Zero emissions day

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

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

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

National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue (ninth from right) meets representatives from the Vietnamese entrepreneur community in Europe (Photo: VNA) Budapest (VNA) – National Assembly (NA) Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue met representatives from the Vietnamese entrepreneur community in Europe in Budapest on June 26 evening (local time), as part of his official visit to Hungary . Hoang Manh Hue, President of the Union of Vietnamese Business Associations in Europe, said that the community has made great strides in recent years, with encouraging successes, and become an effective bridge between the Vietnamese and European markets. They not only import a lot of commodities from Vietnam into the European market and the supply chain of businesses in the host countries, but also have been very successful in building a stable and efficient business model in accordance with the host countries’ laws, he added. NA Chairman Hue said that Vietnamese enterprises in Europe play an important … [Read more...] about NA Chairman meets Vietnamese enterpreneurs, people living in Hungary

The management of Hanoi’s first metro line has allowed folding bicycles on the trains in order to provide commuters with more convenient and easier access to the public transport system. Travelers are now permitted to bring their folding bikes on board the trains of the Cat Linh-Ha Dong metro line, Vu Hong Truong, general director of Hanoi Metro Company, operator of the system, said on Sunday. Cat Linh-Ha Dong is the first-ever metro line to be put into operation in Vietnam, Truong continued, adding that several improvements still need to be made during the operation of the system. Being the only metro route in Hanoi now, it has yet to be connected with other forms of public transportation, thus allowing folding bikes on the trains will provide commuters with easier access to the metro line. Folding bikes are usually compact and light and will not take up too much space, Truong elaborated. However, the operator will deny service to passengers if their vehicles are too big … [Read more...] about Passengers allowed to carry folding bicycles on Hanoi’s first metro line

Tourists visiting Hue City in Thua Thien-Hue Province should stand next to the Huong (Perfume) River and take a deep breath, while listening to the honeyed voice of Hue residents. They will truly feel how lovely Hue is. Hue’s climate is so special. It is scorching in summer, which lasts from March to August, while temperatures plunge in winter and turns quite cool in spring, which is from January to March. The rainy season in Hue, located in central Vietnam, lasts from October to January. Thuy Xuan Incense Village is a popular destination for the youth in Hue. Situated on Huyen Tran Cong Chua Street and around seven kilometers from the center of the city, it takes 15 minutes to travel to the village by motorbike. The village attracts tourists with colorful incense bunches. Tourists can buy conical leaf hats and use them as an accessory to take photos or give them as a souvenir. Photo: Ngoc Quyen / Tuoi Tre Tourists from large cities can come to Hue by plane, … [Read more...] about Picturesque nature, delicious food call tourists to Hue