Social News 24/8 US, German-funded projects assist locals in Thua-Thien Hue The central province of Thua Thien-Hue has received social welfare projects funded by the US and Germany, with combined investment of nearly 87,000 USD. A 1.125 billion VND (49,500 USD) project was funded by the US’s The Compassion Flower organization which aims to support poor locals and students in the province to improve their living conditions and access to health care. Along with caring for poor elderly people and providing scholarships to local students, the province will also improve the environment and develop education and health care. The project’s activities include organising health check-ups and presenting gifts to the needy in Huong Thuy commune, Nam Dong and Phuc Loc districts, holding a writing and reading class for about 80 adults in Phu Vang district, and offering about 500 scholarships to poor students across the province. The project will also give presents to local households hit by the recent flood, along with 400 poor families in remote areas, while helping some localities access clean water and organise tailoring training courses for poor women. Meanwhile, the Courage e. V association of Germany has provided 851 million VND (37,444 USD) to support about 60 poor and single women in Huong Tra town through providing husbandry training courses, building about 30 pig farms for them and providing pigs and pig feed. Vietnam Airlines adjusts flight schedule due to storm Hato   The national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines (VA) plans to adjust its schedule for flights between Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and China’s Hong Kong and Guangzhou due to the impacts of storm Hato in China.  Flights VN592/593 between Hanoi and Hong Kong and VN594/595/599 between Ho Chi Minh City and Hong Kong on August 23 were delayed.  The carrier also delayed flights VN502/503 between Ho Chi Minh City and Guangzhou, and VN506/507 between Hanoi and Guangzhou on August 23.  It advised passengers who plan to travel to and from Chinese airports to regularly check weather forecasts and the latest announcements on www.vietnamairlines.com, ticket agents nationwide or call its hotline 19001100. PM chairs first meeting of steering committee on defence zones Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on August 23 chaired the first meeting of the Central Steering Committee on Defence Zones, which aimed to review the performance of the committee in building and operating defence zones in 2016 and the first six months of 2017. Addressing the event, PM Phuc, who is head of the committee, stressed that the building of defence zones is an important strategy of the Party and State. He said the committee should make local authorities and military zones thorough understand the importance of the mission, in order to continue implementing the Party’s policy on defence-security and the 10th Politburo’s Resolution 28-NQ/TW on turning centrally-run provinces and cities into firm defence zones. In 2016 and the first six months of 2017, the committee gave advices to the Party, State and localities on designing defence and military tasks and policies. The committee also involved in the building of socio-economic development strategies in association with reinforcing defence and devising solutions to arising problems in defence, security and external relations. The committee worked closely with other ministries to issue many important documents, including a decision on the formation of military zone steering committees on defence zones. In the rest of 2017 and 2018, the committee will continue developing community-based defence with active engagement of the Party, the entire society, army and the political system. In the coming time, the committee will focus on directing authorized agencies, localities and public security and police forces to ensure political security, national sovereignty and territorial integrity as well as utmost safety for the APEC Leaders’ Week in Da Nang in November this year. Vietnam National Day marked in Hong Kong The Consulate General of Vietnam in Hong Kong and Macau (China) on August 23 held a banquet at the Shangri-La hotel in Hong Kong to celebrate the 72nd anniversary of Vietnam’s National Day (September 2) and the 50th birthday of ASEAN. The event was attended by Hong Kong officials, international friends, staff of Vietnamese representative offices and Vietnamese expatriates in Hong Kong. Speaking at the banquet, Vietnamese General Consul to Hong Kong and Macau Hoang Chi Trung highlighted the challenges Vietnamese people overcame to protect national independence. Thanks to the achievements of more than three decades of Doi moi (reform), Vietnam has become an open and vibrant economy with annual economic growth of around seven percent, helping improve livelihoods, he said. Trung said that Vietnam pursues a policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, cooperation and development, diversification of external relations, proactive international integration and is a reliable and responsible member of the international community. In past years, Vietnam and the Chinese special administrative region have enjoyed stable relations, Trung said, adding that both sides have made significant achievements in economic and trade relations. Currently, Hong Kong is the sixth largest investor in Vietnam with 1,214 projects valued at 17.57 billion USD. He expressed his hope that cooperation between the two sides will be further consolidated. Meanwhile, Chief Secretary for Administrative Office Matthew Cheung Kin-chung lauded Vietnam’s achievements, while saying the country has become an ideal destination for Hong Kong tourists. With high potential, cooperation between Vietnam and Hong Kong as well as Macau will help boost the development of the comprehensive strategic partnership relations between Vietnam and China, he added. Hanoi association works to bolster Vietnam-Spain friendship The Vietnam-Spain Friendship Association’s Hanoi chapter will continue organising numerous activities during 2017-2022 to enhance mutual understanding and cooperation between the two peoples. The commitment was made by Nguyen Xuan Phong, permanent Vice President of the Hanoi association, at its third congress on August 23. Established on September 14, 2015, the Hanoi association now has 12 chapters. They all have been active in promoting the image of Hanoi and Vietnam at large to international friends, especially those from Spain. In the 2017-2022 tenure, the Hanoi chapter will maintain its close coordination with the Vietnam-Spain Friendship Association to effectively implement its functions and tasks, while improving the quality of friendship exchange activities to be co-organised with the Spanish Embassy. The third congress selected the association’s 25-member executive board for the 2017-2022 tenure with Nguyen Trong Dong, Director of the municipal Department of Natural Resources and Environment as its President. Top legislator welcomes young Japanese parliamentarians National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan has expressed her hope that young Japanese parliamentarians will contribute to deepening the Vietnam-Japan relations at a reception in Hanoi on August 23 for a delegation from the Liberal Democratic Party’s Youth Division. Intensifying cooperation with Japan is one of the priorities in Vietnam’s foreign policy, she affirmed, adding