UK Minister of International Trade Greg Hands visited Vietnam on Wednesday to explore trade cooperation opportunities between the two countries. His visit came amidst the UK’s pursuit of full membership in the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) in 2023. Vietnam is the first stop on the minister’s three-day trip to three Southeast Asian countries, all of which are founding members of the partnership. During an exclusive interview with Tuoi Tre News , Hands emphasized what the UK can offer the CPTPP, as well as discussed the UK’s strong strategic partnership with Vietnam. In a speech at Lancaster House on January 23, UK Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch outlined five priorities for trade. What are your priorities as the Minister of State for Trade Policy? My personal priorities are, first, to get the UK into the CPTPP. Vietnam will play a crucial role in that progress. My second priority is to do a free trade agreement with India this … [Read more...] about UK joining CPTPP a fundamental change to the bloc: minister
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Art of the Samurai Swords to be introduced in April
Art of the Samurai Sword of Japan will be open for the public on April 30 in Ha Long city, Quang Ninhprovince. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) - Art of the Samurai Swords , an exhibition from Japan, will be open in Quang Ninh province's Ha Long city this April. A contract has been recently signed by fine art auction house CHON de l'art and Sun Group. Following their deal, the ancient Japanese village of the Bizen Osafune area in the EDO period (1603-1863) will be built up at Sun Hill on the grounds of the Sun World Ha Long Complex. Bizen Osafune is located in eastern Okayama Prefecture. It has been the country's largest sword making centre for thousands of years, where the best blacksmiths gather. At the Sun Hill's Japanese village, leading artisans and experts will perform a process to produce legendary swords which are well-known all over the world. In the space, there will have exhibition rooms displaying treasure swords; an area for visitors to learn and … [Read more...] about Art of the Samurai Swords to be introduced in April
Garment firms should tap niche markets: Vinatex chairman
-What do you think about local garment firms’ inability to dominate the domestic market of 100 million people here in Vietnam? - Vietnamese textile and garment enterprises are still [only beginning to] tap the domestic market. Last year, the domestic market increased by 40% against 2021. Local enterprises performed very well in the first half of last year and began to face difficulties in the third quarter. In the fourth quarter, many good Vietnamese brands like Viet Tien saw sales decrease. In late 2022, the Vinatex Fashion Center retail outlet in Hanoi made revenues of only VND500-600 million ($21,200-25,400) a day, compared with daily revenues of over VND1 billion in previous years. Over the past two years, many domestic fashion brands have reduced their number of stores and limited new openings. They have had to focus on certain locations to reduce costs, optimize operations and try to offer products that are most suitable to consumers’ incomes.In fact, domestic … [Read more...] about Garment firms should tap niche markets: Vinatex chairman
Tanker truck goes up in flames in HCMC
The fire suddenly started, accompanied by blasts, when the truck with 23,000 liters of gasoline was parked on Nguyen Huu Tho Street at around 1 p.m. Columns of smoke went up dozens of meters. Oil leaked from the truck caused the fire to spread to a vehicle repair shop and two houses, where many items were damaged. Residents tried to put the fire out with mini extinghuisers, to no avail. "Continuous blasts prompted people to run out of their houses," Phat, a local man, said. Several fire trucks arrived and put out the fire at nearly 2 p.m., after it burned part of the tanker black and killed trees along the sidewalk. Police are investigating further. Trees are burned and houses damaged by the fire from a tanker truck in Nha Be District, HCMC, February 3, 2023. Photo by VnExpress/Dinh Van … [Read more...] about Tanker truck goes up in flames in HCMC
Work begins on bridge linking Hai Phong and Quang Ninh
The rendering of Lai Xuan Bridge. (Photo: nhandan.vn) Hai Phong (VNA) - The northern port city of Hai Phong commenced construction on Lai Xuan Bridge, connecting it with Quang Ninh province across Da Bach River, with a ceremony on February 2. The 1.33 trillion VND (56.9 million USD) project also includes the upgrade and expansion of a 14km-long provincial road linking Hai Phong’s Thuy Nguyen district and Quang Ninh’s Dong Trieu town. The project is part of a cooperation programme on comprehensive development that the two localities signed in 2009. Lai Xuan Bridge will be 840m long and 12m wide while provincial road 352 will have its width expanded to 12m to match the bridge. According to Hai Phong officials, Lai Xuan Bridge and the upgraded road will enhance transport connectivity between Hai Phong and Quang Ninh and promote local socio-economic development. The project is scheduled for completion in 2024./. VNA … [Read more...] about Work begins on bridge linking Hai Phong and Quang Ninh
