Day: January 24, 2022

Vietnam is determined to restructure its energy sector, said Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Dang Hoang An at the 4th High-Level Meeting of the Vietnam Energy Partnership Group (VEPG) held in Hanoi on January 24.

Gathering more than 150 delegates, the hybrid-format event looked back at achievements and contributions of the VEPG over the past four years of operation as a high-level policy dialogue platform connecting the Vietnamese Government with development partners and stakeholders to promote the development of the nation’s energy sector.

An important highlight of the function was the introduction of the five new technical working groups including: Power Sector Strategic Planning, Renewable Energy, Grid Integration and Grid Infrastructure, Energy Efficiency, and Energy Market.

In his remarks, An said the development results of the energy sector saw a significant contribution of the VEPG via its 40 policy recommendations.

He affirmed that over the years, the group fulfilled its role as a high-level policy dialogue forum between the Government of Vietnam and international partners, connecting international support to promote the development of the local renewable energy market.

According to An, in 2021, the VEPG restructured its technical working groups, identified key topics tailored to the country’s urgent needs, as well as leveraging supporting resources, both domestically and internationally.

“By cooperating with ministries, departments, sectors and local and foreign partners, the VEPG will support the government in developing even stronger measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050,” he stated.

“Vietnam’s commitment to embarking on an energy transition towards a cleaner, greener energy mix and more efficient use of energy is an important contribution, not only to the sustainable development of its economy but also to the global fight against climate change. The EU – as many other development partners that have gathered today – is here to provide support and expertise to make this energy transition happen, while ensuring access to affordable energy for all and protecting Vietnam’s competitiveness at local, as well as international level,” said Giorgio Aliberti, Ambassador of the European Union to Vietnam.

The EU will continue to provide financial support for the operation of the VEPG and will work with MOIT on a roadmap for the long-term financial sustainability of the partnership, he stressed.

Carolyn Turk, Country Director of the World Bank in Vietnam, noted the World Bank looks forward to continuing its support for the Government of Vietnam in expanding the energy sector in a greener, more sustainable way.

In a high-level thematic panel discussion, participating delegates exchanged ideas around the Power Development Plan VIII under the Vietnamese Government’s direction on sustainable energy transition, as well as the results and impacts of the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) on the orientation of Vietnam’s energy sector. International experience and recommendations were shared with the aim of removing technical and investment bottlenecks for the country’s sustainable energy transition./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

President Nguyen Xuan Phuc has asked Ho Chi Minh City’s delegation of National Assembly deputies to strongly condemn cases that trigger public concern and seriously violate law, especially violence against children.

Local departments, agencies and localities should regularly provide information about not only guidelines and policies but also domestic violence and child abuse situation for the delegation, the President said on January 23.

At a working session with the city’s NA deputies, he urged them to pay more attention to socio-economic affairs and law consolidation after cases were reported regarding illegal insider trading and land auctions.

The legislators should closely follow the Party’s guidelines and policies, and the State’s law, uphold their responsibility before the Party, voters and people, continuously improve their political mettle, and work to consolidate the legal and institutional system, he requested.

The Central Steering Committee on Anti-Corruption resolutely is handling the large-scale law violations that are under investigation, Phuc said, noting that a consolidated legal and constitutional system will prevent corruption and other negative phenomena.

The State leader also ordered greater heed to ensuring security, and social order and safety, along with institutions to support the southern economic hub’s development.

He asked the delegation to reform its operational methods and make more contributions to the National Assembly’s operations and HCM City’s all-round development in the time ahead./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Vietnamese leaders have extended greetings to their Ukrainian counterparts on the occasion of the 30th founding anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties (January 23, 1992 – 2022).

President Nguyen Xuan Phuc sent a congratulatory letter to President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky while Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh extended congratulations to his Ukrainian counterpart Denys Shmyhal.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son congratulated his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba.

Vietnam is among the top five biggest partners of Ukraine in Asia. The two countries have agreed to make greater efforts to push bilateral trade to 1 billion USD.

About 1,400 Vietnamese students and some 10,000 Vietnamese expatriates are studying and living in Ukraine./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

The Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union (HCMCYU) in Ho Chi Minh City and businesses have handed gifts to youth unionists, adolescents and children who are living in disadvantageous circumstances and adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, on the occasion of the approaching Lunar New Year (Tet).

The Association of High-quality Vietnamese Products, in collaboration with the HCMCYU, presented gifts and lucky money to 295 students in 22 districts and Thu Duc city whose parents and relatives died because of COVID-19.

Tran Thu Ha, Deputy Secretary of the municipal Youth Union, said that the pandemic has disturbed the lives of local people in particular and the country in general, with students, teenagers and children being among the hardest hit.

On the same day, the youth union organised a festival to present gifts and loans to help youths with disabilities, and youth unionists living in difficult circumstances to start up business.

In addition, the Ho Chi Minh City Students’ Association held a programme named “Sea and islands in my heart” in Thanh Dao island commune in Can Gio district, giving 20 scholarships worth 1 million VND (44 USD) each to poor students with good academic performances, and 80 Tet gifts worth 200,000 VND each to students with excellent academic performances./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Vietnam’s seaports are projected to handle more than 60 million tonnes of goods in the first month of 2022, equivalent to the same period last year, announced the Vietnam Maritime Administration (VMA).

The total volume of container cargo going through seaports is estimated to hit 2 million TEUs in the period.

