The US also suggested the two sides take further steps to enhance their relations, prioritising cooperation in economy, trade, national defence-security, and healthcare. The US has remained Vietnam’s biggest buyer, while Vietnam is the ninth biggest trade partner of the US. During her recent visit to Vietnam, Sherman announced the US’s additional funding of 19 million USD for bomb and mine clearance in Vietnam. Currently, Vietnam has six US-invested educational institutions in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Quang Ninh, Hai Phong and Binh Duong. The US has to date donated nearly 40 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines to Vietnam, of which nearly 39 million doses came via the COVAX Facility.

As of the end of 2021, 18 out of 61 SOEs, or 29.5%, had completed equitisation (Photo: VNA)– It is necessary to promote the leading role of State-owned enterprises (SOEs) in forming and expanding production, supply and value chains, stated Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh during a working session with the Party Committee of the Central Enterprises Bloc (CEB) in Hanoi on July 12.The PM described the SOEs as an important material force of the economy, and hailed the strong performance of the businesses, especially during COVID-19 period.He affirmed that the Party Organisation of the CEB is the key force of the SOEs in their restructuring, especialy in optimising their resources at 9.93 quadrillion VND (424.63 billion USD).Pointing to a number of current shortcomings of SOEs, PM Chinh asked the Party Committee of the CEB to continue to renovate Party leadership and principles while speeding up the restructuring, reshuffling and renovation of SOEs to develop the firms and enhance their efficiency, with an aim to basically finish the reorganising and ownership switching of SOEs in 2025, along with the settling of stagnant projects of State-owned economic groups, corporations and enterprises.Along with completing institution and policies to deal with difficulties in SOE restructuring and managing the State capital at enterprises, it is crucial to strengthen the coordination and cooperation among SOEs and between them and their peers from other economic sectors, he said.Underlining the significance of enhancing the efficiency of SOEs, the leader pointed to the need to complete the governance system and the improvement of capacity of management officials, as well as the prevention of law violations and interest conflicts.At the same time, it is necessary to optimise resources in capital, land, trademark, tradition and history of the enterprises, while closely managing State capital and property in line with the law, he said.The PM also stressed the significance of strengthening decentralisation and delegation of power. He expressed his hope that the Party Committee of the CEB will work closely with the Government in completing these targets, tasks and solutions, thus making full use of resources from SOEs to match their potential.As of the end of 2021, the Party Organisation of the CEB had 1,148 local Party Organisations, 5,742 cells and 87,585 members. The bloc comprises nine economic groups, 20 corporations, six banks, one State-run financial institution and total of 930 affiliated enterprises./.

Vietnam's export value of timber and wood products in June fell by 4.9% annually to 1.5 billion USD. (Photo: congthuong.vn)- Vietnam's exports of timber and wood products have decreased due to the impact of high inflation in the export market, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade.According to the General Department of Customs, Vietnam's export value of timber and wood products in June fell by 4.9% on-year to 1.5 billion USD. Timber exports in June were estimated at more than 1.03 billion USD, down 18.1%.In the first six months, the export value of timber and wood products surged by 2.8% on-year to 8.5 billion USD. But the export value of wood products plunged by 4.6% on-year to 6 billion USD.Wooden furniture was the key export item in the structure of export timber and wood products in the first five months of this year. However, the export growth rate has been lower than the figures in the previous years.This year's timber and wood product export turnover growth is forecasted only to reach 5-7%.

Hanoi (VNA) - The following is a list of selected news summaries last night by the Vietnam News Agency. - Vietnam always attaches importance to its traditional friendship and comprehensive partnership with Argentina, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has said. Read full story- The European Union (EU) wants to import tropical agricultural products from Vietnam, EU Commissioner for Agriculture Janusz Wojciechowski told Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh in Hanoi on July 11. Of which, the State Treasury raised over 15.27 trillion VND, while the rest by the Bank for Social Policies. Miss Tourism Vietnam 2008 Phan Thi Ngoc Diem (Photo courtesy of the organisers)The contest was first organised in 2008 when the crown went to Phan Thi Ngoc Diem./.

