Zero emissions day 2018

Marcel Schröder, Economist, Economic Research and Regional Cooperation Department Asian Development Bank At the beginning of the conflict, the crude oil price breached $130 per barrel in March, the highest since 2008. Since then, it retreated to about $100 in April, before rising again to $120 following the European Union’s partial ban on Russian oil in May. Some worry that the oil price could spike to $200 per barrel in the coming months and how such a shock would impact the economic prospects of Asia’s developing countries. While many institutions, including ours, project a significantly higher oil price in 2022 compared with 2021, these predictions do not foresee $200 per barrel because they attach a low probability of a sudden shock to the global oil supply. A sudden shock is unlikely given the EU’s decision to gradually phase out Russian oil imports by the end of 2022, allowing an orderly transition to alternative supplies and keeping prices stable and affordable for … [Read more...] about Additional oil spike impacts cannot be ruled out

They have to balance their relationships between Russia and their Western partners. China hosted the 14th annual BRICS Summit virtually because of the pandemic. This event was held only a few days before the G7 in-person summit in Germany. BRICS comprises Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. Overview of the event. Source: VNA The online meeting drew special attention around the world, especially from the US, EU, NATO and their allies due to Russia's military actions in Ukraine for more than four months now. The US, EU, NATO, and their allies - among them all G7 members - stand on Ukraine's side and have imposed strong and multifaceted sanctions on Russia. They have been trying as much as they could to politically isolate Russia on the world stage. Brics members, including China, India, Brazil and South Africa, refused to follow the West in imposing sanctions against Russia and supporting Ukraine. Therefore, this event was a major significant gain … [Read more...] about BRICS in dilemma

The Australian top diplomat said the ties between the countries run deep. Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong today [June 27] met with Vietnamese counterpart Bui Thanh Son in Hanoi as part of her three-day visit to affirm the new Australian government’s commitments to continue the Strategic Partnership with Vietnam. Vietnam's Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son (R) and Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong in Hanoi on June 27. Photos: Baoquocte In the visit which was made one month after she was sworn in as Australian Foreign Minister, Wong affirmed the role of Vietnam in the regional architecture and the two countries in the regional peace and security. In Vietnam, Wong will meet with President Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, and Chairman of the CPV Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations Le Hoai Trung. Her trip comes ahead of next year’s 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Australia. Before the … [Read more...] about Penny Wong arrives in Hanoi, affirming new Australian cabinet relations with Vietnam

Hue said that the Vietnamese N.A. high-ranking delegation's ongoing official visit to Hungary aims to further promote and deepen the comprehensive partnership between the two countries and cooperation between the two parliaments in particular, opening up new prospects in bilateral relations as well as stronger coordination between the two countries at regional and international forums amid complicated global developments. Highlighting the traditional friendship and all-round partnership between the two countries over the past 70 years, the top legislator clarified that Vietnam always treasures and hopes to further bolster multifaceted ties with Hungary – the first comprehensive partner of Vietnam in Central and Eastern Europe. For his part, László reviewed major milestones of the Hungary-Vietnam Friendship Association’s development since it was established in 1989, and highlighted a number of activities that the association has carried out recently and its plans to promote the … [Read more...] about N.A. Chairman receives Hungary-Vietnam Friendship Association’s leaders

It is an activity to celebrate the Vietnam Family Day (June 28). Accordingly, the food festival was held by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and will be underway from June 25 to 28. The theme of the festival is creativity in egg processing from daily meals to luxurious dishes of Vietnamese and international cuisine. For the first time in Vietnam, visitors and Vietnamese chefs will have the chance to watch five celebrity guest chefs showcasing their cooking skills to create innovative egg dishes. The five Vietnamese and international guest chefs will act as judges for the “Creative Chefs” contest. Notably, the public could also take photos in a check-in spot called “Egg family” featuring three giant eggs and 50 ostrich eggs that have been artistically painted for the event. According to the organizing panel, the “Egg festival” aims to raise the responsibilities of Vietnamese families, agencies, social organizations, departments, and ministries for building families, … [Read more...] about First egg festival held in Hanoi

