Lunchtime in Taipei’s Ximending district is a test of wills and patience as tourists and locals jostle at restaurants and street stalls to choose from steamed and fried dumplings, flat and thin noodles, stuffed pancakes, grills and desserts. In this foodie haven, one item makes only an occasional appearance on menus and on plates - rice. Once a staple of Taiwanese diets, rice consumption per person has fallen more than two-thirds in 50 years, according to the United Nations’ Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), as “smart crops” and “super foods” muscle their way onto plates. It is the steepest drop in Asia but a trend across the continent as urbanization, rising incomes, climate change and concerns about health and food supplies drive a push for alternatives for the future such as millets and more protein. “I ate a lot of rice when I was younger but now I eat more vegetables, fish and meat. It’s healthier,” said Guan-Po Lin, … [Read more...] about As Asians get rich and healthy, ‘smart crops’ replace rice on future menus
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BUSINESS IN BRIEF 30/3
Vietnam Airlines marks new step in Russian market The first flight using Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft of national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines arrived at Domodedovo airport in Moscow, Russia, on March 27 (local time). Speaking at the welcome ceremony, Chief Representative of Vietnam Airlines in Russia Le Thanh Dung said the airline is striving to meet demand of passengers in Russia, adding that the airlines will operate new routes linking Vietnam and Russia in the future. Meanwhile, Vietnamese Ambassador to Russia Ngo Duc Manh congratulated Vietnam Airlines on using Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner for the Hanoi-Moscow air route, contributing to the enhancement of the partnership between Vietnam and Russia, especially in tourism and people-to-people exchanges. Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner can carry up to 311 passengers and saves 20 percent of fuel compared to previous generations of aircraft. Vietnam Airlines was recognised as a 4-star airline for two consecutive years in 2016 and 2017 by the … [Read more...] about BUSINESS IN BRIEF 30/3
Vietnam to realise opportunities created by economic integration
Pursuing integration Reporting on Vietnam’s international economic integration in 2017, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Do Thang Hai said that 2017 marked the 22nd anniversary of Vietnam's accession to ASEAN and the 50th anniversary of ASEAN. Vietnam successfully hosted the APEC Year2017, significantly contributing to expanding cooperation and promoting international economic integration in Asia-Pacific. In addition to promoting integration through negotiations and its participation in international economic cooperation programmes, Vietnam continues to promote domestic integration through the implementation of its commitments on international economic integration, institutional reform, economic restructuring and growth model innovation. The nation has ratified ten bilateral and multilateral trade agreements with regional and international partners, including the ASEAN Free Trade Area, five FTAs within ASEAN+1 (China, Japan, India, Australia, and New Zealand), and four … [Read more...] about Vietnam to realise opportunities created by economic integration
US special envoy for DPRK to visit RoK, Japan
Ambassador Joseph Y. Yun (Photo: Reuters) While in Tokyo and Seoul, Ambassador Yun will also meet with senior government officials to discuss coordination on the DPRK and other alliance and bilateral issues. As scheduled, in Tokyo, Mr. Joseph Yun will participate in the International Colloquium on Building Stable Peace in Northeast Asia, organized by the Toda Peace Institute, the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs, and the National Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies University of Otago. Ambassador Joseph Y. Yun is Special Representative for RoK Policy and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Korea and Japan in the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs. Ambassador Yun most recently served as the United States Ambassador to Malaysia, 2013-2016. He has also served as the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs. Mr. Yun’s other overseas postings include the RoK, Thailand, France, Indonesia and Hong Kong. Ambassador Yun joined … [Read more...] about US special envoy for DPRK to visit RoK, Japan
U.S. special envoy for DPRK to visit RoK, Japan
Ambassador Joseph Y. Yun (Photo: Reuters) While in Tokyo and Seoul, Ambassador Yun will also meet with senior government officials to discuss coordination on the DPRK and other alliance and bilateral issues. As scheduled, in Tokyo, Mr. Joseph Yun will participate in the International Colloquium on Building Stable Peace in Northeast Asia, organized by the Toda Peace Institute, the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs, and the National Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies University of Otago. Ambassador Joseph Y. Yun is Special Representative for RoK Policy and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Korea and Japan in the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs. Ambassador Yun most recently served as the United States Ambassador to Malaysia, 2013-2016. He has also served as the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs. Mr. Yun’s other overseas postings include the RoK, Thailand, France, Indonesia and Hong Kong. Ambassador Yun joined … [Read more...] about U.S. special envoy for DPRK to visit RoK, Japan
