Day: July 20, 2021

The Hanoi People’s Court on July 20 opened the first-instance trial involving Tran Hoang Minh, 31, residing in Thanh Xuan district, Hanoi on charge of “taking advantage of the rights to freedom and democracy to infringe upon State interests, legitimate rights and interests of organisations and individuals” in accordance with Article 331 of the 2015 Penal Code.

According to the indictment of the Hanoi People’s Procuracy, via the personal Facebook account named “Tran Hoang Minh” and Facebook group “Ch? nghia xã h?i không có guong m?t con ngu?i” (Socialism without human face), Minh posted articles blackening the Party and State, slandering and insulting leaders of the Hanoi police.

The court said Minh’s behaviours directly violated the State administrative management order, affecting the leadership, legitimate rights and interests of the Communist Party of Vietnam, breaching the interests of the State of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, and harming political security, social order and safety.

At the court, he admitted the violations as shown in the indictment and expressed remorse for his behaviors. Therefore, the board of judges agreed to reduce his sentence to five years behind bars

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien and European Commission Vice-President and EU trade commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis have co-chaired the first meeting of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA)’s Trade Committee.

The meeting, held in online format, aimed to review the implementation of the deal and discuss issues related to trade and investment in both bilateral and multilateral frameworks.

Participants adopted Decision No. 01 of the committee on its operation mechanism, which comprises regulations on its function, membership, secretariat, decision-making procedure, and information transparency.

Both sides agreed to coordinate closely to speed up the implementation of the deal and cope with matters that may pose negative impacts on the operation of businesses of both sides, thus maintaining and developing the supply chain amid COVID-19 pandemic.

At the meeting, the two sides also mentioned a number of multilateral issues such as the reform of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the preparation for the 12th WTO Ministerial Conference, which is scheduled to take place from November 30 to December 1 in Switzerland.

The Vietnamese side highly valued and supported the EU’s efforts over the years in ensuring that the WTO operates in line with new reality in international trade and investment as well as interests of member countries, especially under-developed and developing ones, said Minister Dien.

The EVFTA became effective on August 1, 2020. After nearly one year of implementation, the two sides have enjoyed positive growth in bilateral trade. Their import-export value hit 27.67 billion USD in the first six months of 2021, up 18.4 percent over the same period last year

Source: Vietnam News Agency

The Vietnamese Association in Japan (VAIJ) has provided free wifi transmitters for all members of the Vietnamese sports delegation to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

The association said it hopes that the support will serve as a source of encouragement for the delegation, given the limited contact in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The delegation arrived at Narita International Airport of Japan on July 19 to take part in the Tokyo Olympics, slated for July 23 – August 8.

During their stay, athletes are only allowed to travel between the village and the training and competition venues while sports officials have to move on only the routes they registered before entering Japan. They are banned from leaving the athletes’ village or going to tourist sites, restaurants, or bars, according to Olympics and Paralympics organisers’ regulations. Athletes will also have samples taken for COVID-19 testing every day. In case of a positive test result, they will be hospitalised or sent to a hotel outside the athletes’ village for quarantine.

The 43-strong delegation of Vietnam is led by Deputy General Director of the Vietnam Sports Administration Tran Duc Phan.

They comprise 18 athletes competing in 11 sports, namely Nguyen Huy Hoang and Nguyen Thi Anh Vien (swimming), Thach Kim Tuan and Hoang Thi Duyen (weightlifting), Nguyen Thi Thanh Thuy (judo), Hoang Xuan Vinh (shooting), Nguyen Tien Minh and Nguyen Thuy Linh (badminton), Nguyen Thi Tam and Nguyen Van Duong (boxing), Le Thanh Tung and Dinh Phuong Thanh (gymnastics), Truong Thi Kim Tuyen (taekwondo), Do Thi Anh Nguyet and Nguyen Hoang Phi Vu (archery), Quach Thi Lan (athletics), and Luong Thi Thao and Dinh Thi Hao (rowing).

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Over 70 percent of workers in industrial parks (IPs) in the northern province of Quang Ninh have been vaccinated against COVID-19, said the management board of the provincial IPs.

