Minister of transport dinh la thang

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

The meeting was jointly chaired by Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia and SOM Leader of Malaysia, Dato’ Sri Amran Mohamed Zin and Assistant Deputy Minister for Asia Pacific of Global Affairs Canada, Weldon Epp, with the participation of ASEAN Senior Officials, representatives of the ASEAN Secretariat, and Timor-Leste as an observer. At the event, Canada conveyed its unwavering support for ASEAN community-building efforts, assistance towards the region’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, and commitment to ASEAN centrality through its active participation in ASEAN-led mechanisms. Both sides welcomed positive advancement made in the implementation of the ASEAN-Canada Plan of Action (2021-2025) and acknowledged the strengthening of cooperation between both sides across the three ASEAN Community pillars. They shared the significance of intensifying economic cooperation in key areas of trade and investment. Recognizing the economic potential, they … [Read more...] about ASEAN, Canada vow to bolster longstanding partnership relations

Several hydropower plants in the northern region have suspended generating electricity due to the shortage of water amid massive power outages. The water level at the Thac Ba Reservoir has gone below the dead level Seven large dams in the north including Son La, Lai Chau, Huoi Quang, Thac Ba, Tuyen Quang, Ban Ve and Hua Na had reached dead storage levels, forcing them to suspend generating power. Only Hoa Binh hydropower dam has water and could maintain power generation until June 13, said Tran Viet Hoa, director of the Electricity Regulatory Authority under the Ministry of Industry and Trade. “The electricity supply situation in the north is facing major challenges because hydroelectricity accounts 43.6 percent of output,” he said at a meeting on Wednesday. As of Tuesday, available capacity of hydroelectricity reached 3,110 MW, only 23.70 percent of installed capacity. The total available capacity of the northern power network is 17,500-17,900 MW, or just … [Read more...] about Hydropower plants stop electricity generation due to lack of water

The move boosts innovative ideas and solutions to drive positive changes in plastic reduction, reuse and recycling and to unlock new sources of sustainable financing. A new task force was launched by the Vietnam National Plastic Action Partnership (NPAP) launched to promote innovation and catalyze investment in effective solutions for reducing plastic waste and pollution in Vietnam. In collaboration with the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Hanoi and its Commercial Section - Innovation Norway, the Task Force held its first meeting to discuss new technologies for Deposit Return Systems (DRS). The NPAP Innovation and Financing Task Force -- co-chaired by the International Cooperation Department of the Ministry of Natural Science and Environment (MONRE) and the Alliance to End Plastic Waste – brings together government agencies and domestic and international enterprises and organizations to boost innovative ideas and solutions to drive positive changes in plastic reduction, reuse and … [Read more...] about New task force promotes innovation, financing for plastic waste reduction in Vietnam

The local authorities are making efforts to remove obstacles facing investors in agrotourism. Outside Hanoi, Ba Vi Homestead in Ba Vi District's Van Hoa Commune has been a popular agritourism destination for Hanoi residents and visitors from neighboring areas for years. Ngo Kieu Oanh, the farm owner, said it took lots of effort to create such an agritourism product. They have built four handicraft villages to create new tours where visitors can experience the cultural space of the Muong and Dao people. Many homestays in the city are developed and operated by local investors. Photos: Ba Vi Homestead "The intangible values inherent in agritourism properties contribute to their appeal, yet currently, this sector lacks proper valuation, leading to inaccurate pricing of such facilities," she pointed out. Tour operator Nguyen Kieu My, who runs an agritourism service business in Yen Bai Commune in the same district, said the development of agrotourism … [Read more...] about Legal framework is key to Hanoi agritourism

The meeting was attended by ministers and officials from Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand. The 24th Meeting of the Technical Working Group on Transboundary Haze Pollution (TWG 24) was organized prior to MSC 24. According to the ASEAN Specialized Meteorological Center's (ASMC) weather and smoke haze review, hotspot counts detected in the first five months of this year were around 16% lower than the same period last year for the southern ASEAN region. Based on current climate models, ASMC forecast a 70-80% chance for El Niño conditions to develop between June to September 2023 and for a positive Indian Ocean Dipole to develop between June and July 2023. Both these climate phenomena would likely result in below normal rainfall for many parts of the southern ASEAN region in the next few months. MSC 24 noted that the dry season this year could be more prolonged and intense compared to the past three years and risk of elevated hotspot activities and transboundary … [Read more...] about Southeast Asian nations join hands to cope with haze pollution

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

A total 138 apartments were sold directly from the developers last month in HCMC and the neighboring province of Binh Duong, down 98%, even though 390 new apartments were introduced to the market, according to data from property services company DKRA Group. Five houses were sold during the period in HCMC and the neighboring provinces, down 99% year-on-year, it added. Although many developers last month offered discounts of 15-18% on property products and other loan interest incentives, few people showed interests in making purchases. The lack of customers and declining liquidity began last year and continued to show this year, according to the Vietnam Association of Realtors. Personal financial difficulties amid unfavorable economic factors are the main reason for the low demand, it said, adding that high interest rates discourage homebuyers from making purchases and they instead prefer to keep their money in the bank. Vo Hong Thang, deputy director of R&D DKRA Group, … [Read more...] about Sluggish home demand recorded in HCMC

This collaboration aims to provide UOB Vietnam’s cardholders and Vietnam Airlines' Lotusmiles members with great travel benefits and access to exclusive offers and privileges. As the bank with the largest ASEAN consumer footprint and the top card issuer in the region, UOB aims to do right by customers wherever they are by offering deals and rewards for every lifestyle and life stage. The bank has continuously expanded its partnership ecosystem with established brands to offer its customers the very best deals that align with their preferences and desires. In Vietnam, UOB has a strong focus on establishing partnerships with industry leaders across key sectors such as travel, dining, and retail, which include Lazada, Shopee, Starbucks, CGV, Be, GrabFood, and top-notch restaurants to provide customers with the best deals and offers. Paul Kim, head of Personal Financial Services at UOB Vietnam shared, “Our partnership with Vietnam Airlines marks another milestone for us … [Read more...] about UOB Vietnam forms strategic partnership with Vietnam Airlines

Australian Ambassador Andrew Goledzinowski has just hosted a working dinner with members of the Australia-Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Group at the Australian Embassy in Vietnam, marking the collaboration between the two parliaments on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Australia-Vietnam diplomatic relations. Hoang Thanh Tung, Head of the Australia-Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Group and Chair of the National Assembly Committee for Legal Affairs, with Australia's Ambassador Andrew Goledzinowski and Agriculture Counsellor, Tony Harman. The event took place during an intense period of high-level exchanges between both countries, including visits by Australia’s PM Anthony Albanese MP to Vietnam on June 3-4 and by Australia’s Governor-General David Hurley AC DSC (Retd) in April. Ambassador Goledzinowski said the high-level visits reflected the significant strategic trust and close friendship between the two countries, which had been fostered over the last 50 … [Read more...] about Australia, Vietnam strengthen parliamentary cooperation