Stability in control system

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh speaks at the meeting. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on March 31 asked the Commercial Bank for Foreign Trade of Vietnam (Vietcombank) to carry forward its leading role among credit institutions while addressing a meeting celebrating the 60th anniversary of the State-owned lender in Hanoi on March 31. Pointing to the complex, unpredictable global situation, the PM asked the State Bank and the banking sector to continue implementing cautious and flexible monetary policies, in concerted coordination with suitable fiscal policies and clear focuses in order to maintain the macro-economic stability, control inflation, spur growth and ensure major economic balances. The government leader also urged the banking sector to step up its analysis and forecasting work, keep a close watch on both domestic and international situation with a view to taking timely, effective policy response. The banks should continue to … [Read more...] about Vietcombank urged to promote leading role in banking sector

Ho Chi Minh City’s gross regional domestic product (GRDP) in the first quarter expanded a mere 0.7 percent year on year. The Ho Chi Minh city Institute for Development Studies (HIDS) on Wednesday cited statistics from the General Statistics Office of Vietnam as showing that the metropolis’ GRDP reached some VND360 trillion (US$15.3 billion) this quarter, inching up from the nearly VND247 trillion ($10.5 billion) in the same quarter of last year. The growth rate was higher than the 0.29 percent in the first quarter of 2022. However, experts were not surprised at the modest growth, saying that it had aligned with previously released forecasts. They also noted that growth in the second quarter of the year could be even lower. According to the HIDS, the city’s agro-forestry-fishery sector improved 2.06 percent, the service sector edged up 2.07 percent, and the industry and construction sector fell 3.6 percent, according to Thoi Bao Tai Chinh Viet Nam (Vietnam Financial Times). … [Read more...] about Ho Chi Minh City reports modest economic growth in Q1

The Hanoi’s Department of Health announced Thursday that 72 students at Kim Giang Elementary School suffered food poisoning after a field trip on Tuesday, as the chicken meat they had for lunch was infected with a bacterium called Staphylococcus aureus. On Tuesday morning, the school in Thanh Xuan District organized a field trip for 915 first and second graders to Canh Buom Xanh Park in Gia Lam District. For lunch, the school had the canteen prepare food, including fried rice, fried chicken, fries, sour soup and cookies, and send them along to the park. The children had lunch at 11 a.m. and during the trip, they also had their own snacks and drinks prepared by their families aside from drinking bottled water provided by the park. Around 2 p.m. on Tuesday when they returned to school, several students started to have stomach cramps and vomit while two suffered diarrheas. Three hours later, dozens of others developed symptoms of vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea. … [Read more...] about Hanoi students get poisoned after having chicken infected with bacteria

Hanoi traffic police have continued tightening control over drunk driving, including cyclists. On Wednesday evening, the police conducted an alcohol check on the Ly Thai To-Tran Nguyen Han street area in Hoan Kiem District from 7:30pm-11:30pm. The stops included many cyclists. Most people happily complied with the police request. Bicycle riders can be fined up to VND600,000 (25.53) if being found drunk. Many people were quite surprised when being checked for alcohol use. Lots of motorbike drivers were also stopped. A motorbike driver was fined VND4.5 million for exceeding blood alcohol levels. His driving licence was confiscated for 17 months. On Wednesday evening, the police detected four motorbike drivers who violated blood alcohol levels. The government issued Decree 100 on administrative fines for traffic violations in December 2019. Under the decree, the maximum punishment for car drivers … [Read more...] about Hanoi cyclists face alcohol tests

Hong Leong Bank of Malaysia  has operated in Vietnam since 2009. - Illustrative image (Photo: VNA) Kuala Lumpur, (VNA) – Former Malaysian Ambassador to Vietnam Dato Azmil Zabidi has highlighted the close relationship between the two countries, stressing that trade and tourism cooperation are potential areas that need to be promoted. In a recent interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency’s correspondents in Malaysia on the occasion of the 50th founding anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries (March 30, 1973-2023), Zabidi said the increasing trade turnover between Vietnam and Malaysia is an important achievement and a testament to the bilateral cooperation . “When I first go to Vietnam in 2011, the bilateral trade between Malaysia and Vietnam stood at about 6.6 billion USD, and then when I left at the end of January 2016, the figure has grown to somewhere between 11-12 billion USD, nearly double.”, Zabidi said This shows that bilateral trade has been … [Read more...] about Potential remains for Vietnam – Malaysia trade, tourism cooperation: former diplomat

