Day: March 16, 2024

Hanoi: The Ministry of Transport has submitted a report to the Government regarding the implementation of a plan to ensure order and safety in railway corridors, as stipulated in the Prime Minister’s Decision No. 994/2014/QD-TTg on ensuring road and railway transportation safety.

Accordingly, during the 2015 – 2023 period, over 1.6 trillion VND (nearly 65 million USD) sourced from the State budget was spent on upgrading crossings across railway tracks.

From this funding, units completed the upgrading and repair of 226 of 291 railway crossings that violated relevant regulations.

The remaining 65 railway crossings were constructed using various funding sources.

Besides, units upgraded 452 railway crossings with signs to those with automatic barriers and with guards. They have also completed 382 out of 566 crossings with a budget of 600 billion VND.

However, during the 2014 – 2020 period, due to difficulties in funding, the State budget did not allocate resources for compensation and the clearance for railw
ay safety corridors, installation of railway safety corridor markers, construction of road bridges, separate from shared ones with railways, and overpasses on national highways over railway lines. As a result, most of the railway safety projects and transport works outlined in Decision 994 have yet to be implemented.

The Ministry of Transport has recommended the Government issue directives or official dispatches requiring ministries, sectors, and localities to concentrate on effectively implementing the project.

Localities with railways running through have been requested to prioritise funds for constructing crossings and barriers to eliminate unauthorised crossings over railways.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Finance has been asked to prioritise allocating capital sourced from railway economic activities in 2024 and following years to upgrade and fully equip the signaling system at crossings, thus ensuring safety for residents.

The upgrading of level-crossings is an urgent task for the railway sector due to
numerous tragic accidents that have occurred at crossroads.

Despite warnings and communication campaigns by local authorities, many people still disregard the dangers and create illegally-established crossings to make travel easier for themselves.

Railway accidents are mainly due to motorbike and car drivers’ poor awareness. At many crossings, when the bell rings, the red light flashes to signal a train’s arrival, but many car and motorbike drivers still try to cross the railway, leading to collisions or even derailment.

The Vietnam Railway Corporation (VNR) plans to continue investing in repairing and adding signals at 200 crossings. It also sent a document to the Ministry of Transport to propose the Prime Minister extend the time for upgrading and installing automatic warning signals at 566 other crossings to the end of 2025.

Phan Quoc Anh, Deputy General Director of the VNR, said that the Prime Minister issued Decision No. 358/QÐ-TTg on a scheme on traffic safety corridor order.

The scheme will handle
illegally-established railway crossings and set out a specific roadmap with many infrastructure solutions such as installing fencing and making overpasses and underpasses.

The aim is to eliminate illegally-established crossings on railway lines in the country by 2025./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Ha Giang: Concrete roads, electricity systems, and flood-resistant bridges have made the border commune of Tung Vai in Quang Ba Quan district, which is one of the most natural disaster-prone regions in the northern mountainous province of Ha Giang, more robust.

A solar-powered lighting system consisting of more than 20 lights and power poles has brought light to the rural location, thanks to the support of ActionAid International in Vietnam.

Vuong Phat Quy, a resident of Suoi Vui hamlet, said the solar-powered light system helps save electricity. Installing it is simple and environmentally friendly since there is no need to connect cables to the grid.

All the villagers have to do is to put in the frame and then raise the pole. According to him, this has great significance for residents in isolated and hilly places.

The Tung Vai Commune Youth Union Secretary Phan Chan Phuc said the commune’s union installed the lighting system in December 2023. The system runs bulbs with capacity of 300 watts each and an a
utomatic control system to minimise consumption.

He said: ‘Since the lightbulb has a light sensor and turns on and off automatically, it doesn’t require much effort.’

Its lighting duration is extended, providing two to three days of backup during overcast weather devoid of sunlight. According to Phuc, the method has aided in keeping the hamlet safe and orderly, especially when it comes to helping residents evacuate amid significant floods.

Deputy Chairman of the commune Luc Giang Bang said residents have found the solar-powered lighting system to be effective in boosting output and the local economy. This light represents not just electricity but also the policies and laws of the Party and the State and the social development.

The flood-resistant concrete bridge at Ban Thang hamlet, Tung Vai commune, works in tandem with the solar lighting system to provide assistance to the inhabitants in battling natural calamities.

ActionAid funded the project, with some donations coming from locals.

Beginning in Oct
ober 2022, the bridge’s construction spanned 2.5 metres in width and 9 metres in length. It opened for traffic in December 2022.

Then Thi Cham, a villager, told Vietnam News Agency that before the bridge was built, the villagers had to cross the creek by foot using two iron rails.

