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08/05/2023 12:45 (GMT+07:00)

VIETNAM NEWS HEADLINES MAY 8/2023

Health ministry carries out programme to ensure vaccine supply until 2030

Health ministry carries out programme to ensure vaccine supply until 2030 (Photo: VNA)

The Ministry of Health has recently issued a plan to carry out a programme on ensuring vaccine supply until 2030.

Accordingly, the ministry will establish a steering committee in this May led by the Drug Administration of Vietnam to take responsibility for the programme.

Priority mechanisms will be granted to the research and production of vaccines for emerging, dangerous and highly infectious diseases and new types of vaccines in Vietnam, according to the health ministry.

Specific priority mechanisms will be given to combined vaccines and vaccines that have not been rolled out in the national expanded vaccination programme during the 2023-25 period.

The Drug Administration has been assigned to work with agencies to propose related regulations on granting licenses and supplying vaccine in the 2023-25 period.

The ministry's departments and the National Institute for Control of Vaccine and Biologicals as well as other vaccine research and production facilities have been asked to apply new advanced technology in anti-cancer vaccinations.

They have also been assigned to combine various types of vaccines to meet demand in the 2023-25 period.

The ministry's International Cooperation Department has been tasked with expanding bilateral and multilateral relations with other countries and international organisations in research and production.

The national programme on ensuring supply for vaccination until 2030 also focuses on human resource training.

It looks to provide training to local experts and attracting foreign experts to aid with research and production.

The expanded vaccination programme has been applied in Vietnam since 1981. The programme was initiated by the Ministry of Health with the support of the World Health Organization and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).

During the first time, the new national expanded immunisation programme is applied to children under 1 year old, who are at high risk of disease and need to be protected.

The programme has been expanded with 12 free vaccines applicable to children from 0-10 years old.

According to the latest data, Vietnam has injected nearly 266 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.

The Ministry of Health plans to continue to promote COVID-19 vaccination, especially for high-risk cases, children from five to under 12 years old, those in big cities and areas regarded as key tourism spots with high number of international visitors.

HCM City promotes entrepreneurship during university education

In recent years, startup campaigns and contests have taken place to promote the spirit of entrepreneurship among students, and from those contests, many startup projects have been developed.

Realising challenges in agricultural production in Việt Nam, the Fly Bio team - a group of students from Nguyễn Tất Thành University - use black soldier flies to treat agricultural by-products as animal feed.

Applying black soldier flies to agricultural products is not new, but the Fly Bio team is one of the most productive groups today.

The team created a process of raising black soldier fly larvae different from previous conventional farming methods to accelerate larvae development, create clean larvae, reduce odours and create fertiliser which is easy for plants to take.

It takes black soldier flies 45 days to process products, equal to their life cycle.

The group used black soldier flies to treat organic waste, including vegetables or farmers’ unsold products.

They create four products; organic fertiliser for crops, black soldier fly larvae as animal feed, powder to feed Koi fish and hydrolysate as animal feed.

Bạch Công Đoàn, team leader, said that converting organic matter into an energy source for black soldier flies was a very good way to manage organic waste, create organic fertiliser and animal feed to meet the current domestic market demand.

He said that taking advantage of discarded organic matter was an affordable source of fertiliser and animal feed for the people.

Assessing the project, Huỳnh Văn Hiếu, the group's instructor, said that products from black soldier flies were receiving much attention because they had great potential to make food with high protein and fat for the livestock industry.

Along with that, black soldier flies help treat organic wastes, solving the problem of wasting agricultural by-products and environmental pollution from the livestock industry.

Another good project is the Eco House “Solutions for green agriculture”, implemented by the students of the Industrial University of HCM City.

The group's product is a phone device that helps farmers manage and remotely control important garden indicators.

The device is located at the garden house, integrates measurement and controls indicators of temperature, humidity, water and soil nutrients of different crop types.

When there is any abnormality related to the environment, the device will proactively alert the farmer through an application on the phone.

In addition, the application also provides production solutions for farmers based on the conditions of each garden, thereby helping farmers improve efficiency.

Hồ Thanh Huy, the group’s leader, said that the group's further goal was to conduct design consultancy and provide solutions for post-harvest agricultural and biological products.

