The policy dialogue to discuss the acceleration of action on tuberculosis and multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis in the APEC region takes place on August 22 (Photo: VNA) HCM City (VNA) – The APEC Health Working Group (HWG) held a policy dialogue on August 22 to discuss the acceleration of action on tuberculosis (TB) and multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) in the region. The dialogue was part of the third APEC Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM 3) and related meetings in Ho Chi Minh City. More than 100 participants included representatives of the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Stop TB Partnership, the Global TB Caucus, the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, and the APEC economies. Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Health Pham Le Tuan stressed his country has gained a number of positive outcomes in TB prevention and control over the last … [Read more...]

illustrative image (Source: VNA) Hau Giang (VNA) – The Mekong Delta province of Hau Giang has introduced investment opportunities in agriculture and renewable energy to firms from the Republic of Korea (RoK)’s Jeollanam province. At a working session on August 22 with a delegation from the Jeollanam Business Association, Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Van Tuan said his locality is calling for investment in agricultural production, farm produce processing and clean energies such as solar and wind power. Hau Giang will create the optimal conditions for RoK firms, particularly those from Jeollanam, to invest in the province. However, he also noted that investors must observe regulations on environmental protection. Oh Jang Seon, President of the Jeollanam Business Association, said Korean enterprises are interested … [Read more...]

Prime Minister of Turkey Binali Yildirim (Source: Radio Free Europe) Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister of Turkey Binali Yildirim arrived in Hanoi on August 22, beginning his official visit to Vietnam to August 24 at the invitation of Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc. The visit looks to develop wide-ranging relations between the two countries. It will allow the two countries to seek measures to deepen their cooperation in trade-investment, science-technology, transport, education-training and more. Leaders are expected to discuss international issues of shared concern. Vietnam and Turkey set up diplomatic relations on June 7, 1978. In February 1997, Turkey established its embassy in Hanoi. In October 1999, Vietnam opened a Trade Representative Office in Istanbul and in July 2002, Vietnam launched its Consulate General, also in Istanbul. The Consulate General was … [Read more...]

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong (L) meets with Speaker of Indonesia’s Regional Representative Council Oesman Sapta Odang (Photo: VNA) Jakarta (VNA) – General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong met with Speaker of Indonesia’s Regional Representative Council Oesman Sapta Odang in Jakarta on August 22. The two sides agreed that Vietnam and Indonesia have long-standing relations and both are members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which allow the two countries to promote their relations. The deepening of the bilateral strategic partnership not only satisfies the benefits of their people but also contributes to building an ASEAN of solidarity, unity and strength, thus promoting peace, stability and development in the region and beyond, they … [Read more...]

At the working session (Source: VNA) Hau Giang (VNA) – The Mekong Delta province of Hau Giang introduced its investment attraction policies and investment opportunities to European food and beverage firms. At a meeting on August 22 with representatives from Poland’s Euro Eco Food, Mekong Pearl JSC, and the Netherlands’ Vietnam Trade International, Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Van Tuan detailed the locality’s natural conditions, infrastructure, and incentives for investors.  The province will create optimal conditions for investors to implement their projects in the province, Tuan said. Ngo Phat Dat, Chairman of the Mekong Pearl JSC highlighted Hau Giang’s favourable conditions in terms of climate, human resources, and material supply for his company’s projects to produce Polish Vodka and … [Read more...]

At the meeting (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Young legislators from Vietnam and Japan met in Hanoi on August 22 to share experience in their work and discuss regional and global issues of common concern. At the meeting, Chairman of the Group of Vietnam’s Young National Assembly Deputies Le Quoc Phong said the regular organisation of exchange activities between the two countries’ parliaments will help youngsters better their understanding of Vietnam-Japan sound relations, thus contributing to developing the bilateral rapports at present and in the future. The event creates an opportunity for the Vietnamese and Japanese young parliamentarians to show friendship and raise their responsibilities for important issues in their nations as well as in the Asian-Pacific region, he added. Keisuke Suzuki, head of the Youth Division of Japan’s Liberal … [Read more...]

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong is welcomed at Soekarno- Hatta International Airport (Photo: VNA) Jakarta (VNA) – Speaker of the People’s Representative Council of Indonesia Setya Novanto met with Vietnam’s Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong on August 22, noting that his country attaches importance to enhancing the friendship and multifaceted cooperation with Vietnam. Welcoming the Vietnamese leader’s official visit, Novanto expressed his admiration for the country’s struggle for national independence while valuing its enormous achievements over the three decades of reforms, especially in spurring economic growth, maintaining political and social stability, and improving people’s living standards. General Secretary Trong noted his good impression of Indonesia and recalled the memories between late Presidents Ho Chi Minh … [Read more...]

