Category: Politics

Hanoi: The permanent representatives of Laos and Cambodia to the United Nations (UN) have extended greetings to their Vietnamese counterpart Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang at the UN headquarters in New York on the approaching Lunar New Year (Tet) – a significant traditional event in Vietnamese culture.

Hailing the Vietnam-Laos special cooperation and friendship, Ambassador Anouparb Vongnorkeo of Laos pledged to boost the close and reliable coordination between the delegations of Laos and Vietnam at the UN.

Meanwhile, Ambassador Sophea Eat of Cambodia expressed his delight at the comprehensive development of the good neighbourliness and traditional friendship between Cambodia and Vietnam, and wished the Government and people of Vietnam a successful and prosperous year of the dragon ahead.

For his part, Giang took note of the continuous development of the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos. He affirmed that the Vietnamese delegation will continue to supp
ort Laos in successfully performing the chairmanship of the ASEAN Committee in New York this year.

Praising the friendly neighbourly relations between Vietnam and Cambodia and the good cooperation between the two countries’ delegations to the UN, the diplomat said he is confident in the sides’ extensive potential for the enhancement of their cooperation in all aspects. The Vietnamese and Cambodian ambassadors agreed to step up exchanges and coordination between their delegations in the future.

*At the UN Headquarters in Geneva, a delegation from Laos’ mission in Geneva, led by its head Ambassador Latsamy Keomany, also extended Tet greetings to the Vietnamese mission on February 5.

The Lao diplomat lauded the close and effective collaboration between the two missions and hoped that the sides will continue to engage in cooperative programmes and further consolidate the Vietnam-Laos solidarity in 2024.

On behalf of the Vietnamese side, Charge d’Affaires a.i Cung Duc Han wished the two missions will continue
to strengthen joint work in the coming time and expressed his readiness to support and coordinate with Laos on multilateral issues in Geneva, especially during the term of Laos’ chairmanship of the ASEAN Committee in Geneva./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Hanoi: President Vo Van Thuong has signed a decision to commute the death penalty to life in prison for five convicts.

The decision was inked on February 6, following recommendations from the Chief Justice of the Supreme People’s Court, the Prosecutor General of the Supreme People’s Procuracy, and the head of the President’s Office, in accordance with constitutional and legal provisions.

By reducing the penalty for the individuals whose sentences have already taken legal effect, the President’s act demonstrates the compassionate policy of the Party and State towards those who have committed grave crimes. It offers them a chance to live, repent, and rehabilitate for a chance to reintegrate into society./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Hanoi: Chairman of the National Assembly (NA) Vuong Dinh Hue offered incense in memory of President Ho Chi Minh at House 67 in the Presidential Palace complex in Hanoi on February 6, on the occasion of the Lunar New Year (Tet) festival.

He was also joined by NA Vice Chairmen Tran Thanh Man, Nguyen Khac Dinh, and Tran Quang Phuong, along with NA Secretary General and Chairman of the NA Office Bui Van Cuong.

The delegation expressed their gratitude to the beloved President for devoting his entire life to the national independence and freedom as well as the people’s happiness.

House 67, located in the Presidential Palace complex, was the place where President Ho Chi Minh lived and worked in the final years of his life. He breathed his last here on September 2, 1969. The house also served as a venue for the Political Bureau’s meetings during the fiercest years of the US’s sabotage war in North Vietnam. Many remembrances linked with the President’s life and career are still preserved at this place nowadays.

On
the occasion of Tet – the biggest traditional festival of Vietnam, Chairman Hue wished the staff of the relic site good health, happiness, and fulfillment of their duties.

He also asked them to keep making efforts in preserving the remembrances and documents about President Ho and properly introducing the leader’s life and career to people from nationwide and international visitors./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Hanoi: The following is a brief review of the day’s events as reported by the Vietnam News Agency.

– Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son received Chinese Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Nong Rong, who is also Secretary General of the China – Vietnam Steering Committee for Bilateral Cooperation, in Hanoi on February 5.

