Day: February 27, 2022

The State visit to Singapore by Vietnamese President Nguyen Xuan Phuc, with many agreements inked, has laid an important foundation for the two countries to develop and be more inter-connected to become role models for Southeast Asia, according to Assoc. Prof. Vu Minh Khuong.

Talking to the Vietnam News Agency, the expert from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy said the trip from February 24 to 26 reaped many special outcomes clearly reflecting the two peoples’ wholeheartedness, mettle, and inter-connectivity in the trying times.

Vietnam and Singapore will take the next steps, with the strategic trust to be built up intensively, to carry out bilateral cooperation, firstly the agreements on defence, trade, and investment, among others signed during the trip, he said, noting that 28 businesses also inked many memoranda of understanding.

The deals signed this time serve as a cornerstone, not merely ordinary contracts, under which the two sides will seek ways to develop more strongly together and coordinate better in the future, Khuong went on.

He held that through this visit, President Phuc wished to affirm that the foundation of a modern country is taking shape in Vietnam, and that Vietnam will work closely with Singapore to make important strides in the time ahead.

The expert expressed his hope that Vietnam will make strong reforms in the coming time to govern the country more strongly and deserve to be a modern nation./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Increases in petrol prices, and those of food, food stuff, restaurant food and public transport services during the Lunar New Year led to a rise of 1 percent in the consumer price index (CPI) in February compared to that of the previous month, the General Statistics Office (GSO) announced on February 28.

The February index was also up 1.42 percent year-on-year, and 1.2 percent against December 2021.

In the first two months of 2022, CPI climbed by 1.68 percent over the same period last year, and core inflation by 0.67 percent.

In February, among the 11 commodity and service baskets, 10 reported increases, with the highest seen in transport. Meanwhile, prices of post and telecommunications declined by 0.04 percent.

Also in the month, the price of gold went up by 1.85 percent, while that of US dollar reduced by 0.28 percent. The GSO pointed out that core inflation in February rose by 0.49 percent over the previous month, and by 0.68 percent over the same period last year. In the first two months, core inflation increased by 0.67 percent year-on-year, lower than the general average CPI, which reflects the fluctuation of consumer prices mainly due to rising prices of food and fuel./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

President Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh sent their congratulations to Vietnam’s U23 football team following their 1-0 win over Thailand to earn their AFF Youth Championship title on February 26.

Though many players ­contracted COVID-19 and most of them were new to the team, they all showed the Vietnamese courage and will and fought as brave warriors, President Phuc said in his message, adding they deserve the championship.

He asked the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) to continue developing the younger generations of players, helping Vietnam gain a higher position in the international stage.

In his message, PM Chinh called it a prideworthy victory. The players have confronted numerous challenges due to the pandemic during the tournament, the PM noted, stressing that with the courage and bravery of Vietnamese and spirit of “golden star warriors”, the players and the coaches have surmounted all these to bring joy and pride to their homeland. The victory offers a new spark of hope for Vietnam’s football in the future, he continued and wished them greater victories in the coming time.

It was a remarkable journey for Vietnam’s U23 football team at the AFF Youth Championship 2022 in Cambodia as they have not lost any match in the tournament, scoring nine goals in total and managing to keep their net intact.

The team was in dire shortage of players after many players tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, and reinforcements had to be called in./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Vietnamese Ambassador Nguyen Thi Bich Thao recently had working sessions with Croatian State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs Frano Matušić and State Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports Tonči Glavina.

Talking to State Secretary Frano Matušić, Thao thanked the Croatian Government and people for their COVID-19 vaccine donation to Vietnam.

The ambassador proposed the two countries resume all-level mutual visits and enhance cooperation at international forums and organisations so as to capitalise on the advantages created by the EU – Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) to increase bilateral trade. She also called on Croatia to support and ratify the EU – Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) early while completing the legal framework for bilateral trade and investment.

Both sides shared the view that there remains much room for cooperation between Vietnam and Croatia.

The Southeast Asian nation boasts numerous advantages in terms of agricultural and fishery products, apparel, leather – footwear, electronic devices, tourism, and labour supply that can meet the European country’s demand. Meanwhile, the Croatian Government’s support for the EU’s recognition of Vietnam’s “COVID-19 vaccine passport” will facilitate exchange, mutual understanding, and cooperation between their businesses and peoples.

For his part, Matušić highly valued the potential for economic and trade partnerships, expressing his hope that his country’s seaports will be a gateway for Vietnamese goods to enter the Central European market.

He affirmed that Croatia attaches importance to promoting the traditional friendship with Vietnam, and asked the two foreign ministries to carry out a political consultation soon to discuss measures for increasing people-to-people exchange, especially between young people of the countries.

Croatia is set to become a member of the Schengen Area in late 2022 and the Eurozone in early 2023, which will create favourable conditions for the countries’ businesses and people to enhance collaboration, Matušić added.

At the meeting with State Secretary Tonči Glavina, Thao said she hopes the two sides will assist each other’s tourism promotion and facilitate exchange and cooperation between their businesses and people.

She also suggested stronger cooperation and sharing of experience in tourism, a strong sector of both countries.

