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ASEAN welcomes Myanmar’s general elections
Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam ’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem, as Chair of ASEAN, has applauded Myanmar ’s General Elections held on Nov. 7.
In the statement issued on Nov. 8, Khiem said “ASEAN welcomes the General Elections held on Nov. 7 in Myanmar as a significant step forward in the implementation of the 7-point Roadmap for Democracy. ASEAN encourages Myanmar to continue to accelerate the process of national reconciliation and democratisation, for stability and development in the country.”
The ASEAN Chair also stressed the need for Myanmar to continue to work with ASEAN and the UN in this process and said that ASEAN stands ready to assist Myanmar if required and in accordance with the ASEAN Charter.-Enditem
Asian major cities hold plenary meeting in Tokyo
Tokyo (VNA) – The 9 th plenary meeting of the Asian Network of Major Cities 21 (ANMC21) opened in Tokyo , Japan , on Nov. 8, drawing representatives from 11 cities in the region, including the Vietnamese capital of Hanoi .
While speaking at the meeting, Tokyo Mayor Shintaro Ishihara called on the delegates to discuss joint projects among the cities to cope with the pademic influenza A/H1N1 and other issues.
Cooperative relations among the ANMC21 member cities could be more effective than negotiations among governments, he said.
The Tokyo mayor also proposed the establishment of a joint research centre in Asia to develop vaccines.
During the two-day meeting, the delegates are scheduled to hear reports on the implementation of ANMC21’s joint projects, including those designed to develop small and medium-sized passenger aircraft, improve the members’ capacity in crisis management, and deal with infectious diseases in Asia.
The participants will also debate measures to protect the environment and reduce greenhouse emissions in cities, the future development of ANMC21 and select the host for the network’s 10 th plenary meeting.
They are expected to adopt a joint declaration at the end of the annual meeting. Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Nguyen Phu Binh will represent Hanoi at the signing ceremony of the joint declaration.
Established in August 2000 as an initiative of Mayor Ishihara, ANMC21 is aimed at undertaking joint projects on common tasks regarding crisis management, environmental countermeasures and industrial development, and applying the outcome for the prosperity in the Asian region. It is now carrying out 12 joint projects to address common issues the member cities are facing.-Enditem
Over 6 bln USD for new int’l airport
HCM City (VNA) – Over 6 billion USD will be invested in building the Long Thanh International Airport (LTIA) in the southern province of Dong Nai .
According to the Japan Airport Consultancy Company (JAC)’s final report on the LTIA master plan, which was approved by the Ministry of Transport last week, the LTIA is planned to become a transit airport in Southeast Asia with a designed capacity of handling 44.5 million passengers and 1.2 million tonnes of cargo per year by 2030.
Located in Long Thanh district, about 43 km east of the Tan Son Nhat International Airport , the LTIA will accommodate 90 percent of international flights and 20 percent of domestic flights from and to Ho Chi Minh City .
Construction of the airport will begin in 2018 with two important work items, including a 1.27 billion USD system of take-off and landing ways and parking area and a 1.4 billion USD passenger terminal.-Enditem
Vietnam, ADB to negotiate on second metro in HCM city
Hanoi (VNA) – Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai has approved the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV)’s proposal on negotiating with the Asian Development Bank on agreements and related documents for a project to build the second metro route in Ho Chi Minh City .
The agreements to be put on table will include the framework sponsorship agreement, the sponsorship request for the first phase, the lending agreement and the project agreement.
The inter-sectoral negotiating delegation will comprise representatives of the State President and Government Offices, the Ministries of Planning and Investment, Finance, Foreign Affairs and Justice, and the SBV.
The Deputy PM has entrusted the SBV, which is responsible for Vietnam ’s negotiations, to coordinate with relevant ministries and agencies in completing necessary procedures for the negotiations with ADB and report the negotiation results to the Prime Minister.
The 12-km and 11-station Ho Chi Minh City Metro Route No. 2 will run through Districts 1, 3 and 10, Tan Binh and Tan Phu districts.
Work on the project kicked off on August 24, 2010 and is expected to be completed in 2016.-Enditem
US helps Vietnam develop cancer drugs
Hanoi (VNA) – The Budget of the US Government has agreed to grant nearly 500,000 USD to help California-based Probactive Biotech Corporation implement two projects to develop a number of cancer drugs in Vietnam .
In the first project, the US corporation will work with Vietnam ’s Danapha company located in the central city of Da Nang to produce anticancer drugs, using Nanosome technology.
