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KOICA supports human resource training in Quang Tri
Quang Tri (VNA) – The Republic of Korea (RoK) government through the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) has funded a non-refundable aid worth 4.7 million USD to the central province of Quang Tri for constructing a vocational training school.
Apart from assistance to constructing the school, KOICA will also provide the school with training and equipment.
Over recent time, KOICA has helped Vietnam to construct four technical colleges and vocational training schools in Hanoi , Nge An, Da Nang and Bac Giang.
It plans to continue support Vietnam to build 6-7 technical colleges and vocational training schools more in the coming time./.
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Over 330,000 houses finished for the poor
Hung Yen (VNA) — The Ministry of Construction's Housing for the Poor Project committee reported on April 20 that 339,805 houses had been newly built or renovated since the programme began in 2008.
The number accounts for 66 percent of the targeted number of houses to be built for the poor by 2012. Seven provinces covered by the scheme are Hai Phong, Hung Yen, Hai Duong, Thai Binh, Nam Dinh, Ha Nam and Bac Giang.
Speaking at a conference to review the project's progress on April 20 in Hung Yen, Deputy Minister Nguyen Tran Nam said the newly built houses were of good quality and in keeping with local architecture.
The committee reported that 4,000 houses had been built or refurbished in Thai Binh province alone. Meanwhile, 3,000 houses have been built or refurbished in Bac Giang and Nam Dinh provinces.
The committee plans to build or repair 200,000 houses for the poor this year at a total cost of 1.47 trillion VND (70 million USD). /.
Drought wreaks havoc on Dak Lak agriculture
Dak Lak (VNA) — Prolonged drought has left nearly 5,000 local residents in the Central Highland province of Dak Lak facing severe water shortages and damaged thousands of crops, causing estimated losses of more than 300 billion VND (15 million USD).
More than 13,000ha of crops across Dak Lak had been damaged, including more than 10,000ha of coffee and 2,500ha of short-term crops, reported the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.
Local authorities were working with relevant agencies to dredge canals and had also earmarked part of the provincial budget to support farmers, said the department's deputy director Nguyen Huu Chung.
"Since the beginning of the dry season, which started in November last year, local authorities have been directing relevant agencies and farmers to take measures to cope with drought such as storing water, making use of all available water sources, preventing leaks and reasonably distributing water for different kinds of crops," he said.
"However, these measures only help in part to mitigate the consequences of the drought."
The provincial People's Committee has asked the Government to provide 100 billion VND (5 million USD) in aid to help local farmers repair irrigation systems and buy materials and seeds. /.
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Labour regulations fail to resolve disputes
Hanoi (VNA) — The current labour regulations were failing to tackle worker disputes, said Pham Minh Huan, deputy minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, at a workshop on April 20 in Hanoi .
Huan said thousands of labour disputes that had arisen since 1995 had been successfully resolved by reconcilement committees. However, he said only official labour unions had reconciliation committees.
He added that since 1995 there had been 3,000 official strikes.
He said the high number of strikes had been the result of individual workers taking their complaints directly to the state authorities, rather than reconciliation committees.
The Labour Law, enacted in 1995, has been amended three times.
According to Pham Cong Bay , deputy chief of the Supreme Court's Department of Labour Court , from 1995 to date most labour disputes had involved individual cases. He said that in 2009 alone there had been 1,764 individual complaints.
He said grievances had often involved wages, social insurance, labour welfare and compensation.
Vietnamese labour laws have been unable to effectively resolve disputes which end up in the courts, he added.
There is a lack of consistency and transparency, he said.
He added that the Government should consider enshrining reconciliation in the law. He also said the Government should reconsider the prohibition that workers cannot be sacked if they were a member of a State union.
Ho Xuan Dung, secretary of the HCM City Labour Arbitration Committee, said that since 2006, arbitrators in the city had resolved 2,570 labour disputes – 76.4 percent of all cases.
However, he said disputes were rarely successfully handled by district arbitrators because strikes were often unlawful.
He said it would be far better if labour disputes were resolved by reconciliation committees.
Meanwhile, Mai Duc Vien, from the ministry's Department of Law, said reconciliation committees had proved successful in the US and that the model should be adopted here. /.
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Fishermen hamper efforts to reduce shark attacks
Binh Dinh (VNA) — Local authorities in the central province of Binh Dinh's Quy Nhon City are facing difficulties in clearing its coastline of unplanned aquaculture to prevent shark attacks due to strong opposition from local fishermen.
Director of Quy Nhon City Urban Environment Company's Planning Unit Nguyen Huu Dung said the company and local authorities were responsible for removing fish and shrimp rafts and traps just off the city beach over the last six days.
The move aims to prevent sharks from coming inshore and attacking swimmers. Fish and shrimps bred on rafts and captured in traps were believed to have attracted sharks to the shallow water, he said.
"Nine teams have collected rubbish and 40 large rafts and traps in deep water from Hai Cang to Gheng Rang Ward and removed tens of small rafts further away from the beaches," Dung said.
However, thousands of rafts, set along the coast by local fishermen, remain unmoved.
Company worker Nguyen Van Tin said they had tried to carry out their task but had faced major opposition from local fishermen.
"All we can do is to collect rubbish floating on the sea," he said.
