Country report on human rights practices

Earlier, ASEAN member countries convened a meeting to coordinate their stances. Ambassador Vu Ho, Acting Head of ASEAN SOM Vietnam, led a Vietnamese delegation to the meetings. Myanmar, the coordinator of ASEAN - China ties, and China co-chaired the 20th SOM-DOC which took place after nearly two years of hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. At the meeting, delegates reaffirmed the value and importance of DOC in the region. They highly appreciated the positive results in the DOC implementation over the past time. They highlighted the effective implementation of specific cooperation activities in marine environment protection, marine scientific research, humane and fair treatment of fishermen, search and rescue operations at sea. They also noted activities in celebration of the 20th anniversary of the signing of the DOC in 2022. The delegates showed their concerns about the complex developments in the East Sea (South China Sea) which erode trust, increase tensions, and affect … [Read more...] about ASEAN, Chinese senior officials meet on DOC implementation

The 78-year-old farmer’s "used-to" means around 10 years ago. "The river was healthy and gentle, now it’s like a starving person who keeps eating into the bank." Erosion has occurred regularly along both the Hau and the Tien rivers, two tributaries of the Mekong, and many smaller river branches in the Mekong Delta. A report by the World Wide Fund for Nature in Vietnam and the Department of Natural Disasters Prevention at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development said that by the end of 2021, the Mekong Delta had 621 major erosion areas that stretched for a total of around 610 km. Around 500 ha of land in the delta is lost to erosion every year, the report estimated. Erosion in the delta is not new, it’s just getting more serious. While climate change can be blamed as a natural cause, there are many man-made causes, from the construction of hydropower dams upstream along the Mekong, to the destruction of mangrove forests and sand mining. Nearly 40 million tons of … [Read more...] about Top-to-bottom changes needed to save Mekong Delta from erosion

Deputy Defense Minister Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien said that while leading a delegation of the Ministry of National Defense to conduct a field survey at Regiment 916, Division 371, the Air Defense - Air Force Service and of the construction site of the Vietnam Museum of Military History in Tay Mo and Dai Mo wards, Nam Tu Liem district on May 26. The deputy defense minister said that Gia Lam and Hoa Lac Airports are two standby options. During the trip, the working delegation said that the venue for the Vietnam International Defense Expo 2024 should be large enough and not be too far from central Hanoi, so as to better serve delegates and visitors. Importantly, the chosen venue must meet all requirements of security and safety. Having surveyed the area, Gen. Chien said that in the short term the area next to the Vietnam Museum of Military History is likely to be the venue for the 2024 edition. In the long term, this area could be a place for hosting professional … [Read more...] about Vietnam International Defense Expo 2024 likely to be held in Tay Mo ward