Within more than a week as of July 18, over 21,700 workers in IPs received the first shots.

Quang Ninh is now home to five IPs with around 30,500 workers.

In the fifth vaccination roll-out, the province gave priority to workers in Hai Ha Seaport IP in Hai Ha district, Hai Yen IP in Mong Cai city, Dong Mai IP in Quang Yen town and Viet Hung IP in Ha Long city.

One of the vaccine types given to workers in IPs, especially in Hai Yen and Hai Ha Seaport IPs, is Sinopharm as suggested by the Chinese Government and instructed by the Health Ministry.

In order to ensure production safety at IPs and economic zones, the provincial Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control asked heads of the management board of the provincial IPs. and production facilities to raise the sense of responsibility for health management and ensuring the safety of workers and employees, mostly in Mong Cai, Ha Long, Quang Yen, Uong Bi and Dong Trieu. IPs and industrial clusters must conduct comprehensive and periodic testing in a close-ended process, targeting 20 percent of workers per week.

The province consistently followed the principles of preventing, discovering, tracing, quarantining, zoning off and eliminating infections, quickly stabilising the situation.

Thanks to efforts to achieve the dual goal of fighting the pandemic and restoring socio-economic development, Quang Ninh drew over 22.4 trillion VND in investment in IPs and EZs in the first half.

During the period, Quang Ninh’s economy grew by 8.02 percent, ranking fourth among cities and provinces in the Red River Delta. Its manufacturing and processing sector expanded by 38.95 percent year-on-year, or 17.6 percent higher than the target, offsetting contraction in services, especially tourism caused by the pandemic, as well as coal and electricity sectors.

The province is also striving to give vaccination to 70-80 percent of local residents by April 2022 in order to reach herd immunity against COVID-19.

According to head of the provincial Health Department Nguyen Trong Dien, to this end, the locality is speeding up COVID-19 vaccination campaign.

Recently, the province has administered tens of thousands of Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine doses to workers in Chinese-invested firms in Quang Ninh and border residents, he said.

Meanwhile, Hoang Ba Nam, Secretary of the Party Committee of Mong Cai city, said that the city has received 31,000 doses of Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine. With a capacity of injecting 4,000-5,000 doses per day, Mong Cai plans to finish the administration of 31,000 doses by July 20.

So far, Quang Ninh has received about 260,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses of different kinds, with 60,000 doses administered. The province expects to inject the rest in July and August while waiting for more vaccine delivery.

The province hopes to become one of the first localities in Vietnam to reach herd immunity. It is planning to build a vaccination database and start the use of vaccine passport. The locality has also allocated personnel to deliver COVID-19 vaccines to locals in ethnic minority-inhabited, mountainous, islands and hard-to-reach areas.

COVID-19 vaccination is viewed among important and necessary solutions to create a safe environment serving local economic development, especially the border economy, said Vice Chairwoman of the Mong Cai city People’s Committee Nguyen Thu Huong.

People who have received the first jab this time are scheduled to get the second one between August 1 and 11.

Sharing more than 118km of land border and 191km of sea border with China, Quang Ninh is located at the start of the countries’ “Two Corridors, One Belt” economic cooperation zone, in the Nanning – Singapore Economic Corridor, and the expanded Gulf of Tonkin inter-regional cooperation area within the ASEAN – China Free Trade Area.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Drivers transporting goods within 19 southern localities undertaking social distancing measures are allowed to operate without showing their COVID-19-free document, agreed participants at a meeting held by Ministry of Transport (MoT) on July 19.

According to the MoT, the new rule aims to ensure smooth and fast goods transport among the localities.

However, drivers wishing to travel from the 19 localities to other regions with lower level of anti-pandemic measures must provide a negative COVID-19 test certificate conducted within 72 hours.

Transport facilities and associations were requested to educate drivers in strictly implementing regulations in pandemic prevention and control.

Reporting on the prolonged traffic congestion in the gateway to Hai Phong on July 18-19, leaders of the northern city said that on July 17, the city discovered two drivers who were travelling from the south to the city positive for SARS-CoV-2. After that, the city has classified vehicles into two groups of high risk and low risk of COVID-19 spreading for easier management.