The host expressed his delight at the sound development and historic achievements of the two countries’ relations since the visit to China by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong in late October 2022 and the trip to Vietnam by Party General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping in December 2023. Read full story

– Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang hosted a reception in Hanoi on February 5 for Archbishop Marek Zalewski, the first Resident Papal Representative in Vietnam.

Highlighting the growing ties between Vietnam and the Holy See, Hang noted the positive developments fuelled by high-level visits and exchanges. She specifically pointed to the approval o
f operating regulations for the Resident Papal Representative and the Office of the Resident Papal Representative in Vietnam during President Vo Van Thuong’s 2023 visit to the Holy See as a crucial milestone. Read full story

– The National Wage Council has proposed to the Government a 6% increase in the regional minimum wage, equivalent to 238,000 VND per month on average, starting from July 1.

The increase, which was agreed by all 16 members of the council after two negotiation sessions in 2023, was suggested in the context that more than 18,300 new businesses were established and return to the market each month, and the number of orders rose quarter by quarter. Read full story

– The index of industrial production (IIP) in January fell 4.4% month on month but still went up 18.3% year on year, reported the General Statistics Office (GSO).

In particular, the processing – manufacturing sector expanded 19.3% from a year earlier, contributing 15.1 percentage points to the overall growth. Read full story

– Th
e northern port city of Hai Phong is rolling out measures to make breakthroughs in the development of economic zones (EZ) and industrial parks (IP) to attract more foreign direct investment (FDI).

The city plans to build 15 more IPs with a total area of over 6,200 hectares. To date, the construction of two has been approved by the Prime Minister, covering nearly 1,200 hectares. Read full story

– The Department of Transport of Lao Cai province and the Yunnan provincial Department of Transport have decided to resume an irregular passenger transport route between Gejiu of China and Sa Pa of Vietnam.

According to Director of the Lao Cai Department of Transport Nguyen Quoc Huy, the route was operated from July 20, 2018 to late 2019, and suspended from 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Read full story

– The Vietnam National University, Hanoi ranked 649th in the latest Webometrics Ranking of World Universities 2024, placing at the 11th position in Southeast Asia and 140th in Asia.

In terms of impact rank, the
VNU, Hanoi entered the top 500 for the first time, ranking at the 495th position. Read full story

– When Tet (Lunar New Year) comes, hospitals in Ho Chi Minh City are often decorated with flowers to encourage the spirit of their employees and patients who have to stay at the hospitals during the Vietnamese people’s biggest and longest festival.

This year, the floral arrangements were designed to stretch along major pedestrian zones at hospitals like Cho Ray, Tu Du, and Children’s Hospital 2, bringing a cheerful vibe to every corner. Read full story

– After five years of restoration and upgrade, Kien Trung Palace in Hue Imperial Citadel (Dai Noi) is set to open its door to visitors during the upcoming Lunar New Year (Tet holiday).

The palace, built between 1921 and 1923 under the reign of King Khai Dinh (1885-1925), once served as the living and working space of Bao Dai (1913-1997), the last king of the Nguyen Dynasty (1802 – 1945). Read full story./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Hanoi: Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang hosted a reception in Hanoi on February 5 for Archbishop Marek Zalewski, the first Resident Papal Representative in Vietnam.

Highlighting the growing ties between Vietnam and the Holy See, Hang noted the positive developments fueled by high-level visits and exchanges. She specifically pointed to the approval of operating regulations for the Resident Papal Representative and the Office of the Resident Papal Representative in Vietnam during President Vo Van Thuong’s 2023 visit to the Holy See as a crucial milestone.

Underlining Vietnam’s commitment to this progress, Hang assured Zalewski of full support from Vietnamese agencies, toward the shared goals of strengthening ties between Vietnam and the Holy See, and the Holy See and the Vietnamese Catholic Church, and fostering national development as well.

Zalewski, for his part, thanked the Vietnamese agencies for their support during his tenure as Non-Resident Special Envoy to Vietnam, and wished that V
ietnam will continue facilitating his activities in his new role to fulfill the mission entrusted by Pope Francis.