Head of the team Vo Thanh Hai, said local fishermen rowed out in coracles to threaten workers every time they approached the traps.
"We've tried dozens of times but have failed to be able to dismantle or move the traps," he said.
Vice chairman of Nguyen Van Cu Ward People's Committee Vo Dinh Lan said it was not an easy job as many fishermen earned their living from trapping and breeding marine animals.
He said support from relevant authorities would help deal with the issue.
Since mid 2009, 14 people, mostly domestic tourists, have been attacked by sharks along Quy Nhon's beaches. Eight of which were attacked last year and half were hospitalised for treatment.
Three sharks have been caught, including one weighing more than a tonne. Rescue teams and warning messages advising swimmers to remain within 10m of the beach have been implemented as part of the response. /.
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Exploitation threatens herb medicine plants
Hanoi (VNA) — Herbs used in traditional Vietnamese medicine may be lost completely unless measures are taken to manage their cultivation and exploitation.
Head of the Traditional Medicine Department Pham Vu Khanh said that people were over-farming them without any thoughts of replanting seedlings for the future.
"The situation has put these herbs at risk and some rare varieties may face extinction," said Khanh.
Having traded in traditional medicine in the northern province of Cao Bang for a decade, Nong Van Vin agreed that business was bad because availability was low.
"I used to sell over 10 varieties of traditional herbal medicine, but since last year I've only had three in stock," Vin said.
Back in 2000, there was something of a traditional medicine boom, and many local people jumped on the bandwagon and sold medicinal plants they picked in the wild to traders.
However, this trend is declining, due to the lack of plants.
Khanh said poor awareness and greed were the main reasons for the problem, citing some people's desire for short-term gains and lack of thought for future generations.
"The way they exploit medicinal plants is unorganised and wasteful," Khanh furthered.
Doctor Tran Van On from the Hanoi Medical University blamed the situation on a casual lack of concern among authorities.
"Experts in oriental medicine have not highlighted the scarcity of medicinal plants or the benefits of preserving them," On said.
Doctor Tran Cong Khanh from the Centre for Research and Development of Ethno-medicinal Plants said the number of medicinal plants in Vietnam made up 19 percent of the total 20,000 known throughout the world.
That figure did not include several thousand plants used by ethnic people that scientists were unaware of, he added.
While crops are declining, demand for export is high.
Khanh said there was not enough being done to stop people from exporting herbal medicine in bulk.
Unclear regulations are also preventing forest rangers from punishing people who over-exploit the plants.
In most cases, they were only able to hand out minor punishments relevant to forest destruction crime, Khanh added.
Chairman of Cao Bang Oriental Medicine Association Nguyen Van Be said there were between five and 10 big herbal medicine shops as well as hundreds of smaller shops scattered throughout the province.
"None of them are licensed to trade in herbal medicine," he said.
According to experts, many clinics have started re-importing herbal medicine at lower cost and quality.
Khanh claimed that it was also the responsibility of the Ministry of Health to deal with the issue.
He said the Traditional Medicine Department would work with the ministry to devise a strategy for ethno-medicinal plant development.
As part of the strategy, provinces would be asked to build herbal medicine cultivation zones to preserve 40 medicinal plants essential for the domestic production of oriental medicine.
High-value herbal medicine would be exported in the long run, the draft said. /.
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Overseas worker target achievable
Hanoi (VNA) — Vietnam's target to send 87,000 workers overseas this year is still "achievable" despite the recent political unrest in Libya, which forced 10,000 Vietnamese workers to return home, said Dao Cong Hai, deputy head of the Department of Overseas Labour.
"The departure of Vietnamese workers from Libya is not a big problem because there are other nations for the workers to go to," said Hai.
According to the department, demand for labourers is high in places such as Taiwan and Malaysia .
During the first three months of this year, the total number of Vietnamese going to work overseas was nearly 20,000, with Taiwan , the Republic of Korea , Japan and Malaysia being the top destinations.
Hai advised Vietnamese workers to consider Malaysia , a traditional destination for Vietnamese workers.
According to Hai , Malaysia offers many advantages to Vietnamese labourers. The country's demand for labour, especially manual labour in industrial manufacturing and construction is quite high.
At present, the majority of workers who intend to go overseas are not very skilled or experienced, so they should go to countries where the demand for low-skilled labour is high, such as Malaysia , said Hai.
In addition, Vietnamese workers have already developed a good reputation among Malaysian enterprises.
" Malaysia is now willing to offer more jobs to Vietnamese workers," he said. Vietnam and Malaysia have both considerably benefited from 10 years of co-operation in labour exports.
According to Hai, approximately 90,000 Vietnamese are working in Malaysia . The monthly salaries offered to these workers range from 4 million to 8 million VND.
Hai says although Vietnamese workers often prefer richer places such as Taiwan over Malaysia, many cannot afford to be selective in their choice of destination, because it requires more money to go to Taiwan and most of the workers are financially limited.
"These workers should head for Malaysia instead," Hai says.
When asked about the reasons why Vietnamese workers choose to go to Malaysia , many officers from labour export companies say Malaysia is a good market for low-skilled workers.