National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan  (fifth, right) and Lao officials pose for a photo (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) - Chairwoman of the National Assembly of Vietnam Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan stated that Vietnam’s Party and State leaders have always supported and provided all favourable conditions for the people’s organizations of Vietnam to unceasingly strengthen the friendship and cooperation with their Lao counterparts. She made the statement at a reception for Somphan Phengkhammy, a Party Central Committee member, Vice National Assembly Chairman, and President of the Committee for Peace and Solidarity of Laos in Hanoi on August 22. Ngan spoke highly of friendship and cooperative activities of the people’s organizations of the two countries, including the Peace Committee of Vietnam and the Committee for Peace and Solidarity of Laos, saying these … [Read more...]

At the event (Source: VNA) HCM City (VNA) – The Health Working Group (HWG) hosted a policy dialogue on promoting healthy aging and non-communicable diseases (NCD) control for a healthy Asia - Pacific region. The event, part of the third APEC Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM 3) and related meetings in HCM City, drew over 100 delegates from APEC economies, representatives from UN agencies, international and social organisations, researchers and health care service providers. Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Health Pham Le Tuan said population aging generates major opportunities and challenges, and impacts all economic and social aspects. The APEC economies account for 40.5 percent of the global population and nearly 50 percent of the total elderly in the world. Most APEC members are facing challenges posed by rapid population aging. Vietnam’s … [Read more...]

For these days, there has been a rise of hand-foot-mouth kids in the Children Hospital No.1 in Ho Chi Minh City. Dr. Truong Huu Khanh, head of the Infection Department at the hospital said that over 50 inpatients are staying in the department for hand-foot-mouth treatment; of them, 2 - 3 are put on ventilator. Likewise, the Children Hospital No.2 provided examination to over 2,000 kids and admitted 153 inpatients since early August. Dr. Tran Thi Kim Van, deputy head of the hospital’s Infection Department said 30 hand-foot-mouth kids are hospitalized in the department. Medical experts said that despite no abrupt leap of hand-foot-mouth patients compared to same period, it is predicted that there will be a surge of infection cases in the next time when students started their new school year. Normally, two periods which outbreaks of hand-foot-mouth will occur are from March to May and September to December which kids are in schools; accordingly, the … [Read more...]

VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnamese taekwondo athletes pocketed three bronze medals at the Chinese Taipei’s Summer Universiade on Monday. Vietnamese taekwondo athletes claim one gold and three bronze medals from the Summer Universiade in Chinese Taipei. — Photo Facebook Nguyen Thanh Huy In the women’s team poomsae (performance) category, Viet Nam’s Chau Tuyet Van, Nguyen Thi Le Kim and Ngo Thi Thuy Dung grabbed 7.680 points to stand third. Chinese Taipei had the same points but were announced the silver medallists. South Korea were on top with 7.900 points.  In the men’s team poomsae, the trio of Nguyen Thien Phung, Ho Thanh Phong and Hua Van Huy finished third, together with Iran, with 7.570 points. South Korea won the gold with 7.860 points. Chinese Taipei were second with 7.578 points. In the mixed pair … [Read more...]

VietNamNet Bridge – Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh on Monday called on continued close supervision on the operation of the Taiwan-invested steel company – Formosa Ha Tinh – to avoid any violations. Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh chairs the ninth session of the Steering Committee for marine incident recovery in Ha Noi on Monday. — Photo: VNA/VNS  The company was responsible for the marine environment incident in Viet Nam’s four central provinces last year. Binh, who is head of the steering committee in charge of dealing with the Formosa incident’s aftermath, emphasised that if any new violation was detected, Viet Nam would deliver strict punishment. The company has essentially addressed its 52 violations and implemented measures to monitor proper waste water treatment. It has also started … [Read more...]

A helicopter carries water to put out a forest fire (Photo: AFP) Jakarta (VNA) - Indonesia is enhancing measures to terminate forest fires across the archipelagic nation as the number of hotspots rise significantly. A total of 21 helicopters and 212 Cassa planes have been deployed to conduct water bombings and creating artificial rains, spokesman of national disaster management agency Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said on August 22. A satellite image showed that a total of 538 hotspots from west to east of the country with most of them detected in Borneo Island in the central parts and eastern Papua province, the spokesman said, adding that the number of hotspots will rise at the end of August and September. Soldiers, policemen and personnel from disaster management agency as well as volunteers have been taking part in the battle against the fires, he stressed. Six provinces … [Read more...]

Since the start of this year, the USD/VND exchange rate remained relatively stable, hovering around VND22,700 to the dollar. However, this period of calm is likely to end soon, as Vietnam enters its busy end-of-the-year business season. Economic expert Nguyen Tri Hieu said that Vietnamese businesses may require more foreign exchange notes to import materials and pay their overseas partners. Moreover, the US Federal Reserve (Fed) may announce further rate hikes at the end of this year, which usually pushes up the USD on the global market. “Foreign exchange has been steady since the start of 2017 thanks to the ongoing inflows of foreign investment, mild inflation, and strong liquidity at banks. However, the Vietnamese currency may depreciate by 2% at the year’s end due to seasonal reasons,” he said. Since May, the USD Index has lost 4.51%, standing at … [Read more...]

