2023 chinese new year

The International Day of Happiness, which falls on March 20, aims to make people worldwide aware of the importance of happiness in their lives. Implementing the cultural development project, improving the quality of human resources, and building elegant and civilized citizens is Hanoi's way of responding to the International Day of Happiness, celebrated annually on March 20. According to Tran Thi Van Anh, deputy director of Hanoi's Department of Culture and Sports, as soon as the "Project on Activities to Celebrate the International Day of Happiness" was approved by the Prime Minister in 2013, various guiding documents and action plans on the theme were issued by Hanoi authorities. One of them is the "Program of the Hanoi Party Committee on "Developing Culture, Improving the Quality of Human Resources, Building Elegant and Civilized Hanoians", which focuses on building civilized and happy families, villages, and residential groups. She emphasized that 2023 is the year of the … [Read more...] about Hanoi responds to International Day of Happiness 2023

Rang Beach, a popular destination in Binh Thuan province. (Photo: www.binhthuan.gov.vn) Hanoi (VNA) – The opening ceremony of the Visit Vietnam Year 2023 with the theme “Binh Thuan - Green convergence” will be held at NovaWorld Phan Thiet in Phan Thiet city in the central province of Binh Thuan on March 25 evening, according to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT). Nearly 600 artists, actors, and actresses will perform in an artistic musical show at the ceremony with the script written by Meritorious Artist Tran Ly Ly, Director of the Department of Performing Arts, and writer Hoang Cong Cuong. The 85-minute show has three parts, namely the “Convergence of earth and sky”, the "Green Tour", and the "Green convergence - Binh Thuan destination of friendship". Mui Ne sand dune. (Photo: baobinhthuan.com.vn) According to VNAT, Visit Vietnam Year is a both a national and international cultural, economic, social, and tourist event. It is also the biggest … [Read more...] about Breakthroughs expected for Binh Thuan tourism with Visit Vietnam Year 2023

Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi (Photo: AFP/VNA) Jakarta (VNA) – Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi has announced three main pillars of this year’s ASEAN Summit , themed “ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth.” Speaking at an event on March 19, the minister said the first is maintaining the ten-member group’s centrality, making it a driver to promote peace and stability. Regarding the second - the epicentrum of growth, the official pointed to ASEAN’s advantages in demography, high economic growth, and regional peace and stability. The third lies with Indo-Pacific, she said, noting that the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) should be translated into specific economic cooperation activities. In that spirit, during Indonesia ’s ASEAN Chairmanship 2023, the Indonesian Foreign Ministry will coordinate with the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN) and relevant ministries and agencies in organising the ASEAN-Indo-Pacific Forum … [Read more...] about Indonesia announces pillars of ASEAN Summit 2023

Reviewing the country’s socio-economic recovery and development achievements in 2022, the PM said the macro economy remained stable, major economic balances were ensured, and notably the domestic investment and business environment was improved significantly. During the post-COVID-19 period, the foreign investment disbursement went up 13.5% as compared with 2021, which reflected Vietnam’s attractiveness in the regional and global investment maps, he said. Pham Minh Chinh stressed that the Vietnamese Party and State advocate green growth in order to ensure rapid, effective and sustainable economic development, contributing to implementing the 2021-2030 socio-economic development strategy. However, green growth needs a suitable roadmap, with conditions and capacity of each region, locality and business taken into consideration, he noted, encouraging the engagement of all, particularly businesses and people, in this regard. The Government will work to consolidate institutions, … [Read more...] about Prime Minister pledges to further support enterprises at Vietnam Business Forum 2023

A train of Viet Nam Railways. — Photo courtesy of VNR The railway sector is striving to escape losses and divest capital in many companies in 2023, the Committee for Management of State Capital at Enterprises said about the Project on Restructuring Viet Nam Railways (VNR) from 2021 to 2025. The project has identified and evaluated the achievements and limitations on the basis of a comprehensive assessment. The restructuring of VNR in 2016-2020 includes the production and business performance, the level of safety, security and defence, development and investment, science and technology and digital transformation. It also sets out goals and plans for the restructuring of the corporation in 2021-2025, aiming at innovation, improved corporate governance, effective exploitation of resources, and enhanced labour productivity. Additionally, VNR tries to achieve and exceed the targets assigned by competent authorities, fulfil the obligation to pay the State budget, ensure enough … [Read more...] about Railway sector sets plans to avoid losses this year

Workers weigh and package dried shrimp, a Ca Mau Province's OCOP. —VNA/VNS Photo Huynh Anh The Government has introduced a new set of criteria for rating products enrolling in the One Commune One Product (OCOP) Programme. Dao Duc Huan, head of the OCOP Management Department, Central Coordination Office for New-style Rural Development (CCO), said the new set was laid down to replace the old set issued in 2019, which has begun to show cracks after four years being in place. As the old set had overlooked a wide range of products specified in Decision No.490, the new one has fixed the cracks by expanding its scope to cover the missing pieces. It has also altered old scoring rules by assigning a maximum score of 40 points to the "community strength" category, 25 points to "marketing capabilities", and 35 points to "product quality". Huan said the new set had encouraged the involvement of women and ethnic minorities in the production of OCOPs by giving extra points to affirmative … [Read more...] about New criteria for OCOPs

It was Xi's first trip abroad since he obtained an unprecedented third term last month. The Chinese leader has been trying to portray Beijing as a potential peacemaker in Ukraine, even as he deepens economic ties with his closest ally. Putin and Xi greeted one another as "dear friend" when they met in the Kremlin on Monday, and Russian state news agencies later reported they held informal talks for nearly 4-1/2 hours, with more official talks scheduled for Tuesday. In televised comments, Putin told Xi he viewed China's proposals for resolution of the Ukraine conflict with respect. He confessed to being "slightly envious" of China's "very effective system for developing the economy and strengthening the state". Xi, for his part, praised Putin and predicted Russians would re-elect him next year. Moscow has been publicly promoting plans for a visit by Xi for months. White House spokesman John Kirby said Xi should use his influence to press Putin to withdraw troops from … [Read more...] about Putin meets Xi in Kremlin as Ukraine war grinds on

In commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of ASEAN-Japan friendship and cooperation under the theme of Golden Friendship, Golden Opportunities , the ASEAN Youth Organisation is organising the first and largest ASEAN Youth Economic Forum in Southeast Asia. (Photo: aseanyouth.net) Jakarta (VNA) – A blueprint that sets the future direction of the ASEAN-Japan economic partnership for the next decades is now under discussion. Speaking at the recent ASEAN Youth Economic Forum 2023 held in Jakarta, Japanese Ambassador to ASEAN Kiya Masahiko said that his country has always been  and will always be with ASEAN to overcome challenges. ASEAN and Japan are entering their 50th year of relations this year. However, their relationship has dramatically changed over the past decades, not to mention the common challenges that both sides face. Japan supported ASEAN's industrialisation and economic development. However, it is today facing economic stagnation and an aging population. ASEAN, on … [Read more...] about ASEAN-Japan economic partnership in next decades discussed

This has been the busiest year ever for traders like Nguyen Thi Thuy Linh in the southern province of Tien Giang. She has been scrambling to find top quality fruits grown in the Mekong Delta to sell to Chinese buyers. "In previous years we only bought limited quantities of durian, jackfruit and mango to sell domestically, but this year we have been raising prices continuously to get enough for exports." Thanh Mai, a trader in the Central Highlands, has been struggling to meet her increasing export quota. She now pays farmers double last year’s prices: VND20,000 for a kilogram of taro, and VND14,000 for yam. Export companies are also busy. Van Xuan Phat Exports and Imports ships thousands of tons of durian to China every month, while major exporter Vina T&T has secured a contract for 22,500 tons of the fruit. In Dong Nai and Binh Phuoc Provinces, companies are preparing to export 500,000-600,000 tons of durian to China. Vietnamese rice is also imported by China … [Read more...] about Agricultural exports to newly opened China surge

The interest rate hikes by the US Federal Reserve and other central banks that began to significantly accelerate in the second half of 2022 have impacted the tech industry and investors in significant ways. These hikes are expected to continue, at least in the short term, until the central banks are satisfied that inflation is under control or lose their nerve. When that happens is anyone’s guess. Eric Johnson, counsel at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP This rapidly changing financial environment has made it more difficult for digital economy companies, especially those that are currently not profitable, to raise money in both public and private markets. Many investors have adopted a wait-and-see approach until the situation becomes clearer, and are revisiting the assumptions behind the sky-high valuations that many tech companies previously commanded. The recent failure of Silicon Valley Bank in the US has sent a shockwave through the tech and venture capital … [Read more...] about Supporting the digital economy space