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The Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee on August 2 presented 1.7 million meal portions worth 51 billion VND (2.22 million USD) to southern localities which are under the social distancing measures.

The meal portions, each worth 30,000 VND, will be distributed to people of the vulnerable groups in 17 localities.

From May 1 to July 30, donations for the fight against COVID-19 via the VFF had exceeded 6.85 trillion VND.

The sum has been disbursed to the COVID-19 vaccine fund and for the purchase of ventilators and other medical devices, as well as used to support concentrated quarantine establishments, frontline workers and the disadvantaged.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son on August 2 attended the 23rd ASEAN Political-Security Community (APSC) Council Meeting as part of the 54th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM-54).

The online meeting reviewed the operation of specialised agencies in the political-security pillar and the implementation of the ASEAN Political-Security Community Blueprint 2025.

According to the ASEAN Secretary General’s report, despite a range of challenges, political and security cooperation in ASEAN has reaped significant achievements, notably the implementation of recommendations of the Mid-term Review of the APSC.

He highlighted ASEAN collaboration in COVID-19 combat and recovery efforts, national defence, border management and response to non-traditional challenges, as well as cooperation between ASEAN and its partners.

Given the complex developments in the region such as East Sea and Myanmar issues, the meeting stressed the need for the grouping to strengthen its solidarity, trust, understanding and central role, and maintain dialogues and cooperation with its partners, for regional peace, security and stability.

In his remarks, Son said an environment of peace, security and stability is the prerequisite to cope with the pandemic, spur recovery and maintain regional growth.

Pointing to increasing strategic competitions between powers, he suggested ASEAN has a comprehensive approach in relations with its present partners as well as new potential ones.

He also proposed cautiously reviewing operational procedures of ASEAN-led mechanisms to maintain their goals, values and role, while promoting the engagement and dialogue of partners.

Inter-sectoral and inter-pillar coordination requires a creative approach amidst challenges regarding navigation security, COVID-19 and humanitarian aid, Son said.

The minister also suggested adding emerging issues to the APSC Blueprint 2025, saying more attention should be given to agendas on women, peace and security.

Earlier, ASEAN Foreign Ministers witnessed an online award ceremony of the ASEAN Prize 2020, which was handed over to the Singapore-based ASEAN Studies Centre of ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Solidarity and unity are the foundation for ASEAN’s strength, especially in difficult times, which is clearly demonstrated in the current fight against COVID-19, Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son told the 54th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM-54) that opened on August 2 via videoconference.

Sharing the significance of vaccines in pandemic response efforts, Son proposed the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) bring into full play cooperation opportunities with partners, especially in procurement and technology transfer for vaccine production.

In the face of serious socio-economic impacts of the pandemic, more than ever, ASEAN needs to strongly promote the internal strength of a resilient and cohesive Community, affirm its role and responsibility to the development of the region, he stated, adding that Vietnam maintains its active and responsible participation in the process of building the ASEAN Community Vision beyond 2025.

The minister suggested ASEAN continue to promote the role of ASEAN-led mechanisms, uphold solidarity, promote internal resources, ensure a common voice and fair approach in relations with partners, and maintain the bloc’s central role in the regional structure.

He shared his concerns about complicated developments in regional hotspots such as the Korean Peninsula and the East Sea as well as non-traditional security challenges such as cyber-security, climate change, sea level rise and marine environment degradation.

Son said that although peace, security, safety and freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea are the common interests of all countries, the region has still witnessed actions contrary to international law, including actions that damage the marine environment. The minister proposed ASEAN maintain its principled stance and uphold international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), stressing the importance of the convention as the basis for determining the legitimate rights and interests of coastal states as well as the framework that regulates all activities in all seas and oceans.

Son also emphasised the neccesity to implement the 5-point Consensus and proposed speeding up humanitarian assistance to the Myanmar people in the context that the country is being heavily affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the meeting, ASEAN Foreign Ministers discussed the building process of the ASEAN Community, the bloc’s external relations and regional and international issues of mutual concern.