Politics Top legislator pledges to facilitate Phu Tho’s socio-economic development National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue has pledged to create conditions for the northern midland province of Phu Tho to turn its Viet Tri city, the land associated with Hung Kings – legendary founders of the nation – into a festive city. Politics Parliaments of Vietnam, Laos exchange professional experience The Vietnamese National Assembly and its Lao counterpart exchanged professional experience during a seminar in Hanoi on July 12. Politics President meets supreme court to discuss law-governed state building strategy President Nguyen Xuan Phuc chaired a meeting with the Party delegation to the Supreme People’s Court (SPC) in Hanoi on July 12 to discuss a strategy for building and completing a law-governed socialist State of Vietnam by 2030, with a vision to 2045. Politics Vietnam, US step up cooperation after COVID-19 Vietnam and the US have resumed meetings and delegation exchanges, and made efforts to increase bilateral cooperation on the occasion of the 27th anniversary of their diplomatic ties (July 12) and after a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19.

Vietnam always attaches importance to its traditional friendship and comprehensive partnership with Argentina, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has said.While receiving the Argentinean Minister of Foreign Affairs , International Trade and Worship, Santiago Andrés Cafiero, in Hanoi on July 11, PM Chinh said Vietnam has always treasured and remembered the solidarity and traditional friendship that the Argentinean people reserved for their Vietnamese counterparts in the past struggle for national liberation and the current cause of national construction, reflected by the Argentinean Government’s donation of 500,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine to Vietnam in November 2021.He expressed his belief that Cafiero’s visit would contribute to strengthening and developing the Vietnam – Argentina comprehensive partnership for the sake of their people and contributing to peace, stability and development in the two regions and the world as well.The PM noted with pleasure the fruitful outcomes of the talks between the two foreign ministers in the morning of the same day and asked the two sides to closely coordinate with each other to promote high-level visits and meetings and build plans to organise celebrations for the 50th founding anniversary of diplomatic ties (October 25, 1973 – 2023).He requested the two sides to enhance the efficiency of existing cooperation mechanisms such as the Inter-Government Committee for Economic, Trade and Investment Cooperation and the Political Consultation between the two foreign ministries; and maintain bilateral coordination and mutual support at international organisations and multilateral forums, thereby contributing positively to dealing with regional and global issues.PM Chinh spoke highly of the growth of two-way trade which reached 4.5 billion USD in 2021, adding that Argentina continued to be the third biggest trade partner of Vietnam in Latin America.He proposed Argentina create favourable conditions for Vietnam’s goods to enter the Argentinean market, especially agro-forestry-aquatic products, and agreed to Argentina’s proposals on cooperation in energy development and hi-tech agriculture.The government leader also suggested Argentina, which has advantages in science and technology, to increase technical assistance, technology transfer and share its experience with Vietnam in sustainable agricultural development, ensuring energy security, energy transition in response to climate change, and digital transformation.The two countries should also step up cooperation in the fields of culture – sports, security – defence and people-to-people exchange, he added.Cafiero congratulated Vietnam on its great achievements in the renewal process and the fight against COVID-19, and expressed his belief in the country’s post-pandemic socio-economic recovery and development programme, thus maintaining macroeconomy and ensuring social security and sustainable development.He affirmed that the Argentinean Government attaches great importance to Vietnam’s growing role and position in the region and the world, and wants to bring the bilateral comprehensive partnership to a new height.The minister also pledged to urge Argentinean ministries and sectors to coordinate with the Vietnamese side to concretise PM Chinh’s proposals, thereby making the bilateral friendship and multifaceted cooperation more practical and effective, towards building a strategic partnership in the spheres of energy and agriculture./.