Transport Minister Nguyen Van The said that the ministry has formed a special working team, along with four inspection teams to ensure transportation activities are conducted in line with COVID-19 prevention and control regulations in 19 southern cities and provinces. He asked the localities to work closely with the teams to deal with emerging problems.

According to the Directorate for Roads of Vietnam, on July 19, four inspection teams of the ministry examined activities at checkpoints in roads and seaports as well as internal water ports in six provinces. No serious congestion or violations were reported.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Many wet markets in Ho Chi Minh City will be reopened, while ensuring all COVID-19 preventive measures in place, Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Industry and Trade Nguyen Nguyen Phuong.

Priority will be given to those selling fresh foods, vegetables and fruits, Phuong said in a press conference on July 19 updating the COVID-19 situation in HCM City, the country’s current largest hotspot.

The city has closed down three wholesale markets and two-third of wet markets as part of its effort to intensify COVID-19 response after dozens of coronavirus cases linked to the local traditional markets were found, according to the official.

The city has then shifted to modern retailers, such as supermarkets and convenience stores, to supply goods to its residents, causing mounting pressure on these channels and an increasing risk of infection, he said.

To fix the problem, he continued, the Department of Industry and Trade is considering reopening multiple wet markets, identified as safe, to ensure adequate and prompt supply of necessities and effective fight against COVID-19, he noted, adding that 5K message must be followed and direct contact must be minimised between customers and shopkeepers.

Thirty-nine wet markets remained open in the city, mostly in Thu Duc City, and the districts of Go Vap, Binh Chanh, Can Gio and Cu Chi, while three others have been allowed to reopen, including Phu Tho in District 11, An Dong in District 5 and Kien Thanh in Binh Tan District. Plans are being crafted for more markets to open.

About 40 wet markets will be soon made available again if all requirements are met, Phuong said.

Besides, the department has worked with the municipal People’s Committee to prevent price hikes and protect rights of customers. It plans to meet with the city’s market surveillance force on July 20 to strengthen supervision of retailing systems and get tougher on speculators who take advantage of the pandemic to buy goods in bulk and resell them at unreasonably high prices, he said.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

An online training course on international humanitarian law and identification of explosives for staff of the Level-2 Field Hospital No.4 opened on July 19.

The event, which will last to July 23, is held by the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations in conjunction with the Military Medical Department, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and relevant agencies.

This is the first profession training course for the hospital’s staff within the framework of UN peacekeeping training activities before they perform their mission in Bentiu, South Sudan.

During the course, ICRC experts provide trainees with basic and essential knowledge on international humanitarian law, and guide them to handle some situations relating to explosives left by conflicts

Source: Vietnam News Agency

The Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Ho Chi Minh City announced that the city had received 1.409 trillion VND (61.3 million USD) in support of local COVID-19 prevention and control efforts.

The figure includes nearly 400 billion VND worth of goods and medical equipment donated by agencies, organisations, enterprises and individuals at home and abroad as well as a number of provinces and cities across the country on July 19.

Thien Tam Fund of Vingroup donated 2 million sets of Invitro diagnostic biological products for antigen testing, while the Asia Commercial Bank 10,000 PCR test kits and 15,000 SARS-CoV-2 rapid test kits.

Also on July 19, the committee received 492 million VND in cash from organisations and individuals supporting the city’s COVID-19 vaccine fund.

The committee and the municipal board for mobilisation, reception and distribution of COVID-19 epidemic prevention and control fund have so far distributed more than 1.266 trillion VND, including over 612 billion VND worth of goods and equipment to frontline forces at hospitals, medical centers, quarantine and sealed-off areas, units performing the task of epidemic prevention in the border, and those affected by COVID-19.

So far, 105 businesses and individuals in Ho Chi Minh City have registered to contribute more than 2.293 trillion VND to the COVID-19 vaccine fund, with nearly 286 billion VND in cash received by the municipal Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee.

Source: Vietnam News Agency