Day: November 28, 2021

Permanent Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Journalists’ Association Ho Quang Loi has been elected as Chairman of the Vietnam-Romania Friendship Association (VRFA) for the 2021-2026 tenure.

He was elected at the seventh National Congress of the VRFA in Hanoi on November 28, which was concurrent with the 103rd National Day of Romania (December 1) and the 30th anniversary of the association.

The Congress also elected a 58-strong new executive board.

Speaking at the event, Vice President and Secretary General of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) Phan Anh Son expressed his belief that the VRFA will reap greater achievements and make practical contributions to the traditional friendship between the two nations.

He affirmed that VUFO will continue partnering and supporting the VRFA in the near future.

During the new tenure, the association will consolidate its apparatus and develop membership, especially among Vietnamese alumni in Romania while seeking resources for its activities, including holding cultural exchanges and photo exhibitions to strengthen bilateral cultural ties.

On the occasion, the VUFO presented its certificates of merit to the VRFA’s outstanding collectives and individuals in the past tenure.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam has recently signed Decision No.1911/QD-TTg dated November 15, 2001 on the connection and sharing between the national database on population with national and specialised databases.

Its common principle is meeting requirements in Clause 2, Article 7 of the Government’s Decree No.137/2015/ND-CP detailing several articles and measures to enforce the Law on Citizen Identification.

The connection and sharing of citizens’ information among databases must ensure confidentiality, cyber security and safety in line with existing laws. The use of citizens’ information in the national database on population must be in accordance with the Government’s Article 11, Decree No.137/2015/ND-CP detailing several articles and measures to enforce the Law on Citizen Identification, the Government’s Decree No.37/2021/ND-CP on amendments and supplements to several articles of Decree No.137/2015/ND-CP.

The Deputy PM asked the Ministry of Public Security to work closely with ministries, ministry-level and Government agencies, people’s committees of centrally-run cities and provinces on the project, check security gaps to ensure information security and safety during the process.

The ministry was also assigned to manage and operate the national database on population, ensuring that it meets technical requirements to handle administrative procedures in service of State management and socio-economic development.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Vietnam has so far owned six satellites in the orbit as a result of implementing the Government’s Space Technology Research and Development Strategy towards 2020.

Of the six satellites, there are two telecommunications, one earth observation and three research satellites.

In 2008, Vietnam made VINASAT-1, its first telecommunications satellite. In 2012, the nation saw its second telecommunications satellite Vinasat-2 launched. In 2013, VNREDSat-1 – Vietnam’s first remote sensing satellite – and PicoDragon – the first satellite completely manufactured by Vietnam (weighing 1kg) – were launched into orbit. In 2019, MicroDragon satellite, which weighs 50kg, was put into orbit to serve training in satellite technology for Vietnamese researchers in Japan.

Most recently, NanoDragon satellite, made entirely in Vietnam, successfully separated from Japan’s fifth Epsilon solid-fuel rocket on November 9, flying in outer space by itself at a height of 560km.

These satellites have brought many benefits to Vietnam’s socio-economic development, environmental monitoring, meteorology, mapping, climate change impact forecasting and assessment. It has also facilitated the analysis of long-term water pollution trends.

According to General Director of the Vietnam National Space Center (VNSC) Pham Anh Tuan, to capitalise on the satellites’ functions, scientists involved should understand and master them for the most effective and optimal operation and exploitation. It means that operation teams must be well trained as well as have adequate working facilities, suitable incentives, and long-term orientations.

Meanwhile, regarding the data products provided by the satellites, it is necessary to have specific support policies so that many people and experts know, exploit, use and add more value to the data. These would result in the gradual formation of a community as well as basic tools and utilities for data processing, and the production of products that bring practical values serving the country’s socio-economic development. .

On February 4 this year, the Prime Minister signed off a strategy for the development and application of space science and technology by 2030.

The strategy’s overall goal is to widely apply achievements of space science and technology; selectively invest in some areas related to national defence, security, and management of natural resources and the environment; and improve the country’s scientific and technological capacity, thereby helping to safeguard independence, sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity, promote socio-economic development, and ensure other national interests.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

President Nguyen Xuan Phuc has stated that Vietnam will offer all possible support for Swiss firms to cooperate with Vietnamese partners.

He made the statement while receiving executives of several leading Swiss enterprises in the fields of infrastructure, heavy industry, high technology, electricity and pharmaceuticals in Bern, Switzerland on November 26-27 (local time).

During reception, Phuc said at the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26), Vietnam committed to reducing greenhouse gas emission to zero by 2050. The country advocated developing clean and renewable energy such as solar and wind power, especially offshore wind power.

Vietnam wants Swiss hi-tech firms to grasp opportunities in these fields, he said, adding that as the country wants to develop infrastructure to connect with economic regions, he also expected more Swiss investment in this field.

