Illustrative image. Photo: VNA

Covid-19: Over 23,000 new cases recorded on April 14

A total 223,012 new cases of Covid-19 were recorded from 4pm April 13 to 4pm April 14, according to the Ministry of Health.

Hanoi continued to report the highest number of infections on the day with 1,677 cases, followed by Phu Tho with 1,279 and Nghe An with 976.

The national tally reached 10,320,599, cited VNA.

A total 85,633 Covid-19 patients were given the all clear on April 14, bringing the number of recoveries so far to 8,856,627.

There are 1,161 patients in critical conditions, while an additional 23 deaths were recorded in the past 24 hours, taking the total fatalities to 42,901, equal to 0.4 percent of the total caseload.

By April 13, the country had injected 208,967,215 doses of Covid-19 vaccines.

Vietnam named among cheapest nations to live in Southeast Asia

The cost of living in Vietnam is currently among the cheapest compared to other countries throughout Southeast Asia, according to the newswire LivingCost.

The cost of living for a family of four in the country is estimated at be about US$1,693 each month, while a single person’s estimated costs for a month are roughly US$639.

The cost of living level has put Vietnam in 138th position among the 197 most expensive countries in the world.

In Southeast Asia, Singapore has the highest cost of living with a family of four estimated to have monthly costs reaching approximately US$4,967, followed by Brunei, Thailand, Myanmar, and Cambodia.

The cost of living in Vietnam is among the cheapest compared to Southeast Asian nations. Photo: saigondautu.com.vn

However, some countries which have lower cost of living than Vietnam, are Malaysia, Philippines, and Indonesia.

Furthermore, the average monthly Vietnamese net salary after tax is enough to cover living expenses for 0.7 months.

Meanwhile, Singapore’s and Brunei’s average monthly net salary after tax is sufficient to cover living expenses for 1.8 months, the highest in the region, followed by Malaysia at 1.4 months and Thailand at 0.8 months.

Laos and Cambodia have the lowest average monthly net salary after tax to cover living expenses for 0.4 months.

LivingCost ranks countries and cities worldwide on many aspects of life, including cost of living, quality of life, traffic, and housing.

Vietnam’s defense diplomacy reports significant achievements

Vietnam has taken an active and responsible part in defense diplomacy activities, contributing to building trust, maintaining friendship with other countries, safeguarding the national territorial sovereignty, and strengthening defense potential, heard a conference on April 14.

The event was held by the Ministry of National Defense to review Vietnam’s international integration and defense diplomacy in the 2016 – 2021.

It was reported that in the period under review, the defense diplomacy was deployed concertedly, comprehensively, flexibly and effectively across aspects, recording important achievements. The bilateral defense cooperation with countries has been consolidated and deepened practically.

Vietnam has so far had defense relations with more than 100 countries, including the five permanent members of the UN Security Council.

Vietnam expands its involvement in the UN peacekeeping operations. Photo: VNA

The country has also been active and responsible in multilateral defense diplomacy activities, thus strengthening strategic trust and improving the position and prestige of the country and the Vietnam People's Army in the international arena. It has also actively and responsibly joined and proposed valuable initiatives related to defense and security at regional and international cooperation mechanisms.

Vietnam has expanded its involvement in the UN peacekeeping operations which has helped build Vietnam's image.

Regarding cooperation in fighting the Covid-19 pandemic, the Ministry of National Defense has joined hands with relevant agencies to effectively implement this work and the vaccine diplomacy strategy.

In addition, Vietnam has actively attended and hosted international military sports festivals, and recorded remarkable cooperation achievements in overcoming post-war consequences, handling the Agent Orange/Dioxin pollution and the unexploded bombs and mines, according to NDO.

Addressing the event, Deputy Minister of National Defense Sen. Lt. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien emphasized that the international integration and defense diplomacy should focus on a number of key solutions. Attention should be paid to keeping a close watch on the international and regional situation, non-traditional security challenges, and the Covid-19 pandemic.

Along with the effective implementation of existing cooperation agreements and mechanisms with other countries, Vietnam needs to continue to study and expand appropriate defense cooperation relations and areas, focusing on improving the efficiency of border diplomacy, the law enforcement at sea and overcoming war consequences, he went on.

