Preparations for 13th National Party Congress basically completed
On January 22, Politburo member and permanent member of the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat Tran Quoc Vuong inspected the preparations for the 13th National Party Congress, which is scheduled to begin next week at the National Convention Centre in Hanoi.
Vuong, who is also head of the organising board of the congress, supervised the rehearsal of the flag-salute ceremony, music performances, film screenings and taking photos of congress delegates.
The Party official was reported that all the preparations for the congress have been basically completed, from security to logistics and reception. Security for delegates and guests is being ensured strictly and at the highest level.
He reiterated that there should be no mistakes in ensuring the success of the congress, calling for the joint efforts of the entire Party and people for the upcoming important political event.
Gifts presented to needy people as Tet draws near
Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung presents gifts to needy people and policy beneficiaries in Viet Tri City, Phu Tho Province on January 20
Officials have paid visits to ethnic minorities, poor workers, and policy beneficiaries nationwide ahead of the Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday.
The Vietnam General Confederation of Labour have also offered free air and bus tickets to trade union members and employees in difficult circumstances to help them return home to celebrate Tet with their families.
On the occasion, Tet gifts have been also presented to policy families, local authorities, border soldiers and the local people in border and remotes areas across the country in order to help them celebrate a warm and happy Tet festival.
Vietnam becomes China’s sixth largest trading partner
Vietnam became the sixth largest trading partner of China in 2020, up two places compared with 2019.
According to preliminary statistics from Vietnam Customs, two-way trade revenue between Vietnam and China reached US$133.09 billion in 2020, up 13.8% over 2019, despite the negative economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Vietnam posted export revenue from China of US$48.9 billion in 2020, up 17.9%, and import revenue of US$84.1 billion, up 11.5% over the same period in 2019. Thus, Vietnam suffered a trade deficit of US$35.2 billion, an increase of 3.74% against 2019.
China continues to be the country’s largest trading partner, the largest commodity supplier to the market and the second largest export market of Vietnam (after the US).
Vaccine female researcher honoured with Labour Hero title
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Prof., Dr. Huynh Thi Phuong Lien (L) receives the “Labour Hero in Renewal Period” title from Vice President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh. (Photo: moh.gov.vn)
Prof., Dr. Huynh Thi Phuong Lien (L) receives the “Labour Hero in Renewal Period” title from Vice President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh. (Photo: moh.gov.vn)
Vaccine researcher Prof., Dr. Huynh Thi Phuong Lien was presented with the title of “Labour Hero in Renewal Period” at a ceremony held in Hanoi on January 19 in recognition of her great contributions to the health sector in the 2009-2019 period.
Lien, who is a senior specialist from the Company for Vaccine and Biological Production No.1 (Vabiotech) under the Ministry of Health, and her colleagues from Vabiotech, successfully produced vaccines in prevention of cholera, typhoid, smallpox, and Japanese encephalitis, in addition to the implementation of 12 State-level scientific research projects and the publication of 112 others in prestigious scientific journals.
The 80-year-old scientist devoted her 53 years from 1966 to 2019 to scientific research, making great contributions to promoting Vietnam’s vaccine production industry and the preventive medicine sector.
Vietnam’s second COVID-19 vaccine candidate enters human trials
A ceremony was held at the Hanoi Medical University on January 21 to kick-start clinical trials of COVIVAC, Vietnam’s second COVID-19 vaccine candidate, developed based on the new highly-infectious coronavirus variants.
The home-grown vaccine has been developed by the Nha Trang-based Institute of Vaccines and Medical Biologicals (IVAC) and the Hanoi Medical University since last May, using primary chicken embryo cell culture, a technique the institute used previously to successfully produce seasonal flu vaccines.
There will be two phases in the trial, with the first to be conducted on five groups of volunteers totalling 120 people. Each group will be given two shots 28 days apart, with doses of either 1mcg, 3mcg, or 10mcg.
The volunteers, aged 18 to 59, have been recruited by the research team. The first shot is scheduled to be injected at the Hanoi Medical University in February.
Vietnam’s wonders promoted on Google Arts & Culture
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Delegates at the launch ceremony of the ‘Wonders of Vietnam’ project (Photo: VOV)
On January 21, the online platform Google Arts & Culture announced the Wonders of Vietnam project to honour the country’s natural landscapes, tangible and intangible heritages recognised by the UNESCO.
The project is a joint effort among the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the departments of tourism of Da Nang City and the provinces of Quang Nam, Thua Thien-Hue and Quang Binh to popularise Vietnam’s beauty to the world.
It features 35 exhibitions with 1,369 photos, panoramic pictures and videos in both Vietnamese and English languages. Photographer Tran Tuan Viet, winner of the National Geographic Awards, supplied more than 1,000 photos to the project.
Google also advertised the project on international channels, from the Google Arts & Culture website to its social media page and Youtube.
Footballer Nguyen Van Quyet named Vietnam’s most valuable athlete in 2020
Hanoi FC striker Nguyen Van Quyet, who recently won the 2020 Vietnamese Golden Ball, has been honoured as the most valuable athlete of the country in 2020.
According to the voting results announced by the General Department of Sports and Physical Training on January 23, 29-year-old Quyet topped the list of 10 outstanding Vietnamese athletes with 534 points. Boxer Nguyen Van Duong followed Quyet in second position with 517 points.
For leading Viettel FC to the V.League 1 title right in his debut season, manager Truong Viet Hoang was convincingly named the most outstanding trainer of 2020 with 174 points, 35 points clear of the runner-up Doan Thi Kim Chi (female football).
Cao Ngoc Hung (track and field) was voted as the most valuable athlete with a disability with 378 points following his three gold medals won at the national championships, while track and field trainer Dang Van Phuc won the vote for ‘Most outstanding trainer for disabled athletes’ with 213 points.