Illustrative image (Source: VNA) Binh Thuan (VNA) – The south-central coastal provinces of Ninh Thuan and Binh Thuan have taken a wide range of measures to prevent illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing in a bid to have the European Commission (EC)'s “yellow card” warning against Vietnam's seafood exports removed. According to the Binh Thuan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the locality's total catch in the first quarter of 2023 reached 47,600 tonnes, equivalent to 22.7% of the year plan and up 7% from the same period last year. Since early this year, local competent agencies have coordinated with authorities in coastal localities in educating local residents on legal regulations regarding IUU fishing prevention and control; managing fishing boasts in ports and at sea through vessel monitoring systems (VMS). The department said as of March 9, as many as 1,930 fishing boats in Binh Thuan were equipped with VMS, or 99.4% of the total. … [Read more...] about South-central coastal provinces work hard to combat illegal fishing

The two leaders expressed their delight at the talks, that offer them an opportunity to exchange views on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the Vietnam-US comprehensive partnership. They spoke highly of the positive and comprehensive development of the bilateral relationship over the past time, and agreed to promote, develop and deepen it, for interests of both nations, as well as peace, cooperation and development. General Secretary Trong affirmed that, Vietnam consistently pursues its foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation, diversification and multilateralization of relations, active and proactive global integration. Vietnam is ready to cooperate with international partners to reinforce friendship and dialogue, strengthen peace, promote development, uphold international law and cope with common challenges, he stressed. In order to develop the relationship between the two countries in the coming time, General Secretary Trong … [Read more...] about Party chief holds high-level phone talks with US President

The fourth defence policy dialogue between Vietnam and the UK in Hanoi on March 29 (Photo: qdnd.vn) Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam and the UK held the fourth defence policy dialogue in Hanoi on March 29 under the chair of Vietnamese Deputy Defence Minister Sen. Lt. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien and The Baroness Goldie DL , Minister of State at the British Ministry of Defence, reported the Quan doi Nhan dan (People's Army) daily. Chien said as the two countries are celebrating the 50th anniversary of their bilateral diplomatic ties this year, their strategic partnership has continued to be promoted, with defence cooperation remaining an important factor of bilateral relations. Goldie affirmed that the defence ties have been developing strongly and recording good outcomes. At the dialogue, the two sides shared the view that defence cooperation has continued to be implemented in the right direction and in line with the countries’ commitments in the memorandum of understanding on … [Read more...] about Vietnam, UK hold fourth defence policy dialogue

Representatives of the Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Foreign Trade of Viet Nam (Vietcombank) and the Japan Bank for International Co-operation (JBIC) at the signing ceremony. — Photo courtesy of Vietcombank The Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Foreign Trade of Viet Nam (Vietcombank) and the Japan Bank for International Co-operation (JBIC) signed a contract to finance a capital of US$300 million to support renewable energy projects in Ha Noi on Wednesday. After successfully implementing a $200 million credit package signed in June 2019, that JBIC and major Japanese banks continue to provide a second loan worth $300 million to Vietcombank further affirms the bank's prestige to international financial institutions; at the same time, affirming the close co-operation relationship between JBIC and Vietcombank in contributing to sustainable economic development, promoting regional integration and environmental protection in Viet Nam. Speaking at the ceremony, Nguyen Thanh Tung, … [Read more...] about Vietcombank and JBIC sign $300 million credit contract to finance renewable energy projects

Artificial intelligence (AI) is used in agricultural production to assist farmers and cooperatives in examining, monitoring, and forecasting various environmental effects. Chuc Son Clean Vegetables Cooperative, located in Chuong My District, Hanoi, has been incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) technology in their agricultural production by setting up iMETOS 3.3, a durable and flexible data logger. Applying hi-tech in agricultural production in Hanoi. Photo: Tran Anh/The Hanoi Times This system provides up-to-date information on pest and disease situations and makes precise predictions on temperature, wind speed, and rainfall, among others, which helps farmers to create appropriate plans for fruits and vegetable cultivation. Hoang Van Vi, residing in Giap Ngo residential group, Chuc Son Town, shared that his family has constructed a 2,200-square meter house, combined with an automatic sprinkler irrigation system to cultivate vegetables, following the … [Read more...] about Hanoi promotes AI in agricultural production