"The United States and Japan, together with 11 other nations will be launching" the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity, or IPEF, Biden said at a press conference alongside Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. "This framework is a commitment to working with our close friends and partners in the region on challenges that matter most to ensuring economic competitiveness in the 21st century," he said. Biden was due to make a formal rollout of the framework later Monday. He did not say what countries had already signed up to IPEF, which the White House is billing as a framework for what will ultimately become a tight-knit group of trading nations. Unlike traditional trade blocs, there is no plan for IPEF members to negotiate tariffs and ease market access -- a tool that has become increasingly unpalatable to U.S. voters fearful of undermining homegrown manufacturing. Instead, the program foresees integrating partners through agreed standards in four main areas: the … [Read more...] about Biden says 13 countries to join new Asia-Pacific trade framework
Implementing new technology in the workplace
Global workforce and the stories untold
According to Richard B. Freeman, Herbert Ascherman Professor of Economics at Harvard University, a global workforce is a term that first appeared in the 1980s to describe the workforce in advanced countries, parts of Africa, and most of Latin America. However, the development of a workforce and increasing job opportunities have redefined the concept of a global workforce in business language, required degrees, and workplaces. Is English proficiency a must to globalise yourself? English still maintains its position as an important language to communicate globally. But the term global language has since been expanding to other languages including Chinese, Japanese, French, and German, due to the expansion of multinational conglomerates. There are 133 companies based in China, 53 companies based in Japan, 31 companies based in France, and 27 companies based in Germany that appeared in the 2020 Fortune Global 500 list. English is not the only language for global … [Read more...] about Global workforce and the stories untold
People should be the centre of regional development: Deputy PM
Deputy Prime Minister Vũ Đức Đam speaks at a high-level discussion during the 78th annual meeting of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) on Monday in Bangkok, Thailand. VNA/VNS Photos Ngọc Quang BANGKOK — Deputy Prime Minister Vũ Đức Đam on Monday highlighted a number of focus areas for cooperation between Asia and the Pacific. He was attending a high-level discussion during the 78th annual meeting of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) in Bangkok, Thailand. The meeting takes place during May 23-25, with 700 senior leaders and representatives of 51 member countries and territories of ESCAP. President of the United Nations General Assembly Abdulla Shahid and United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres were also present. The theme of this year’s session is “A common agenda to advance sustainable development in Asia and the Pacific”. Speaking at the event, Deputy PM Đam … [Read more...] about People should be the centre of regional development: Deputy PM
Deputy PM busy on threshold of WEF meeting
At his meeting with British Cabinet Minister and President for the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) Alok Sharma, Khai said that Vietnam has been implementing many overall and comprehensive measures in the field of energy transition and growth model transformation towards a green and circular direction to realise commitments made at COP26. The official underlined that ensuring energy security for growth and reducing emissions at the same time is a very complicated problem that requires the support of the international community in terms of resources, technology, and governance capacity. Therefore, he said that Vietnam hopes that the UK, the European Union (EU) and other member states of the Group of Seven (G7) will soon make specific commitments to supporting Vietnam in this area. For his part, Sharma held that Vietnam has made a proper decision to announce the net-zero emission commitment at the COP26, lauding Vietnam’s efforts to realise the commitments, … [Read more...] about Deputy PM busy on threshold of WEF meeting
Deputy PM busy with meetings on threshold of WEF summit
Deputy Prime Minister Lê Minh Khái meets WEF President Borge Brende on the sidelines of the 52nd World Economic Forum. —VNA/VNS Photo GENEVA — Deputy Prime Minister Lê Minh Khái on May 22 held several bilateral meetings with leaders of international organisations and businesses during his trip to Geneva to attend the 52nd World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting. At his meeting with British Cabinet Minister and President for the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) Alok Sharma, Khái said that Việt Nam had been implementing many overall and comprehensive measures in the field of energy transition and growth model transformation towards a green and circular direction to realise commitments made at COP26. The official underlined that ensuring energy security for growth and reducing emissions at the same time was a very complicated problem that would require the support of the international community in terms of resources, technology, and governance capacity. … [Read more...] about Deputy PM busy with meetings on threshold of WEF summit
More favourable rule system urged for healthcare PPPs
