Women supporting women quotes

UNFPA, Norwegian Government support Vietnam in ending gender biased sex selection

April 16, 2021 by en.qdnd.vn

The joint affirmation was made by Norwegian Ambassador to Vietnam Grete Lochen and UNFPA Representative in Vietnam Naomi Kitahara at a working session on April 15 to discuss gender equality in Vietnam, focusing on gender-based violence and GBSS.

Addressing the session, the ambassador said that the top priority of the Norwegian Government is to strengthen and observe global standards on the rights of girls and women, including changing the preference for sons.

The Norwegian Government is working with many partners and relevant parties, including the UNFPA, to deal with the problem on global, regional, and national scales, she said.

Lochen expressed delight at Vietnam’s pioneering role in dealing with GBSS, affirming that close cooperation and a comprehensive approach are among the major measures for the successful resolution of the problem.

For her part, Kitahara acknowledged Vietnam’s progress in promoting gender equality. She also said that this progress should be further sped up within the completion of the sustainable development goals (SDGs).

She pledged to assist Vietnam and local social organisations to hasten changes towards becoming a modern, progressive country where all women and girls have access to the same opportunities as men and boys.

The working session was a chance for both sides to review the three-year “Addressing Gender Biased Sex Selection and Related Harmful Practices in Vietnam” project, which was launched in April 2020.

The project is being jointly funded by the UNFPA and the Norwegian Government, and implemented by the Vietnamese Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, the General Office for Population and Family Planning under the Ministry of Health, the Vietnam Farmers’ Union, and the Centre for Studies and Applied Sciences in Gender, Family, Women and Adolescents.

It aims to support the Government’s ongoing efforts to fully implement approved legal and policy frameworks to end GBSS, and includes campaigns conducted through innovative approaches to change social norms and practices that reinforce the preference for sons and the low value of girls, strengthening capacities in the media, implementing the fatherhood program, and streamlining the country’s coordination mechanisms for GBSS.

Vietnam’s gender imbalance has rapidly increased in recent times and stood at 111.5 boys per 100 girls in 2019, according to the 2019 Population and Housing Census.

Source: VNA

Experts discuss post-COVID-19 global major trends, recommendations for Việt Nam

April 16, 2021 by vietnamnews.vn

Foreign Minister Bùi Thanh Sơn speaks at the event. — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — The Foreign Ministry and the United Nations in Việt Nam jointly held an international talk in Hà Nội on Thursday to discuss major global trends in the post-COVID-19 era, international experience and policy implications for Việt Nam.

Addressing the event, Foreign Minister Bùi Thanh Sơn noted that after 35 years of renewal, Việt Nam now has a great ambition of becoming a developed country with high income in 2045.

The official asked participants to identify global trends that may generate opportunities for Việt Nam to make development breakthroughs, while sharing international experience and lessons in optimising post-pandemic trends for economic recovery, and proposing suitable policies for Việt Nam.

UN Resident Coordinator in Việt Nam Kamal Malhotra mentioned rising concern about the three major crises to the globe which are climate change, loss of biodiversity, and pollution, which threaten the achievements and development prospects in the future.

The US-China geo-political tensions and the inequality in COVID-19 vaccine distribution may also harm multilateral cooperation, he said, expressing his impression at the fast movement to catch up with new and pioneering technologies, thus supporting the maintenance of essential services and economic activities.

According to Malhotra, the increasing inequality inside each country and among countries has become a big and worrying trend. Therefore, the reduction of inequality and the pursuing of green and resilient recovery policies are the highest targets of the UN.

He said he hopes the talk will help seek new ideas for the recovery process.

In the framework of the event, three discussion sessions were held on digital transformation, the transition of growth models towards inclusive, self-reliant and sustainable and green recovery orientations.

They also gave a number of policy recommendations to help Việt Nam tap opportunities from major global trends, thus combining outside resources with internal strengths to make breakthroughs towards realising the goals set at the 13th National Party Congress. — VNS

ASEAN, Russia look to further deepen strategic partnership

April 15, 2021 by en.vietnamplus.vn

Hanoi (VNA) – 2021 is considered an important time for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Russia to review their achievements in cooperation and determine related goals in the time to come, towards further deepening the strategic partnership.