Glavina voiced his hope that Vietnam will support and take part in activities organised by Croatia when this country serves as a member of the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO)’s Executive Council for 2021 – 2025 and the Chair of the UNWTO Committee on Tourism and Sustainability for 2021 – 2023.

He noted Croatia is ready to share its experience in safe and sustainable tourism reopening with Vietnam, adding that it served about 4,000 Vietnamese tourists in 2019 and wishes to welcome more in order to reinforce bilateral friendship and cooperation./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Indonesia’s State-run pharmaceutical firm PT Bio Farma will be producing COVID-19 vaccine using the mRNA technology after the Southeast Asian country has been appointed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as one of the beneficiaries of the vaccine technology transfer.

PT Bio Farma is the only vaccine company in Indonesia selected to receive mRNA technology from WHO, Director Honesti Basyir said in a statement.

He said the company itself has prepared everything related to the development of this mRNA technology, such as the construction of production facilities, for the manufacture in pilot and limited commercial scale.

Previously, the firm has been looking for partners for development through exploring cooperation with the UK-based University of Manchester for mastery of mRNA seeds so that Bio Farma already has the basis for this mRNA technology, he added.

As a first step, Bio Farma will learn to master this mRNA technology platform, for types of vaccines other than COVID-19, because mRNA is a rapid response and fast technology in vaccine development and production, he continued.

Apart from making vaccines, this mRNA technology can also be used to manufacture therapeutic products, such as cancer drugs and others, concluded Honesti.

Bio Farma is the largest vaccine manufacturer in Southeast Asia with an annual production capacity reaching 3.2 billion doses.

Commenting on WHO’s appointment, Indonesian Minister of State-Owned Enterprises Erick Thohir said WHO’s trust is only the beginning. This is also part of the massive transformation programme going on at the state-controlled pharmaceutical holding, said Erick.

Erick said the pharmaceutical holding’s transformation goal was to provide integrated, affordable, and customer-focused high-quality health products and services.

He further stated that Indonesia also established the health sector as one of the main focuses of the G20 Presidency. Erick assessed that the issue of vaccine distribution and technology transfer should be a priority in overcoming health sector problems./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

The Vietnam Youth and Students Association, in collaboration with the Vietnamese Students Association in the Czech Republic, recently held the Study in Czech Republic Forum 2022, opening up learning opportunities for young Vietnamese people.

The organisers and speakers provided participants with an overview of studying in the Czech Republic such as registration procedures, information about training institutions, majors, languages, scholarships and tuition fees, as well as accommodation, Czech customs and habits and career opportunities.

Speakers also answered questions from parents and young Vietnamese who are interested in studying in the Czech Republic in 2022 and the coming years. At the forum, Vietnamese students and alumni also shared their own practical experience during their study and research in this country.

Nguyen Duy Nhien, President of the Vietnamese Association in the Czech Republic, stated that one of the biggest advantages for Vietnamese students when coming to study and research here is the feeling of closeness and familiarity thanks to a large number of Vietnamese people living and doing business in the country and the Vietnamese community is the country’s ethnic minority group.

He expressed his delight at welcoming young Vietnamese people to the Czech Republic to study and do research to build the homeland in the future and make positive contributions to the host country, thus helping strengthen the fine relations between Vietnam and the Czech Republic./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

The Vietnam Post Corporation (VNPOST) will cooperate with the Central Committee of the Vietnam Farmers’ Union (VFU) to support 7.5 million farming households to introduce free of charge their products in its e-commerce platform Postmart.vn in 2022.

Deputy General Director of VNPOST Nguyen Kien Cuong said from now to 2025, the coordination will focus on introducing and connecting consumption; developing a supply chain of safe and high quality agricultural products of farmers; building and developing sustainable value production chains in association with national target programmes; and developing a network of sales collaborators and agents. VNPOST will provide preferential products and services to the VFU and members of its chapters, professional associations, farmers’ clubs, cooperative groups, and cooperatives.

It is managing to update agricultural production households’ information on the platform, as well as helping farmers and agricultural cooperatives actively apply digital technologies in their production and trading activities.

It planned to connect with postal e-commerce platforms of Japan, Singapore and some other regional countries in the coming time.

Vietnamese products on sales on Postmart.vn are expected to be connected to e-commerce platforms of countries in the region, towards expanding to developed countries. /.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

The northern province of Vinh Phuc has decided to invest in a project to construct Dong Dau Park in Yen Lac township of Yen Lac district to develop the cultural and historical values of its Dong Dau archaeological site.

The project, which has a total investment of 90 million VND (3,943 USD), covers over 5.4 hectares.

Scheduled to be completed in 2025, tt is expected to contribute to promoting the historical and cultural values of the site, thus combining with the Gia Loan temple and Bien Son pagoda to create a highlight for the spiritual tourism of Yen Lac district and Vinh Phuc province as a whole. It is also designed to expand the green space for local residents.

The site has total area of 8.5 hectares in Dong village of Yen Lac township. It was uncovered in 1962 and became a national-level historical-cultural relic site in 2000. Through repeated work, archeologists have found a large number of items typical for four cultural periods of Phung Nguyen, Go Dau, Go Mun and Dong Son.

The items have significant meaning in affirming the trace of human in the area thousands of years ago, making it a centre of the ancient Vietnamese people./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency