Day: September 8, 2021

Australia’s 1-0 win over Vietnam was not quite as pretty, unlike the triumph over China last week, reported the SportingNews website.

However, the victory in the September 7 match in Hanoi at the final round of the 2022 FIFA World Cup Asian qualifiers helped Australia continue their remarkable winning run and gave them vital three points in the bag, it added.

The site also touched on an event in the first half, in which subsequent replays showed the ball struck an Australian defender’s hand when he blocked Vietnamese midfielder Nguyen Phong Hong Duy’s shot just inside the penalty area, with the video assistant referee (VAR) calling for the Qatari referee to take a second look.

Meanwhile, Zac Rayson of Fox Sports said that the game was the opposite of a classic, but the Australian squad overcame draining conditions in Hanoi to scrape past Vietnam 1-0.

Australia had the bulk of possession but weren’t nearly so dominant as in their 3-0 win over China last week, constantly struggling to break down a disciplined Vietnam defence – and were lucky to avoid conceding as the world No. 92 hosts had the better of the chances thanks to their dangerous counter-attacking.

In a stop-start affair, the sluggish and sloppy Australia failed to carve out many meaningful chances, with Grant’s 43rd minute goal the only shot on target from them, Rayson said.

Vietnam are to face China at a neutral venue on October 7.

This is the first time Vietnam have ever played in such a round of World Cup qualifiers. They are in Group B along with Japan, Australia, Saudi Arabia, China and Oman for a spot at the 2022 Qatar World Cup.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

The Central Steering Committee for Judicial Reform held a meeting on September 8 to finalise a draft project entitled “Organisation and operation of the Central Steering Committee for Judicial Reform”.

Addressing the meeting, President Nguyen Xuan Phuc, head of the committee, said over the past 20 years, the Central Steering Committee for Judicial Reform has advised the Politburo to direct the implementation of the Party’s resolutions and guidelines on judicial reform.

It has contributed to improving the effectiveness and efficiency of judicial activities; protecting human rights, legitimate rights and interests of the State, organisations and individuals; maintaining political security and social order; promoting socio-economic development and international integration, he said.

Regarding the finalisation of the draft project on the organisation and operation of the Central Steering Committee for Judicial Reform, President Phuc requested that it be consistent with reality and tasks, and make practical contributions to the achievements of Doi Moi (Renewal) process, the development of the country, especially in the protection of human rights, legitimate rights and interests of the State, organisations and individuals, maintaining political security, social order and promoting socio-economic development.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

The northern province of Hai Duong is striving to develop modern supporting industries and become an important link in the global supply chain of multinational corporations by 2030.

Hai Duong is located at the middle of the Hanoi – Hai Phong economic corridor along National Highway 5 and the Hanoi – Quang Ninh economic corridor along National Highway 18. In addition, Hai Duong – Hai Phong – Quang Ninh is a key economic triangle in the eastern region of the northern key economic region. In the provinces adjacent to Hai Duong, many large global corporations such as Samsung and Microsoft have set up their production bases. These are considered advantages of the province in attracting investment in supporting industries.

Hai Duong province currently has 454 foreign investment projects from 26 countries and territories, with a total registered investment of 8.4 billion USD. The projects mostly focus on manufacturing hi-tech products, electrical products and electronic components, automobiles, and producing cement, iron and steel, and garment and textiles.

To date, the northern province has developed a number of supporting industries in three main fields: mechanical engineering, electricity – electronics, and garment – footwear. The growth rate of industrial production value of those three supporting industries during 2015-2019 averaged 15.4 percent a year.

There are about 130 enterprises producing supporting industry products in the locality. In 2019, the supporting industry’s production value accounted for nearly 60 percent of the entire industrial sector’s production value.

According to the master plan on industrial zones to 2020 approved by the Government, Hai Duong would have 18 industrial zones (IZs), with an area of more than 3,500 hectares. Currently, Hai Duong province has 14 industrial zones established with a total area under the approved detailed planning of over 2,560 hectares.

