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Former Deputy Health Minister Truong Quoc Cuong at court (Photo: VNA) Hanoi – Former Deputy Health Minister Truong Quoc Cuong was given four years in jail in the first-instance trial of the case relating to the trading of counterfeit medicine labelled as Health 2000 Canada; lack of responsibilities causing serious consequences; and abuse of positions and power while on duty, which took place in HCM City, some other localities and at the Health Ministry’s Drug Administration (DAV). The Hanoi People’s Court imposed the sentence on Cuong on May 19 for the lack of responsibilities causing serious consequences. Two other defendants, Nguyen Viet Hung, former deputy director of the DAV; and Le Dinh Thanh, a former official of Ho Chi Minh City Customs Department - were sentenced to three years and two years respectively, on the same charge as Cuong. Two former officials of the DAV – Pham Hong Chau and Nguyen Thi Thu Thuy – got four years for abusing positions and power while on … [Read more...] about Former Deputy Health Minister gets four years in jail in fake medicine case

The Biden administration's proposed Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) aims to offer a U.S.-led platform for negotiating common regional standards around digital trade and data flows, labor standards, carbon emissions reductions and governance. But to the chagrin of some countries and business groups, it will not reduce tariffs between members or include traditional enhancements to market access. Azmin Ali, Malaysia's minister of international trade and industry told Reuters in an interview that the newly launched Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) gives companies the ability to use Malaysia as a hub to access a market comprising a third of the world's population and a third of global GDP output. "It represents almost 2.3 billion people under RCEP," Azmin said. "So again, we would like to invite these big companies to come to Malaysia and to use Malaysia as a gateway to penetrate a bigger market access and also to enjoy lower tariffs in terms of our export … [Read more...] about Malaysia touts trade access as US Indo-Pacific plan only a ‘good beginning’: trade chief

HÀ NỘI — Automaker VinFast on January 4 announced it will receive pre-orders for its electric SUV models VF e35 and VF e36 in Việt Nam and the US during the VinFast Global EV Day within the framework of the technology exhibition CES 2022 in Las Vegas, the US. Accordingly, pre-orders for the vehicles will open at 5pm on January 5 (Las Vegas time), or 8am of January 6 (Hanoi time). Special offers from VinFirst programme will be given to those who book the two models within the first three months. In Việt Nam, customers who will have to pay VNĐ15 million (US$659) in advance for VF e35 and VNĐ20 million for VF e36 will receive gift vouchers worth VNĐ150 million and VNĐ250 million,  respectively. Meanwhile, customers in the US who pay $200 in advance will get an e-voucher worth $3,000 for VF e35 and $5,000 for VF e36. In both markets, the pre-orders are refundable. During the event, VinFast will introduce blockchain application in the process of ordering ownership verification as well … [Read more...] about VinFast announces opening of pre-orders for electric vehicles in Việt Nam, US

Dragon fruit is one of the key crops of Long An Province. — Photo baolongan.vn Demand for Vietnamese dragon fruit in foreign markets is increasing, with many importers interested in high-quality fruit from Viet Nam. The Viet Nam Trade Promotion Agency, the Department of Industry and Trade of Long An Province, and the trade offices of the Vietnamese Embassies in New Zealand and Australia jointly organised a consulting session on exporting dragon fruits to Australia and New Zealand in the southern province of Long An last week. Speaking at the event opening, the Vietnamese Ambassador to New Zealand, Nguyen Van Trung, emphasised the importance of promoting agricultural co-operation, agricultural product trade and market opening for the strategic partnership between Viet Nam and New Zealand. Viet Nam wants New Zealand to share its experience and support Viet Nam in building an international brand and value chain for the global commercialisation of dragon fruit, following the … [Read more...] about Promoting dragon fruit exports to Australia, New Zealand

Experts at the seminar PANO – The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Khanh Hoa provincial People’s Committee on January 5th held an international scientific seminar in Nha Trang city to gather domestic and international experts’ experiences in studying sea and island culture. Accordingly, 60 reports of domestic and international experts from Taiwan (China), Sweden, Canada, Japan and the Republic of Korea focused on the cultural values of Vietnam’s sea and islands, sea and islands culture with the protection of national sovereignty and jurisdiction, as well as the protection and promotion of today sea and islands culture. Besides, the participants evaluated the importance of sea and islands culture to the national sovereignty protection and economic and cultural development strategy. The two-day conference is expected to contribute to raising local authorities and coastal people’s awareness of protecting and promoting sea and islands culture for the national … [Read more...] about Sea and islands culture protection and promotion discussed

"Finally, the biggest news that we all needed." Tom GD "Congrats PM. Well decided. Now next step please; Visa exemption with 30 days for whole EU + Switzerland, U.S. and Canada, Australia and New Zealand. The economy will thank you big for this decision." erkan tuncaakar "Great news. Now just have to go back to pre Covid visa policy and open the country fully. Only 80 countries currently can come and only for 30 days. Spoke to a retired couple yesterday. They have to fly out today. Not going to bother doing a visa run and coming back. Going to spend their next 6-month holiday and money somewhere else. Sad, as they wanted to see more of the country but cant be bothered with the visa situation the way it is now." Steve Brown "If you are over 65 this is not what you need. What you need is for Vietnam to stop letting the health insurance companies decide who can enter Vietnam. There are only a small handful of countries who require health insurance to enter and Vietnam is one … [Read more...] about No Covid test is good news, but is it good enough?

Vietnamese dragon fruit (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) - Demand for Vietnamese dragon fruit in foreign markets is increasing, with many importers interested in high-quality fruit from Vietnam. The Vietnam Trade Promotion Agency , the Department of Industry and Trade of southern Long An province, and the trade offices of the Vietnamese Embassies in New Zealand and Australia jointly organised an online consulting session on exporting dragon fruits to Australia and New Zealand recently. Speaking at the event opening, Vietnamese Ambassador to New Zealand Nguyen Van Trung emphasised the importance of promoting agricultural cooperation, agricultural product trade and market opening for the strategic partnership between Vietnam and New Zealand. Vietnam wants New Zealand to share its experience and support Vietnam in building an international brand and value chain for the global commercialisation of dragon fruit, following the successful model of New Zealand's kiwi fruit, which is … [Read more...] about Efforts made to promote dragon fruit exports to Australia, New Zealand

FPT Software is providing services to more than 700 customers worldwide, including 100 Fortune Global 500 firms. FPT Software, a subsidiary of Vietnamese FPT Corporation, on May 15 opened an office in New York, marking its 10th in the US to tap the annual IT growth rate of 6% in the world’s leading IT market. The opening ceremony was attended by Vietnam’s Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, who is on his week-long visit to the US. The opening ceremony of FPT Software's New York Office was attended by Vietnam's PM Pham Minh Chinh (4th from left), and representatives from Vietnam and the US. Photos: VGP Located at 295 Madison Avenue, Midtown Manhattan, the new office, which is FPT Software’s 58th unit globally, aims to continue providing services and digital transformation to dozens of Fortune 500 in the US. Midtown Manhattan is the financial hub of New York City, which is home to famous buildings namely the Empire State, Chrysler, and Rockefeller Center that … [Read more...] about FPT opens new office in New York, 10th in US

The Australian publication called it "Lovers' Island" which has everything for a honeymoon from luxury resorts, seafood restaurants and chic cocktail bars to shimmering reefs and pristine islets. Between October and March is the best time to visit, it said. It advised tourists to visit Long Beach and Khem Beach with their white sand and emerald waters, saying it is an ideal place from where to watch the sun set. Sao Beach in An Thoi Town, famous for coral diving, is also worth exploring, it said. Phu Quoc , dubbed "pearl island," has become a global destination after getting an international airport in 2012 and allowing 30-day visa-free entry for foreigners in 2014. It received over five million visitors in 2019, including 541,600 foreigners. Other places in the list are Aeolian Islands in Italy, Shikoku in Japan, Coron Island in the Philippines, Haida Gwaii Islands in Canada, Molokai in the U.S., and Daman & Diu in India./. VNA … [Read more...] about Phu Quoc Island among 25 ‘incredible’ islands: Australian magazine

HCMC is home to more than 20 schools that teach bilingual programs or programs of the U.K., U.S., Canada, and Australia. For the upcoming academic year, most schools have raised their tuition fee by VND15-40 million ($650-1,730) per year against the 2021-2022 school year. Among those that have announced enrollments, the school fees for kindergartens remain around VND100-300 million per year, elementary schools at VND150-500 million per year, and secondary-high schools at VND200-700 million per year. Depending on different schools, the listed fee could or not include funds for books, uniforms, insurance, and extracurricular activities. HCMC has around 2,300 schools, including 1,300 public schools, with the rest all private. Among the private schools, 900 are kindergartens, 100 inter-level schools that comprise classes from first to 12th grades, and more than 20 international schools. As for the tuition fee of public schools, the fee of secondary schools in the inner-city … [Read more...] about Highest int’l school fee in HCMC to hit $32,500