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Defence Minister Ngo Xuan Lich (L) attends the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Retreat. (Photo: VNA) Bangkok (VNA) – The ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Retreat (ADMM Retreat) opened in Bangkok on November 17. In his remarks, Thai Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan thanked the defence ministers and the ASEAN Secretariat office for supporting the country to complete its role as the ASEAN Chair in 2019, and particularly successfully organise the ASEAN defence ministers’ meetings. He spoke highly of the ASEAN member states’ positive roles in promoting security-defence cooperation within the bloc, contributing to the maintenance of ASEAN’s central role to effectively cope with regional challenges. The official expressed his hope that the meeting will serve as a venue for competent sides to exchange experience and opinions on defence and security issues, helping further boost collaboration in the field in the time ahead. As scheduled, … [Read more...] about ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Retreat opens in Thailand

Thinh was the first Vietnamese singer to perform on a grand stage at the V.Heartbeat Live concert held at the Gocheok Skydome Stadium in Seoul on Saturday night. The Vietnamese singer brought a team of 20 to South Korea for his performance. Although he has performed many times in South Korea, he was nervous about performing in front of such a huge audience on such a big stage. "When I heard the cheers from the audience below, I was relieved," he said. Thinh shared the stage with South Korean music bands like Monsta X, ITZY and Stray Kids at the concert. Thinh performs at the V.Heartbeat Live concert. Photo by VnExpress/Quoc Dat.  On November 24, Thinh will return to South Korea where he will perform at the ASEAN Fantasia 2019, a part of the ASEAN-Repulic of Korea Commemorative Summit 2019 which will be open in Busan on November 27. Noo began his career in HCMC in 2009, and has released eight albums and more than 30 MVs so far. In 2016, the Vietnamese singer attended … [Read more...] about South Korean audience cheers as Vietnam pop star performs new hit

Delegates at the ninth VFF National Congress raise hands to vote on the 374 members of its Central Committee for the 2019-2024 tenure (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Delegates attending the ninth National Congress of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) on September 20 discussed and adopted the charter of the organisation, while appointing members of the VFF Central Committee. The charter comprises eight chapters and 37 articles, one article more than that of the previous tenure. It contains a new article on the relations between the VFF and member organisations. Accordingly, the VFF Central Committee and its member organisations will have coordinative relations, with the VFF committee playing the key role, cooperating with member organisations through democratic discussions to implement tasks and action programmes designed by the VFF. Regarding the number of the members of the VFF Central Committee for the 2019-2024 tenure, delegates agreed to maintain it at 385. At the session, … [Read more...] about Ninth VFF National Congress adopts new charter

With the slow equitisation and restructuring of major state-owned enterprises, the Vietnamese government has been urged to accelerate the process with an aim to create more opportunities for the private sector. Transparency is a must when it comes to delays or losses in SOE equitisation plans Like many National Assembly deputies, Do Van Sinh last week told VIR that he felt anxious about the snail-paced equitisation and restructuring of state-owned enterprises (SOE). Sinh, representing the central province of Quang Tri, cited a foreign investor wishing to purchase stakes from an SOE, but ultimately failing. “The investor wants to buy 51 per cent stake from the enterprise, but the enterprise only offered 30 per cent,” Sinh said. “The investor quit the plan as it wants to have a big voice in the business and make important decisions about its operation.” “This case is just one among many similar others seen in Vietnam over the past few years. According … [Read more...] about Fixes required for SOE progress slip in Vietnam

Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh speaks at the event (Photo: VNA)   Ben Tre (VNA) – The fifth Ben Tre Coconut Festival, themed “Coconuts on the Way to Integration and Sustainable Development”, opened in the Mekong Delta city of Ben Tre on November 16 in the presence of National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan. Speaking at the opening ceremony, Vice Secretary of the provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Cao Van Trong said it is the first time the festival has been held in concurrent with the great national unity festival in wards and communes. Ben Tre is now home to over 72,000ha of coconut, accounting for half of the country’s and 80 percent of the Mekong Delta’s total areas. With over 800 million nuts each year, the province earns over 200 million USD from export and its coconut products are available in more than 50 countries and territories at present, he said. In his … [Read more...] about Ben Tre coconut festival 2019 kicks off