At the beginning of 2021, Hai Duong province received approval from the Prime Minister to set up four more industrial zones and continue the construction of two established industrial zones with a total planning area of about 1,097 hectares. These industrial zones are all oriented to attract competent investors, large-capital projects in modern industries that use modern technology and are friendly to the environment.

Among nearly 300 projects in Hai Duong’s industrial zones, there are 252 foreign-invested ones, which have a combined registered capital of more than 5 billion USD. The northern province has attracted investors, and large corporations from over 30 countries and territories around the world such as Brother and Sumidenso of Japan, or Kefiko of the Republic of Korea.

The number of enterprises operating in supporting industries accounts for nearly 4.5 percent of the total number of enterprises in the processing and manufacturing industry in Hai Duong. In particular, the supporting industry only meets the localisation rate of about 5-10 percent in automobile production, and 20-40 percent in the electricity – electronics industry. Currently, the province has 10 industrial parks with synchronous infrastructure investment, and 38 industrial clusters. In the 2020-2025 period, the province plans to call for investment in infrastructure of 3-5 industrial parks, and 10-15 new industrial clusters, with a total area of about 2,000 hectares.

There are more than 14,000 enterprises registered for production and business in Hai Duong province, including about 450 FDI projects. The locality is also home to over 23,000 industrial and handicraft production establishments.

Hai Duong is focusing on attracting large enterprises and economic groups that can act as the locomotive to lead other businesses to participate in innovation and creativeness. The provincial People’s Committee has issued many mechanisms and policies to develop supporting industries. On March 8, 2017, the committee issued Decision No. 754/QD-UBND approving the master plan on development of supporting industries in Hai Duong province to 2020, with a vision to 2030.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son attended the 11th Mekong – Republic of Korea (RoK) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting via videoconference on September 8 at the invitation of Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Prak Sokhonn.

Speaking at the event, Son said despite the complicated developments of COVID-19 pandemic, Mekong countries and the RoK have maintained cooperation in various areas. He hailed the RoK for providing assistance for Mekong nations to cope with the pandemic.

About cooperation orientations, he stated that the major priority of Mekong – RoK cooperation in the near future is assisting member countries in overcoming the current difficulties.

He proposed four major contents, including controlling the pandemic via ensuring countries’ timely, full and fair access to vaccines, sharing experience and transferring vaccine production technology to Mekong nations; cooperating in digital transformation, building digital economy, and assisting Mekong and RoK enterprises in connectivity; improving the capacity of climate change adaptation as well as sustainable use and management of Mekong water resources; and enhancing cooperation in education-training and high-quality human resources development.

Participants shared the view that the top priority should be given to promoting vaccine production, distribution and technology transfer to ensure safe, effective and timely access.

They also looked into regional and global issues of shared concern such as the East Sea and Korean peninsula issues, climate change, drought and saltwater intrusion in Mekong river basin, and agreed to work closely together to cope with common challenges.

Concluding the event, ministers adopted the Co-Chairs’ Statement and vowed close coordination to successfully hold the third Mekong – RoK Summit next month.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Vietnam’s garment-textile and footwear have borne the brunt of COVID-19 and firms in the sectors may take a long time to recover, experts said.

The sectors greatly contribute to the country’s exports as well as generate jobs for a large number of workers. However, many factories remain closed due to difficulties triggered by the ravaging pandemic.

Estimates showed that a footwear firm with about 9,000 workhands needs to spend approximately 1 million USD on preventive measures, while the costs of input materials have risen 5-10 percent.

Some businesses said they are facing fines for late delivery and risks of losing orders for the next season.

To maintain orders for the following year, Phan Thi Thanh Xuan, General Secretary of the Vietnam Leather and Footwear Association (Lefaso), said the association has proposed easing the restrictions in three phases.

