New aid package targets flood-hit poor, near-poor families

The aid package of nearly 1 million USD committed by the Government of the Republic of Korea (RoK) in early November will be used to assist poor and near-poor Vietnamese families affected by typhoon Damrey to rebuild their houses. 

 The UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the RoK Embassy in Vietnam and the General Department of Disaster Prevention and Control under the Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development signed an agreement on the implementation of the aid package in Hanoi on December 12. 

With the donation, which is channeled via the UNDP, the flood-hit families will be supported in terms of knowledge and necessary resources to repair their houses, making them resistant to upcoming storms and floods. 

UN Resident Coordinator in Vietnam Kamal Malhotra said ensuring residents’ access to safe housing is the core of the rehabilitation work.

Tran Quang Hoai, permanent member of the Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control, praised the timely support of the RoK Government. 

RoK Ambassador to Vietnam Lee Hyuk said apart from friendship activities and economic ties, Vietnam and the RoK have supported each other in difficult times, promising that the RoK will continue to stand side by side with Vietnam to overcome challenges caused by climate change. 

The project will be jointly carried out by the Vietnam Red Cross and the Vietnam Women’s Union, targeting poor and near-poor families and needy people. 

Damrey, also the 12th storm developed in the East Sea, hit Vietnam on November 4, affecting more than 4.3 million people and damaging more than 303,500 houses. 

Defence Minister hosts US Ambassador

Minister of National Defence General Ngo Xuan Lich hosted a reception for newly-accredited US Ambassador Daniel Kritenbrink in Hanoi on December 11.

Both the minister and the ambassador highly valued the comprehensive partnership between Vietnam and the US, especially their effective defence ties. 

They expressed their wish to continue working together in order to implement cooperation contents on the basis of the memorandum of understanding on defence cooperation signed in 2011 and the 2015 Joint Vision Statement on Defence Relations.

American young political leaders council delegation visits Vietnam

Vice President and General Secretary of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) Don Tuan Phong hosted a reception in Hanoi on November 11 for a delegation from the American Council of Young Political Leaders (ACYPL).

The delegation includes seven ACYPL members who are political leaders and business owners aged from 31-42.

At the meeting, Phong briefed the guests on Vietnam’s situation and its relations with the US, saying that Vietnamese people want to boost cooperation with the US, particularly in the fields of education, economics, and trade.

The guests showed their hope for more activities to bolster the bilateral relations.

During its visit, the delegation will visit the Vietnam Friendship Village, learn about Vietnam’s efforts to address war consequences, and hold working sessions with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Hanoi municipal People’s Committee and the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI).

Child stars to thrill capital audience

A musical show featuring talented young performers is scheduled to take place at the Hanoi’s Cultural Friendship Palace on January 13 next year, the organiser Thang Long Show said on December 11.

It said a part of proceeds will be used to buy gifts for disadvantaged people in the central region on the occasion of the lunar New Year holiday.

Top prize winners at talent and musical competitions on local television for children will bring to stage their signature performances.

Art director of the show Vu Ngoan Hop said this is the first time an event that gathers such a large number of child stars is held in the capital.-

HCM City strengthens school fire safety

Many schools in HCM City fall short of fire safety standards, putting thousands of lives at risk, according to the city’s Department of Fire Fighting and Prevention.

Those schools operate without fire prevention and control systems or have systems in disrepair, the department said.

Even more dangerous, some schools, including Tô Vĩnh Diện, Mầm Non No.2 and Lam Sơn, located around Bà Chiểu market in Bình Thạnh District have no path of escape if a fire breaks out in the school or market.

The city has a number of schools that were not built under school construction standards, with only one exit and no fire prevention and control systems.

Nguyễn Văn Đực, a member of the Việt Nam Construction Association, said that many buildings with only one exit have become language centres or preparatory class centres.

In the first 10 months of the year, the city identified 169 establishments and buildings without safety regulations, including 145 establishments and buildings at high risk of fire, according to the city’s Department of Fire Fighting and Prevention.

A fire that broke out in the Nhân Văn Secondary and High School in Tân Phú District last month raised alarms about poor fire safety standards when it was discovered that the school had not undergone fire safety examinations.

The city’s Department of Education and Training required the leaders of educational institutions to devise plans to train their staff, teachers and students fire prevention skills

Schools should be organising a firefighting drill at least once a year and have complete fire prevention and control systems.

A family of six dies a fire in Cà Mau City in July last year when they could not find their way out of a fire that broke out in a wooden house located behind their home.

In December of last year, six members of another family, including three children one to seven years old, died when a fire broke out in a two-storied house in HCM City.

According to the Department of Fire Prevention and Control, Rescue and Salvage under the Ministry of Public Security, there were more than 3,000 fires in 2016 in Việt Nam, a sharp rise over the 2,800 recorded the previous year. A total of 98 people died.

The fires broke out in warehouses, factories and other sites, but the largest proportion occurred in 1,300 residential buildings. The fires did not break out in only old buildings, but several new, modern buildings were also hit.

Deputy Defence Minister hosts Japanese PM’s adviser

Deputy Minister of National Defence Sen. Lieut. Gen. Nguyen Chi Vinh hosted a reception for Sounoura Kentaro, adviser to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, in Hanoi on December 11. 

At the meeting, Vinh said defence cooperation between Vietnam and Japan has generated positive outcomes across many aspects over the past time, becoming a pillar of the bilateral strategic partnership. 

The two defence ministries have engaged in many joint activities, both bilaterally and multilaterally, exchanged high-level delegations, held many meetings for young officers, while joining hands in US peace-keeping operations, he said. 

For his part, Sounoura Kentaro said Japan will partner with Vietnam in the time ahead to deal with post-war consequences in Vietnam such as bomb and mine clearance, and dioxin remediation. 

The Japanese Government highly values Vietnam’s hosting the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Meeting in 2017, he said.

Green growth strategy implementation in northern Vietnam reviewed

A conference was opened in Hanoi on December 11 to make a mid-term review on the implementation of the Vietnam Green Growth Strategy in the northern region.

The two-day event was organised by the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI), the Macroeconomic Reforms/Green Growth Programme – part of Vietnam-Germany development cooperation, and the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI).

Jin Young Kim, director for the GGGI’s Asia-Pacific, said Vietnam has made great strides since it issued the ambitious national strategy. Successful outcomes and creative solutions to overcome many challenges over the last period will help augment efforts to carry out the strategy in the time ahead.

The Vietnam Green Growth Strategy, approved in September 2012, requests ministries, sectors and localities to proactively build their own action plans on green growth. The MPI was assigned to coordinate with other ministries, sectors and localities to implement action plans.

More than 30 provinces and eight ministries have issued their respective action plans on green growth while some localities are working to devise their plans.

Le Duc Chung, a specialist on the strategy implementation, said the northern region has the lowest rate of localities issuing green growth action plans. Most of the issued plans have been implemented. However, data on greenhouse gas emissions have not been collected, resulting in green growth potential, priority actions and plan implementation costs not clarified.

Aside from advantages, localities have also faced a number of difficulties and challenges in realising the Vietnam Green Growth Strategy through their action plans. Particularly, green growth requires big funding, about 30 billion USD, 70 percent of which is expected to be covered by the private sector and the remaining 30 percent by state budget.

While public investment is limited, a shortage of policies that are attractive enough to lure financial funding, asynchronous policies, and limited capacity and experience have also hampered action plan implementation.

Dr Nguyen Thi Diem Hang from the Hanoi Institute for Socio-Economic Development Studies said ministries should provide guidance on a framework for building green growth action plans and on the use of state budget. They also need to issue an official model for greenhouse gas emission calculation and set emission targets for localities.

Hanoi leader hails South African ambassador’s contribution

Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Chung has applauded contributions made by South African Ambassador Kgomotso Ruth Magau to enhancing the friendship between Vietnam and South Africa, as well as between Hanoi and South African localities. 

At a reception for the outgoing ambassador in Hanoi on December 11, Chung expressed his hope that Kgomotso Ruth Magau, in her new position, will continue to build the relationship between South Africa and Vietnam, and Hanoi in particular, along with promoting collaboration between their businesses. 

The Hanoi official recalled the ambassador’s participation in the recent tree planting festival in the capital city, saying that her presence along with other ambassador at the event contributed to the programme to plant 1 million trees in the city from 2016-2020. 

Ambassador Kgomotso Ruth Magau  said the tree planting festival created a chance for representative diplomatic agencies in Vietnam to join in building a better living environment for local residents. 

She voiced her hope that the municipal People’s Committee will create the best possible conditions for her replacement to fulfil his mission in promoting bilateral ties between the two countries.

Cambodian Embassy celebrates National Day, ties with Vietnam

The Cambodian Embassy held a banquet in Hanoi on December 11 to celebrate the 64th National Day of Cambodia (November 9) and the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam-Cambodia diplomatic relations (June 24).

Addressing the event, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh congratulated Cambodians on achievements that they have made in the past 64 years, and wished Cambodia more success in the future.

The Deputy PM underlined that Vietnam and Cambodia, two neighbouring countries on the bank of Mekong River, have shared close relations and long-lasting friendship and solidarity, which have been nurtured by many generations of leaders and people of both nations.

