Day: November 20, 2022

The leaders of the National Assemblies of Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos signed a joint statement on establishing their summit mechanism in Phnom Penh on November 20, in the framework of the 43rd General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA-43).

 

Signatories to the joint statement were Chairman of the Vietnamese National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue, President of the Cambodian National Assembly Samdech Heng Samrin and Chairman of the Lao National Assembly Saysomphone Phomvihane.

 

The joint statement said the three NA leaders agreed to upgrade the current conference among the three NAs’ committees to the CLV Parliamentary Summit, which will be held every two years under the rotational chair of the leaders of the three NAs in alphabet order.

 

The joint statement affirmed that the establishment of the CLV Parliamentary Summit mechanism is aimed at promoting and strengthening the friendship, solidarity and comprehensive cooperation among the three countries, focusing on socio-economic development, defence-security cooperation and people’s exchange, for sustainable development of the three countries and the region as a whole.

 

The mechanism will promote and monitor the implementation of agreements, action programmes and cooperation projects reached by the three Governments as well as of multilateral agreements to which the three countries are members; promote the sharing and exchange of information, experience and good practices in performing the functions and tasks of the three NAs; allocate budgets and discuss ways to mobilise capital from partners in and outside the CLV region to carry out programmes and projects in the development triangle and other fields of cooperation.

 

After the signing ceremony, representatives of the three NAs granted an interview to the press, affirming that this is a historic milestone in legislative cooperation of Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos./.

 

Source: Vietnam News Agency

 

Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan attended the opening of the 18th Francophonie Summit in Djerba, Tunisia, on November 19 (local time).

 

The summit, themed “Connectivity in diversity – the digital vector of development and solidarity in the French-speaking world,” is taking place on November 19 and 20 with discussions on political and economic situation in the world.

 

Vice President Xuan will deliver a keynote speech proposing comprehensive and long-term solutions to build a united and strong Francophone community. She will also have bilateral meetings with other leaders and heads of delegations during the event.

 

Opening the summit, President of the host country Kais Saied reiterated Tunisia’s strong commitment to Francophone and to the fundamental values expressed via the French language.

 

Secretary General of the International Organisation of la Francophonie (OIF) Louise Mushikiwabo highlighted the strong changes of the OIF over the past 50 years which affirmed its important role and position and promoted multilateralism.

 

She called on countries to work together to define orientations to build an increasingly dynamic and influential Francophone community, turning it into an inclusive digital space while ensuring cultural and language diversity.

 

Founded in 1970, the Francophone Community groups 88 member states with the goal of sharing French language and universal values for the sake of peace, cooperation, solidarity and sustainable development. The members are from five continents, with about 220 million French speakers out of a population of 890 million./.

 

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Four out of every 10 Vietnamese businesses have gained some benefits, including in import-export, from the Vietnam-EU Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), according to a survey of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), heard a recent conference on increasing the presence of Vietnamese firms in the EU market.

 

However, it also means that six other businesses have not gained any benefit, direct or indirect, from the pact, which came into effect more than two years ago.

 

Furthermore, despite an increase in Vietnam’s export value to the EU, the market’s share in Vietnam’s total export has gradually shrank, from 19-20% ten years ago to less than 12% in 2021.

 

The growth rate of exports to EU has always been lower than the average growth of Vietnam’s exports.

 

The issue was the focus of attention at the conference in Hanoi on November 18.

 

Ngo Chung Khanh, Deputy Director of the Multilateral Trade Policy Department under the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT), said there are few Vietnamese brands able to make inroad into the EU market.

 

He noted that the share of many strategic exports of Vietnam in the EU market remains small, for example 2-3% for fruit and vegetables, over 4% for aquatic products and textile-garment.

 

Khanh again stressed the need to further popularise the EVFTA among Vietnamese businesses.

 

According to him, the MoIT is working with localities nationwide to pinpoint the strategic exports of each locality and build plans to support the export of those products to the EU.

 

The ministry expects to coordinate closely with other ministries, sectors, local administrations, trade associations, and businesses to exploit to the fullest the benefits of the EVFTA, Khanh said.