Thái Duy Tùng, an instructor of the project, said that this was a very practical topic to help farmers cultivate better and contribute to environmental protection, minimising fertilisers and pesticide abuse.

However, the most difficult thing was accessing and competing in the market because the product has no brand name, according to Tùng.

Lacking skills for building brand names and competing in the market is a major difficulty when students start a business. To promote the campaign and have more and more successful startup models, formal training is a requirement for young people today.

Efforts needed to help Vietnamese herbs go global

Some Vietnamese firms have shipped abroad many types of medicinal herbs, but individually and with a negligible proportion in the worldwide market share of the product. Such a fact requires measures and effort for the country to push the exports capitalising on its potential of housing about 5,117 herb varieties.

According to Tran Minh Ngoc, deputy head of the Ministry of Health’s traditional medicine management department, using herbal medicines instead of chemical drugs is now a trend worldwide.

On the global map of herbs, Vietnam is assessed to possess a diverse source and its proportion of rare and precious natural medicinal herbs remain quite high, Ngoc said.

One of the reasons why Vietnamese herbs have a marginal share in the total revenue of the global pharmaceutical market is that the majority of their exports are in the form of raw materials.

To penetrate deeper into the global market, Ngoc advised Vietnamese enterprises to invest heavily in science-technology applications and varieties and to form large-scale plantations that comply with the standards and regulations of importing countries.

In addition, the Ministry of Health has so far submitted to the Prime Minister for approval a programme on developing the local pharmaceutical industry and domestic production of medicinal herbs by 2030, with a vision to 2045. The scheme covers many specific policies to support participating enterprises, such as preferential investment in scientific research, the production of high quality herbal medicines, and the development of national-branded herbal medicines.

Art programme marks 69th anniversary of Dien Bien Phu Victory

An art programme entitled “The epic of Dien Bien” was held in Dien Bien Phu city, the northwestern province of Dien Bien, to celebrate the 69th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu historical victory (May 7,1954-2023).

The programme, performed by nearly 100 actors, actresses and singers from Dien Bien province, consisted of two parts: Glorious memories and Dien Bien in new day with unforgettable songs such as “Ho keo phao” (Artillery pulling chant), “Qua mien Tay Bac” (Through the West region), “Tren doi Him Lam” (On Him Lam Hill), “Giai phong Dien Bien” (Liberation of Dien Bien), among others.

The event featured the stature of the 1954 Dien Bien Phu Victory. The victory is the result of many factors, with the decisive one being the Party’s comprehensive resistance policy that covers all aspects of military, politics, economy, trade, culture, education and diplomacy, creating a synergy strength to defeat the enemy and make a victory that “resounded throughout the five continents and was world-shaking.”

The second part showed Dien Bien in the period of integration and development. The old battlefield is now a young and dynamic city.

The art show brought viewers meaningful moments. This was also an opportunity to remind the tradition of revolutionary history, to arouse patriotic tradition, especially to remember and pay tribute to the heroic martyrs who laid down their life on this land.

Vietnam, UK foster strategic partnership

President Vo Van Thuong and his entourage arrived in Ho Chi Minh City on May 7, concluding their trip to London to attend the coronation of King Charles III at the invitation of the Royal Family of the UK.

The visit demonstrated Vietnam's respect for the Royal Family and the Vietnam-UK strategic partnership, thereby further enhancing the nations’ sound relations and political trust. On the occasion, the President had a series of meetings with heads of state, leaders of countries, and international organisations to affirm Vietnam's position consistent with its foreign policy of independence, self-reliance and openness. Vietnam is committed to making active and responsible contributions to the common work of the international community.

While in London, the Vietnamese State leader met with King Charles III and Queen Camilla, the UK’s Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, House of Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle, House of Commons Deputy Speaker Nigel Evans, Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs James Cleverly, and Secretary of State for Defence Ben Wallace, among others British officials.

At these meetings, on behalf of the State and people of Vietnam, Thuong affirmed that the Southeast Asian nation attaches great importance to developing its strategic partnership with the UK. He said he hopes that the King and Royal Family will continue to actively support deeper and more comprehensive multifaceted cooperation between the countries.

