Britain on Friday said it had struck a deal to join an 11-country trans-Pacific trade pact which includes Japan and Australia as it looks to deepen ties in the region and build its global trade links after leaving the European Union. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said Britain had agreed to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), in a move his office said was the biggest trade deal since Brexit. A previous government impact assessment estimated the deal would add just 0.08% to GDP in the long term, but Britain has strategic - not just economic - motives, as it can now influence whether applicants China and Taiwan may join the group. "Joining the CPTPP trade bloc puts the UK at the centre of a dynamic and growing group of Pacific economies," Sunak said, adding the deal demonstrated "the real economic benefits of our post-Brexit freedoms." Britain has been looking to build trade ties following its departure from the EU in 2020, … [Read more...] about Britain, building post-Brexit ties, to join trans-Pacific trade pact
Vietnam life first foreign calligrapher joins vietnams spring calligraphy festival
This young man is the backbone of Vietnam’s community library network
Phung Ba Hung was recently named amongst the recipients of the Fulbright Master’s Program Scholarship so that he can continue to spread his love for reading in Vietnam. Hung’s passion for reading began when he was a child. It was not until after he graduated from the University of Social Sciences and Humanities under the Vietnam National University-Hanoi with a degree in journalism and media studies that he started sharing his passion with others through the launch of Duong Lieu. Duong Lieu is a private library he opened in his living room designed to create a safe space for neighborhood children to lose themselves in the magic of literature. When Hung, 33, launched Duong Lieu in 2013, the few private libraries that existed in his Hanoian neighborhood were primarily run by retired teachers, veterans, and the elderly. While these libraries were appreciated by many, they were not particularly approachable and child-friendly. “My knowledge of journalism and media has really … [Read more...] about This young man is the backbone of Vietnam’s community library network
Foreign minister hosts China’s Guangxi leader
An overview of the meeting. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son hosted a reception for Liu Ning, Secretary of the Party Committee of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region , in Hanoi on March 30, discussing a wide range of issues to boost ties between the two sides. During the session, the host proposed that the two sides promote existing bilateral cooperation mechanisms and programmes, expand friendship exchange between the people along the shared border, and effectively implement legal documents regarding land border and related agreements. The two sides shared delight at the sound development of the Vietnam-China relations over the years, especially after Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong ’s visit to China last year. They agreed that the success of the visit has given a strong impetus to the growth of the traditional friendship between the two Parties and the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries. … [Read more...] about Foreign minister hosts China’s Guangxi leader
Vietnamese documentary films screened in France
Directors and audience hold talks after the screening (Photo: VNA) Paris (VNA) – Documentary films produced by young Vietnamese directors are being screened in a special programme entitled “L’aventure Varan Vietnam” (Adventure of Varan Vietnam ) under the umbrella of the Cinéma du Réel 2023 (International documentary film festival) which is underway in Paris from March 24- April 2. Director Ha Le Diem’s “Nhung dua tre trong suong” (Children of the Mist), Tran Phuong Thao’s “Uoc mo lam cong nhan” (Pomelo), “Chuyen di cuoi cung cua chi Phung” (The last journey of madame Phung) by Nguyen Thi Tham are three among 20 works introduced at the event. The works were created in training programmes conducted by Varan Vietnam Productions since 2004. Speaking at a screening, Vietnamese Ambassador to France Dinh Toan Thang highlighted the significant meaning of the event in welcoming the 50th anniversary of Vietnam- France diplomatic relations and the tenth anniversary of the … [Read more...] about Vietnamese documentary films screened in France