Social News 26/7 Red Cross Society in district 8 installs medicine cabinets   Over 40 visible medicine cabinets for first-aid are installed along Pham The Hien Street in Ho Chi Minh City's Dsitrict 8. They are used for treating those who have traffic accidents. This is an idea of the district Red Cross Society. More than 40 free medicine cabinets for first -aid are installed to help traffic accident victims. Each cabinet contains wads of cotton wool, surgical alcohol and other tools for stopping bleeding. On each of them, telephone of the Red Cross Society headquarter are visible so that residents can contact when they need aid. Guard of the residential block No.3 in district 8 ward 6 Ho Ngoc Vui said that the medicine cabinets are very useful because once there was an accident here and locals could provide first-aid to the victim. Chairman of the Red Corss Society Nguyen Quoc Minh said that the first-aid cabinet is initiated from the movement named "The city has high standard of living and loving" with many practical deeds, the society installed these cabinets to contribute to the movement. Crowded street Pham The Hien has seen traffic accidents frequently; therefore, the society placed medicine cabinets first there and then it will install in other streets in the district. These cabinets are provided by patrons and pharmacies. In addition to installing these cabinets, the society also delivered basic knowledge of first-aid to locals and shop assistants to help victims. Guards of residential blocks are assigned to protect the cabinets and supply essential items into the cabinets. HCM City seeks urgent solutions to congestion at major port The transport department of Ho Chi Minh City has approved a VND429 billion (US$18.9 million) road to ease chronic congestion on streets leading to Cat Lai Port. Located in District 2, the bustling Cat Lai Port receives more than half of Vietnam’s waterway freight, placing the surrounding infrastructure under enormous pressure and creating frequent traffic congestion in the area. The new road, which will run 1.5 kilometers from the port to Belt Road 2 in the same district, will include four vehicle lanes, with a completion date set for 2019. However, the new road to the port is only one of many solutions being sought by authorities. Thousands of trailer trucks lining up to access weigh stations has been the leading cause of the daily traffic snarls seen at the My Thuy intersection, where the Dong Van Cong and Vo Chi Cong roads meet. Drivers have placed the blame on a truck ban between 6:00 am and 10:00 pm on Nguyen Duy Trinh Street, which connects to the Cat Lai Port entrance, forcing a large number of vehicles to re-route to My Thuy. Multiple parking lots in the area are also responsible for chaotic traffic during rush hour. Since last November, construction of an interchange at My Thuy to eliminate the bottleneck has been slowed by sluggish land clearance, which has been estimated to take until April 2018 to complete, according to the administration of District 2. Meanwhile, an additional flyover and tunnel are being built at local congestion hot spots, and are expected to be open to traffic as early as the end of this year. Since April of this year, the Cat Lai Port authority has introduced online freight-forwarding procedures and payment systems, which have been successful in reducing waiting times for trucks by half. Child from Central Highlands dies of Japanese B encephalitis A child from the Central Highlands city of Buon Ma Thuot died after being affected with Japanese B encephalitis, said a local health official. Dr Pham Van Lao, director of Dak Lak province Preventive Health Centre, said on September 25 that the six-year old child was hospitalized on August 26 with dizziness, enlarged pupils, and fast heart rate symptoms. His blood test showed positive for Japanese B encephalitis virus. According to the child’s relatives, he was not vaccinated against Japanese B encephalitis. After determining Japanese encephalitis was the cause of his death, the Preventive Health Centre in coordination with the City Health Centre sprayed mosquito killer around houses of the victim and 60 neighbours and reviewed and conducted the vaccination of Japanese B encephalitis for children aged 1-15 in the area. Symptoms of Japanese encephalitis, commonly known as "brain inflammation", include high fever, nausea and in severe cases, seizures, paralysis and coma. Techcombank HCM City Int’l Marathon to kick off The Techcombank HCM City International Marathon is scheduled to kick off on November 26 in HCM City. The event is expected to draw thousands of runners who will compete in the 42km and 21km events. Runners will start from Thảo Cầm Viên (zoological and botanical garden) and run to Thủ Thiêm new urban area. Before the main event, children will be able to participate in the Kid’s Run, which is being organised in two age groups: under six and 7-14. The event is being