King Charles III said that the British Royal Family and the King personally always pay attention to and support Vietnam’s renewal and development as well as the Vietnam - UK strategic partnership.

PM Sunak noted that the potential for the bilateral cooperation is huge and wished to expand such joint work in various fields. He thanked Vietnam for supporting the UK in the negotiation on the country's participation in the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

The British officials shared their view on the significance of Thuong’s visit, stressing Vietnam is a leading partner of the UK in the region as the European nation is accelerating the implementation of its Indo-Pacific strategy.

The two sides expressed their wish to expand and deepen the bilateral collaboration in such potential spheres as national defence-security, green economy, climate change response and renewable energy.

President Thuong also had meetings with the Presidents of the Philippines, France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Slovakia, Austria, Mongolia, Zimbabwe and Israel, the Governors-General of Australia and New Zealand, the Vice President of Honduras, the Prime Ministers of the Republic of Korea, Australia, New Zealand, the President of the European Council, and the OECD Secretary General.

During the meetings, the leaders agreed to further bilateral ties in the coming time, contributing to peace, development and prosperity of the region and the world.

According to Vietnamese Ambassador to the UK Nguyen Hoang Long, the President’s trip was the most important event to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam-UK diplomatic relations, contributing to creating new momentum for the strong development of their strategic cooperation in decades to come.

Da Nang, RoK city agree on culture, education exchange

School students from central Da Nang city will join a cultural exchange programme in Uiwang City, Gyeonggi, the Republic of Korea in October following a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation and friendship signed between the city’s Hai Chau district and Uiwang City in last week.

Chairman of Hai Chau District Le Thu Gia Thanh said the first group of secondary school students from the city will take part in a cultural festival and friendship exchange to be held in Uiwang City this October.

Thanh said the district had signed a MoU on cooperation in culture and friendship from 2021, but the cultural exchange programme had been suspended by the COVID-19 pandemic.

He said the cultural programme will form part of a series of cooperation events between the two cities and people of the two countries in the coming time.

Also on the RoK trip, the Da Nang-based Dong A University and Kaywon University of Art & Design agreed on educational co-operation consisting of an exchange programme among students and lecturers of the two universities in 2024.

The two universities will boost fashion design, a garment industry internship programme, digital marketing, multi-media communications and information technology.

Kaywon University of Art & Design is the sixth university from the RoK to sign a cooperation agreement with Dong A University in education and high-quality human resources training.

Da Nang also plans to build tour links between Jeju Island, Incheon, Seoul and other localities, including UNESCO-recognised world heritages Phong Nha-Ke Bang, Hue Monuments Complex, Hoi An ancient town and My Son Sanctuary in central Vietnam.

In the past year, Da Nang and Gyeongsan city of the RoK also signed an MoU for the cosmetic industry and tourism development.

The city will host the Vietnam-RoK culture exchange festival at Bien Dong (East Sea) Park this September.

HanaTour company of the RoK and the city’s tourism promotion centre hosted an Instagram photo contest, ‘Da Nang in My Heart’, for Koreans living in Vietnam and abroad last year.

Tourists from the RoK account for 55.4% of international tourists in Da Nang with 1.8 million in 2019.

The Consulate General of the RoK in Da Nang also organised the K-Food Festival event for Vietnamese teams in Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Thua Thien-Hue and Da Nang.

Tourism promotion between Vietnam's central region and cities of the RoK was also organised by the Korea Tourism Organisation (KTO) in Vietnam in recent years.

Korea airlines including Asiana Airlines, Jeju Air, Jin Air, Air Busan, Air Seoul and Tway Air have been resuming their air service from Busan, Seoul, Deagu and Cheong Ju to Da Nang from last year.

Minks ready to cooperate in various areas with Hung Yen

Minsk region of Belarus is ready to cooperate with Vietnam's Hung Yen province in various areas, Deputy Chairman of the Minsk Regional Executive Committee Denis Kurlenko has said.

During his working session with Vice Chairman of the Hung Yen People's Committee Nguyen Duy Hung in Belarus on May 6, Kurlenko highlighted Minsk's strengths such as industry, agriculture, car and truck manufacturing, and food production.

