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The initiatives and priorities have outlined three major orientations - recovery, digitalization, and sustainability - with a particular focus on such important areas as trade facilitation, tourism, energy, information technology, minerals, and sustainable development. Of note, several initiatives inherit cooperation contents from 2020 when Vietnam took on the role of ASEAN Chair. Amid the complicated COVID-19 pandemic, delegates discussed ASEAN’s efforts to boost economic recovery while going ahead with the fight against the pandemic and the important task of boosting economic development, particularly the expansion of the ASEAN List of Essential Goods. Vietnam also shared its experience and efforts to control the pandemic and ensure economic development while carrying out its commitments within ASEAN and the ASEAN Plus frameworks. Together with discussions on intra-bloc economic cooperation, the participants also exchanged views on extra-bloc economic cooperation, such as reviewing the implementation of the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) and collaboration between ASEAN and the EU. They said their countries are redoubling efforts to soon adopt the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement to facilitate post-pandemic recovery. Within the framework of the retreat, the participants held a consultation with the ASEAN Business Advisory Council to make recommendations on health care and dealing with non-tariff measures, and enhancing public-private partnerships (PPPs) in ASEAN and between the grouping and its partners. …

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The Hanoitimes - Given the prime ministerial decision, Vietnam would have a sixth operational airline. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has agreed to issue aviation license to Vietravel Airlines, making it the sixth operational airline in Vietnam, local media reported. Vietravel Airlines would be the sixth airline in Vietnam. Under the PM’s request, the Ministry of Transport (MoT) is tasked with reviewing the airline’s financial capability to ensure its operationality and timely issuing the aviation license to Vietravel Airlines in accordance with law. The PM noted the MoT and related agencies to take responsibility in keeping smooth air transportation and also aviation security in general. Vietnam currently has five operational airlines which are national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines, budget carrier Pacific Airlines (with a majority owned by Vietnam Airlines), Vietjet Aviation, Vietnam Air Services (VASCO) and Bamboo Airways. At a recent business forum, Nguyen Quoc Ky, chairman of Vietravel, Vietnam’s leading tour operator and owner of Vietravel Airlines, said he expected the airline to make its first flight on December 18. The airline plans to provide charter flights for the tour operator’s customers and other passengers. In the first year of operation, Vietravel Airlines would operate a fleet of three airplanes and increase the number to eight by 2024. On April 3, Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung approved the proposal to set up Vietravel Airlines with charter capital of VND700 billion (US$29.72 million). Amid the growing impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, a recent report from the Ministry of Transport suggested Vietnamese airlines could face losses of US$1.3 billion in revenue due to closed skies, up from estimated losses of VND10 trillion (US$429.1 million) in early February and VND25 trillion (US$1.07 billion) in late February. The Vietnamese government targets domestic tourism as one of the key solutions to boost …

[Read more...] about PM approves issuance of aviation license to Vietravel Airlines

On January 27, the first community COVID-19 case in Hai Duong province’s Chi Linh City was detected – Patient 1,552 – a worker in close contact with a woman who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 after arriving in Japan. According to the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, Chi Linh city was the largest outbreak in the country since the pandemic began early last year with 383 confirmed cases out of 684 cases reported in Hai Duong province. The outbreak started at a company with more than 2,300 workers and then spread to the community, which caused difficulties in controlling the infections. As the outbreak was gradually controlled, Hai Duong province’s authorities decided to end the lockdowns and province-wide social distancing, entering a “new normal” phase with twin tasks of drastically fighting the coronavirus and taking action for socio-economic development. Secretary of the Hai Duong Provincial Party Committee Pham Xuan Thang applauded efforts made by authorities, health experts and people in fighting the pandemic, particularly contributions of people on the front lines. Besides lifting the lockdown in Chi Linh city and Cam Giang district and the end of province-wide social distancing, the Hai Duong Province People’s Committee on March 2 decided to divide the localities in the province into two groups under different restrictions depending on the COVID-19 risks. Until March 17, four high-risk localities, including Hai Duong city, Kinh Mon township, Cam Giang district and Kim Thanh, will be placed under the Government’s Directive 15, the highest level of social distancing first introduced in March last year when the country entered nationwide lockdown. The directive prescribes limiting large gatherings, meetings with over 20 people in-doors or 10 people outdoors, maintaining two meters distance between individuals in public places, non-essential services are shut down, public passenger transport is halted, and travel is …

[Read more...] about Lockdown lifted in Hai Duong’s Chi Linh city, Cam Giang district