Photo: VOV

Vietnam leads Asia-Pacific in workplace satisfaction

Workplace satisfaction levels are on an "upward trajectory" across the Asia-Pacific region, with Vietnam currently leading the way with 65.09 points, according to a report issued by Asia's largest mental health care company Intellect.

According to Intellect, other countries in the top include Thailand with 65.01 points, the Philippines with 64.44 points, Malaysia with 64.22 points, Singapore with 63.98 points, Japan with 63.77 points, China with 63.61 points, and Indonesia with 63.55 points.

In contrast, India, Australia, Taiwan (China), and the Republic of Korea (RoK) are all below average, although there remains potential for further development, cited VOV.

This study highlights the strengths and areas for improvement of the workforce across the Asia-Pacific region at both individual and organizational levels.

Although individuals are self-aware, can build relationships in the workplace, and have the ability to encourage workforce participation, they may require support with stress management, emotional regulation, and mental health.

For organizations in these markets, institutional support is increasing, although companies may need assistance in implementing employee benefit programs.

The three sectors with the highest organizational health scores were healthcare and pharmaceuticals with 67.48 points, government and nonprofit with 66.81 points, and education with 65.76 points.

All are higher than the overall benchmark of 63.85 points. Other above-average industries include technology and telecommunications, professional services, and manufacturing.

Fronts of Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam reinforce cooperation

The Presidents of the Solidarity Front for the Development of Cambodian Motherland (SFDCM), the Lao Front for National Construction (LFNC), and the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) gathered at their 5th conference in Vientiane on April 9.

The event saw the presence of President of the SFDCM National Council Samdech Mem Sam An, President of the LFNC Central Committee Sinlavong Khoutphaythoune, and President of the VFF Central Committee Do Van Chien.

Participants listened to a report on the implementation results of the memorandum of understanding on cooperation among the three fronts. They shared a view that the trilateral cooperation has become increasingly practical, intensive, and effective in all aspects, greatly contributing to the development of relations among the three neighboring countries, according to VNA.

Addressing the event, Chien proposed the three fronts promote the implementation of their cooperation program for the next period.

The fifth conference of the presidents of the Cambodian, Lao, and Vietnamese fronts in Vientiane on April 9 (Photo: VNA)

In the time ahead, they should actively share information while coordinating with one another to deal with difficulties and problems arising in the relations among the three countries as well as the three fronts, he recommended.

They should also keep increasing all-level mutual visits; rotationally hold meetings on the building of borders of peace, friendship, and cooperation for common development; and push ahead with communications to educate people, especially younger generations, on the traditional solidarity of the Cambodian, Lao, and Vietnamese people as well as on border and territorial issues.

The fronts need to encourage and create favorable conditions for their chapters at all levels, especially those in border localities, to boost exchanges and support for one another. They should step up people-to-people interaction to strengthen friendship, solidarity, and all-round cooperation, according to the Vietnamese official.

The VFF leader also called on Cambodia and Laos to provide favorable conditions for Vietnamese people to live, work, and study in these two countries, adding that Vietnam will also do the same for those from Cambodia and Laos.

Concluding the conference, the three front presidents signed a cooperation program for the 2024 - 2027 period.

Later the same day, the VFF delegation was received by the General Secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party Central Committee and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith.

The Lao leader highly valued the conference’s outcomes which, he said, will help further intensify the special solidarity among Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia.

He held that the fronts of Laos and Vietnam, as well as the three countries, need to continue working closely together, boosting information and experience sharing, and assisting one another to strengthen relations among the three fronts and the three countries.

Diverse events promote Vietnam - Malaysia economic links

The National Trade Promotion Agency of Malaysia (MATRADE) has unveiled that it plans to organize a series of events in multiple fields throughout the year in order to further promote economic ties between Vietnam and Malaysia.

One of the outstanding events includes the 24th Southeast Asian Healthcare and Pharma Show (SEACare) which is due to run from April 17 to April 19 and the SEMICON South East Asia 2024 expo scheduled for May 28- May 30 to promote technologies in the semiconductor components industry.

Another outstanding event will be the Malaysia International Halal Showcase (MIHAS 2024) which is slated to take place from September 16 to September 20, providing an ideal platform for businesses as they strive to enhance trade connectivity and share expertise on the latest trends and developments in the Halal industry, VOV reported.

