Day: July 23, 2021

Ho Chi Minh City has tightened its COVID-19 prevention and control measures as infections have remained rampant in the southern largest city.

In a freshly-issued document, the Standing Board of the municipal Party Committee ordered intensifying inspection and supervision over the implementation of social distancing and lockdown regulations.

The city will also suspend non-urgent business and production activities, and construction sites. Banks and securities institutions are only allowed to operate at an adequate level to meet necessary demands.

Businesses that provide essential services in health care, pharmaceutical products, food and foodstuff will operate as requested and must ensure safety.

Meanwhile, enterprises operating in other fields can maintain their operations once they follow the stay-at-work mode and other safety regulations. Any violations will be strictly handled, according to the document.

Traditional markets are asked to scale down to 30 percent, with only food and essential goods are permitted to put on sale.

State agencies would divide shifts among their workforce, the standing board said, adding that COVID-19 checkpoints situated around the city would only allow certain vehicles, including those on official purposes, approved for transporting goods or those of the armed forces. Vietnam recorded 3,898 new COVID-19 cases from 7.30pm on July 22 to 6am on July 23, according to the Ministry of Health.

HCM City, the country’s current largest pandemic hotspot, logged the majority of the new cases, with 3,302 infections.

According to the municipal Department of Health, as of July 23 noon, HCM City had recorded 49,176 COVID-19 infections.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

The Vietnam Trade Office in Australia is organising a Vietnamese dragon fruit week in large Australian cities from July 21 to August 10 to promote the export of the fruit.

Marking the recent arrival of 10 tonnes of Vietnamese dragon fruit in Australia, the promotion programme is based on community activities. It is set to encourage consumers to keep their receipts to participate in lucky draws; introduce the fruit at selling locations and on media and social networks; and set up booths to invite people to try dragon fruit within the framework of outdoor fairs in Sydney.

A representative of the office said amid new COVID-19 outbreaks, a number of big cities in Australia are applying high-level social distancing measures, causing difficulties for the promotion activities.

However, at a regular exchange of the office which took place virtually on July 22, some import companies and shopping malls in the country showed their interest in the fruit and unveiled that demand for importing it is high.

In 2020, the value Vietnamese dragon fruit exported to Australia hit a record of 4.18 million USD, up 36 percent on year. The export remained stable in the first half of 2021.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son held phone talks with French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian on July 23, during which the latter pledged to help accelerate COVID-19 vaccine supplies to Vietnam via COVAX.

Drian highly spoke of major steps taken by Vietnam and France in strengthening their strategic partnership, reflected by the recent phone talks between President Nguyen Xuan Phuc and French President E. Macron, and between PM Pham Minh Chinh and his French counterpart Jean Castex.

Vietnam remains a key partner of France in its foreign policy towards Indo-Pacific, he said, adding that France agreed to join Vietnam in preparing for the next visits by their high-ranking leaders as well as the upcoming 12th conference on decentralized cooperation between the two countries in 2022 and celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the bilateral diplomatic ties and the 10th year of the strategic partnership in 2023.

He also hailed Vietnam for what it has done to combat COVID-19 and develop the economy at the same time while thanking the Vietnamese government for facilitating France’s shipment of COVID-19 vaccines to Vietnam to inoculate its citizens here.

He acknowledged various efforts made by Vietnam to fight illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing as the country seeks to remove the “yellow card” issued by the European Commission (EC) on its aquatic exports to the EU, saying he is confident that the EC will soon lift the warning.

Minister Son, for his part, emphasised the need to maintain bilateral activities in the context of the pandemic, suggesting both sides coordinate in implementing existing cooperation and dialogue mechanisms in the fields of diplomacy and economy and defence.

He welcomed France’s active and constructive role in the EU, thanked the country for actively backing the Vietnam-EU cooperation, especially in promoting the signing and ratification of the EU – Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), and asked the French Government and National Assembly to accelerate the ratification process of the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA).

On the basis of the bilateral strategic partnership, the Vietnamese official urged France to support Vietnam’s access to and transfer of COVID-19 vaccine production technology and medical equipment amidst the complex developments of the pandemic, and facilitate Vietnamese seasonal agricultural products’ approach to the French market.

The two ministers appreciated the two countries’ close coordination and mutual support at multilateral forums such as the United Nations and ASEAN-EU cooperation, especially when Vietnam assumed the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2020 and serves a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council in the 2020-2021 tenure.

They exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual concern. Both affirmed the importance of ensuring navigation and aviation freedom, security and peace in the East Sea, emphasising the role of the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982) as the legal framework for all activities at seas and oceans.

On this occasion, Son invited the French minister to visit Vietnam when possible

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Chairman of the Lao National Assembly Saysomphone Phomvihane has sent a letter of congratulations to Vuong Dinh Hue on his election as Chairman of the 15th National Assembly of Vietnam on July 20.

In the letter, the top Lao legislator wrote that Hue’s election to the post demonstrates the Vietnamese Party, State, NA and people’s trust in and appreciation of his competence.

