Day: December 17, 2021

Vietnamese Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung and Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Electronics and Information Technology of India Rajeev Chandrasekhar signed a Memorandum of Understanding on bilateral cooperation in information technology and electronics.

The signing ceremony took place during their working session on December 17, as part of the ongoing India visit by National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue from December 15-19.

They said Vietnam and India are stepping up digital transformation, considering it a driving force for the development of digital economy, digital society and digital government.

Both sides agreed to create more channels to help firms establish ties and promote trade and investment.

In order to further develop the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership, the ministers agreed to jointly study and build a new cooperation framework for the period between now and 2030 towards the establishment of a digital partnership between the two countries.

In 2022, when Vietnam and India celebrate the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic relations, the two sides will organise many joint activities such as a digital partnership forum, as well as seminars and conferences on digital transformation, smart marketing and information security./

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Chairman of the National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue received Chairman of the Essar Group Prashant Ruia following the Vietnam – India Business Forum held in New Delhi on December 17.

Introducing the Essar Group, billionaire Ruia said the firm is a multi-sector conglomerate with the market value of about 15 billion USD and annual profit of some 2.2 billion USD. It operates in the fields of oil and gas, including oil exploitation, petrochemical technology, and gas liquefaction; mining, metallurgy; and infrastructure development; among others.

Essar wishes to invest in Vietnam, especially in the oil and gas industry, he stressed, adding that it has taken part in the exploration and discovery of natural-gas condensate in the country’s continental shelf since 2008.

Chairman Hue affirmed that Vietnam supports and will create conditions for Indian companies to continue their long-term presence and expand operations related to oil and gas exploration and exploitation in its continental shelf and exclusive economic zone.

Calling on Essar to increase investment in Vietnam, he spoke highly of the diversity in the group’s operations and welcomed its intention to invest in the petrochemical industry.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Head of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Mass Mobilisation Bui Thi Minh Hoai has wished Catholics in the Diocese of Bui Chu in the northern province of Nam Dinh a merry Christmas and a happy and healthy new year 2022.

Hoai extended Christmas greetings to Bishop Vu Dinh Hieu, dignitaries and Catholics of the Bui Chu Diocese during her visit to the diocese in Nam Dinh’s Xuan Truong district on December 17.

She briefed Bishop Vu Dinh Hieu and Catholic dignitaries on Vietnam’s socio-economic situation in 2021, saying despite adverse impacts of COVID-19, Vietnam has managed to sustain stable macro-economy, put inflation under control and taken various measures to ensure social welfare.

She expressed appreciation towards the Catholics in support for the country’s COVID-19 fight, noting about 2,000 priests and Catholic dignitaries have volunteered to aid COVID-19 response in southern Vietnam. She spoke highly of Catholics dioceses nationwide, particularly Bui Chu, for complying with COVID-19 rules and generously donating to the national COVID-19 vaccine fund.

Hoai expected the Bishop and dignitaries of the Bui Chu Diocese would continue closely coordinating with local authorities to encourage the Catholics to follow Party’s and State’s policies and strictly adhering to virus preventive measures to soon contain the pandemic and return to “new normal” state.

Bishop Vu Dinh Hieu thanked the head of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Mass Mobilisation and other Party and State leaders for facilitating religious practices in Bui Chu and across the country at large.

Nam Dinh is home to nearly 600 Catholics churches and over 140 parishes, where Catholics account for more than 20 percent of the provincial population.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

The People’s Court of Ho Chi Minh City on December 17 sentenced two Taiwanese men to death for illegally trafficking up to 606kg of drugs.

This is the largest crystal methamphetamine trafficking case discovered in Vietnam to date.

According to the indictment, on April 12, 2019, traffic police of district 5 discovered three cars parked illegally and suspected of carrying prohibited goods, so they checked the vehicles.

But when the police arrived at the site, the cars left. They coordinated with other forces to chase and stopped a 7-seat car driven by Yeh Ching Wei (born in 1986), carrying Chiang Wei Chih (born in 1988), and a truck driven by Le Hoang Phuc.

According to the investigation agency, the truck driven by Phuc was found to transport 606kg of crystal methamphetamine.

The police seized an additional 452 kg of methamphetamine in a warehouse in district 10. However, there was not enough evidence to identify these drugs belonging to the two Taiwanese men.

The police, after that, arrested Yeh Ching Wei, and Chiang Wei Chih for illegally trafficking drugs.

Chiang Wei Chih confessed that he entered Vietnam three times from 2018 until he was arrested. Meanwhile, Yeh Ching Wei entered Vietnam for the first time.