The talks between the Peace Committee of Vietnam and the Committee for Peace and Solidarity of Laos on August 22 (Photo: dangcongsan.vn) Hanoi (VNA) – The effective cooperation between the Peace Committee of Vietnam and the Committee for Peace and Solidarity of Laos have significantly contributed to the growth of friendship and partnership between the Party, State and people of the two countries. The opinion was shared by Uong Chu Luu, NA Vice Chairman and President of the Peace Committee and Somphan Phengkhammy, Vice NA Chairman and President of the Committee for Peace and Solidarity of Laos during their talks in Hanoi on August 22 as part of the latter’s ongoing visit. The two sides expressed their delight at the sound traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two Parties, States and people in all fields. They … [Read more...]

Finance minister Dinh Tien Dung addresses a conference held in Tokyo on Monday. Dung expressed hope that financial corporations in Japan will invest indirectly in Viet Nam, become strategic investors, and bring capital and technologies into the country. — Photo mof.gov.vn Indirect investment from Japan into Viet Nam remain relatively modest compared to the potential of Japan and the ability to absorb investment capital sources of Vietnamese market, finance minister Dinh Tien Dung said. Dung made the statement on Monday at a conference in Tokyo co-hosted by the Viet Nam’s Ministry of Finance and Daiwa Corporation of Japan to promote financial investment in Viet Nam. Around 200 Japanese firms attended the event. There remains a huge room for bilateral cooperation in the financial market, Dung said, adding that Viet Nam’s economy has recorded an annual average growth rate of 6 per cent over the past three … [Read more...]

Hoa Binh Construction & Real Estate Corp (HBC) has won bid to construct five projects with contract value of VND2.5 trillion (US$110 million) in HCM City and Phu Quoc Island in the southern province of Kien Giang. — Photo cafef.vn Hoa Binh Construction & Real Estate Corp (HBC) has won bids to construct five projects with a contract value of VND2.5 trillion (US$110 million) in HCM City and Phu Quoc Island in the southern province of Kien Giang. Of the five projects, HBC will become General Contractor of Design and Build (D&B) of two projects in HCM City. One, the Lim Tower III Project, is supported by investments from the An Khang Investment and Trading Co., Ltd. Lim Tower III is a 25-storey Grade-A office building with three basements. The total contract value is estimated at over VND940 billion. HBC will also become the D&B General Contractor for South Gate housing and commercial complex in HCM City’s Phu … [Read more...]

VietNamNet Bridge – Gymnast Dang Nam defended his title in the men’s rings event at the 29th Southeast Asian Games on Tuesday morning. Dang Nam performs in the Sea Games. — Photo zing.vn Nam displayed a perfect performance and scored 13.400 points. His veteran teammate Pham Phuoc Hung came second with 13.550 points. Both athletes had secured the same positions at the Singapore SEA Games two years ago. The bronze went to Dwi Samsul Arifin of Indonesia. Coach Truong Tuan Hien said he was not surprised with Nam’s victory. His high score was expected because Nam has reached world level. Earlier, Vietnamese gymnasts did not succeed in the floor and pommel horse events. In wushu, Pham Quoc Khanh bagged his second silver in the men’s nanquan (southern-style boxing), earning 9.66 points. Mun Hua Ho of the hosts won the gold, … [Read more...]

VietNamNet Bridge – Indian food lovers should head to Saigon Café on level 1 of the Sheraton Saigon Hotel & Towers to join an Indian Food Festival featuring two Indian guest chefs from August 22 to 27. The Indian Food Festival takes place at Saigon Café on level 1 of the Sheraton Saigon Hotel & Towers from August 22 to 27, featuring two Indian guest chefs – Photo: Courtesy of Sheraton Saigon Demi Chef de Partie Suresh Chandra and Sous Chef Gaurav Malhotra from the Ashok Hotel in New Delhi will create special menus during the promotion time. Guests will have the opportunity to try authentic Indian cuisine including Gosht Roganjosh, Matar Paneer, Kadai Prawn, Dal Makhani, Yellow Dal Tadka, Veg Biryani, and Matar Pulao. Diners should not miss a chance to savor the mouth-watering desserts with Indian-style like Coconut Payasam, … [Read more...]

A Cargill school. Cargill Cares intends to build its 82nd school in Dak Nong Province next month. – VNS Photo Cargill Cares fund raising events in Viet Nam this month raised VND7 billion (US$307,000) from individuals and organisations to advance Cargill’s school building programme in the country. Held in Dong Nai and Ha Noi on August 12 and 20 respectively, the events attracted almost 4,000 customers, partners and employees. Since it was started in 1996, the programme has built 81 schools in Viet Nam’s 46 provinces. Cargill is on track to build its 82nd school in Dak Nong Province next month and 100th by 2020. The programme benefits 13,000 students a year. A typical school costs around $50,000 and consists of three to five classrooms, restrooms, a yard, a fence, and a gate. Organised by the Cargill Cares Council, which is completely employee-led, the programme aims … [Read more...]