The drugs will be firstly tested on the mouse in the Hanoi Military Medical University and then on human body in Bach Mai Hospital .
The corporation will also partner with the Da Lat Nuclear Research Institute to utilise combinations of anti-tumor antibodies and anti-tumor radioactive compounds to produce the drugs.
Anti-tumor anti-bodies have the ability to take anti-tumor compounds directly to tumors without harming other parts of the body.-Enditem
RoK boosts cultural exchange with Vietnam
Hanoi (VNA) – The Republic of Korea ’s Cultural Centre will hold an opera programme entitled “Memory of Love – Orpheo” in Hanoi on November 11.
The programme, arranged by the Seoul Performing Arts Centre, aims to welcome the success of the ASEAN+3 Summit in Hanoi and mark the 18 th anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam-RoK diplomatic ties.
It will also help boost the cultural exchange between the two countries’ people.-Enditem
Prehistoric relics discovered in Quang Ninh
Quang NInh (VNA) — Vestiges of prehistoric human settlements and two historic seaports have been discovered by archeologists in Bai Tu Long Bay in the northern province of Quang Ninh .
Traces of prehistoric peoples have been found at Ang Gia Cave in Thang Loi commune and at Hoi Cave in Ban Sen commune, including stone tools and fossilised remnants of burned wood, animal bones, and a large number of shells of Melania (a kind of freshwater snail) and of Cyclophorus (mountain snail).
Two stone tools were also recovered from the bottom of a stream, suggesting they were left in the process of tool-making.
Many of the shells of the freshwater snails show evidence of having their ends broken to extract the meat, said Prof Trinh Nang Chung, head of the excavating team.
The two newly discovered caves were used by prehistoric people when the area was not separated from the mainland by the sea, Chung said, suggesting that the people might be from the Soi Nhu Culture, vestiges of which were earlier found in Ha Long and Bai Tu Long bays.
They lived there about 10,000 years ago, Chung said.
Traces of two seaports from the Tran (1225-1400) and Le (1428-1788) dynasties – designated the Map Tai Port and Dau Su Port – were found in Ngoc Vung and Minh Chau communes, respectively, along with a large quantity of ceramic pieces in blue and white glaze, with some thought to have been imported from abroad.
The seaports were believed to belong to the Van Don port system, which was first established in 1149 and in use between the 12th and 18th centuries, at first for trade with ships from other Southeast Asian countries, and later with China , Japan , and the Middle East . The two main ports in the system, the Cai Lang and Cong Cai ports, were located on Van Hai Island. — Enditem
Vietnam U23 football team beats Bahrain
Hanoi (VNA) — Vietnam 's under-23s cruised past Bahrain 3-1 in their first match in the Asian Games on Nov. 8.
The win marks a good start for the team in Group B, which includes Iran , Turkmenistan , Bahrain and Vietnam .
At the opening game in Qatar Asian Games four years ago, Vietnam lost 2-1 to Bahrain .
Midfielder Nguyen Thanh Trung put Vietnam ahead just 34 minutes into the game when he slotted home Pham Thanh Luong's through-ball.
Vietnam focused on a counter-attacking game, to nullify the superior height and strength of their Bahraini opponents, and took the lead into half time.
Fifteen minutes into second half, Trung nearly scored a second goal but his free kick was saved by Bahrain 's keeper Mushaima.
In the 72nd minute, Nguyen Trong Hoang made it 2-0 from a quick counter-attack, before striker Nguyen Anh Duc scored the third goal in the 88th minute.
Bahrain pulled back a consolation goal in the last minute.
Vietnam will meet Turkmenistan on Nov. 10 and Iran on Nov 13 at the Guangdong People's Stadium.
Team assistant coach Phan Thanh Hung said the team would try their best to take a second or the best placed third in the group, which set them a berth in the knock-out round.
Twenty-four teams are taking part in the under-23s tournament, with the top two and four of the best third-placed sides from the six groups advancing to the round of 16. — Enditem
Vietnam to host futsal tournament
Hanoi (VNA) - Vietnam will play Libya in their first game of the Hanoi International Futsal (indoor football) tournament at the Quan Ngua Sports Centre on Nov. 12.
Ahead of the match, Chinese Taipei will meet Qatar in the opening game of the two-day round robin tournament.
The hosts will play Taipei on Nov. 13 before taking on Qatar in their last match on Nov. 14..
Vietnam have been training in HCM City for the tournament since September under Italian coach Sergio Gargelli.
"The tournament will be tough for us because Libya , Qatar and Taipei are strong. However, if we want to progress, we should play against strong teams. We would like to win the trophy," Gargelli told a press conference on Nov. 8.
