This is a good condition for the Vietnamese community in Japan to develop, he stressed. Ambassador Pham Quang Hieu told the PM that the 476,000-strong Vietnamese community is the second largest foreign community in Japan, and the second biggest community of Vietnamese in the world. The winners will be announced on November 23 before being exhibited at the Vietnam National Fine Arts Museum. New task force promotes innovation and financing for plastic waste reductionThe Vietnam National Plastic Action Partnership (NPAP) launched a new task force to promote innovation and catalyze investment in effective solutions for reducing plastic waste and pollution in Vietnam. Members of the new Task Force include the Vietnam National Innovation Center (NIC), Dow Vietnam, Unilever, An Phat Holdings, Duy Tan Recycling, GreenHub, Startup Vietnam Foundation (SVF), Innovation Norway, UNDP, and the World Bank.

The Prime Minister suggested the two sides continue to promote economic, trade, and investment cooperation, including soon reaching the goal of raising trade turnover to 150 billion USD by 2030 in a balanced and healthy direction. Vietnam welcomes RoK enterprises to invest in large infrastructure projects, he said, affirming that the country will continue to create favourable conditions for RoK businesses to invest and expand their investments in Vietnam in the future. President Yoon Suk Yeolchia, meanwhile, said his country is willing to cooperate with Vietnam to boost close cooperation in many endeavours, especially science, technology, and innovation. The two leaders also affirmed they will take practical measures to support the Vietnamese community living and working in the RoK and Koreans in Vietnam. They agreed to continue to exchange and coordinate in international and regional issues of mutual concern./.

Hanoi (VNA) – Thailand is actively promoting its pioneering role in the regional energy transition in the context of a strong energy transition wave emerging globally. Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Future Energy Asia and Future Mobility Asia Summit on May 17, Veerapat Kiatfuengfoo, Deputy Permanent Secretary of Thailand’s Ministry of Energy, said that the country is committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 and net zero emissions by 2065 through determination, efforts and consistent policy measures. The three-day Future Energy Asia and Future Mobility Asia in Bangkok is expected to welcome 18,000 visitors from over 700 countries and territories worldwide. Over 350 CEOs, policymakers, and technical experts will talk about the critical trends, challenges, and opportunities shaping the energy and mobility sector today. Within the summit’s framework, an exhibition showcases a wide range of products in the renewable energy sector including electric vehicles, electric vehicle batteries, electric charging stations as well as software and supportive technologies./.

Culture - Sports Vietnamese cultural festival wins Event Marketing Awards 2023 The Muong Lo Cultural and Tourism Festival has received the Gold award in the category of Best Arts & Cultural Event of Event Marketing Awards 2023 (EMA 2023). Culture - Sports Thematic display, art space marks late President’s birthday An exhibition themed ‘Uncle Ho and Hanoi’ and a space of calligraphy art opened at the Hanoi Museum on May 18 as part of activities commemorating the late President Ho Chi Minh’s 133rd birth anniversary (May 19, 1890-2023). Culture - Sports Vietnam drawn in Group C of Paris Olympics second women's football qualifiers The Vietnamese women’s football team will play against Japan, Uzbekistan and India in Group C of the 2024 Paris Olympic second qualification round to be held in October and November this year, according to the draw held by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) on May 18.

This is part of adjustments to the construction plan for the Tay Do cultural center approved by the city’s People’s Committee. Revision of Capital Law a key priority for Hanoi's long-term developmentAmending the Capital Law remains a critical task for Hanoi to ensure its long-term and sustainable development. The National Assembly approved the Capital Law on November 21, 2012, which came into effect on July 1, 2013. The Municipality is also working with the Ministry of Justice to establish a drafting team for the amended Capital Law. Hanoi has outlined nine key policy directions for the revised Capital Law to speed up the city's sustainable development.

Speaking at the event, head of the Vietnam Airlines branch in the RoK Nguyen Huy Duc said it is the second year Vietnam Airlines has collaborated with Sun Group and its new partner, Caravelle Hotel, to organise this event in the RoK. Around 185,000 Vietnamese visited the RoK in 2022, and in the first quarter of this year alone, the figure hit 83,000. Vietnam Airlines has so far restored its flight service to most countries and destinations as it was before the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, all routes to the RoK have been resumed, including Seoul - Hanoi/Ho Chi Minh City, Busan - Hanoi/Ho Chi Minh City, and Seoul - Da Nang/Nha Trang. The national flag carrier is running 112 weekly flights between the RoK and Vietnam.

Hanoi (VNA) - The following is a list of selected news summaries last night by the Vietnam News Agency. President Vo Van Thuong (R) receives Secretary of the National Security Council of Mongolia Jadamba Enkhbayar. (Photo: VNA)President Thuong highlighted the fruitful friendship between the two nations in the last nearly seven decades, saying that the bilateral relations have been continuously consolidated and developed strongly. Earlier, member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) convened a meeting to coordinate their stances. The shipment is considered a good sign given the gloomy situation facing the construction sector.