On the afternoon of April 10, 2019, both entered Vietnam via Tan Son Nhat international airport under the direction of a man called “Mr. Tran” (whose identity is unknown) to find a warehouse to hide goods in Vietnam. Chiang Wei Chih agreed that he would return to Taiwan to notify “Mr. Tran” after finishing his job in Vietnam, and would be paid 5,000 USD.

Chiang Wei Chih rented a self-driving 7-seat car and rented a truck from Phuc to transport the drugs.

Based on collected documents and investigation evidence, the trial panel held these two defendants to be criminally responsible for the act of illegally transporting drugs in the Vietnamese territory.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Former general director of the Voice of Vietnam (VOV) Nguyen The Ky has been elected as President of the Vietnam Committee for Asian – African – Latin America Solidarity and Cooperation for the 2021 – 2026 tenure.

The election of the presidium of 27 members, including Ky, took place as part of the committee’s congress held in Hanoi on December 17.

As reported at the event, in the 2013 – 2021 period, the committee had participated in a number people-to-people diplomatic activities domestically, regionally and globally, in a bid to promote the nation’s interest, image, position and role as well as to make contribution to the common movement of people in the world for progress, social justice, and sustainable development.

Members of the committee had worked proactively to mobilise international friends to voice support for Vietnam in the issues of Agent Orange, democracy, and human rights. Meanwhile, the committee’s participation along with the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations’ had strengthened international solidarity and cooperation between Vietnamese and people of other countries.

In the coming term, the committee will actively shakeup its operations; participate in mechanisms and people’s forums associated with international organisations and networks of which Vietnam is a member. In addition, the committee will continue to join international forums and networks of “civil society” organisations that have great influence in people’s movements in the world, as well as of progressive, left-wing organisations, among other activities.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on December 17 visited and wished Catholics in the southern province of Ba Ria – Vung Tau a merry Christmas.

At the local Ba Ria Diocese, PM Chinh said the Catholic community has join efforts of Ba Ria – Vung Tau in responding to COVID-19 and promoting growth this year.

He wished that Catholic dignitaries will collaborate with the local authorities to encourage Catholics to lead a good life and become good citizens.

The Government leader requested the authorities pay attention to the material and spiritual life of residents, create favourable conditions for them to obtain the equality and freedom of religion and belief, and encourage them to fulfil their rights and duties in building the nation.

Earlier, PM Chinh visited and extended his Xmas and New Year greetings to Catholics at the Long Huong parish in Ba Ria city, who expressed their belief that the leaders of the Party, State and Government will continue lead the nation through the pandemic for socio-economic development and the people’s better living standards.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

High-ranking delegations from the central province of Quang Binh and the Lao province of Khammoune signed a cooperation agreement during their talks at Cha Lo international border gate in Quang Binh on December 17.

Speaking at the event, Secretary of the Quang Binh provincial Party Committee Vu Dai Thang affirmed determination to inherit and foster the special solidarity, loyal friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the two localities’ Party committees, authorities and people in the near future.

Secretary of the Khammoune provincial Party Committee and Governor Vanxay Phongsavanh, for his part, said over the past two years, Khammoune has received support from Quang Binh to ease its difficulties caused by the pandemic.

He wished that both sides would continue effectively realising signed collaboration contents, contributing to further tightening ties between the two provinces in particular.

They agreed to propose the two governments consider adding the road No.12 and Cha Lo – Na Phau international border gates into the Greater Mekong Sub-Region (GMS) Cross-Border Transport Facilitation Agreement.

The two provinces will create favourable conditions for firms and investors in the fields of trade, tourism and transportation.

Apart from preserving and upholding biodiversity values at Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park and Hin Nam No National Protected Area, they will also work closely together in national defence-security, border protection and the fight against the pandemic.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue highlighted the great potential of bilateral economic, trade and investment ties while addressing the Vietnam – India Business Forum in New Delhi on December 17.

In his opinion, the two countries need to look towards green and circular economies. Indian firms could invest in infrastructure, processing industry, farm produce, science-technology and education-training.

Former Minister of Commerce and Industry Senator Suresh Prabhu and Director General of the Confederation of Indian Industry Chandrajit Banerjee stressed that the Indian Government is carrying out the Act East policy and Vietnam is one of the important partners of India in Southeast Asia.

Prabhu hailed Vietnam as an example of innovation in the world. President Ho Chi Minh’s thought and Vietnam’s policies and mechanisms always place people in the centre of development goals and orientations.

With similarities, the two countries could cooperate for high growth and improved people’s lives, he said.

On the occasion, Hue witnessed the exchange of 12 bilateral cooperation agreements in workforce training in information technology, oil and gas processing, and energy.

Source: Vietnam News Agency