Party leader requests better results in corruption fight
General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Nguyen Phu Trong on August 5 chaired the 20th meeting of the Central Steering Committee for Corruption Prevention and Control.
The meeting, the first since the CPV convened its 13th National Congress earlier this year, aimed at reviewing the fight against corruption in the first half of 2021, defining key tasks for the second half and making decisions on several important issues.
Party General Secretary Trong, who is also head of the steering committee, requested it to direct relevant agencies to make greater efforts, bring into full play the strength of the entire people and the entire political system.
The steering committee should do better, achieve higher quality, and pay more attention to self-inspection and self-settlement, he said.
Flag salute ceremony celebrates ASEAN’s 54th founding anniversary in Hanoi
Delegates at the ceremony (Photo: VNA)
The Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs on August 8 held a virtual ASEAN flag salute ceremony to celebrate the bloc’s 54th founding anniversary (August 8, 1967) and 26 years of Vietnam’s membership of the association.
The ceremony was chaired by Son, with the attendance of Deputy FM and Head of Vietnam's SOM ASEAN Nguyen Quoc Dung, Honorary President of the ASEAN Women’s Circle of Hanoi (AWCH) Vu Thi Bich Ngoc, and the participation via videoconference of ambassadors and representatives from nine embassies of ASEAN member countries in Hanoi.
The annual event aims to honour the association’s common values and commitments to promote solidarity, friendship and cooperation under the common house of ASEAN Community.
Addressing the ceremony, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son highlighted that the great achievements of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are the fruits of restless efforts in the cooperation process of people from ASEAN member countries.
On the occasion, the minister announced the implementation of a decision of ASEAN leaders to encourage the regular hanging of the ASEAN flag at government offices from August 8.
Vietnam exports 22 tonnes of frozen Indochina Dragonplum fruit to Australia
It is the first time a large batch of 22 tonnes of frozen fruits of Indochina Dragonplum (scientific name Dracontomelon duperreanum) trees from Vietnam has been shipped to Australia, the Vietnam Trade Office in Australia said last week.
With the lowest selling price of 18 AUD per kg in the Australian market, the shipment would fetch more than 390,000 AUD.
As such, with its harvest season lasting from June to September, the potential of the export of the fruit is not inferior to that of other fruits being exported to Australia.
The trade office has worked closely with the Uu Dam company in promoting the fruit in Australia via advertisement on social networks targeting key consumption areas, sales promotion with prizes, and step-by-step introduction to large distribution systems. The office will soon launch an English-language cooking book featuring recipes using the fruit.
Vietnam becomes second largest garment exporter
Vietnam becomes second largest garment exporter. (Photo: VNA)
Vietnam has surpassed Bangladesh as the world’s second largest exporter of ready-made garments (RMG), Fashion United, an international B2B fashion platform, quoted the World Trade Statistical Review 2021 released by World Trade Organization (WTO).
Bangladesh is now in third position, with China remaining the largest exporter accounting for 31.6 market share despite a 7% decrease in 2020, valuing its exports at US$142 billion, said the report.
Vietnam’s clothing exports increased by 6.4% in 2020 with a market value of US$29 billion. Over the past decade, Vietnam’s share in the global apparel export market surged, while Bangladesh’s export growth dropped from 6.8% to 6.3% in 2020.
Bangladesh output declined during the pandemic, with factories closed as many western brands cancelled orders or delaying payments. Ongoing compliance issues have also forced closures while Vietnam managed to diversify its production making not just low-end, fast fashion garments but also mid and high-end clothing and accessories.
Urgent meeting held to evaluate homegrown COVID-19 vaccine Nano Covax
The National Ethics Committee in Biomedical Research under the Ministry of Health on August 7 held an urgent online meeting to review the results of the first phase of clinical trials of Vietnam’s domestically developed COVID-19 vaccine, Nano Covax, and to pass the mid-term assessment of its second phase.
Nano Covax has been developed by the Nanogen Pharmaceutical Biotechnology JSC based on recombinant DNA/protein technology since May 2020. Results from the first two trial phases showed that all volunteers developed antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2.
At the meeting, the committee agreed to accept the results of the first phase with data collected until the sixth month from the first dose of the phase. With outcomes recorded from the mid-term evaluation for the second phase to the present time, the committee decided to continue to allow the implementation of the third phase with an optimal dosage of 25mcg.
All three dosages of 25mcg, 50mcg, and 75mcg of the vaccine trialled in the first two phases provided largely similar level of immune responses against the novel coronavirus.
Vietnam secures three golds at International Chemistry Olympiad
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Vietnamese students secure three gold medals and one silver at the International Chemistry Olympiad 2021.
All Vietnamese candidates at the 53rd International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO 2021) won medals, which consisted of three gold and one silver medals.
The IChO 2021, virtually hosted by Japan from July 25 to August 2, attracted contestants from 79 countries and territories worldwide.
Previously, Vietnamese students also achieved excellent results at international Physics, Biology and Mathematical Olympiads.
All 37 students who have joined Olympiads this year have secured medals, bringing home a total of 12 gold, 13 silver and 10 bronze medals.
Vietnam’s army team arrives in Russia for International Army Games
A delegation of the Vietnam People’s Army arrived in Moscow, Russia, on August 3 morning (Russia time) to compete in the 2021 International Army Games, to be held later this month.
The Vietnamese team comprises nearly 200 officers and soldiers. It will join various events, including Tank Biathlon, Safe Route, Sea Cup, True Friend, Sniper Frontier, Gunsmith Master, Masters of Artillery Fire, Clear Sky, Safe Environment, Military Medical Relay Race, and Field Kitchen.
Participants of the True Friend category will travel to Algeria for the competition.
It is the fourth time Vietnam has participated in the competition. It also marks the first time Vietnam has hosted sniper and rescue events of the Games. The Vietnam People’s Navy has also sent a fleet comprising frigates 015-Tran Hung Dao and 016-Quang Trung to take part in the Sea Cup event for the first time.
The 2021 Army Games will be launched on August 22 across 12 host countries and territories. A total of 277 teams from more than 40 countries and territories are expected to compete in 36 categories this year.
Vietnamese GM Le Quang Liem storms into Chessable Masters decider after nail-biting semifinal win
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GM Le Quang Liem' display at the Chessable Masters is his best-ever performance against world No. 5 Levon Aronian.
Vietnam’s No. 1 chess player Le Quang Liem cruised past world No. 5 Levon Aronian in a thrilling semifinal tie-break early on August 7 (Vietnamese time) to progress to the title match of the ongoing Chessable Masters tournament played online on Chess24.com.
The two-day last-four round featured four rapid chess games played by each competitor per day. In the event of a draw, a blitz tie-break would be applied to determine the semifinalist.
On the first day of the semifinal, world No. 32 Liem delivered a blistering display shooting down Aronian 3-1 (two wins and two draws) to put the Armenian on the brink of being knocked out of the title race.
However, on the second day, Aronian found back his rhythm winning 2.5-1.5 against the Vietnamese star to bring the semifinal clash into the tie-break, during which Liem again showcased amazing form to force his rival to admit defeat after three games (one win and two draws for Liem).
Liem’s display at the Chessable Masters was his best-ever performance against world No. 5 Aronian.