Thongsavanh Phomvihane, Head of the External Relations Committee of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee (Photo: VNA)Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his Lao counterpart Phankham Viphavanh attend the launching ceremony of the Vietnam-Laos, Laos-Vietnam 2022 Solidarity and Friendship Year on January 8. (Photo: VNA)– The unceasing development of the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Laos and Vietnam, particularly after the two countries signed a Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in 1977, has brought practical benefits to their people, said a senior Party official of Laos.Thongsavanh Phomvihane, Head of the External Relations Committee of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee, made the affirmation in an interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency on the occasion of the 45th anniversary of the treaty’s signing (July 18, 1977-2022) and the 60th anniversary of Laos-Vietnam diplomatic relationship (September 5, 1962-2022).The official described the signing of the treaty as a historical landmark and an important legal foundation for the two countries to elevate their relations.After the treaty’s signing, the bilateral relations have unceasingly developed despite complicated developments in the world situation, contributing to not only boosting national socio-economic growth and enhancing people’s living standards in each country, but also raising the countries’ positions in the regional and international arena, he said.He took the occasion to express profound gratitude to the fraternal Vietnamese Party, State and people for their valuable and timely help to Laos in the past struggle for national liberation and the current cause of national construction and defence, especially in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic and tackling economic and financial difficulties.In the present complex and unpredictable situation in the region and the world, Laos and Vietnam should further strengthen mutual political trust and deepen their cooperation in security-defence and diplomacy, enhance the efficiency of their bilateral partnership in economy, culture, education, health care, and science-technology, according to the Lao official.He also proposed that the two sides increase the exchange of information, timely coordinate viewpoints on important issues and support each other at regional and international forums such as the ASEAN, the UN, WHO and Mekong sub-region, thus maintaining the in-depth development of their great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation, and contributing to peace and stability in the region and the world as a whole./.

Hanoi, (VNA) - The following is a list of selected news summaries last weekend by Vietnam News Agency. Read full story-Capital reallocation plans announced by multinational corporations will offer opportunities for Vietnam to attract foreign direct investment, experts said. Read full story-The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) has launched a video clip Vietnam: Di de yeu! – Wonders of Vietnam (Vietnam: Travel to Love! The clip is part of a programme promoting Vietnamese tourism on YouTube, organised by the VNAT, with support from Vinpearl and Google.

Lee Jae Hoon, chief representative of KTO in Vietnam, said in Vietnam there is great interest in K-pop as well as the Korean culture. On display are images and documents on famous tourist attractions built by the French in three Indochinese countries - Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia - since the 19th century, namely Sa Pa, Tam Dao, Ba Vi in northern Vietnam; Ba Na, Bach Ma, Da Lat in central Vietnam; Bockor in Cambodia; and Parksong in Laos. Video clip launched to promote Vietnamese tourismThe Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) has launched a video clip Vietnam: Di de yeu! – Wonders of Vietnam (Vietnam: Travel to Love! While in Vietnam, the Venezuelan official had working sessions with representatives from the Party Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations, the National Assembly’s Committee for Foreign Affairs, the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO), the Vietnam Women’s Union and the Vietnam Academy of Agricultural Sciences.

Health workers administer COVID-19 vaccine to people in Phnom Penh, Cambodia . (Photo: AFP/VNA)– Cambodia has announced that it will lift quarantine requirements for unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated inbound travelers, but they will be required to undergo a rapid antigen test upon their arrivals.In a statement on July 8, Health Minister Mam Bunheng said the new rule will take effect on July 11.He said if the rapid antigen test's result is negative, the visitor will be allowed to travel to his/her respective house or destination without observing quarantine obligations.In case the test's result turns out to be positive, but the patient has mild symptoms, he/she will be allowed to undergo treatment at home with self-isolation.However, patients with severe symptoms must seek medical treatment at licensed COVID-19 hospitals, the minister said.According to Bunheng, a rapid antigen test will cost 5 USD.With a high vaccination rate, Cambodia has resumed all socioeconomic activities and reopened its borders to fully vaccinated travelers without quarantine since November last year.To date, the Southeast Asian nation has administered COVID-19 vaccines to almost 15.1 million people, or 94.3% of the population, its Health Ministry said./.