Prospects of this year and even of 2022 have become gloomy, she added.

Chairman of the Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association (Vitas) Vu Duc Giang said if the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread, firms may not be able to maintain and stabilise operations as well as retain customers.

It is important to keep the workforce amid uncertainties of production plans, COVID-19 vaccine shortages and unpredictable developments of the pandemic, according to Vitas.

To restore production of the sectors, the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) will work to remove bottlenecks and provide the most possible support to help factories resume operation and take advantage of orders at year’s end in the European and US markets.

In addition, the MoIT will step up the implementation of a development strategy for garment-textile and footwear to 2030, with a vision to 2035, and the building of a programme on sustainable development of the sectors until 2030.

It will also strive to expand export markets, capitalise on advantages of existing free trade agreements, diversify export items and improve the competitive edge of products and brands.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence is ready to play an active role in promoting defence relations between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Republic of Korea (RoK) for a common interest, Deputy Minister of National Defence Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien said on September 8.

Speaking at a virtual ASEAN-RoK deputy defence ministerial meeting, he said as coordinator of the ASEAN-RoK partnership for the 2021-2024 term, Vietnam will closely coordinate with Brunei – the ASEAN Chair – in organising the first informal meeting of ASEAN-RoK defence ministers later this year.

Chien appreciated the organisation of the meeting, which aims to maintain dialogue between ASEAN and RoK deputy defence ministers in the context of the pandemic as well as to prepare for the informal meeting of ASEAN – RoK defence ministers.

Regarding the ASEAN-RoK relations in general and defence cooperation in particular, the head of the Vietnamese delegation affirmed that the cooperation between the two sides has been constantly developing. In the fields of politics, defence and security, the RoK is an important partner of ASEAN and has made important contributions to ASEAN-led cooperation mechanisms in the region such as ASEAN Plus Three, East Asia Summit, and ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and especially ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting Plus (ADMM ).

The Vietnamese official welcomed the “New Southern Policy Plus” announced by the RoK President at the 21st ASEAN-RoK Summit in November 2020, noting that this is a strong affirmation of the commitment of the RoK in cooperation with ASEAN countries for regional peace, security and prosperity.

He also pledged to support multilateral forums organised by the RoK such as the Seoul Defence Dialogue taking place from September 8-10, and the United Nations Peacekeeping Ministers Meeting, scheduled for this December.

Participants at the meeting focused on discussing the ASEAN-RoK relationship in general and defence cooperation between the two sides in particular, especially the RoK’s role in the framework of ADMM over the past time.

Deputy Defence Minister Park Jae-min, head of the RoK delegation, delivered a speech on the New Southern Policy in the field of defence and informed the delegates about the informal meeting of ASEAN-RoK defence ministers to be held on the sidelines of the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting Retreat in November this year.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

The State Audit Office of Vietnam (SAV) has proved itself as a responsible chair of the Asian Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions (ASOSAI) in the 2018-2021 term, as seen through ASOSAI activities during the period.

A review of ASOSAI’s activities during the 2018-2021 term was high on the agenda of the 15th ASOSAI Assembly held via videoconference on September 6-8, with the participation of 47 member SAIs and other international organisations.

During the term, the SAV joined hands with members of the ASOSAI Governing Board to fulfil major tasks, accelerate the implementation of one of ASOSAI’s missions which was promoting in-depth and innovative training and experience sharing between member SAIs to stay relevant to the ever-changing public financial management.

The SAV had taken the initiative in working with foreign partners to bolster quality of the implementation of ASOSAI activities, such as providing technical assistance for international experts of the Canadian Audit and Accountability Foundation (CAAF), the World Bank, the Audit Board of Indonesia, the National Audit Department of Malaysia in auditing water resources in the Mekong River Basin.

