President Tran Dai Quang (R) meets President of the National Assembly of Cambodia Samdech Heng Samrin (Source: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – President Tran Dai Quang hailed visit by President of the National Assembly of Cambodia Samdech Heng Samrin on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties (June 24) during a reception in Hanoi on June 24. The State leader said the two nations need to further boost solidarity, friendship and cooperation by facilitating economic, trade and investment ties while enhancing people-to-people diplomacy, especially among young generations. He believed that under the sound rule of King Norodom Sihamoni and leadership of the Senate, National Assembly and government of Cambodia  in which the Cambodia People’s Party plays a crucial role, the fraternal Cambodian people will continue reaping greater successes in the cause of building … [Read more...]

Following is the full text of the speech translated by VNA. Exellency Samdech Heng Samrin, Honorary President of the Cambodian People’s Party, President of the National Assembly of the Kingdom of Cambodia, Chairman of the Solidarity Front for the Development of Cambodian Motherland National Council, Exellency Leaders, former Leaders of the Party and State of Vietnam, Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear Cambodian and Vietnamese friends, In the celebration of the 50th year of the Vietnam – Cambodia diplomatic ties, we are happy to be here today in this ceremony, with pride in the bright future of the “good neighbourliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation and long-term sustainability” between Vietnam and Cambodia. On behalf of the leaders of the Party and Government and the people of Vietnam, I would like to … [Read more...]

National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan delivers a speech at the ceremony (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan delivered a speech at the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam-Cambodia diplomatic ties held in Hanoi on June 24. Following is the full text of the speech translated by VNA. Exellency Samdech Heng Samrin, Honorary President of the Cambodian People’s Party, President of the National Assembly of the Kingdom of Cambodia, Chairman of the Solidarity Front for the Development of Cambodian Motherland National Council, Exellency Leaders, former Leaders of the Party and State of Vietnam, Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear Cambodian and Vietnamese friends, In the celebration of the 50th year of the Vietnam – Cambodia diplomatic ties, we are happy to be here today in this ceremony, with pride in … [Read more...]

Ambassador Duong Chi Dung, head of Vietnam’s permanent delegation to the UN, the WTO and other international organisations in Geneva, attend a meeting of the UNHRC (Photo: VNA) Geneva (VNA) – The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) carried out final discussions of its 35th session in Geneva, Switzerland, on June 22-23, adopting 36 resolutions and a presidential statement, including a draft resolution on climate change and human rights co-created by Vietnam. This year’s resolution on climate change, co-created by Vietnam, the Philippines and Bangladesh, focuses on climate change’s impacts on migrants’ enjoyment of their rights and on cross-border migration. It calls on countries to issue climate change response policies which are in line with the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. In the resolution, the UNHRC decides to organise a discussion … [Read more...]

A dancing performance ​at the ​celebration of 50 years of Vietnam-Cambodia diplomatic ties (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – The 50th founding anniversary of Vietnam-Cambodia diplomatic relations (June 24, 1967) was celebrated with a grand ceremony at the Hanoi Opera House in the capital city of Vietnam on June 24. Vietnamese participants included National Assembly (NA) Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh who chairs the National Steering Committee for the Vietnam-Cambodia Friendship Year 2017, Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Hoang Trung Hai, and President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee Tran Thanh Man. Among the Cambodian officials at the event were Honourary President of the Cambodian People’s Party, President of the NA of Cambodia, and Chairman of the National Council of the Solidarity Front … [Read more...]

The 5-year project has helped train young staff for local administrations and has boosted local socio-economic development. The graduates worked in disadvantaged localities with responsibility and enthusiasm. An assessment report said that 97% of the young intellectuals have fulfilled their tasks and actively engaged in local socio-economic development and defense. Ninh Thi Kim Thao, Vice Chairwoman of the Ban Xen commune People’s Committee, Lao Cai province, said “I had to learn about the customs of local ethnic people. I listened to their opinions and their situation before giving them new information and advice. Gradually they understood.” The dynamism and enthusiasm of young graduates brought a fresh working style to the localities. Dien Bien province received 32 people to work as Vice Chairpersons of communal People’s Committees. The young … [Read more...]

The World Bank has approved new financing worth US$300 million to help Vietnam improve connectivity in Central Highlands and create more jobs in coastal provinces. The new financing will support Southeast Asian country’s efforts to improve transport connectivity in the countryside and to protect forests along eight coastal provinces, the World Bank said on Thursday. The two projects to receive financing, approved by the World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors, are the Central Highlands Connectivity Improvement Project and the Forest Sector Modernization and Coastal Resilience Enhancement Project. “Investing in environmentally-sustainable projects is investing in the future of Vietnam,” Ousmane Dione, the World Bank Country Director for Vietnam, said in a statement. “The World Bank fully supports Vietnam’s efforts to strengthen its resilience to climate change and to serve the needs of … [Read more...]

