Nordic countries share solutions for circular economy and waste management

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

PM Pham Minh Chinh spoke highly of the maintenance of high-level contacts, especially the recent successful phone talks between Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and U.S. President Joe Biden. He suggested that in the near future, both sides continue enhancing cooperation in the fields of economy, trade, investment, science and technology, education and training, innovation, digital transformation, and climate change response. The host asked the U.S. senators to support the U.S. opening its market to and limiting anti-dumping investigations and trade remedy measures against Vietnamese goods, especially agro-forestry-fisheries, which directly affect the people’s livelihoods. He also urged the U.S. Congress to continue heeding and allocating resources for cooperation with Vietnam in overcoming the war consequences, as well as offer support to the Vietnamese community in the U.S. Expressing their impression on Vietnam's country, people, and development, the U.S. senators … [Read more...] about Vietnam values comprehensive partnership with U.S.: Prime Minister

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

For Major Nguyen Van Hien, who is a member of the Bambari Operation Team, and his colleagues, it is the sincere support and sharing of international friends that have motivated them to overcome all difficulties and hardships to complete missions entrusted by the Party, State, and military. Recalling his first days in Bambari, a town in Ouaka of the Central African Republic, Major Hien said that although he had been well-prepared before being deployed to the area, he was still shocked at the harsh weather conditions which is filled with red soil and gravels. Dozens of families live in small cottages. On the way to the central area of Ouaka, he did not see any sign of medical, education, electricity, and water systems. Everything was far beyond the imagination of the Vietnamese blue beret soldier. Difficulties piled up when food and necessities transported by air from Vietnam could not reach the Central African Republic due to the complicated security situation. Meanwhile, local food … [Read more...] about International solidarity in Bambari

Nhập mIllustrative photo (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai has just signed a decision approving the Strategy on Development of Vietnam's Rice Export Markets until 2030, which aims to develop and diversify rice export markets with a reasonable, stable, and effective scale, market and product structure. Under the strategy, Vietnam will consolidate traditional and key export markets and develop new and potential ones, and those with which it has signed free trade agreements (FTAs). The country also targets increasing the market share of Vietnamese rice in markets, especially in developed countries. Vietnam will also associate the export markets with domestic production according to value chains, ensure the quality and safety of exported rice, increasing the presence of Vietnamese rice and products processed from rice in direct distribution channels in markets. The country also eyes the export of high-quality rice and rice-based products, increase … [Read more...] about Strategy on rice export market development until 2030 approved

At the meeting, Sr. Lt. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien congratulated Mr. Sergio Narea Guzman on his new appointment as Chilean Ambassador to Vietnam and expressed strong belief that the diplomat would have a successful term of office, contributing to further strengthening the Vietnam - Chile comprehensive partnership. The Vietnamese deputy defense minister emphasized that despite geographical distance, Vietnam and Chile share some similarities and strive for independence, self-reliance, peace, cooperation, and development. He said that Vietnam treasures the comprehensive partnership with Chile and hopes to foster the multifaceted relationship with the country, including defense ties. Gen. Chien suggested Ambassador Sergio Narea Guzman, in his term of office, pay attention to strengthening the bilateral defense cooperation focusing on such fields as delegation exchange to strengthen mutual understanding, training, defense industry, military medicine, and U.N. peacekeeping operations. He … [Read more...] about Defense leader receives newly-appointed Chilean Ambassador to Vietnam

The closing ceremony was jointly organized by the Department of Mass Mobilization and the Department of Political Education and Information under the General Department of Political Affairs of the Vietnam People's Army. At the event, Major General Do Thanh Phong, Deputy Head of the Department of Political Education and Information, accessed that the refresher course flexibly combined various forms and methods, mixing sharing experience and conducting fact-finding trips to several military units of the Vietnam People’s Army. Gen. Phong required Lao officers to continue studying and applying what they have learned in the course to reality, meeting the task requirements of the Lao People’s Army. He also underlined that the success of the refresher course contributed to further strengthening the solidarity between the two countries’ militaries. Translated by Quynh Oanh … [Read more...] about Course on mass mobilization work and printing technology for Lao officers concludes