Defense minister Phan Van Giang said at the National Assembly Friday that the number of people reaching the age of military service is high, but so are the numbers of exemptions and postponements, and as a result fewer and fewer people are being drafted. All male citizens need to sign up for military service when they turn 18. Those who enter university or college can postpone their induction but need to sign up before they turn 28. But if they continue to get postponements until they turn 28, they can avoid induction altogether. Other reasons for exemptions include having too many visible tattoos and severe myopia and hyperopia. Women are not required to undergo military service, but can volunteer. Giang said the law would be amended to limit the exemptions and postponements and reduce the service period from the current two years. Some people have called for making the law as strict as in South Korea. South Korea requires all male citizens to serve in the military … [Read more...] about Military service law to be amended to prevent draft dodging
Military unit figgerits
Central Military Hospital, Belgian hospitals strengthen cooperation in cancer treatment
Representatives from the Central Military Hospital 108 learn about the radiation model at Particle Therapy Interuniversity Center Leuven (ParTICLe) of the University Hospitals Leuven. (Photo: VNA) Brussels (VNA) – A delegation from Central Military Hospital 108 led by its director Lieutenant General Mai Hong Bang has been paying working visits to hospitals in Belgium from June 5-12 to strengthen cooperation in cancer treatment. The delegation visited the University Hospital of Liège and the Particle Therapy Interuniversity Center Leuven (ParTICLe) of the University Hospitals Leuven - two leading Belgian medical facilities using high technology in cancer radiation therapy. At the ParTICLe, the delegation was briefed on the operation model of University Hospitals Leuven in general, the center in particular, and the diagnosis and treatment of cancer with proton radiation therapy. Bang said his hospital hopes to cooperate with leading Belgian ones to deploy this advanced … [Read more...] about Central Military Hospital, Belgian hospitals strengthen cooperation in cancer treatment
Kien Giang kick-starts military-civilian program in 2024
Themed “Kien Giang provincial armed forces together with the party organization, authorities, and people of Hon Dat district build new-style rural area,” the program will take place from June 2023 to January 2024. As planned, the program will facilitate the construction of 115 houses for needy households and seven rural bridges; present gifts to policy beneficiaries, poor and near-poor families; provide health examination, medicines, and consultation for locals. The organizing panel will present scholarships to needy students with good academic results; build electricity systems in rural areas; carry out environment projects; and hold artistic and sporting events and competitions. Speaking at the ceremony, Deputy Chairman of the Kien Giang provincial People’s Committee and head of the steering committee Nguyen Luu Trung evaluated that this mass mobilization model bears profound socio-political and humane significance, embodying the tradition of "When drinking water, remember its … [Read more...] about Kien Giang kick-starts military-civilian program in 2024
Blinken to be in Beijing for talks on June 18: US official
Reuters reported on Wednesday that Blinken would travel to China in the coming weeks, citing an official who spoke on condition of anonymity. An official on Friday said Blinken would be in Beijing on June 18, but gave no other details. In February, Washington'stop diplomat scrapped a planned tripto Beijing, which would have been the first by a U.S. secretary of state in five years, over a suspected Chinese spy balloon that flew over the United States. Washington has been keen to reschedule the trip, and the timing emerged after the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday that China has reached a secret deal with Cuba to establish an electronic eavesdropping facility on the island roughly 100 miles (160 km) from Florida. The spokesperson for the White House National Security Council on Thursday said the report was not accurate, while saying that Washington has had "real concerns" about China’s relationship with Cuba and was closely monitoring it. The State Department, … [Read more...] about Blinken to be in Beijing for talks on June 18: US official
HanoiPlasPrintPack Exhibition launched to boost local plastic industry development
In 2022, industry revenue exceeded US$25 billion, an increase of 5.7% year-over-year. The 11th Hanoi International Plastics, Rubber, Printing and Packaging Industry Exhibition (HanoiPlasPrintPack), considered a platform to promote the development of the local plastics industry, is underway at the Hanoi International Exhibition Center (ICE) from June 8 to 11. Overview of the event. Photo: VGP The annual Hanoi PlasPrintPack Fair, jointly organized by the Ministry of Industry and Trade and Yorkers Exhibition Service Vietnam, has returned after a long hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Building on the success of Vietnamplas, held annually in Ho Chi Minh City and is the largest plastics industry exhibition in Vietnam, this event has attracted numerous domestic and international companies. With over 340 booths representing 220 companies from countries such as Belgium, China, Hong Kong (China), India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan … [Read more...] about HanoiPlasPrintPack Exhibition launched to boost local plastic industry development
Vietnamese Foreign Minister meets officials of Brazil, France, EC, Canada in Paris
The meeting between Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son and Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira in Paris on June 8 (Photo: VNA) Paris (VNA) – Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son met with officials of Brazil, France, the European Commission (EC), and Canada on the sidelines of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation Development (OECD) Ministerial Council Meeting 2023 in Paris on June 8. Meeting with his Brazil ian counterpart Mauro Vieira, he affirmed that Vietnam treasures and wishes to enhance the comprehensive partnership with Brazil, one of its most important partners in Latin America. Son suggested the two sides maintain high-level delegation exchanges as well as coordination and mutual support at international organisations and multilateral forums, especially the United Nations, the World Trade Organisation (WTO), and others of which both are members. He asked Brazil to support and push the launch of negotiations on a free trade agreement … [Read more...] about Vietnamese Foreign Minister meets officials of Brazil, France, EC, Canada in Paris
MARD calls for early signing of protocol to boost farm produce trade with China
It said that to implement the common perceptions between the two countries’ leaders as identified in the 2022 joint statement on continuing to enhance the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, the MARD sent a delegation to work with the administrations and customs departments of the Chinese provinces of Guangxi and Yunnan from May 29 to June 2, aiming to promote cooperation and increase the value of agricultural products traded via the two countries’ provinces sharing the land border. The Vietnamese delegation and the customs departments of Guangxi and Yunnan agreed to coordinate with each other to propose China Customs soon finalize procedures for signing a protocol with the MARD on food safety, quarantine, and examination requirements for aquatic exports and imports between the two countries. The MARD suggested China Customs permit more fruits, aquatic species and products of Vietnam to enter this country, license more Vietnamese aquatic product exporters that meet … [Read more...] about MARD calls for early signing of protocol to boost farm produce trade with China
Conventional ammunition management framework must respect international law, U.N. Charter: official
At the ongoing fourth substantive session of the U.N. open-ended working group on conventional ammunition in New York, Minister Counselor Le Thi Minh Thoa, Deputy Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the United Nations, also shared the international community’s common concern over the risks and challenges brought about by the illicit trade, transfer, misuse and mismanagement of ammunition. She said the framework should be voluntary and non-binding, take into account the level of development and national law, and place no additional burdens on developing countries. It needs to capitalize on existing mechanisms related to ammunition including the U.N.’s Program of Action on small arms and light weapons and Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, as well as nations’ efforts in the matter, Thoa elaborated. She held that in this process, support for and cooperation with developing countries in capacity building, technology transfer and resource assistance are crucial in … [Read more...] about Conventional ammunition management framework must respect international law, U.N. Charter: official
City can party like it’s 1999
Maybe it’s a sure sign of getting old, but in my mind, the year 1999 doesn’t seem that far back. I was working in Liverpool, England, as Chief Reporter for the evening newspaper, and I’d get my kicks on the train journey into the office by playing ‘snake’ on my latest Nokia phone. Manchester United’s Ole Gunnar Solskjaer celebrates scoring the winning goal in the 1999 Champions League final - Photo AFP Photo The Millennium Bug was all everyone was talking about, and there was a genuine concern that at the stroke of midnight on December 31, 1999, the world was likely to implode. FYI – it never. The fabulous Prince song, 1999, released bizarrely in 1982, was, for obvious reasons, played constantly on the radio, and people actually listened to radios. Vauxhall had just brought out their new and improved version of the Vectra and the euro currency was launched with England saying a firm ‘thanks but no thanks’. In June of 1999, Manchester United manager Alex … [Read more...] about City can party like it’s 1999
Hanoi Agriculture Fair 2023 opens at AEON Ha Dong
The fair at AEON Ha Dong will last until June 11 and is part of a number of trade, investment, and tourism promotion activities held by the Hanoi Centre for Investment, Trade, and Tourism Promotion (HPA) in 2023. The opening ceremony of Hanoi Agriculture Fair 2023 on June 8 Speaking at the opening ceremony, Nguyen Anh Duong, director of the HPA said, “2023 is a very meaningful year, marking the important milestone of the 50 th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Japan (1973-2023). I believe that the Fair in 2023, and those in the following years, will continue to make an important contribution to intensifying the cooperation relationship between Hanoi and AEON in particular and between Vietnam and Japan in general.” The event features about 70 booths and the participation of around 60 organisations and businesses from 20 provinces and cities. The key displays highlight over 1000 agricultural and processed products such as cordyceps, … [Read more...] about Hanoi Agriculture Fair 2023 opens at AEON Ha Dong