They welcomed initiatives such as the ASEAN Shield to strengthen ASEAN’s concerted power to respond to natural disasters and promote multilateralism, and the Consolidated Strategy on the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

They welcomed Vietnam’s hosting of ASEAN forum on sub-regional cooperation later this year.

The ministers emphasised the need to intensify cooperation in pandemic response, suggesting the urgent implementation of the ASEAN Action Plan on Vaccine Security and Self Reliance, the ASEAN Regional Reserve of Medical Supplies for Public Health Emergencies as well as the ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Framework.

Participants also discussed measures to strengthen and deepen ASEAN’s relationship with its partners, uphold the central role of ASEAN, affirm the value of ASEAN-led mechanisms in promoting dialogue, cooperation and participation, and active and constructive contributions of partners to peace, security and development in the region.

They agreed to establish Dialogue Partnership with the UK and Sectoral Partnership ưith the UAE; and welcomed and approved the proposals to join the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) by the Netherlands, Greece, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Denmark.

The ministers took the occasion to exchange views on many regional and international issues of common concern such as the East Sea, the Korean Peninsula and the Middle East. They reaffirmed the importance of maintaining peace, security, stability, safety and freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea and expressed their concerns over the reinforcement and serious incidents, including actions that damage the marine environment.

They asserted their consistent stance on addressing disputes by peaceful measures on the basis of international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS, calling for parties to restrain, and not to militarise, not to use or threaten to use force.

The meeting reaffirmed the importance of the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), welcomed the resumption of negotiations on a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) between ASEAN and China, stressed the need to maintain a favourable environment for COC negotiations and to continue efforts towards an effective, practical COC in accordance with international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS.

The countries also emphasised the necessity to implement the 5-point Consensus comprehensively and promptly, while affirming ASEAN’s desire to support Myanmar to overcome difficulties and find solutions to the current situation, and provide humanitarian assistance for the nation to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic.

On August 2 afternoon, the ASEAN Foreign Ministers are scheduled to attend meetings of the ASEAN Political-Security Community Council (APSC), the ASEAN Coordinating Council, and the Southeast Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ); and a dialogue with representatives of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR)./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has sent a letter encouraging frontline forces in COVID-19 prevention and control, recognising and complementing their contributions and efforts in the fight.

He noted that in response to the call by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong on July 29, the whole Party, people and army has worked hard with a high determination to stamp out the pandemic.

Over the past more than 500 days, COVID-19 has been a test for the Vietnamese people’s endurable capacity, mutual support and patriotism, he stated, adding that positive results have been made despite great challenges ahead.

“Through the past more than 500 days of fighting against a ‘hidden, transforming and invisible’ enemy, we have got a better understanding and been grateful to the sacrifice by all frontline forces, especially medical workers. Their devotion has made a nice picture with colours of humanitarian values, sacrifice, sharing and national solidarity,” PM Chinh wrote.

The PM underscored that although COVID-19 has been developing complicatedly and unexpectedly and causing difficulties and hardships, it has failed to lessen the frontline forces’ spirit for the community.

“I can feel the spirit of ‘three readiness’, ‘three responsibilities’, and ‘five voluntariness’ of the glorious past days that are spreading in the frontline forces in the pandemic fight. You have been ready to go to anywhere, do anything for the people and the Fatherland,” stressed the Government leader.

Highlighting hardships that the forces, including medical staff, local officials, soldiers, public security officers, reporters and volunteers, have suffered while performing COVID-19 prevention and control activities, as well as difficulties facing people across the country due to the pandemic, he underscored that the Party and State always understand the difficulties and hope that the pandemic will be pushed back soon.

The Party and State highly value and complement the contributions, sacrifice and whole-hearted efforts by the frontline forces, especially medical staff, he wrote.

Holding that COVID-19 will still develop complicatedly in the future and the fight against the pandemic will be prolonged with various difficulties, PM Chinh expressed his hope that the forces will continue to keep their enthusiasm and a kind heart to serve the people.

