Social News 11/6 (hourly updated) Friendly exchange held to mark Sweden’s Mid-summer Day Swedish Ambassador to Vietnam Pereric Högberg at the friendship exchange to mark Sweden’s Mid-summer Day (Photo: dangcongsan.vn) A friendship exchange was held in Hanoi on June 10 by the Vietnam-Sweden Friendship Association, the Swedish Embassy in Vietnam and the Sweden Alumni Association on the occasion of Sweden’s Mid-summer Day. Vice Chairman of the Vietnam-Sweden Friendship Association Dinh Tich said the event aimed to give Vietnamese a chance to learn about one of the most important festivals of the Scandinavian country. He expressed the hope that the event will also help enhance the cooperation between his association and the Swedish Embassy in Vietnam. The Vice Chairman announced that the Vietnam-Sweden Friendship Association will collaborate with the Swedish Embassy in Vietnam and the Sweden Alumni Association to hold activities to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Vietnam-Sweden diplomatic ties in 2019. Swedish Ambassador to Vietnam said Midsummer Day is the most anticipated festival for Swedish people. On the occasion, people don traditional costumes and gather to sing and dance, and join in traditional games. Sweden was the first Western European nation to set up relations with Vietnam. It is now Vietnam’s important economic partner in North Europe with annual two-way trade revenue exceeding 1.2 billion USD. In the first nine months of this year, the figure stood at more than 1 billion USD, up 16 percent year-on-year. Thanh Ha litchi festival opens in Hai Duong   Deputy PM Vu Duc Dam (second, left) at the festival   The first-ever Thanh Ha litchi festival opened in the northern province of Hai Duong on June 10 to promote the local specialty fruit.  The festival also aims to connect farmers with supermarkets and trade centres, and processing and export firms nationwide.  Addressing the event, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam said Vietnamese litchi has been put on shelves in many choosy markets, stressing the need to pay more attention to applying cutting-edge technologies and scientific and technological advances in caring, processing and preserving the fruit.  He also reminded State management agencies to help farmers promote the image and values of litchi.  Apart from litchi production and trade promotion, Hai Duong province in general and Thanh Ha district in particular should heed cultural and tourism development, especially ecological tourism, the official suggested.  Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Cuong said the festival offers an opportunity to honour the local specialty fruit, farmers as well as Vietnam’s agriculture-based economy.  According to Nguyen Duong Thai, Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee, ancient documents proved that litchi was grown in Thanh Ha about 200-300 years ago. In 2018, Hai Duong has about 10,500 ha of litchi, mostly in Thanh Ha district and Chi Linh town, which are expected to yield about 60,000 tonnes. Of the total amount, some 1,000 tonnes is qualified for export to the US, Australia and the EU, he said.  Within the framework of the festival, Deputy PM Dam and other delegates cut the ribbon to mark the departure of three containers of litchi to the processing zone of ABA Solution and Trade JSC in Me Linh, Hanoi, to export to the US.  An array of activities will be held during the festival, including tours to the ancient litchi tree in Thuy Lam village in Thanh Son commune, Thanh Ha district; visits to VietGAP litchi gardens; and boat tours to litchi orchards along Huong river, among others. Visitors can also try their hand at picking litchi in gardens in Thanh Ha district and Chi Linh town. Hai Duong litchi received the geographical indication from the Ministry of Science and Technology’s National Office of Intellectual Property in 2007. The local fruit was listed in the top 10 quality products in 2013 and 2014 and received the Gold Brand prize in 2015. The Vietnam Association of Food Science and Technology granted a “trustful and safe food brand” certificate to Thanh Ha litchi in 2016. The same year, the ancient litchi tree in Thuy Lam village was recognised as the oldest of its kind in Vietnam. Besides the domestic market, Thanh Ha litchi has increased its presence outside the country. The fruit has been exported to Australia, Canada, China, France, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Sweden, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates and the United States.  Swedish ambassador highly values quality of Thanh Ha litchi   Swedish Ambassador to Vietnam Pereric Hogberg and his wife visited Thanh Ha district, the northern province of Hai Duong on June 9 on the occasion of the first-ever Thanh Ha “thieu” litchi festival 2018.   