According to Mai Trong Van from the Hycolasec JSC labour export company, most Vietnamese workers who go to Malaysia come from rural provinces and are poorer than workers in urban areas. He said the Government was offering loans for more workers to go to Malaysia .
Hai from the Department of Overseas Labour said that although Vietnam does intend to send more workers to more developed countries further afield such as Europe and the Middle East, the door is not wide open to Vietnamese workers due to their lack of skills and poor foreign language skills.
According to Hai, 85 percent of Vietnamese workers sent overseas are low-skilled.
Van from Hycolasec JSC said that although his company tried to recruit cooks and kitchen staff to work at restaurants or hotels in Australia , the number of workers meeting the requirements was limited.
"They must have three years of work experience and a high score on the mandatory English language test," he said.
The Department of Overseas Labour is working with labour export companies and local authorities to support people who intend to go to work overseas.
Support is given in the form of loans, vocational training, foreign language classes, sponsorship and favourable policies upon their return to Vietnam .
By the end of 2010, the total number of Vietnamese workers overseas was at 85,000. /.
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More professional training needed for auditors
Hanoi (VNA) — Methods used to train auditors and accountants need fundamental change, said Vietnam Association of Accountants and Auditors president Dang Van Thanh at a forum on April 20 in Hanoi .
Vietnam 's accounting and auditing systems needed greater capability to analyse economic and financial information and make forecasts, Thanh said.
"It's necessary to put an end to passive teaching methods that compel students to view State accounting standards as the standard for accounting knowledge," he added. "Students need to understand and develop intrinsic theories instead."
"The perception about accounting needs to be changed," agreed Prof Nghiem Van Loi from the University of Labour and Social Affairs. "Many universities in Vietnam are still training bookkeepers, not real accountants."
Vietnamese exporters had encountered international lawsuits because of the differences in accounting data from foreign firms, noted Thanh.
"It was not because Vietnamese accounting and auditing regulations were not in line with international practices, but because enterprises did not strictly follow tax and accounting regulations," he said. "In 2003, I was directly involved in the basa fish lawsuit, through which I found that enterprises had not seriously complied with regulations." he said, noting that some Vietnamese firms were found to have no accounting or internal audit systems in place.
An international standardised accounting and auditing system needed to be built and applied effectively in practice, he said. Both were critical elements to creating a healthy business environment and helping Vietnam be recognised as a market economy.
Dang Thai Hung, head of the Department of Accounting and Auditing Policies of the Ministry of Finance, said: "Legal provisions should be mixed with specific case studies to prepare human resources with practical knowledge."
"Virtual accounting departments should be established to provide actual accounting and auditing templates and case studies for students," agreed Thanh.
Rhys Johnson, head of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) in the Asia-Pacific region, shared a Chinese experience in offering embedded programmes in universities.
"Students took auditing courses from both the universities and the ACCA," Johnson said. "These programmes were applied in the second year at universities, so they helped students save a lot of time to earn ACCA papers."
Chinese universities faced similar challenges, including a lack of qualified lecturers, he said, but the challenge could be met here by co-operating with the private sector to deliver courses for embedded students. /.
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Local girls give burlesque a whirl
Hanoi (VNA) — Hanoian girls are flocking to learn chair dancing – an art form made famous by Ali (Christina Aguilera) and Tess ( Cher ) in the movie Burlesque.
Pham Huyen Trang, co-founder of ISIS World Dance Company on Ba Trieu street , claims her studio was the first to hold chair dancing classes in Vietnam in addition to old favourites such as belly dancing, salsa, flamenco and dance sport.
Chair dancing is based on cabaret and jazz. Dancers use a variety of props such as a chair, a pole, a mirror, a fan and occasionally with nothing to twirl or sit on. A chair is often used however and it doubles up as a partner.
Trang holds classes for beginners and those at an intermediate or advanced level. Trang said she does her own choreography and lesson plans.
"I realised there was a growing tendency for young ladies to want to show off their bodies. That is why I decided to open public classes after teaching some private groups. Students learn the most fundamental and simplest movements if they are beginners to build up their confidence. At intermediate level, students should listen and understand the music in order to nurture their creativity," she said.
Le Dieu Linh, a member of the Hanoi Cai Luong (reformed opera) Theatre, took up chair dancing earlier this month after hearing about the new classes from her belly dancing teacher.
"I think chair dancing is very feminine and quite sexy. Although chair dancing is completely different from cai luong, it helps me better express my emotions," Dieu Linh said after attending her first lesson.
To chair dance, it's important students' bodies are relaxed so they can move to the tempo of the music. They are encouraged to wear comfortable clothes, "which make them feel confident", Trang said. "Chair dancers have to use their waist, hips and chest – the three most beautiful parts of the body."
Most students spend about two and a half hours a week learning chair dancing, for a variety of reasons. Some enjoy its entertainment value, some go to classes to meet people, while others think of it as exercise.
After nearly two months of learning chair dancing, Nguyen Thuy Linh, a student at Foreign Trade University, said she'd become fairly proficient. She's an ardent fan.
"Chair dancing makes me more active and sexy. I used to perform chair dancing at parties and on holidays, and my friends think it's great. Some of them plan to take up chair dancing themselves so they can keep up with me."