 

The EU is the third largest export market of Vietnam, with bilateral trade constantly growing even during the COVID-19 pandemic. The value of Vietnam’s export to EU in the period from August 2020 to July 2022 totalled 83.4 billion USD, averaging 41.7 billion USD a year, up 24% from the average yearly growth in the 2016-2019 period.

 

However, Vietnamese goods still account for less than 2% of the EU market./.

 

Source: Vietnam News Agency

 

The urban economy is expected to contribute some 75% of the national GDP by 2025 and about 85% by 2030 under an action programme of the Government.

 

Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh has signed Resolution No. 148/NQ-CP dated November 11, 2022 on the issuance of the action programme that was devised to implement the Politburo’s Resolution No. 06-NQ/TW dated January 24, 2022, which covers urban planning, construction, management and development by 2030 with a vision towards 2045.

 

The programme set the target of raising the urbanisation rate to over 50% and the number of urban areas nationwide to about 1,000-1,200 by 2030.

 

By that time, there will be a number of national and regional urban centres that satisfy health, education-training, and culture standards set for an urban area in the top four ASEAN countries.

 

The average housing floor area per capita in urban areas will reach at least 28 square meters by 2025 and 32 square meters by 2030.

 

Broadband internet will cover more than 80% of the urban households by 2025, and target all of them in the next five years.

 

By 2045, Vietnam aims to have at least five international urban areas connected with regional and global networks.

 

Ministries, agencies and People’s Committees of cities and provinces are required to instruct the implementation of major tasks. These tasks include improving the quality of planning management, building harmonious, modern infrastructure adaptive to climate change.

 

The programme also includes devising policies and legal documents to facilitate implementation./.

 

Source: Vietnam News Agency

 

The People’s Committee of Khanh Hoa south-central province has just issued a master plan to preserve and restore coral reefs in Nha Trang Bay.

 

Provincial authorities have set out specific tasks and solutions, including raising awareness and changing the behaviours of individuals, communities and businesses. Scuba diving tourism at degraded reef sites in Hon Mun and other locations will be suspended, as well as activities that infringe on habitats and coral reefs in the Hon Mun sea area and other core areas in Nha Trang Bay.

 

They will strengthen control over aquaculture activities in Nha Trang Bay; patrol and strictly protect Hon Mun conservation area, and promptly detect and handle violations of the environmental law in the Nha Trang Bay area.

 

In order to restore corals in Hon Mun and Nha Trang Bay, the provincial authorities will conduct environmental cleaning.

 

The province will conduct surveys on the current status of coral reefs at scuba diving tourist sites around Hon Mun, to determine the extent and causes of degradation; and then implement appropriate restoration solutions for coral reefs.

 

The Nha Trang city People’s Committee and Nha Trang Bay Management Board will co-organise the plan implementation.

 

The Vietnam – Russia Tropical Centre’s Nha Trang branch, in collaboration with the Institute of Oceanography, will be responsible for researching the restoration of coral reefs.

 

The Institute of Fisheries Science and Technology under Nha Trang University will test coral restoration by using “Biorock” technology in Nha Trang Bay.

 

The province will survey the function of the marine protected areas of Nha Trang Bay, and support the restoration and conservation of sea turtles in the protected area and adjacent waters.

 

The province also will create sustainable livelihoods for the community associated with coral reef conservation in Hon Mun area and Nha Trang Bay by improving the capacity of management, protection and rational exploitation of coral reef ecosystems for the community and social organisations in Nha Trang Bay.

 

The province has mobilised contributions from the Bich Dam residential area’s community and domestic and foreign organisations, to create a sustainable financial source for the management and protection of coral reefs.

 

Bich Dam residential area developed an eco-tourism model based on the green, clean and civilised island community, contributing to gradually changing jobs for local fishermen.

 

The province controls discharge sources into Nha Trang Bay; perfects the system of mechanisms and policies on the State management of activities in the bay; management and reduction of plastic waste in the marine protected area towards the development of a green marine economy.

 

Nha Trang Bay covers an area of over 500 sq.km with 19 islands. It has distinct ecosystems such as mangroves, coral reefs, and seagrass./.

 

Source: Vietnam News Agency

The Federation of Labour of Ho Chi Minh City plans to present 35,000 bus, train and plane tickets to trade union members and workers in disadvantaged circumstances to enable them to return to their home town for the 2023 Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday.

 

This is an annual activity of the municipal trade union organization to help all workers to have a holiday with their family members, in accordance with the Tet tradition of family reunion.

 

Pham Chi Tam, Vice President of the federation, said to secure the tickets, the federation has persuaded transport firms to donate free tickets or sell at preferential prices.

 

The federation also instructed trade union organisations at different levels to persuade employers to arrange coaches or give ticket subsidies to disadvantaged employees who have not returned to their hometowns for Tet for many years.

 

The centre for supporting young workers under the municipal Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union committee also announced a so-called Spring Coach programme, under which free transport means will be arranged for 1,500 young workers in difficult circumstances to return to their home villages in central and northern central localities for the Tet holiday.

 

Those who wish to take the free trip can register online at https://tinyurl.com/chuyenxemuaxuan or at offices of the centre.

 

Presenting free transport tickets to people in difficult circumstances to enable them to return to their home town for the Tet holiday has become an annual tradition of many mass organisations in Ho Chi Minh City./.

 

Source: Vietnam News Agency

 

 

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has emphasised the need for breakthrough steps towards the goal of comprehensive, inclusive and sustainable development for the Tay Nguyen Central Highlands while chairing a conference in Da Lat city, Lam Dong province, on November 20.

 

The conference was held to launch the Government’s action plan materialising the Politburo’s Resolution No. 23-NQ/TW dated October 6, 2022 on orientations for socio-economic development, national defence and security in the Central Highlands by 2030 with a vision towards 2045.

 

The PM pointed out that the region, comprising five provinces of Kon Tum, Gia Lai, Dak Lak, Dak Nong and Lam Dong, has yet to fully tapped its potential, opportunities and competitive edge.

 

He said people and businesses should be put at the centre of development in the Central Highlands, and be the subject, target, driving forces and resources for development.

 

The Government leader underlined the strategic importance of Tay Nguyen, which has great potential and many advantages but is lagging behind other regions in development, hence the Poliburo’s resolution.

 

The PM instructed that ministries, agencies and localities must outline their own action plans to carry out the Government’s programme, and build specific mechanisms for the region’s development.

 

He added that planning schemes must be devised with a strategic vision and breakthroughs in the mindset, with attention paid to strategic infrastructure, especially in transport, health care and education, human resources, the green economy, digital economy, circular economy and forest-based economy.

 

The leader asked the region to pool investment resources, including cooperation between central agencies and localities, public-private partnership (PPP), and foreign investment, while developing strong brands for local products.

 

In terms of investment promotion, Chinh said the localities need to soon perfect and stabilise policies and mechanisms to attract investments suitably and effectively.

 

The PM used the occasion to call on investors, enterprises and development partners to maintain their confidence, promote the spirit of mutually beneficial cooperation, and continue accompanying Vietnam in general and the Central Highlands in particular.

 

He also urged the localities to push ahead with public investment disbursement, and the implementation of national target programmes, and support businesses in terms of capital and administrative procedures.

 

The localities were requested to step up vaccination against the COVID-19 pandemic, and promote their land, people, culture, tourism, potential and strength, thus boosting local tourism and attracting more investments.

 

At the conference, PM Chinh and representatives from ministries, agencies and localities witnessed the handover of cooperation agreements on sustainable development in the Central Highlands between the Ministry of Planning and Investment, and the region, and development partners, along with memoranda of understanding and investment licences worth more than 5 billion USD and 25 trillion VND (over 1 billion USD).

 

The action programme of the Government to realise Resolution 23 defines seven groups of key tasks and solutions, together with 23 specific tasks and nine investment projects assigned to relevant ministries and sectors, with detailed roadmaps.

 

Prior to the conference, he visited a photo exhibition featuring the land and people of the Central Highalnds./.

 

Source: Vietnam News Agency