Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's visit to Singapore aims to affirm both nations’ desire to take their economic connectivity to new heights in the context of a series of new-generation free trade agreements (FTAs) coming into effect and being implemented. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (L) and his Singaporean counterpart Lee Hsien Loong PM Chinh, his spouse, and a high-ranking delegation of Vietnam will pay an official visit to Singapore from February 8 to 10 at the invitation Singaporean PM Lee Hsien Loong. The visit takes place amid the dynamic and strong development of the Vietnam - Singapore strategic partnership across multiple fields. This year will see the two countries celebrate the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic relations and the 10th anniversary of their strategic partnership. In 2022, the exchange of delegations and high-level meetings between the two countries was maintained both regularly and effectively. This saw a trip to Singapore by … [Read more...] about PM’s Singapore visit to take economic co-operation to new heights
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Vietnam’s e-commerce forecast to continue booming
Illustrative photo (Source: thoibaonganhang.vn) Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam’s e-commerce is projected to continue booming in 2023 and developing firmly in the following years, aided by a series of growth drivers such as the wave of digital transformation, consumers’ trust, technological infrastructure, and favourable mechanisms and policies issued by the Government. Boasting some 100 cross-border e-commerce platforms, Vietnam has been ranked among the top five nations with regard to the sector’s growth of 20% a year by eMarketer. Last year, the country’s top four platforms – Shopee , Lazada , Tiki , and Sendo – generated 135 trillion VND (5.73 billion USD) in revenues. Meanwhile, the scale of the country’s retail e-commerce market was estimated to reach 16.4 billion USD last year, accounting for 7.5% of the country’s goods and service revenues. There were approximately 57-60 million Vietnamese people shopping online, with their spending averaging 260-285 USD. … [Read more...] about Vietnam’s e-commerce forecast to continue booming
Baby elephant Bao Ngoc – an icon of Vietnam-Germany friendship
Vietnamese Ambassador to Germany Vu Quang Minh holds a board saying the name of the new born elephant at Germany's Leipzig Zoo. (Photo: VNA) Berlin (VNA) – An elephant named Voi Nam whose parents were born in Vietnam and gifted to Germany’s Leipzig Zoo in 1984 and 1985 by Ho Chi Minh City's authority has welcomed its second baby elephant in the zoo on December 20, 2022. A ceremony to name the new born elephant was held on February 2 with the name “Bao Ngoc” (valuable gem) was chosen. Vietnamese Ambassador to Germany Vu Quang Minh said that the baby elephant is an icon of the Vietnam-Germany friendship. Elephant Voi Nam was born in 2002, marking a big event for the Leipzig Zoo as the zoo’s elephant herb had a new member after 66 years. Voi Nam and female elephants which are all from Asian countries last year gave births to two elephants and are expected to welcome two others in the next few weeks. Thomas Guenther, director in charge of Asian species at the zoo, said that … [Read more...] about Baby elephant Bao Ngoc – an icon of Vietnam-Germany friendship
Four athletes to represent Vietnam at Asian indoor tournament
Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - Vietnam will send its four best athletes to compete for medals at the Asian Indoor Athletics Championships 2023 in Kazakhstan later this week. It is the first continental tournament in which Vietnamese competitors will participate after three years of the pandemic. All four have performed impressively in recent tournaments, including the 31st SEA Games and the ninth National Sports Games (NSG) in 2022. Multi-time SEA Games winner Nguyen Thi Huyen will compete in the women's 400m event. Huyen successfully defended her 400m and 4x400m titles at the regional sports event in May in Hanoi. Seven months later, her domination continued at the NSG in the capital city, setting her seasonal best of 53.37sec. The SEA Games record breaker Nguyen Thi Oanh will participate in the women's 1,500m and 3,000m events. While the 3,000m steeplechase is usually her preferred event, the 3,000m is held instead in the indoor tournament. Oanh had a … [Read more...] about Four athletes to represent Vietnam at Asian indoor tournament
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s visit to enhance Singapore-Vietnam relations: Singaporean Foreign Minister
The following is the full text of the interview. Reporter: This year marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations and 10th anniversary of strategic partnership between Singapore and Vietnam. How do you evaluate the Singapore-Vietnam relations in the past half century, especially in the last decade? What should the two countries do to further our bilateral cooperation and to advance the development of each country? Vivian Balakrishnan: The ties between Singapore and Vietnam have grown from strength to strength since we established diplomatic relations 50 years ago. We are longstanding friends and close partners that enjoy wide-ranging cooperation in many areas, both bilaterally and at multilateral fora. I am heartened that the bilateral relationship has continued to expand and evolve to tackle new challenges over the past decade. Our linkages are particularly strong in trade and investment. The 12 Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Parks (VSIPs) across Northern, Central, … [Read more...] about Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s visit to enhance Singapore-Vietnam relations: Singaporean Foreign Minister
Earthquake kills more than 5,000 in Turkey, Syria
Rescuers in Turkey and Syria braved frigid weather, aftershocks and collapsing buildings Tuesday, as they dug for survivors buried by an earthquake that killed more than 5,000 people. Disaster agencies said several thousand buildings were flattened in cities across a vast border region -- pouring misery on an area already plagued by war, insurgency, refugee crises and a recent cholera outbreak. Through the night, survivors used their bare hands to pick over the twisted ruins of multi-storey apartment blocks -- trying to save family, friends and anyone else sleeping inside when the first massive 7.8-magnitude quake struck early Monday. "Where is my mum?" asked a distraught seven-year-old girl who was pulled -- her face, hair and pyjamas covered in dust -- from a collapsed building in Hatay, on the Turkish side of the border. Police officer Zekeriya Yildiz hugs his daughter after they saved her from the rubble in Hatay, southwest Turkey on February 6, 2023. Photo: … [Read more...] about Earthquake kills more than 5,000 in Turkey, Syria
Vietnamese, Korean directors join hands in post-war-period drama
Actresses and actors bring the drama alive (Photo: VietnamPlus) Hanoi (VNA) – Directors Lam Tung of Vietnam and Kim Min-jeong from the Republic of Korea (RoK) have worked together to create a drama about the wounds people carry in their hearts after the war and women’s desire for happiness. The special art project aims to celebrate the 30th founding anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries this year. As heard at an October 12 press conference, the play's script was adapted by author Vu Thi Thu Phong from Duong Huong’s novel 'Ben khong chong' (Quay of the spinsters) which has been adapted to film several times. It is a joint work between the Vietnam National Drama Theatre and the Korea Association of Performing Arts Producers (KAPAP). The drama is set in Dong village, a typical rural village in the Northern Delta of Vietnam. Characters in the story are women caught between the backward customs and prejudices from their families and neighbours. The objections … [Read more...] about Vietnamese, Korean directors join hands in post-war-period drama
Committed to empowering a brighter future
ASEAN countries like Vietnam are not spared from the impact of climate change. Rapid economic development also means increasing demand for energy and power to meet the pace of growth, which leads to an increase in CO2 emissions. The journey to a cleaner future Takeshi Masuyama, Managing director, regional head of Vietnam, MUFG Bank, Ltd. The Vietnamese government has announced in various international forums its commitment to address environmental issues, and has firmed up its national net-zero target. In addition, the announcement of the Vietnam Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) in last December is another milestone and will further rally the private and public sectors towards accelerating the country’s green transition. MUFG is part of the working group convened by the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero (GFANZ) supporting the JETP initiative for Vietnam. The sustainability mission Since announcing our Carbon Neutrality Declaration in 2021, MUFG … [Read more...] about Committed to empowering a brighter future
☕ Afternoon briefing on February 7
Hanoi (VNA) - The following is a brief review of the day’s events as reported by the Vietnam News Agency. - National Assembly (NA) Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue asked agencies of the NA and its Standing Committee to keep a close watch on the macro-economic situation, as well as financial, monetary, stock and real property markets, while meeting their standing members on February 7. For urgent issues, NA agencies should actively and promptly work with relevant ministers and heads of ministry-level agencies to seek solutions, instead of waiting for question and answer (Q&A) sessions held by the legislative body and its Standing Committee. Read full story - The coming visit to Singapore by Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh will be a key platform for both countries to reaffirm their excellent ties, said Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan in his written interview with the Vietnam News Agency. Read full story - Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s upcoming … [Read more...] about ☕ Afternoon briefing on February 7
Miss Spring 2023 honours Vietnamese beauty, culture in Europe
Miss Spring 2023, themed “Vietnamese Charm in Europe", is part of VietFest organised by the Vietnamese Students’ Association in France (Photo: UEVF) Paris (VNA) – Miss Spring 2023, which honours the beauty of Vietnamese women and promotes Vietnamese culture to international friends, has been held in Paris after a three-year disruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic. UEVF President Nguyen Phan Bao Thuy said that as 2023 marks many important celebrations such as 50 years of diplomatic relations and 10 years of strategic partnership between Vietnam and France, UEVF organised the biggest community Lunar New Year (Tet) celebration to connect generations of Vietnamese people and businesses, as well as Vietnamese people with international friends. Miss Spring 2023, first organised in 2007, is not only for Vietnamese women who are living, studying, or working in Europe but also a meeting place for young people who share the same passion, ambition, and confidence to lead the trends … [Read more...] about Miss Spring 2023 honours Vietnamese beauty, culture in Europe