“With the persistence, endurance, high determination and more drastic actions as well as synchronous and comprehensive measures, along with the support of people and businesses in the COVID-19 combat, we will surely overcome the pandemic. We will win it!”

The PM wished the forces good health and happiness, stressing that the Party, State and people always stand by them

Source: Vietnam News Agency

The People’s Committee of Hanoi on August 1 issued an official dispatch asking localities across the city not to allow local residents to travel outside the city during the period of social distancing.

The order was made amid complicated developments of the pandemic when a number of COVID-19 clusters, which originated from people returning to Hanoi from pandemic-hit regions, have been spreading quickly.

The municipal People’s Committee requested all localities to assess high-risk areas, especially hospitals, industrial parks and clusters, populous residential areas and concentrated quarantine facilities, while taking the initiative in making decisionss on higher control measures during the period of social distancing.

It also urged localities and agencies to promptly roll out policies to support employees and employers who are affected by COVID-19.

The capital city’s administration also asked central and local agencies, units and socio-political organisations, as well as diplomatic corps and international organisations in the city to strictly abide by social distancing regulations and only allow a few staff to work at office.

Localities and agencies were requested to conduct COVID-19 vaccinations promptly, ensuring equal and transparent vaccine access.

On August 2 morning, the Hanoi Department of Health reported an additional 45 COVID-19 cases in the past 12 hours to 6am, 38 of whom were found in the community.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

The disbursed public investment declined in July due to the surge in COVID-19 cases, but it still grew 5.6 percent in the first seven months of 2021 as compared to the same period last year.

The General Statistics Office (GSO) reported that the disbursed capital sourced from the State budget was estimated at 38.3 trillion VND (nearly 1.7 billion USD) in July, down 1.7 percent month on month and 12.4 percent year on year.

The figure between January and July reached 210.8 trillion VND, equivalent to 44.3 percent of this year’s target and up 5.6 percent from the same period last year.

The sum comprises 35.2 trillion VND managed by central agencies and another 175.6 trillion VND by localities, respectively rising 12.7 percent and 4.3 percent year on year, statistics show.

The COVID-19 resurgence has affected the implementation of public investment projects in 19 southern provinces and cities which are applying social distancing measures under the Prime Minister’s Directive 16/CT-TTg, as well as some others imposing anti-pandemic measures under Directive 15/CT-TTg, the GSO said.

It cited localities as reporting that many projects have been halted or lagged behind schedule, but investors, management boards, and contractors are making efforts and pledge to accelerate project implementation after the social distancing period is over.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Up to 10,000 gift packages, including necessities, will be handed over to needy workers in processing and industrial parks in Ho Chi Minh City under a programme launched on August 2.

The programme was co-organised by the city trade union, a working group of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Defence Ministry’s standing boards for COVID-19 prevention and control in HCM City and other southern localities.

The first gifts will be presented to workers in pandemic-hit areas in Thu Duc city.

Earlier, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Tran Thanh Nam and head of the grouping group sent letters to the Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development of southern cities and provinces, asking them to help workers in locked-down areas with food./

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Runner Quach Thi Lan is the last Vietnamese athlete to compete at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics on August 2, as she enters the semi-final of the women’s 400m hurdles.

She will compete against 23 rivals from 20:35 (loca time) for the top eight places to advance to the final.

Lan is the sole Southeast Asian athlete and the only of the Asian origin to compete in the category.

In Heat 3 of the category’s Round 1 held on July 31, Lan ranked fifth out of the eight competitors, with a result of 55.71 seconds.

However, Leah Nugent of Jamaica was disqualified for running in the wrong lane, so she earned the fourth place and thus entering the semi-final.

The Tokyo 2020 Olympics, started on July 23, will close on August 8. China is currently leading the medal tally.

The Olympics is the largest sporting event in the world. It is held every four years, bringing together the top athletes from countries and territories all over the world.

Source: Vietnam News Agency