Nguyen Bich Hanh, a businesswoman, is at an intermediate level. She's an ardent fan of the musicals Chicago and Burlesque. "It is not difficult to create a performance with chair dance if you know some basic moves. Since I took up the dance I have never thought about quitting. When you are deeply in love with something, you never feel tired." /.
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Japan sets up no-go zone around nuclear plant
Hanoi (VNA) – The Japanese government will prohibit people from entering an area within a 20-kilometer radius of the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant, Prime Minister Naoto Kan said on April 21.
Kan announced the "no-entry" policy, which will be effective from midnight April 21, while holding talks with Fukushima ’s mayor Yuhei Sato.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano said at a televised press conference that only one person per family will be allowed to return for up to around two hours. They will be made to wear protective clothing and carry dosimeters.
Between 70,000 and 80,000 local residents in 10 districts in Fukushima prefecture within the 20-kilometer radius evacuation zone have already relocated to other places.
Of the 3,378 households in the 20-km radius visited by police from March 29 to April 18, 63 households remained despite government's persuasion, Edano said.
The same day, an earthquake measuring 6.0 on the Richter scale occurred off the east coast of Honshu at 10:54 local time (0154 GMT), both Chinese Earthquake Networks Centre and the US Geological Survey said.
There were no tsunami reported and no immediate report of damage. /.
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Vietnam attends IPU 124 in Panama
Hanoi (VNA) – A delegation from the Vietnamese National Assembly took part in the 124 th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU 124) in Panama from April 15-20.
The IPU 124, themed “Parliamentary accountability: living up to people’s expectations”, focused on improving the role of the parliament, issues on peace and security, finance and trade with sustainable development, as well as issues on democracy and human rights.
The Vietnamese delegation actively and proactively joined activities during the event, including the plenary meeting of the IPU 124 and the 260 th meeting of the IPU Executive Committee. The delegation hosted an ASEAN+3 meeting and participated in the meetings of the Asia-Pacific Group (APG) and the Development Partner Group on Gender Equality.
Speaking at the IPU 124 plenary session, the Vietnamese delegation head, Nguyen Van Son, Chairman of the NA’s Committee for External Relations, briefed the assembly on Vietnam ’s renewal process and stressed high unanimity with the theme of the IPU 124.
Besides the role of each national parliament, the regional and international inter-parliamentary mechanism has made important contributions to enhancing the parliamentary accountability in order to meet people’s expectations, especially in the face of complicated developments of the current political and socio-economic situation, he said.
After affirming the role and responsibility of the Vietnamese NA in meeting the demands of the people in Vietnam in particular and in ASEAN in general through the successful organisation of the 31 st General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA-31), Son suggested the IPU continue strengthening coordination with regional parliamentary mechanisms and combining activities among these mechanisms to maximise the role of the parliament in addressing global political and socio-economic challenges.
The IPU 124, which drew the participation of 150 member parliamentary delegations, issued a political declaration calling for global emergency support for Japan following the devastating earthquake and tsunami, in order to reduce the impacts of the disaster on the region and the world.
It also discussed parliamentary actions to strengthen nations’ right to self-determination in the framework of international laws and issued a resolution on enhancing democratic reforms in emerging democracies, including North Africa and the Middle East .
During the stay in Panama, the Vietnamese delegation met with parliamentarians from host Panama, Cuba, Cambodia, the Republic of Korea, Japan, France, Belgium, South Africa, Chile, Venezuela and Switzerland./.
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Singapore launches first home-made satellite
Hanoi (VNA) – Singapore on April 20, successfully launched its first home-made satellite into orbit from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in India , according to local media.
The 105-kilogramme satellite, X-Sat was launched into orbit by Isro’s Polar Satellite Launching Vehicle (PSLV-C16).
At present, X-Sat is establishing communication with a ground control unit in Nanyang Technological University (NTU). It is responsible for photographing to measure ground corrosion and environmental changes on earth.
The satellite was jointly designed and built by NTU and a research organ under Singaporean Ministry of Defence over a period more than nine years.
By successfully launching X-Sat , Singapore became the first country in Southeast Asia had a home-made satellite on the space./.
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Lao Cai urged to target sustainable growth
Lao Cai (VNA) – Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has instructed Lao Cai province to exert more efforts to promote all its potential for rapid and sustainable development.
At a working session with the provincial authorities during his field trip to the northern mountainous province on April 21, PM Dung spoke highly of the province’s efforts over the past five years and in implementing the first year of the five-year plan 2011-2015. He stressed the implementation of Government Resolution 11, focusing on agricultural production, price control and expense saving.
He pointed out difficulties and shortcomings, mainly the high poverty rate of 42.99 percent, the trained labour rate of 27 percent and slow development of infrastructure that the province needed to overcome in the near future.
To help Lao Cai achieve sustainable development, the province should focus on combining development of agricultural land and assistance for farmers to banish poverty, he stressed.
PM Dung also instructed Lao Cai to continue to promote its potential on minerals, helping it become a national centre for the development of industry and processing minerals, such as apatite, copper and iron, along with hydro-power, as well as the development of tourism, particularly the Sa Pa tourist resort.
He asked the relevant ministries and agencies to ensure the implementation of the Hanoi-Lao Cai highway and infrastructure projects for transport, electricity and telecommunications.
