Day: September 8, 2021

The People’s Committee of the northern province of Thai Binh recently handed over investment registration certificates to investors of projects worth nearly 600 million USD, which are hoped to create a driving force for the local socio-economic development.

At the handover ceremony, the certificates were presented to five projects in industrial, agricultural and urban development sectors. Of note, permission to invest in the Thai Binh Economic Zone was granted to Lotes Vietnam, Greenworks, and Jeanson Industrial Limited.

All the projects apply modern technologies and are expected to attract further investments in the economic zone in particular, and Thai Binh province at large.

A signing ceremony for a cooperation agreement worth nearly 100 million USD between Green I-Park company and Nam Tai Group at the Lien Ha Thai industrial park of the Thai Binh Economic Zone also took place at the event. Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Khac Than affirmed that the granting of certificates to investors in Thai Binh demonstrates efforts in realising the dual targets of curbing the spread of COVID-19 and fostering economic development, amid difficulties triggered by the ongoing pandemic.

He called on investors to promptly carry out the projects to ensure progress and tasks, asking production and business operations to be in tandem with environmental protection and apply high-technology.

Local authorities are committed to mobilising all resources for the completion of technical infrastructure, improvement of investment climate and administrative reform, as well as rolling out solutions to address bottlenecks and create optimal conditions for the firms, Than stated.

Although foreign direct investment in the province stood at only 900 million USD in the past two decades, it saw improvement as three recent ones valued at 395 million USD./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue and a high-ranking delegation of the Vietnamese NA arrived in Brussels on September 8 morning (local time), beginning their two-day working visit to the European Parliament (EP) and Belgium.

The visit, made at the invitation of EP President of the European Parliament David Sassoli, followed Hue’s attendance at the 5th World Conference of Speakers of Parliament (WCSP5) in Austria.

The delegation included member of the NA Standing Committee, NA Secretary General and Chairman of the NA Office Bui Van Cuong; Chairman of the NA’s Committee for External Relations Vu Hai Ha; and Chairman of the NA’s Budget and Finance Committee Nguyen Phu Cuong.

The top legislator has also been accompanied by Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung, Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan, Secretary of the Party Committee of Hai Phong city Tran Luu Quang, Deputy Minister of Public Security Lieutenant General Luong Tam Quang, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs To Anh Dung, Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Le Van Thanh, and Vietnamese Ambassador to Belgium and Head of Vietnam’s Delegation to the EU Nguyen Van Thao, among others.

The delegation was welcomed at Melsbroek airport by Andries Gryffroy, First Vice President of the Belgian Senate, Chairman of the Belgium-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentarians Group and President of the Belgium-Vietnam Alliance and other officials.

The visit aims to implement the 13th National Party Congress’s foreign policy and strengthen Vietnam-European Union and Vietnam-Belgium relations.

It is also expected to promote international cooperation in the fight against COVID-19 and Vietnam’s vaccine diplomacy, and demonstrate Vietnam’s efforts to join hands with other nations and business communities in maintaining global supply and production chains and seeking solutions to boost sustainable economic recovery in the post-pandemic period.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Vietnam wishes to promote cooperation with Austria in the field of energy, especially renewable energy and sustainable development, Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien told State Secretary in the Federal Ministry for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology Magnus Brunner on September 7.

Minister Dien is accompanying Chairman of the National Assembly (NA) Vuong Dinh Hue to attend the 5th World Conference of Speakers of Parliaments (WCSP5) in Vienna, Austria.

During a working session with the Austrian official, Minister Dien highlighted the fruitful and flourishing development of friendship and multifaceted cooperation between Vietnam and Austria in recent years, especially in political, economic and cultural fields, while affirming that the European Union (EU) – Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) is an opportunity to further expand economic cooperation between Vietnam and the EU in general, and Austria in particular.

He expected that Brunner will support the ratification of the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) as soon as possible.

The entry into force of the EVIPA, together with the EVFTA, will create a great competitive advantage for European businesses in general and those from Austria in particular to invest in Vietnam, opening up opportunities to increase trade between the two countries, Dien said.

Austria will become a bridge to help Vietnam make inroads into the EU market, while Vietnam will help Austrian businesses access the ASEAN market with more than 650 million people, and a larger market with 800 million people when the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) with 11 members, including Vietnam, has come into effect.

Energy is one of Austria’s important industries and a number of Austrian companies have participated in hydropower projects in Vietnam, and they are looking forward to joining solar power projects in the Southeast Asian nation.

Vietnam is interested in and wishes to receive Austria’s support and cooperation in sharing experience, information, technology solutions and implementation plans in electricity transmission, building a comprehensive strategy on human resources development training for energy enterprises, Dien said.