Suggesting the Swiss Government offer financial assistance to encourage firms to seek long-term opportunities in Vietnam, he wished that Swiss firms would raise their voice on this issue and push forward negotiations toward the early signing of the Free Trade Agreement between Vietnam and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), thus opening up opportunities for trade and investment activities.

The Vietnamese leader also hailed Swiss companies for assisting Vietnam in the transfer of vaccine and medicine production technology, saying that it benefits both sides as well as helps save cost and time.

Executives wished to partner with Vietnamese firms in the production of vaccines and medicines and other fields in Vietnam.

They also expressed support for the signing of the FTA between Vietnam and the EFTA.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Nguyen Thi Hoang Van, deputy head of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations, met with Chairman Alexandre Eniline and other leaders of the Swiss Party of Labour in Switzerland on November 27 (local time).

The meeting took place within the framework of President Nguyen Xuan Phuc’s official visit to Switzerland.

At the meeting, the two sides informed each other about the situation of each party and country, shared experience in expanding the number of party members, and discussed measures to strengthen cooperation between the two sides in the coming time.

Van congratulated the Swiss Party of Labour on successfully organising its national congress. She thanked the party for supporting Vietnam in the cause of national defence, construction and development and for actively contributing to strengthening the Vietnam – Switzerland relations.

The official also suggested the Swiss party promote information exchanges with the Vietnamese side, further support Vietnam’s stances on regional and international issues, and coordinate with Vietnam at multilateral party forums.

For his part, Alexandre Eniiline and other members affirmed that their party attaches great importance to cooperation with the Communist Party of Vietnam.

Expressing their admiration at the achievements that Vietnam has achieved in the Doi Moi (reform) process, especially in socio-economic fields, hunger eradication and poverty reduction, they said they highly value the good relationship between the two countries.

The two sides agreed to implement a series of measures to enhance cooperation between the two parties in the coming time for the benefits of the two countries’ people.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

President Nguyen Xuan Phuc has hailed the overseas Vietnamese community as an “inseparable part” of the Vietnamese nation and an important resource for the cause of national construction, development and defence.

Meeting representatives of Vietnamese associations, friendship organisations and community in Bern, Switzerland on November 27 (local time), Phuc appreciated their opinions and suggestions, saying that the Vietnamese Party and State intend to issue a mechanism to effectively collect and capitalise on feedback and initiatives of OV experts, intellectuals and businesspeople.

He informed them that Vietnam’s business environment has improved, attracting a large number of top investors to the country. External and global integration activities have been stepped up actively, proactively and effectively. Vietnam also signed and enforced a number of new-generation free trade agreements.

The leader wished that the OVs would continue offering mutual support, help fellows at home overcome the pandemic, as well as raise awareness of national traditions and culture among young generations, especially the Vietnamese language.

Staff of the Vietnamese Embassy in Switzerland were asked to better perform citizen protection and hold practical activities to contribute to the homeland, thereby upholding the power of great national unity.

On the occasion, the President presented the Friendship Order to the Switzerland-Vietnam Friendship Association (SVFA) in honour of its contributions to the friendship between the two countries’ people.

President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) Nguyen Phuong Nga also granted the insignia “For Peace and Friendship among Nations”, the most noble distinction of the VUFO, to SVFA President Anjuska Weil.

As scheduled on November 28 morning (local time), President Phuc and his spouse will leave Bern for Geneva to meet Director General of the UN Office in Geneva Tatiana Valovaya, Director General of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) Daren Tang.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

A Vietnamese delegation led by Chairman of the National Assembly’s Committee for External Relations Vu Hai Ha attended the opening of the 143rd General Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU-143) hosted by the Parliament of Spain in Madrid on November 26 evening (local time).

Themed “Contemporary challenges to democracy: Overcoming division and building communities”, the event drew nearly 1,500 delegates from 123 member parliaments, eight affiliate members and 20 observers, including 39 heads and 27 deputy heads of parliaments.

In his opening remarks, King of Spain Felipe VI underscored the importance of parliaments, considering them a central institution of democracy.

President of the United Nations General Assembly Abdulla Shahid and UN Secretary General António Guterres also highlighted the significance of parliamentary diplomacy as well as parliaments’ activities to realise the UN’s agreements. They affirmed commitment to further strengthening strategic partnership between the UN and the IPU.

The same day, the Vietnamese delegation met Vietnam’s Honorary Consul in Barcelona Pau Guardans Cambo to discuss bilateral cooperation opportunities, especially in economy, culture, sports and tourism and others fields of the two countries’ strength.

They also visited headquarters of the Spanish company HIPRA and learned about its progress of studying and experimenting COVID-19 vaccine which is expected to be licensed and put into use in the first quarter next year.

From November 27-30, the Vietnamese delegation plans to continue joining the UN General Assembly’s activities and hold several bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the events.

Source: Vietnam News Agency