Swedish Ambassador to Vietnam Pereric Hogberg and his wife visited Thanh Ha district, the northern province of Hai Duong on June 9 on the occasion of the first-ever Thanh Ha “thieu” litchi festival 2018. Here, the couple had a chance to experience litchi harvesting at a VietGAP garden in Thanh Xa commune and contemplate the ancient litchi tree in Thanh Son commune. At a working session with the local leaders, the ambassador said he pays special attention to the trading of litchi products and wants to bring them to the Swedish market. Secretary of the Party Committee of Thanh Ha district Nguyen Duc Tuan expressed his wish that Ambassador Pereric Hogberg will support the locality in bringing its specialty fruit to Sweden and Europe in general. After visiting the VietGAP litchi orchard and the ancient litchi tree, and enjoying Thanh Ha ‘thieu” litchi, the Swedish diplomat appreciated the quality of the local fruit as well as the VietGAP production process. He said that there is great potential for Thanh Ha “thieu” litchi to enter international markets.  Thanh Ha district has about 4,000 ha of litchi, including 3,000 ha of ‘thieu” litchi, expected to produce 35,000 tonnes this year. Thanh Ha “thieu” litchi received the geographical indication from the Ministry of Science and Technology’s National Office of Intellectual Property in 2007. The local fruit was listed in the top 10 quality products in 2013 and 2014 and received the Gold Brand prize in 2015. The Vietnam Association of Food Science and Technology granted a “trustful and safe food brand” certificate to Thanh Ha litchi in 2016. The same year, the ancient litchi tree in Thuy Lam village was recognised as the oldest of its kind in Vietnam. Besides the domestic market, Thanh Ha litchi has increased its presence outside the country. The fruit has been exported to Australia, Canada, China, France, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Sweden, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates and the United States.  The Thanh Ha “thieu” litchi festival opened on June 10, with an array of activities such as tours to the ancient litchi tree in Thuy Lam village in Thanh Son commune, Thanh Ha district; visits to VietGAP litchi gardens; and boat tours to litchi orchards along Huong river, among others. Visitors can also try their hand at picking litchi in gardens in Thanh Ha district and Chi Linh town. VTV intensifies cooperation with Cuban partners   The Vietnam Television (VTV) and the Cuban Institute of Radio and Television (ICRT) will exchange television products. (Photo: vtv.vn) The Vietnam Television (VTV) and the Cuban Institute of Radio and Television (ICRT) will exchange television products and join hands in production as well as personnel training, especially in the field of digital television in the next three years.  An agreement to this effect was signed by VTV General Director Tran Binh Minh and ICRT President Alfonson Noya Martinez during their talks in Cuba as part of the former’s visit to the Caribbean country from June 6-10.  Minh expressed his gratitude to Cuban colleagues and teachers for their support for VTV in its early days, saying his agency is willing to share its experience in developing the self-control mechanism at a national television with the Cuban institute frankly and wholeheartedly.  VTV will also assist Cuban film delegations to Vietnam in making films on leader Fidel Castro’s historic visit to Vietnam 45 years ago (September 1973), and stands ready to expand cooperation in this field.  For his part, Alfonson Noya described Vietnam and VTV in particular as a model which overcomes difficulties to develop.  In an interview with a Vietnam News Agency correspondent, Alfonso Noya said Vietnam’s experience in audiovisual technologies would be valuable for Cuba.  He said he believes that there are many areas for experience sharing between Vietnam and Cuba, thus helping the two nations to enrich their cultural knowledge and promote mutual understanding.  At a working session with representatives of the Cuban Ministry of Culture and the Institute of Cinematographic Art and Industry of Cuba (ICAIC), Minh called on the Cuban side to support VTV correspondents in making documentaries on Cuba’s culture.  In response, VTV will provide support and documents that the Cuban side needs, he promised.   On this occasion, ICAIC Vice President Benigno Iglesias and head of the VTV International Cooperation Department Ho Kien signed an agreement on free-of-charge exchange of audiovisual products.  Under the agreement, the ICAIC will hand over the first batch of six documentaries on Vietnam by late director Sangtiago Alvarez, 71 news on the anti-US war in Vietnam produced by the institute between 1960-1990, and two other documentaries by director Isabel Santos to VTV.  While in Cuba, Minh and his entourage attended the International Convention of Radio and Television Cuba from June 7-9. Vietnamese culture promoted in Cuba   An art performance at the event Vietnamese landscapes and culture have been introduced to Cuban friends at an annual gala night recently held by the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union’s chapter in the country.  With ten performances staged by Vietnamese students in Cuba, the Alma Vietnam 2018 featured the natural beauty of the Southeast Asian nation in four seasons of a year as well as its unique culture with special festivals.  This year’s event also saw the participation of Cuban artists. The highlight of the programme was a strong commitment by Vietnamese youth union members to upholding the national traditions.  First held in 2015, the annual programme has helped intensify the solidarity among Vietnamese students in the Caribbean country. Tra Vinh spends $88,000 per year for Khmer language teaching   A Khmer class for monks in a pagoda of Tra Vinh  The Mekong Delta province of Tra Vinh has spent over 2 billion VND (88,000 USD) each year to support the teaching and studying of the language of the Khmer ethnic minority group in 134 Khmer pagodas across the locality in the 2010-2017 period. According to the provincial Department of Education and Training, the investment is part of the province’s efforts to realise the Government’s Decree 82/2010/ND-CP dated July 15, 2010 on policies on teaching and studying of languages of ethnic minority groups. Pagodas in Tra Vinh welcome about 2,000 school students who come to learn to read and write Khmer language in every summer. Nearly 200 teachers and monks are now paid to teach the students. Tra Vinh currently has 8 boarding schools for ethnic students, along with 121 primary and secondary schools and 8 Pali-Khmer schools that teach Khmer language with about total 19,000 students. The province has delivered 123,000 textbooks to students at total cost of 1.5 billion VND, while presenting 7,700 scholarships to ethnic students. Tra Vinh has sent 307 students to educational facilities for training, while focusing on improving capacity of management officials. The locality now has 2,200 Khmer officials and teachers, of whom 126 are taking post-graduate courses. 100 outstanding blood donors honoured   The ceremony in Hanoi on June 9 honours 100 blood donors from localities across the country  A ceremony was held in Hanoi on June 9 to honour 100 outstanding blood donors from 63 cities and provinces nationwide and six ministries and sectors. Of the donors, the oldest is Vo Ngoc Viet, a 61-year-old man from the Mekong Delta province of Long An, and the youngest, Dam Quang Tuan from northern Thai Nguyen province and Nguyen Van Trung from Hanoi, are only 23 years old.  Two of the donors have donated their blood for 64 times, 10 have made donations for 51-63 times, 3 for 41-50 times, 8 for 31-40 times and 70 for 8-30 times. Particularly, one donor has the rare blood type O (Rh-). The 100 figures, one-fourth are members and volunteers of the Red Cross Society, are also honoured for their efforts in encouraging up to 2,000 others to join blood donation. Addressing the ceremony, Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Uong Chu Luu described the blood donors as the brightest flowers in a garden of humanity. He said that he hopes the honoured donors will continue acting as key factors in blood donation, helping attract more people to join the movement.  He lauded the National Steering Committee for Voluntary Blood Donation’s efforts in organising activities to recognise the great deeds of the donors, asking the committee to advise the Party, State and Government to give more resources to communications on blood donation, thus raising public awareness and encouraging good deeds in the field. President of the Vietnam Red Cross Society and head of the Standing Board of the National Steering Committee for Voluntary Blood Donation Nguyen Thi Xuan Thu showed gratitude towards all blood donors across the country, who she described as “heroes of patients”. She called on the community to join in donating blood as the activity is not harmful to  their heath but can save the lives of many people. Since 2004, June 14 was chosen as the World Blood Donor Day. This is a chance to commemorate the birthday of Austrian American scientist Karl Landsteiner who discovered the rare blood type ABO in 1901 for which he received a Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. This year, the event is themed “Be there for someone else. Give blood. Share life”. VOV steps up radio broadcast cooperation with Cuban partner   General Director Nguyen The Ky (L) and Alfonso Noya Martinez, President of the Cuban Institute of Radio and Television at the signing ceremony  A Voice of Vietnam (VOV) delegation, led by its General Director Nguyen The Ky has been on a visit to Cuba from June 6 – 9 to strengthen bilateral cooperation in radio broadcast. During the visit, Ky attended and delivered a speech at a seminar on historical memory and cultural heritage of the International Convention of Radio and Television in Varadero from June 7-9. He and Alfonso Noya Martinez, President of the Cuban Institute of Radio and Television (ICRT), signed a cooperation agreement, during the framework of the International Convention of Radio and Television. The sides inked their first cooperation pact in 2013. Their new deal was said to add new terms and contents, including the exchange of programmes on politics, economics, social affairs and culture, joint work in reporter training, exchange of high-ranking leaders, and joint production of radio and television programmes. After the signing ceremony, the VOV and ICRT leaders began their discussion. They stressed their determination to realise the agreement via regular liaison, and to drive their collaboration toward effectiveness in contribution to Vietnam – Cuba relations. Attending the signing ceremony and discussion, Vietnamese Ambassador to Cuba Nguyen Trung Thanh said the pact will build on outcomes of Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong’s March visit to Cuba in promoting Vietnam – Cuba trust and comprehensive cooperation. Talking to Vietnam News Agency, Ky said the freshly signed agreement with the ICRT is more practical to both parties involved. Micronesian top legislator visits Hai Phong   Micronesian Speaker of the Congress Wesley W. Simina (L) and Chairman of the People’s Committee of Hai Phong Nguyen Van Tung Visiting Micronesian Speaker of the Congress Wesley W. Simina expressed his wish to learn experience from the northern city of Hai Phong in boosting industrial growth, during a working session with municipal leaders in the city on June 9. Chairman of the People’s Committee of Hai Phong Nguyen Van Tung introduced the potential and strengths of the over 100-year-old port city with more than 2 million people and per capita income of 3,500 USD per year. The spearhead industry of Hai Phong is port, shipbuilding, and services. Total goods handled by the port expand 15 percent per year averagely, reaching 41.9 million tonnes in the first five months of this year, up 17 percent over the same period last year, noted Tung. He said he hopes the Federated States of Micronesia will strengthen cooperation with Hai Phong in maritime economy, especially shipbuilding, sea medical development, and wastewater treatment. The two sides should exchange delegation, while sharing experience and design specific and efficient cooperation programmes, Tung said. The same day, the Federated States of Micronesia delegation also visited Pharung Shipyard Company in Minh Duc town, Thuy Nguyen district, and toured the Bach Dang Giang historical relic site. Vietnamese traders lose $0.5 million to Russia trade centre blaze   Firefighters at the site  Vietnamese traders at a trade centre in Russia’s Kazan city may lose about 31 million rubles (about 0.5 million USD) to a recent blaze there, according to the Vietnamese Association in Kazan. The blaze in Port trade centre in Orenburg street of Kazan city happened on June 5, destroying three buildings and 2,000 kiosks with total affected areas hitting 2,800 square metres. It was distinguished after seven hours with efforts of over 300 people. No deaths were reported, but property loss was big. According to the association, more than a haft of 70 kiosks owned by 31 Vietnamese business households in the centre was completely destroyed, while the rest were seriously affected by trash and smoke that damaged all goods stored there.  Doan Danh Lam, President of the association said that on June 6, the owner of the centre, Bulat Nagaev, pledged to restore the damaged buildings in two months, while arranging spaces for the affected kiosk owners and supporting them with one-month rent. Executive board of the association had a meeting on June 7 and decided to launch a charity campaign to support the Vietnamese households suffered from the accident. At the same time, Altyn trade centre’s management board has offered free two-month rent to the Vietnamese people if they wish to move their kiosks to this centre. Counsellor Nguyen Quynh Mai from the Vietnamese Embassy in Russia said that the embassy has kept regular contact with the Vietnamese Association in Kazan and local authorized agencies to seek measures to protect the right and interest of the affected Vietnamese business households and make a plan to call for assistance from the Vietnamese community in Russia. RoK supports Quang Tri with social welfare programmes   Supporting children with disabilities to access rehabilitation  The Republic of Korea (RoK)’s medical organisation for peace (Medipeace) has sponsored over 1 million USD for the central province of Quang Tri to support children with disabilities to access rehabilitation and improve their lives in 2018-2020. The project has been carried out since June 2018 in Go Linh, Trieu Phong and Hai Lang districts. The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and the provincial People’s Committee have coordinated to implement the “Happy Quang Tri” programme in Vinh Linh, Hai Lang, Trieu Phong, Cam Lo, Huong Hoa, Dakrong, and Gio Linh districts. This followed the successful implementation of the RoK’s “new village” programme with a total investment of over 11.6 million USD, including more than 9.6 million USD in non-refundable aid package of KOICA. The “Happy Quang Tri” programme covers projects to increase local incomes, build new rural areas, improve health capacity, forestation for environmental protection, public administration management, and develop infrastructure. Its main goals of increasing local incomes and reducing poverty have been achieved. Quang Tri has become more attractive to Korean businesses in recent years, especially in the fields of infrastructure, seaport and energy. Russia Day marked in Ho Chi Minh City   A performance at the Russia Day celebration in HCM City  The Russian Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City celebrated Russia Day (June 12) at a ceremony on June 8 evening.  Speaking at the ceremony, Pham Duc Hai, Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Council, highlighted the Vietnam – Russia traditional friendship and comprehensive cooperation have been cultivated by Vietnamese and Russian leaders and people over nearly seven decades  since the countries established diplomatic relations in 1945.   On behalf of the city’s authorities, Hai reviewed the outcomes of the May visit to Russia by a Ho Chi Minh City delegation, led by Secretary of the municipal Party Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan. The visit had given a boost to the bilateral ties, with a roadmap set up for 2018 – 2020 cooperation between the southern economic hub and Saint Petersburg. The official said the collaboration and relations between HCM City and other Russian localities like Sverdlovsk province, Vladivostok city and Moscow have been developed across municipal fields, including tourism, education, construction, health care, transport and smart city building. Aleksey Popov, Russian Consul General in HCM City, stated Vietnam is a time-honoured friend and a trustworthy and important partner of Russia. According to the diplomat, Vietnam – Russia comprehensive strategic partnership covers all arenas. Regular meetings of the two countries’ leaders have brought about practical results, as reflected through increased political dialogues, and better cooperation in economics – trade, science – technology, defence, military technology, and humanitarian activities. He praised HCM City’s active engagements with Russia and congratulated the local authorities on their successful visit to his country last May. In 2017, HCM City – Russia trade was close to 324 million USD, and Russian arrivals in the southern hub were recorded at nearly 180,000.  Russia is currently investing in 28 projects worth 35 million USD in the city. Cultural exchange bonds Vietnam, Mexico: Mexican Minister   Mexican Secretary of Culture Maria Cristina Garcia Cepeda and Vietnamese Ambassador to Mexico Nguyen Hoai Duong  Increasing cultural exchanges based on traditional friendship and cooperation as well as cultural and historical similarities have promote mutual understanding between Vietnam and Mexico, said a Mexican official. Mexican Secretary of Culture Maria Cristina Garcia Cepeda made the comment while receiving Vietnamese Ambassador to Mexico Nguyen Hoai Duong on June 8. At the reception, the diplomat conveyed to his host the greetings and expectation to increase bilateral cultural exchanges from Vietnamese Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Ngoc Thien. Duong said he hopes to receive further support of the Mexican Secretariat of Culture in boosting joint cultural activities between Vietnam and Mexico in art, literature, music, photography, painting, and cultural heritage preservation.  