Day: December 12, 2022

 

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh visited the World Horti Centre (WHC) in South Holland province on December 12 (local time) as part of his official visit to the Netherlands.

 

During the meeting with PM Chinh, Director of WHC Puck van Holsteijn said WHC can provide seeds and technologies for Vietnam, so that the country’s agriculture can develop with higher productivity and quality.

 

A number of Dutch enterprises have cooperated with Vietnam in this field, he said, expressing the belief that in the coming time, the centre and Vietnamese agencies and units will cooperate more practically and effectively in planning and developing smart agriculture.

 

PM Chinh said Vietnam is striving to promote agriculture development in the direction of ecological agriculture and modern countryside, so the country wants to learn experience from the Netherlands in developing green, clean, sustainable agriculture, and diversifying the supply chain.

 

He hoped the Netherlands can support Vietnam in developing processing technologies and markets, and producing products that are suitable for global consumption demand, adding that Vietnam can help the Netherlands develop raw materials.

 

The PM wished the Netherlands will continue to provide technical assistance and mobilise more resources from investors, donors and development partners for Vietnam, especially for its Mekong Delta region, helping the Southeast Asian nation successfully implement the region’s sustainable agricultural transformation plan.

 

He called for more technical support from the European country for Vietnam’s management, research and training agencies to help them strengthen their capacity in digital transformation in agriculture development, emission reduction, green growth, hi-tech agriculture, circular economy, and logistics.

 

Vietnam also needs the Netherlands’ coordination and support in conducting research into the application of space technology in the field of irrigation and preventing erosion of river banks and coasts.

 

WHC is a hub of collaboration and a major innovation centre of the international greenhouse horticulture sector, where business, research, demonstration, teaching and education converge, as well as providing a focus for greenhouse companies to do business./.

 

Source: Vietnam News Agency

The 56th Hong Kong Brands and Products Expo, one of the largest outdoor expos in Hong Kong (China), is in full swing, offering great opportunities for Vietnamese firms.

 

Running from December 9 to the first day of 2023, it features over 860 outdoor booths showcasing food, beverages, cosmetics, home furniture and toys, among other goods.

 

The expo is forecast to attract about 1 million people to visit and shop, with sales expected to go up at least 30% from last year.

 

Talking to the Vietnam News Agency (VNA)’s resident correspondent, Nguyen Ngoc Ha, Director of Viet Kwong Company and a representative of the Hanoi Trade Joint Stock Corporation (Hapro) in Hong Kong, said that Viet Kwong has participated in the fair eight times, while Hapro has been present four times. This year, Hapro, for the first time, is the third largest sponsor of the fair, she said.

 

According to Ha, local people are showing an increasing interest in Vietnamese specialties such as fish sauce, chili sauce and pepper, leading to a rise in the amount of products consumed in the market.

 

She advised Vietnamese firms to develop quality products suitable to local tastes and culture for a long-term foothold and strong growth in Hong Kong./.

 

Source: Vietnam News Agency

 

The Belt Road No.2 from Vinh Tuy to Nga Tu So will increase capacity and help solve traffic issues in the capital city of Hanoi when it is completed by the end of this month, according to the Hanoi Traffic Construction Projects Investment Management Board.

 

Construction crews have basically completed the project and are currently finishing the details for its opening.

 

The project, which started in April 2018, includes one main bridge and three connecting bridges from Vinh Tuy, Nga Tu Vong and Nga Tu So.

 

The total length of the elevated route is 5.1 kilometres with a width of 19 metres, and 7 metres wide for entrances and exits.

 

The lower Vinh Tuy-Cho Mo-Nga Tu Vong section is also widened. After widening, the Belt Road No.2 will have eight lanes available, six for motor vehicles and two for non-motorised ones.

 

The total investment of the project is 9.5 trillion VND (383 million USD), of which 4.1 trillion VND (165 million USD) was for land clearance in the areas of Hoang Mai, Hai Ba Trung, Thanh Xuan and Dong Da districts.

 

After completion, the elevated road will combine with the lower one to create a system that will divert and increase capacity for routes where vehicles travel from western Hanoi to the southern and eastern parts of the city.

 

The ongoing phase two of the Vinh Tuy Bridge Project, which broke ground in January 2021, has completed four out of five main construction bidding packages. The remaining package is currently under construction and bridge piers have been completed.

 

The Hanoi Traffic Construction Projects Investment Management Board is concentrating on delivering the project before the deadline and open the bridge by September 2, 2023. /.

 

Source: Vietnam News Agency

The Ministry of Finance has proposed the government set environmental fuel tax at its floor limit for another year.

 

The plan, if accepted, will see environmental fuel tax for gasoline stay at 1,000 VND per litre, jet fuel at 3,000 VND, diesel at 500 VND, mazut at 300 VND and kerosene at 300 VND for an entire year.

 

This is a U-turn from the ministry’s previous proposal, which included four different levels of fuel tax, depending on price developments in the global oil market.

 

Explaining their position, the ministry said global oil prices likely will stay high throughout the coming year, hovering around 95-105 USD per barrel, after consultations with the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

 

Barring an unexpected and significant drop in global oil prices, high fuel prices will likely hurt the economy given the massive demand for fuel post-pandemic. Vietnam’s economy, which has been trying to recover from COVID-19, was forecast to require north of 14.5 million cubic metres of fuel in 2023, a 10 per cent increase from 2022.

 

Rising environmental fuel tax, or even rumours of it, will likely result in fuel hikes. With the Lunar New Year holidays just around the corner, it’s the government’s top priority to stabilise the economy, assure manufacturers and consumers and maintain favourable macroeconomic factors. This will also set the foundation for the government’s effort in keeping inflation in check next year.

