1. 85th anniversary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) celebrated nationwide
A series of activities were held throughout the country in the past days to mark the 85th anniversary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) (February 3) including senior leaders' visits to former Party leaders and national contributors, meetings, seminars, exchanges and art performances at localities nationwide.
Vietnamese Embassies abroad also held a range of activities to celebrate the founding of the CPV.
Worldwide leaders also sent congratulatory messages to Vietnam on the founding of the CPV including Laos, Cambodia, China, the Republic of Korea (RoK) and others.
2. Party, State leaders pay Tet visits to localities nationwide
Party and State leaders visited localities across the country to present Tet gifts to needy and disadvantaged people and to wish them a happy Tet holiday.
Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong visited Quang Binh and Quang Tri provinces while President Truong Tan Sang visited Hai Duong and Yen Bai provinces and others.
3. Prime Minister launches Ca Mau gas processing plant project
PM Nguyen Tan Dung on February 7 attended a ceremony to launch construction of the Ca Mau Gas Processing Plant with a total investment of over US$470 million.
The project will install an additional 37 kilometres of offshore pipeline to increase the transport capacity of the PM3 - Ca Mau pipeline system from 5.8 million to 6.95 million cubic metres per day. Other parts of the project include a gas processing plant with a daily capacity of 6.2 million cubic metres, a system of warehouses capable of storing 8,000 tonnes of liquefied petroleum gas and 3,000 cubic metres of gas condensate.
The PM3 - Ca Mau pipeline is part of the Ca Mau Gas - Power - Fertiliser Complex, a key national project designed to utilise the gas reserves to boost economic development of the south-western region.
4. Three major roads in Hanoi inaugurated
Three major roads named after influential figures Vo Nguyen Giap, Vo Chi Cong and Vo Van Kiet were inaugurated in Hanoi on February 7.
The Vo Chi Cong road, with a total length of 4.25 kilometres and width of 57.5 – 64.5 metres, connects the south of Nhat Tan bridge with Tay Ho and Cau Giay districts; meanwhile the 10.5 kilometre long and 70-100 metre wide Vo Nguyen Giap road links the north of the bridge to Noi Bai International Airport, passing through Dong Anh and Me Linh districts.
The Vo Van Kiet Street measures 10 kilometres in length and 23 metres in width, connecting Thang Long Bridge and Noi Bai Airport.
5. Single-stop inspection system launched at Lao Bao-Dansavanh crossing
Vietnam and Laos have launched a single-stop and single window inspection system at the Lao Bao-Dansavanh checkpoint on February 6 in a move to facilitate trade between the two countries and along the East-West Economic Corridor.
The launch will encourage countries to expand the model to other international checkpoints along the East-West Economic Corridor, as part of the Cross-Border Transport Agreement in the Greater Mekong Subregion.
The launch of the single-stop system at the Lao Bao-Dansavanh is expected to help transform landlocked Laos into a transit hub in the GMS and help Quang Tri and Savannakhet provinces, where the crossing is located, to utilise their advantages for economic development.
6. HCM City - Long Thanh - Dau Giay expressway opens
Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung cut the ribbon to officially open the Ho Chi Minh City-Long Thanh-Dau Giay Expressway on February 8, which is expected to help ease traffic congestion, reduce transport cost and time, and promote trade between Ho Chi Minh City and its vicinities.
The 55-kilometre highway connecting National Highway 51 and north-south National Highway 1A has 8 lanes, a maximum vehicle speed of 80-120 kilometres per hour, and an initial construction cost of VND20.63 trillion (US$970 million).
The highway was funded by the Asia Development Bank (ADB), the Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA)’s official development assistance (ODA), and the Government of Vietnam.
7. Forum discusses Mekong Delta sustainable development
The Mekong Delta Forum 2015 opened in Ho Chi Minh City on February 2, aimed at gathering initiatives to integrate strategies for the sustainable development of the Mekong Delta region in the context of climate change challenges.
The two day event is co-organised by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the World Bank (WB) in Vietnam and other development partners.
The forum focuses on long-term response visions for the Mekong Delta region, such as strengthening the forecast of natural disasters, floods, drought, salt water intrusion in the Mekong Delta; reviewing and supplementing development planning, especially sea dike and reservoir development plans; and building a network monitoring climate change and sea level rise for the Mekong Delta region.
8. New flora species discovered in Xuan Son National Park
Two new Castanopsis (chinquapin) species have recently been discovered in the Xuan Son National Park in the northern midland province of Phu Tho, bringing the total number of the species of the genus found in the park to eight.
Castanopsis grandicicatricata was found 459 metres above sea level on the parks limestone mountain. It has a thick papery leafy texture, cupules 6 – 7 centimetres in diameter, and a scar covering two-thirds of a nut, said Dr Vuong Duy Hung from the Vietnam Forestry University’s Faculty of Forest Resources and Environment Management.
About 832 metres above sea level, Castanopsis multiporcata has 5 – 8 centimetre-long abaxial leaf blades, a firm papery leafy texture, 6 - 10 pairs of secondary veins, petioles 0.3 - 0.7 centimetres long, cupules 2 - 2.5 centimetre in diameter, and a concave scar.