The host said the region is ready for more fruitful cooperation with Vietnam and Hung Yen province, adding that Minsk wishes to establish closer relations in humanitarian affairs including healthcare, education, and tourism.

He spoke highly of Vietnam's economic growth and hoped that the two sides will maintain contacts.

Hung, for his part, said he sees huge potential for the two localities' development.

According to him, Hung Yen is interested in partnership in agriculture and industry. Two joint projects to be carried out are the production of MAZ trucks and provision of dairy products.

During the working session, both sides also shared experience in investment attraction, operation of free economic zones, and proposed building an agreement on cooperation between the two localities.

The Hung Yen delegation on May 5 also had working sessions with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food of Belarus, visited Minks dairy factory No.1 and Minks auto plant (MAZ).

The delegation includes representatives from the departments of finance, science and technology, planning and investment, foreign affairs, and public security, the MAZ Asia Company and Kim Dong district authorities.

In 2022 export by Minsk enterprises to Vietnam exceeded 2.2 million USD, 10.7% up from the previous year. In the first quarter of this year, the figure was 214,400 USD.

Thanh Hoa holds connectivity conference with Japan

Authorities of the north-central province of Thanh Hoa held a connectivity conference with Japan on May 6 to look toward sustainable development and green growth.

Since 1997, the Japanese Government has funded 10 official development assistance programmes and projects worth 45.5 million USD in the province. From 1992 to 2022, the Japanese Embassy conducted 24 aid projects in Thanh Hoa in the fields of health care, clean water and education, among others.

Thanh Hoa records 13,346 trainees working for Japanese companies in textile, industrial sewing, electronic assembling, mechanical processing, processing, construction, agriculture, nursing. Last year, up to 53,000 Japanese tourists arrived in the province, accounting for 21.6% of the total foreign arrivals. They brought in a revenue of 17.7 million USD, or 24.7% of the total earnings from foreign visitors.

With 17 projects valued at about 6.6 billion USD, or 45.7% of the total FDI in the province, Japan is now the biggest foreign investor there.

Speaking at the event, Secretary of the provincial Party Committee Do Trong Hung said in order to draw Japanese firms to the province, Thanh Hoa has established the Japan Desk to boost investment, trade, tourism and support Japanese businesses and investors who wish to explore opportunities in the province.

In the coming time, Thanh Hoa wishes to enhance comprehensive cooperation with Japanese partners in smart city development, e-government, education, health care, human resource development and labour market. It also expects to receive more ODA projects using non-refundable aids and concessional loans from the Japanese Government, he said.

The province will continue improving business environment via stepping up administrative reform, ensuring security and social safety and order, he added.

Chairman of the Japan - Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Alliance Nikai Toshihiro, for his part, said with rich tourism resources, Thanh Hoa could push forward tourism economy with Japan.

As part of the conference, a booth showcasing the province's signature products, strengths, and Japanese organisations and businesses also opened.

Vice President holds talks with Deputy Amir of State of Qatar

Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan held talks with Deputy Amir of the State of Qatar Sheikh Abdullah Bin Hamad Al Thani in Doha on May 7 (local time), as part of her official visit from May 6-8.

The Deputy Amir welcomed the visit by Vice President Xuan, saying that it is an important event on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties.

Xuan expressed her impression on achievements made by Qatar in its National Vision 2030 strategy.

Both sides expressed their wish and determination to further promote friendship and all-around cooperation between the two countries for the common benefits of the two peoples.

They agreed to continue consolidating political-diplomatic ties via further facilitating all-level visits, especially those at high level.

On the occasion, Xuan conveyed President Vo Van Thuong’s invitation to Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani to soon visit Vietnam this year.

Host and guest vowed to hold cultural, sport and art exchanges, especially on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of diplomatic ties this year, thus raising mutual understanding between the two peoples.

They will hold investment and trade promotion events, business forums in the near future. To create a breakthrough for trade cooperation, the Vice President proposed that Qatar create favourable conditions for Vietnamese exports of strengths such as farm produce, aquatic products, and processed food to approach distribution channels, major supermarket systems in the country to increase trade turnover and balance two-way trade.