that high political trust is a firm foundation for close and effective cooperation between the two sides. Ngan took the occasion to thank Japan for providing official development assistance (ODA) for Vietnam, which, she said, has helped the country boost socio-economic development and reduce poverty. She spoke of the initiative to organise a seminar between the two countries’ young parliamentarians as it contributed to strengthening their mutual understanding. The top legislator asked the two sides to maintain visits and meetings, improve the role of MPs, especially young and female lawmakers, and coordinate closely in holding activities celebrating the 45th anniversary of the bilateral diplomatic ties in 2018. It is necessary to step up economic and trade cooperation, facilitate Vietnam’s export of aquatic products and fruits to Japan, and promote Japan’s investment in Vietnam in the fields of support industry, manufacturing, energy and agriculture, she noted. Keisuke Suzuki, head of the Liberal Democratic Party’s Youth Division, informed the host of the outcomes of the seminar between his delegation and young Vietnamese deputies. According to him, the regular organisation of exchange activities between young parliamentarians will help the two countries’ young generations improve mutual understanding and contribute more to the bilateral relations. Given that there are currently 1,600 Japanese enterprises investing in Vietnam, he proposed the Southeast Asian nation continue improving its investment environment so as to attract more foreign investors, including those from Japan. Social organisations cooperate to achieve sustainable development Establishing social organisations is a significant stride in the management of social affairs, heard a workshop in Hanoi on August 22. The annual workshop was organised by the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations (VUSTA), Non-Governmental Organisation Information Centre, the Centre for Sustainable Rural Development and the Institute for Development and Community Health – LIGHT. Currently, the VUSTA has more than 900 science and technology organisations operating in various spheres.  The organisations have engaged in poverty reduction, community development and environmental protection activities well as climate change adaptation, public healthcare improvement and HIV-AIDS prevention, along with promoting gender equality and supporting vulnerable groups. Participants pointed to difficulties, including shortcomings in legal frameworks and a lack of financial resources. They called on State agencies to refine policies to develop social organisations while creating a legal framework, encouraging healthy competition and improving their operational capacity. Seminar seeks better Vietnamese language teaching abroad Solutions to improve the teaching and learning of Vietnamese language among overseas Vietnamese people were proposed at a seminar in Hanoi on August 22. The event was held by the State Commission on Overseas Vietnamese (SCOV) under the Foreign Ministry and the Department of Continuing Education under the Ministry of Education and Training. It drew officials, experts on Vietnamese language and 78 teachers from 12 countries and territories who are participating in a training course on Vietnamese teaching. SCOV Vice Chairman Luong Thanh Nghi said the teaching and learning of Vietnamese has long been a demand of overseas Vietnamese people. However, most teaching centres are small, lack funding and necessary infrastructure, and attract few learners. Vietnamese language classes are mainly held at the weekend and summer holidays or combined with trips to the homeland. Some Vietnamese teachers have compiled textbooks, reference books and other teaching materials by themselves, but these books generally don’t meet specialised standards. Most centres lack well-trained teachers, most of whom are volunteers without salaries or allowances. Director of the Continuing Education Department Nguyen Cong Hinh said the education ministry compiled and posted two books, “Tieng Viet vui” (Fun Vietnamese) for youth and children and “Que Viet” (Vietnamese Homeland) for adults, on its website http://tiengvietonline.vn . The ministry has worked with the SCOV to hold annual training courses for overseas teachers of Vietnamese. It has also sent teachers to neighboring countries like Laos and Thailand to teach the language to students, he noted. At the discussion, participants said that overseas Vietnamese communities are making efforts to maintain the language. Nguyen Thi Thanh Som, a teacher of Vietnamese in Thailand, said the State should give more support in terms of textbooks and teaching equipment, open more training courses for overseas teachers, and grant scholarships for expatriate students to attract them to language courses. Meanwhile, some teachers in Malaysia asked agencies to provide more practical assistance for teaching centres such as funding for teachers and teaching assistants. Other participants said parents and students should be aware of the importance of maintaining their mother tongue and preserving national identity. Parents also need to help their children to engage in language classes and communicate with their children in Vietnamese at home. VUFO vows to work for stronger Vietnam-Laos ties The Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO), the Vietnam-Laos Friendship Association and its chapters at all levels will continue trying their utmost to nurture the friendship and special solidarity between the two countries, said a VUFO official. VUFO Secretary General and Vice President Don Tuan Phong made the pledge when receiving Somphan Phengkhammy, National Assembly Vice Chairman and President of the Committee for Peace and Solidarity of Laos in Hanoi on August 22. Phong informed the guest that the VUFO, the Vietnam-Laos Friendship Association and its chapters at all levels have held various activities to make the 55th anniversary of Vietnam-Laos diplomatic ties (September 5) and 40 years since the signing of the bilateral Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (July 18). Soon, the Vietnamese side will welcome 40 members of Lao families that had protected Vietnamese soldiers during wartime to attend celebrations. Somphan Phengkhammy, who is also Chairman of the Laos-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentarian Group, praised the activities held by the VUFO and the Vietnam-Laos Friendship Association as well as its chapters at all levels. The Lao official expressed his hope that cooperation between his committee and Vietnam’s organisations will be deepened, helping consolidate the Vietnam-Laos friendship. Project fosters natural resource management, biodiversity conservation Experts gathered at a workshop in Hanoi on August 22 to discuss a project on management of natural resources and biodiversity preservation in socio-economic development. Nguyen The Dong, Deputy Director of the Vietnam Environment Administration (VEA) under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment said the project will be piloted in Dong Nai, Cu Lao Cham – Hoi An, and Tay Nghe An nature reserves. According to Tran Huyen Trang from the Biodiversity Conservation Agency of VEA, the project will focus on completing legal documents and policies incorporating natural resources management and biodiversity preservation goals in socio-economic development and enhancing capability