For his part, Brunner agreed with Dien’s proposal on cooperation contents, and affirmed his support for accelerating the ratification of the EVIPA.

Austria and Vietnam have a lot of potential for cooperation in energy, especially in electricity transmission, electricity storage and hydropower development, he said.

Dien took the occasion to suggest Brunner, as a member of the cabinet, help lobby the Austrian government to consider supplying COVID-19 vaccines and medical supplies for Vietnam to help the country effectively respond to the pandemic.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue’s visit to Europe and Belgium on September 8-9 will create a new impetus to push bilateral relations to a new height, especially in the context that the COVID-19 pandemic is hampering high-level delegation exchanges, Vietnamese Ambassador to Belgium and head of Vietnam’s delegation to the EU Nguyen Van Thao told the Vietnam News Agency.

Thao affirmed that the EU is a very important partner of Vietnam in all fields, with the two sides establishing diplomatic relations 50 years ago and having achieved many encouraging achievements, reflected through the signing of the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA), the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) and eight dialogue frameworks between the two sides.

The EU has only inked FTAs with four partners, namely Japan, the Republic of Korea, Singapore and Vietnam, of which only Vietnam is a developing country, he said, stressing that this shows the EU attaches great importance to Vietnam’s role in the region, and Vietnam also affirms that the EU is a comprehensive partner with great potential for development and cooperation.

Regarding the Vietnam-Belgium relations, the diplomat said that Vietnam is also an important partner of Begium as the two countries set up strategic partnership in agriculture – the field that has great contributions to their development.

“Therefore, we need to take measures to promote the relationship with Belgium in a more substantive and effective manner for both sides,” stated Thao.

Belgium is one of the leading European countries in renewable energy, green energy and sustainable development, and has strengths in logistics, transportation and accreditation. Therefore, cooperating with the country, Vietnam can go on the right track towards the development of renewable energy, green energy and sustainable development, and can step up exports, he added.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Typhoon Conson will enter the East Sea on September 8 night and is forecast to take a complicated path.

According to the National Centre of Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, at 2pm on September 8, the centre of the typhoon was in the south of Luzon Island in the Philippines with sustained average winds of 75 to 90km per hour near the typhoon eye, and up to 117km per hour gusts approaching level 11 on the Beaufort scale.

The typhoon is predicted to move northwest and head to the East Sea.

At 1pm on September 9, it will be about 660km east-southeast of Hoang Sa (Paracel) Islands with sustained winds of 75 to 90km per hour near the typhoon eye, and gusts approaching level 11.

It is forecast to move at a speed of 10-20km per hour and strengthen its power until it is about 220km northwest of the Hoang Sa Islands at 1pm on September 11. Then it will sustain wind power of 100 to 120km per hour, with gusts reaching level 13.

Experts have warned that fishermen and boatmen need to closely follow the typhoon development, as well as observe the sky and water surface to identify abnormalities of the weather.

Fishermen need to steer boats away from typhoon-affected areas.

Hoang Phuc Lam, Deputy Director of the National Centre of Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, said there was another active typhoon on the East Sea named Chanthu.

It has sustained level 13-14, and was located about 1,100km east of Typhoon Conson on September 8.

It is predicted that after hitting the Philippines, the power and direction of Typhoon Conson will significantly change.

There is a high possibility that after weakening in the Philippines, when approaching the East Sea, Typhoon Conson will gain its strength. There is another possibility that Typhoon Conson will weaken and move to China or move south.

Typhoon Conson has interacted with islands and mainland areas of the Philippines and Typhoon Chanthu, making Conson unpredictable, Lâm said.

It is likely that Typhoon Conson will head to the East Sea and become the fifth typhoon to make landfall in Vietnam this year. The mainland area has not been affected but the northern and central region will experience prolonged rain until September 12.

The National Centre of Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting has asked local authorities of affected areas, especially 15 localities from Quang Ninh to Binh Dinh to prepare response scenarios, especially in the context of the pandemic.

Depending on the situation, chairpersons of provincial People’s Committees are responsible for issuing offshore fishing bans.

Authorities in mountainous areas need to prepare plans to evacuate residents in areas prone to landslides and flash floods.

Some localities have prepared mass evacuation plans in areas with strong typhoons and heavy rains if the disaster level reaches level 3 out of 5.

If the disaster level reaches level 3, nearly 74,000 people in coastal areas, more than 114,000 people living along rivers and near dykes, and more than 70,000 residents in areas prone to flash floods and landslides will be relocated.

The National Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control held an online meeting with 15 provinces from Quang Ninh to Binh Dinh on September 8 to discuss preventive measures.

