Party’s communications and education sector marks 90th anniversary
A ceremony was held in Hanoi on August 1 to mark the 90th anniversary of the Party’s communications and education sector (August 1, 1930-2020). On August 1, 1930, the Commission for Propaganda and Communications of the Communist Party of Vietnam published a document titled “International Red Day, August 1”, which attracted great attention from the people and mobilised revolutionary masses in the country to fight against imperialism and oppression while opposing aggressive wars and supporting the national liberation movement.
In 2000, the Politburo decided to choose August 1 as the anniversary day of the Party’s communications and education sector. Speaking at the ceremony, Politburo member Vo Van Thuong affirmed that over the past 90 years, the communications and education sector has become an inseparable part of the revolutionary cause of the Party and nation.
Winners of National External Information Service Awards honoured
NA Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan (fifth from right, first row) and Head of the Party Central Committee's Commission for Communication and Education Vo Van Thuong (fourth from left) present the first prizes to the winning authors.
Journalistic works and productions related to the COVID-19 pandemic dominated the list of winners at this year’s National External Information Service Awards held in Hanoi on the night of July 28.
The National External Information Service Awards 2019 attracted nearly 1,300 entries in 17 languages in various categories including print news in Vietnamese, e-newspaper in Vietnamese, print newspapers in foreign languages, e-newspapers in foreign languages, radio, television, photos and books. Nhan Dan (People) Newspaper won 19 prizes, including one first prize, three second prizes, four third prizes and 11 consolation prizes
EVFTA an important boost to exports
The EU - Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) officially comes into effect on August 1, which is expected to be an important push for Vietnam's exports to the EU, the second largest import market in the world.
In fact, the EU has been one of Vietnam's leading trading partners for many years, with two-way trade revenue of US$56.4 billion in 2019, including revenue of US$41.5 billion from Vietnam’s exports to the EU and US$14.9 billion from Vietnam’s imports from the EU.
Under the EVFTA, Vietnamese businesses will have the opportunity to access a market with nearly 500 million people, an average GDP of over US$35,000 and a zero tax rate right from the moment the agreement takes effect on more than 85% of the tax lines.
AIPA steps up parliamentary cooperation in education and culture
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The virtual conference of the AIPA - ECC
As Chair of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) for 2019-2020, the Vietnamese National Assembly (NA) hosted a virtual conference on “Parliamentary Partnership on Educational and Cultural Cooperation for Sustainable Development” (AIPA ECC) on July 30.
Initiated by host Vietnam, this meeting aims to provide an chance for member parliaments and partners to discuss AIPA cooperation in the fields of education and culture to realise the UN 2020 Agenda for Sustainable Development, thereby contributing to maintaining cultural identity while building a prosperous ASEAN community.
In his opening remarks, NA Vice Chairman Phung Quoc Hien stated that the world is facing many serious and urgent issues such as environmental pollution, exhaustion of resources, ecological imbalance, ethnic conflict, consequences of development and urbanisation, and especially the current COVID-19 pandemic. These hinder the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which includes 17 goals on ending poverty, protecting the planet and ensuring prosperity for all.
Vietnam to post world’s fifth-highest economic growth: WB
Vietnam is projected to have the fifth highest economic growth in the world this year while the country has a unique opportunity to increase its footprint in the global economy in both trade and investment, Stefanie Stallmeister, World Bank Acting Country Director for Vietnam, has said. She made the remarks during the unveiling of the WB’s report "What will be the new normal for Vietnam?" on July 30.
The COVID-19 pandemic is the largest economic shock for the past 35 years, posing risks in the health and economic sectors, she added. About 30 million workhands, equivalent to half of the country’s workforce, have been affected by the pandemic. The report argued that Vietnam should not envision a return to the old normal, but rather should define what will be the new normal as the pandemic has changed so many aspects of how people live, work, and communicate. The main challenge for Vietnam will be finding new drivers of growth to consolidate the expected recovery.
Vietnam confirms new COVID-19 cases
Returnees from the outbreak in the central city of Da Nang test for COVID-19. (Photo: VNA)
Over the past week, Vietnam confirmed several new locally transmitted cases of COVID-19 in some localities with links to the Da Nang hospital hot spot.
According to the National Steering Committee on COVID-19 Prevention and Control, as of August 3 morning, the national tally currently stands at 621, of which 307 were imported cases that were quarantined right upon entry.
The committee’s treatment sub-committee reported that 373 cases have recovered so far. Among the remaining active patients, ten have tested negative for the coronavirus once and six at least twice. There have been sixth deaths.
Vietnam wins four gold medals at International Chemistry Olympiad
All four members of the Vietnamese team that participated in the recent 52nd International Chemistry Olympiad won gold medals, as announced by the Ministry of Education and Training on July 30.
The 52nd International Chemistry Olympiad was held online in Turkey in the context of the complicated developments of the COVID-19 pandemic worldwide. The event attracted the participation of 60 countries and territories from around the world.
Vietnam ranks 10th globally in IPv6 adoption
Vietnam’s adoption of the Internet’s latest addressing scheme, known as IPv6, reached 44% as of June 2020, ranking 10th in the world (the global average is 22%). The information was released by the Vietnam Internet Network Information Centre on July 27.
Vietnam now has more than 36 million IPv6 users, and 25 million 3G/4G mobile subscribers. IPv6 is paving the way for an explosion of new smartphones, tablets, IoT devices and other Internet-enabled devices, altering the way people, organisations and governments are connected.