The provincial leaders need to continue improving the quality of education and training, focusing on vocational training and building a strong political system, he said.
Despite a border mountainous province with many difficulties due to poor infrastructure and a lack of trained human resources, Lao Cai registered an annual economic growth rate of 13 percent over the past five years. It ranked second in the Provincial Competitiveness Index 2010 rankings released by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI).
In its socio-economic development plan, the province will promote agricultural development and the building of new-styled rural areas and focus on industry development in the next five years, striving for annual growth rate of 14 percent and per-capita income of 1,900 USD and poverty reduction of between 3-5 percent a year./.
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Vietnam, US step into multifaceted future
Hanoi (VNA) – National Assembly Vice Chairman Huynh Ngoc Son on April 21 received visiting US Senator James Webb, Chair of the Subcommittee on East Asian and Pacific Affairs under the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.
At the reception, NA Vice Chairman Son praised James Webb’s support for Vietnam as well as the Vietnam-US relations and expressed his hope that with his role and prestige, the Senate will make more contributions to strengthening the two countries’ relationship.
Fifteen years after setting up diplomatic ties, mutual understanding and trust have been enhanced and are expected to reach a higher level, he said.
He said he wished that the two legislative bodies would increase the exchange of visits, thus boosting friendship and cooperation.
The NA vice leader took the occasion to propose the US Senator raise his voice to push for the dealing with consequences of Agent Orange (AO)/dioxin and the clearance of mines left by the war, the lifting irrational trade barriers, especially issues regarding tra fish, and the recognition of Vietnam as a market-oriented economy.
Senator James Webb said he returned to Vietnam with the message of working and discussing together for the future, sharing Son’s view that the US-VN relations are developing.
The Senator, who was one of the initiators of the draft on aiding environmental pollution treatment at Da Nang airport, stressed the need to carry out treatment of environmental pollution posed by AO/dioxin as well as scientific research on its impacts on human health.
As one of the proposers of the draft on aiding environmental pollution treatment at Da Nang airport, James Webb said his visit aims to discuss with Vietnam how to achieve a better future.
He also showed his support for efforts in bomb and mine clearance in order to reduce dangers to residents.
The Senator pledged that he would contribute to boosting trade ties and investment cooperation between the two sides./.
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Army chief talks ties with neighbouring Laos
Hanoi (VNA)- The Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA), Lieut. Gen. Do Ba Ty has received the Head of the Combat Department under the Lao Army’s General Staff, Maj. Gen. Chandisi Sombat, who is on a working visit.
Ty told his Lao guest at a meeting in Hanoi on April 21 that the visit would contribute to strengthening friendship and mutual understanding between the armies and people of the two countries.
For his part, Chandisi Sombat hailed Vietnam ’s great achievements in national construction and development. He also informed the host of the results of his working session with the Combat Department of the VPA’s General Staff./.
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National climate strategy seeks int’l input
Hanoi (VNA)- The national strategy on climate change for 2050 and the vision to 2100 were discussed at an international workshop in Hanoi on April 21 after twice being revised by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.
The event, drawing crowds of representatives from international donors, foreign corps and non-governmental organisations, heard Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Hong Ha report on Vietnam ’s efforts to encounter climate change impacts.
Vietnam considers effort to cope with climate change a vital issue as the country is potentially one of the worst-affected nations, said the deputy minister.
The World Bank representative recommended the country should determine the order of priorities in climate change adaptation in the context of limited funding.
Official development assistance (ODA) attraction, legal upgrade and stronger financial mechanisms would work in raising funds for the effort to cope with climate change, said the WB expert.
A representative from the Danish Embassy to Vietnam advised Vietnam to diversify the methods of cooperation and create multilateral partnerships.
Focus should be laid on non-refundable aid to increase competence, transfer of technology and managerial and practical experience in climate change adaptation while increasing international cooperation in the interest of development in Vietnam , said the Danish diplomat.
International donors reached a consensus on stronger cooperation with and assistance for Vietnam in coping with climate change and its impact on the environment, economy and society.
The second draft of the strategy was recognised as a great improvement, with more concrete goals, including targets for a low carbon economy and green growth as a key trend for sustainable development.
The bill has also emphasised reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and an increase in absorption of greenhouse gases as compulsory targets in socio-economic development./.
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Pope’s diplomatic representative visits Vietnam
Hanoi (VNA) – Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli, non-resident pontifical representative to Vietnam, paid a courtesy visit to leaders of the Foreign Ministry in Hanoi on April 21.
During the meeting, Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son affirmed the consistent policy of the Party and State of Vietnam of respecting the right to freedom of belief of people and ensuring the equality among religions.
He valued the Vietnamese Catholics’ role in the country’s socio-economic life in the past and at present and acknowledged recent encouraging progress in relations with the Vatican.
Deputy FM expressed his wish that the non-resident pontifical representative to Vietnam would guide the Vietnam Catholic Church to implement Pope Benedict XVI’s teachings during the Ad limina in June, 2009 and in the message to open the Jubilee year 2010 in November 2009, in the spirit of living the gospel among the nation, and a good Catholic meaning a good citizen, who is responsible for contributing to the country’s development.
Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli thanked the concerned concerned agencies for creating favourable conditions for his first working visit to Vietnam from April 18-May 1.