Nguyen Thi Thuy, Secretary of the Ban Thang Village Youth Union, said a few years ago, locals would not have dared to dream of a large concrete bridge. Although the community is irrigated by the Ban Thang Stream, the stream also poses a hazard to local life.

“The entire region was submerged when the river rose. Nobody was able to cross the river for several days,’ she said.

More than 7,000 residents of Tung Vai commune were spared isolation amid the floods thanks to the Ban Thang Bridge. About 130 children from 50 households no longer have to miss lessons due to floods.

Evaluating the models assisting natural disaster prevention and control in Ha Giang province, Pauline Tamesis, United Nations resident coordinator in Vietnam, s
aid work on natural disaster prevention and control needed to be grounded in people’s real needs. ActionAid International in Vietnam has implemented practical solutions such as flood-proof bridges and solar-powered lighting systems that are well-suited to the current circumstances in Ha Giang.

Community-based model

Since 2007, ActionAid International in Vietnam has been implementing a community-based initiative for the prevention and control of natural disasters in Quan Ba district, Ha Giang province.

Each participating village develops community-based strategies for disaster prevention and control every year using tools for risk assessment.

All communes involved in the programme so far have created plans for preventing and controlling natural disasters. These plans are easily linked to the district agriculture department’s operations and budget, as it is the agency in charge of organising local efforts to prepare for and respond to natural disasters.

According to Do Quang Dung, Deputy Chairman of the Qu
ang Ba district People’s Committee, 100% of villages in five communes and one town have adopted instruments for risk assessment and public awareness raising in order to proactively prevent and mitigate risks from natural disasters in the area.

Chief Representative of ActionAid International in Vietnam Hoang Phuong Thao said preparation, reaction, and recovery are three main goals of ActionAid’s natural disaster prevention and control programme.

Programmes are carried out in accordance with the circumstances of each locality, she said.

Through grassroots projects, ActionAid Vietnam’s programmes give organisations a significant opportunity to contribute to the prevention and control of natural disasters, she said./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Hanoi: The Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) has recently proposed a number of new regulations on Internet resource management, including the national domain name “.vn”.

Specifically, inheriting existing regulations, donating, contributing capital and inheriting the right to use the “.vn” domain name will be carried out in accordance with the law on property rights and other relevant regulations.

In the draft decree detailing a number of articles of the Telecommunications Law, the MIC has supplemented and improved regulations on transfer procedures, rights and obligations (including tax obligations) of related parties.

Accordingly, individuals and organisations are requested to change the name of the subject registering to use the Vietnamese national domain name “.vn” in cases where it is necessary to complete the process of donating, contributing capital or inheriting rights of use.

Changing the name of the domain name registrant also needs to be done when an individual or organisation cha
nges its name, divides, splits, merges, consolidates or changes its functions and duties.

Enterprises reorganise or have trading activities, capital contributions, shares, or have functions and tasks transferred from parent companies or other subsidiaries, leading to changes in the right to use domain names.

The “.vn” domain name will be revoked if it is used against the State, violates national security, commits a violation of the law or does not pay maintenance fees.

Regarding procedures for revoking Vietnam’s Internet resources, the MIC will notify in the form of direct, mass media, text messages, and websites so that organisations and individuals know at least three months in advance of the time of revocation.

After issuing the decision, the MIC will compensate organisations and individuals whose Internet resources in Vietnam are revoked. Compensation is paid by the State budget.

For Vietnam’s Internet resources that are directly allocated or granted, the compensation level is determined by the remai
ning maintenance fee amount calculated from the time of revocation.

For the Vietnamese national domain name “.vn” granted by auction method of use rights, the compensation level is determined by the auction winning amount.

Statistics from the Vietnam Internet Network Information Centre (VNNIC) show that there are 10 domestic domain name registrars and six foreign registrars currently operating in Vietnam.

Cumulatively registered “.vn” domain names reach 604,000, of which, nearly 19,000 “.vn” domain names have had their use rights transferred by the end of December last year./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Quang Ninh: A legal and technical writeshop was held by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Vanuatuan Government in Ha Long city, the northern province of Quang Ninh, on March 16 – 17 to look into the proceedings of the International Court of Justice (ICJ)’s advisory opinion on climate change.

The event, gathering ASEAN and other Asian member states of the Climate Vulnerable Forum, aimed to provide an overview of the proceedings of the ICJ’s advisory opinion on climate change on the basis of the UN General Assembly’s Resolution 77/276, adopted on March 29, 2023, which requested the ICJ provide an advisory opinion on the obligations of states in respect of climate change.

Vietnam and Vanuatu were among the 18 states of the core group promoting this resolution. According to the ICJ’s regulations, March 22, 2024 is the deadline for UN member states to make submissions before the ICJ issues its opinion in 2025.