co-ordinated by the municipal Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Athletics Federation. Kiên Giang singer wins TV cải lương contest Nguyễn Văn Khởi of Kiên Giang Province has won the 2017 Chuông Vàng (Golden Bell) contest, an annual cải lương (reformed opera) competition launched by the HCM City Television (HTV). At the finale on Sunday at the HTV Theatre, Khởi, 29, received long applause from the judges and audiences for his performance Sóng Dậy Bạch Đằng Giang (Waves at Bạch Đằng River), a famous historical play on Vietnamese hero Ngô Quyền by Tô Thiên Kiều. With the support of Meritorious Artist Quế Trân, Chí Bảo and Thanh Nhường, his performance gained 98.1 points from the judges People’s Artist Bạch Tuyết, and Meritorious Artists Minh Vương and Thanh Tuấn. Lê Kim Cương, also 29, of Bạc Liêu Province was the runner-up with 97 points, while her closest competitor, 28-year-old Phan Thị Hoàng Oanh of Long An Province, finished third with 94.33 points. “I’ve learned many lessons in singing and performance skills from my coach, Meritorious Quế Trân, and judges,” Khởi said after wining the contest. “Thanks to them, I made great progress through the competition.” With his voice and skills, Khởi attracted attention from the judges in the preliminary round. Veteran artist Minh Vương said: “Khởi has a strong and beautiful voice, skills and good-looking appearance, which will help him to become a prominent cải lương performer.” Before becoming involved in cải lương, Khởi worked at the People’s Court of Kiên Giang Province. He quit job three years ago to join the Kiên Giang Cải Lương Troupe. “I wanted to live with my passion for cải lương, but I had not yet performed in front of an audience,” Khởi said. This year, he decided to take part in the Golden Bell Competition to learn more about his art and improve his skills. During the event, he worked with veteran artists such as Quế Trân, Kim Tử Long, Lê Tứ and Minh Trường. “The competition was a chance for me and other contestants to develop our career professionally, and learn how to preserve and promote cải lương,” Khời added. The Golden Bell Competition began in July, attracting 1,000 amateur and professional artists from HCM City and the Cửu Long (Mekong) River Delta provinces. Ministry OKs toll reduction on Pháp Vân-Cầu Giẽ expressway The Ministry of Transport has agreed to a proposal to reduce toll fare at Build-Transfer-Operate (BOT) tolls stations on the Pháp Vân-Cầu Giẽ Expressway by 25 per cent. The proposal was made by the Directorate for Roads of Việt Nam and expressway investor Phương Thành Transport Construction and Investment Joint Stock Company.  They explained that the proposal was made following an increase in the number of vehicles on the route, which led to high turnover. Fee reduction will be applied for all types of fares on the expressway, a key route south of Hà Nội, from October 15. At present, the rate for cars is between VNĐ45,000-180,000 (US$2-8), depending on the kind of vehicle. Phạm Văn Khôi, CEO of Phương Thành Transport Construction and Investment Joint Stock Company, told Dân trí online newspaper that the reduction was aimed at ensuring the harmonisation of interests between business and transport participants, as well as to fall in line with Government policy. According to the plan submitted to the transport ministry, toll fee on the route will increase from 2021 at a rate of 18 per cent. It will then increase 18 per cent every three years. The BOT project began collecting toll fee from October 2015. It is expected to collect enough money to gets its investment capital back in 17 years. Patient with V-line surgery complications in poor condition A woman who suffered from complications during a V-line surgery at HCM City-based Emcas Medical-Plastic Surgery Clinic will be taken to Singapore for treatment as her family’s last resort. On September 17, 38-year-old T.T.Đ of HCM City’s Thủ Đức District reportedly went to the clinic for V-line facial contouring, a technique used in Asian cosmetic surgery to narrow and taper the bottom part of the face.  Unlike more conventional methods, this procedure addresses all three important aspects of the lower portion of the face -- the angles of the jaw, the body of the mandible and the chin. The surgery began at 9am and finished at about mid-day, as planned. Twenty minutes after the surgery, the woman was found to be bleeding in her mouth, which was stopped soon after.  However, 10 minutes later, the women sudden suffered from respiratory failure, for which the windpipe was opened. Once the patient had a relatively stable heartbeat and blood pressure, she was transferred to Nhân Dân 115 Hospital at 2.30pm in unconscious condition. At present, the patient is no longer using breathing machines, but doctors are not optimistic about her full recovery. HCM City’s Department of Health has reported the case to the Health Ministry, which has asked the clinic to report the entire surgery for the purpose of investigation. According to Dân trí online newspaper, the surgeon involved in the case has a part-time job contract with the clinic. The clinic obtained the health ministry’s permission to operate four years ago. Over 30 million underprivileged families get preferential loans Over 30 million underprivileged households in Việt Nam received loans from the Việt Nam Bank for Social Policies (VBSP) last month, the bank’s latest report showed. The bank was established 15 years ago in accordance with the Prime Minister’s Decision No 131/2002/QĐ-TTg.  It was aimed at expanding client groups from just the poor and disadvantaged students, to people needing money for job training, to work overseas or business households in remote areas.  The VBSP, with a network of almost 11,000 offices in communes across the country, was assigned to offer loans to people in underprivileged areas. By the end of last month, VBSP gave loans worth VNĐ167.047 trillion (US$7.35 billion), 23 times higher than that given when the bank first began operations in 2002. The loans helped create jobs for some 3.5 million people, including 111,000 people from underprivileged households and policy beneficiary families, so they could afford payments before working overseas. More than 3.5 million poor students received loans to cover tuition fees. The VBSP’s loans also helped build some 10 million clean water works and environmental hygiene works in rural areas. Nearly 520,000 houses for the underprivileged and policy beneficiary families, some 105,000 flood-proof houses in Mekong Delta Region and over 11,000 storm shelters were built with funding from the VBSP. State Bank of Việt Nam Deputy Governor Đào Minh Tú said that the VBSP helped translate the State’s and Government’s policies for disadvantaged people into action. However, Tú said that in 2016-20, Việt Nam will measure poverty not only on the basis of income but also other factors, relating to access to basic services such healthcare, education and entertainment. Thus, it was necessary to receive more funding to ensure efforts in reducing poverty in Việt Nam, he said, adding that it was a challenge for the VBSP. Cần Thơ to upgrade Cái Răng floating market Cần Thơ City plans to upgrade the Cái Răng Floating Market with total investment of VNĐ8 billion (US$351,840), according to Phạm Văn Luận, deputy director of the city’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism. The project, which involves upgrading the power grid infrastructure on the river, building piers and public restrooms, and collecting garbage, aims to boost tourism and attract more visitors to the floating market. In the long term, the city will call for investment in new hotels near the market. Since 70 to 80 per cent of domestic and international tourists to Cần Thơ visit the floating market, it is important to upgrade it, Luận said. In addition to tourism activities, the city hosts many extracurricular activities at the market for students from other provinces. Pests hit thousands of cashew trees in Bình Phước Thousands of hectares of cashew in the southern province of Bình Phước have been hit by pests, causing local farmers to worry about crop failure in next year’s harvest. According to the locals, the genus Helopeltis, also known as mosquito bugs, have caused serious damage to the cashew plantations since the beginning of the year, drying out nad damaging the trees. Hoàng Văn Đức, a cashew farmer in Đồng Phú District, said the epidemic has been widespread for months due to unfavourable weather. In order to prevent the disease spreading, he sprayed chemicals and added more fertilizer for trees, but he could not be sure that they will recover by next season, Đức said. Many households are desperate and have not taken any measures to prevent the disease. Đồng Xoài Township, Phú Riềng, Đồng Phú and Bù Gia Mập districts are the most severely affected, local farmers said. In Phú Riềng alone, the insects have damaged over 10,000ha of trees, according to local reports. The provincial People’s Committee has directed local authorities to mobilise farmers to implement preventive measures. The province is reviewing the area of damage to support affected households, especially with ethnic minority households. High content of coumarin in smuggled cigarettes raises risk of birth defects Exposure to high amounts of toxic coumarin, found in smuggled cigarettes coming into the country in recent years, raises the risk of several birth defects or even miscarriage, health experts warn. Dr Nguyễn Thị Từ Vân, former lecturer of HCM City University of Medicine and Pharmacy, told Việt Nam News: “Many international studies have shown that if pregnant women, especially in the first three months of pregnancy, are exposed to toxic substances including coumarin via inhalation and ingestion when living in an environment with these substance, then their child in the womb is at risk of birth defects such as minor neurological dysfunction, cerebral retardation and hand, foot, and eye abnormalities." Many countries in the world have banned using coumarin in food and cigarettes, she said, adding that the Việt Nam Ministry of Health also does not allow its use in food. However, it is found in smuggled cigarettes in the country, Nguyễn Đình Trường, head of the Việt Nam Tobacco Economic Technical Institute, said at a workshop on the harm that smuggled cigarette pose for the health of pregnant women and foetus on September 22 held by the Centre for Assistances for Women and Reproductive Health Cares under Việt Nam Women’s Union. Trường expressed concern about the rapid increase of smuggled cigarettes. During 2013 and 2016, between 17 to 18 billion cigarettes were smuggled into the country, Trường said. According to the Việt Nam Tobacco Association, the smuggled cigarettes account for more than 20 per cent of the country’s total market, leading to a loss of around VNĐ10 trillion (US$440 million) to the State budget every year. Ninety per cent of smuggled cigarettes were JET and HERO, Trường said, adding that he and his colleagues took samples of these brands for analysing. The results showed that the coumarin content in these brands were high. The coumarin content in JET cigarettes was 76.3 ppm and 98.7ppm in HERO cigarettes, Trường said, and adding that coumarin existing in illegally imported cigarettes is used to make the cigarettes stronger and more flavorful. By doing so, the manufacturers aim to increase consumption of their products despite  harms to local smokers, particularly pregnant women. According to the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, tolerable daily intake is 0.1 miligramme per kilogramme of body weight. According to him, the increase of smuggled cigarettes is due to their higher profit margins. He suggested that the Government should take further drastic measures to prevent cigarettes smuggling to ensure health for people, especially pregnant women. Vân said that banning the consumption of smuggled cigarettes would be the best preventive method. Pregnant women should go to health facilities for ultrasounds to detect birth defects, she advised. Nguyễn Thị Tuyết Mai, head of the Centre for Assistances for Women and Reproductive Health Cares, said that the Việt Nam Women’s Union carried out many programmes to improve awareness of the risks of cigarettes as well as coumarin to the health of pregnant women and foetuses. Deputy PM: Health care, role of the elderly should be improved Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam has urged greater efforts to  develop healthcare establishments  for the elderly at grassroots level while issuing policies to uphold their role in society. Deputy PM Dam made the call during a conference hosted by the Ministry of Health in Hanoi on September 25 to discuss community-based healthcare policy for the elderly on the occasion of International Day of Older Persons (October 1). He told participants that Vietnam recorded 10.1 million old people in 2016, accounting for 11 percent of the country’s total population, of whom over 2 million were over 80 years old. The Deputy PM also suggested expanding the model of family clinics, developing geriatric hospitals and increasing nursing staff for the elderly. The conference featured three plenary sessions on the elderly healthcare policy, management of chronic diseases frequently faced by older persons, and medical staff training. Scientific reports delivered at the event focused on improving readiness of healthcare services, improving the role of family doctors, encouraging the involvement of the private sector and the public in this field. According to the Health Ministry’s General Office for Population – Family Planning, up to 65.7 percent of Vietnamese old people live in rural areas and rely on farming. As one of the countries with the fastest-growing aging rate, Vietnam records an average life expectancy of 73 years but the good health span is only 64 years. The office proposed that the health sector should increase investment in the effort and build a friendly environment for old citizens, among others. Vietnam’s Party officials learn Singapore’s management experience Nguyen Quang Duong, Secretary of the Party Organisation of the Central Agencies Bloc (CAB), and other Party officials studied Singapore’s experience in Party building, socio-economic development, public administration and corruption fight during their visit from September 19-23. The Vietnamese officials had talks with Chairman of the Singaporean People’s Action Party (PAP) Khaw Boon Wan, also Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Minister for Transport. Duong stressed that the visit is to materialise common perceptions on enhancing and deepening the strategic partnership reached by leaders of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and the CAB and the two countries during Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong’s official visit to Singapore in September 2012. He noted with pleasure new developments in relations between the two Parties and countries, as well as achievements Singaporean people have recorded over the past time. Khaw Boon Wan said the PAP is ready to share its experience in building the e-Government and administrative reform. He also talked about investment ties between Vietnam and Singapore. While in Singapore, Duong also met with the General Director of the Singaporean People’s Association, and had working sessions with representatives of the Civil Service College, the Public Service Commission and the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau of Singapore. Duong and his entourage also visited the Vietnamese Embassy in Singapore. HCM City, Lao province share experience in people’s council work HCM City and Champassak province of Laos shared experience in operating people’s councils during a meeting between Chairwoman of the HCM City People’s Council Nguyen Thi Quyet Tam and her Champassak counterpart Meksa Vanh Phomphithat in the city on September 25. Speaking at the meeting, Tam reiterated the long-standing relations and solidarity between people of Vietnam and Laos. The bilateral cooperation has been growing for years, becoming more effective at both national and local levels. This includes close ties between HCM City and Champassak, she affirmed. The experience sharing in people’s council work will contribute to the development of the two localities, she stated. Chairman of the People's Council of Champassak province, Laos Meksa Vanh Phomphithat (centre). (Photo: VNA) HCM City and Champasak have together taken part in many events to celebrate the two nations’ 55th anniversary of diplomatic ties and the 40th year of the signing of the Vietnam-Laos Treaty of Amity and Cooperation, said Phomphithat. The two localities have also worked to strengthen relations between their governments and people, he noted. The Lao official hoped that HCM City will share experience with Champassak in people’s council work and help the province improve the capacity of its government. The two sides discussed their practices in managing people’s councils, communicating with people and informing them about results of the council conferences, implementing regulations and supervision, and training human resources. Conference on sustainable development in Mekong Delta opens The conference on sustainable development in the Mekong Delta opened this morning in the southern city of Can Tho. During the two-day event, participants, including Government leaders, academia, representatives of international organizations and development partners will focus on discussing challenges and ways to mobilize resources and ideas to ensure sustainable development in the region. Deputy PM Vuong Dinh Hue, Head of the Steering Committee for the Southwest Region is expected to deliver opening remarks. Deputy PM Hue and Deputy PM Trinh Dinh Dung will chair the first working day. The Mekong Delta includes one centrally-run city and 12 provinces, accounting for 19% of the country’s population and 18% GDP. Vietnamese, Lao security officers strengthen friendship Young officers of the General Security Departments of Vietnam and Laos enjoyed cultural and sport activities in Vientiane, Laos, on September 25. The activities are part of an exchange programme organised by the two countries’ Ministries of Public Security to mark the 2017 Vietnam-Laos Solidarity and Friendship Year, the 55th anniversary of diplomatic ties and 40 years since the signing of Vietnam-Laos Treaty of Amity and Cooperation. The officers competed in badminton, football and petanque. Other cultural and sport activities will take place in Laos’ Xieng Khouang and Houaphane provinces where Vietnamese and Lao soldiers fought together in the past. Lieut. Gen. Vi Van Long, deputy head of the Vietnamese General Security Department, said young Vietnamese and Lao officers will also visit historical sites in the two provinces. Earlier the same day, Long met Lao Deputy Minister of Public Security Major General Somvang Thammasith, who said the exchange programme helps educate the officers about revolutionary traditions and the special solidarity between Vietnam and Laos. This is also an opportunity for the two departments to increase their mutual understanding, contributing to maintaining political security and national construction and defence in each nation, he said. The programme will last until September 28. Mitigation alone won’t work Many people in HCMC may have had a huge sigh of relief when a pumping station installed by a private firm named Quang Trung Industry Joint Stock Company worked well during trial operation last week, sucking up all floodwater on Nguyen Huu Canh Street in Binh Thanh District within just 15 minutes. For years, flooding at this venue has prompted public outcries, as the road section is often submerged knee- or waist-deep upon downpour or by flood tide, and flooding there normally lasts long hours. The HCMC government, after witnessing the efficient trial operation, intends to sign a contract with the private company, tentatively agreeing to pay VND12 billion a year to the contractor if the pumping station proves efficient upon downpours with rainfalls of 70 to 100mm. Despite the high cost, the imminent contract is seen necessary as flooding is one of the biggest headaches for HCMC that has persisted for many years. Still, there are concerns if pumping stations are the right solution, as there are dozens of sites in the city prone to severe flooding. The huge pumping station at Nguyen Huu Canh Street proves feasible as it is able to quickly pump floodwater into the Saigon River nearby. However, it is unknown how a pumping station will work in areas far away from canals or rivers, and whether the city government can afford to install scores of such large-scale pumping stations citywide. Apart from the aforesaid pumping station, the municipal government is deploying many other costly projects to mitigate flooding in the city, including a huge project costing some VND10 trillion by Trung Nam Group to build sluice gates, embankments and other flood control structures along rivers and canals across the city. International experts have repeatedly raised stern warnings about severe flooding due to climate change and global warming, with HCMC named among the ten hardest-hit cities worldwide. Some scientific studies have also estimated that when it gets one degree Celsius warmer, the air moisture and thus the rainfall will increase by some 7%. Experts have therefore called for a stronger swing towards adaptation instead of mitigation alone. To adapt to climate change, it is high time for the city to rethink its urban development. There should be drastic measures to check the population growth, as the current tempo of urbanization will exert increasingly greater pressure on the limited infrastructure. There should be drastic measures to check the construction density, as the water needs to have spacious passages to flow rather than to be contained. And there should be effective programs to protect all the rivers and canals and ditches, as encroachment on such waterways will only aggravate urban flooding. Pumping stations are needed, sluice gates are needed, levees and embankments or even protective walls are needed, but such mitigation measures should only serve as supportive solutions to adaptation measures only. Mitigation measures alone will not work since more extreme weather phenomena are to get more frequent as induced by climate change. Women’s participation in inclusive business crucial: official It is crucial to mainstream women’s participation in Inclusive Business whether they are consumers, producers, workers and distributors,  a Vietnamese official has said, noting that APEC can benefit much from the initiative because women’s full potentials will be tapped. The remark was made by Dao Quang Vinh, Director General of the Institute of Labour Science and Social Affairs under Vietnam’s Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA), at the 2017 APEC Seminar on Women as Prime Movers of Inclusive Business in Hue city, the central province of Thua Thien-Hue, on September 26. Vinh noted that to deal with the chronic issues of poverty and to further promote the regional economic development, APEC leaders have continuously recognised women’s immerse contributions to economic and social development and have sustained their support to further mainstreaming gender equality and women’s economic empowerment across APEC work streams. Various approaches and models to combat poverty have continuously been introduced and implemented across the economies through joint public and private efforts. Among the solutions presented is the Inclusive Business model, which is perceived to bring benefits to low-income or poor communities, including women, thus contributing to poverty alleviation in the region, Vinh said. The MOLISA official stressed that the seminar on women as prime movers of Inclusive Business is an important content during the 2017 APEC Women and the Economy Forum. Presentations and discussions on the topic will be valuable input for further actions among APEC economies in “creating new dynamism and fostering a shared future”, especially in leveraging the role of women in promoting inclusive business, contributing to poverty reduction across the region, he added. Sharing the same view on the crucial role of women in an economy, Rhodora T. Masilang-Bucoy, Chairperson of the Philippine Commission on Women and head of the Philippine delegation to the 2017 APEC Women and the Economy Forum, said it is important to look into Inclusive Business models that address barriers to women’s economic empowerment. The key findings and analyses from a survey of the “APEC Women as Prime Movers of Inclusive Business” Project showed that there is still a need for institutions to enhance the enabling environment for women to participate in inclusive businesses; to re-create, re-design and innovate; to be more gender responsive in effecting the enabling conditions for women to be prime-movers of Inclusive Business. According to Dao Quang Vinh, the 21 APEC member economies employ around 600 million women as part of the labour force, with more than 60 percent of them working in the formal sector. The remaining 40 percent are working in the informal sector, and they are facing a number of barriers such as poverty, limited access to financial report, poor technical and professional skills, low educational attainment and poor soft skills required for integration and globalisation. The United Nations said that barriers to women’s economic participation should be eliminated or up to 89 billion USD could be lost within the regional economy every year. The seminar, hosted by the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry and in cooperation with MOLISA, was part of the 2017 APEC Women and the Economy Forum that lasts from September 26 to 29 in Hue city. Established in 1989, APEC comprises 21 economies, including Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong (China), Indonesia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, the US, and Vietnam. Vietnam, joining APEC in 1998, is hosting APEC in 2017 under the theme “Creating New Dynamism, Fostering a Shared Future”. PM instructs continued review of hydropower planning in Central Highlands The Prime Minister has assigned the Ministry of Industry and Trade to continue with the review of hydropower planning in Central Highlands provinces in line with the PM’s dispatch 391/CD-TTg dated March 16 this year. The PM also required further review of hydropower planning in other localities as required by the National Assembly in its Resolution 62/2013/QH13 dated November 27, 2013. At the same time, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the Ministry of Industry and Trade are to examine and build complete procedures for operating reservoirs, with a view to ensuring the efficient use of water resources for power generation, maintain water flow to meet the need of downstream areas, particularly in dry season, while reducing flooding in flood season. The PM instructed Central Highlands provinces to keep in place the suspension of granting licence to hydropower plants that use natural forest land or cause negative impacts on local biological environment. In case of any arising matters that are beyond their jurisdiction, the provinces are required to report them to the PM. Huế national park gets rare tortoise Bạch Mã National Park in the central province of Thừa Thiên- Huế received a rare tortoise, listed as a vulnerable species at the International Union for Conservation of Nature. The park’s rescue centre received the tortoise last weekend, from a volunteer of the Hà Nội-based Asian Turtle Programme, a regional programme that focuses on research and conservation of tortoises and freshwater turtles. The tortoise was found wandering into the home of a family in the neighbouring Đà Nẵng City, before the family caught it and gave it to the volunteer of the Asian Turtle Programme. According to staff at the rescue centre, the tortoise is a healthy male impressed tortoise, which has scientific name of Manouria impressa, weighing 2kg. The centre’s staff released the reptile into nature at the Bạch Mã National Park. Earlier this year, the centre rescued and released a large number of wild animals back to nature, including three tortoises. Côn Đảo Island's airport should be expanded: official Deputy chairman of the Bà Rịa – Vũng Tàu People’s Committee Nguyễn Thành Long last Friday proposed expanding Côn Đảo Island’s Cỏ Ống Airport and its terminals in an effort to boost tourism. He said that other proposals include expansion of the electrical power system on Côn Đảo Island and an increase in the number of boat trips from Vũng Tàu City to the sland. The provincial Department of Planning and Investment has encouraged investors to promote tourism on Côn Đảo with an emphasis on clean, renewable energy, energy recovery in waste treatment, and high-tech agriculture, among others. Côn Đảo has dozens of tourism projects, worth about US$33 million. Opportunities to promote co-operation between HCM City and Korean partners There is great potential for co-operation between HCM City and Korean localities and businesses considering the demand for development in the city and Koreans’ strengths, a city leader has said. Tất Thành Cang, deputy secretary of the HCM City’s Party Committee, told Kim Hack Yong, chairman of the Republic of Korea (RoK)–Việt Nam Parliamentary Friendship Group at a meeting on Sunday that the potential for co-operation is large, especially in electronics, auto parts, hi-tech agriculture, and supporting industries. To promote its hi-tech industries, HCM City has been welcoming Korean investors, especially large manufacturing companies, he said. It has been focusing on supporting industries in sectors such as electronics, IT and food processing, he said. “HCM City has taken efforts to become a cultural, health and educational hub, not only in Việt Nam but also [the region].” It has paid close attention to the rapid economic development achieved by the RoK, and hopes the experiences would be shared by its Korean partners, he said. Kim said ties between Việt Nam and RoK have grown well in the last 25 years. Việt Nam is one of the countries to which Korean companies give priority when seeking to invest abroad, he said. Many Korean companies have received support from the Vietnamese Government and relayed this message to other enterprises back in Korea, he said. Members of the RoK–Việt Nam Parliamentary Friendship Group hoped HCM City authorities would create favourable conditions for Korean companies when they come on fact-finding tours and to invest in the city. They also hoped the city authorities would support Koreans living and studying in Việt Nam. The group was set up in Korea in 1993 and in Việt Nam two years later. APEC policy partnership promotes women’s economic participation The second APEC Policy Partnership on Women and the Economy (PPWE 2) Meeting kicked off in Hue city, the central province of Thua Thien-Hue, on September 26 with the aim to continue promoting gender equality and women’s economic participation. The two-day PPWE 2 is the first activity of the 2017 APEC Women and the Economy Forum that lasts from September 26 to 29 in Hue. Opening the event, Vietnam’s Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Dao Hong Lan said the building and implementation of gender responsive policies and programmes in APEC are necessary to enhance APEC forums’ coordination in gender equality issues and the inclusion of these issues in each forum for the sake of women’s socio-economic progress and gender equality in the region. "We do this to affirm that women have an important role and contributions to the economic development in APEC while helping to put forth equal approaches in terms of economy, labour and job for both women and men,” she added. She expressed her hope that the PPWE 2 will attain expected outcomes, including updating the progress of implementing and suggesting next steps for the realisation of PPWE’s strategic plan for 2015-2018, strengthening cooperation among APEC economies and working groups in the implementation of common initiatives, finalising and approving the APEC gender inclusion guidelines, and completing a draft ministers’ statement to be submitted to the High-Level Policy Dialogue on Women and the Economy later this week. The 2017 APEC Women and the Economy Forum is a chance for Vietnam and other APEC economies to contribute to common achievements and efforts, she noted, applauding APEC leaders’ recognition of the importance of women in the region. The forum focuses on enhancing women’s economic inclusion and empowerment in a changing world. Its priorities are promoting gender equality for inclusive economic growth, improving the competitiveness and creativeness of micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises owned by women, and narrowing the gender gap in human resources development. Founded in 1989, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) with 21 economies is the Asia Pacific’s premier economic forum. The primary goal is to support sustainable economic growth and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region. The APEC economies account for 39 percent of the world population, 57 percent of the world GDP and 47 percent of the global trade, according to statistics in 2014. The APEC Year 2017 is taking place in Vietnam under the theme “Creating New Dynamism, Fostering a Shared Future”. The country used to host APEC events for the first time in 2006. Typhoon Doksuri causes millions of dollars losses to Ha Tinh province Typhoon Doksuri that has hit central Ha Tinh province blew off the roof of 70,000 local houses, stores and school buildings, submerged more than 3,100ha of aquaculture areas and seriously damaged electric and communications systems. Losses are estimated at nearly US$296 million, said provincial authorities. However, more than 70% of damaged houses have now been repaired. Local people have regained access to electricity and communications. The provincial authorities have called on businesses to help grapefruit growers from Huong Khe district sell more than 200 tons of Phuc Trach special grapefruits to recover their production. The province also asked the central Government to support local people with 3,000 tons of rice, 1,000 tons of rice seeds for the winter crop and VND2,000 billion to help repair houses, schools, health stations and roads.   VNA/VNS/VOV/SGT/SGGP/TT/TN/Dantri/VNEVET