He shared his view on the above-said assessment, saying that the success of the Jubilee Year 2010 is a clear evidence of the policy to respect the freedom of belief and religion in Vietnam.
The representative stressed that the Vatican and himself personally will spare no effort to promote the two sides’ relations, contributing to helping the Vietnam Catholic community follow the motto of “living well in one’s life and one’s faith” and making contributions to the national development cause.
During his visit to Vietnam, Archbishop Girelli is scheduled to take part in celebrations of Easter in Hanoi, and to attend the annual meeting of the Vietnam Episcopal Council, the first of its kind in 2011, in Ho Chi Minh City and visit some local dioceses.
Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli is also apostolic nuncio to Singapore and Timor Leste and apostolic delegate to Malaysia and Brunei./.
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VN, Lao localities cooperate in fighting crime
Hai Duong (VNA) –Police of Vietnam’s northern province of Hai Duong and its counterpart from Vientiane province of Laos on April 21 signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on combating crime.
The MoU was reached during a visit to Hai Duong by a delegation from Vientiane Police Department led by its deputy head Buathong Phongsavat on the occasion of the 65 th founding anniversary of Hai Duong Police (April 24).
During their working session, the policemen exchanged experience in ensuring political security, social order, and a sense of vigilance over attempts of reactionary and hostile forces, and measures in combating crime, especially drug crimes, contributing to the two countries’ socio-economic development.
This move and the visit reflected solidarity between fraternal Vietnamese and Lao peoples and the two twin provinces of Hai Duong and Vientiane./.
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VN, French doctors talk nuclear medicine
Thua Thien - Hue (VNA) - Over 500 international and domestic delegates attended the third Conference on Vietnam-France Medical Imaging and Nuclear Medicine in the central province of Thua Thien - Hue on April 21.
Jointly organised by the Vietnam Society of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine (VSRNM) and the French Society of Radiology (FSR), the three-day event will introduce programmes on emergency cardiovascular treatment and mental diseases as well as cancer and breast cancer diagnosis.
Hoang Duc Kiet, President of VSRNM said that since the first conference was held in Hanoi in September, 1995, the Vietnamese nuclear medicine sector has received support from the French government, France’s GREF group and FSR with many lectures and scholarships to young Vietnamese doctors.
So far, VSRNM has gathered 800 members as specialists along with modern equipment for imaging diagnosis and nuclear medicine such as digital X-ray and colour ultrasound scanning equipment.
At the opening ceremony, the Hanoi Medical University conferred Honorary Professor titles on professors Philippe Devred, Michel Panuel and Laurent Pierot from France./.
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VN-Qatar aviation, tax agreements take effect
Hanoi (VNA) – The Agreement on Aviation Transport and the Agreement on Double Taxation Avoidance and Prevention of Income Tax Evasion between Vietnam and Qatar have officially come into force.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Qatar Phung The Long and Ambassador Zayed Bin Rashid An Mansour Al-Nuaimi, Director of the Asia-Africa Department of the Qatar Ministry of Foreign Affairs, signed the minutes on the exchange of letters of approval of the Agreement on Aviation Transport in Qatar on April 21.
Zayed Bin Rashid An Mansour Al-Nuaimi also handed over to Long the Qatar Foreign Ministry’s diplomatic note, announcing the effectiveness of the Agreement on Double Taxation Avoidance and Prevention of Income Tax Evasion.
The agreements, which were signed in the Qatar capital city of Doha on March 8, 2009, will create a legal framework for the two nations to step up bilateral cooperation./.
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PM urges Lai Chau to tap land potential
Lai Chau (VNA) – Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has urged the northern mountainous province of Lai Chau to tap local potential in land to achieve a higher economic growth rate.
While working with provincial authorities on April 21, PM Dung told them to take the advantage of the total land area of 9,000 sq.km to develop forests and the wood processing industry, as well as boost agriculture and husbandry.
The Government leader also told the province to take the advantage of investment from the government to rapidly reduce poverty and train human resources.
PM Dung praised Lai Chau for efforts it made since it was re-established seven years ago to obtain remarkable socio-economic achievements, especially high economic growth and rapid poverty reduction, while maintaining national defence and security.
He also praised local authorities and people for strictly implementing Party and Government policies on resettlement for over 11,000 households which had given land for the building of Son La, Lai Chau, Huoi Quang and Ban Chat hydropower plants, making important contributions to the country’s development.
However, Lai Chau is still a poor province with poor infrastructure and a low rate of local residents undergoing vocational training.
PM Dung affirmed that the government will help Lai Chau to grow rapidly and sustainably, focusing on resettlement, hydropower plant development and rare earth processing.
Secretary of the Party’s Committee of Lai Chau Lo Van Giang briefed the PM about the local socio-economic development in the recent past and its preparatory work for the elections to the 13th National Assembly and People's Council at all levels for the 2011-16 term.
In 2011, the province strives to obtain a GDP growth rate of 16 percent and per capita income of 9.2 million VND, reduce the rate of poor households by 5 percent, and ensure all of its communes are accessible by car./.
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VN boosts education, training cooperation with Laos
Vientiane (VNA) – Vietnamese Minister of Education and Training Pham Vu Luan started a five-day visit to Laos on April 21.