of law enforcement. Various activities will be piloted in the nature reserves to ensure sustainable use of natural resources, management of nature reserves and biodiversity-friendly development. Harald Leummens, Chief Technical Advisor from the United Nations Development Programme Vietnam said the initiative will develop a mechanism to ensure cooperation among relevant agencies, enhance the capability of the nature reserves and promote communications. Local experts suggested the project’s feasibility be evaluated in terms of schedule, resources, structures and commitments made by stakeholders. Truong Quang Hoc from the Vietnam National University Hanoi underlined the need to integrate conservation work in economic development in nature reserves, local development plans and other projects. It is necessary to develop an evaluation and supervision system, Hoc added. Vietnam has nine nature reserves recognised by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation. Project fosters natural resource management, biodiversity conservation Experts gathered at a workshop in Hanoi on August 22 to discuss a project on management of natural resources and biodiversity preservation in socio-economic development. Nguyen The Dong, Deputy Director of the Vietnam Environment Administration (VEA) under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment said the project will be piloted in Dong Nai, Cu Lao Cham – Hoi An, and Tay Nghe An nature reserves. According to Tran Huyen Trang from the Biodiversity Conservation Agency of VEA, the project will focus on completing legal documents and policies incorporating natural resources management and biodiversity preservation goals in socio-economic development and enhancing capability of law enforcement. Various activities will be piloted in the nature reserves to ensure sustainable use of natural resources, management of nature reserves and biodiversity-friendly development. Harald Leummens, Chief Technical Advisor from the United Nations Development Programme Vietnam said the initiative will develop a mechanism to ensure cooperation among relevant agencies, enhance the capability of the nature reserves and promote communications. Local experts suggested the project’s feasibility be evaluated in terms of schedule, resources, structures and commitments made by stakeholders. Truong Quang Hoc from the Vietnam National University Hanoi underlined the need to integrate conservation work in economic development in nature reserves, local development plans and other projects. It is necessary to develop an evaluation and supervision system, Hoc added. Vietnam has nine nature reserves recognised by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation. Vietnam, Indonesia partner in education The Vietnamese government has recently issued Resolution No.81/NQ-CP on the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on education cooperation with the Indonesian government.  Specifically, the government agreed to approve the contents of the MoU and authorised Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh to sign the document on the occasion of Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong’s visit to Indonesia in late August.  The Ministry of Education and Training must report the MoU signing to the government’s upcoming regular meeting and work closely with ministries, agencies concerned to implement the agreement after it takes effect. Public health emergency operations centre inaugurated in HCM City The Southern Vietnam Public Health Emergency Operations Centre (SVPHEOC) was inaugurated at the Ho Chi Minh City-based Paster Institute on August 23. The centre is expected to help the health sector coordinate and cope with emergency health incidents, including dangerous or emerging diseases that have affected health and social welfare of people in the southern region. In the context of globalisation, diseases like SARS, avian influenza, Ebola and Zika are threats to Vietnam and challenges to the globe as they can spread quickly across countries. Given this, the Vietnamese Health Ministry has joined the Global Health Security Partnership which is implemented by the US Government, international organisations and other countries. Vietnam has committed to actively applying the model of the Public Health Emergency Operations Centre in response to diseases and health incidents in the country. With the support of the US Government, the Vietnam Emergency Operations Centre was put into operation in May 2013 at the headquarters of the Health Ministry. The Northern Public Health Emergency Operations Centre was activated at the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology in 2016. With good quality staff and equipment, the SVPHEOC will collect and share information and coordinate emergency operations. The event is seen as a vivid demonstration of cooperation between the Vietnamese and US Governments. Vietnam Migration Profile 2016 released The Vietnam Migration Profile 2016 was released by the Foreign Ministry’s Consular Department and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) in Hanoi on August 22. The profile is part of a project on enhancing cooperation among Vietnam’s relevant agencies in migration management carried out by the Consular Department and the IOM since 2015. It includes updated data on Vietnam’s migration flows, analysis and assessment of migration facts, and recommendations to improve ministries and sectors’ migration management capacity, fine-tune relevant policies and laws and boost cooperation among state managerial agencies in this work. Director of the Consular Department Nguyen Minh Vu said promoting legal migration, preventing illegal migration, ensuring safe migration and protecting the rights and legitimate interests of migrants are a consistent policy of Vietnam. The country wants to enhance cooperation in migration management with other countries so as to share experience and information, helping to build suitable policies serving national development during the integration process, he noted.  The profile launching event saw the participation of over 100 delegates from the National Assembly Office, the Government Office, ministries, sectors, localities, embassies and consulate generals of countries, and international organisations. A similar event will be held in HCM City on August 29 to publicise the profile to relevant agencies and foreign representative agencies in the southern region. Houses for Vietnamese returning from Cambodia to be built As many as 183 houses will be built near Dau Tieng lake in the southern province of Tay Ninh for Vietnamese expatriates returning home from Cambodia. The houses are expected to cost 11 billion VND (484,000 USD), Most Venerable Thich Nhat Tu, head of the culture department under the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha’s Ho Chi Minh City chapter, said on August 21 adding that the organising board has mobilised 80 percent of total expenditure so far. The houses will help Vietnamese expatriates stabilise their livelihoods, he underlined, expecting additional financial contributions from donors. The project will be announced at a grand music festival to held by the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha’s Ho Chi Minh City chapter on August 27 on the occasion of the annual Buddhist holiday of Vu Lan (Ullambana) festival, the Most Venerable added. The grand music festival, scheduled at Hoa Binh theatre in