"Futsal is still a new sport in Vietnam and it needs to be promoted," he added.
Vietnam came third at the ASEAN Futsal Championships in April.
The country plans to host the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Futsal Championships in 2012.
ASEAN welcomes Myanmar’s general elections
Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam ’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem, as Chair of ASEAN, has applauded Myanmar ’s General Elections held on Nov. 7.
In the statement issued on Nov. 8, Khiem said “ASEAN welcomes the General Elections held on Nov. 7 in Myanmar as a significant step forward in the implementation of the 7-point Roadmap for Democracy. ASEAN encourages Myanmar to continue to accelerate the process of national reconciliation and democratisation, for stability and development in the country.”
The ASEAN Chair also stressed the need for Myanmar to continue to work with ASEAN and the UN in this process and said that ASEAN stands ready to assist Myanmar if required and in accordance with the ASEAN Charter.-Enditem
Asian major cities hold plenary meeting in Tokyo
Tokyo (VNA) – The 9 th plenary meeting of the Asian Network of Major Cities 21 (ANMC21) opened in Tokyo , Japan , on Nov. 8, drawing representatives from 11 cities in the region, including the Vietnamese capital of Hanoi .
While speaking at the meeting, Tokyo Mayor Shintaro Ishihara called on the delegates to discuss joint projects among the cities to cope with the pademic influenza A/H1N1 and other issues.
Cooperative relations among the ANMC21 member cities could be more effective than negotiations among governments, he said.
The Tokyo mayor also proposed the establishment of a joint research centre in Asia to develop vaccines.
During the two-day meeting, the delegates are scheduled to hear reports on the implementation of ANMC21’s joint projects, including those designed to develop small and medium-sized passenger aircraft, improve the members’ capacity in crisis management, and deal with infectious diseases in Asia.
The participants will also debate measures to protect the environment and reduce greenhouse emissions in cities, the future development of ANMC21 and select the host for the network’s 10 th plenary meeting.
They are expected to adopt a joint declaration at the end of the annual meeting. Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Nguyen Phu Binh will represent Hanoi at the signing ceremony of the joint declaration.
Established in August 2000 as an initiative of Mayor Ishihara, ANMC21 is aimed at undertaking joint projects on common tasks regarding crisis management, environmental countermeasures and industrial development, and applying the outcome for the prosperity in the Asian region. It is now carrying out 12 joint projects to address common issues the member cities are facing.-Enditem
Over 6 bln USD for new int’l airport
HCM City (VNA) – Over 6 billion USD will be invested in building the Long Thanh International Airport (LTIA) in the southern province of Dong Nai .
According to the Japan Airport Consultancy Company (JAC)’s final report on the LTIA master plan, which was approved by the Ministry of Transport last week, the LTIA is planned to become a transit airport in Southeast Asia with a designed capacity of handling 44.5 million passengers and 1.2 million tonnes of cargo per year by 2030.
Located in Long Thanh district, about 43 km east of the Tan Son Nhat International Airport , the LTIA will accommodate 90 percent of international flights and 20 percent of domestic flights from and to Ho Chi Minh City .
Construction of the airport will begin in 2018 with two important work items, including a 1.27 billion USD system of take-off and landing ways and parking area and a 1.4 billion USD passenger terminal.-Enditem
Vietnam, ADB to negotiate on second metro in HCM city
Hanoi (VNA) – Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai has approved the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV)’s proposal on negotiating with the Asian Development Bank on agreements and related documents for a project to build the second metro route in Ho Chi Minh City .
The agreements to be put on table will include the framework sponsorship agreement, the sponsorship request for the first phase, the lending agreement and the project agreement.
The inter-sectoral negotiating delegation will comprise representatives of the State President and Government Offices, the Ministries of Planning and Investment, Finance, Foreign Affairs and Justice, and the SBV.
The Deputy PM has entrusted the SBV, which is responsible for Vietnam ’s negotiations, to coordinate with relevant ministries and agencies in completing necessary procedures for the negotiations with ADB and report the negotiation results to the Prime Minister.
The 12-km and 11-station Ho Chi Minh City Metro Route No. 2 will run through Districts 1, 3 and 10, Tan Binh and Tan Phu districts.
Work on the project kicked off on August 24, 2010 and is expected to be completed in 2016.-Enditem
US helps Vietnam develop cancer drugs
Hanoi (VNA) – The Budget of the US Government has agreed to grant nearly 500,000 USD to help California-based Probactive Biotech Corporation implement two projects to develop a number of cancer drugs in Vietnam .