The two upgraded their relationship to the strategic partnership in November 2018.

At the 19th Meeting of the ASEAN-Russia Joint Cooperation Committee (ARJCC) held online, representatives from ASEAN member nations expressed their appreciation of the positive cooperation in bilateral relations.

Cooperation programmes and plans between ASEAN and Russia have contributed to supporting ASEAN in realising its goals in community building and narrowing the development gap.

The Russia n side stressed that ASEAN is one of the top priorities in its diplomatic policy. It supports the bloc in building the ASEAN Community and in strengthening its central role in the regional structure, and actively joins ASEAN-led mechanisms, thus contributing to peace, stability, and security in the region.

The two sides also highly valued the activities of the ASEAN Centre at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO), which contribute to promoting scientific cooperation between universities and research centres and promoting people-to-people exchanges between citizens of Russia and ASEAN.

In the context of COVID-19, the two sides also committed to promoting joint efforts to overcome the effects of the pandemic and stabilise their economies.

ASEAN and Russia agreed to further strengthen the strategic partnership, focusing on areas of mutual interest, such as politics, security, disaster management, technology and innovation, tourism, and the prevention of infectious diseases.

Russia has also increased coordination with ASEAN member countries at major international forums, including the UN, on urgent global and regional issues, such as arms control, non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, terrorism prevention, international information security, and combating drug trafficking and transnational crime.

Russian authorities are assisting ASEAN’s special security and law protection agencies in personnel training and organising professional training courses to fight terrorism and extremism.

On the occasion of the 30th founding anniversary of diplomatic ties and 25 years of dialogue relations in 2021, ASEAN and Russia wish to further deepen the strategic partnership, thus helping both overcome difficulties posed by COVID-19 and recover economic development./.

VNA

Kien Giang assists Vietnamese Cambodians affected by COVID-19

April 16, 2021 by en.vietnamplus.vn

Deputy Director of the Department for External Affairs of Kien Giang province Nguyen Viet Thong (R) hands over 300 million VND to Vietnamese Consul General Vu Ngoc Ly (Photo: VNA)

Phnom Penh (VNA) – Deputy Director of the Department for External Affairs of Kien Giang province Nguyen Viet Thong on April 15 handed over 300 million VND (13,000 USD) to representatives from the Vietnamese Consulate General in Cambodia’s Preah Sihanouk province as a gift of the southern province for poor Vietnamese Cambodians.

At the handover ceremony at Ha Tien International Border Gate, Thong spoke highly of efforts made by the Vietnamese Consulate General to support Vietnamese Cambodians in the region it is in charge, including Preah Sihanouk, Kampot, Kep, Koh Kong, Kampong Speu and Takeo provinces, especially amidst COVID-19 outbreaks in Cambodia.

He took the occasion to extend his best wishes to Vietnamese Cambodians in the southwestern region of Cambodia on the occasion of Chol Chnam Thmay, Cambodia’s New Year Festival.

Vietnamese Consul General Vu Ngoc Ly expressed his gratitude for the support of Kien Giang province as this was the third time the province have sent gifts to Vietnamese Cambodians in the region since the pandemic broke out in the province early last year.

On this occasion, President of the Khmer-Vietnamese Association in Kampot province Hoang Duc Ha received 60 million VND as a gift from the Vietnam Fatherland Front of Kien Giang province to Vietnamese Cambodians who are living in difficult circumstances in Kampot and Kep provinces./.

VNA

Japanese enterprises promote retailing in Vietnam through e-commerce channels

April 16, 2021 by vov.vn

According to Shinji Hirai, Chief Representative of Japan Trade Promotion Organization (JETRO) in Vietnam, during the Japan Vietnam Festival (JVF) set to be underway from April 17-18 in Ho Chi Minh City, Japanese businesses are keen to bring traditional products to Vietnam such as ice cream, furikake rice spices, natto beans, apple cider vinegar, and eye care masks.

These are food items, daily necessities, and cosmetics originating from Japan that are highly appreciated by Vietnamese consumers, e-commerce sites and retailers.

