Day: January 8, 2022

The Command of Naval Region 2 on January 8 sent two delegations to visit and offer Lunar New Year (Tet) greetings to officers and soldiers performing duties at the DK1 platforms in Vietnam’s southern continental shelf, along with the island district of Con Dao.

Departing from the port of Brigade 171 in Ba Ria – Vung Tau province, the delegations are also bringing along food, essential goods, and symbolic items of Tet such as apricot and peach blossoms and kumquat trees, part of which were donated by individuals, businesses and organisations as their material and spiritual support for those guarding the country’s sovereignty in southern sea areas.

Col. Dang Manh Hung, Vice Political Commissar of Naval Region 2, said before leaving, all the officers, soldiers, and reporters on the two vessels, Truong Sa 10 and Truong Sa 19, had been quarantined and tested negative for the coronavirus while the goods had also been disinfected to ensure pandemic safety for those on duty at sea.

On this occasion, the delegations will also hand over 5,000 national flags to officers and soldiers on 15 DK1 platforms and Con Dao district. The flags are part of a programme of presenting 1 million national flags to fishermen.

Their trips are scheduled to last for about 15 – 20 days.

DK1 is a group of offshore economic, scientific and technical service stations set up in 1989 on Vietnam’s southern continental shelf.

Over the past more than three decades, those stationed at DK1 platforms have always successfully performed their work , not only helping develop marine economic activities but also contributing to the safeguarding of national sovereignty over seas and islands.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Deputy Health Minister Truong Quoc Cuong and 13 others are facing charges for their role in counterfeiting cancer medicines labelled as Health 2000 Canada, according the new indictment issued by the Supreme People’s Procuracy.

Cuong and two other officials – Nguyen Viet Hung, 66, former deputy head of the Drug Administration of Vietnam, and Le Dinh Thanh, former Ho Chi Minh City Customs official – are being prosecuted for “negligence causing serious consequences” under Article 285, Clause 2 of the 1999 Penal Code.

According to the indictment, from 2008 – 2010, two of the accused prepared applications for seven drugs branded Health 2000 Canada so they could be authorised to be circulated in Vietnam. Although the documents were all fabricated, the drugs were later approved by a number of officials.

Between November 2012 and June 2014, Cuong and his accomplices faked a range of documents to change the origins of the medicines to import some 838,100 boxes of the medicines into Vietnam. They were then resold to drug stores, hospitals and pharmaceutical businesses.

Cuong worked as head of the Drug Administration of Vietnam from 2007 to 2016 and took legal responsibilities for all activities of the office. He was said to lack responsibility in assessing and granting licences for the drugs; and lacked supervision and examination over those assessing and registering the drugs, leading to the approval of the applications for the import and consumption of the counterfeit drugs in Vietnam.

After the drugs were imported and consumed in Vietnam, although he received information about their suspected origins, Cuong did not ask authorities to stop their circulation, or recall and destroy the drugs. As a result, many health establishments still traded and supplied the counterfeit drugs without clear origins to treat patients.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Cerence Inc., an artificial intelligence (AI) developer for automobiles, and VinFast, a Vietnamese smart electric vehicle brand, have announced that VinFast cars will be cloud connected using the Cerence Connected Vehicle Digital Twin (CCVDT) platform.

They said VinFast has selected Cerence to provide innovative cloud and AI capabilities that will enhance comfort, security, safety, and convenience and transform the driving experience for VinFast’s customers.

Cerence’s digital twin capabilities enable VinFast to essentially create a virtual representation of its entire car, including software, mechanics, electrics, and physical behaviour, along with driver data and environmental data in the cloud.

VinFast will not only be able to offer its drivers extended digital cockpit capabilities that enhance the driving experience, including access to deeper information about the car, but also enable proactive AI notifications that leverage this real-time data to update and inform drivers in new ways.

In addition, Cerence supports VinFast in further leveraging its vehicles for contextual applications and making information available to key partners to enable new use cases like delivery services for in-car package delivery and electric vehicle charging networks for integrated vehicle charge status and nearby charging options, according to the firms.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Politburo member and Prime Minister of Laos Phankham Viphavanh arrived in Hanoi on January 8 morning, begining his official visit to Vietnam from January 8-10 at the invitation of his Vietnamese counterpart Pham Minh Chinh.

The Lao PM is accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Naitonal Defence Chansamone Chanyalath; Deputy PM, Minister of Planning and Investment and Chairman of the Laos – Vietnam Cooperation Committee Sonexay Siphandone; Minister of Foreign Affairs Saleumxay Kommasith, and other ministers and officials.