Lingering negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and import acceleration in the US and Europe during the holiday season resulted in the modest volume of seaborne trade in January, according to the Vietnam Logistics Businesses Association.

The expansion of the containers shipping market, which is forecast to last until the end of this year, along with a trend in raising vessels’ capacity, will open up major opportunities for Vietnam’s seaports, notably gateway ones of Cai Mep-Thi Vai in Ba Ria-Vung Tau southern province and Lach Huyen in the northern port city of Hai Phong, said Tran Khanh Hoang, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Seaports Association./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Ho Chi Minh City has made important contributions to COVID-19 prevention and control through changes in mindset and approach along with decisive pilot steps, and has successfully made it a safe city again, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has affirmed.

Visiting the municipal Department of Health on January 24 on the occasion of the upcoming Lunar New Year (Tet), the government leader hailed the hard work of the city’s health sector during the city’s fight against the pandemic in the context of the highly contagious Delta variant and a shortage of vaccines and treatment drugs.

He said in such difficult conditions, many “unprecedented” policies to rein in the pandemic and support people have been built, promulgated, and implemented drastically and effectively on an unprecedented scale.

He noted that Ho Chi Minh City was also the first locality to launch the vaccination drive, contributing to turning Vietnam from a country with a very low vaccination rate into one of the six countries with the highest vaccination coverage rate in the world.

To date, the city has confidently reopened its door, and proactively implemented the policy of safe and flexible adaptation to and effective control of the pandemic.

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Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh in a working session with leading officials of the municipal Health Department. (Photo:VNA)

In 2022, there will be certainly more difficulties and challenges than opportunities and advantages, as the pandemic is still likely to develop complicatedly with new variants, the PM said, requesting that Ho Chi Minh City not to lose vigilance, and to effectively implement the programme on pandemic prevention and control for 2022-2023, and the socio-economic recovery and development plans.

He also urged quicker vaccination for all people, with the focus on children aged to 12-17 so as to reopen schools after Tet, and asked the health sector to speed up digital transformation and improve the quality of health care.

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Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh visits Thi Nghe Protection Center for Disabled Orphans. (Photo: VNA)

On the same day, PM Chinh visited Thi Nghe Protection Center for Disabled Orphans which is taking care of nearly 250 disabled and orphaned children.

The care for disabled and orphaned children must be in both material and spiritual aspects, he stressed, asking the centre’s staff to take care of children with all their heart./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

A delegation of Naval Region Region 2 has paid a visit to officers and soldiers on duty on DK1 platforms in Vietnam’s southern continental shelf to bring them gifts from the mainland on the occasion of the traditional Lunar New Year (Tet).

During the trip, which lasts from January 8-24, the delegation presented gifts from the High Command of the Naval Region 2, localities, businesses and organisations to the soldiers.

Col Vu Duy Luu, Vice Political Commissar of Naval Region 2 lauded the achievements that the soldiers and officers on the DK1 platforms obtained over the past years.

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Col Vu Duy Luu, Vice Political Commissar of Naval Region 2, offers New Year greetings to the soldiers. (Photo: VNA)

He offered New Year greetings to officers and soldiers serving on DK platforms and wished that they will always overcome difficulties and successfully perform their tasks in the coming time.

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 contributed to marine economic activities and the safeguarding of national sovereignty over seas and islands./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

The Immigration Department of Vietnam has announced new policies on easing entry procedures for foreigners and overseas Vietnamese (OVs) as well as their family members with valid visas or visa exemptions.

The move was made in accordance with directions stated by Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh in Government Office Document No. 450/VPCP-QHQT dated January 18, 2022.

Foreigners and overseas Vietnamese, who hold valid permanent or temporary residence cards, visas and visa exemption certificates, can enter Vietnam in accordance with the Law on foreigners’ entry without having to obtain prior approval from ministries, sectors, and local authorities or undergoing pre-clearance procedures.

Foreigners who wish to enter Vietnam for market research, business, investment, work, conferences, study, family visits but do not have one of the above-mentioned documents must obtain approval from the provincial People’s Committees or ministries, sectors, and central authorities before undergoing sponsoring, inviting procedures for visas at the Immigration Department.

All entrants must adhere to applicable COVID-19 prevention regulations by the Ministry of Health, which means having a negative RT-PCR test results taken within three days prior to entry, submitting an online health declaration at https://tokhaiyte.vn, taking a rapid antigen COVID-19 tests at the airport if one arrives from a country with Omicron, and serving three day quarantine at home/place of accommodation (for fully vaccinated/recently recovered patients) or seven-day quarantine at hotel for the not fully vaccinated.

Those wishing to enter Vietnam for tourism purposes can do so by joining tour groups under the Ministry of Culture, Sports, Tourism’s pilot inbound tourism programme for fully vaccinated arrivals.

Under this vaccine passport-based scheme aimed at reviving international tourism after two years of pandemic, foreign tourists could go to five destinations in Vietnam – Phu Quoc (Kien Giang province), Nha Trang (Khanh Hoa), Da Nang, Hoi An (Quang Nam), and Quang Ninh, with Binh Dinh and HCM City soon to reopen as well.

The Immigration Department asked the Consular Department (under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs) to notify Vietnamese missions abroad to issue guidance for Vietnamese people residing overseas and relatives.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam also requested to notify airlines, domestic and overseas, on the protocols for boarding, while municipal and provincial authorities should issue guidance for overseas businesses and foreign nationals in their jurisdiction./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency