People at the roundtable conference. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam-Russia roundtable conference on language in diplomatic activities held

A hybrid roundtable conference on "Vietnam - Russia relations: experience in diplomatic activities" was held on March 30 at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO) under Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs with the participation of former, current, and future diplomats.

The event, which also saw representatives from the Russian Embassy in Hanoi and the Russian Consulate General in Da Nang City, aimed to share experiences and difficulties relating to language and interpretation.

Speaking at the event, Ivan Nesterov, Counselor from the Russian Foreign Ministry's Third Asian Department, reviewed recent important milestones in Russia-Vietnam relations.

As a person who studied the Vietnamese language and chose to major in Vietnamese studies, he shared his difficulties when learning an Asian language that has few similarities with Russian.

He highlighted career opportunities for students, saying that Vietnam is an important development orientation in Russia’s foreign policy, cited VNA.

According to him, tourism and oil and gas are the two positive sectors that offer employment opportunities.

The counselor at the Vietnamese Embassy in Russia Doan Khac Hoang agreed with positive assessments of the near prospects for those who choose to major in Vietnamese studies.

Russian Consul General in Da Nang Maria Mizonova underlined the difficulty of studying Vietnamese and said this is a reason why the recruitment of personnel at the office is not easy.

She noted the differences are not only in the dialects of the three regions in Vietnam but also in the personality and communications of people in different regions.

According to her, when studying Vietnamese, it is necessary to learn and understand the culture and people of Vietnam.

At the event, students expressed their interest in international situations and Russia-Vietnam relations while senior diplomats were willing to share their knowledge and experiences.

Vietnam celebrates “International Day of Zero Waste”

March 30 has been designated as “International Day of Zero Waste” since last year. Many activities to mark the occasion are underway across Vietnam.

International Zero Waste Day calls on all stakeholders, including governments, businesses, and communities to participate in activities to raise awareness about the benefits of attaining zero waste.

To achieve zero waste, Vietnam has implemented a comprehensive, whole-society approach, drawing people from all walks of life, while raising the awareness of manufacturers and consumers about waste issues and encouraging people to adopt an environmentally friendly lifestyle.

Every day Vietnam releases about 60,000 tons of household waste into the environment.

Photo: VNA

According to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, over 70% of this waste is deposited in landfills, of which only about 20% is buried hygienically. Vietnam has set a goal that 90% of household waste must be treated hygienically by 2025.

Domestic enterprises are encouraged to obtain technology ownership rights, establish joint ventures with foreign companies, and ensure capital, equipment capacity, and technology transfer operations, according to VOV.

Vietnam has appointed investors to create pilot programs for treating 1,000-2,000 tons of waste per day beginning in one locality and then expanding to others.

Under the Law on Environmental Protection, by the end of this year, domestic solid waste generated from households and individuals must be classified. Otherwise administrative penalties will be imposed.

Hoang Van Thuc, Director of the Department of Environmental Pollution Control under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, said, “To form the habit of classifying waste, we must follow a roadmap based on actual local conditions. We need to be resolute and issue regulations and instructions. In the coming time, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment will send working delegations to localities to inspect, guide and support them in classifying household solid waste. We will also strengthen communication.”

Vietnam has determined that zero waste is an important piece of the puzzle in responding to climate change. The Government has adopted a National Action Plan on implementing a circular economy, reusing, recycling and treating 85% of plastic waste and reducing plastic waste released to the sea by 50%.

Vietnam has developed a National Action Program on ocean plastic waste management with the goal of reducing it by 75% by 2030.

HCM City becomes a member of the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities

The Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee on March 30 held a ceremony to receive the certificate of membership of the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities.

Speaking at the event, Chairwoman of the municipal People’s Council Nguyen Thi Le described the city's membership of the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities as a great honor, saying that this is the result of a process of building a lifelong learning environment for people in the city, demonstrates the world's recognition of the policies, commitments, and efforts of Vietnam in general and Ho Chi Minh City in particular in ensuring quality, equitable, comprehensive education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for everyone, thus contributing to raising the status of Vietnam's education in the international arena.

Ho Chi Minh City by night (Photo: truyenhinhdulich.vn)

According to Le, this is also an opportunity for all people and the city's administration to continue to put forward action programs to make the southern metropolis a place where all people, regardless of their age, or nationality, can continue to learn.

Moreover, becoming a member of the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities will create an open learning environment where each citizen can develop the skills and knowledge needed to adapt and thrive in the digital world, VNA reported.

The city is committed to continuing to work closely with other members of the network to share experiences, learn and build better learning environments for all, Le said.

Jonathan Wallace Baker, Chief Representative of the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) in Vietnam, said that Ho Chi Minh City is a vibrant economic and cultural center of Vietnam and the region.

He added that UNESCO is very interested in the city's initiative to build a set of criteria for happy schools, based on UNESCO's global happy schools framework. This model will be at the heart of educational innovation, placing happiness as a key factor in improving learning quality.

Duong Anh Duc, Vice Chairman of the HCM City People's Committee, said as a member of the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities, the city will have more action programs to ensure lifelong learning for people.

On this occasion, the municipal People's Committee launched an action program to build a "UNESCO global learning city" in the 2024 – 2030 period in the city.

Two intangible cultural heritage elements to seek inscription into world lists

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha has agreed to submit dossiers on Mo Muong and the art of chèo to UNESCO for the inclusion of these intangible cultural heritage elements into world lists.

He made the decision after considering the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST)’s proposal and the National Cultural Heritage Council’s verification results, the Government Office informed on Saturday.

Mo Muong (Muong soul seeker), a heritage of the provinces of Hoa Binh, Thanh Hoa, Ninh Binh, Phu Tho, Son La and Dak Lak together with Hanoi, will be submitted to UNESCO to seek the status of an intangible cultural heritage in need of urgent safeguarding.

A scene from a 'chèo' performance. Photo: VNS

The art of chèo (traditional opera) in the provinces of Thai Binh, Ninh Binh, Ha Nam, Nam Dinh, Hai Duong, Hung Yen, Bac Ninh, Vinh Phuc, Phu Tho, Quang Ninh, Bac Giang and Thai Nguyen, Hanoi and Hai Phong City will be submitted for inclusion in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

The Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO was assigned to coordinate with the MCST to carry out necessary submission procedures, cited VNS.

Mo Muong is a folk performing genre in rituals and is associated with the spiritual life and beliefs of Mường ethnic people. It is performed in community activities and family rituals.

As the folk theater art of Vietnamese people, chèo is popular in the Red River Delta and the neighboring northern mountainous and north-central regions. It is often performed at traditional festivals to show gratitude to gods for bumper crops and prosperity, and also as a way for farmers to express their thoughts.

Vietnam calls on US tech giants to help develop semiconductor industry

Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son said Vietnam hopes American technology firms will allocate resources to help develop the semiconductor industry in Vietnam.

Speaking with Nvidia’s vice president Keith Strier online on March 26 in Washington D.C, Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son said that cooperation in science and technology and innovation are the new breakthroughs in the Vietnam-US Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Vietnam has a national AI strategy, and will soon issue a semiconductor industry development strategy and plan on human resources for the semiconductor industry by 2030, with a vision toward 2045.

Son hopes the US business community, especially leading tech giants such as Nvidia, allocates resources and promotes partnership with Vietnam, cited VNN.

Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son (left) meets the US Secretary of State (Photo: MOFA)

Nvidia’s vice president Keith Strier noted Vietnam’s strong determination to develop high technologies, AI, and semiconductors. The two sides will closely cooperate to develop Vietnam into Nvidia’s second home, especially in technology and high-quality human resources.

Son also attended a discussion on Vietnam-US relations at the Brookings Institution and met advisors and assistants of several key committees of the US Congress.

In his speech at the Brookings Institution, Son said though the world is experiencing profound and unpredictable changes, the Asia–Pacific - Indian Ocean area continues to be a dynamic region and the growth engine of the world economy.

Son emphasized that Vietnam is pursuing its "bamboo diplomacy school" with "solid roots, strong trunk, flexible branches" to respond to challenges and maintain a favorable foreign policy environment for national development. Vietnam considers the US one of its most important partners.

The two countries have gained important outcomes in bilateral relations since the normalization of diplomatic relations in 1995, and especially since the Vietnam-US relationship was upgraded into a comprehensive strategic partnership.

Son believes the two countries need to promote cooperation in science and technology and innovation.

Despite changes in the world, Vietnam follows a foreign relations policy that attaches much importance to relationships with large countries.

Son stressed that Vietnam will continue to improve the business environment, thus facilitating foreign investors’ operations in Vietnam.

Meeting the Congressional advisors and assistants, Son asked the US Congress to continue to support bilateral cooperation in solving war consequences, and in business and trade, education and training, science and technology, security and national defense, and people-to-people exchanges.

Son also met the vice president of the University of Arizona Jeffrey Goss, who promised the university will actively cooperate with Vietnam, especially in the semiconductor industry.

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