National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue presents gifts to outstanding students at Ethnic Minority Boarding School in Champasak province of Laos on May 17. (Photo: VNA) Vientiane (VNA) – Vietnamese National Assembly (NA) Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue’s official visit to Laos from May 15-17 at the invitation of his Lao counterpart Xaysomphone Phomvihane has wrapped off successfully, said Permanent Vice President of the Lao NA Sounthone Sayachac. Interviewed by the Vietnam News Agency (VNA)'s correspondents in Vientiane on May 18, Sounthone said the visit was the first made by Hue after taking office. It took place in the context of the Vietnam-Laos Year of Solidarity and Friendship 2022, which marks the 60th founding anniversary of diplomatic relations and the 45th anniversary of the signing of the Vietnam-Laos Treaty of Amity and Cooperation. During the trip, the top legislators of Vietnam and Laos held talks to review cooperation between the two NAs, particularly the … [Read more...] about Top Vietnamese legislator’s official visit to Laos a success: Lao NA Vice President
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End of the line nears for NASA InSight Mars lander
WASHINGTON -- After some four years probing Mars' interior, NASA's InSight lander will likely retire this summer as accumulated dust on its solar panels saps its power. The lander will, however, leave behind a legacy of data that will be tapped by scientists around the world for years to come, helping to improve our understanding of planet formation, NASA said, while announcing on Tuesday the imminent end to InSight's science operations. Equiped with an ultra-sensitive seismometer, InSight recorded more than 1,300 "marsquakes," including a magnitude 5 quake on May 4, the largest so far. But around July, the seismometer will be turned off. The lander's energy level will then be checked about once a day, and some pictures may still be taken. Then by the end of 2022, the mission will be completely stopped. The cause: the accumulation over months of Martian dust on the lander's two solar panels, each measuring about seven feet (2.2 meters) wide. InSight, which is already … [Read more...] about End of the line nears for NASA InSight Mars lander
Việt Nam, Singapore to expand cooperation in digital transformation, green economy: Legislative leaders
National Assembly Chairman Vương Đình Huệ and his Singaporean counterpart Tan Chuan-Jin held talks in Hà Nội on Wednesday. — VNA/VNS Photo Doãn Tấn HÀ NỘI — Speaker of Singaporean Parliament Tan Chuan-jin and Chairman of Vietnamese National Assembly have agreed that successful economic cooperation will elevate bilateral relations during the official talks on Wednesday in Hà Nội. The Singaporean parliament leader is in the capital for a three-day visit on the invitation of his Vietnamese counterpart. NA Chair Huệ said the ‘miraculous development’ of Singapore with the wise vision of the leadership and the aspirations of the people are always a source of inspiration to Vietnamese leadership and people. Amid complicated regional and global geopolitical, economic developments, the two countries should tighten relations, including between the legislations to contribute to the advancement of the Strategic Partnership. Speaker Chuan-jin said his visit to Việt Nam is a chance for … [Read more...] about Việt Nam, Singapore to expand cooperation in digital transformation, green economy: Legislative leaders
Effective policy implementation crucial for Vietnam to reach high-income status by 2045: WB
Institutions have become a major impediment to the nation’s aspiration to reach high income by 2045. Vietnam needs to shift its economic growth model and improve the government’s capacity to implement economic policy reforms and public investments, realizing its aspiration of reaching high-income status by 2045, a World Bank Group report says. Overview of the report launch. The World Bank Group’s Systematic Country Diagnostic Update, themed "How Will Vietnam Blossom? Reforming Institutions for Effective Implementation,” emphasizes that Vietnam's traditional growth model faces major challenges from the Covid-19 pandemic, slowing globalization, and the country’s increasing vulnerability to external shocks, especially climate risks. After identifying a series of policy responses and reform priorities, many of which are not new, the report argues that adapting institutions will be the key to success. “Vietnam’s GDP per capita has increased fivefold over the … [Read more...] about Effective policy implementation crucial for Vietnam to reach high-income status by 2045: WB
IEEFA: Viet Nam’s manufacturing future rests on a credible renewable energy game plan
A wind power project in the northern province of Ninh Thuan. — Photo evn.com.vn The Vietnamese economy’s unparalleled exposure to multinational corporations and the global consumer market calls for a pragmatic alignment between the country’s renewable energy strategy and the decarbonisation commitments of the global brands, according to IEEFA’s latest report on Viet Nam. “Multinational corporations responsible for up to US$150 billion of Viet Nam’s export revenues have made specific pledges on carbon neutrality or decarbonisation of varying scope and timelines,” said Thu Vu, energy finance analyst leading the Vietnamese market coverage for IEEFA. “These brands’ journey toward sustainability progress is one in which Viet Nam can not afford to ignore or miss out on.” Viet Nam is currently the largest exporter of goods in developing Southeast Asia. With nearly 60 per cent of the exports being manufactured goods for the big brands, its growing role in the global supply chain … [Read more...] about IEEFA: Viet Nam’s manufacturing future rests on a credible renewable energy game plan
Japan nuclear regulator grants initial nod to Fukushima water release plan
Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) granted an initial approval on Wednesday for a Tokyo Electric Power's (Tepco) plan for releasing water from the destroyed Fukushima nuclear power plant into sea, citing there are no safety issues. The NRA plans to make a decision on final approval after a one-month public comment period, an official at NRA said, who deals with the issue. In 2021, the Japanese government approved the release of over 1 million tonnes of irradiated water from the site after treatment into the ocean, starting around spring 2023. The announcement provoked concerns from local fishermen and objections from neighbouring China and South Korea. Tepco plans to filter the contaminated water to remove isotopes, leaving only tritium, a radioactive isotope of hydrogen hard to separate from water. Tepco will then dilute the water until tritium levels fall less than 1/40th of regulatory limits, before pumping it into the ocean. Even after the NRA's approval, Tepco, … [Read more...] about Japan nuclear regulator grants initial nod to Fukushima water release plan