Deputy head of the committee Tran Quang Hoai asked authorities of the localities to seriously implement the Prime Minister’s direction to be ready to cope with natural disasters amid the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

They were requested to prepare measures to evacuate people in case of strong storms, heavy rain, flash floods and landslides while ensuring COVID-19 prevention and control following guidelines from the Ministry of Health.

According to the National Centre of Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, there will be six to eight more typhoons or tropical depressions in the East Sea this year, including two to four typhoons/tropical depressions directly affecting the mainland.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Vaccine diplomacy is very important and urgent at this time, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son told a meeting of the government’s working group on vaccine diplomacy on September 8.

Son, who is the head of the working group, said with utmost efforts, the country is expected to receive about 16-17 million more doses of vaccines this month. He underlined the need to keep trying to get more vaccines.

It is necessary to continue promoting vaccine advocacy at all levels, especially high-level, within bilateral and multilateral frameworks and urging vaccine manufacturers to speed up the supply to Vietnam as well as calling on partners with excess capacity to cede or lend, he said, adding that the working group should explore new and potential vaccines being developed for early access, study and immediately promote the vaccine access and mobilisation plan for 2022.

Son emphasised that it is the policy of the Party and Government that vaccination is provided free of charge for the entire population and for foreigners living and working in Vietnam.

He asked members of the working group and 94 Vietnamese representative agencies abroad to continue to cooperate more closely, with greater determination and efforts to contribute to the common efforts of the whole Party and the people in the fight to repel the pandemic and bring the country back to new normal.

Participants at the meeting discussed and agreed on many solutions suitable to the current situation in order to further improve the efficiency of mobilisation, and solve issues relating to procedures for transporting and receiving vaccines, medicine and equipment to bring to the country as quickly as possible.

The meeting focused on reviewing the results of vaccine diplomacy over the past three weeks since the group was established, and agreed on measures to further promote the mobilisation for vaccines, medicines, and medical equipment serving the pandemic prevention and control in the current period.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

The Vietnamese Embassy in Germany has held a meeting with representatives of the Vietnamese community in the country to honour organisations, individuals and businesses with outstanding contributions to the community and the homeland.

Speaking at the event, part of a series of activities to mark Vietnam’s 76th National Day, Vietnamese Ambassador Nguyen Minh Vu reviewed the relationship between the two countries, saying that it is developing very well in all fields.

Regarding the COVID-19 situation in Vietnam, the ambassador said the complicated developments of the pandemic, with the emergence of the more transmissible Delta variant, have forced the Government to impose social distancing measures to combat the disease in the context of a limited amount of vaccine, he said.

Vu said the embassy has focused on promoting vaccine diplomacy as well as calling on the federal government, states and business organisations in Germany to actively support Vietnam in the epidemic fight.

Since 2020, the Vietnamese community and some German friends have supported the country’s pandemic prevention and control work with more than 300,000 EUR and some valuable medical equipment, plus 517,000 EUR in aid for people in the central region during the floods last year.

It reflected that Vietnamese expatriates always look toward the homeland in difficult times, Vu said, affirming that the Party and State recognised and appreciated the important contributions of overseas Vietnamese to the homeland, especially during the current pandemic.

On this occasion, the ambassador presented the Certificates of Merit from the Foreign Minister, the Chairman of the State Committee on Overseas Vietnamese Affairs and the Vietnamese Ambassador to Germany to a number of organisations and individuals making outstanding contributions to the COVID-19 prevention and control and supporting flood-hit people in the central region.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan on September 7 visited the University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences (BOKU) in Vienna and proposed cooperation pogrammes between his ministry and the university.

Briefing the Vietnamese official on training and researching activities of the university, BOKU Rector Hubert Hasenauer said that BOKU is a leading European university on sustainable development and life sciences, focusing on developing living space, natural resources and environment management, and nutrition and medical security.

BOKU currently has more than 12,000 students at all training levels, 20 percent of whom are from different foreign countries, along with more than 1,000 research projects. Its partner network spans all over the world.

The university leader said that BOKU is willing to partner with Vietnam’s agricultural sector in training and research in life sciences and natural resource management.

Minister Hoan showed special interest in BOKU’s life science research and the applicability of training and researching activities of the university.

He said that Vietnamese agricultural sector is in need of a new approach to the transformation from single value to integrated and multiple values, creating new living space and ecosystem for agriculture and rural development, stressing that BOKU’s philosophy are very suitable for the sector’s growth orientations.

Minister Hoan showed hope to foster cooperation with the 150-year-old university in the time to come, while proposing a number of exchange and support programmes in training and researching between BOKU and training facilities run by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

The same day, Minister Hoan also visited a number of eco-tourism farms in Austria.

Source: Vietnam News Agency