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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.

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 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.

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.

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.

HCMC dwellers satisfied with simplified formalities for chip-based ID issuance

March 3, 2021 by sggpnews.org.vn

On the way home from her office, Tran Thi My Hanh, a resident in ward 22 in Binh Thanh District , came over the headquarter of the administration police at 8 PM to make a new electronic chip-based ID card.

After she was undergoing a Covid-19 temperature check and filling a form attached with necessary papers including her Ho khau (certification of her legal permanent residence) and her old ID. Soon she was guided to finish other steps before receiving an appointment letter.

She said since police officers in the district have extended working hour, those who work in office hours have been facilitated in exchange for new IDs.

Similarly, resident Le Thi Mai Huong living in District 1 went to the police station in the district with her younger sister to exchange old ID cards for the new chip-based ones. She was excited because it took only 10 minutes to finish all procedures. Simplified procedures plus police officers’ good behavior have satisfied people. Additionally, people can register to receive new IDs through post office.

Due to increased demand of exchanging new electronic chip-based IDs, police officers in all districts citywide have extended working hours until evenings to help people; police officers in Go Vap District even work at nights and weekends to promote the issuance of new chip-based ID cards.

Police officers in Binh Thanh District followed suit when they work from 7.30 AM till 10 PM including Saturdays and Sundays. So far, Binh Thanh police have received more than 4,000 documents for the new chip-based ID cards issuing more than 600 e-chip-based ID cards to residents.

Police in District 1 said the implementation of the new chip-based ID cards began in the end of January, 2021 until now. The police stations have admitted 4,872 registration papers for the new chip-based ID cards meanwhile they have issued 1,313 cards to city dwellers. They receive registration papers to 8PM and work to 10 PM every weekday.

Apart from that, police officers will work till 11 PM at an apartment building at 10A Tran Nhat Duat in Tan Dinh Ward every weekday. Police encouraged those who have not had ID cards and those with recently expired IDs to apply for the new chip-based ID cards to receive the new ones first.

In District 8, police officers have implemented exchange of the new chip-based ID cards from March 1. Senior citizens and people with disabilities are top priorities; therefore, local administrators will have vehicles to pick up them to police locations to fill the forms.

Though most people have been satisfied with simplified formalities, some were concerned about long time issuance of the new chip-based ID cards after submitting registration papers because this will have impacts on their daily activities and transactions. For instance, a man in District 1 said that he submitted registration papers for the new chip-based ID card in the end of January, 2021 but he has just received the new one in early March, 2021.

This national ID card project will run synchronously with the national population database project, due to be launched in early 2021.

By staff writers – Translated by Anh Quan

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.

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.

Consultant proposes not adding new airports by 2030

March 3, 2021 by english.thesaigontimes.vn

Consultant proposes not adding new airports by 2030

The Saigon Times

A view of the Tan Son Nhat International Airport – PHOTO: LE ANH

HCMC – The consultant of the national airport development plan in the 2021-2030 period with a vision to 2050 has proposed that new airport projects should not be added to the airport system by 2030 already approved by the prime minister as too many provinces have proposed developing airports.

By 2050, the consultant proposed developing only Cao Bang airport, the local media reported.

Based on the economic efficiency of the operational airports and the experience of other countries, the consultant has listed out six main criteria for the necessity and feasibility of new airports, comprising demand, contribution to socioeconomic development, national defense and emergency, natural conditions and their distance to central urban areas and adjacent airports.

Based on these criteria, the consultant concluded that with 28 airports approved by the prime minister, 96% of Vietnam’s population can access airports within a distance of 100 kilometers, higher than the world’s average of 75%.

The Ministry of Transport is consulting other relevant ministries, agencies and localities over the plan.

Over the past few months, Binh Phuoc and Bac Giang have suggested developing their military airports into those used for both civil and military purposes, while Ninh Binh and Ha Giang have suggested building new airports.

In 2020, the Ministry of Transport also received proposals to develop airports in Cao Bang, Ha Tinh, Ninh Thuan and Bac Lieu provinces which argued that the airport development would serve the socioeconomic development and ensure national defense.

At present, the residents of these provinces use the airports of neighboring provinces within a distance of 70 to 150 kilometers. For example, it is some 120 kilometers from Ninh Binh to the Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi and nearly 100 kilometers to the Tho Xuan Airport in Thanh Hoa and the Cat Bi Airport in Haiphong.

The distance from Binh Phuoc to the Tan Son Nhat International Airport in HCMC is also nearly 130 kilometers.

Associate Professor Nguyen Thien Tong from the HCMC University of Technology said provinces should develop small airports for small aircraft with less than 20 seats for rescue, national defense and tourism. They can take advantage of old military airports and call on private firms to get involved in these projects.

However, policies to encourage air carriers to operate small aircraft should be issued first.

Among the 22 operational airports across the country, only six airports have reported profits, including Noi Bai, Tan Son Nhat, Danang, Cam Ranh, Lien Khuong and Phu Bai.

According to Tran Quang Chau, chairman of the Vietnam Association on Aviation Science and Technology, compared with other countries in the region and the world, the number of civil airports in Vietnam is small and provinces’ proposals to develop airports are legitimate.

However, the development of new airports should be based on many criteria and suit the country’s airport system.

Meanwhile, Dr. Nguyen Bach Tung, an aviation expert, said most of local airports have yet to reach their full capacities. Therefore, the investment in new airports should be weighed carefully. The competent agencies should consider many factors before deciding if new airports should be built.