PM Phuc suggests orientations of ASEAN-Australia partnershipVietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has urged the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Australia to intensify cooperation and mutual trust, for interests of each side, as well as for cooperation and stability in the region. Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc at the plenary session of the ASEAN-Australia Speicial Summit. He made the appeal while addressing a retreat between leaders of ASEAN and Australia within the framework of the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit in Sydney on March 18. Meanwhile, at the plenary session of the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit the same day, they compared notes on orientations of the ASEAN-Australia strategic partnership with the centre on collaboration in economy and anti-terrorism. Such dialogue mechanisms include the East Asia Summit (EAS), the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM+).

Gia Lai encourages young to preserve gongThe gong, a musical instrument native to the Central Highlands, is popular in the five provinces of Kon Tum, Gia Lai, Đắk Lắk, Đắk Nông, and Lâm Đồng. She joined a xoang dance class and was selected to perform in the Gong, Folk Singing and Folk Music Instrument Festival for young people in 2017. I feel it is the responsibility of the youngsters to preserve the traditional art and culture of our ethnic group,” Theo said. Besides the gong classes, the villages, districts and provinces also hold annual or biannual festivals and cultural events featuring the gong, and folk singing and folk music instrument performances for young people. Each troupe contributed with three types of performances: gong, folk dance and folk music instrument performances.

Grab and Uber as taxi firms: a step back in the Industry 4.0 era? The heated debate over whether Vietnam should regulate Grab and Uber as taxi services continues. Defining tech-based firms as traditional taxi services would be a step back for scientific and information technology development. If Grab and Uber were regulated as traditional taxi firms, it would hinder Vietnam’s progress to become a startup nation in the age of Industry 4.0. When Uber made its foray into China, the firm threatened the market shares of traditional taxi firms.

Dinh La Thang to stand for series of allegations at second trialThe Hanoi People’s Court will open the second trial of Dinh La Thang, who is charged with of pouring VND800 billion ($35.3 million) of state-run Vietnam Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam) into OceanBank despite all the alerting signs on March 19. Dinh La Thang and other defendants committed several violations during the contributions. On August 6, 2010, Dinh La Thang signed a document to purchase OceanBank’s additional capital and submitted it to the prime minister for approval. Without any bidding procedures, on June 18, 2010, Dinh La Thang signed the resolution to assign PVC the EPC package in the form of a bidding appointment. These amounts were spent for the wrong purposes and Dinh La Thang played the mastermind role in this case.

Vietnam, China talk sea area off mouth of Tonkin GulfVietnam and China held the ninth round of negotiations of a working group on the sea area beyond the mouth of the Gulf of Tonkin and the sixth round of negotiations of a working group on cooperation in sea development in the central city Da Nang, on March 15-16. Soldiers of Vietnam Coast Guard in a Vietnam-China joint patrol in the Gulf of Tonkin. The two sides discussed various issues relating to the two working groups. Vietnam and China also agreed to promptly organise the 10th round of negotiations of the working group on the sea area beyond the mouth of the Gulf of Tonkin and the seventh round of negotiations of the working group on sea development cooperation in China. At the end of the meeting, the two sides signed the minutes of the negotiations.-VNA

US’s education featured in HCM exhibitionVarious types of education in the US were introduced at an exhibition held by the US Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City on March 16. Various types of education in the US were introduced at an exhibition in Ho Chi Minh City on March 16 (Source: https://www.hcmcpv.org.vn)During the event, representatives from 65 universities and colleges of the US have updated participants on scholarship programmes of the US Government for Vietnamese students, scholars and experts. Speaking at the exhibition, US Consul General in HCM City Mary Tarnowka stressed that education is still one of the leading cooperation priorities in the relations between the two countries. The number of Vietnamese students pursuing their study in the US has continuously increased over the last 16 years, she said. At present, around 31,890 Vietnamese students are studying in the US, ranking fifth among the countries with students studying in the country, and first in Southeast Asian nations.

Indian scholars: President’s visit adds impetus to Vietnam-India tiesIndian scholars have highly valued Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang’s State visit to India early this month, affirming that it created a new momentum for sustainable relations of the two countries in the future. President Quang’s speech raised the question of how to diversify trade, towards fostering two-way trade between the two countries, he stressed. She also highlighted that President Quang’s speech at Nehru Memorial Museum conveyed a message of win-win cooperation, and mentioned challenges facing the two sides. He spoke of President Quang’s speech at Nehru Memorial Museum, saying it set out a roadmap for cooperation between the two nations in all domains. President Tran Dai Quang paid a State visit to India from March 2-4 at the invitation of Indian President Ram Nath Kovind.