Reviewing the growth of bilateral ties through the history, he stated that mutual support and solidarity was vividly demonstrated during the joint fight against the Pol Pot genocidal regime to save and revive Cambodia. The two countries have also helped each other in national construction and development, he added, stressing that the Vietnam-Cambodia relationship is a shared treasures of both sides.

He also lauded efforts of both countries to organise various events to mark the Vietnam-Cambodia Friendship Year 2017, which have helped educate Vietnamese and Cambodian people, especially youngsters, on the bilateral ties.

Meanwhile, Cambodian Ambassador to Vietnam Prak Nguon Hong stressed that Vietnam and Cambodia have struggled shoulder-to-shoulder through many hard periods in history. 

Over the past years, their relationship has been growing sustainably, he said, noting that in the seven first months of 2017, two-way trade reached 2.2 billion USD, and is expected to hit 5 billion USD in 2020. Vietnamese investment in Cambodia has also reached 81 million USD.

The diplomat affirmed that Cambodian people always keep in their mind with gratitude the support that Vietnamese leaders and people have given to Cambodia both past and present, especially in liberating Cambodia from the genocidal regime in 1979.

Khoa wins stage, Cường leads overall

Nguyễn Anh Khoa of the Việt Nam Youth team overcame his seniors to win the eighth stage if the Bình Dương Television Cycling Cup yesterday.

Khoa finished the 45km around Gia Nghĩa Town of Đắk Nông Province with a time of 1hr 13.11min.

He left behind national team member Trần Thanh Nhanh of VUS-HCM City and Ngô Văn Phương from Gạo Hạt Ngọc Trời An Giang.

The stage win helped 18-year-old Khoa, who won a gold medal in the national youth championship last year, and stands at No 14 among 49 cyclists.

Phạm Quốc Cường of Domesco Đồng Tháp took the yellow jersey after eight stages with a total time of 20:49.44. He is followed by Nguyễn Minh Luận and Trần Nguyễn Duy Nhân, both from the national team.

Lê Nguyệt Minh of VUS-HCM City leads in the green jersey for best cyclist with 75 points. Meanwhile, Luận is leading the race to win the white jersey for best young rider.

In the team ranking, VUS-HCM City topped the podium. Gạo Hạt Ngọc Trời An Giang and Bike Life Đồng Nai were second and third, respectively.

The ninth stage today is from Kiến Đức Town of Đắk Nông to Thủ Dầu Một City of Bình Dương Province on 175km. 

Tây Ninh plans irrigation system

The People’s Committee of the southern Tây Ninh Province has approved a VNĐ1 trillion (US$44 million) project to build a canal irrigation system west of the Vàm Cỏ Đông River.

The system will lead water from the Dầu Tiếng Resevoir, 57km north of the river, to serve 17,000ha of agricultural land in the province.

It will also provide water for industrial and cattle raising activities, and domestic use in Châu Thành and Bến Cầu districts.

The system will cost VNĐ1 trillion to build, with VNĐ650 billion ($28.6 million) supported by the State’s budget. The remaining amount is contributed by the province’s budget and other capital resources.

It consists of three aqueducts, including two main canals and one major distributory one.

The first main canal is 16.7km long with head discharge of 14.8cu.m per second, taking water from the reservoir. The second is 29.4km long with head discharge of 12cu.m per second, connected to the first one.

The major distributory canal is 71.7km long, leading water to production areas in Châu Thành and Bến Cầu districts.

The system will be constructed from 2018-22.

Võ Đức Trọng, director of the Tây Ninh Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and the project’s director, said that the system would serve demand for irrigation water on the west side of Vàm Cỏ Đông River.

“Local farmers here have been struggling with the area’s arid natural conditions,” he said.

“The system will help tens of thousands of households be in control of their agricultural production in the dry season, and gradually improve their livelihoods,” he said.

Scholarships granted to Quang Nam pupils

The Vietnam Association for Promoting Education, the management agency of Dantri/DTiNews, has presented scholarships worth a total of VND200 million (USD9,000) for pupils in the central province of Quang Nam.

On December 11, the association chairwoman Nguyen Thi Doan had a meeting with provincial representatives to review local education promotion activities in 2017 and inform the association on activities for 2018.   

At the meeting, the province’s chairman of the Education Promotion Board Tran Van Can, said that this year the board granted scholarships worth VND48 billion (USD2.2 million) this year. 

According to Can, many schools in the province were seriously affected by the recent Storm Damrey. Up to 288 classrooms were flooded and 97 others were damaged, leading to the total loss of around VND12 billion (USD54,545).

Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Doan sent her sympathy to families who were been hit by the recent storms and hope that they will soon stabilise their life. 

Doan used the opportunity to grant scholarships totaling USD9,000 to support disadvantaged pupils whose families were affected by the recent storm. She noted that the province needs to try to help them so that none of them have to drop out of school.