The same day, Luan held talks with Lao Education Minister Phankham Viphavanh to review their ministries’ past cooperation and work out plans for 2011 to 2020.
The two sides agreed to boost cooperation in graduate and postgraduate training in the immediate and long terms.
They also agreed to boost the exchange of visits by delegations in many fields and coordinate in implementing a project to enhance the quality and efficiency of cooperation in education and human resource development till 2020.
They will facilitate the exchange of artistic and sport activities in order to develop the traditional friendship, solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries./.
BUSINESS
Foreign investors believe in VN’s investment environment
Hanoi (VNA) – Abundant human resources with enhanced skills together with improved investment attraction policies have made Vietnam attractive to foreign investors.
President of the German Bosch Group’s Gasoline Systems division, Dr. Rolf Bulander, made the remark at a recent interview granted to Thoi bao Ngan hang (Banking Reviews).
Explaining why Bosch decided to inject 55 million EUR into Vietnam , in the context that inflation directly affects domestic production and business, Dr. Rolf Bulander said that Vietnam is a member of the World Trade Organisation with political stability and a growing economy.
Bosch also realised that Asia-Pacific is an emerging market with potentials and the Southeast Asian region alone í expected to account for 30 percent of Bosch’s total revenue in 2015.
The group’s investment in Vietnam , including a 30 million EUR high tech production facility for push-belts used for continuously variable transmission (CVT) in automobiles
in Long Thanh Industrial Park in the southern province of Dong Nai , reflected its commitment of long-term presence and investment in the Southeast Asian country, the President said.
In his opinion, despite the fact that Vietnam’s car manufacturing and supporting industries have yet to develop strongly, Bosch still anticipated the sector’s development potentials.
With a convenient transport location, Vietnam acts as a gateway to many regional countries. Further more, the country has set up good trade relations with Japan and China , which are Bosch’s major markets.
With an expected output of 2.3 million products by 2015, the plant in Long Thanh IP will become a major provider for the whole Asia-Pacific region, he said.
The chairman suggested Vietnam create a open investment attraction policy to become more attractive to foreign investors.
The government should also invest more in supporting industries in order facilitate foreign partners’ investment in hi-tech industries.
Improving human resources quality, upgrading infrastructure and making use of available advantages make Vietnam an attractive destination for foreign investors, Rolf Bulander said./.
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Biggest hydropower plant’s new turbine commissioned
Son La (VNA) – The second turbine of the Son La hydropower plant in the northern mountainous province of Son La started generating power for the national grid on April 20.
The Electricity of Vietnam (EVN) said that the second turbine is expected to ease power shortage during the dry season.
The third turbine of the plant is scheduled to generate electricity by the end of August 2011 and the other remaining turbines, in late 2012.
The first generator has generated 1.1 billion kWh since it was officially commissioned four months ago.
With six turbine groups and a combined capacity of 2,400 MW, Son La is the biggest hydropower project in Vietnam and Southeast Asia. It has a total investment capital of some 42 trillion VND, or more than 2.1 billion USD, and will supply the economy with 10.2 billion kWh of power a year once it swings into full operation in 2012./.
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TH Milk buys sugar mill from UK’s Tate & Lyle
Nghe An (VNA) – TH Milk Food Joint Stock Company of Vietnam has bought the Nghe An Tate & Lyle sugar company from the UK’s Tate & Lyle PLC.
A contract to the effect was signed in Hanoi on April 20.
The company said once the transaction completes, the company, which is currently known as TH true Milk producer, will zone off the materials areas and focus on improving sugarcane yield to help increase income for farmers.
Tate & Lyle PLC built its sugar will in the central province of Nghe An 15 years ago with the Mely sugar trademark./.
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Vietnam’s retail market attracts Thai businesses
Hanoi (VNA) – More than 100 businesses from Thailand are showcasing their products at the fifth Made-in-Thailand Outlet 2011, which opened in Hanoi on April 21.
During the four-day fair, Thai businesses will introduce to Vietnamese customers products such as foods, drinks, household utensils, garments, jewelries, health and beauty care products, auto and bike parts, decorations and souvenirs.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Pham Thi Hong Thanh, Deputy Director of the Asia-Pacific Department under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, said that the fair is a good chance for the two countries’ investors and producers to exchange experience and expand business cooperation.
According to the Trade Commission of the Thai Embassy in Hanoi , the annual trade fair not only aims to promote Thailand ’s products but also offers an opportunity for Thai businesses to study the potential Vietnamese retail market and seek partners.
The event is jointly held by the Thai Ministry of Trade, the Embassy of Thailand in Vietnam and the Vietnam Trade Fair & Advertising Company (Vinexad)./.
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Blue chip trades trump pessimism
Hanoi (VNA) — An active trading on specific blue chips helped stocks on the HCM City market rally on April 20 despite a recording-breaking city inflation rate in April, its highest since May 2008.
The HCM Stock Exchange's VN-Index rose 1.05 percent to 458.5 points.
Activity remained modest with just 21 million shares, worth a value of 453.6 billion VND (21.8 million USD), traded.
Only 13 of 288 listed stocks and fund certificates hit their ceiling prices in the session, including blue chips Vinpearland (VPL) up 4.9 percent to 64,000 VND, insurer Bao Viet Holdings (BVH) up 4.7 percent to 78,500 VND, and PetroVietnam Finance (PVF) up 4.6 percent to 20,600 VND.