Old books retain strong value to readersIn the context of technology booming, it is easier for people to access information via Internet. I sell books as a way to meet other old book lovers," Le Van Hop, a book collector said. Despite the digital era, old book fairs still exist, offering a good opportunity for book lovers to share their interests. For book lovers, old books not only contain knowledge, but great cultural and mental values as well. Therefore, although society is developed and how reading habits change, old books still are popular among some readers.-VNA

Vietnamese farmers expect higher profits with CPTPP trade agreementVietNamNet Bridge - The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) is expected to help Vietnam boost exports of seafood and farm produce. Vietnam’s farm produce export turnover was $36 billion last year. Minister of Agriculture Nguyen Xuan Cuong said that Vietnam’s farm produce is exported to 180 countries and territories. A $40 billion export turnover is quite within reach this year, though farmers have higher expectations,” Cuong said. RELATED NEWSVietnam trusts new CPTPP trade agreementThe CPTPP is not just TPP version 2.0Mai Lan

Vietnam, Australia cooperate in vocational educationThe Vietnamese Ministry of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs and the Department of Education and Training of Australia have inked a memorandum of understanding in vocational education. During the meeting, the Australian official affirmed Vietnam is becoming Australia’s important partner in international cooperation on vocational education. Minister Dung visited several vocational education establishments in New South Wales and attended a round-table seminar on vocational education between the two countries. Over the past years, cooperation between Vietnam and Australia in vocational education is increasingly developed through such forms as: joint training; vocational managers training; workshops, fact-find tours on vocational training; the implementation of the Australia Programme for Skills (Aus4skills). The freshly-signed MOU on cooperation in vocational education between the Ministry of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs and Australia’s Department of Education and Training is expected to expand and strengthen bilateral collaboration in the field of vocational education in the time ahead.

ASEAN, Australia sign MoU on counter-terrorismOfficials of Australia and the ASEAN member states signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on strengthening co-operation to counter international terrorism within the framework of the ASEAN – Australia Special Summit in Sydney, Australia on Saturday. The signing ceremony took place in the presence of ASEAN leaders and Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. Via signed framework agreements, ASEAN and Australia agreed to enhance counter-terrorism co-operation in terrorist financing and violent extremism. Australia was the first nation establishing official dialogue partnership with ASEAN in all three fields of politics, economics and specialised co-operation. He hoped that the “smart cities” initiative would create a bank of knowledge that brings together ideas for sustainable urban planning from Australia and ASEAN nations.

HCM City may fail in old apartment restoration targetHCM City may fail to reach the target to restore 50% out of the city’s total old apartment building number of 474, according to the municipal Department of Construction. Bui Vien old apartment building in HCM CityDuring the 2007-2017 period, HCM City could only dismantle 32 old apartment buildings which have seen the quite slow pace of being upgraded. HCM City Department of Construction said that at present around 15 old apartments in the city face serious deterioration. Districts 5 and 10 account for the highest number of old apartment buildings, most of them located in populous areas. Experts said that the city must show how investors – who rebuild apartment buildings -can benefit by offering them incentives to attract them.

State funeral of former PM Phan Van Khai on March 20-21A State funeral will be held on March 20-21 for former Prime Minister Phan Van Khai, who passed away on March 17. Former Prime Minister Phan Van Khai. The burial ceremony is scheduled at 11:00 am the same day in his hometown – Tan Thong Hoi commune, Cu Chi district, Ho Chi Minh City. Former Politburo member and former Prime Minister Phan Van Khai passed away at 1:30 on March 17 at Cu Chi, Ho Chi Minh City, aged 85. Phan Van Khai was born on December 25, 1933 in Cu Chi district, Ho Chi Minh City.

Sapa status upgrade creates opportunities for property investorsSapa’s upcoming achievement of town status will pave the way for more opportunities for investors in the real estate market. As Sapa’s land funds are growing increasingly scarce and land prices are going through the roof, investors are eyeing areas within a two-kilometre radius from Sapa centre. Investors claim this is the right time to step ahead because once Sapa district officially receives the town status, the central area will grow and current bordering areas will further appreciate. In the past three years, Sapa land price has triple, from VND90 million per square meter (m2) to VND150-160 million m2. Besides, experts also claim that with strong transport infrastructure and the planning of the town, Sapa will certainly become an attractive destination for real estate investors.

Viettel grabs 10 percent market share in TanzaniaThe Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority has reported that Halotel, Viettel’s subsidiary, has achieved a 10 per cent of market share equivalent to 3.8 million subscribers within just two years of inception. The Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority has reported that Halotel, Viettel’s subsidiary, has achieved a 10 per cent of market share equivalent to 3.8 million subscribers within just two years of inception.— Photo ViettelHalotel has risen from seventh place to fourth in terms of subscriber numbers. In Viet Nam, Viettel Post has been providing box delivery services since early March. Viettel also provides cartons for sending packages, and they are free this month. Besides, this month the fee is uniform for delivering anywhere in the country, but from next month it will be higher for non-urban destinations.