It is the first visit by a foreign high-ranking leader to Vietnam this year, showing determination of the two countries’ leaders in promoting Vietnam – Laos special ties and effectively carrying out the Vietnam – Laos Joint Statement in June 2021.

It is also the first meaningful event within the framework of the Vietnam – Laos, Laos – Vietnam Year of Solidarity and Friendship in order to further tighten bilateral special relationship.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Chairman of the National Assembly (NA) Vuong Dinh Hue met with Lao Prime Minister Phankham Viphavanh, who is on an official visit to Vietnam, in Hanoi on January 8.

The Lao PM spoke highly of the achievements that the Vietnamese Party, State, and people have obtained recently, voicing his belief that under the Communist Party of Vietnam’s leadership, the Vietnamese people will successfully carry out the resolution of the 13th National Party Congress and the socio-economic development strategy for 2021 – 2030, and unceasingly raise the country’s role and stature in the region and the world.

Both host and guest affirmed that the Parties, Governments, parliaments, and peoples of their countries always attach importance and give the top priority to maintaining the unique relationship between Vietnam and Laos.

They noted with satisfaction that despite impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, bilateral cooperation has still been developing via all channels and in all fields. They also applauded the close cooperation between specialised committees of the Vietnamese and Lao parliaments in organising workshops and sharing lawmaking experience.

Top legislator welcomes visiting Lao Prime Minister hinh anh 2

The meeting between NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue and Lao PM Phankham Viphavanh in Hanoi on January 8 (Photo: VNA)

The leaders shared the view that the two parliaments need to keep coordination to monitor and facilitate the effective implementation of their countries’ agreements, while further increasing consultation and sharing experience in legislative affairs so as to help fuel post-pandemic socio-economic recovery and development.

Chairman Hue said the Vietnamese NA has been working to tackle every legal and institutional difficulty and arrange resources for accelerating joint projects, especially the transport infrastructure ones connecting the two countries and linking Laos with Vietnam’s seaports, thereby helping connect Laos to the sea and turn it into a regional integration connectivity centre.

The two sides also agreed to continue close coordination and mutual support in their parliaments’ activities, particularly at regional and international parliamentary forums./

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his Lao counterpart Phankham Viphavanh held a press conference and launched the Vietnam – Laos, Laos – Vietnam Solidarity and Friendship Year in Hanoi on January 8.

Addressing the joint press conference following their talks, PM Chinh said the two sides noted with satisfaction that the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between the two Parties, States, and peoples have unceasingly been reinforced over the recent past.

They agreed to push ahead with effectively implementing the joint statement issued during an official visit to Vietnam by Party General Secretary and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith in June 2021, and the outcomes of an official trip to Laos by Vietnamese President Nguyen Xuan Phuc two months later. The two sides will coordinate with each other to successfully organise the 44th meeting of the Vietnam – Laos Inter-governmental Committee on January 10.

Both PMs agreed that their countries will assist each other to develop an independent and self-reliant economy, maintain the solidarity and unanimity in ASEAN, and support Cambodia’s chairmanship of ASEAN. They will boost connectivity in road, railway, and sea infrastructure, especially Vung Ang Port, so as to turn Laos from a landlocked country into a littoral one. Besides, the Hanoi – Vientiane Expressway project will be promoted.

At the press conference, PM Chinh said the Vietnamese Party, State, and people will present their Lao counterparts with 1 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine.

PMs launch Vietnam – Laos, Laos – Vietnam Solidarity and Friendship Year hinh anh 2

The Prime Ministers and officials of Vietnam and Laos at the launching ceremony of the Solidarity and Friendship Year 2022 (Photo: VNA)

For his part, the Lao leader said during their talks, the two sides agreed to work closely together to nurture the countries’ great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation. In particular, they will step up cooperation in politics, diplomacy as well as defence and security to jointly deal with new challenges, pay due attention to cooperation in protecting internal and border security, strengthen infrastructure and tourism connectivity, boost partnerships in energy and clean agriculture, and uphold coordination at regional and international forums.

PM Phankham Viphavanh thanked the Vietnamese Party, State, and people for their precious and effective assistance for Laos during the struggle for national liberation in the past, along with the national development and defence at present.

On this ocassion, the two PMs launched the Vietnam – Laos, Laos – Vietnam Solidarity and Friendship Year 2022.

PM Chinh held that the year 2022 holds special importance to both countries, describing the launch as a historic event helping intensify their special solidarity.

His Lao counterpart said the two sides agreed to jointly organise meaningful celebrations of their National Days in 2022 so as to underline and popularise the special and great Vietnam – Laos friendship to the world.

Source: Vietnam News Agency