Brokers in a Hanoi-based securities company expressed the view that rally in the southern market was based on specific blue chips which had lured significant attention from foreign investors.
Foreign investors contributed 60-70 percent of trading on the BVH, VPL and PVF codes, with strong interest in BVH, the brokers said, adding the share rose to its ceiling prices three times during the session.
The insurer on April 19 announced its business strategy for the 2011-15 period, of which charter capital growth was estimated at 9.5 trillion VND (452.4 million USD) by 2015 to meet the subsidiaries' demands on business expansion while ownership equity would reach 14.3 trillion VND (681 million USD).
Total revenue at CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) will reach 12 percent growth to 2.1-2.2 trillion VND (100-101 million USD) to 2015; post tax profit 1.5-1.7 trillion VND (71.4-81 million USD) and a dividend payment in 2015 was expected to be 14-16 percent.
The group will pay shareholders a 2010 dividend payment of 1,200 VND per share for 2010 earnings, equivalent to a total of 816.5 billion VND (38.9 million USD) in dividend payments. This is equivalent to 12 percent of the new charter capital, higher than the 11 percent target set at the 2010 annual general meeting.
Masan Group (MSN), Phu My Fertiliser (DPM) and VietinBank (CTG) also registered slight gains.
Eximbank (EIB) saw the highest trading volume of 775,050 shares after closing unchanged to 14,600 VND.
Foreign investors continued buying more than selling in HCM City , buying 3.4 million shares and selling 2.3 million.
Meanwhile, the HNX-Index on the Hanoi market fell 0.19 percent to finish the session at 86 points. Losers outnumbered gainers by 167-100.
The value of the market remained modest at 276.1 billion VND (13.1 million USD) on a total volume of 21 million traded shares.
VNDirect Securities (VND) was the most actively traded stock, with 2.1 million shares changing hands. The VND closed up 1.5 percent to 14,000 VND. The company on April 20 announced a shift in its investment portfolio to IPA Asset Management, in order to end institutional trading from this June.
The company set a contribution of 30-40 percent from brokering provision into its earnings this year. /.
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US Department of Agriculture okays rambutan from Vietnam
Washington (VNA) - Fresh rambutan from Vietnam (and Malaysia) can now be imported to the US, provided it is irradiated and meets other phytosanatiary requirements, according to a notice published in the Federal Register on April 19.
The notice from the US Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) states that a pest-risk analysis showed that the irradiation and phytosanitary measures "will be sufficient to mitigate the risks".
Other requirements for the rambutan from Vietnam include rambutan may be imported only for commercial consignments; the fruit must be irradiated in accordance with US law; and if irradiation takes place outside of the US, each consignment must be pre-cleared by APHIS inspectors in the country of origin.
Irradiated rambutan are already allowed into the US from Hawaii and Thailand . The fruit can be imported into the US from Mexico and central America without irradiation./.
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Gov’t leader hails Son La power plant as model
Son La (VNA) – The Son La hydroelectric power plant is a key national project and a model of construction progress, quality and labour safety that should be applied to other major projects.
Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung delivered this comment at a ceremony held on April 21 to mark the generation of electricity from turbine No. 2 and the 1 billionth kWh produced by turbine No. 1 at the Son La power plant in the northern Son La province.
The PM praised the efforts of design and construction units as well as officials and workers to overcome all difficulties and hardships to complete turbine No. 2 ahead of schedule.
PM Dung also requested the project’s investors, design and construction units, officials, engineers and workers continue to speed up the installation of turbines No. 3 and No. 4 to accomplish them in August and December as planned.
The Son La hydroelectric power plant, the largest of its kind in Southeast Asia, is invested, designed, built and operated by Vietnam itself. It was put into operation three years ahead of schedule.
With six turbine groups and a combined capacity of 2,400 MW, the project has a total investment capital of some 42 trillion VND, or more than 2.1 billion USD, and will supply the economy with 10.2 billion kWh of power a year once it swings into full operation in 2012.
Also on April 21, PM Dung and leaders of relevant ministries and agencies made field trips to the Ban Chat and Huoi Quang hydroelectric power plants in the northern mountainous provinces of Lai Chau and Son La, respectively./.
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Italian life insurance group enters Vietnam
Roma (VNA) - The Vietnamese Ministry of Finance has granted an operating licence to the Generali Vietnam Life Insurance Company, a branch of Italy’s leading life insurance group Assicurazioni Generali S.p.A.
Wholly owned by the Generali group, the company is headquartered in Ho Chi Minh City, where a representative office opened at the end of 2009, Generali said on April 21.
Generali highly valued the untapped potential of the Vietnamese insurance sector, as evidenced by its growth rate of 22 percent last year, a population of 88 million people coupled with a low insurance penetration ratio of 1.6 percent of GDP and a domestic saving ratio close to 30 percent of GDP.
Last year, Generali’s revenues from insurance operations in Asia rose by 43.6 percent. Established in 1831 in Trieste, last year, Assicurazioni Generali S.p.A was assessed the world’s second largest insurance supplier in terms of profitability, behind AXA group of France./.
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