Malaysia International Halal Show (MIHAS) 2023 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (Photo: Malaysian Embassy in Vietnam)

Furthermore, there are also online events related to the fields of construction, building materials, professional services, green technology, ecological products and solutions, chemicals, and information technology, as well as transport and logistics.

Rosmizah Mat Jusoh, trade commissioner of MATRADE in Ho Chi Minh City, emphasized that the nation currently represents Malaysia's fourth largest trade partner in the ASEAN region, while Malaysia is also considered to be the third biggest Vietnamese trade partner in the bloc.

By the end of 2023, bilateral trade hit US$11.3 billion, with Malaysia’s top export items to the Vietnamese market including electrical and electronic products at 47.2%, petroleum products at 15.5%, chemical products at 8.9%, metals at 4.4%, and palm oil products at 3.8%.

Meanwhile, major Vietnamese export items to Malaysia are electrical and electronic products at 35.8%; chemical products at 13.2%; iron and steel products at 10.1%; garments, textiles, and footwear at 7.7%; and other agricultural products at 7.3%.

Through trade facilitation under the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA), both countries can complement each other and work to increase bilateral trade towards fulfilling the goal of US$18 billion over the coming years.

Promising fields for co-operation among both sides include the Halal industry (Food & Beverage, personal care, cosmetic products), renewable energy, information technology, chemicals, and professional services.

NA Chairman meets with executives of large Chinese groups

National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue received executives of large Chinese corporations and companies on April 9 in Beijing as part of his official visit to China.

Meeting with General Manager of the Power Construction Corporation of China (PowerChina) Wang Bin, Hue said that the fields in which the group wishes to invest in Vietnam are also the key fields that Vietnam wants to attract domestic and foreign investment.

He highlighted that to realize Vietnam's commitments at the 26th United Nations Climate Change conference (COP-26), the National Assembly of Vietnam approved the National Electricity Development Plan for the 2021-2030 period with a vision to 2050, and recently, the Vietnamese Prime Minister issued an implementation plan. He added that the Vietnamese legislature approved one law and amended nine laws including the electricity law in early 2022 and will continue to revise laws to attract investors in this field.

The NA Chairman hailed the scale, potential, and technological level of PowerChina and welcomed the group's plan to expand its investment in Vietnam in the coming time, cited VNA.

For his part, Wang said that since 2018, PowerChina has focused on developing clean energy in Vietnam. To date, the group has participated in the construction of many energy projects with a total contract value of more than 9 billion USD, employing 1,000 workers and committed to operate long-term in the country.

Receiving Vice President of BYD Co., Ltd Liu Huanming, Hue congratulated the company on its business successes globally over the past time. He welcomed the company's new investment plan in Vietnam with a commitment to contribute to Vietnam’s socio-economic development, export and job creation. He affirmed that the Vietnamese NA will support and create favorable conditions for foreign businesses, including Chinese ones, to invest and do business effectively in Vietnam.

NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue (right) meets with General Manager of the Power Construction Corporation of China (PowerChina) Wang Bin. (Photo: VNA)

BYD Co.,Ltd invested in a factory to make tablets with a total investment of nearly 270 million USD in the northern province of Phu Tho in 2021. The factory now has more than 9,000 employees.

The company's executive made some proposals on preferential policies on the production and sale of new energy vehicles in Vietnam.

At the meeting with the Vietnamese top legislator, General Director of China Rare Earth Group (CREG) Liu Leiyun said the group wants to strengthen ties with the Vietnam National Coal and Mineral Industries Group and other Vietnamese partners to roll out cooperation in the field of important minerals.

NA Chairman Hue highly appreciated CREG’s capacity and experience, adding that the mineral industry, including rare earth, is a strategic industry and the foundation for developing many other important industries. He affirmed that Vietnam welcomes businesses to engage in research and cooperation in this field to promote socio-economic development in accordance with Vietnam's law.

Meeting with Dong Dexi, Chairman of Board of Directors and General Manager of Haosen, Hue congratulated the company on its business and investment success and welcomed its new investment plan in Vietnam.