He mentioned a culture – education cooperation pact signed by Vietnam and Mexico for 2015 – 2019, with a vision toward 2020, the year the two countries will celebrate 45 years of their diplomatic relations. Agreeing with proposals made by the Vietnamese ambassador, Maria Cristina Garcia Cepeda lauded the embassy’s plan to organise a Vietnamese cultural week on the occasion of Vietnam’s National Day in September. The event will feature Vietnamese contemporary art, films and culinary delights. The minister pledged to direct relevant agencies in facilitating the Vietnamese Embassy’s organisation of cultural promotion and exchange activities. Children design smarter, child-friendly city   Children talk about their ideas for a smarter and more child-friendly city  More than 270 children aged 8 to 14 are taking part in a summer programme to design a “smarter and more child-friendly” city. The programme called “Children Innovate: a Smart and Child-friendly City” kicked off on June 8. It was organised by UNICEF Vietnam in collaboration with the Saigon Innovation Hub (SiHub) under the city’s Department of Science and Technology, Department of Planning and Architecture, and Arkki - School of Architecture for Children and Youth in Finland. “The programme creates an environment for children to express their opinions about decisions that may affect them,” said Marianne Oehlers, chief of programme partnerships office at UNICEF Vietnam. It consists of 11 creative thinking workshops during this summer for children, including vulnerable and disadvantaged children. Each workshop lasts for five days with a daily schedule from 9am to 4pm. There will be three hands-on working sessions during each day. Participants will use clay, wood, computers, Sketch up and Microsoft Hololens to express their ideas. Nguyen Phi Van, chairwoman of Saigon Innovation Hub’s Board of Advisors, said: “Our aim is to provide kids with human-centered design thinking, important skills for the 21st century, and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) knowledge.” Twenty-five children took part in the first workshop, she said. "I find the program a lot of fun. We have learned many ways to build a child-friendly city based on our own views,” said Hoang Mai Anh, 11, from Tran Van On Secondary School in District 1, who attended the first workshop. All the ideas and projects will be displayed at an exhibition during Creativity and Innovation Week in October to urban planning experts, decision-makers and the public. The best ideas and projects will receive awards from the organisation. The programme is part of the city’s Child Friendly City Initiative Project that runs from 2017 to 2021. Vietnamese, Lao youths boost cooperation   Vietnamese, Lao and Cambodian youths sit together at an event (Photo: chinhphu.vn) Youth unions in the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak and Lao province of Champasak signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation for 2018 – 2022 at a meeting on June 8 in Dak Lak’s Buon Ma Thuot city. Secretary of the Dak Lak provincial committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union (HCYU) Y Nhuan Bya said the MoU on cooperation in work related to  young people and young entrepreneurs is a tradition of the HCYU and the Lao People’s Revolutionary Youth Union.  Under the MoU, the sides agreed to increase communication campaigns on Vietnam – Laos time-honoured relations and political-security collaboration. They said they will hold youth exchanges to help their young people learn from each other in starting their own business and build their career.  The two unions agreed to encourage the youths to join socio-economic cooperation activities in their respective localities, while stressed that cultural and sport exchanges to boost mutual understanding are also necessary. The two sides also pledged to hold trade promotion events, provide each other with information on trade fairs and business workshops, and support products introduction activities to help young entrepreneurs in the two provinces.  The sides said they will take turns in organising capacity-building courses and business exchanges for their youths. Youth activities of both sides took the occasion to discuss issues related to the freshly signed MoU, concerning support in tertiary education and vocational training for young people and youth union activists. Hanoi, Dell to cooperate in building e-government, smart city   Scene at the signing ceremony  Hanoi authorities and US-based Dell Technologies Inc. on June 8 secured a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on strategic cooperation in building the local e-government and smart city. The pact was inked by Director of the capital Department of Information and Communications Nguyen Ngoc Ky and Ravi Bharadwaj, a vice president at the Strategy & Business Development Department of Dell Global B.V.’s Asia Pacific & Japan (Singapore branch). The MoU aimed at creating an unbinding framework for both sides to cooperate. Accordingly, Dell, via its Singapore branch, will provide free consultations on e-government and smart city building for Hanoi and on information technology for the city’s selected partners. The Hanoi department said the capital’s e-government and smart city structure must be in line with Vietnam’s e-government structure framework as well as the Ministry of Information and Communications’ guidance on building provincial e-government and orientations for IT and communications in smart city building. VNN