World happiness report by country

Jakarta (VNA) - Indonesia will continue exporting some raw minerals in 2024 in the context that domestic companies are rushing to finish smelters to process the metal ore, said Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Arifin Tasrif. The resource-rich country had planned to ban exports of all metal ore starting in June 2023 to encourage investment in the domestic processing industry . But copper, iron ore, lead, zinc and anode mud from copper concentrates will be allowed to leave the country until May next year so smelters, many of which were delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, would be ready to handle the materials. The minister said banning exports prematurely would cost the country revenue and jobs. Companies can keep exporting if they pay export duties and if their smelters were at least half-completed as of January. But they will be fined for every month of delay, Arifin noted. The Indonesian government has said it would exempt copper miners Freeport Indonesia and … [Read more...] about Indonesia to allow exports of five raw minerals

Head of the Centre for Bilateral Regional Policy of the Indonesian Finance Ministry’s Fiscal Policy Agency Nella Sri Hendriyetty speaks at the Plenary and Caucus Meeting of the ACAFTA Sub Working Group on Financial Services  from May 22–24, 2023. (Photo: antaranews.com) Jakarta (VNA) - The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has continued to strengthen economic cooperation through the ASEAN-Canada Free Trade Agreement (ACAFTA) negotiations to respond to the impacts of the ongoing global economic slowdown . According to Nella Sri Hendriyetty, head of the Centre for Bilateral Regional Policy of the Indonesian Finance Ministry’s Fiscal Policy Agency (BKF), the negotiations are important for Indonesia to expand market access for both goods and services. In her opening remarks at the Plenary and Caucus Meeting of the ACAFTA Sub Working Group on Financial Services held in Banten province from May 22–24, Nella affirmed that the effort could also increase … [Read more...] about ASEAN speeds up FTA negotiations with Canada

For Major Nguyen Van Hien, who is a member of the Bambari Operation Team, and his colleagues, it is the sincere support and sharing of international friends that have motivated them to overcome all difficulties and hardships to complete missions entrusted by the Party, State, and military. Recalling his first days in Bambari, a town in Ouaka of the Central African Republic, Major Hien said that although he had been well-prepared before being deployed to the area, he was still shocked at the harsh weather conditions which is filled with red soil and gravels. Dozens of families live in small cottages. On the way to the central area of Ouaka, he did not see any sign of medical, education, electricity, and water systems. Everything was far beyond the imagination of the Vietnamese blue beret soldier. Difficulties piled up when food and necessities transported by air from Vietnam could not reach the Central African Republic due to the complicated security situation. Meanwhile, local food … [Read more...] about International solidarity in Bambari

The 78-year-old farmer’s "used-to" means around 10 years ago. "The river was healthy and gentle, now it’s like a starving person who keeps eating into the bank." Erosion has occurred regularly along both the Hau and the Tien rivers, two tributaries of the Mekong, and many smaller river branches in the Mekong Delta. A report by the World Wide Fund for Nature in Vietnam and the Department of Natural Disasters Prevention at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development said that by the end of 2021, the Mekong Delta had 621 major erosion areas that stretched for a total of around 610 km. Around 500 ha of land in the delta is lost to erosion every year, the report estimated. Erosion in the delta is not new, it’s just getting more serious. While climate change can be blamed as a natural cause, there are many man-made causes, from the construction of hydropower dams upstream along the Mekong, to the destruction of mangrove forests and sand mining. Nearly 40 million tons of … [Read more...] about Top-to-bottom changes needed to save Mekong Delta from erosion

At a meeting on May 25 with Yatskin, who is also head of the Russian Federation Council’s group for cooperation with the N.A. of Vietnam, Dinh affirmed that Vietnam always treasures the traditional friendship and comprehensive strategic partnership with Russia, and remembers the priceless support that the former Soviet Union and now Russia has given to Vietnam. Dinh, who is also Chairman of the Vietnam - Russia Friendship Parliamentarians’ Group, pointed to a number of problems in the economic-trade partnership between the two countries, and asked Russia to support the upgrade and adjust the free trade agreement between Vietnam and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) to benefit bilateral relations. He also suggested that Russia create favourable conditions for the strengthening of labor cooperation in areas of each other’s strengths and demands, and simplify the visa-granting procedures for Vietnamese citizens. The Vietnamese official expressed his hope that the parliament and … [Read more...] about N.A. delegation attends Nevsky International Ecological Congress in St. Petersburg

Earlier, ASEAN member countries convened a meeting to coordinate their stances. Ambassador Vu Ho, Acting Head of ASEAN SOM Vietnam, led a Vietnamese delegation to the meetings. Myanmar, the coordinator of ASEAN - China ties, and China co-chaired the 20th SOM-DOC which took place after nearly two years of hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. At the meeting, delegates reaffirmed the value and importance of DOC in the region. They highly appreciated the positive results in the DOC implementation over the past time. They highlighted the effective implementation of specific cooperation activities in marine environment protection, marine scientific research, humane and fair treatment of fishermen, search and rescue operations at sea. They also noted activities in celebration of the 20th anniversary of the signing of the DOC in 2022. The delegates showed their concerns about the complex developments in the East Sea (South China Sea) which erode trust, increase tensions, and affect … [Read more...] about ASEAN, Chinese senior officials meet on DOC implementation

Deputy Defense Minister Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien said that while leading a delegation of the Ministry of National Defense to conduct a field survey at Regiment 916, Division 371, the Air Defense - Air Force Service and of the construction site of the Vietnam Museum of Military History in Tay Mo and Dai Mo wards, Nam Tu Liem district on May 26. The deputy defense minister said that Gia Lam and Hoa Lac Airports are two standby options. During the trip, the working delegation said that the venue for the Vietnam International Defense Expo 2024 should be large enough and not be too far from central Hanoi, so as to better serve delegates and visitors. Importantly, the chosen venue must meet all requirements of security and safety. Having surveyed the area, Gen. Chien said that in the short term the area next to the Vietnam Museum of Military History is likely to be the venue for the 2024 edition. In the long term, this area could be a place for hosting professional … [Read more...] about Vietnam International Defense Expo 2024 likely to be held in Tay Mo ward