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US-tech giant Google looks to build long-term cooperation with Vietnam.

Google, with its experience, is willing to support the development of Vietnamese enterprises and looks to build long-term cooperation with Vietnam, according to Scott Beaumont, president of Google in Asia Pacific.

President of Google in Asia Pacific Scott Beaumont. Photo: VGP.

Enterprises with high level of digitalization would grow twice as fast as others, and Google wants to help local firms master online business skills, said Scott in an online meeting with Minister – Chairman of the Government Office Mai Tien Dung on July 22.

Scott said Vietnam has been successful in mitigating negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, and this shows the world how to efficiently tackle the health crisis.

According to Scott, during the outbreak, Google had supported the Ministry of Health in providing official information and instructions to the people and businesses via YouTube.

Based on this experience, Scott said Google could cooperate with the Government Office in developing the national public service portal.

The successful implementation of the portal has been one of Vietnam’s achievements in the post-Covid-19 period, Scott added.

Under the framework of the “Vietnam Digital 4.0” program, Google is collaborating with the Ministry of Industry and Trade in providing online training for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), while assisting large scale enterprises to find new export markets.

Meanwhile, Google is working with Vietnam National Administration of Tourism to promote domestic tourism, one of the key solutions to boost Vietnam’s economic growth, Scott informed.

Minister of the Government Office Mai Tien Dung at the meeting. Photo: VGP.

At the meeting, Minister Dung said 96 days have passed without new Covid-19 cases in the community in Vietnam.

Dung said with the GDP growth of 1.81% in the first six months of 2020, Vietnam targets to reach a growth rate of 3 – 4% for this year.

Since its launch on December 9, 2019, the national public service portal has integrated 800 public services with nearly 200,000 accounts, 51 million visitors and 201,000 applications under processing.

Dung, however, said this is just a first step towards the building of e-government and is looking forward to cooperating with Google in promoting the portal.

Dung asked Google to set up a channel for the portal on YouTube for spreading the benefits of public online services for citizens and businesses.

The minister stressed the US is Vietnam’s key partner and the Vietnamese government is willing to support US firms in doing business in the country.

Local authorities are maintaining frequent communication with US companies to address their issues for more balanced trade relations, Dung informed.

Today, as the Chair of the UN Security Council, Vietnam will host a virtual ministerial meeting entitled “Maintenance of international peace and security: Mine action and sustaining peace: Stronger partnerships for better delivery.”

The theme of the meeting is also one of Vietnam’s priorities when it assumes the Chairmanship of the UN Security Council in April 2021.

On this occasion, Deputy Director of the Vietnam National Mine Action Center (VNMAC) Senior Colonel Nguyen Van Nghiep granted an interview to reporters of the People’s Army Newspaper.

Reporter: How has Vietnam promoted international cooperation in overcoming the aftermath of war-left bombs and mines in the country over the past years?

Senior Colonel Nghiep: Our country has experienced a number of wars, including national liberation wars and national protection wars. One can easily see heavy consequences of war in every corner across the country. For that reason, overcoming the aftermath of war-left bombs, mines and explosives is considered a long-time, money-consuming and labor-extensive job. In fact, Vietnam has mobilized its maximum efforts and resources to deal with unexploded ordnance (UXO) over the past decades but the results have been modest since as much as 18.82% of the territory is polluted with UXO, according to official statistics.

In recent years, our country has received much support from governments of other countries and international organizations. The countries that have provided considerable support for our country’s effort to deal with UXO include the U.S., the U.K., Japan and the Republic of Korea. Most domestic and international resources and efforts have been invested in Central Vietnam, the worst UXO-polluted region. Resources have also been used to support victims of war-left bombs and mines, public education about the danger of UXO, and UXO clearance.

Vietnam has also received support from international organizations, including The International Center (IC), The Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA), The Mines Advisory Group (MAG), The Peace Trees and so on. Apart from joining Vietnam’s mine action efforts, these organizations have also given livelihoods to people living in UXO-polluted areas.

Reporter: What role does the VNMAC play in boosting international cooperation in overcoming UXO in the country?

Senior Colonel Nghiep: The great support of foreign countries and international organizations for Vietnam has resulted from the concerted effort of relevant Vietnamese agencies, including VNMAC, to expand international cooperation in overcoming UXO consequences over the past years.

We have participated in international forums on war legacy and hosted seminars to introduce the National Action Program for the Settlement of Bomb and Mine Consequences (Program 504).

The VNMAC frequently cooperates with embassies of the U.S., the U.K., Japan and Republic of Korea in Vietnam to make field trips to Central Vietnam to inspect their sponsored UXO clearing projects and public education programs on UXO prevention.

The VNMAC is an agency specializing in bombs, mines and explosives under the National Steering Board on Overcoming War Legacy (UXO and toxic chemicals). It is responsible for coordinating cooperation activities in overcoming consequences of UXO left over by the wars. The center’s responsibilities also range from assessing the real UXO situation in Vietnam to directly implementing UXO clearance projects and UXO victim support programs.

Since the inception of VNMAC, governments of the U.S., the U.K., Japan and Republic of Korea have funded UXO cooperation projects in Vietnam via the center. So the VNMAC functions as the manager of international cooperation projects related to UXO.

With its high sense of responsibility, the VNMAC has effectively managed all international cooperation projects, particularly the international cooperation project to survey UXO-pollution in the six central provinces and Vietnam-Republic of Korea cooperation project to overcome war legacy in the two central provinces of Quang Binh and Binh Dinh. VNMAC’s effective management of international cooperation projects has given international partners confidence to further invest in UXO clearance projects in the country.

Reporter: How have relevant Vietnamese agencies coordinated over the past time to expand international cooperation in settling UXO in the country?

Senior Colonel Nghiep: Over the past years, Vietnamese agencies and organizations have effectively expanded cooperation with international partners in removing UXO. Particularly, the Ministry of National Defense and Ministry of Foreign Affairs have effectively coordinated in organizing international forums and events to introduce Program 504 to other countries and international organizations. Meanwhile, the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs have closely collaborated with each other in supporting victims of bombs and mines. Other Central-level agencies, ministries and localities have also cooperated in various successful projects to support victims of war legacy. VNMAC has always served as the coordinator for cooperation projects related to UXO between/among domestic partners.

But the settlement of consequences of UXO left over by the wars is time and money consuming as I mentioned earlier. Domestic resources fall short when it comes to dealing with the real UXO situation in the country. In this circumstance, international cooperation and support from foreign countries and international organizations over the past time are highly appreciated.

The successes in realizing international cooperation projects related to UXO between Vietnam and some foreign countries and international cooperation will hopefully be a lever for other countries and international organizations to join the Vietnamese Government and people’s effort in settling a huge volume of UXO in the country in the future.

I think international cooperation in the coming time should focus on managing the national data on UXO, improving the efficiency of UXO clearance projects, and intensifying public education programs on preventing UXO accidents in central provinces.

Reporter: Thank you!

Translated by Thu Nguyen

Representatives from ministries, central agencies, embassies, and international organizations working in the field of UXO/landmine and Dioxin/AO victim assistance attended the conference.

Speaking at the event, Head of the Department of International Cooperation of the MoLISA Nguyen Van Cuong highlighted good results and limitations in backing UXO/landmine and Dioxin/AO victims over the past time.

People’s awareness of risks and dangers of war legacy, particularly bombs and mines has been improved in recent times; however, information dissemination should be expanded to further heighten social responsibility of organizations, businesses and individuals, he added.

Delegates were also briefed on the project “To develop and pilot-run a system of registration and information management of persons with disabilities (PWDs) including UXO/landmine victims.”

In addition, representatives of international organizations focused discussion on challenges, difficulties as well as their priorities for UXO/landmine and Dioxin/AO victims in Vietnam.

Trung Thanh

Vietnam, as the rotating President of the UNSC, held this event virtually and in person under the chair of Minister Son.

Attending the discussion were UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, nine ministers and deputy ministers, ambassadors and heads of missions of the UNSC member states. The event’s speakers included Director of the Geneva International Center for Humanitarian Demining Stefano Toscano, UNDP Goodwill Ambassador actress Yeoh Choo-Kheng, Manager of Project RENEW All-Women Demining Team in Vietnam Nguyen Thi Dieu Linh, and UN Global Advocate for the Elimination of Mines and Explosive Hazards actor Daniel Craig.

The event also saw the presence of officials from Vietnamese ministries, departments, and localities badly affected by war-left bombs, mines and explosives; representatives from the embassies of the UNSC member states, UN organizations, and domestic and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) working on mine action.

At the event, delegates highly valued Vietnam’s initiative on the organization of  such an important meeting. They voiced their support  for the humanitarian purpose of limiting the use of bombs and mines in the world. They emphasized the consequences of bombs and mines in conflict areas in the past and present. They also voiced their support for national and international efforts to settle consequences of bombs and mines and unexploded ordnance, assist victims, and stabilize the situation for reconstruction and socio-economic development.

Delegates highly praised international cooperation in mine action and stressed the need to boost cohesion and coordination within the UN system, including the UNSC, in order to make more contributions to the UN and relevant countries’ mine action efforts.

In his speech, Minister Son highlighted the importance of settling the consequences of wars and conflicts and said that this issue should be paid more attention to in the UNSC agenda.

The Vietnamese official shared Vietnam’s experience in this regard, such as due attention and close direction from the leaderships at all levels, investment in capacity building, close coordination among ministries, departments, localities, NGOs, and the engagement of people from all walks of life, especially women.

Minister Son stressed that countries need to further their cooperation in mine action to reap more sustainable outcomes, through providing finance, technical assistance, improving capacity, raising awareness, and sharing experience with affected countries.

According to Son, the UN, especially the UNSC, should step up measures to ensure safety for peacekeepers, protect civilians, and promote sustainable peace.

On the occasion, the UNSC adopted the first presidential statement, proposed by Vietnam, on mine action. This statement is of significance, emphasizing the connection between mine action and maintenance of sustainable peace, stability, and development and heightening the necessity for international cooperation in mine action.

The statement also mentions new important content, such as impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, giving more support to affected countries, considering setting up specialized mine action units at UN peacekeeping missions, and taking into account the special needs of women and children in deploying related missions.

Translated by Mai Huong

Education experts, managerial officers and teachers all say that a challenging tenure faces the newly appointed Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Kim Son.