Vietnam also expects to receive Qatar’s support to build a financial hub and a Halal certification centre to better meet the standards of the Qatari market, Xuan said.

The host affirmed that the State of Qatar prioritises enhancing trade, investment, and agriculture ties with Vietnam. He wished both sides would share exchange experience in areas of strength such as energy, education and training, and agriculture.

They agreed to further improve the effectiveness of cooperation between investment funds and businesses in promising areas such as infrastructure, transportation, ports, and renewable energy.

Vietnam wishes to attract more tourists from Qatar and the Gulf region in the coming time, Xuan said.

The two leaders also discussed specific measures to drive collaboration in other potential fields like high-skilled labour, energy, agriculture, education, green growth, and climate change mitigation.

According to them, thorough preparations for the third session of the Vietnam-Qatar Joint Committee should be made to step up negotiations and signing of bilateral cooperation agreements, thus completing the legal framework for multi-faceted cooperation between the two countries.

During a reception for Qatari Minister of Commerce and Industry Mohammed bin Hamad bin Qassim Al Abdullah Al Thani, Xuan proposed that as the Chairman of the Subcommittee under the Vietnam-Qatar Joint Committee, the minister work closely with the Vietnamese side to organise the third session of the Joint Committee as soon as possible to review and strengthen bilateral cooperation in all areas.

She also suggested that Qatar create favourable conditions for Vietnamese key export items such as farm produce, seafood, and apparel to access the Qatari market. Furthermore, she proposed that Qatar facilitate cooperation between energy enterprises from both countries in the field of natural gas importation, diversify and expand investment, and improve the legal framework for bilateral cooperation.

Vietnamese Culture Day takes place in Hungary

Vietnamese Embassy in Hungary on May 6 coordinated with Zalaegerszeg city’s authorities and Vietnamese associations in Hungary to organise a Vietnamese Culture Day which attracted nearly 3,000 visitors.

Speaking at the event, Vietnamese Ambassador to Hungary Nguyen Thi Bich Thao said that the event takes place in Zalaegerszeg city which is home to the only President Ho Chi Minh monument in Central Eastern Europe, on the occasion of the 133rd birthday of President Ho Chi Minh (May 19) and the 5th anniversary of the Vietnam-Hungary Comprehensive Partnership.

The ambassador took the occasion to introduce local people about the present-day Vietnam, which has a dynamic economy, rich tradition and culture, promising many business, and investment opportunities for Hungarian businesses.

The Vietnamese diplomat also expressed gratitude to the people of Zalaegerszeg for supporting and taking care of President Ho's monument for nearly 50 years.

The mayor of Zalaegerszeg city Balaicz Zoltán congratulated Vietnam on its Doi Moi (renewal) cause and strong and miraculous development, becoming an important partner of Hungary.

He voiced his belief that in the coming time, the comprehensive partnership between Vietnam and Hungary will grow stronger, adding the cooperation between the city and Vietnam will be expanded in the fields of culture, education, tourism, economy, and people-to-people exchanges.

During the event, overseas Vietnamese and friends in Hungary enjoyed Vietnamese folk dances and songs performed by the community, visited a photo exhibition on craft villages, mountain landscapes, idyllic and peaceful countryside in Vietnam, a Vietnamese traditional costume show, an exhibition showcasing Vietnamese exports and handicrafts, and an area for Vietnamese traditional cuisine.

On the same day, the Vietnamese Embassy in collaboration with Vietnamese associations and delegations in Hungary held a flower offering ceremony to celebrate the 133rd birthday of President Ho Chi Minh at his monument in Zalaegerszeg city. The monument was completed in 1976 as a gift from the Hungarian government and people to Vietnam.

Da Nang, RoK city agree on culture, education exchange

School students from central Da Nang City will join a cultural exchange programme in Uiwang City, Gyeonggi, the Republic of Korea in October following a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on co-operation and friendship signed between the city’s Hai Chau district and Uiwang City.

Thanh noted that the district had signed a MoU on cooperation in culture and friendship from 2021, but the cultural exchange programme had been suspended by the COVID-19 pandemic.