Notorious Lifepro Vietnam assets go on auction
The assets on auction (including textile and garment accessories and products as well as entire equipment and production lines) has a starting price of around VND372 billion ($16.9 million), with a deposit requirement of 10 per cent of the starting value. Lifepro Vietnam’s $300-million Luxfashion clothing complex equipped with European-technology is one of Vietnam’s largest textile and garment factories, located in Gian Khau Industrial Zone. The facility was locked down in early September 2012, only six months after official production. The Luxfashion complex kicked-off construction in 2011. At the end of the same year, some production workshops in the complex began test runs and in late March 2012, Lifepro Vietnam exported its first shipment to Europe. The peak employment was 920 local workers. However, in August 2012, only five months after its first export shipment, the complex stopped operations and all foreign leaders and specialists of Lifepro … [Read more...] about Notorious Lifepro Vietnam assets go on auction
Four countries unite in Christmas carols
Vietnamese singers and HCM City orchestra members will perform with their Canadian, Korean and Australian counterparts in a special music programme tonight at the city’s White Palace Convention Centre.The Global Echoes Christmas Concert will feature a combined performance of Canadian, Korean and Vietnamese choir and orchestra musicians, as well as soloists from Australia, Canada and Viet Nam under the baton of maestro Simon Leung.The 94-member group will perform favourite pieces of Christmas music and popular songs of the festive season as well as highlights of Handel’s Messiah.Born in Hong Kong, Simon Leung moved to Victoria via Ottawa and studied music at the University of Victoria and later worked with Paul Freeman, music director and conductor of the Victoria Symphony Orchestra.He was the principal conductor of the Sooke Community Choir and the West Coast Chamber Orchestra, and is the founder and principal conductor of the West Coast Consort and Annual Victoria Summer … [Read more...] about Four countries unite in Christmas carols
Beijing Int′l Dance Festival opens with “Her Story”
The first Beijing International Dance Festival raised its curtain on May, 9 at the Tianqiao Theater in downtown Beijing. The opening performance was called "Her Story", and was presented by the Hong Kong City Contemporary Dance Company. The opening scene is set in Jiangyong County in Hunan Province in southern China , several hundred years ago. A group of sworn sisters swap tales of their joys and sorrows through a mysterious language that they embroidered on their handkerchiefs and fans. The ancient language is called Nv Shu, or Women's Writing, an age-old written language that has passed on from one generation of women to the next in Jiangyong County . In feudal times, when Chinese women had little chance to go to school, they invented Nv Shu as a means of communicating with their sisters about the oppression of their abused lives, and the isolation of arranged … [Read more...] about Beijing Int′l Dance Festival opens with “Her Story”
Hanoi set for a weekend of Brahms
Some of German composer Johannes Brahms’ most renowned compositions will be played at two symphony concerts conducted by Briton Colin Metters in Hanoi this weekend.“Sub Concert Vol.34,″ to be held at the Hanoi Opera House on Saturday and Sunday, will also feature award-winning Vietnamese violinist Bui Cong Duy and the Vietnam National Symphony Orchestra.Among the pieces they will play are “Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in D Major” and “Symphony No.2 in D Major.”Metters, whose repertoire ranges from mainstream Classical to Romantic, is currently a Professor of Conducting and Director of Conducting Studies at the Royal Academy of Music in London in his home country. He has wielded the baton for leading symphony orchestras in the UK and also worked extensively abroad as guest conductor in Poland, Spain, Germany, Australia, Singapore, Venezuela, Hong Kong, the Netherlands, France, Vietnam, Greece, and New Zealand. In 1997 Metters was appointed … [Read more...] about Hanoi set for a weekend of Brahms
BUSINESS IN BRIEF 11/12
Investments in drugstore chains turn activeFPT Retail has recently confirmed its investment in the Long Chau drugstore chain, thus lengthening the list of tech retailers that are venturing into drugstore business.The Gioi Di Dong and Digiworld that have long been known as retailers of tech products have invested into drugstore chains as well.At a meeting on business operations at the Hochiminh Stock Exchange earlier this month, FPT Retail general director Nguyen Bach Diep said the company started injecting capital into Long Chau drugstores early this year on a pilot basis and would expand its investment in this sector next year.Revenue from drugstore business operations would be included in FPT Retail’s revenue as from 2019, Diep added.News about FPT Retail’s investment in the Long Chau drugstore chain broke early this year. But when reached by the media, the company said negotiations were ongoing and that there was no official information.Some of the well-known drugstore … [Read more...] about BUSINESS IN BRIEF 11/12