Two Vietnam-built Tarantul-class corvettes launched

Brigade P-TL 167 of the Vietnam People’s Navy on July 17 received two Tarantul-class corvettes (Molniya class) capable of destroying targets in the air and at sea.

The warships, dubbed HQ 377 and HQ 378, were built by HCM City-based Ba Son Shipyard under a contract to build six such corvettes for the Vietnam People’s Navy, using the Russian technology.

The vessels, equipped with the state-of-the-art technology, help the Vietnam People’s Navy strengthen its combat capacity to defend national sea and airspace.

Singapore helps Danang improve PPP management capacity

Danang City on July 17 signed a cooperation agreement with the Singapore Cooperation Enterprise (SCE) to share Singapore’s experience in managing Public-Private Partnership (PPP) infrastructure projects.

The training will provide a series of capacity building activities to assist local officials learn of the best practices in the PPP model and develop a better understanding of basic knowledge in planning and procurement for PPP water and waste infrastructure projects.

At the signing ceremony, Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Ngoc Tuan said he hopes the training will render valuable insights on the structuring of water and waste projects to help the city meet the needs of the community in infrastructure development.

The city has called on private businesses to invest in building and developing infrastructure through the PPP model in order to effectively exploit and use private sources for socio-economic development, Tuan said.

For his part, SCE CEO Kong Wy Mun said through the training, the two sides look forward to fostering mutually beneficial cooperation between Danang City and the SCE in many fields, beyond infrastructure.

The first phase of the training programme lasted from July 16-18.

Promoting Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam cooperation

Representatives of the legislatures of Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam (CLV) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU), heightening the importance of the development triangle area in terms of maintaining peace and security.

The signing ceremony took place in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, during a regularly scheduled CLV development triangle area conference on July 16-17.

The MoU focuses on coordinating law enforcement forces for combating and preventing trans-border crime, and joint efforts to fight human and drug trafficking.    

It also provides for more comprehensive measures to implement bilateral and multilateral cooperation agreements to facilitate cross-border trade and the exchange of goods in the development triangle area.

The next conference is scheduled to be held in Laos in 2015.

Meeting with delegates on the sidelines of event, President of the Cambodia National Assembly Heng Samrin spoke highly of the cooperation among the three countries’ law enforcement agencies.

Their efforts have contributed significantly to supporting and promoting development in the region; fostering peace, friendship and cooperation and improving the social welfare for people residing along the borders, he said.

The development triangle area comprises 13 provinces:  Mondulkiri, Stung Treng, Rattanakiri and Kratie of Cambodia; Attapeu, Saravan, Sekong and Champassak of Laos; and Kon Tum, Gia Lai, Dak Lak, Dak Nong and Binh Phuoc of Vietnam.

Vietnam halts flights through Ukrainian airspace after crash

An official from the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) has said that Vietnam will change the routes of all flights with paths through Ukraine.

Lai Xuan Thanh, Director of the CAAV, said on July 18 that the agency and the national flagship carrier Vietnam Airlines had reached an agreement to change the routes of all flight going through those areas that see violence.

Currently, Vietnam Airlines is the only domestic airline in Vietnam with flights thorough these areas.

Concerning the most recent Malaysian Airlines plane crash, Thanh said, “The incident has shocked the world. It’s unbelievable. If it turns out to be true that a civil plane was shot down, it would be really a terrible catastrophe for the entire aviation industry.”

Heavy rain causes flooding in Ha Noi

Due to influence of typhoon Rammasun, Ha Noi Capital and Northern provinces experienced heavy rains in the morning of July 17, reported by the National Meteorological Hydrology Forecast Center.

Heavy rain flooded badly many main street routes in Ha Noi Capital like streets of Nguyen Phong Sac, Duong Dinh Nghe, Pham Hung, Xuan Thuy, Noi Bai – Pham Van Dong ...

Floodwater caused traffic jam and motorcycle engine failure during several hours in the areas.

By 7 am on Thursday, Rammasun was located 390 kilometers of east southeastwards of Paracel Island at 16,4 degrees north latitude and 115,8 degrees east longitude. The storm sustained wind speeds up of level 12-13 near center of the storm and gusted up to level 15-16.

Within next 24 hours, the storm will move between west northwestwards and northwestwards at 20-25 kilometers per hour, said center.

By 7 am on Friday, the storm will be centered 250 kilometers of northwards of Paracel Island at 18, 8 degree north latitude and 111, 7 degrees east longitude with the strongest wind speed above level 13.

According to forecast weather, within next 48 -72 hours, Rammasun will change its direction towards west northwest at 15-20 kilometers per hour.

Under typhoon's influence, Vietnam’s territorial waters includes Paracel Island will see strong wind speed at level 9-11.

In the evening of July 18, the territorial water of the Gulf of Tonkin, where the storm will sweep through, will meet strong wind at level 8-10.

‘Rammasun’ storm is forecasted as a strong storm with complicated direction; therefore, local authorities and fishermen need to pay attention to give immediate instruction to deal with the storm, added Center.

Overseas students give VND 50 mln to coast guards

170 overseas Vietnamese youths who are working and living in more than 30 countries around the world attended an exhibition on Vietnam’s sovereignty over Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos at Da Nang Museum on July 16.

The exhibition displays over 200 ancient maps, publications, royal documents, photos and artifacts indicating the national sea and island sovereignty.

There are ancient documents in Han (Chinese script) and Nom (Vietnamese ideographic script) issued by Vietnamese feudal States from the 17  

th to 20th affirming Vietnam’s sovereignty over Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagoes; and Chinese and Western old maps showing Hainan as the southernmost point of China, without Hoang Sa and Truong Sa Islands.

In related news, a delegation of overseas students and Vietnamese in Switzerland visited and donated VND50 million to the Fisheries  

Surveillance Team No 3 at Da Nang City’s Fisheries Surveillance Agency Zone 2 on July 15.

Four dead, eight injured in Long An bus-lorry collison

Four people died and eight others injured when a 16-seater coach and a lorry collided yesterday on the Ho Chi Minh-Trung Luong Highway in Ben Luc District in southern Long An Province.

The victims were taken to the Cho Ray Hospital in HCM City.

Le Ngoc Huy, a doctor of the hospital's Emergency Aid Ward, said that two of the people admitted had serious injuries. One, a 24-year-old female, had cerebral trauma and haemorrhaging. Another female, a 55-year-old, had a ruptured spleen and cerebral trauma.

The six other victims, aged between nine and 54, have light injuries, They come from the southern province of Vinh Long and Tien Giang.

Police are investigating the cause of the crash.

Vietnam, Turkey boost broadcasting cooperation

The comprehensive cooperation among media agencies of Vietnam and Turkey has helped strengthen bilateral ties, said Ambassador Nguyen The Cuong.

Cuong made the remarks during a working session with Director General of Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT) Ibramhim Sahin on July 16, seeking measures for closer cooperation between the two countries in the field of radio and TV broadcasting.

So far, Vietnam and Turkey have clinched 12 deals, including a cooperation agreement between Radio the Voice of Vietnam (VOV) and TRT in 2008 and a similar deal between TRT and Vietnam Television (VTV) in 2011.

Ambassador Cuong stressed the need to promote the exchange of broadcasting programmes, especially TV music shows.

The TRT Director General suggested both sides fully tap their cooperation potential to introduce culture and music of each country to audiences.

TRT has sent VOV a number of music programmes in preparation for the Turkey Music Week in order to help Vietnamese music connoisseurs understand more about Turkish cultural identity, said Sahin.

He expressed his wish to visit Vietnam and conveyed his invitation to representatives of Vietnamese radio and TV agencies to visit Turkey.

Sahin also thanked Vietnam for electing him as Vice President of the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) during the 50th ABU General Assembly in Hanoi in October 2013.

E-Government symposium targets customer satisfaction

Vietnamese and international experts from around the globe gathered in Danang city on July 17, presenting the state-of-the-art and most recent innovations in e-government.

The symposium was considered a premiere platform for governmental leaders and information technology professionals from a variety of disciplines to share experiences and discuss key initiatives which influence and shape government strategies and implementations.

Speakers examined a variety of topics including E-Government development and key initiatives for smarter cities, better data management, and mobile government and e-services.

They provided an overview of Vietnam’s E-Government development that is opening up opportunities for wider application of information and communication technology, stressing the need for enhanced focus on customer satisfaction.

An exhibition showcasing the latest technologies and products serving E-Government development in Vietnam was also held the same day.

The event is the result of the joint efforts by the Danang municipal People’s Committee and the International Data Group (IDG ASEAN).

Five Vietnamese students receive Singaporean scholarships

Five outstanding Vietnamese students have received scholarships to begin their study at Singaporean universities in August.

They are Ton My Linh (second year student at Hanoi Foreign Trade University), Dinh Ngoc Hai and Doan Duy Duc (first year students at Hanoi Polytechnic University), Phan Huy Thong (12th grade student at High School for Talented Students under the Ho Chi Minh City National University) and Le Anh Vu (student at the HCM City Polytechnic University).

At the awards ceremony on July 16, Ambassador to Vietnam NG Teck Hean said education is one of key cooperative fields between Vietnam and Singapore, adding that scholarship recipients will play their part role in promoting bilateral relations between the two countries.

Singapore grants a number of scholarships to outstanding students from ASEAN countries to encourage them make contributions to their home countries after graduating from Singaporean universities.

Efforts to return Vietnamese martyrs’ remains from Cambodia

Representatives of the Vietnamese defence attaché office in Cambodia and the authorities of Cambodia’s Kampong Chhnang and Kandal provinces and Phnom Penh have discussed a plan to accelerate the search and return remains of Vietnamese voluntary soldiers who fell down during the wartime.

At the meeting in Kandal province on July 16, the two sides reviewed their work in the three Cambodian localities and agreed to continue it in accordance with the agreement signed by the two countries’ committees in charge of the work.

Colonel Nguyen Anh Dung, defence attaché at the Vietnamese Embassy, presented an amount of US$34,000 to assist the work to the Cambodian side.

Colonel Prum Din, Commander of the Special Military Zone, affirmed that despite difficulties, Cambodia would cooperate with the Vietnamese side to fulfill the work by 2020.

The two sides have to date searched and returned remains of over 16,000 Vietnamese martyrs.

In the three Cambodian localities alone, remains of 1,675 Vietnamese voluntary soldiers have been found since 2001.

German foundation donates respirators to Da Nang hospital

Germany’s Heart to Heart Foundation on July 16 donated respirators for infants to the Da Nang Hospital for Women and Children.

President of the Heart to Heart Foundation, Dr Irene Lejeune said that these respirators aim to support infants’ respiratory system and will reduce the number of fatalities and limit complications which do great harm to infants’ health.

Director of the Da Nang Hospital for Women and Children Tran Dinh Vinh said that the donation of ventilators will help save hundreds of newborns lives annually.

On the occasion, doctors from the Heart to Heart Foundation shared experiences in taking care of newborns through training courses.

Bus station rakes in illegal fees

Transport inspectors found numerous violations committed at the Can Tho coach station in the Mekong Delta City of Can Tho during their recent surprise inspection.

The inspection was conducted following complaints from the transport businesses about the station violating regulations.

The station was found to have collected overnight parking fees at the rate of VND35,000 to 45,000 (US$1.7 to 2.1) per bus every night, which was 20 to 30 per cent higher than the standard rate set by the municipal People's Committee, announced the inspectors on Wednesday.

They also discovered that fees were collected for such services as sanitation and security, which should be have been a part of the coach station-use fees as regulated, said Deputy Chief Inspector of the Ministry of Transport, Thach Nhu Sy.

As a result, transport businesses had to pay an additional 70 per cent as station-use services fees.

Also, during the inspection it was discovered that the station's facilities failed to meet requirements as a first-class coach station, which it had been registered as with local authorities. If named a first-class station, it benefits from higher services fees.

At a recent meeting with representatives from the transport ministry, Phuong Trang Tourism and Transport Company Director Dang Trong Hien said his company had to pay nearly VND1.8 billion ($85,000) per month for all services used at the station.

Around 70 transport businesses often use the services at the Can Tho coach station.

Deputy Transport Minister Le Dinh Tho ordered the Can Tho Coach Station Joint Stock Company, which operates the Can Tho coach station, to stop collecting all illegal fees and quickly adjust service fees to bring them on par with current regulations.

He asked the local transport department to inspect and identify those responsible for these violations and punish them. The department was also instructed to regularly inspect operations of coach stations in the city, particularly Can Tho coach station, to prevent such future misdemeanours.

Further support offered to fishermen captured by China

The Quang Ngai provincial People's Committee on July 17 visited six fishermen of boat QNg 94912 TS who were illegally detained by China before returning home safely.

Deputy Chairman of the provincial People's Committee Pham Truong Tho, leaders of the provincial Fatherland Front Committee, and leaders of Quang Ngai province’s other departments and branches encouraged the crewmembers and presented them with VND 11.5 million each.

The fishermen expressed their wish that the province’s departments and branches would create conditions and help the fishermen to repair and build new boats to maintain operations in their traditional fishing grounds.

The provincial People's Committee ordered related departments and branches to continue supporting the fishermen of boat QNg 94912 TS.

On July 3, China detained Vietnamese fishing boat QNg 94912 TS with six fishermen on board during normal operations in waters under the sovereignty of Vietnam.

On July 15, China released six crewmembers from boat QNg 94912 TS, although the boat and all the fishing tools were confiscated.

During their detention, the Vietnamese Embassy in China also provided material and moral support to the Quang Ngai fishermen.

Activities show gratitude to martyrs and war invalids

Politburo member and National Assembly Vice Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan on July 17 presented gifts to a number of policy beneficiaries in Da Nang city and the central province of Quang Nam.

In Da Nang city, the NA Vice Chairwoman paid a visit to Nguyen Van Hien, a revolutionary veteran with a 65-year Party membership badge. She also visited the Vietnamese Heroic Mother Statue in Tam Ky city, and presented gifts to policy beneficiary families and national contributors at a care centre for war invalids in Hoi An city.

* A national conference was held in Hoi An city, Quang Nam province, on July 18 to honour 350 outstanding invalids, heroic Vietnamese mothers, and Heroes of the People’s Armed Forces, as well as relatives of martyrs, revolutionary contributors from 63 cities and provinces across the country.

The event was jointly organised by the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Public Security, Nhan Dan newspaper and the Quang Nam provincial People’s Committee.

The honorees were chosen as representatives of some 8.8 million revolutionary contributors across the country. They were heroes during Vietnam’s resistance wars and have set admirable examples for productive labour, as well as in the campaign to ‘Study and Follow President Ho Chi Minh's Moral Example’ and other patriotic emulation movements.

The conference is of great political significance on the occasion of the 67th anniversary of War Invalids and Martyrs’ Day (July 27, 1947 - 2014), showing the affection, gratitude and responsibility the Party, State and people feel towards those who have made sacrifices for the fatherland's independence and freedom.

* On July 17, a delegation from the Ministry of Public Security offered incense at the Bac Tra My district Martyrs’ Cemetery and the Security Zone 5 historic site in commemoration of heroes and martyrs who sacrificed for national salvation and unification.

On this occasion, the ministry also sent VND 500 million to the Bac Tra My district People's Committee to upgrade the district martyrs’ cemetery, and presented VND 150 million to a boarding school for ethnic minority students in Nam Tra My district.

Environment protection fund started in Hai Phong

The Hai Phong Environment Protection Fund (HEPF) was officially put into operation on July 16 as part of efforts to build Hai Phong into a green, civilised and modern port city.

Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Do Trung Thoai has been appointed as president of the HEPF Management Council, while the vice president position went to Bui Quang San, director of the Hai Phong Department of Natural Resources and Environment.

The HEPF has a charter capital of VND 30 billion (US$1.41 million) allocated from the State budget within five years.

It is allowed to mobilise sponsorship sources and to be supplemented with environmental protection fees imposed on sewage, solid waste and mineral extraction; compensations for environmental damages; and fines for administrative violations of environmental protection.

The fund also includes deposits by mineral exploitation companies, which will be used to address pollution and recover environmental quality after extraction activities conclude.

The HEPF is authorised to provide preferential loans to organisations operating programmes to restore the environment and preserve natural resources and biodiversity in the locality.

The fund will also review and classify the local environment projects that have demands for its financial support based on necessity, effectiveness, expansion prospect, and payback ability. They are then taken under accounts and the suitable forms of financial assistance are decided.

IPs in city can hardly house kindergartens

Operators of industrial parks (IPs) in HCMC are encouraged to build kindergartens in these industrial estates to take care of workers’ children, but land in such zones is scarce to build childcare facilities, a source said.

Nguyen Quoc Vinh, an officer at the construction department of the HCMC export Processing and Industrial Zones Authority (Hepza), all such zones have not had kindergartens for workers’ children except Hiep Phuoc IP in Nha Be District.

Vinh said Hepza in cooperation with the city’s agencies has tried to find solutions to build kindergartens in export processing and industrial zones in recent years. As calculated, if kindergartens are to be built in such zones, the green area must be narrowed down, adversely affecting the environment.

Industrial parks in the city have been formed long ago without requirements on the development of livelihood facilities for workers’ demand so these parks now cannot house kindergartens or dormitories for workers, Vinh explained.

The city’s authorities have approved kindergarten projects in five industrial zones in accordance with Hepza’s proposal to meet the urgent demand of the workers.

The construction costs of pre-schools in Tan Thuan and Vinh Loc industrial parks are estimated at around VND48 billion and VND30 billion with capacities of 450-500 children and 300 children respectively by 2015. The three others are in the pipelines now.

Vinh said even if all the available land at such zones is fully tapped, there cannot be enough kindergartens for children. It is because the number of laborers has amounted to 271,000, with over two-thirds being immigrants from other provinces.

The lack of kindergartens in the city’s export processing and industrial zones has frustrated workers as their children are not properly cared for at unlicensed places.

Truck accident leaves four dead

An accident in Long An Province this morning, July 17, killed four and injured eight passengers of a minibus.

At around 5:30am, a 16-seat minibus, en route from Tien Giang Province to HCM City, crashed into a trailer truck while traveling at a high speed on the HCM City-Trung Luong Highway.

The crash destroyed the front of the minibus, immediately killing the two passengers sitting closest to the driver. The driver himself was not killed.  

Rescuers had to use crowbars to get inside and help the passengers. Doctors at Cho Ray Hospital said two other passengers died later and the other eight are receiving treatment.

Long An provincial police arrived at the scene and are investigating the cause of the collision.

VNN/VNA/VNS/VOV/SGT/SGGP/ND