In the first project, the US corporation will work with Vietnam ’s Danapha company located in the central city of Da Nang to produce anticancer drugs, using Nanosome technology.
The drugs will be firstly tested on the mouse in the Hanoi Military Medical University and then on human body in Bach Mai Hospital .
The corporation will also partner with the Da Lat Nuclear Research Institute to utilise combinations of anti-tumor antibodies and anti-tumor radioactive compounds to produce the drugs.
Anti-tumor anti-bodies have the ability to take anti-tumor compounds directly to tumors without harming other parts of the body.-Enditem
RoK boosts cultural exchange with Vietnam
Hanoi (VNA) – The Republic of Korea ’s Cultural Centre will hold an opera programme entitled “Memory of Love – Orpheo” in Hanoi on November 11.
The programme, arranged by the Seoul Performing Arts Centre, aims to welcome the success of the ASEAN+3 Summit in Hanoi and mark the 18 th anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam-RoK diplomatic ties.
It will also help boost the cultural exchange between the two countries’ people.-Enditem
Prehistoric relics discovered in Quang Ninh
Quang NInh (VNA) — Vestiges of prehistoric human settlements and two historic seaports have been discovered by archeologists in Bai Tu Long Bay in the northern province of Quang Ninh .
Traces of prehistoric peoples have been found at Ang Gia Cave in Thang Loi commune and at Hoi Cave in Ban Sen commune, including stone tools and fossilised remnants of burned wood, animal bones, and a large number of shells of Melania (a kind of freshwater snail) and of Cyclophorus (mountain snail).
Two stone tools were also recovered from the bottom of a stream, suggesting they were left in the process of tool-making.
Many of the shells of the freshwater snails show evidence of having their ends broken to extract the meat, said Prof Trinh Nang Chung, head of the excavating team.
The two newly discovered caves were used by prehistoric people when the area was not separated from the mainland by the sea, Chung said, suggesting that the people might be from the Soi Nhu Culture, vestiges of which were earlier found in Ha Long and Bai Tu Long bays.
They lived there about 10,000 years ago, Chung said.
Traces of two seaports from the Tran (1225-1400) and Le (1428-1788) dynasties – designated the Map Tai Port and Dau Su Port – were found in Ngoc Vung and Minh Chau communes, respectively, along with a large quantity of ceramic pieces in blue and white glaze, with some thought to have been imported from abroad.
The seaports were believed to belong to the Van Don port system, which was first established in 1149 and in use between the 12th and 18th centuries, at first for trade with ships from other Southeast Asian countries, and later with China , Japan , and the Middle East . The two main ports in the system, the Cai Lang and Cong Cai ports, were located on Van Hai Island. — Enditem
Vietnam U23 football team beats Bahrain
Hanoi (VNA) — Vietnam 's under-23s cruised past Bahrain 3-1 in their first match in the Asian Games on Nov. 8.
The win marks a good start for the team in Group B, which includes Iran , Turkmenistan , Bahrain and Vietnam .
At the opening game in Qatar Asian Games four years ago, Vietnam lost 2-1 to Bahrain .
Midfielder Nguyen Thanh Trung put Vietnam ahead just 34 minutes into the game when he slotted home Pham Thanh Luong's through-ball.
Vietnam focused on a counter-attacking game, to nullify the superior height and strength of their Bahraini opponents, and took the lead into half time.
Fifteen minutes into second half, Trung nearly scored a second goal but his free kick was saved by Bahrain 's keeper Mushaima.
In the 72nd minute, Nguyen Trong Hoang made it 2-0 from a quick counter-attack, before striker Nguyen Anh Duc scored the third goal in the 88th minute.
Bahrain pulled back a consolation goal in the last minute.
Vietnam will meet Turkmenistan on Nov. 10 and Iran on Nov 13 at the Guangdong People's Stadium.
Team assistant coach Phan Thanh Hung said the team would try their best to take a second or the best placed third in the group, which set them a berth in the knock-out round.
Twenty-four teams are taking part in the under-23s tournament, with the top two and four of the best third-placed sides from the six groups advancing to the round of 16. — Enditem
Vietnam to host futsal tournament
Hanoi (VNA) - Vietnam will play Libya in their first game of the Hanoi International Futsal (indoor football) tournament at the Quan Ngua Sports Centre on Nov. 12.
Ahead of the match, Chinese Taipei will meet Qatar in the opening game of the two-day round robin tournament.
The hosts will play Taipei on Nov. 13 before taking on Qatar in their last match on Nov. 14..