Cold air to hit northern Vietnam this weekend

Two subsequent cold air waves are forecast to strike northern Vietnam, starting this weekend, according to the National Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting Centre.

A cold spell is making its way through China into northern Vietnam and is expected to reach border localities on April 16, said the centre.

Another bitter cold spell is anticipated to blast northern Vietnam again on April 17-18, reinforcing late winter across the region and sending temperatures falling deep, VOV reported.

Two cold spells will be hitting nothern Vietnam this weekend into early next week. Photo: VOV

The cold air waves accompanied by high wind convergence will cause heavy rain across northern Vietnam. Meteorologists warned the cold weather pattern could cause tornadoes, lightning, hailstorms and strong winds.

It will turn cold on April 17-19 with temperatures falling to a low of 13 degrees Celsius in the highlands and 16 degrees in the plain.

People in Hanoi capital will feel bitter cold on April 18-19, with temperatures hovering around 17 – 19 degrees.

Vietnam to become model of inclusive, green growth: UNDP Representative

Vietnam has the opportunity to develop a pathway for inclusive, green growth that others can learn from, United Nations Development Program Resident Representative Caitlin Wiesen has said.

Wiesen told the press on the sidelines of the launch of the Stockholm 50 National Consultations in Vietnam in Hanoi on April 13 that Vietnam has recorded improvements on a number of the sustainable development goals (SDGs) related to the environment such as clean water and sanitation.

According to the UNDP official, the country has experienced “extraordinary” successful growth over the past time, with the exception during the Covid-19 pandemic.

She, however, stressed that it is absolutely vital for Vietnam to build resilience in the ways that are environmentally sustainable, as it is one of the most climate vulnerable countries in the world.

The country can grow very rapidly and increase the percentage of renewables, Wiesen said, noting that in 2018-2019, there was extraordinary growth in solar and wind.

However, for further growth and renewables, it is necessary to address some of the issues relating to the extension of the power grid and the reform of the Electricity of Vietnam (EVN).

“And this will be vitally important to phase out coal, moving forward and to increase the percentage and the mix of renewables and the overall energy consumption of Vietnam, which is vital to Vietnam’s growth,” she said.

Wiesen also spoke highly of the commitments by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh at the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow, the UK, especially the commitments to net zero emissions by 2050.

“Vietnam is also taking the very proactive steps establishing a national steering committee and realigning key climate change strategy documents as well as Power Development Plan No. 8,” she said.

The UNDP official emphasized that although there are big challenges, the opportunities are large too, saying Vietnam is “on a threshold of also planning a future way of growth that has not yet been fully experienced in the world.”

Illustrative image. Photo: VNA

The official launch of the Stockholm 50 National Consultations in Vietnam was organized on April 13 in Hanoi by the Embassy of Sweden in Vietnam, the Institute of Strategy and Policy on Natural Resources and Environment (ISPONRE) under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, and the UNDP in Vietnam.

The event aims to bring the views of the Vietnamese people to the global stage on the key challenges that people and the planet are facing, cited VNA.

The UN General Assembly has decided to convene a high-level meeting entitled “Stockholm 50: a healthy planet for the prosperity of all – our responsibility, our opportunity”, to define urgent, concrete actions that all people can take to protect the planet to ensure a strong, long-term foundation for a green, inclusive future. The meeting will be hosted by the Government of Sweden with the support from the Kenyan Government in Stockholm on June 2 and 3 this year.

In this regard, Wiesen pointed out the three messages of the Stockholm 50 National Consultations, including nature-based solutions, as Vietnam is one of the most biodiverse rich regions in the world and the way in which development takes place will be very important to protect the environment.

The other messages lie with energy transition that is both inclusive and green, and the circular economy.

The UNDP representative noted the need to take a more coherent and integrated approach to the circular economy and change people’s mindset about how they use plastics.

She said the UNDP has worked with the Vietnamese Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to launch a circular economy hub.

“We invite the private sector partners, donors, government officials, people from civil society and NGOs to come together to share the best practices that they have, and how we can really create an economy that's a vibrant economy for reusing plastics as well,” she said.

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