He expressed his belief that Hue, with his rich experience, will continue directing the 15th legislature to successfully implement its role, power and duties as well as the national construction and development cause for the happiness and well-being of the Vietnamese people.

Saysomphone wished the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries in general and the two legislatures in particular will develop further, and his Vietnamese counterpart will gain greater achievements in his position.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

The National Assembly voted on a resolution on the Government’s organisations structure in the 2021-2026 tenure in the morning of July 23, the fourth working day of the first session of the 15th tenure.

All 470 deputies present, or 94.19 percent of the total number of lawmakers, voted yes.

Earlier, they listened to a report by the NA Standing Committee on outcomes of group discussion on the Government’s organisations structure in the 2021-2026 tenure, another report on the Government in the 2016-2021 tenure explaining contentious points and making revisions based on NA deputies’ opinions on the issue, and a draft resolution on the Government’s organisations structure in the 2021-2026 tenure.

Also in the morning, Finance Minister in the 2016-2021 tenure Ho Duc Phoc delivered a Government report and Chairman of the NA Budget and Finance Committee Nguyen Phu Cuong presented a report assessing the national financial plan as well as a plan for borrowing and paying public debt in the next five years.

The NA deputies then discussed the plans in groups.

In the afternoon, the NA listened to the Minister of Labour Invalids and Social Affairs’ proposal on the investment policy of the National Target Programe on sustainable poverty reduction in the 2021-2025 period. The deputies also heard a verification report of the NA’s Social Affairs Committee on the matter.

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan delivered a report on the investment policy of the National Target Programme on new-style rural area building in the 2021-2025 period.

Later, the NA deputy discussed in groups the investment policy of the National Target Programe on sustainable poverty reduction and new-style rural area buildings in the 2021-2025 period.

On July 24, the NA is scheduled to listen to a Government report and verification report on the Medium-term Public Investment Plan for the 2021-2025 period; then discussed in the groups on the matter.

The deputies will be provided with a Government report on the practice of thrift in 2020 and another report verifying the matter.

A list of nominations for the National Assembly to elect the President will be tabled for discussion.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Vietnamese Deputy Defence Minister Sen. Lieut. Gen Hoang Xuan Chien and his Canadian counterpart Jody Thomas co-chaired the first Vietnam – Canada online dialogue on defence policy on July 23.

Chien thanked Canada for assisting Vietnam in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic over the past time. Despite geographical distance, bilateral ties have been growing over the past nearly five decades.

Vietnam always highly values Canada’s role and position on regional and global arenas, and wishes to promote ties with Canada for the benefits of the two countries, and for peace and common development in the region and the world, he said.

On regional and global issues, both sides underscored the importance of maritime and aviation freedom, and upholding law abidance in the East Sea.

They stressed that disputes need to be settled by peaceful means in line with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, considering it a common responsibility of countries and the international community, for the sake of peace, stability, cooperation and development of countries in the region and the world.

Speaking highly of the results of the Vietnam – Canada defence consultation held on July 7, the two sides affirmed that bilateral defence ties are growing positively in line with the Memorandum of Understanding on bilateral defence cooperation signed by the two defence ministers in 2019, matching each nation’s potential and demand.

Defence cooperation is becoming one of the important contents in Vietnam – Canada comprehensive partnership and has been promoted via dialogue, consultation, cooperation in training, peacekeeping and maritime security, and joint work at multilateral forums.

Vietnam will continue supporting Canada in enhancing collaboration with the region in the principle of ASEAN’s consensus, Chien said.

The deputy ministers also adopted the 2021-2023 defence cooperation plan, making important contributions to bolstering bilateral defence ties, towards the 50th anniversary of Vietnam-Canada diplomatic ties by 2023.

On the occasion, the Vietnamese side also suggested Canada assist Vietnam in accessing COVID-19 vaccines and medical supplies.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

The Mekong Delta Resilient Business Network (MRBN) has been established, announced the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) chapter in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho and The Asia Foundation (TAF).

The network, under sponsorship of the UPS Group, is the first one for firms to join hand in seeking measures to improve business capacity and contribute to policy building in the backdrop of climate change.

Director of VCCI Can Tho Nguyen Phuong Lam said the MRBN aims to create a community of various stakeholders which can connect entrepreneurs, scientists and policymakers in building climate change adaptation for firms in the Mekong Delta.

The network will update information and techniques in the field, bolster firms’ operations as well as their role in policymaking and social responsibility.

In the first phase from 2021 to Q1 2022, the MRBN will focus on completing its organisational structure and at the same time launch research studies on impacts of saline intrusion on firms in the Mekong Delta and propose effective policies, along with collecting information on renewable energy development in the region.

The Mekong Delta, known for its fertility and rice fields, has been facing enormous challenges posed by climate change and upstream activities, according to environmental officials.

According to the World Bank’s assessment, Vietnam is one of the five countries hardest hit by climate change, with a one-metre rise in sea levels likely to affect 10 percent of population and cause losses equal to 10 percent of GDP in delta regions

Source: Vietnam News Agency