Ho Chi Minh City, will stage brilliant performances to express gratefulness to parents. The Most Venerable said that Vu Lan festival is not only held for Buddhist followers but it has become a national spiritual festival for all Vietnamese people to promote beautiful value of Vietnamese culture and social morals. The festival falls on the fifteenth day of the seventh month in lunar calendar, with this month known as the spirit month in Buddhism. On this month’s full moon, wandering souls are believed to return to their former homes. The festival is based on the legend that once when mediating, a Buddha’s disciple named Muc Kien Lien saw his mother suffering hell’s tortures. Following Buddha’s advice, on the seventh full moon of the year, Muc Kien Lien gathered monks and devotees and prayed with them for his mother. Therefore, the festival is to express gratitude towards ones’ parents (especially mothers) and also help ancestors’ lost souls find their way back to earth. Deputy PM directs marine incident recovery efforts in four provinces Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh has urged that compensation for four central coastal provinces hit by marine incident must ensure openness, transparency and democracy.  Chairing the ninth session of the Steering Committee for marine incident recovery in Hanoi on August 21, Binh said Taiwan’s Hung Nghiep Formosa Ha Tinh steel company, which accepted responsibility for causing last year’s mass fish deaths in four central provinces, basically fixed 52 flaws, restored production and joined social activities.  He demanded that its manufacturing activities continue to be closely monitored to prevent violations.  On compensation for rising fisheries inventories, provincial authorities and the Ministry of Industry and Trade were asked to inspect the situation to report to him this month, adding that the origin of seafood must be clear when it comes to seeking compensation.  Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Vu Van Tam reported that as of August 18, as much as 5.95 trillion VND in compensation was provided for victims, or 94.3 percent of total damages.  The remaining amount was due to the absence of victims from their residence or pending appeals from victims. According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the four provinces are asking for additional compensation worth 563.17 billion VND (24.48 million USD).  Meanwhile, the total seafood in stock has so far amounted to 11,751 tonnes, or a 2.2-fold increase compared from 5,369 tonnes reported by the Health Ministry. Localities have approved compensation for 6,226 tonnes.  The MARD proposed setting up an inter-ministry team to inspect the declaration of stockpile seafood.  At the same time, the ministry rejected a proposal to offer preferential loans to build 400 new fishing vessels in the four provinces. Instead, funds should be used to build fishing infrastructure to benefit fishermen community. The idea won approval from other ministries and local authorities. Deputy Minister of Public Security, Sen. Lieut. Gen Bui Van Nam said the incident has been basically dealt with, while local political and social security and order has been strengthened. Photo exhibition portrays beauty of breastfeeding Various photos portraying the importance of breastfeeding are on display at the Vietnamese Women’s Museum in Hanoi to celebrate World Breastfeeding Week. With the title ’Breastmilk – Fountain of Love’, the exhibition is a result of projects carried out by the Vietnam Women’s Union in order to support and promote breastfeeding. “Through the photos, we want to send a message that a mother’s milk is a valuable gift given by nature and provides precious nutrition for babies,” said Tran Thi Huong, Vice Chairwoman of the union. The Women’s Union has organised many breastfeeding training courses at industrial zones and remote areas to equip women with breastfeeding knowledge and how to do the milking at work.  The exhibition also mentions problems mothers face during the process of raising children, such as postnatal depression. The exhibition will run until August 26 at the museum, 36 Ly Thuong Kiet street. Vietnam, Mexico join efforts in geographical indication protection A memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cooperation in geographical indication (GI) protection was signed between the National Office of Intellectual Property of Vietnam (NOIP) and the Mexican Institute of Industrial Property (IMPI) in Hanoi on August 21. The MoU aims to increase cooperation and mutual understanding on the respective countries’ GI systems and protection. NOIP Director Dinh Huu Phi said Vietnam has protected 56 GIs, including 50 of Vietnam and six foreign ones. Fifty-four GIs of Vietnam have received protection in Mexico. Meanwhile, there have been 83 brands, five industrial designs and eight inventions of Mexico protected in Vietnam since 2010. He expressed his hope that the two sides will work actively together to build concrete projects within the MoU framework so as to tap into GI-related cooperation potential. Under the document, they are set to share knowledge, experience and work outcomes so as to promote GI protection and management, thus facilitating the commercialisation of Vietnamese and Mexican products with GIs and contributing to each country’s economic development. They will also raise public awareness of GIs, exchange experts to train manpower relating to GIs and relevant fields, and cooperate in GI registration procedures. IMPI Director General Miguel Angel Margain said the MoU ensures a legal foundation for the production and business of products with GIs in each country, helping to fight trade frauds and violations in industrial property.  He added he hopes products with Mexican GIs will access Vietnamese consumers and vice versa. Training course for Lao front officials held in Da Nang A short-term training course for officials of the Lao Front for National Construction (LFNC) opened on August 21 in the central city of Da Nang by the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee. The course is part of a cooperation programme for 2017 to 2020 between the VFF and LFNC, said Nguyen Tien Dung, Vice President of VFF Central Committee at the opening ceremony.  It is also a diplomatic activity marking the 55th anniversary of the Vietnam-Laos diplomatic relations and 40 years of the signing of the Vietnam-Laos Treaty of Amity and Cooperation, thus promoting the traditional friendship and solidarity between the two nations, Dung added.  During the fortnight course, participants will be delivered with six reports on front affairs and join fact-finding activities such as field trips to destinations in Da Nang city and the provinces of Quang Tri, Quang Nam and Thua Thien-Hue. Japanese, Quang Ninh Red Cross volunteers plant mangrove forest Red Cross volunteers of the Japanese prefecture of Kyushu and their counterparts from the northern province of Quang Ninh began planting mangrove forest in Song Khoai commune, Quang Yen township, on August 21.   They planted 400 mangrove crabapple trees in a mud ground in the commune. The event aimed to raise public awareness of the role of mangrove forest ecological system, thereby urging their efforts in restoring and planting mangrove forests to contribute to mitigating harmful impacts on the environment.  