At the event (Photo: VNA)HCM City (VNA) - A ceremony was held in Ho Chi Minh City on May 17 to send off the Vietnamese team competing in the 12th ASEAN Para Games which is scheduled to take place in Cambodia from June 3-9. The team consists of 164 members, including 16 officials, 21 coaches and 127 athletes. The athletes will compete in 8 out of 13 sports at the tournament, namely track-and-field, swimming, weightlifting, badminton, table tennis, chess, judo, and boccia. So far, more than 500 athletes with disabilities have registered to compete at ASEAN Para Games 12. At the 11th ASEAN Para Games in Jakarta, Indonesia, last year, Vietnam claimed 183 medals, including 65 golds, 62 silvers and 56 bronzes, ranking third on the medal tally./.

Culture - Sports Infographic Mascots, logo, and motto of SEA Games 32 Two rabbits dressed in outfits from Cambodia’s traditional martial art of Bokator are the mascots at the 32nd Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 32), which takes place in the country from May 5-17. Society Infographic Vietnamese banh mi makes a mark on world's culinary map HCM City launched its first ever Vietnam Banh Mi (Vietnamese Sandwich) Festival at District 1’s Youth Cultural House, in order to promote the traditional dish to locals and tourists.

There are likely more hot days in 2023 than that in 2022 (Photo: VNA)The average temperature forecast to be higher than the average of many years (Photo: VNA)– After three years of the La Nina weather pattern which is the other phase of ENSO, the El Nino phenomenon is likely to return in Vietnam in late May or early June, with a probability of up to 80%, and this phenomenon may last into early 2024, according to Nguyen Van Huong, head of the Weather Forecasting Department, National Centre for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting (NCHMF).There are likely more hot days in 2023 than that in 2022, with more severe heat waves and the average temperature forecast to be higher than the average of many years.Huong said the current heat wave will be the most severe on May 17 and from May 21-23, with high temperatures at around 36-39 degrees Celsius, even rising over 40 degrees Celsius in some places.This is the longest-lasting heat wave in the northern and central regions since the beginning of this year, stressed Huong.Meteorologists warn that the impact of the heat, combined with the low humidity in the air and southwesterly winds, causes the risk of explosions and fires in residential areas due to increasing demand for electricity, and the risk of forest fires.In addition, the hot sun can also cause dehydration, exhaustion, and heat stroke. Therefore, people are advised to refrain from going outside during the hottest hours from 11:00-14:00./.

Beyne began travelling in the 1980s, traversing several Asian countries, including India, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam. The event is taking place as part of Festival aux Coeurs du Vietnam, the Vietnamese heart festival, in celebration the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and France this year. The Hanoi native has performed in many international fashion events, including Aquafina Vietnam International Fashion Week (AVIFW), Vietnam International Junior Fashion Week, Seoul Kids Fashion Week, and Bangkok Kids International Fashion Week. According to the latest direction of the Government, the health ministry still conducts bidding and procurement for vaccines for this programme. According to an MoH report, Vietnam recorded 1,050 new Covid-19 cases on May 14, the lowest daily number in the past month.

The Phong Luu Khau Vai Market is a unique cultural event that takes place only once a year, on the 27th day of the third lunar month. The tradition began in 1919 as a way to celebrate human-to-human relationships and the love between couples. The market’s social customs and beliefs were recognised as a national intangible cultural heritage by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in 2021. Visitors can also take part in various traditional folk games at the festival, and enjoy a scenic boat ride along the Nho Que River at the foot of Ma Pi Leng Pass, one of the most stunning rivers in Vietnam./.

Vietnamese footballers cheering a goal (Photo: VNA)Phnom Penh (VNA) – U22 Vietnam beat U22 Myanmar 3-1 on May 16, bringing home bronze in the men’s football at the 32nd SEA Games in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. In the ninth minute, Ho Van Cuong thundered a shot past the goalkeeper to the back of the net. In the 35th minute, once again it was Van Cuong who scored a goal, sending the ball to the back of the next off a pass from Le Van Do, increasing the score to 2-0. In the 57th minute, Khuat Van Khang scored a goal following a cross from Minh Trong. It wasn't until the final minutes of the match, from a set-piece corner situation, that U22 Myanmar managed to score a consolation goal with a somewhat lucky header./.

Illustrative photo (Photo: Gmanetwork)Phnom Penh (VNA) – Cambodia's National Election Committee (NEC) on May 15 recognised 18 political parties for the upcoming election in July. In a statement released on May 15, NEC announced that after reviewing the completed dossiers, the agency officially recognised five more political parties and a list of eligible candidates to participate in the 7th National Assembly election. Many political parties in Cambodia have supported the NEC's decision. As of May 8, the last of the 15 days for political parties and candidates to register to participate in the 7th National Assembly election in Cambodia, NEC received 20 sets of dossiers. Cambodia holds a general election every five years.

It was also the 120th gold medal for Vietnam to date, solidifying its leading position on the 10th competition day of the tournament. In stick fighting, athlete Vu Thi Thanh Binh brought the first gold for Vietnam the same day after beating Jude Oliver Marie Rodriguez of the Philippines. Ngoc called on the Vietnam Women’s Union and the CWU to create conditions for the Ninh Binh women’s union to contribute to cooperation between the two sides in the time ahead. Earlier, Nguyen Thi Yen, Tran Thi Ngoc Yen, and Nguyen Thi Ngoc Huyen won gold in women’s sepak takraw doubles. Meeting with Viet, Tim Watts affirmed that cooperation with Vietnam is always Australia's priority in both bilateral and multilateral frameworks.