He also vowed to contribute to further increasing high-level contacts and dialogues in the spirit of cooperation and mutual understanding, thus solidifying relations between the Holy See and Vietnam as well as the Vietnam Catholic Church./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Hanoi: The following is a list of selected news summaries reported last night by the Vietnam News Agency.

– President Vo Van Thuong has offered incense in commemoration of some late Party and State leaders and visited several former leaders in southern localities on the occasion of the upcoming Lunar New Year (Tet) Festival and the 94th founding anniversary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (February 3, 1930 – 2024).

President Thuong offered incense to commemorate late President Le Duc Anh and late President of the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam Nguyen Huu Tho who used to hold the positions of State Vice President, Acting State President, Chairman of the National Assembly, and Vice Chairman of the State Council. Read full story

– President Vo Van Thuong on February 5 visited the Guard High Command and the Mobile Police High Command under the Ministry of Public Security and inspected their combat readiness on the occasion of the Tet (Lunar New Year) Festival.

He asked the guard force to be well
aware of their tasks of ensuring security and safety for Party and State leaders, as well as national and international events in Vietnam, and activities of Vietnamese leaders abroad. Read full story

– Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on February 5 visited the Traffic Police Department under the Ministry of Public Security and extended Lunar New Year (Tet) greetings to officers and soldiers of the traffic police force across the country on the occasion of its 78th traditional day and the upcoming Tet festival.

The event was also connected to various traffic police stations nationwide, with nearly the participation of 12,000 officers and soldiers of the traffic police force, and leaders of police units at all levels. Read full story

– The Ministry of National Defence on February 5 held a virtual event connecting with the Vietnamese forces engaged in the United Nations peacekeeping mission on the threshold of the upcoming Lunar New Year (Tet) festival.

The event facilitated a connection between Hanoi’s Milita
ry Radio and Television Centre, Ho Chi Minh City’s 175 Military Hospital, and key UN peacekeeping missions, including the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA), the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), the UN Peacekeeping Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) and the UN headquarters in the US. Read full story

– Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang has urged the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), ministries, agencies and localities to prevent fishing vessels from encroaching on foreign waters and take stringent measures against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing activities.

While chairing the 9th meeting of the National Steering Committee for IUU Fishing Prevention and Control in the southern province of Kien Giang on February 5, Quang, who is also head of the committee, suggested bringing serious violation cases to People’s Courts for trial as a deterrent measure. Read full story

– The Vietnamese and Chinese coast guard forces conducted a joint patrol in
the border maritime area between Mong Cai City, the northern province of Quang Ninh and Dongxing city, Guangxi province of China on February 5.

The patrol aimed to fortify coordination in the fight against crime and law violations, particularly during the upcoming Lunar New Year (Tet) festival. Read full story

– Aero K, an airline of the Republic of Korea, and Da Nang city’s Tourism Department on February 5 evening held a ceremony to launch a new route connecting the RoK’s Cheongju to the central city of Vietnam.

According to the Korean carrier, Da Nang is the first city in Vietnam that Aero K has chosen to operate regular flights from Cheongju to Da Nang with a frequency of one flight every day. The first flight is scheduled to depart from Cheongju at 10:05 pm on February 5 and land in Da Nang at 00:45 am the next day. The return trip departs from Da Nang at 2:15 am on the same day. Read full story

– A surge in consumer demand, particularly after the Kitchen God’s Day, has recorded through Hanoi, with a
notable uptick ranging from 20-30%, reported a working delegation of the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the municipal People’s Committee following their inspection on February 5.

Supermarkets and businesses, which anticipated an increasing demand in the run-up to the Lunar New Year (Tet) Festival, have strategically formulated plans and inked contracts to augment the supply of goods by an average of 7-25% compared to the same period last year. The focus was primarily on essential goods, particularly food and groceries. At retail points, the inventory has increased by 15-40% to satiate demand, with 90% of the products being of Vietnamese origin. Read full story

– A 6.5kg hawksbill sea turtle that was accidentally caught by a local man was released back to the sea off the coast of the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau on February 5.

Border guards in Phuoc Thuan border station in Xuyen Moc district organised the release. Read full story./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency