Cambodia considers quarantine-free entry for people with booster shots
A security guard checks the vaccination status of a shopper before allowing entry into a market in Phnom Penh (Photo: khmertimeskh.com)Phnom Penh (VNA) – Cambodia’s Ministry of Health is looking into the possibility of requiring proof of booster shots status before allowing quarantine-free entry into Cambodia, in an effort to contain the Omicron strain of COVID-19. Cambodia posts a high vaccination rate and is heading toward achieving the herd immunity target for people in the country, he said, adding that the booster shot requirement is being implemented because the highly infectious Omicron variant is circulating widely. However, it will be difficult to implement the booster shot entry requirement in the near future because some countries have yet to establish a booster shot regime. Authorities of Phnom Penh capital have urged people to get booster shots, imposing stricter conditions for those who wish to enter public or private institutions or businesses. The country on January 12 began to administer the booster shots as it reported the highest COVID-19 daily caseload in the recent three months prompted by the fast-spreading Omicron variant./.
Source:Viet Nam News
January 13, 2022 11:09 UTC
World Bank optimistic about growth of Lao economy
Illustrative photo. (Source: WB)– The World Bank has predicted that Laos will see economic growth of 4.5 percent in 2022 and 4.8 percent in 2023 despite projected slower growth of the global economy, Vientiane Times reported.However, the global economy is entering a pronounced slowdown amid fresh threats from COVID-19 variants and a rise in inflation, debt and income inequality that could threaten the recovery in emerging and developing economies, according to the WB’s latest Global Economic Prospects report.Global growth is expected to decelerate markedly from 5.5 percent in 2021 to 4.1 percent in 2022 and 3.2 percent in 2023.The rapid spread of the Omicron variant indicates that the pandemic will likely continue to disrupt economic activity in the near term.In Laos , the government has eased a number of measures and expedited the vaccination programme to enable the private sector to resume businesses, factories and investment projects to further boost economic growth The government reopened the country to international visitors this month in a bid to revitalise the tourism and service sectors which have been hit hard by the pandemic since 2020./.
Source:Viet Nam News
January 13, 2022 04:33 UTC
Vietnam, Belarus conduct political consultation at deputy foreign ministerial level
– Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister To Anh Dung and his Belarusian counterpart Mikalai Barysevich co-chaired a political consultation between the two Foreign Ministries in Hanoi on January 12, during which both sides agreed on many measures to bolster bilateral cooperation in all fields.The two Deputy FMs concurred to resume the exchange of delegations at all levels in the new normal situation and expand collaboration in defence, security, economy-trade, investment, education and culture-tourism as well as among localities of both countries.Dung affirmed that Vietnam hopes to further promote the traditional friendship and all-round cooperation with Belarus He held that the two countries’ presenting of medical supplies to each other to fight COVID-19 last December is evidence of the close friendship between the two nations. Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister To Anh Dung (R) and his Belarusian counterpart Mikalai Barysevich (Photo: VNA)He expressed delight at the recovery in two-way trade in 2021, and proposed that the two sides further optimise the free trade agreement between Vietnam and the Eurasian Economic Union , in which Belarus is a member, to further increase trade exchange.For his part, the Belarusian Deputy FM congratulated Vietnam on completing its tasks as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council in 2020-2021, underlining that Belarus wants to further foster cooperation with Vietnam in all fields.Regarding regional and international issues of shared concern, the two sides agreed that the two countries will continue working closely together and supporting each other at international forums, contributing to peace and stability in the region and the world.On the occasion, the Belarusian Deputy FM handed over to the Vietnamese side a diplomatic note affirming that Belarus will support Vietnam’s candidacy for a seat in the UN Human Rights Council in the 2023-2025 tenure./.
Source:Viet Nam News
January 12, 2022 16:13 UTC
PM requests tighter inspections to prevent corruption
Politics Vietnam, RoK enjoy extensive exchange in culture: Korean minister Vietnam and the Republic of Korea (RoK) have seen extensive cultural exchange, and the combination of the RoK’s development and technology and Vietnam’s values will definitely create great influence, not only in Asia, said RoK Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hwang Hee. Politics Vietnam, Australia hold 17th human rights dialogue The 17th Vietnam – Australia Human Rights Dialogue was productive and frank, and covered an extensive range of issues, according to a statement issued by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) on January 13. Politics Government leaders of Vietnam, China hold phone talks Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh talked over the phone with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on January 13, on the occasion of the 72nd founding anniversary of the two countries’ diplomatic ties (January 18, 1950 - 2022). Politics Infographic NA’s extraordinary session fulfills entire agenda The 15th National Assembly (NA) fulfilled the entire agenda of its first extraordinary session, lasting for four and a half days, and came to success.
Source:Viet Nam News
January 12, 2022 15:28 UTC
Vietnam, Belarus hold great cooperation potential: FM
Vietnam and Belarus have a reliable political relationship, and a lot of potential for cooperation in various fields, especially economics, trade and investment, said Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son during his reception for visiting Belarusian Deputy FM Mikalai Barysevich in Hanoi on January 12.Son welcomed the Belarusian official’s visit to Vietnam to co-chair a political consultation at the deputy ministerial level between the two ministries, affirming that Vietnam always attaches great importance to and wishes to develop the traditional friendship and multi-faceted cooperation with Belarus. He appreciated Belarus’s granting medical equipment and supplies to support Vietnam’s fight against COVID-19 last December.Barysevich expressed his pleasure to visit Vietnam on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the two countries' diplomatic relations (January 24, 1992 - 2022). He appreciated and congratulated Vietnam on fulfilling its role of a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the 2020-2021 tenure, while emphasising Belarus's desire to promote cooperation with Vietnam in the fields of defence, security, economics, trade, investment, education - training, culture, and local cooperation.Regarding cooperation at international forums, the Vietnamese minister thanked Belarus for its support in the past time, and expressed his belief that the two countries will continue to cooperate closely in, and contribute actively to maintaining peace and stability in the region and the world./.
Source:Viet Nam News
January 12, 2022 15:28 UTC
China reopens one more border gate with Vietnam for fresh fruit imports
– Chinese authority on January 12 re-opened its Hekou International Border Gate – which pairs with Vietnam's Kim Thanh II border gate in the northern province of Lao Cai – for imported fresh fruits , including dragon fruit, and frozen foods from Vietnam, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade.The move is expected to reduce congestion at the shared border gates between the two countries in Lang Son and Quang Ninh after China has suspended imports of Vietnamese dragon fruits via Youyi Guan border gate (Huu Nghi border gate in Vietnam) and Pu Zhai (Tan Thanh of Vietnam) since December 29, 2021.Data of the General Department of Vietnam Customs shows that nearly 35 percent of Vietnamese dragon fruit exports to China went through border gates in Lao Cai.However, the Chinese side has warned of a decrease in loading capacity at Hekou Border Gate as many workers there had left for Lunar New Year holiday. It has also advised the Vietnamese side to strictly observe COVID-19 control rules and proactively regulate shipments of goods through border gates to prevent congestion.China has halted imports of Vietnamese fresh fruits via Hekou Border Gate since July 18, 2021 after coronavirus was found on packaging of dragon fruits shipped from Vietnam.The lift of the ban resulted from multiple efforts made by the Ministry of Industry and Trade and Vietnamese localities to work with the China side on the issue since then./.
Source:Viet Nam News
January 12, 2022 09:00 UTC
VN to boost domestic 'supporting industries'
VIETNAM, January 12 - VN to boost domestic 'supporting industries'<p> </p> <div class="inline-image" id="_196212"><img class="inline-image-img" inline="true" old_doc_id="196212" src="https://image.vietnamnews.vn/uploadvnnews/Article/2022/1/11/196212_4110603499085522_vna_potal_chi_so_san_xuat_cong_nghiep_thang_12021_tang_222_stand (1).jpg"><pwa-container-wrapper><pwa-container class="pwa-container " data-uid="pwa_4CA8543A3640F95F43B0B26CC0336C7D"><pwa class="pwa-mark" data-pwa-category="spelling" data-pwa-heavy="false" data-pwa-hint="Incorrect named entity spelling: Việt Nam" data-pwa-id="pwa-53FF5D9E8B6E79AAF6B1ED4D91DF022C" data-pwa-rule-id="SSNE_1ED8EB53AB065C242A0B2F3DFEE11449" data-pwa-style-category="spelling" data-pwa-suggestions="Viet Nam"></pwa><pwa class="pwa-mark" data-pwa-category="spelling" data-pwa-heavy="false" data-pwa-hint="Incorrect named entity spelling: Việt Nam" data-pwa-id="pwa-C07A15D9107378E4719B5AB42CDB9ACD" data-pwa-rule-id="SSNE_1ED8EB53AB065C242A0B2F3DFEE11449" data-pwa-style-category="spelling" data-pwa-suggestions="Viet Nam"></pwa><pwa class="pwa-mark" data-pwa-category="spelling" data-pwa-heavy="false" data-pwa-help-article-id="1000042" data-pwa-hint="Unknown word: Việt" data-pwa-id="pwa-846DE556773A56D6CD178FE465ED3DD7" data-pwa-rule-id="SIMPLE_SPELLING" data-pwa-style-category="spelling" data-pwa-suggestions="VIET~Vilt~Vint~Viot~Virt"></pwa><pwa></pwa></pwa-container></pwa-container-wrapper> <div class="inline-image-caption" id="caption_196212" pwa-fake-editor="" pwa2-uuid="EDITOR-5D3-839-04AB7-FA6" spellcheck="false">Workers at a car factory in northern Việt Nam. Việt Nam aims for 6-6.5 per cent GDP growth this year. </p> <p>The objective is to seek and connect domestic firms that can produce parts for industrial production to reduce the country's reliance on foreign supply. In order for Việt Nam to realise its 6-6.5 per cent GDP target this year, industrial sectors must boost industrial production by 7-8 per cent.</p> <p>The ministry is to provide domestic firms with the necessary support, especially for those in key industries, to join the supply chain and speed up global integration. </p> <p>Among the 63 cities and provinces nationwide, Ninh Thuận saw the highest growth at 24.6 per cent.
Source:Viet Nam News
January 12, 2022 01:56 UTC
Vietnam, Canada eye stronger economic cooperation
At the signing ceremony (Photo: VNA)– Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Do Thang Hai and Chief Trade Commissioner and Assistant Deputy Minister Sara Wilshaw at Global Affairs Canada signed a Memorandum of Understanding ( MoU ) on establishing a joint economic committee (JEC) between the two countries on January 11.Addressing the online signing ceremony, Canadian Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade Mary Ng affirmed that Canada recognises the growing importance of creating trade opportunities with Vietnam and the Indo-Pacific region for its supply chain, long-term economic growth, and competitiveness.Businesses and labourers in both countries will benefit from strong and diverse supply chains with the support of the JEC, she said.Global Affairs Canada (GAC) said in a statement that “To drive a strong, sustainable, and inclusive economic recovery, the Government of Canada is committed to strengthening the country’s international trade ties with fast-growing markets, such as Vietnam’s”. Vietnam is not only an important global trading partner of Canada but also a dynamic economic player in the Indo-Pacific, it noted.By establishing the JEC, the Government of Canada is advancing trade diversification in the region basing on the success of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and collaboration through the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, as well as advancing free trade negotiations between Canada and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), of which Vietnam is a member.The MoU will provide a platform to improve dialogue and collaboration on shared and emerging priorities with Vietnam which is Canada’s largest trading partner in ASEAN, the statement said.It is hoped to help deepen the Canada-Vietnam bilateral relationship, enhance Canada’s presence in the Indo-Pacific and create opportunities for Canadian businesses to scale up and grow internationally, it added.Despite complicated developments of the COVID-19 pandemic, two-way trade between Vietnam and Canada hit approximately 5.4 billion USD in the first 11 months of 2021, representing a year-on-year increase of 16.6 percent.By November 2021, Canada was the 14th biggest foreign investor in Vietnam with 231 projects worth 4.81 billion USD, mainly in the areas of hotel service, insurance, and renewable energy./.
Source:Viet Nam News
January 11, 2022 16:00 UTC
Vietnam-Belarus trade yet to match potential: Deputy FM
At the working session (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Dang Hoang An has said two-way trade between Vietnam and Belarus remains modest and has yet to match potential. Data from the General Department of Vietnam Customs showed that two-way trade hit 108.5 million USD in 2020, 10.8 million USD of which was from Vietnam’s exports. As of the third quarter of 2021, the figure reached 89.6 million USD, up 38.1 percent annually. Following the working session with the MoIT’s leaders, Barysevich will work with the MoIT’s Vietnam Trade Promotion Agency on initiatives to boost bilateral trade. The deputy minister said new driving forces need to be created to develop bilateral ties on par with their political relations./.
Source:Viet Nam News
January 11, 2022 13:57 UTC
VIETNAM NEWS HEADLINES JANUARY 11
Dang Thu Thao to judge Miss Teen International Vietnam 2021Dang Thu Thao, the winner of Miss Vietnam 2012, is set to serve on the judging panel for the upcoming Miss Teen International Vietnam 2021 pageant. The Miss Teen International Vietnam 2021 competition is open to all female Vietnamese citizens aged 13 to 19. The Winner of Miss Teen International Vietnam 2021 will subsequently be selected to represent the country in competing in Miss Teen International 2022, which is set to transpire in February 2 in India. Conference reviews project on Vietnam – Cuba defence tiesA conference to assess the Defense Ministry-level scientific research project, themed “Vietnam – Cuba defence cooperation through the memoirs historical witnesses”, was held by the Department of Military Science on January 10 in Hanoi. This prestigious award once again affirms the potential and attractiveness of Vietnam tourism to international visitors.
Source:Viet Nam News
January 11, 2022 11:50 UTC
Domestic firms urged to engage more in Vietnamese startups
Illustrative photo. Data shows that investment in Vietnamese startups hit a record high of over 1.3 billion USD last year but a majority of the funding came from foreign ventures.Domestic resources, though abundant, have not been unleashed, Quat said, urging that Vietnamese high-performing corporations will better engage in innovation and tech startup projects in the country.These corporations, which are the country’s largest resources, mainly use imported technologies while many local technologies have failed to get commercialised, he noted. “So we all expect major Vietnamese companies will be the ones to “order” solutions from startups and the first to use the products.”Investment into Vietnamese startups nosedived by 60 percent to 317 million USD in 2020 from 861 million USD due to impacts of COVID-19. The figure bounced back strongly to a record high of more than 1.3 billion USD last year.Vietnam is home to 3,800 startups but only 100 of them were able to raise funding annually on average. In 2021, just 147 projects succeeded in funding raising even though there are 200 capital ventures in the country.During the event, Sihub and Viet Lotus signed an agreement to boost the development of ecosystem for innovative startups in the coming time./.
Source:Viet Nam News
January 11, 2022 09:19 UTC
Vietnam to mark World Wetlands Day
Van Long Wetland Nature Reserve in northern province of Ninh Binh. (Photo: VNA)Vietnam will join other United Nations member states to mark World Wetlands Day on February 2 this year, according to a notice sent by the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (MoNRE) to concerned ministries, organisations, and cities and provinces.World Wetlands Day marks the date of the adoption of the Convention on Wetlands on February 2, 1971. 2022 will be the first year that World Wetlands Day will be observed as a UN international day , following its adoption by the UN General Assembly on August 30, 2021 in a resolution co-sponsored by 75 member states.This year’s event is themed “Wetland Action for People and Nature,” aims to motivate individuals, businesses, and governments to “invest financial, human and political capital to save the world’s wetlands from disappearing and to restore those we have degraded.”It was estimated that wetlands, amongst the world’s most valuable ecosystems and essential regulators of the global climate, are disappearing three times faster than forests. It has been joined by 172 UN member states. Vietnam participated the convention in 1989, making it the first signatory in Southeast Asia./.
Source:Viet Nam News
January 11, 2022 09:05 UTC
Customs clearance resumed at border gates, crossings with China
- The Ministry of Industry and Trade said that on January 10 morning, China’s Guangxi province officially resumed customs clearance at border gates and border crossings in its Dongxing city bordering Mong Cai city of Vietnam’s Quang Ninh province, including bridges Bac Luan 1 and Bac Luan 2, and pontoon bridge Km 3+4.These pairs of border gates and border crossings are very important for imports and exports of both sides.The Guangxi side said at first, priority will be given to handling goods, especially farm produce and frozen products, which are being stuck at the border gates.Previously, to review and strengthen COVID-19 prevention and control measures, Guangxi temporarily suspended customs clearance at border gates in Dongxing city from December 21, 2021.Thanks to continuous efforts and goodwill discussions of both sides, since January 5, 2022, Guangxi has gradually reopened pairs of border gates and border crossings between the province and Vietnam.In recent working sessions with the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Chinese side has repeatedly emphasised its high requirements for pandemic prevention and control and asked Vietnam to work together to ensure the safety of vehicles and goods.Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh has assigned ministries, sectors and localities to work with China to speed up customs clearance, striving to remove the congestion of trucks carrying goods for export at border gates before the Lunar New Year./.
Source:Viet Nam News
January 10, 2022 20:21 UTC
Vietnam considers new car number plate format
The possible new format of The possible new format of Vietnam 's car number plate. (Photo: zingnews.vn)The Ministry of Public Security’s Traffic Police Department is studying changes to the current format of car registration plate s, according to the department's deputy director Colonel Do Thanh Binh.Possible changes include new font and the addition of a QR code, the national flag and symbol of the car’s year of production, Binh said.It is part of an effort to stop drivers from covering their number plates with tape to avoid getting detected for traffic fines. “With the new font, it will be very difficult for drivers to tape (the number plate),” he explained.The department is testing the new plate format in various physical environments and lighting conditions to see how they are seen by surveillance camera system and human eyes./.
Source:Viet Nam News
January 10, 2022 16:10 UTC
Vietnam diversifies dragon fruit markets
The ministry said Vietnam’s dragon fruit export to India, a country with a large proportion of population consuming dragon fruit at weddings, went up quickly during 2019-2020, reaching over 11,000 tonnes and fetching 9.86 million USD. Experts at the ministry suggested Vietnamese authorities hold regular talks with foreign counterparts, as well as forming working groups and subcommittees, in order to expand its market reach overseas. In addition, domestic associations and trade promotion agencies are also recommended to cooperate with diplomatic representatives abroad on trade promotion programmes to help firms improve their competitiveness in international markets. Meanwhile, to sustain the consumption of Vietnamese fruit, it is necessary to hold more trade forums to promote the fruit worldwide and develop the domestic market to be less dependent on trade with China. In the near future, firms should also take advantage of free trade agreements to bring dragon fruit exports to the next level./.
Source:Viet Nam News
January 10, 2022 12:34 UTC