Xi seeks global cooperation

With the recent inauguration of many pedestrian streets, themed spaces, and night tours, authorities in Hanoi hope to give the city’s night economy a major boost. Every evening at about 7:00 pm, Hanoi’s Old Quarter begins to bustle with tourists rushing between shops, food stalls, and entertainment venues. The Old Quarter’s evening rush holds such a footing in Hanoian culture that nicknames have even been given to certain areas. The intersection of Ta Hien and Luong Ngoc Quyen Streets, for example, is affectionately called 'International Intersection' while Ta Hien Street is known as 'Beer Street,' Gam Cau Street is known as 'BBQ Street,' To Lich street is called 'Mixed Fruit Street,' and Tong Duy Tan Street is dubbed 'Food Street.' Weekends in the Old Quarter are especially busy, with groups of tourists and locals gathering in the area for entertainment and food, art performance venues, and karaoke parlors. The pedestrian street around Hoan Kiem Lake has also been a major … [Read more...] about Hanoi seeks to develop night economy

Ngoc Thao from HCMC, 32, said that one kilogram of bacon now costs between VND150,000-180,000 ($6.43-7.72), depending on whether it is purchased at a traditional wet market or a supermarket. Cheaper cuts of pork, such as cutlet and thigh, range from VND100,000-130,000 per kilogram, which is twice or thrice the price of chicken. "The prices of vegetables, spices and many other things have skyrocketed, but my salary remains unchanged, so I must cut back on my spending on expensive stuff," she said, sighing. "Now our family has meat only for one or two meals per week." A VnExpress survey of livestock farms at the end of June found that the price of live pigs had crossed VND60,000 per kg, a slight increase from previous days. The majority of farmers said the price has increased because the cost of animal feed has increased. Prices of new born pigs have also increased by 20 percent compared to two months ago. According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and … [Read more...] about As prices rise, Vietnamese fork out less for pork

The chance of finding 27 crew members alive from a vessel that snapped in two as tropical storm Chaba passed through Hong Kong and southern China is "very slim", government rescue authorities said on Sunday, as the search for those missing continued. On Saturday, authorities rescued three of 30 crew members as strong winds and rain battered the coast and waters about 300 km (200 miles) southwest of the city, Hong Kong Government Flying Service said. The site of the incident was surrounded by about 100 wind turbines that, compounded with gusts reaching up to 140 km per hour, had hampered rescue efforts. The search area had been widened but the chance of finding survivors was "very slim", West Wu, controller of the Government Flying Service of Hong Kong, said on Sunday. Hong Kong sent nine aircraft to jointly conduct search and rescue operations with forces from the mainland. Some of the crew had likely abandoned the vessel as it snapped in two, the surviving crew members told … [Read more...] about Chance of finding missing crew off Hong Kong ‘very slim’ after storm: authorities

Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Phan Van Mai signs a regulation on the construction coordination of the Ring Road 3 Project in Ho Chi Minh City with leaders of three provinces of Long An, Binh Duong and Dong Nai at the conference. Regarding the investment capital, the HCMC People’s Committee submitted to the Prime Minister an adjustment of the central budget capital of VND17,146 billion (US$734.5 million) from the Ministry of Transport and allocated the unallocated central budget capital of VND 14,233 billion (US$610 million) to the provinces and HCMC for timely project implementation. Speaking at the conference, Director of Ho Chi Minh City Department of Transport Tran Quang Lam said that the People's Committees of three provinces and HCMC have directed departments, relevant agencies and units to implement component projects according to the assigned timelines under the direction of Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh. Specifically, the Ring Road 3 investment and … [Read more...] about HCMC, three localities strengthen coordination to promptly implement Ring Road 3

In an article about Vietnam’s trade and investment links with Italy and Europe, the La Città Futura newspaper said Vietnam is effectively implementing the commitments in the free trade agreements with the E.U. (EVFTA) and the U.K. (UKVFTA). So far, key farm produce of Vietnam like peppercorn, cashew nut, vegetables, fruit, tea, and rubber have benefited from preferential tariffs in the E.U., which is one of the five largest markets of Vietnam’s fishery products. La Città Futura noted Vietnam is a leading partner of Italy in Southeast Asia and also a helpful bridge linking the E.U., including Italy, with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Citing the phone talks on April 22 between Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his Italian counterpart Mario Draghi, it emphasised the Italian Government’s pledge to promote the Italian parliament’s ratification of the E.U. - Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) amid many enterprises of the country wishing … [Read more...] about Italian media spotlight Vietnam’s economic ties with Europe, human rights achievements

The meeting between the VGCL delegation and Roberto Morales Ojeda, Politburo member and Secretary in charge of organisation affairs of the Communist Party of Cuba (Photo: VNA) Havana (VNA) – Leaders of the Party and State of Cuba have received a delegation of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL) in Havana, describing the relations between Vietnamese and Cuban workers as a core factor of the special solidarity and friendship between the two countries. The VGCL delegation met with Roberto Morales Ojeda, Politburo member and Secretary in charge of organisation affairs of the Communist Party of Cuba ; Esteban Lazo Hernández, Politburo member and President of the National Assembly of the People’s Power; Homero Acosta Álvarez, member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the National Assembly of the People’s Power and the Council of State; and Salvador Valdés Mesa, Politburo member and Vice President of Cuba. At the meetings, Nguyen Dinh Khang, member of … [Read more...] about Workers’ ties viewed as core factor of Vietnam – Cuba special solidarity