efforts.

The successful organization of the “Hanoi 2020 – Investment and Development Cooperation”, held on June 27, was among Hanoi’s efforts in this regard, Hue stated.

During the event, Hanoi’s authorities handed over investment licenses to 229 projects worth a combined US$17.8 billion, many of which are from US investors, Hue informed, saying he expected greater cooperation between Hanoi and US cities in the future.

Hue stressed Hanoi would do its utmost to contribute to the US – Vietnam relations, as well as the city’s cooperation with US cities.

Hanoi would continue to create favorable conditions for US investors and enterprises doing businesses in Vietnam, including in the capital city.

Hue stated Hanoi would cooperate with the US Embassy in holding events celebrating the 25 ^th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations, particularly in breaking ground for the construction of the new US Embassy building in Hanoi this year.

Vietnam customs have identified a list of foreign goods forging Vietnamese origin that contributed to a surge in exports to the US, including bicycles, solar batteries, seafood, and wooden products.

Efforts from local customs authorities have timely addressed cases of foreign companies abusing preferential treatments from free trade agreements (FTAs) between Vietnam and its partners, particularly the US, for illegal transshipment, according to the General Department of Vietnam Customs (GDVC).

Overview of the conference. Photo: MoF.

Specifically, Vietnam customs have identified many foreign goods forging Vietnamese origin that contributed to a surge in exports to the US, including bicycles, solar batteries, seafood, wooden products, among others, said a GDVC representative at a press conference on combating trade fraud on July 6.

So far, the customs have investigated 76 cases, including 24 regarding origin fraud, resulting in the seizure of 3,590 bicycles, over 4,000 bicycle components, 12,000 parts of kitchen cupboard and VND33 billion (US$1.42 million) in administrative fines.

During the process of economic integration, Vietnam has signed multiple trade agreements, including the US – Vietnam Bilateral Trade Agreement and the EU – Vietnam Free Trade Agreement, in turn creating huge competitive advantages for Vietnam.

This, however, also puts pressure on state agencies in not only ensuring a favorable environment for foreign direct investment (FDI) attraction, but also in preventing growing cases of abusing Vietnam’s open policies for exporting purposes.

To step up the fight against trade fraud, Vietnamese government agencies are actively carrying out their tasks in a inter-disciplinary effort approved by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc in July 2019 to tighten measures against circumventing trade remedies and origin fraud.

According to the GDVC, drastic measures from the authorities have raised awareness among the business community in law compliance, many have committed to investing in machinery and equipment to meet the required localization rate in production.

In April, PM Phuc signed a resolution approving the Customs Mutual Assistance Agreement (CMAA) between Vietnam and the US which aims to further strengthen bilateral cooperation on security and the facilitation of lawful trade.

The agreement is expected to protect lawful rights of the business communities in Vietnam and the US, promoting greater trade relations.

Trade between the two countries in the 2010 – 2019 period grew by an average of 16.3% annually, in which Vietnam’s export growth to the US was over 16% per year and imports rose 16.5%.