A health worker gives a person a dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in Bangkok, Thailand . (Photo: Xinhua/VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – Thailand has decided to extend the state of emergency, introduced in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, for another two months, according to its centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA). The online newspaper Krungthep Turakij quoted CCSA Spokesman Taweesin Visanuyothin as announcing on July 8 that the state of emergency has been extended from August 1 to September 30, 2022. According to Taweesin, Thailand should be ready to recognise COVID-19 as an endemic disease. The CCSA’s data showed that there are currently 25,082 COVID-19 patients being treated in hospitals across Thailand.

Vietnam’s exports to Algeria stood at 151.1 million USD in 2021 and 65.2 million USD in the first five months this year. (Illustrative image: VNA)– A virtual conference will be held on July 13 and 14 to promote trade and business links between Vietnamese localities, enterprises and cooperatives with potential partners in Algeria.The event is part of the national trade promotion programme in 2022. Around 40 Vietnamese and Algerian businesses are expected to attend. B2B sessions will be arranged for participating companies.According to statistics of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Vietnam’s exports to Algeria , the fourth largest economy in Africa, were modest at 151.1 million USD in 2021, and reached 65.2 million USD in the first five months this year, up 17.6% year on year.Coffee tops Vietnam’s exports to Algeria , accounting for 65% of the total export value. Other main export items are rice (16%), spices such as pepper bean and cinnamon, cashew nuts and aquatic products./.

(Photo: VNA)HCM City (VNA) – Vo Van Hoan, Vice chairman of the People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City has highlighted the role of foreign mission representatives to the city’s achievements in COVID-19 prevention and control. Congratulating the Service Company to Foreign Mission (FOSCO) on its 43rd founding anniversary, Hoan spoke highly of the performance of the company, especially in providing services to consular delegations, international and non-governmental organisations, foreign economic representative offices, helping realise the external relations work of the city. Addressing the event, Kho Ngee Seng Roy, Consul General of Singapore in HCM City and head of the Consular Delegation in the city, thanked FOSCO for supporting diplomatic missions and foreign organisations to work in Vietnam. He believed that the relations between foreign diplomatic agencies and FOSCO as well as the city’s administration will further develop in the future for mutual benefit. In addition to guiding foreign organisations to strictly observe Vietnamese laws and create favourable conditions for them to have a safe and effective working environment, FOSCO has contributed to the city’s success in the implementation of foreign policy, she said./.

A photo by Nguyen AMore than 100 photos capturing Vietnamese peacekeepers in South Sudan are on display at an exhibition that opened in Hanoi on July 8.Selected from thousands of photos taken by Nguyen A, the exhibits feature the image of the Vietnamese “blue beret” soldiers while performing their international tasks.At the opening ceremony, the 54-year-old artist introduced a photo book telling about his one-month journey with the peacekeepers in the African nation through 300 photos.Nguyen A has so far organised 17 exhibitions on Vietnam’s land, people, and tangible and intangible cultural heritages.Last month, Vietnam sent its Engineering Unit Rotation 1 to the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA).Established in 2014 and debuted in November 2021, the 184-member unit has been the biggest of Vietnam to join UN peacekeeping mission to date.The first 28 members arrived in Abyei on May 5 and the remaining 156 on June 15 (local time)./.

A medical worker takes care of a mother and her newborn child. Yet a few weeks after her child was born, her mental state began to get worse.While her pregnancy had been normal, she started experiencing insomnia after the delivery. She was also diagnosed with behavioural and mental disorders associated with pregnancy.“After going under treatment at the hospital, she has become more cooperative and her mental state has become more stable. They should not force themselves more than they can bear or expect themselves to be perfect mothers.“After the delivery, they should make sure to get enough sleep. They could take a rest when their child is sleeping, take time for self-care and going out with their friends.“New mothers who show signs of depression should seek treatment at psychology departments as soon as possible to receive a suitable treatment plan and avoid severe consequences.”/.