Gen. Cuong made the statement while chairing a conference to review the building, training, operation, and guarantee activities for standing militia squadrons, held on September 22. Reportedly, over the past time, agencies, units, localities have actively coordinated to carry out the project on building standing militia squadron to safeguard national sovereignty over sea and islands in the new situation. Such squadrons have undergone training with flying color results. Through training, they have gradually mastered provided weapons and equipment, effectively used fishing gear. Notably, training contents have been close to reality of each locality, particular in implementing civil defensive and search and rescue tasks. Addressing the event, Gen. Cuong emphasized that though the standing militia squadrons have newly been established and tasked with new duties, they have initially achieved good results. Their organization of ships to go out to sea for fishing, performance of patrols, … [Read more...] about Conference emphasizes the need to build standing militia squadron
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Vietnamese, Brazilian firms asked to work together to raise trade to 10 billion USD
An overview of the meeting between Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Brazilian businesses . (Photo: VNA) Sao Paulo (VNA) – Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on September 24 asked Vietnamese and Brazilian businesses to concretise cooperation mechanisms with specific programmes and projects, with an aim to bring two-way trade turnover to 10 billion USD by 2025, and 15-20 billion USD by 2030 in a more balanced direction. PM Chinh, who is in an official visit to the South American country, stressed that after nearly 35 years of the establishment of diplomatic ties, the bilateral relations have developed positively in all fields. Vietnam and Brazil are currently each other's largest trading partner in Southeast Asia and South America, with their trade turnover reaching a record level of about 6.78 billion USD in 2022, up 6.6% year-on-year, and by threefold in the past decade. However, investment cooperation remains very modest, as Brazil currently has six valid projects … [Read more...] about Vietnamese, Brazilian firms asked to work together to raise trade to 10 billion USD
Vietnam’s Q3 GDP poised for growth, Standard Chartered reports
The latter half of the year is set for a substantial rebound, riding on the back of Q2's initial recovery signs. The bank's outlook for 2023 remains steady, with a GDP growth estimate of 5.4 per cent. Standard Chartered anticipates September’s figures to marginally outpace those of August, predominantly buoyed by retail sales. The forecast details an impressive 8.2 per cent annual growth in September's retail sales, though exports might dip by 6.2 per cent. Imports are slated to shrink by 7 per cent, while industrial production growth could see a surge to 3.2 per cent. Furthermore, the trade surplus might slim down to a mere $1.3 billion. The inflation index is set to tick up to 3.2 per cent on-year from August's 3 per cent, steered primarily by the education, housing, and food sectors. Conversely, transport-led inflation appears to be subsiding. In the tourism front, Vietnam welcomed approximately 7.8 million international travellers in 2023's initial eight months, closely … [Read more...] about Vietnam’s Q3 GDP poised for growth, Standard Chartered reports
Phuc Khang applies green building standards to reduce carbon emissions
To date, carbon emissions from building operations have reached an all-time high of around 10 gigatons of CO 2 . This figure is an increase of about 5 per cent compared to 2020 and 2 per cent higher than the previous peak in 2019. Therefore, reducing carbon emissions in construction projects plays an essential role in achieving an overall reduction. The World Green Building Council (WGBC) has developed a vision and action framework up to 2030. In particular, all newly built construction projects must have zero operational carbon and reduce their associated energy by 40 per cent in terms of embodied carbon. By 2050, all buildings (both existing and new) must achieve-zero operational carbon, with new constructions having to achieve zero carbon content. Measured over the entire life cycle of the building, a zero-carbon construction is one with zero operating and zero embodied carbon. Diamond Lotus Riverside by PKP has been researched and applied many strategies to reduce … [Read more...] about Phuc Khang applies green building standards to reduce carbon emissions
Hanoi delegation visits China’s Guangdong province
Dinh Tien Dung (L), Politburo member of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee, and Huang Kunming , Politburo member of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Secretary of the Guangdong Party Committee. (Photo: VNA) Beijing (VNA) – Dinh Tien Dung , Politburo member of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee, met with Huang Kunming, Politburo member of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Secretary of the Guangdong Party Committee, on September 25 as part of the Vietnamese official’s ongoing visit to China. At the meeting, Dung stressed that his visit aims to further concretise and implement common perceptions reached by top leaders of the two Parties and countries during the visit to China by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong late October 2022, contributing to maintaining high-level exchanges and contacts, and fostering the friendship … [Read more...] about Hanoi delegation visits China’s Guangdong province
Da Nang fosters communications cooperation with China
Secretary of the Party Committee of the central city of Da Nang Nguyen Van Quang (R) and Sun Yeli, Deputy Director of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee. (Photo: VNA) Da Nang (VNA) – Secretary of the Party Committee of the central city of Da Nang Nguyen Van Quang hosted a reception on September 22 for a visiting Chinese delegation led by Sun Yeli, Deputy Director of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee. Underlining the need for the press and media sectors of the two countries to work more closely together to popularise the friendship between Vietnam and China, Quang hoped that Sun will continue to pay great attention to strengthening communication cooperation between the two nations. For his part, Sun expressed his impression at the socio-economic development of Da Nang , and spoke highly of the city leaders’ vision. He noted that Chinese media channels have signed media … [Read more...] about Da Nang fosters communications cooperation with China
In Vietnam, man gives artifacts a second life
Old artifacts are not only valuable, but also a keepsake for many families. Many people would be extremely sad if an artifact was damaged for some reason. In such cases, they may eventually find their way to an expert like Nguyen Khac Duy. Ten years ago, the man, now 34, who lives in Sa Dec City in the Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap, returned to his hometown after completing his military service and assisted his family business in trading artifacts. Noticing that the supply of artifacts was dwindling over time, Duy thought of finding solutions to repair damaged items, which would allow his family to sustain their business for a long time to come. Giving old things a second life In the early days of trying to repair damaged artifacts, Duy's lack of confidence meant he only fixed his own artifacts for fear of further harming customers’ precious items. However, after some time, as the artifacts he repaired became more common, more and more collectors came to ask him to … [Read more...] about In Vietnam, man gives artifacts a second life
Real estate market challenges to continue until end of 2024: experts
A building near Bến Thành Market in downtown HCM City whose construction stopped at the end of last year. The property market slump is expected to continue until the end of 2024. — VNS Photo Bồ Xuân Hiệp Despite the Government’s efforts to address them, the challenges for the property market will continue until the end of next year, experts have warned. Speaking at a forum late last week, Nguyễn Văn Đính, chairman of the Việt Nam Real Estate Brokers Association, said the market would continue to struggle with limited access to capital, legal bottlenecks and companies’ inability to redeem bonds. A recent survey by his association found over 70 per cent of businesses saying Government policies aimed at resolving funding difficulties have not been effective, he said. Real estate transactions have plummeted by 90 per cent in 2022-23, indicating weak market demand, he said. Even after almost five months since its announcement, the Government’s VNĐ120 trillion credit package has … [Read more...] about Real estate market challenges to continue until end of 2024: experts
State-owned groups keen on roadmaps for reform
“In recent times, state-owned enterprises (SOEs) haven’t been contributing as much as they once did,” said Phan Van Mai, Chairman of the People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, at last week’s national conference to address SOE production, business, and investment improvements. In Ho Chi Minh City alone, there are almost 50 SOEs. As of July, these enterprises boasted total assets of $4.43 billion with an equity capital of $3.16 billion. Their collective revenues for the first six months stood at $1.33 billion, with a profit of $205 million. Harnessing the vast resources of these SOEs is imperative for Ho Chi Minh City’s economic growth, Mai stressed, adding that the private sector, inclusive of both private domestic groups and foreign direct investment, have also been expected, and even tasked, to stimulate economic growth. Such a predicament is not solely Ho Chi Minh City’s cross to bear. The decline has echoes globally, influenced by international economic instability, political … [Read more...] about State-owned groups keen on roadmaps for reform
Forum discusses impact of climate change
At the forum, held also thanks to the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, speakers emphasised the substantial challenges faced by the climate finance sector in Vietnam in aligning significant investment opportunities with environmental objectives. This sentiment was shared by Allen Forlemu, the IFC's regional industry director for Financial Institutions Group, Asia-Pacific, when he said, “It is evident that climate change is an increasingly disruptive factor for Vietnam's economy, and the costs are already starting to undermine growth. In 2020, Vietnam lost $10 billion, or 3.2 per cent of its GDP, to climate change impacts.” “If nothing is done, costs will only rise. In a business-as-usual scenario with limited global mitigation efforts, climate change could cost Vietnam up to 14.5 per cent of GDP annually in roughly 30 years, with the potential to push a million people into extreme poverty in less than a decade,” … [Read more...] about Forum discusses impact of climate change