Day: October 28, 2022

The Ministry of Construction is conducting a project on developing Vietnam’s cities in response to climate change for 2021-2030 toward a goal of sustainable development and risk mitigation.

 

The project consists of six programmes, including those on building a database and urban risk-warning map system; and on perfecting the regulations and standards of the construction industry and urban areas responding to natural disasters in the context of climate change and sea level rise.

 

It is set to integrate climate change content into regional, provincial and urban planning works; and to develop plans and technical manuals serving climate change response.

 

In addition, it will work with international organisations to implement pilot programmes and projects to apply new works, technologies and materials in order to develop green growth, smart cities, green architecture adapting to climate change.

 

Under the project, a national plan for climate change adaptation for the 2021-2025 period, with a vision to 2050, will be implemented.

 

Ministry implements project to develop cities in response to climate change hinh anh 2

 

Flooding in the metropolis of Ho Chi Minh City. (Photo: VNA)

 

The five centrally run cities prioritised for running the project are Hanoi and Hai Phong in the north, Da Nang in the central region, Can Tho in the Mekong Delta, and Ho Chi Minh City in the south./.

 

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Lao Deputy Prime Minister Kikeo Khaykhamphithoun hosted a reception for President of the Vietnam Red Cross Society (VRC) Central Committee Bui Thi Hoa in Vientiane on October 27.

 

Welcoming the VRC delegation’s visit, the Lao Deputy PM held that it will make important contributions to the celebration of the Laos-Vietnam, Vietnam-Laos Friendship and Solidarity Year 2022, the 60th anniversary of the bilateral diplomatic relations and the 45 years of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation between the two countries.

 

The visit will also help foster the cooperation and mutual support between the VRC and the Laos Red Cross Society, he said.

 

Khaykhamphithoun thanked the Government and people of Vietnam for supporting his country over the years, expressing his hope that the long-standing ties between the two countries will continue to thrive.

 

For her part, Hoa said that during the visit, the VRC and the Laos Red Cross Society will review their cooperation outcomes over the years and map out new collaboration plans for the future./.

 

Source: Vietnam News Agency

 

 

Legislators are continuing with discussions on the performance of the 2022 socio-economic development plan, socio-economic development plan for 2023, 2022 State budget, and 2023 State budget estimate, public investment plan and State budget allocation plan on the eight working day of the 15th National Assembly’s fourth session on October 28.

 

In the afternoon, they will review the implementation of Resolution No. 54/2017/QH14 on piloting typical development mechanisms and policies for Ho Chi Minh City.

 

The session will be broadcast live on television and radio channels.

 

Legislators continue discussing socio-economic development situation hinh anh 2

 

At a NA working sitting (Photo: VNA)

 

According to a Government report presented at the opening ceremony of the fourth session, the country’s GDP growth hit 8.83% in the first three quarters of this year. It is estimated at about 8% for the whole of this year, surpassing the set target of only 6-6.5%.

 

The Government set 15 key socio-economic targets for next year, including a GDP growth of some 6.5%, a 4.5% hike in consumer price index, labour productivity growth of 5-6%, unemployment rate in urban areas below 4%, and a 1-1.5% reduction in multidimensional poverty rate.

 

Regarding the resolution on piloting typical development mechanisms and policies in HCM City, the report said over the past five years, the southern economic hub has reaped significant outcomes, with its GDP in the first half of this year growing 3.82%.

 

The Government proposed the NA allow HCM City to further implement the resolution until the end of 2023./.

 

Source: Vietnam News Agency

 

The Vietnam – Algeria Friendship Association (VAFA) hosted a ceremony in Hanoi on October 27 to celebrate the 60th founding anniversary of the Vietnam – Algeria diplomatic ties (October 28, 1962-2022).

 

Addressing the event, Deputy Minister of Construction Le Quang Hung, VAFA Chairman, highlighted the fruitful development of the bilateral relations across fields, saying that regular visits by the two countries’ leaders have created a premise for comprehensive cooperation between the two sides.

 

He briefed participants on economic cooperation between the two countries, saying that on the basis of cooperation mechanisms and agreements signed, the economic and trade bonds have recorded remarkable achievements.

 

The two-way trade hit 158 million USD in 2021, and nearly 110 million USD in the first nine months of 2022. Algeria remains the fourth largest importer of Vietnamese goods in Africa.

 

Along with cooperation in the fields of politics, economy, culture, science and technology, the friendship between Vietnamese and Algerian people has also been strengthened through numerous activities, contributing to promoting the friendship and cooperation between the two countries, Hung said.

 

He expressed his hope that the friendship and multifaceted cooperation between Vietnam and Algeria will become stronger, for peace and mutual interest of the two nations.

 

For his part, Algerian Ambassador to Vietnam Abdelhamid Boubazine recalled historical milestones in the bilateral relations, affirming that the Vietnam-Algeria relationship with the solid foundation built by the two nations’ leaders has been flourishing.

 

The diplomat held that the 12th meeting of the Vietnam-Algeria Joint Committee in December this year will create new momentum for bilateral partnership.