Work starts on $23.5mn bridge linking Hai Phong to Quang Ninh in northern Vietnam
Authorities in Hai Phong City, northern Vietnam began construction of a bridge to create the fourth linkage of its kind with neighboring Quang Ninh Province on Thursday. Investment in the project, which includes building the Lai Xuan Bridge across the Da Bach River and expanding Provincial Road 352 to connect Hai Phong’s Thuy Nguyen District with Dong Trieu Town in Quang Ninh, totals nearly VND1.33 trillion (US$56.93 million). Of the total, nearly VND550 billion ($23.45 million) is dedicated to the construction of the Lai Xuan Bridge, which will be 840 meters long and 12 meters wide upon completion. The remaining capital is for the renovation and expansion of the 14km-long Provincial Road 352. Delegates press symbolic buttons to start a project to build the Lai Xuan Bridge and renovate a provincial road to directly connect Hai Phong City and Quang Ninh Province in northern Vietnam, February 2, 2023. Photo: Tien Thang / Tuoi Tre The project is being funded by … [Read more...] about Work starts on $23.5mn bridge linking Hai Phong to Quang Ninh in northern Vietnam
Chinese spy balloon flies over the United States, Pentagon says
A Chinese spy balloon has been flying over the United States for a couple of days, U.S. officials said on Thursday, in what would be a brazen act just days ahead of a planned trip to Beijing by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Fighter jets were mobilized, but military leaders advised President Joe Biden against shooting the balloon out of the sky for fear debris could pose a safety threat, advice Biden accepted, U.S. officials said. The United States took "custody" of the balloon when it entered U.S. airspace and had observed it with piloted U.S. military aircraft, one of the officials told reporters on condition of anonymity. Separately, Canada's defense ministry said a "high-altitude surveillance balloon" was detected and that it was monitoring a "potential second incident", without giving further details, adding that it was in frequent contact with the United States. The news initially broke as CIA Director William Burns was speaking at an event at Washington’s … [Read more...] about Chinese spy balloon flies over the United States, Pentagon says
Viet Nam attends Laos’ Bolaven coffee festival
Visitors at Laos’ Bolaven coffee 2023 festival which is underway from February 2-4 in the southern province of Champasak of Laos. — VNA/VNS Photo Pham Kien Vietnamese coffee businesses are attending Laos’ Bolaven coffee 2023 festival which is underway from February 2-4 in the southern province of Champasak of Laos. The event is not only an opportunity for coffee growers in Laos to promote organic coffee products to international friends but also a chance for Vietnamese enterprises to expand their market in Laos. Among the 50 booths displaying products from Laos, Thailand and Cambodia, Viet Nam is represented with three booths introducing its products from three localities, namely Da Nang City, Dak Lak and Binh Phuoc. Currently, Laos’ coffee products have been exported to more than 20 countries. In 2022, the total export volume of coffee beans of Laos reached about 22,000 tonnes with a value of over US$67 million. Meanwhile, the General Department of Customs said Viet Nam’s … [Read more...] about Viet Nam attends Laos’ Bolaven coffee festival
☕ Afternoon briefing on February 3
Hanoi, (VNA) - The following is a brief review of the day’s events as reported by the Vietnam News Agency. -The Presidential Office on February 3 announced the Acting President’s order to promulgate the Law on Medical Examination and Treatment that was adopted by the 15th National Assembly at its second extraordinary session. The revised law aims to deal with shortcomings and emerging problems in medical examination and treatment activities in a bid to develop and improve the quality of medical services towards fairness, high efficiency, development and international integration, while strengthening State management over these activities. Read full text -A delegation of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee, the Presidency, the National Assembly, the Government and the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee on February 3 paid floral tribute to President Ho Chi Minh at his mausoleum in Hanoi on the occasion of the 93rd founding anniversary of the CPV … [Read more...] about ☕ Afternoon briefing on February 3