October 25 – 31: President addresses online high-level debate on UN-AU cooperation

Nhan Dan Online reviews the notable events that made headlines over the past week.

President Nguyen Xuan Phuc addresses online high-level debate on UN-AU cooperation (Photo: VNA)
President Nguyen Xuan Phuc addresses online high-level debate on UN-AU cooperation (Photo: VNA)

President addresses online high-level debate on UN-AU cooperation

President Nguyen Xuan Phuc attended the virtual high-level open debate on cooperation between the United Nations (UN) and the African Union (AU) on October 28, at the invitation of his Kenyan counterpart Uhuru Kenyatta, who holds the rotating Presidency of the UN Security Council (UNSC) in October 2021.

The debate took the theme “Renewing solidarity to successfully deliver peace and security in a changing conflict environment”. Within the event, the UNSC adopted its Presidential Statement on strengthening cooperation between the UN and the AU.

In his speech, President Nguyen Xuan Phuc stressed that Vietnam always stands side by side with African nations to overcome difficulties, expand effective coordination towards peace and development, and offer medical supplies to fight the pandemic.

He also expressed his wish that Vietnam would soon become an observer of the AU after the country had sent many military officers and doctors to join UN missions in South Sudan and the Central African Republic.

Prime Minister co-chairs online WEF country strategic dialogue on Vietnam

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on October 29 co-chairs the dialogue from Hanoi (Photo: VNA)

On October 29, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh co-chaired the WEF’s Country Strategic Dialogue on Vietnam 2021 via videoconference, for the first time, at the invitation of WEF Founder and Executive Chairman Klaus Schwab.

Themed “Public Private Partnership - The Key Driver for Comprehensive Recovery and Sustainable, Resilient and Innovative Growth”, the dialogue saw the participation of WEF President Borge Brende, ministers and leaders of Vietnamese agencies along with 70 global and regional leaders of the world’s leading groups and businesses.

The Country Strategic Dialogue on Vietnam was one of the most important events in the WEF agenda in 2021 to support global corporations in expanding their investment and business activities and anticipating new trends in the context of the global economy on the way to recovery.

It was also an important event for the Vietnamese Prime Minister to discuss directly with global business leaders in order to mobilise all resources for the implementation of the country’s socio-economic recovery and development plans.

Prime Minister attends 38th, 39th ASEAN Summits via video conference

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attended the 38th and 39th ASEAN Summits and related summits via video conference on October 26 – 28 at the invitation of the Sultan of Brunei Darussalam – Chair of ASEAN 2021.

At the 38th ASEAN Summit, ASEAN leader adopted the ASEAN Travel Corridor Arrangement Framework, and agreed to actively consider the possibility of mutual recognising and applying electronic vaccination certificates.

At the 39th ASEAN Summit, leaders shared the view that ASEAN needs to work harder to strengthen and deepen its partnerships, encourage the partners to support and practically contribute to the building of the ASEAN Community, and join efforts to deal with emerging challenges.

Vietnam engaged in all discussions of the meetings which took place over a course of three days from October 26-28, many initiatives raised by Vietnam won the support of other countries.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s remarks on the new strategy with an all-people approach were welcomed by other participating countries. Vietnam’s proposals regarding sustainable recovery have also drawn the attention of the delegates.

Nhan Dan Newspaper launches a special website on Party chief's article

Nhan Dan Newspaper launches a special website on Party chief's article

Nhan Dan Newspaper on October 26 officially launched a special website featuring the core contents of Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong’s article “Several theoretical and practical issues on socialism and the pathway towards socialism in Vietnam” and the enthusiastic and profound opinions of officials, party members and people, as well as international scholars and friends.

The website at http://cnxh.nhandan.vn is one of the steps aiming towards the realisation of Nhan Dan Newspaper’s multi-platform and multi-media development strategy, combining official and reliable information with technologies and creative ideas in order to disseminate the Party’s guidelines and State’s policies and laws in vivid manner.

The website consists of two main parts, including the core contents of the Party chief's article, and opinions proposed by officials, people, international scholar and friends in response to this important article.

Tra Vinh wax coconuts enter Australian market

The first batch of wax coconuts from the Mekong Delta province of Tra Vinh exported to Australia, worth AUD 70,000 (US$52,620), has sold out after a short time of marketing, according to the Vietnam Trade Office in Australia.

This is the first time fresh wax coconuts have been exported by air to the country, it noted, adding that this shipment is the result of the work of Hoa Uu Dam Trading and Service Co., Ltd, and the trade office in a programme to develop trademarks and improve the value of Vietnamese agricultural products in Australia.

Previously, only a small amount of Tra Vinh waxy coconuts, mainly frozen ones, had been exported to Australia, the trade office said. Tra Vinh fresh waxed coconuts are sold at a price of AUD 30 to AUD 35 (about US$22-US$26) per coconut.