 

The environmental fuel tax, set for the entire 2023, is to expire on January 1, 2024, and to be reevaluated with developments in the global oil market in mind.

 

The ministry said the tax, applied to all users without discrimination, will provide a much-needed boost to manufacturing, transport, consumption and, in general, economic recovery.

 

In case oil prices returned to post-pandemic levels, the tax can be readjusted, even to its ceiling limit as before the pandemic.

 

During this year, fuel skyrocketed to a historic level high, at times to around 30,000 VND per litre of gasoline due to rising global oil prices and difficulties in managing supply for the domestic market. It has since come down to around 23,000 VND per litre after the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Industry and Trade, who are in charge of fuel prices, took a number of measures to address said difficulties.

 

The ministry stressed such a change of policy, when becomes feasible, will be in line with the Vietnamese government’s unchanged position to limit the use of fossil-fuel and improve the country’s environment standards and its commitments at the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) to reduce net zero emissions in the future./.

 

Source: Vietnam News Agency

 

President Nguyen Xuan Phuc had a meeting with the liaison board of the war veterans’ association of Division 341 in Hanoi on December 12.

 

The event took place on the occasion of the 78th founding anniversary of the Vietnam People’s Army (December 22), the 33rd anniversary of the All People’s National Defence Festival, and 50 years since the “Hanoi – Dien Bien Phu Battle in the Air” victory.

 

On November 23, 1972, facing urgent requests on the battlefield, Infantry Division 341 was established under the name “Song Lam” (Lam River) Division. The division joined the people in the struggles to liberate the country, safeguard the southwestern border, and perform their international duty in Cambodia.

 

Fighting different wars, more than 3,000 officers and soldiers of Division 341 laid down their lives while over 9,000 sustained injuries.

 

With remarkable feats of arms, the division has been honoured with the title of “Hero of the People’s Armed Forces” twice, the Ho Chi Minh Order once, the first-class Feat Order twice, and many other noble awards.

 

Expressing his admiration for the feats of arms of Division 341 officers and soldiers, President Phuc highly valued the veterans’ maintenance of the virtues of “Uncle Ho’s Soldiers”, solidarity, assistance for disadvantaged members, and search for and repatriation of martyrs’ remains.

 

He asked the liaison board’s members to set examples for their descendants to follow, join hands with the Vietnamese War Veterans’ Association and the Vietnam Fatherland Front to contribute to national development, and continue supporting disadvantaged veterans and martyrs’ families.

 

The State leader also told the Ministry of National Defence and Military Region 4 to create more conditions for Division 341 to uphold its traditions and fulfill all assigned duties./.

 

Source: Vietnam News Agency

 

Prime Minister of the Netherlands Mark Rutte on December 12 hosted an official welcome ceremony for his visiting Vietnamese counterpart Pham Minh Chinh in the city of La Haye.

 

The Vietnamese PM is being accompanied by Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son, Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Hong Ha, Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan, Deputy Minister of National Defence Hoang Xuan Chien, Deputy Minister of Public Security Nguyen Duy Ngoc, and other officials.

 

After the ceremony, the two Prime Ministers held talks.

 

The friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and the Netherlands have been developing positively even amid the complicated developments of the COVID-19 pandemic. Exchanges have been regularly held between senior leaders of the two countries, while investment and trade have been enhanced.

 

The Netherlands is Vietnam’s second largest trading partner in Europe and the largest investor among European Union states. The Dutch government provided one million doses of vaccines and medical equipment for COVID-19 prevention and control, helping to Vietnam control the disease and create conditions for economic recovery.

 

The official visit to the Netherlands by PM Chinh aims to to elevate the two countries’ relations to a new stage of development; reach agreement on orientations and solutions to promote cooperation between the two countries and enhance political trust, contributing to sustainable development and close coordination in response to global challenges./.

 

Source: Vietnam News Agency

 

A conference for young Vietnamese scientists in the Republic of Korea (RoK) was held at the Seoul National University of Science and Technology on December 11.

 

The 8th annual event, held by the Vietnamese Students’ Association in the RoK (VSAK), was sponsored by the Vietnamese Embassy in the RoK, the Vietnamese Ministry of Science and Technology, and the Vietnamese Students’ Association in Da Nang city.

 

It attracted nearly 100 reports covering different fields. Veteran professors and doctors selected the ones on seven areas to be reported at the conference, namely physics, energy and material science, life science and biomedicine, chemistry and chemical techniques, computer science – information technology and communications, construction and structural engineering.

 

The organising board also received 24 nominations for an award reserved for young Vietnamese scientists in the RoK, and five obtained the honour for their remarkable performance in biotechnology, information technology and communications, new material technology, and medicinal – pharmaceutical technology and environmental technology.

 

Applauding the VSAK’s organisation of the conference, Vietnamese Ambassador Nguyen Vu Tung noted the community of Vietnamese students in the RoK is growing strongly. He described them as a source of high-quality human resources contributing to their homeland’s development and Vietnam-RoK diplomatic relations, which turn 30 this year.

 

He expressed his hope for more exchanges in the future to tighten the two counties’ links, especially in education and science.

 

In his congratulatory speech sent to the event, Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Bui The Duy said the nearly 70,000 Vietnamese students in the RoK are helping with the development of science in Vietnam. He also voiced his hope that they will bring into play their knowledge, experience and research findings to contribute to the homeland.

 

Meanwhile, VSAK President Tran Thien Quang noted through the annual conference, the association is looking to form a sustainable network of researchers to help boost the development of science in Vietnam./.

 

Source: Vietnam News Agency