The ministry said it is collecting opinions from other ministries and departments on a draft report on measures to combat Covid-19 in the "new normal" situation for submission to the government. The latest assessment comes more than two months after the PM had asked the health ministry to work on declaring Covid-19 an endemic. The ministry said that from March until now, the number of new Covid-19 cases and deaths has "stably decreased," and the number officially registered with the national database has stayed at fewer than 1,000 cases each day in recent times while the death rate has fallen to 0.06 percent of the total number of infections. Vietnam has covered almost 80 percent of its 96-million population with two vaccine doses; and the group of those from five years old are to receive the second doses within June. Despite this, the ministry said it was not the right time for Vietnam to consider Covid-19 endemic because the novel coronavirus is constantly changing and it is … [Read more...] about Not time yet to declare end of Covid-19: health ministry

They "will have the opportunity to engage over the course of the next few weeks," National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said. A new call between the leaders of the world's two biggest economies has been long expected amid tensions over trade, China's sabre rattling around Taiwan, and pressure on Beijing not to help Russia get around Western sanctions over the Ukraine invasion. A week ago, Biden said he planned on "having a conversation with President Xi." "We haven't set a time yet," he said, while a few days earlier he'd said the call could be "soon". The last video conference between the two leaders was on March 18, when Biden warned Xi against assisting Russia in its invasion of Ukraine. A key item in the next discussion will be Biden's possible decision to lift some of the trade tariffs imposed under Donald Trump, with billions of dollars of Chinese imports facing 25 percent duties. The penalties were aimed at punishing what the United States says are China's … [Read more...] about Biden, Xi to contact each other in ‘next few weeks’: US official

Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Robyn Mudie shared her favorite pho ga with Foreign Minister Wong and chef Sam Tran during the minister’s visit to Vietnam, the Australian Embassy in Hanoi wrote in a Facebook post Monday. "The Foreign Minister heard from Sam on the history and significance of pho and how to eat pho in the traditional Hanoian style, and the three shared views on Australia and Vietnam's strong people-to-people links." Pho , an iconic dish of Vietnam, is a bowl of flat, soft rice noodles dipped in a fragrant beef or chicken broth flavored with different condiments. It is served with beef or chicken, shallots and chili and lemon to taste. Wong was Australia's first Minister for Climate Change in 2007-10 and Minister for Finance in 2010-13. She became foreign minister last month. Vietnam and Australia established diplomatic relations in 1973 and became strategic partners in 2018. … [Read more...] about Australian foreign minister enjoys chicken noodle soup in Hanoi

Reciprocating her sentiment, her Vietnamese counterpart Bui Thanh Son welcomed Wong’s choice of Vietnam as her first Southeast Asian destination since taking office last month. He said her visit would strengthen and boost bilateral relations. Wong will conclude her official visit to Vietnam on Tuesday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement. She said Australia has always valued Vietnam's role in the region and that the new government was committed to further strengthening the strategic partnership with Vietnam. The two ministers agreed that it was important the two countries strengthen cooperation in sectors and industries hit hard by the pandemic like tourism, education, and labor cooperation, as well as traditional areas like trade, investment, defense and security. They also agreed that the two countries would expand collaboration in climate change, green growth, and sustainability. Son wanted Australia to continue contributing to regional cooperation with … [Read more...] about Australia values Vietnam’s partnership, regional role: FM

Peter Bernhardt, team leader of the ARISE+ Vietnam project Since coming into force in August 2021, the EU - Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) has become an effective tool for boosting trade ties between the EU and Vietnam. What should Vietnam pay attention to in order to benefit more from this deal? I agree that the overall picture of EVFTA performance in this starting period, where exporters and government authorities from both sides have to adapt to the new situation, looks definitely promising. The EVFTA is the most ambitious FTA that the EU has ever signed with a developing country. The deal will mutually lift about 99 per cent of the tariffs within 10 years. Duty was lifted from 65 per cent of EU exports to Vietnam and 71 per cent of Vietnamese exports to the EU, immediately after the EVFTA came into effect. As most Vietnamese exporting products are consumer products, the real challenge Vietnam exporters will face to comply with EU consumer protection regulations is … [Read more...] about EU supporting comprehensive implementation of the EVFTA