A 110kV transformer station in the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai (Photo:VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – The Electricity of Vietnam (EVN) said it has continued investing in power projects in rural and remote areas and islands, especially localities with a low rate of rural households gaining access to electricity. The group has called for official development assistance and preferential loans from international organisations such as the World Bank, Asian Development Bank and German development bank KfW. Regarding a PM-approved programme on power supply for rural, mountainous areas and islands for 2013-2020, the EVN has worked closely with localities to set out priorities in line with annual funding from the State budget. Under the programme, projects designed for 2016-2020 need 13.72 trillion VND (603.68 million USD) while the State budget allocated for them only amounts to 1.14 … [Read more...]

NDO/VNA – The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) carried out the final discussions of its 35th session in Geneva, Switzerland, on June 22-23, adopting 36 resolutions and delivered a presidential statement, including a draft resolution on climate change and human rights, co-created by Vietnam. This year’s resolution on climate change, co-created by Vietnam, the Philippines and Bangladesh, focuses on the impact of climate change on migrants’ enjoyment of their rights and on cross-border migration. It calls on countries to issue climate change response policies, in line with the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. In the resolution, the UNHRC has decided to organise a discussion on “human rights, climate change, migrants and persons displaced across international borders”, to contribute to the intergovernmental process leading to the Global Compact on safe, orderly and regular migration in December 2017. It also requests that the Office … [Read more...]

NDO/VNA – The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) carried out the final discussions of its 35th session in Geneva, Switzerland, on June 22-23, adopting 36 resolutions and delivered a presidential statement, including a draft resolution on climate change and human rights, co-created by Vietnam. This year’s resolution on climate change, co-created by Vietnam, the Philippines and Bangladesh, focuses on the impact of climate change on migrants’ enjoyment of their rights and on cross-border migration. It calls on countries to issue climate change response policies, in line with the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. In the resolution, the UNHRC has decided to organise a discussion on “human rights, climate change, migrants and persons displaced across international borders”, to contribute to the intergovernmental process leading to the Global Compact on safe, orderly and regular migration in December 2017. It also requests that the Office … [Read more...]

NDO/VNA – Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc received President of the National Assembly (NA) of Cambodia, Samdech Heng Samrin, in Hanoi on June 24. The PM welcomed the Cambodian delegation’s official visit to Vietnam marking the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the countries’ diplomatic relations (June 24, 1967). He also informed the visiting President about the success of the recent working session and meeting with Cambodian PM Samdech Hun Sen, who retraced the revolutionary path he took in Vietnam four decades ago. The last 50 years have been a special period in bilateral relations as the two people were united and ready to sacrifice their lives for the sake of each other, he said, considering this as a priceless and sacred asset that the Vietnamese and Cambodians, especially younger generations, must maintain and nurture in the future. PM Phuc also expressed his sincere gratitude to late King Norodom Sihanouk, King Norodom Sihamoni ,other … [Read more...]

NDO/VNA – Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc received President of the National Assembly (NA) of Cambodia, Samdech Heng Samrin, in Hanoi on June 24. The PM welcomed the Cambodian delegation’s official visit to Vietnam marking the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the countries’ diplomatic relations (June 24, 1967). He also informed the visiting President about the success of the recent working session and meeting with Cambodian PM Samdech Hun Sen, who retraced the revolutionary path he took in Vietnam four decades ago. The last 50 years have been a special period in bilateral relations as the two people were united and ready to sacrifice their lives for the sake of each other, he said, considering this as a priceless and sacred asset that the Vietnamese and Cambodians, especially younger generations, must maintain and nurture in the future. PM Phuc also expressed his sincere gratitude to late King Norodom Sihanouk, King Norodom Sihamoni ,other … [Read more...]

In the first-ever meeting with foreign diplomats here, the school showcased the advances it has made and the top-notch education it offers to students. The "KAIST Embassy Day" event brought together about 90 diplomats from 65 nations in South Korea, including 31 ambassadors, organizers said. "KAIST is the first and top science and technology university in South Korea. Today, it is being truly recognized as a world-class university. The presence of this leading group of diplomats reflects how KAIST's reputation has blossomed," Shin Sung-chul, the president of KAIST, said. The school said the aim of the event is to eventually bring in more "qualified" and "diversified" students to further boost global competitiveness. "A total of 710 foreign students from 86 countries, representing about 8 percent of the total student body, are currently studying at KAIST. We will actively recruit more foreign professors and students to KAIST in the coming years to achieve a … [Read more...]

In the first-ever meeting with foreign diplomats here, the school showcased the advances it has made and the top-notch education it offers to students. The "KAIST Embassy Day" event brought together about 90 diplomats from 65 nations in South Korea, including 31 ambassadors, organizers said. "KAIST is the first and top science and technology university in South Korea. Today, it is being truly recognized as a world-class university. The presence of this leading group of diplomats reflects how KAIST's reputation has blossomed," Shin Sung-chul, the president of KAIST, said. The school said the aim of the event is to eventually bring in more "qualified" and "diversified" students to further boost global competitiveness. "A total of 710 foreign students from 86 countries, representing about 8 percent of the total student body, are currently studying at KAIST. We will actively recruit more foreign professors and students to KAIST in the coming years to achieve a … [Read more...]

Trang Thanh Nam was among the firefighters dispatched to a severe blaze in Ho Chi Minh City on Thursday’s night, when it was only hours before his important national high-school examination. The 21-year-old and 200 other firefighters had to work through the night to put out the raging inferno that engulfed a warehouse District 4, even though he was supposed to sit for the natural science test the following morning. Vietnamese students began sitting for a three-day national examination, whose results are used for both high-school graduation and college entrance, on Wednesday. Nam, a high school graduate who works at the Ho Chi Minh City fire department, attended the exam to use the result for his university admission. Trang Thanh Nam prepares to fight the fire. Photo: Tuoi Tre “I knew I had to get up early to arrive at the test-taking venue on time,” the young firefighter told Tuoi Tre … [Read more...]

A woman walks past an electronic board showing share prices at Bao Viet Securities Co on Ba Trieu street in Hanoi (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) - The benchmark VN-Index rebounded on June 23 after two declining sessions on the recovery of several key stocks. On the HCM Stock Exchange, the VN-Index was up 0.35 percent to close at 769.01 points, expanding the market’s growth to 1 percent for the week. Bank stocks, which were the market engine in the past rally, saw divergence. The two of the three largest listed lenders – Vietinbank (CTG) and BIDV (BID) – recouped 0.3 percent each. Vietcombank (VCB) closed unchanged while three other listed banks slipped between 0.7-1.9 percent. On the positive side, some large-cap stocks gained valued and supported the market. Petrolimex (PLX) rose for five days in a row, up 2.7 percent on June 23 at 71,400 VND (3.15 … [Read more...]

But to do so, the quality of these products must be improved meeting the quality criteria of export markets. Currently, only 4% of Vietnamese small and medium sized enterprises meet the processing regulations of the EU, US, Japan, the Republic of Korea, and Australia.  Most of the agricultural produce companies are small and medium sized with limited capital and technology, and few of them are proactive in seeking new export markets.  Ms Vu Kim Hanh, President of the Association of the High Quality Vietnamese Goods Businesses said that international integration requires enterprises to change their business mindset to focus on the entire value chain including chemical use, preservation technology, traces of origin, and labeling.  Hanh said, “We will have to change our mindset in the production and organization of supply chains. We … [Read more...]

Businesses, residents, and even immigrants in the Central Highlands region are exploiting the local forests for its natural resources. Meanwhile competent authorities have been unable to manage the excessive exploitation, with some even caught abetting the harmful activities. According to the observation of Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper reporters this year, a large area of forest along National Highway 14 in Tuy Duc and Dak Song Districts in Dak Nong Province has vanished. A local resident stated that the area was cleared to make space for coffee plantations. “The soil here is perfect for the agricultural activity. First people just chopped down a small area of the forest, but eventually the entire area was replaced with coffee trees,” he elaborated. In Quang Son Commune, Dak G’Long District, chopping down trees and burning forest to … [Read more...]

Da Sy village pagoda Da Sy is also well-known as the birthplace of many famous physicians, generals, and doctors of the Thang Long Imperial City. In the middle of the 18th century, Se village was renamed Dan Khe, then Huyen Khe, and finally Da Sy. The village is now a ward of Ha Dong district, Hanoi. From the Ly Dynasty, which began in 1010, until the Nguyen Dynasty, which ended in 1945, Vietnam had 20 doctoral villages. During this feudal period, a doctoral village was any village which produced 10 or more doctors. From the 15th  century to the 18th century, Da Sy produced 12 doctors, 9 of them from the Hoang clan, including Hoang Nghia Phu who has been recognized by both Vietnam and China as the top doctor. Trinh Quoc Hoan, a scholar who has studied Da Sy village, recalls “In 1431, Hoàng … [Read more...]

Bui Tho Duc Duyen came to an exam venue Ho Chi Minh City visibly weak and pale. The 45-year-old had just recovered from a heart attack not long ago, but he's still relying on an implantable device to assist his heart. He was one of the oldest contestants in this year’s national high school graduation exam, one that he missed nearly three decades ago. “I want to try again, to see how I'll perform and if I can get a high school diploma,” Duyen said. Bui Tho Duc Duyen, 45, sits the national high school exam in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo by VnExpress/M.N. He had been prepping for three months for this exam with separate tests in math, literature, English and sciences. Duyen said he did not do well on the literature test on Thursday because he was in pain. “The test seemed quite easy for the young students but not to me. Hope I did not do too bad,” he said, smiling. At a venue in the central province of Nghe An, the … [Read more...]