Up to 50% of Japanese businesses were connected by JETRO to display their products at this first event to get acquainted with the Vietnamese market.

Although the number of products sold in 2020 suffered a fall compared to the previous year, the total sales of these items surged by 5%. Cosmetics, basic necessities, especially Japanese foods are currently being consumed well in Vietnam.

Shinji Hirai notes that Vietnamese people’s interest in Japanese food is increasing and many Japanese businesses are pinning their high hope on the Vietnamese market. Therefore, the Japan Mall project and online platform BtoB “Japan Street” are focused on promoting development by JETRO in order to bring the above items to Vietnamese consumers.

Specifically, in Vietnam, the forerunner of the project started operation in 2016 and by 2020, 7 units including EC e-commerce sites and retailers participated in the project, including FamilyMart, Hachi Hachi , Kamereo.

In addition, JETRO has been operating the online platform “Japan Street” in early 2021, allowing to support the distribution of Japanese products throughout the year. Accordingly, there have been than 500 providers registered on the website and it is expected that the number will increase by many times in the time ahead.

“With the use of this platform, we will further promote the Japan Mall project via expanding and commercially distributing Japanese products into Vietnam,” says the JETRO chief representative.

Previously, Vietnam was mainly chosen by Japanese enterprises to be the production place of goods, but now it has become a consuming market for Japanese products. Notably Vietnam ranked 5th in the top 10 markets importing Japanese agro- forestry – fishery products with a turnover of JPY 53.5 billion in 2020, Shinji Hirai emphasizes.

Local COVID-19 vaccination process remains safe

April 16, 2021 by vov.vn

Following over a month of efforts to begin inoculating the local population, the nation has carried out the process by using the AstraZeneca vaccine. This has seen more than 70,000 people, the majority of whom are frontline medical workers and members of community-based steering committees for COVID-19 prevention and control in 19 cities and provinces, vaccinated to ensure maximum safety.

Prof. Dr. Dang Duc Anh, director of the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, states that the immunisation procedures taking place locally are being implemented at the highest safety level, whilst differing from other countries in the world, including developed nations.

“COVID-19 vaccination facilities must ensure standards in terms of facilities, equipment and manpower, implement the screening, counseling process before vaccination, and organise safe vaccination sessions under regulations set out the Ministry of Health.

Vaccinated people must stay at the vaccination site for at least 30 minutes after inoculation in order to monitor their health status, and are instructed to follow up at home for at least 24 hours and to continue follow-up for up to three weeks after injection.

Hospitals are always ready for emergencies to prevent severe reactions after vaccination to ensure maximum safety for the vaccinated,” Prof. Anh says.

According to figures released by the Ministry of Health, the first injection campaign saw the monitoring system of the Expanded National Program for Immunization record approximately 33% of injected people suffer a post-injection mild reaction which disappeared after a few days with no need for treatment or medical care. In addition to this, about 1% of cases recorded a hypersensitive reaction after injection, with cases being properly dealt with according to regulations.

Dr. Kidong Park, representative of the WHO in Vietnam, states that ensuring the quality, safety, and effectiveness of vaccines in the nation remains one of the WHO’s top priorities.

“Our organisation is working closely with competent Vietnamese agencies to ensure that global standards and regulations are properly implemented to assess and monitor the quality, safety, and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines which are being deployed in the country. The WHO will continue to support the Vietnamese Government in implementing this campaign with a particular focus on priority groups,” Dr. Park adds.

Rana Flowers, representative of UNICEF in Vietnam, underscores the need to accelerate the vaccination progress to ensure the country does not fall into a blockade like many other international partners amid the continued global outbreaks of the COVID-19 pandemic in neighbouring countries.

As part of the Expanded National Immunization Programme, the Ministry of Health are calling on all people to stay active and take proactive steps to implement recommendations from specialised agencies on vaccination against COVID-19. This should be done alongside downloading the e-health applications on iOS or Android in order to recorded when individuals are vaccinated.

The consciousness and actions of each person will therefore contribute to helping the nation quickly achieve the goal of vaccinating the population against COVID-19, thereby creating community immunity to prevent widespread infections of the SARS-CoV-2 virus as a mean of effectively combating the pandemic