During the meetings, leaders of Chinese corporations and businesses expressed interest in Vietnam's policies to support foreign technology enterprises as well as investment opportunities in fields of great potential for both countries.

NA Chairman Hue said that Vietnam has issued many investment incentives such as exemption and reduction of corporate income tax and land rent, among others, to attract investment in new industries.

He informed them that Vietnam is proactively preparing necessary conditions to strengthen investment cooperation such as training a skilled workforce, improving investment environment, and perfecting its legal framework.

Traditional costumes restored to maintain ethnic people's cultural identities

Traditional costumes of three groups of ethnic minority people have been successfully restored after more than one year of great determination.

The restoration is based on the collected items, contribution and opinions of experts, artisans and village elders through many scientific seminars in the process of restoring the costumes and jewelry of the Ca Dong, Xe Dang and M'nong, main groups in Nam Tra My District.

It is a local effort to preserve and promote the cultural identities of ethnic groups, contributing to the development of community tourism in Quang Nam Province.

Villager Ho Van Buong is one of the artisans invited to participate in collecting and restoring the costumes and jewelry of the Ca Dong people.

"Ca Dong costumes include four main colors: black, red, yellow and white. The patterns and motifs are shown along the hem and tail of the shirt and sleeve, containing certain meanings about life's outlook, history, and the origins of their people," Buong said.

He added that Ca Dong women's costumes included shirts and skirts. The shirts were pullover style with short sleeves. The skirts were woven from colorful cotton threads, mainly red, yellow, and white.

Ca Dong girls loved to wear colorful beads. The more beads they wore, the wealthier and more prosperous their families were.

In addition to beaded necklaces, married and old women also wore many bronze jewelry and silver bracelets to boost their beauty when participating in village festivals, VGP reported.

Photo: VGP

Meanwhile men often wore loincloths and were shirtless. During festivals, they often wrapped a cloth diagonally across their chest, looking like a warrior going into battle.

"It is clear that costume is one of the cultural features of a people, the colors on Ca Dong people's costumes are the convergence of culture in either natural or social environment, bearing the beauty of innocence and purity of land, water, mountains and forests," Buong said.

According to Deputy Head of Nam Tra My District's Culture and Information Department Pham Van Thuong, costumes of the Xe Dang are loincloths and shirts.

In the past, Xe Dang men were shirtless, wearing only loincloths. Today, they wear sleeveless shirts and loincloths. This outfit helps them be convenient in daily life activities and at work.

During festivals, they take a large piece of cloth, often wrapped diagonally across their chest with many colorful patterns.

Women wear shirt, skirt, and shawl and baby carrier. Normally, Xe Dang women's shirts are sewn with round neck style, the entire shirt has only two stitches on both sides of the armpit.

The Xe Dang people often wear different types of jewelry such as copper, silver and beaded necklaces, and stone waist beads. Especially, jewelry such as fangs and animal claws make their costume distinctive.

When girls become adult women, they often use a shawl to wrap themselves as a sign of being single so men can come to talk and get to know each other.

"The traditional costumes of the Xe Dang people show typical, rich, diverse folk culture in terms of types and products. They have artistic values with beautiful patterns and colors which highlight Nam Tra My's characteristics and uniqueness.

The M'nong people also have their own beautiful costumes which are mostly black and red. The patterns on the costumes are mainly decorated around the edges of the clothing.

The women's outfit includes a dress, skirt and shirt coordinated together, helping the wearer be both gentle but strong and agile. The skirt is home to different types of patterns, showing the culture of the people.

M'nong women also pay great attention to jewelry such as wooden or bamboo earrings and bronze necklaces.

M'nong men's costumes include loincloths and long sleeveless shirts but they usually wear specially-cared loincloths only. During traditional festivals, they often wrap a piece of cloth diagonally across their chest.

Chairman of the People's Committee of Nam Tra My, Tran Duy Dung, said a project to preserve and promote the unique cultural identity of ethnic groups in the period 2023-25 with an orientation to 2030 was ongoing.

It was the premise for Nam Tra My to push the plan of restoring costumes of its ethnic minorities in the coming years. It would encourage young people, especially students and children of ethnic minorities, to regularly use traditional costumes, contributing to preserving, conserving and promoting the cultural identity of their people in modern life.

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