On the occasion, the Japanese voluntary youths visited and presented gifts to poor students with outstanding academic results at Song Khoai junior high school. Bac Lieu moves to sustainably develop biodiversity The Mekong Delta province of Bac Lieu plans to allocate 25.5 billion VND (1.12 million USD) for sustainably preserving and developing biodiversity in the locality, said Chairwoman of the People’s Council Le Thi Ai Nam. Preservation of biodiversity will be mainstreamed in socio-economic development activities of sectors and fields, while developing local natural reserves in tandem with protecting and developing forests. Ecotourism and biosafety will also be incorporated in projects and national strategic programmes on culture, education, health and agricultural development. International cooperation will also be strengthened in biodiversity preservation. Campaigns will be conducted regularly to raise public awareness of protecting and developing forests and preserving biodiversity. Relevant legal framework will also be completed in line with national campaigns and action plans on biodiversity, while including biodiversity preservation in local people’s livelihoods, particularly residents in buffer zones. Bac Lieu will also focus on applying technologies in aquaculture, cultivation, livestock breeding and forestry development to preserve, develop and use natural resources sustainably and adapt to climate change. The province now has two national nature reserves, namely Bac Lieu Bird Garden, covering 383 hectares in Nha Mat ward, Bac Lieu city; and another covering 366 hectare in Long Dien Tay commune, Dong Hai district. Vietnamese-Cambodian doctors support poor community The Association of Vietnamese Cambodian Doctors, on August 20, offered health checkups for and presented gifts to disadvantaged people in Daun Keo city in Cambodia’s Takeo province. The event benefited more than 200 people, with costs covered by donations from philanthropists, including Vietnamese enterprises. Phang Pin, head of the People’s Committee at Daun Keo’s Rokar Khnong ward, said the activity not only provides medical support for the poor community but also contributes to Vietnam – Cambodia solidarity. Founded in February 2017, the association aims at connecting Vietnamese Cambodian doctors, raising fund, and carrying out humanitarian activities. HCM City fosters judicial cooperation with Mozambique Chairman of the People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City Nguyen Thanh Phong has pledged to boost cooperation with Mozambique in justice, trade, investment, agriculture and education. During his reception for visiting Mozambican Attorney-General Beatriz Buchili on August 23, Phong lauded the recently signed memorandum of understanding between the Supreme People’s Procuracy of Vietnam and the Mozambican Attorney General’s Office, saying that it lays a legal foundation for the People’s Procuracy of HCM City to boost cooperation with judicial agencies of Mozambican localities. He expressed his hope that Mozambique will continue facilitating Vietnamese firms’ operation in the country. The municipal leader forwarded to the related agencies for consideration the suggestion to establish the Honorary Consulate of Mozambique in Ho Chi Minh City made by the Mozambican Attorney-General and the Embassy of Mozambique in Vietnam. For her part, Beatriz Buchili expressed her admiration for the dynamic development of the city, expressing her hope that local authorities will support cooperation between the municipal People’s Procuracy and the judicial agencies of Mozambican localities. In 2016, bilateral trade between Vietnam and Mozambique reached 100 million USD in 2016. The two nations have jointly implemented cooperation projects in agriculture, health care, telecommunication and education. Ca Pass tunnel linking Phu Yen and Khanh Hoa opens to traffic A tunnel system running through the Ca Pass and connecting the two central provinces of Phu Yen and Khanh Hoa opened to traffic on August 21. Construction on the tunnel system, the largest of its kind along the National Highway 1A, started on November 18, 2012.  It stretches 13.19 kilometres from Phu Yen province’s Hao Son commune to Khanh Hoa province’s Co Ma commune and has two bi-tube tunnels: Deo Ca (Ca Pass) tunnel (4.1 kilometres in length) and Co Ma tunnel (500 metres). The maximum speed for vehicles traveling along the tunnels is 80 kilometres per hour. Speaking at the opening ceremony, Deputy Minister of Transport Le Dinh Tho said that this is a key national project constructed under a BOT (Build-Operate-Transfer) model and by Vietnamese contractors. The tunnel system can shorten the distance between the two central provinces by 8 kilometres, cut travelling time by half and ensure convenient traffic between central and southern regions. It is also expected to connect Nam Phu Yen economic zone and Van Phong economic zone of Khanh Hoa province and contribute to the development of industry, trade and tourism in the central and Central Highlands regions. Thanh Hoa builds storm shelter in response to climate change The Vietnam Red Cross Society in the central province of Thanh Hoa held a ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of a storm shelter in village 9, Hoang Chau commune, Hoang Hoa district on August 19. The 220 square-metre shelter costs nearly 1.1 billion VND (48,000 USD). The facility is expected to be completed by November 23, providing a safe place for locals in case of natural disasters. The shelter is expected to improve local livelihoods and help the locality respond to climate change and reduce losses caused by natural disasters. The same day, the local Red Cross Society worked with Thanh Hoa Lung Hospital and Nong Cong district general hospital to provide free medical examinations and medicine for impoverished households and people who rendered services to the nation. President stresses cyber crime vigilance President Tran Dai Quang has called on the nation to be aware of the threat of cyber crime and the importance of ensuring network safety and security as the country embarks on the Fourth Industrial Revolution. In a message released on the occasion of the 72nd anniversary of the Vietnamese Police Day, which falls on August 19, the President stressed that cyber space has become an integral part of people’s life and plays a very important role in building an information-based society and knowledge-based economy. “In addition to the tremendous benefits that cyberspace brings, countries also face risks like cyber war, cyber spying, cyber attacks, cyber criminals and many more complex issues,” he said, adding that in the case of Vietnam, for several years now, hostile forces and cyber criminals have increased network attacks to collect information, State secrets, domestic secrets, and to hijack and sabotage the information network system. “They have used the Internet, especially social networking sites, with sophisticated methods and tricks to create internal dissension, infringe the nation’s interests and undermine national security,” he said. President Quang commended efforts made by the Party, the Government and the people to ensure network safety and security both in actions and policies. He noted in particular the 2013 issuance of Directive No 28-CT/TW by the Party Central Committee on enhancing information security and the Prime Minister’s Directive No 15/CT-TTg dated June 17, 2014, on ensuring network security and safety in the new situation. However, the President also