Speakers at last week’s conference noted that dozens upon dozens of multinationals are interested in the healthcare PPP model in Vietnam. Photo: Chi Cuong At last week’s conference on the issue, hosted by VIR , Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Tran Duy Dong said that Vietnam’s healthcare sector is facing a number of big issues, including rising infectious and non-communicable disease figures, hospital overload, and an ageing population. The pandemic has also revealed some weaknesses in the sector. “To further improve healthcare service quality and meet demand, mobilising financial resources for new development of infrastructure and medical equipment is a key requirement,” he noted. For the past five years, the government has looked to strengthen the implementation of a model for public-private partnerships (PPPs) for the public sector, including in healthcare services. However, according to VIR’s editor-in-chief Le Trong Minh, the picture of such investment in … [Read more...] about More favourable rule system urged for healthcare PPPs
Vietnam, Canada red cross societies eye long-term cooperation
At the talks between the two red cross societies (Photo: redcross.org.vn) Hanoi (VNA) - The Vietnam Red Cross Society (VRCS) and its Canadian counterpart have agreed to support each other in humanitarian activities and look towards a long-term cooperation agreement in the time ahead. Vice President and Secretary General of the VRCS Nguyen Hai Anh told visiting President and CEO of the Canadian Red Cross (CRC) Conrad Sauvé during their talks in Hanoi on May 21 that he is delighted at the fruitful cooperation between the two countries and the associations. Anh spoke highly of the Canadian government and the CRC for their support to Vietnam, both material and spiritual, and in international activities. The VRCS will further back the CRC to engage in the executive councils of the International Red Cross and the Red Crescent Movement, and support its Canadian counterpart in movements. Sauvé said both Vietnam and Canada face such challenges as climate change and natural … [Read more...] about Vietnam, Canada red cross societies eye long-term cooperation
With eye on China, and U.S. ties, Japan’s universities to screen foreigners
Japan is asking universities for greater scrutiny of foreign students and scholars to prevent technology leaks to places like China, partly for its own national security but also to safeguard exchanges with U.S. and European universities. While many Western countries have measures to prevent espionage on their campuses with strict screening and penalties for breaches, experts say Japan has been a weak link given its often-unchecked embrace of foreign students. A string of U.S. arrests of Chinese academics in recent years over suspicion of spying was a wake-up call for Japan, officials say. "Around the world, export controls are getting more stringent on foreign nations like China," said a Japanese trade ministry official who helps colleges develop ways to monitor high-risk technology transfers and students. "We want Japanese universities to be trusted for their security and trade controls so that joint research with the United States or Europe can continue," said the official, … [Read more...] about With eye on China, and U.S. ties, Japan’s universities to screen foreigners
National Assembly’s third session opens
An overview of 15th National Assembly's third session (Photo: VNA) The opening session is broadcast live on Radio the Voice of Vietnam (VOV1), the Vietnam Television (VTV), and the NA's TV channel. Before the opening, leaders of the Party, State and Vietnam Fatherland Front and NA deputies laid wreaths in tribute to President Ho Chi Minh at his Mausoleum. During the 19-day session – the longest since the beginning of this tenure, the legislative body will consider and approve five draft laws and three draft resolutions, which are designed to continue implementing the policy of safe, flexible adaptation to and effective control of the Covid-19 pandemic so as to recover the economy and support people and labourers in the new normal. Leaders and formers leaders attend 15th National Assembly's third session (Photo: VNA) After the opening remarks delivered by NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue, Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh will deliver a report on supplementary assessment of … [Read more...] about National Assembly’s third session opens
DKSH supporting health innovation
What were the key challenges in cash transactions during the past couple of years, and how important were cashless solutions for your customers at that time? Phillip Alexander Wray, general manager of DKSH Pharma Vietnam As we enter the digital era, cash transactions are no longer the only payment option in most parts of the world. Yet, it has remained a preferred choice in many Asian countries, including Vietnam. However, with the rise of the pandemic, contactless transactions have been strongly recommended by the government to minimise the risk of virus transmission. As the leading market expansion services provider in various industries, DKSH has been working with a vast network of customers who are not only big supermarket chains and convenience stores, but also many traditional and mom-and-pop stores across dozens of countries. During the pandemic, we have witnessed a drastic switch from cash-in-hand to non-cash transactions in a very short time, which … [Read more...] about DKSH supporting health innovation