It also presided over a cooperative environmental audit on water management of Mekong River Basin in line with sustainable development goals (SDGs), which was joined by SAIs of Thailand and Myanmar. Audit reports in the countries were completed and shared with other SAIs at the 15th ASOSAI Assembly. In support of a suggestion of the Secretariat of ASOSAI, the SAV joined a committee assessing funding for SAIs to respond to COVID-19.

Through the establishment of new working groups and funds for member SAIs, ASOSAI has fulfilled more criteria to become a model regional working group of the International Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI).

As chair of ASOSAI, the SAV represented 47 member SAIs to attend a variety of international events, such as the 9th International Public Sector Conference of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) of the UK in the Czech Republic, and the 23rd INTOSAI Congress in Russia themed “the role of the SAIs in the Achievement of National Priorities and Goals.” It also called on member SAIs to take part in activities of working groups and research projects of INTOSAI such as the Working Group on Environmental Auditing (WGEA) and Working Group on Audit of Extractive Industries (WGEI), along with the building of INTOSAI’s strategic plan for the 2023-28.

After three years of ASOSAI chairmanship, contributions of the SAV for the joint development of the ASOSAI community have been recognised by regional and international SAIs.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue will pay an official visit to Finland from September 10-11 at the invitation of Speaker of the Finnish Parliament Anu Vehvilainen.

The visit is of significance and is expected to promote the Vietnam – Finland traditional friendship and extensive partnership in various areas.

Since the establishment of diplomatic ties on January 25, 1973, Vietnam – Finland relations have thrived in many spheres. Both sides offered mutual support at regional and global forums. Two-way trade has increased steadily over the past years.

They also facilitated the exchange of delegations at all levels and the two countries’ leaders also held meetings on the sidelines of international conferences.

The signing of a Framework Agreement on projects funded by Finland’s Public Sector Investment Facility (PIF) scheme also created a framework for the implementation of projects using official development assistance (ODA) and concessional loans provided by the Finnish Government.

Finland’s educational model is being adopted at the Vietnam-Finland International School. More than 2,000 Vietnamese students are now studying and developing professional skills in the European country.

Finland also approved a report on the evaluation of transition process in Vietnam in June 2021, marking the transition of bilateral cooperation model from development cooperation to a stage of mutually beneficial cooperation.

Vietnam is a gateway for Finland to develop relations in Southeast Asia. The two sides shared views on many international issues. Finland supported Vietnam’s foreign policy. Moreover, Vietnam’s role in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the United Nations Security Council is also important to the European country.

Economic-trade-investment is top priority fields of Finland in its relations with Vietnam. Two-way trade hit 337.4 million USD last year and 348.8 million USD by the end of July.

Finland is now home to 29 valid projects with a total registered capital of 23.632 million USD, ranking 70th out of 140 countries and territories directly investing in Vietnam.

On March 23, 2017, the Finnish Foreign Ministry announced a new national strategy on bilateral development cooperation with Vietnam for the 2016-2020 period with a goal of gradually replacing development cooperation with mutually beneficial cooperation.

During the visit, Hue is scheduled to pay a courtesy call on Finnish President Sauli Niinistö, hold talks with Speaker of the Finnish Parliament Anu Vehvilainen and meet with Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin.

During these meetings, he is expected to discuss bilateral ties and areas of strategic cooperation with the Finnish leaders, orientations to boost collaboration between the two legislatures within bilateral and multilateral frameworks, as well as issues of regional and global concern such as climate change response and sustainable development promotion.

The two sides will also look into measures to fully tap investment and trade opportunities from the European Union – Vietnam Free Trade Agreement, control the COVID-19 pandemic in tandem with post-pandemic recovery, economic transformation, including the supply and transfer of vaccines and vaccine production technology, medicines and medical equipment to Vietnam.

The Vietnamese side is planning to propose Finland soon approve the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) and continue support to Vietnam in strengthening its comprehensive cooperation with the EU.

A number of investment promotion, business-to-business connectivity activities, and meetings with the Vietnamese community in Finland are also planned.

Source: Vietnam News Agency