cautioned that network information was unsafe in some places and securing it was a “complicated” task because the legal framework was inadequate and implementation was not effective. “The State management of safety and security has loopholes and has not kept up with the pace of development and application of information technology, especially online newspapers, social networks, online games, prepaid cellular, telecommunications services and the Internet,” he said. He said this underscored “an urgent need to create a profound change in the awareness of the Party committees, authorities as well as mass organisations from the central to local levels on the importance of ensuring network safety and security,” he said, saying everyone should consider it an important, urgent, regular and long-term task. He called for resistance to propaganda, distortions and provocations by hostile forces. "This requires close coordination among ministries, committees and mass organisations at all levels and continuous building and perfecting of policies and laws on network safety and security," he said. The President also called for more focus on building and issuing the National Network Security Strategy, the Law on Network Security and guiding documents that specify safety standards and procedures for appraising plans and measures to protect safety and security of important information systems. “Important national security information systems must be regularly inspected and evaluated from the perspective of network security from the design stage to when they become operational,” he said. He also said it was necessary to develop human resources, build up a network of elite network security forces and adopt mechanisms to mobilise, support and promote organisations and individuals in ensuring network safety and security. International cooperation in network safety and security should be stepped up by joining international conventions and agreements on cyber crime prevention, he said. “It is necessary to step up cooperation with hi-tech countries, organisations and economic groups in the development of information technology in order to train human resources, acquire new technologies and experience in ensuring network safety and security,” he said. Programme connects overseas Vietnamese students in US The Association of Vietnamese Students in the US held a cultural programme called “Vong tay nuoc My” in New York from August 18 – 20. The event, the fifth of its kind, was attended by Vietnamese Ambassador to the US Pham Quang Vinh, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN Ambassador Nguyen Phuong Nga, Vietnamese and local entrepreneurs and Vietnamese students in the US. Vietnamese youths in the US expressed their wish to return home to contribute to Vietnam, Nga told reporters, affirming that they serve as a bridge connecting Vietnam and the US. Various activities were held during the programme, including art shows, sports, a career conference and charity photo exhibitions. The Association of Vietnamese Students in the US, established in 2013, has gathered Vietnamese students and youths in the US and contributed to the students’ lives and home nation. Hanoi urged to step up safe food efforts Hanoi needs to intensify food safety inspections and investigations, as well as promote the safe cultivation of raw materials and agricultural products, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam has said.   Speaking at the launch of a programme on food safety in Hanoi on August 20, the Deputy PM requested the capital city consider food safety an urgent priority and focus all financial and human resources, equipment and facilities on eliminating unsafe food. Initiated by the capital city’s health, agricultural and trade departments, in collaboration with the Hanoi Union of Science and Technology Associations (HUSTA), the four-phase programme will be implemented from 2017 to 2020, aiming to raise awareness and increase responsibility of individuals, households and the wider community in using safe food in daily meals. During the first phase of the programme, booths that provide safe food will be established at five apartment complexes. They will be extended to 30 apartment complexes by the fourth phase. Deputy PM Dam said he appreciated the efforts made by the city and relevant authorities in launching the initiative, especially at a time when the spread of unsafe food is threatening the health of consumers more than ever. “I hope the programme will not only connect food providers and consumers but also educate individuals, households and the community on the importance of having safe food in one’s daily diet,” he said. Apart from increasing focus on identifying, inspecting and destroying unsafe food, the capital city should also invest more in “developing safe agricultural cultivation areas, widening the application of the Vietnamese Good Agricultural Practices (VietGAP) and similar models, and developing safe food distribution systems,” he added. In order to ensure that safe meals are delivered to the table of every family, it needs a close collaboration among the five parties that are the State, scientists, journalists, enterprises and consumers, according to the programme’s organisers. This close collaboration will not only help identify unsafe food but also solve difficulties in management, helping to control food quality from the beginning of the supply chain. Opportunities for skilled Vietnamese workers in Malaysia The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs said the quality of Vietnamese workers has been improved over recent years, meeting the requirements of regional labour markets. Malaysia is one of four major markets for Vietnamese workers. Its demand for foreign labourers, both common and skilled ones, is still on the rise. However, for Vietnam, much remains to be done to send more workers to the market. Inferior quality of Vietnam labour is partly due to inadequate vocational training. Besides, employment information system in Vietnam is still ineffective, which makes it hard to assess labour supply and demand in the country. Therefore, in order to improve its labour competitiveness in the region, experts say Vietnam needs to reform vocational training and enhance international cooperation regarding labour issues. APEC 2017: workshop talks sustainable food system Experts gathered at a workshop in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho on August 19 to seek ways to reduce food losses and waste, and ensure a sustainable APEC food system. The event formed part of activities during the APEC 2017 Food Security Week and the High-Level Policy Dialogue on Enhancing Food Security and Sustainable Agriculture in Response to Climate Change in the city. Participants focused on how to evaluate food losses and waste reduction, sharing experience and solutions of the private sector in reducing food waste, reviewing APEC’s projects on reducing food losses and waste, and how to enhancing the awareness toward sustainable development. According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), nearly 800 million people are undernourished globally, of them 500 million are in the Asia – Pacific region. Around 1.3 billion tonnes of food or one third of the global food output, worth nearly 750 billion USD, are lost and wasted each year. The amount, if saved, is enough to feed two billion people.  