Vietnam have been training in HCM City for the tournament since September under Italian coach Sergio Gargelli.
"The tournament will be tough for us because Libya , Qatar and Taipei are strong. However, if we want to progress, we should play against strong teams. We would like to win the trophy," Gargelli told a press conference on Nov. 8.
"Futsal is still a new sport in Vietnam and it needs to be promoted," he added.
Vietnam came third at the ASEAN Futsal Championships in April.
The country plans to host the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Futsal Championships in 2012.-
Gold, dollar rebound on the ‘street'
Hanoi (VNA) — Both gold and the US dollar rebounded strongly on the "street" on Nov. 8 after having cooled when the State Bank of Vietnam announced on Nov. 5 that it would inject more dollars into the market.
Details of the dollar infusion have yet to be published.
Prices at gold shops in Hanoi and HCM City changed at least seven times during the day as the Sai Gon Jewellery Co; the Sacombank Jewellery Co; Bao Tin Minh Chau; Agribank Jewellery Co and Phu Nhuaân Jewellery Co all quoted buy-sell prices of 35.65-35.85 million VND (1,715 USD) per tael, up 1.81 percent or 650,000 VND per tael against Nov. 5.
The gold price had tumbled to below 35 million VND per tael following the proposed dollar infusion last weekend. It is now up about 30 percent against last year.
The global price for the precious metal set a record above 1,398 UAD an ounce - one tael equals 1.2 troy ounces – on Nov. 8 before a rebound of the dollar caused prices to retreat, although short-term sentiment remains upbeat.
"The domestic price now is higher than the global price and this is likely to encourage smuggling; make the dollar more expensive and have an adverse effect on the gold price," warned Sacombank Jewellery Co general director Nguyen Ngoc Que Chi.
"All this will combine into an unbreakable cycle.
"If the authorities want to stop the dollar's appreciation, they should provide details of their dollar infusion plan," she said.
The general director noted that although gold demand was not too high, it was higher than supply.
The US dollar continued to climb in value on the black market on Nov. 8 to about 20,720-20,950 VND, up 300 VND against the previous day, while currency dealers in both Hanoi and HCM City changed the rate by the hour amid fevered trading.
The dollar reached a record 21,050 VND last week.
The central bank official rate remained at 18,932 VND; commercial banks quoted a nominal selling price of 19,500 VND. — Enditem
Hydroelectric plant ready to roll
Hanoi (VNA) — Son La Hydroelectric Power Plant, the biggest of its kind in southeast Asia, was to generate electricity with its first turbine group early next month, investors and contractors confirmed in talks with deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai on Nov. 8.
Hai, head of the Son La Hydroelectric Project National Steering Committee chaired a review session in Son La province.
The project reservoir has stored water to the level of almost 190m, which will prove sufficient to begin electricity generation, according to the Prime Minister's special envoy and deputy head of the committee, Thai Phung Ne.
In the meantime, construction of turbine groups and disbursement for the project were not far behind schedule, the session heard.
So far, most of the affected population in Son La, Lai Chau and Dien Bien provinces that lived below the 195m level have been relocated.
Overall planning for the resettlement zone has already received the prime ministerial green light, while relocated households have been allocated arable land.
Sub-contractors are accelerating construction, including pouring 70,000 cubic metres of concrete and installing more than 2,700 tonnes of equipment.
By the second quarter of next year, it is hoped the main structures will be complete, with turbine groups two, three and four operational by April, August and December next year.
However, general director Pham Le Thanh of investors Electricity of Vietnam complained about delays in land clearance in the neighbouring provinces of Phu Tho, Vinh Phuc, Thai Nguyen, Bac Giang and Hoa Binh where facilities will be built, connecting Son La Hydro-electric Power Plant with the national grid.
Deputy Prime Minister Hai cited the closing of culverts, water storage, construction of flood-prevention structures and a successful appraisal as major landmarks for the project.
He praised Son La, Dien Bien and Lai Chau provinces for completing the relocation of 99.84 percent of affected households over recent years.
He asked the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to map out a plan for the relocated population.
Hai also agreed with a provincial petition to extend the food subsidy programme for affected people for an additional year.
Turbine Group One will supply almost 10 million kwh per day, according to the investor.
Construction on Son La Hydro-electric Power Plant was started five years ago in Son La province's Muong La district with a design capacity of 2,400MW and a total investment of more than 42 trillion VND (2 billion USD).
The entire project is planned for completion in 2015. Once finished, it will add more than 10 billion kWh a year on average to the national grid.
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