 

The Algerian Embassy will continue to promote cooperation with VAFA in the coming time, towards further tightening the traditional relations of the two nations, he stressed./.

 

Source: Vietnam News Agency

 

A friendship exchange programme to mark the 104th founding anniversary of the Czechoslovak Republic (now the Czech Republic) (October 28, 1918-2022) and the 25th of the Vietnam – Czech Friendship Association (VCFA) took place in Hanoi on October 27.

 

Under the authorisation of the Prime Minister, Ambassador Nguyen Phuong Nga, President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship, presented the Certificate of Merit to the VCFA for its outstanding achievements in developing and promoting friendship between the two peoples.

 

In his remarks at the event, VCFA Chairman Do Thang Hai stressed that the traditional friendship between Vietnam and the Czech Republic has been increasingly consolidated and developed, achieving fruitful results, especially in economic cooperation.

 

The VCFA is proud to contribute to promoting the comprehensive development of the bilateral relations through practical people diplomacy activities, he said.

 

After the COVID-19 pandemic broke out in the Czech Republic in 2020, the association promptly donated masks and medical equipment to Czech people. In 2021, it made important contributions to the pandemic fight in Vietnam through calling on the Czech government to support medical equipment and COVID-19 vaccines.

 

Vietnamese people, including members of the VCFA, always appreciate the assistance from the government and people of the Czech Republic in difficult times, as well as their support to Vietnam at multilateral forums and international and regional organisations, Hai said.

 

The association will continue to accompany and effectively coordinate with relevant agencies and organisations of the two nations in implementing people diplomacy and cultural exchange activities, serve as a bridge to boost mutual understanding, especially between the two countries’ young peoples, thus further stepping up the bilateral friendship, he stressed./.

 

Source: Vietnam News Agency

The authorities and businesses from Constantine province of Algeria want to step up cooperation with Vietnam and learn from the country’s experience in such areas as aquaculture, tourism, and garment-textile, said Riad Larkem, a representative from the province’s Rhummel Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIR).

 

Larkem made the statement at a working session with the Vietnam Trade Office in Algeria on October 27.

 

The CCIR representative also emphasised that, in July, Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune issued a new investment law with many changes in regulations and incentives for investment in priority sectors, including agriculture, mining, healthcare, remote services, and tourism, in order to attract foreign investment.

 

Hoang Duc Nhuan, Commercial Counsellor of Vietnam in Algeria, introduced to Algerian firms Vietnam’s economic potential and key exports, as well as the two nations’ trade and investment ties.

 

On this occasion, Vietnamese farm produce exporter Rong Dong Duong met with local businesses and introduced its products such as peppercorns, coffee, and turmeric powder. According to CCIR data, the spice market in this North African country is relatively large with an import volume of more than 30,000 tonnes of spices per year.

 

While in Constantine, the Vietnamese delegation also visited an international exhibition of food and packaging industry products./.

 

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Vietnam’s export to America has made impressive growth after the three-year implementation of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), heard a seminar held by the Industry and Trade Magazine on October 27.

 

Figures show that Vietnam is the only CPTPP member that has seen its market share in Canada and Mexico increasing, according to Nguyen Thi Thu Trang, Director of the WTO and Integration Centre at the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI).

 

Vietnam’s market share in Canada rose from 0.9% in 2017 to 1.2 % in 2019 – the first year of CPTPP implementation – and 1.6% last year. Meanwhile, that in Mexico expanded from 0.9% in 2018 to 1.7% in 2021.

 

The figures reflect Vietnam’s successes in utilising tariff incentives under the deal to access America and increase its market share there, Trang noted.

 

Vo Hong Anh, Deputy Director of the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT)’s European – American Market Department, said among the CPTPP member countries, four are from America – Canada, Mexico, Peru and Chile. Except from Chile with which Vietnam signed a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) in 2014, this is the first time the Southeast Asian nation has reached an FTA with the remaining three.

 

Therefore, such tax incentives will bring about good opportunities for Vietnam to boost its export, Anh noted.

 

Vietnam’s export to America growing thanks to CPTPP: seminar hinh anh 2

 

At the seminar (Photo: VNA)

 

Vietnam’s export to Canada grew about 75% and to Mexico more than doubled in 2021 as compared with the period when the CPTPP had yet to take effect, she added.

 

Anh, however, pointed to obstacles to Vietnamese exporters in their access to America such as the long geographical distance that makes transportation consume much time and money.

 

Other roadblocks lie with market standards, especially in North America, and the language as most of the Latin American nations use Spanish in transactions, she continued.

 

The official affirmed that the MoIT has always paid attention to the implementation of the agreement to bring about the most pragmatic interests to businesses.

 

Last July, the ministry sent a delegation to the US, Canada and Mexico in an effort to promote trade with the countries, and the sides reached some consensus on orders on this occasion.

 

The ministry will continue to help businesses handle risks regarding trade barriers and remedies,  Anh said, suggesting them establish showrooms and distribution centres in the region./.

 

Source: Vietnam News Agency