Food is mainly lost during post-production and harvest, transport and preservation in developing nations due to poor infrastructure while food losses take place in marketing and consumption in developed nations. Food loss and waste reduction was noted in the APEC declarations on food security in 2010, 2012, 2014 and 2016 to ensure sustainable agriculture development and food security for APEC economies. One of the objectives of the APEC food security roadmap to 2020 is to cut down food losses and waste by 10 percent from 2011 – 2012. Gong Xifeng, head of the APEC Agricultural Technical Cooperation Working Group, called for a combination of public and private resources in APEC economies to reduce food losses and waste. Meanwhile, Tran Kim Long, Director of the International Cooperation Department under the Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, underlined a need for incentives to encourage investment and technology application in agricultural production, and the active participation of the private sector and consumers. Ha Thanh Toan, Rector of the Can Tho University said the university is willing to cooperate with international partners in establishing a centre for studying and promoting technology application in reducing post-harvest losses, contributing to realising the APEC food security goals. APEC sub-committee meeting talks electrical equipment management The APEC Sub-Committee on Standards and Conformance (SCSC)’s Joint Regulatory Advisory Committee (JRAC) on Electrical and Electronic Equipment convened its 22nd meeting in Ho Chi Minh City on August 20.  The event, as part of the third APEC Senior Officials’ Meeting and related meetings, attracted delegates from Australia, New Zealand, Russia, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam.  It focused discussions on regional electrical and electronic equipment management such as refining mechanisms and policies with a view to facilitating trade and investment.  Participants also considered JRAC’s priorities this year including implementing the Pathfinder Initiatives and the APEC Electrical and Electronic Equipment Mutual Recognition Agreement (EEMRA), working to deal with risks arising from electrical and electronic products, and amending JRAC’s working regulations to improve its operational efficiency.  At the event, deputy head of the Directorate of Standards, Metrology and Quality’s Standards Department Nguyen Van Khoi presented a report on SCSC’s activities over the past years towards key goals, theme and priorities of the APEC Year 2017. Vietnam Airlines builds school for ethnic minority pupils The national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines (VA) on August 19 inaugurated a new school for pupils in the mountainous commune of Thuong Hoa, Minh Hoa district, the central province of Quang Binh. The Thuong Hoa elementary and secondary school was built at a total cost of nearly 5 billion VND. The handover of the school was concurrent with the new academic year 2017-2018 and the 72nd anniversary of August Revolution (August 19) and National Day (September 2).  The school has two-storey buildings, including four classrooms, two functional rooms, two housing areas for teachers and supporting facilities.  Pham Ngoc Vui, Chairman of the VA Labour Union, said it is the last of seven social welfare works worth 35 billion VND (1.52 million USD) in total funded by the carrier under the government’s Programme 30A on supporting rapid and sustainable poverty reduction in 61 poor districts.  The school was founded in 1963 to train more than 400 ethnic students in the locality. However, due to limited local budget, its poor infrastructure impacted teaching and learning quality.  Launched in 2008, Programme 30A aims to reduce poverty rate in 61 poor districts to the average level of the region via special policies and mechanisms, support in education and vocational training, and infrastructure in villages, communes and districts. Front leader presents gifts to flood victims in Son La President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee Tran Thanh Man on August 19 visited and presented gifts to people affected by floods in Muong La district in the northern mountainous province of Son La. Man, who is head of the central relief committee, handed over 120 million VND (5,280 USD) to three flood-hit households to build new houses and 55 million VND (2,240 USD) to 11 students of affected families in Muong La district. He proposed the local authorities continue paying attention to residential planning to overcome the immediate situation and avoid flash floods in the future. The VFF President also called for investment in traffic infrastructure, electricity, network, health care stations, and schools ahead of the new school year. So far, the central relief fund has received over 5 billion VND (220,000 USD) from ministries, sectors, organisations, localities and businesses nationwide to support the affected people in northern mountainous provinces to stabilise their lives. By August 18, flash floods in Muong La district had left 13 dead, 2 missing, and 15 injured. Torrential rains and floods also destroyed 400 houses, affecting over 2,000 local residents and causing losses of up to 700 billion VND (30.8 million USD). Vietnam News Agency holds first television festival The Vietnam News Agency organised its first television festival on August 18 to mark the 7th anniversary of the first broadcast of the agency’s TV channel – Vnews. Speaking at the event, General Director of the Vietnam News Agency Nguyen Duc Loi underlined that VNews, which specialises in mainstream news, has become one of the main national TV channels.  The TV channel has made significant contributions to popularizing accurate and timely information, countering false information, thus serving Party and Government’s leadership as well as meeting information demands of both domestic and foreign audience, he highlighted. Meanwhile, VNews Director Nguyen Thien Thuat stressed that VNews has established a foothold in the country’s television journalism. The VNews channel has covered 63 cities and provinces, 30 countries and territories worldwide along with significant domestic and international events. A ceremony was held at the Vietnam News Agency headquarters the same day to present awards honouring standout television works in diverse categories as well as individuals and organisations who contributed to the development of the TV channel. The awards included “Standout reporter”, “Golden hand”, “Excellent television works”, “Excellent camerawoman” and “Versatile reporter”, among others. VNews aired its first news programme on August 25, 2010. From its humble beginning with only several news programmes a day, now the channel broadcasts around the clock with 24 news programmes and 30 specialised shows a day. Besides Vietnamese programmes, the channel airs daily Chinese and English news programmes along with weekly French and Spanish news bulletins.  VNews is one of the two units assigned by the State to edit the content of programmes by foreign broadcasters to be aired in Vietnam. It also posted multi-media works on social networks like Facebook, youtube, Twitter and Instagram, making the information more accessible to audiences of different ages. Public Security Ministry honoured with Lao Order Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security was honoured with the Lao Order at a ceremony held in Hanoi on August 18.  Lao Minister of Public Security Somkeo Silavong, authorised by the President, awarded the first-class Development Order for the Vietnam’s Ministry and the second-class Labour Order for Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Public Security Bui Van Nam for the ministry and Nam’s contributions to ensuring safety for the political events in Laos in 2016, particularly the 28th and 29th ASEAN Summit. Addressing the event, Minister of Public Security To Lam said the recognition is the highest award the Party and the State of Laos has presented for the collectives and individuals who made significant contributions to developing and strengthening the traditional, special friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the two nations. It also reflects that the Party and the State of Laos highly appreciate the staff and leaders of Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security, he added. The same day, a gathering with generations of senior officials and outstanding individuals of the Ministry of Public Security was held to celebrate the 72nd traditional day of the Vietnam People's Police Force (August 19). Camp for Vietnamese youths in Europe opens in Czech Republic The third camp for Vietnamese youths and students in Europe (SiviTa Europa) kicked off in Prague, the Czech Republic, on August 17, attracting 300 delegates from 12 European nations and Vietnam. The four-day event aims to strengthen the solidarity and enhance the knowledge of the nation’s culture, history, geography, and language among Vietnamese youths and students in Europe. Addressing the opening ceremony, Le Quoc Phong, President of the Vietnam Students' Association (VSA) said the HCM Communist Youth Union and the VSA have continuously supported the movements of overseas Vietnamese students. The two organisations want to promote the activities and structures of their chapters abroad to create a dynamic environment for Vietnamese youths in Europe in general and worldwide in particular, contributing to preserving the Vietnamese culture, and promoting the image of the nation and the Vietnamese people. Numerous activities took place during the opening ceremony, including art performance, cultural exchanges and game shows. The Association of Vietnamese youths and students in the Czech Republic was welcomed as a member of the Vietnam Youth Federation at the event. The fourth camp for Vietnamese youths and students in Europe will take place in Hungary in 2018. The first and second ones were held in Germany and France, respectively. Bui Xuan Phai – For the Love of Hanoi Awards mark 10th edition The 2017 Bui Xuan Phai – For the Love of Hanoi Awards ceremony was organised at the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) headquarters in Hanoi last week, marking a decade of honouring lovers of the capital city. The awards were initiated in 2008 by the Vietnam News Agency (VNA)’s Sports & Culture newspaper and the family of the late famous painter Bui Xuan Phai (1920-1988) to honour those who contribute to spreading the love for the capital city. Speaking at the event, Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Chung thanked the VNA and Bui Xuan Phai’s family for organising the awards which, he said, have made an imprint in the heart of many Hanoians. VNA Director General Nguyen Duc Loi stated that after 10 years of organisation, the Bui Xuan Phai – For the Love of Hanoi awards have affirmed its role and position in the country’s socio-political and cultural development. The awards were classified into the four categories: Grand Prize, Idea Prize, Job Prize and Work Prize.  This year, the Grand Prize was granted to cultural researcher Huu Ngoc, who has contributed to connecting the Vietnamese culture with the world. Born in 1918, Ngoc has a profound knowledge of French, English, German, and ancient Chinese. He has written 34 books, including a prized book entitled “A Sketch of Hanoi Culture” in French and English, which then was given by the Vietnamese Government as a special present to the heads of state at the 7th Francophone Meeting in the capital city in 1997.   The researcher also wrote regularly for more than a decade for the two foreign language newspapers published by the VNA: Le Courier du Vietnam in French and Vietnam News in English. Previous winners of the Grand Prize were presented to Nguyen Vinh Phuc, a scholar specializing in Hanoi research (in 2009), writer To Hoai (in 2010), Prof. Phan Huy Le (2011), guitarist Van Vuong (2012), photographer Quang Phung (2013),  researcher Vu Tuan San (2014), researcher Giang Quan (2015), and photographer Le Vuong (2016).  The Idea Prize went to Hanoi’s Department of Transport for its project on reducing traffic jams and environmental pollution for 2017-2020 with a vision to 2030.  This year two Job Prizes were awarded, one to the Hanoi administration for the establishment of the Hoan Kiem Lake walking street, which is closed to traffic on weekend nights, and another to Paul George Harding, a US war veteran, who has helped clean the capital’s lanes by removing posters from walls. Late writer Bang Son, with his two books “Thu lang thang nguoi Ha Noi” (Hanoians’ wandering pleasure) and “Thu an choi nguoi Ha Noi” (Hanoians’ cuisine pleasure), and photographer Nguyen Huu Bao, with his photo book “Ha Noi dau yeu” (Beloved Hanoi), received the Work Prize.-VNA Children exchanges promote Vietnam – Laos friendship Officials of Dak Lak last week received delegations of Vietnamese and Lao children who are taking part in a friendship summer camp in the Central Highlands province. At the reception, Vice Secretary of the provincial Party Committee Tran Quoc Cuong said exchange activities among children from both nations have fostered traditional relationship and comprehensive cooperation between the two parties, governments and people.  The exchanges also help implement joint programmes between the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union and Lao People's Revolutionary Youth Union, he added. Cuong asked the children to make an effort in learning and contributing to their homeland as well as to bilateral relations.  On the occasion, Cuong presented Dak Lak’s insignia to the Lao children delegation. The 2017 Vietnam – Laos friendship summer camp took place in Gia Lai, Kon Tum and Dak Lak provinces in the Central Highlands and in Khanh Hoa province in the central region from August 13 to 17. It has created a playground for Vietnamese and Lao kids to involve in various musical, cultural and sport activities. The camp is part of activities in celebration of the 55-year diplomatic relations between the two countries. Unexploded bombs found in Dak Lak province Two bombs weighing over 1,600kg left from the US war in Vietnam have been safely removed from the gardens of local families in the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak, the Military High Command said. A family in Lak district’s Yang Tao commune found a 600kg bomb in their garden on August 11. The second bomb, weighing more than 1,000kg, was discovered the next day in the same commune. After receiving reports from residents, the military and local authorities evacuated people from the area to deactivate the bombs. The bombs are believed to be among hundreds of unexploded bombs left behind from the war in Dak Lak province, which are being unearthed by competent agencies. Unexploded ordnance left from the war remains a threat across Vietnam, especially in the central region.- VNN