Vietnamese teacher receives Thailand’s Princess Award for outstanding achievements in education

Thai Ambassador to Vietnam Nikorndej Balankura presents the award to Ha Anh Phuong (Photo: VNA)

Ha Anh Phuong, a high school English teacher from northern Phu Tho Province, was granted Thailand’s 2021 Princess Maha Chakri Award on October 29.

The Muong ethnic teacher has been selected as one of the eleven educators from Southeast Asian countries to receive the award for their outstanding achievements in education.

Ha Anh Phuong is known for her ‘borderless classroom model’, in which she connects her students to their peers around the world via video call. The opportunities to practise English with foreigners from over 50 countries have not only improved their language skills but also boosted their confidence, soft skills, and intercultural awareness, allowing them to become global citizens.

Ministry licences Pfizer, Moderna vaccines for inoculation of children

The Ministry of Health has licenced COVID-19 Pfizer and Moderna vaccines for inoculation of children aged from 12-17.

Deputy Minister of Health Do Xuan Tuyen said on October 29 that children living in high-risk areas will be inoculated first.

According to the Deputy Minister, Vietnam has to date administered over 78 million doses of vaccines of all kinds. The health sector is giving priority to vaccinating children aged from 16-17.

Parents or guardians of children are required to sign papers allowing the vaccination.

International centres for physics, mathematics research launched

Delegates at the inaugural of the ICP and ICRTM (Photo: daibieunhandan.vn)

Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, in coordination with the Ministry of Science and Technology, inaugurated the International Centre for Physics (ICP) and the International Centre for Mathematical Research and Training (ICRTM) on October 29.

The two centres were established under the auspices of UNESCO to contribute to the realisation of strategic goals on scientific-technological development and international commitments of the Government, and promote international cooperation in the related fields.

Their main activities include providing international training in physics and mathematics; conducting international level physics and mathematics studies; and advising policy makers, educators and the public in the fields of physics and mathematics.

Five Vietnamese named in world's top 10,000 scientists

Five Vietnamese have been named in the list of the world’s top 10,000 scientists as recently released by the US’s PLOS Biology Journal.

They include Prof. Dr. Nguyen Dinh Duc from Vietnam National University (VNU) – Hanoi who ranked 5,949th globally and 96th in the engineering field; Asso. Prof. Dr. Le Hoang Son from VNU-Hanoi at 6,766th place, Prof. Dr. Nguyen Xuan Hung from Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology at 6,818th; Prof. Dr. Bui Tien Dieu from Duy Tan University at 9,488th, and Prof. Dr. Vo Xuan Vinh from University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City at 9,528th.

Among them, Prof. Dr. Nguyen Dinh Duc, Prof. Dr. Nguyen Xuan Hung and Asso. Prof Dr. Le Hoang Son have been named in the list for three consecutive years from 2019 to 2021.

Vietnam honoured as World's, Asia's Best Golf Destination 2021

A golf course in Hanoi, Vietnam. (Photo courtesy of World Golf Awards)

Vietnam is named the World's and Asia's Best Golf Destination 2021 at the eighth annual World Golf Awards held in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates.

It is the second year that Vietnam has been honoured with the world title and the fifth consecutive year with the Asian title since 2017.

Earlier, the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism was honoured as Asia's Leading Tourist Board 2021 of the 28th World Travel Awards, having received the title for the first time in 2017.

The WTA also honoured Vietnam as Asia’s Leading Sustainable Tourism Destination, and Hoi An was named Asia’s Leading Cultural City Destination, Ha Long Bay as Asia’s Leading Tourist Attraction, and Cuc Phuong National Park as Asia’s Leading National Park.

Vietnam in Group C of 2022 AFC Women's Asian Cup

Vietnam are in Group C of the 2022 AFC Women's Asian Cup following a draw held at the Asian Football Confederation (AFC)’s headquarters in Malaysia on October 28.

They are in the same group with reigning champions Japan, the Republic of Korea and Myanmar.

The tournament is scheduled to take place in India from January 20 to February 6, 2022.

For the first time in history, the Women's Asian Cup is to be expanded from eight teams to twelve. After the group stage, top eight squads will advance to the quarterfinals.

The tourney will serve as the continental qualification for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

Vietnamese female boxer fourth in world mini-flyweight rankings

Boxer Nguyen Thi Thu Nhi wins first-ever WBO world belt for Vietnam (Photo: WBO)

Female boxer Nguyen Thi Thu Nhi moved up by one spot to fourth place in the world’s mini-flyweight rankings, according to the latest ranking by boxing's official record keeper BoxRec.

With a cumulative 15.32 points, Nhi is among four boxers earning 3.5-star level in this weight class.

She made history for becoming Vietnam's first World Boxing Organisation champion after winning a WBO belt on October 23 in Ansan, the Republic of Korea.

Nhi’s triumph also broke the seven-year dominance of Japanese boxers in the mini-flyweight class.