Opening the event, Permanent Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Vu said that with a
long coastline, Vietnam is particularly vulnerable to climate change. Therefore, it attaches great importance to cooperation with other countries and international organisations in common efforts against environmental and climate change challenges.

The UN General Assembly’s resolution recognises climate change’s different impacts on countries, so the burden of and responsibility for making response must be equally and equitably shared. The engagement in the proceedings of the ICJ’s advisory opinion is a great chance for developing countries to join global efforts in climate change response, promote the rights of vulnerable countries, and shape international environmental law, he noted.

Attorney General of Vanuatu Arnold Kiel Loughman noted climate change challenges like sea level rise, extreme weather conditions, marine pollution, and biodiversity degradation are threatening the life, culture, and even existence of many nations. Taking effective response measures is a moral responsibility of the internation
al community.

Ambassador Odo Tevi, Permanent Representative of Vanuatu to the UN, said the workshop was important as it provided a venue for Asian countries to discuss their submissions to the ICJ. It will be good if all countries can improve their capacity, and countries’ opinions to be submitted to the ICJ should be listened to.

So far, about 80 countries have made submissions to officially engage in the proceedings of the ICJ’s advisory opinion, turning this into one of the largest cases the ICJ has ever handled and also reflecting the importance of the court’s opinion to climate change response.

Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN, said the active promotion and participation in the proceedings of the ICJ’s advisory opinion demonstrate Vietnam as a responsible member of the international community. The proceedings also show the international community’s respect for the country’s role and contributions to climate change response, including its strong commitments mad
e at international forums.

At the workshop, participants discussed key legal aspects of the proceedings, contributions that Asian-Pacific countries can make, and technical support for countries to effectively engage in the proceedings.

To help countries make submissions to engage in the proceedings, some writeshops have also been held in different regions around the world./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Quang Nam: The People’s Committee of Quang Nam held a conference on March 16 to announce this central province’s master plan for the 2021 -2030 period with a vision to 2050, and launch the National Biodiversity Restoration Year 2024.

Addressing the event, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang stressed that the master plan of Quang Nam, approved by the Prime Minister in January, shows a reformed mindset and a new viewpoint, targets, and vision matching the national development orientation and the development targets for the north and coastal central region. It prioritises promoting a green economy and economic restructuring in tandem with growth model reform to secure comprehensive and sustainable development.

He asked the province to quickly build a detailed and scientific implementation plan that takes into account local resources and conditions, adding that it needs to develop infrastructure as well as urban areas and industries, especially tourism, processing, logistics, and seaports to create an inter-co
nnected economic ecosystem.

Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Le Chi Thanh said Quang Nam held the conference to launch the master plan and the National Biodiversity Restoration Year 2024 with a view to demonstrating its strategic target and vision for maximising potential and advantages while ensuring the harmony between socio-economic development and environmental protection so as to take firm steps on the path to become an important growth powerhouse in the central and Central Highlands regions.

On this occasion, the provincial administration also granted 16 investment policy approval decisions, investment registration certificates, and investment destination surveying agreements to businesses which plan to invest over 20 trillion VND (846.5 million USD) in total. Most of the planned projects are located in the Chu Lai Open Economic Zone./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Hanoi: Vietnam will attend the 26th World Energy Congress themed ‘Redesigning energy for People and Planet’ hosted by the Netherlands from April 22 – 25, heard a press conference held by the Vietnam World Energy Council (WEC Vietnam) in Hanoi on March 15.

This is the time the WEC has invited Vietnam to participate in the event, which aims to discuss energy development issues in the future.

Titathy Nguyen, President of WEC Vietnam, stated that the press conference was organised to promote communications on the event and guide individuals and organisations in Vietnam to participate in a globally scaled programme, thus accessing important global energy-related issues.

The goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 requires Vietnam’s high determination, great effort, and mobilisation of all resources for investment in development and ensuring social welfare across sectors, she said.

Attending the 26th World Energy Congress, Vietnamese businesses will have an opportunity to access the latest trends in the en
ergy sector and global financial resources, enabling them to develop solutions and products using cleaner and more efficient energy, Titathy Nguyen said, adding that this will help firms not only create new business opportunities, but also enhance their international competitiveness and promote sustainable development.

WEC Vietnam took the occasion to launch a series of projects themed ‘Enternal green – Offsetting carbon footprint’.

Established in 1923, the WEC is a global energy agency recognised by the UN to represent all forms of energy, and is also a strategic partner of a number of key organisations in the energy sector. The WEC has more than 3,000 member organisations including WEC National Committees in nearly 100 countries around the world. The WEC hosts the World Energy Congress triennially.

WEC Vietnam serves as a bridge for sustainable cooperation among energy-related organisations./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency