Vietnamese Ambassador to Slovakia Nguyen Tuan (R) and Chairman of the Slovak National Council's Economic Affairs Committee Peter Kremsky (Photo: VNA)Vietnamese Ambassador to Slovakia Nguyen Tuan on April 1 received a delegation of the Slovak National Council, led by Chairman of its Economic Affairs Committee Peter Kremsky, to discuss economic cooperation between the two countries in the time to come.At the meeting, the Vietnamese diplomat expressed his hope that the Slovak parliament, government, and competent agencies will support collaboration activities between the countries and that the Slovak National Council will soon ratify the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA).For his part, Kremsky said the relations between his nation and Vietnam – which he considers a nation with importance regional role and having strengths in terms of natural and human resources – are yet to be on par with the sides’ potential.Highlighting Slovakia ’s consulting, construction and operation experience in the field of thermal power, hydroelectricity, and nuclear power, he stated his nation wants to cooperate with Vietnam in these sectors and welcomes Vietnamese investors.The official informed that due to the impact of the current conflict in Ukraine, Slovakia is looking for alternative energy sources to reduce dependence on Russian energy sources.He mentioned Vietnam ese automaker VinFast, which has recently invested in building an electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing factory in North America, and suggested that Vinfast consider Slovakia as its next investment destination, as Slovakia is a car production hub in Europe.Kremsky said he is willing to collaborate with and assist Vietnamese investors in administration procedures./.

Made-in-Vietnam biodegradable materials to be sold in North America (Photo: baodautu.vnVNA- Biodegradable plastic materials meeting strict international standards produced by An Phat Holdings (APH) of Vietnam will be distributed throughout North America in the coming time.AFC Ecoplastics, a new member of An Phat Holdings (APH) based in Texas, the US, will cooperate with Nexeo Plastics – a global thermoplastics resin distributor – to sell the bioplastics in Canada, Mexico and the US.These bio-compounds meet ASTM D6400 - the standard specification for solid material biodegradation (by composting). They are ideal options for producing cutlery, straws, and bottle caps.Chairman of the Board of Directors of APH Pham Anh Duong said North America, especially the US, has always been a strategic international market of the firm. Biodegradable plastic materials and products have been the strength of the company for more than a decade, he said, adding that with its new investment activities, the company will generate different values in the global green material supply chain It has successfully registered a trademark for the AnEco – the first Vietnam’s compostable product brand in the US. This is hoped to pave the way for APH to expand business cooperation projects and promote its products in the US in particular and the Northern America in general.The partnership with Nexeo Plastics marks an important development in APH’s efforts to make inroads into the American market, Duong said. An Phat Holdings is the leading company in the field of advanced plastic production technology and environment-friendly plastic products, serving a diverse customer base across North America, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia.Early this year, the firm commenced the construction of a PBAT biodegradable resin factory with designed capacity of 30,000 tonnes per year in the northern city of Hai Phong./.

Cambodian Consul General in HCM City Sok Dareth and his spouse (left) present congratulatory flowers to the gathering in Can Tho on April 1. (Photo: VNA)– A gathering was held on April 1 for Khmer ethnic members of the Vietnam - Cambodia Friendship Association in Can Tho and Cambodian students of universities in this Mekong Delta city to mark Chol Chnam Thmay , the traditional New Year festival of Khmer people.Nguyen Van Can, Chairman of the friendship association, said 2022 is a special year for the two countries as they will celebrate the 55th founding anniversary of their diplomatic ties (June 24, 1967 - 2022).A wide range of activities will be organised throughout this year to mark the anniversary, including gatherings, culinary - cultural - sports exchanges between Cambodian and Can Tho students, a seminar on the countries’ friendship, and contests exploring bilateral relations.Those activities will help not only maintain and develop the neighbourliness, traditional friendship, and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Cambodia but also educate people, especially the young, on the importance of nurturing the countries’ ties in the new context, according to Can.The association will also boost people-to-people exchange and social activities in Cambodia, he went on, adding that it will work to help develop Can Tho’s twin relations with Kompong Chhnang and Battampang provinces of Cambodia and increase its membership, thereby contributing to the Vietnam - Cambodia friendship, solidarity, and all-round cooperation.Addressing the event, Cambodian Consul General in HCM City Sok Dareth highly valued the Can Tho association’s active contributions to people-to-people diplomacy, noting that during COVID-19 outbreaks, many humanitarian organisations have donated medical supplies to frontlines forces while assisting low-income earners and disadvantaged students in Cambodia He affirmed that the Cambodian Consulate General in HCM City will exert more efforts to bring the relationship with Can Tho to a new height in order to help intensify the two countries’ relations.The diplomat also expressed his hope that the connections between Can Tho and Phnom Penh capital, Battambang, and other localities and agencies of Cambodia will be increasingly reinforced in the time ahead./.

Vietnam’s equipment and goods to be transported to UNISFA. Colonel Mac Duc Trong, commander of the Vietnamese peacekeeping force at UNISFA and head of the team, said the team has basically completed preparations, and has been transporting the equipment and goods to the Hai Phong port from March 30- April 4. The UN has officially sent a vessel to the Hai Phong port to receive the equipment and goods from Vietnam, which will be shipped to Sudan port and then transported by road to Khartoum and Kaduqli of Sudan and to UNISFA. The equipment and goods will be shipped to Sudan port and then transported by road to Khartoum and Kaduqli of Sudan and to UNISFA. A group of the unit is expected to receive all these goods and equipment at the Sudan port and at UNISFA in late April.

– Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh hosted a reception for Thai Ambassador to Vietnam Nikorndej Balankura in Hanoi on March 31, during which he underlined the need for Vietnam and Thailand to work together closely in post-pandemic recovery and socio-economic development, especially in strengthening economic connectivity and maintaining supply chains.Expressing his delight at the fruitful development of the Vietnam-Thailand enhanced strategic partnership in all fields, PM Chinh said that the two countries should further promote trustful cooperation by increasing meetings at all levels and upholding the effectiveness of bilateral cooperation mechanisms, especially the joint cabinet meeting and the joint committee on bilateral cooperation.He suggested that the two countries consider minimising trade barriers against each other’s goods and striving to raise two-way trade to 25 billion USD with a trade balance as soon as possible.The PM proposed Thailand increase the import and distribution of Vietnamese products, with Thai major distributors serving as bridges to bring Vietnamese goods to Thai consumers through their distribution networks.He affirmed that Vietnam welcomes, encourages and create optimal conditions for Thai enterprises to invest and do business in the fields where Thailand has advantages and Vietnam holds potential such as tourism, garment and textiles, cosmetics, food, agriculture, machinery, equipment and component manufacturing.The Government leader also highlighted the need for both sides to speed up the recognition of each other’s COVID-19 vaccine passports, while resuming commercial flights to make it easier for tourism and trade activities.He pledged that Vietnam will continue to coordinate closely with Thailand to ensure the success of the APEC Year Thailand 2022.For his part, Nikorndej expressed his impression of Vietnam’s achievements in COVID-19 control as well as in socio-economic recovery and development and full opening of its door.He vowed to work hard to contribute to further developing the friendship and enhance strategic partnership between the two countries, including increasing two-way trade towards a more balanced direction.The diplomat said that Thailand has set up a Thai Business Council in Vietnam to promote trade and investment ties between the two countries. Thailand will effectively implement a project on sustainable community development in Thai Nguyen and Ben Tre provinces, thus improving the life quality of local residents.The ambassador also spoke highly of Vietnam’s preparations for the upcoming 31st Southeast Asian Games, adding that Thailand is willing to make contributions to the success of the sport event.The two nations should further strengthen coordination in sub-regional cooperation mechanisms as well as at international and regional forums, especially within the Associations of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the United Nations.Nikorndej conveyed Thai PM Prayut Chan-o-cha’s invitations to the Vietnamese PM to visit Thailand at an appropriate time, and to senior leaders of Vietnam to attend the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting hosted by Thailand in late 2022.PM Chinh also took the occasion to send his invitation to Thai PM Prayut Chan-o-cha to visit Vietnam at a convenient time./.

– The Party Central Committee (PCC)’s Commission for Internal Affairs , the Central Public Security Party Committee and the Party Civil Affairs Committees of the Supreme People’s Court and the Supreme People’s Procuracy should continue to work closely to speed up the settlement of major corruption cases that draw social attention, said Politburo member and standing member of the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat Vo Van Thuong Thuong, who is also deputy head of the Central Steering Committee for Anti-Corruption, made the request at a conference on March 31 to review the seven years of implementation of coordination regulations among the four agencies .He hailed the effective coordination among the agencies in giving useful advice to the Party in handling corruption cases, especially those related to politics, external relations, and sensitive issues, contributing to ensuring the country’s political stability, social order and national security, and affirming the Party’s determination to fight corruption with the motto of no exceptions.The four agencies have worked closely together to give consultations to the Party on the reviewing, building and issuing of important directives, resolutions and projects related to internal affairs, corruption prevention and control and judicial reform, as well as the completion of socio-economic and anti-corruption institutions, said Thuong. Politburo member and standing member of the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat Vo Van Thuong addresses the event (Photo: VNA)He noted that over the past seven years, nearly 200 resolutions, directives and regulations of the Party and laws of the State regarding anti-corruption and judicial reform have been issued, along with many important policies to ensure national security with the advice and support from the four agencies.The four agencies have also effectively cooperated in supervising the implementation of conclusions of the Party General Secretary and recommendations from inspection and supervision delegations of the Central Steering Committee on Anti-Corruption, he added.However, Thuong pointed to a number of shortcomings in the coordination among the four agencies, including the slow issuance of guidelines on the handling of some cases leading to their prolonged settlement.He required that the four agencies should strengthen their coordination efficiency in giving advice to the Party on policies related to internal affairs, corruption prevention and control and judicial reform as well as measures to protect national security and social order and safety.According to Thuong, the four agencies should focus on designing a strategy on building and completing the law-governed socialist State until 2030 with a vision to 2045, and a project on the model of specialised agency for anti-corruption and another on the control of power to prevent corruption during the investigation, prosecution, judge and execution of law violation cases.He suggested that the four agencies concentrate on giving consultations and directions on the handling of cases that receive special attention from the society, while strengthening the supervision over the implementation of the Party and State policies and laws at agencies in charge of internal affairs, and improving the coordination efficiency in proposing relevant policies./.

In the third round of the 2022 FIFA World Cup Asian qualifiers, Vietnam lost eight matches, won 3-1 over China and held Asian giants Japan to a 1-1 draw in the final match of the round. Currently, 25 vocational training schools in Vietnam have satisfied Australia's standards, and 45 others meet Germany’s standards. VND49 billion will be funded from Hanoi’s reciprocal capital, while the remainder is from Asian Development Bank and EU non-refundable loans. US Embassy supports English language training in VietnamA conference on the future of English language teaching and learning in Vietnam was held on Wednesday by the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam (DAV). Hanoi Tourism Festival to be held in MayA large-scale tourism festival will be held at various sites in the centre of Hanoi between May 13-15 with an aim to attract more visitors to the capital.

He expressed his belief that ASEAN’s recent initiatives to promote the role of regional young people will contribute to building a cohesive and sustainable ASEAN Community. The minister also shared Vietnam’s efforts to promote post-pandemic recovery, saying that the Vietnamese government has issued policies to help workers and businesses overcome difficulties. Participants demonstrated strong support for a series of initiatives launched by Cambodia, especially in terms of youth, sports, labour and enhancing entrepreneurship for women. They also applauded the education sectors of ASEAN member countries for promoting digital transformation in education activities and re-opening schools in the new normal. The ministers also supported the building of a declaration on upholding the role of sports in building the ASEAN Community and realising sustainable development goals; and another one on strengthening ASEAN identity through protecting traditional sports and games./.

Overcoming the trauma of being sexually abused and having a poor childhood, a Vietnamese-French writer hopes to bring a better future to ethnic minority children in Vietnam. — Photo courtesy of LOAN Stiftung FoundationIsabelle Müller was the fifth child of a Vietnamese mother and a French father. The memoir not only gives hope to victims of sexual abuse but also to students of LOAN Stiftung, a foundation she founded in her mother's name. “That's why I want to go back to Vietnam where my mother was born, to help children in disadvantaged areas have a better life,” she said. A school built by LOAN Stiftung foundation in Ha Giang Province.

In March, Da Man Forest in D’ran Village, Don Duong District, Lam Dong Province, enters the charming red foliage season, mesmerizing many tourists. D’ran Village embraced by the Da Man Forest is an ideal destination for those who love peace and romance. Hiking tour of Da Man ForestThe gorgeous Da Man Forest is a haven for hikers. Da Man Forest in the red foliage season is as delightful as a painting. It’s wonderful to witness the red foliage season, which is rarely seen in a tropical country like Vietnam.

Nguyen Hanh Phuong, a 13-year-old student in Hanoi, has been named by the Vietnam Record Association, Vietkings, as Vietnam's youngest writer to have penned a fiction in English and released it as a bilingual English-Vietnamese serieswith her novel entitled ‘Star Team: A Quest for the Greatest Power.’Nguyen Hanh Phuong has been named by the Vietnam Record Association, Vietkings, as Vietnam's youngest writer of fiction in English. (Photo courtesy of Nguyen Hanh Phuong)The book series tells the story of four English adventurous children aged 12. Phuong writes her books in English first and then translates them into Vietnamese. Having a passion for reading books since childhood, especially those on science and literature, Nguyen Hanh Phuong has read many books in various genres in both Vietnamese and English. According to Chairman of the Vietnam Writers’ Association Nguyen Quang Thieu during this tenure, the association will place priority in children's literature because child authors are the future owners of literature.

Hanoi kick-starts tourism promotion activitiesThe "Get on Hanoi 2022" tourism programme will take place on March 25-27, with an array of activities to foster tourism recovery in the ‘new normal’ situation. There will also be an education forum and a workshop for startup cooperation between Vietnam and the UK in Cambridge. The pilot project will be carried out by the municipal People’s Committee, the German Development Cooperation Organisation (GIZ) and Vietsoftpro software solution company, until December 2023. Robotics competition held for secondary students of Vietnam, FinlandThe first edition of the Master Robot Builders Robot Competition will be held for secondary students of Vietnam and Finland. Fine art exhibition honours Vietnamese lacquerAn exhibition honouring the development of Vietnamese lacquer officially opened at the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum in Hanoi on March 23.

Among 35 companies reviewed, Nha Trang Seafood Joint Stock Company (NTSF) and East Sea Seafoods Joint Stock Company (ESS) have been requested to answer the survey questionnaire. The DOC also determined that Green Farms Seafood Joint Stock Company (Green Farms) is eligible for a separate tax rate. It held that NTSF failed to make sales of subject merchandise at prices below the normal value during the period of review, meaning that it will not be subject to any anti-dumping tax. About 10 Vietnamese seafood exporters, including Vinh Hoan JSC, Nam Viet Joint Stock Company, and NTSF, are now not subject to the anti-dumping tariff. Vietnamese pangasuis has been subject to US anti-dumping duties since 2003, with these tariffs being reviewed annually.

This year could see abundant cash flow in real estate, particularly from foreign funders, professional investment funds, and individual investors. According to Nguyen Quoc Anh, deputy general director of Batdongsan.com.vn, the real estate field could be the favourite destination for investors this year. “The year will likely see a large amount of money poured into real estate in all segments. Real estate continued to be at the second position among 17 industries receiving FDI inflows in February 2022. This result helped real estate become second only to processing-manufacturing in attracting FDI.

The official song for the upcoming 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 31) was revealed during a ceremony held in Hanoi on March 20 which honoured outstanding athletes and coaches of the country last year. The lyric sheet of the song (Photo: VNA)The official song for the upcoming 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 31) was revealed during a ceremony held in Hanoi on March 20 which honoured outstanding athletes and coaches of the country last year. The song also sends a message of development, solidarity and friendship between Vietnam and international friends. The song is a present dedicated to all athletes, he added, hoping that they will obtain the best results during competitions. The SEA Games 31, themed “For a stronger South East Asia”, will run in Hanoi and 11 neighbouring localities from May 12 to 23.