Vietnam News Today (Apr. 29): Seven Vietnamese Universities Listed in THE's Impact Rankings 2022

Daily coronavirus deaths in Vietnam in the past week. Photo: VOV

Covid-19: Vietnam records 7,100 cases, 79,000 recoveries on April 28

Vietnam confirmed 7,116 coronavirus cases on April 28 in 58 cities and provinces, a drop of nearly 1,000 cases compared to the previous day, reported the Ministry of Health.

All the new infections were documented in Vietnam, with 5,862 cases diagnosed in the community, said the Ministry of Health in its coronavirus update.

Hanoi capital topped localities, registering 913 infections or eight cases fewer than the previous day.

Ho Chi Minh City, the largest and busiest locality in Vietnam, also reported 82 cases, representing an increase of 34 cases.

Localities that saw the number of infections decrease most compared to the previous day were Gia Lai (-245), Dak Lak (-113), and Bac Giang (-107).

Meanwhile, localities that saw the number of infections rise most compared to the previous day were Vinh Phuc (+119), Ha Tinh (+102) and Dak Nong (+82), cited VOV.

On average 8,758 cases were recorded in Vietnam daily in the past seven days.

The same day, the Ministry of Health announced an additional 79,171 patients recovering from the disease, and just three more deaths in three localities.

As of 6pm on April 28, Vietnam has confirmed more than 10.6 million infections, ranking 12th out of 227 countries and territories worldwide.

Of the total, more than 9.2 million patients have recovered, and 43,037 patients have died of the virus and underlying illnesses.

As many as 213.6 million Covid-19 vaccine doses have been administered nationwide.

Vietnam highlights importance of peace building efforts at UNGA meeting

Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the United Nations (UN), stressed the importance of peacebuilding efforts when addressing the UN General Assembly’s High-Level Meeting on Peacebuilding Financing on April 27.

As peace building is an important activity of the UN in maintaining international peace and security, the international community should continue prioritizing efforts to build peace as well as prevent conflicts and address their root causes, Giang said.

An overview of UN General Assembly’s High-Level Meeting on Peacebuilding Financing. Photo: VNA

He emphasized the need for nations to carry out measures to promote reconciliation and unification through inclusive dialogue with the participation of women and youths.

It is also important to promote partnership between the UN and entities at the national, regional and international levels to ensure sustainable financing for peacebuilding, according to VNA.

On this basis, the Vietnamese ambassador proposed the international community respond to the UN Secretary-General’s appeal on unofficial development assistance commitments to countries affected by conflicts and to promoting gender equality in peacebuilding.

At the meeting, speakers and representatives of countries affirmed the importance of UN peace building structure with the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) and the Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) being the core. They said that the UN’s peacekeeping activities are currently facing many challenges, including the increase in the number of conflicts and their complexity, impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, while funding for the PBF and peacekeeping activities remains limited.

Some countries proposed the UN General Assembly allow the allocation of US$100 million each year to the PBF, using the UN budget.

Seven Vietnamese universities listed in THE's Impact Rankings 2022

Seven Vietnamese universities listed in THE's Impact Rankings 2022

In 2020, only two Vietnamese education institutions were on the list and the figure was double last year.

Of them, Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU-Hanoi), Ton Duc Thang University and Hanoi University of Science and Technology (HUST) are in the group of 601-800 while Phenikaa University is among 801-1,000.

Vietnam National University, Hanoi is in the group of 601-800 in the Impact Rankings 2022.

The three new institutions that are on this year’s list are Duy Tan University and National Economics University (601-800) and FPT University (801-1,000).

All the universities received high rankings for achievements relating to the eighth Sustainable Develop Goals (SDG) – economic growth and decent work for all. Of these, HUST got the highest position with 70.3 point.

Only VNU-Hanoi gained high rankings for the fourth SDG – quality education with 63.1 points, reported VNA.

This is the fourth year THE Impact Rankings released the ranking following the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations, which call for global action to build a peaceful, fair and prosperous society.

A total 1,406 higher education institutions participated in the latest rankings.

Vietnam, Laos hold annual foreign ministerial consultation

Foreign Minister of Vietnam Bui Thanh Son and his Lao counterpart FM Saleumsay Kommasith expressed their elation at the important achievements the two countries have recorded in bilateral cooperation in all fields, during their annual consultation in Vientiane on April 28.

The two countries have regularly exchanged high-level visits and effectively maintained cooperation mechanisms. Alongside political, defense and security cooperation, economic cooperation is considered a bright spot in the overall picture of the bilateral relationship.

In the first three months of 2022, the two-way trade turnover between Vietnam and Laos hit more than US$400 million, an increase of nearly 20% compared to the same period last year. Vietnam licensed a new project and increased the capital of two other projects in Laos with a total registered capital of over US$64 million.

Lao FM Saleumsay Kommasith shakes hands with his Vietnamese counterpart Bui Thanh Son in Vientiane before the two diplomats co-host their annual consultation. Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs

The two sides agreed to coordinate closely in arranging high-level visits and contacts to be made in 2022. They will work closely with other ministries, agencies and localities of the two countries to effectively implement the high-level agreements and the results of the recent 44th meeting of the Vietnam - Laos Intergovernmental Committee, including the organization of activities celebrating the Solidarity and Friendship Year 2022 between Vietnam and Laos.

The two Foreign Ministers also highly appreciated the cooperation results between their ministries based on their 2021-2025 cooperation agreement, cited VOV.

They agreed to further promote cooperation and consultation between relevant units of the two foreign ministries, as well as to effectively maintain periodical cooperation mechanisms between the two ministries.

They vowed to coordinate well in implementing an action program to strengthen economic diplomacy cooperation between the two Foreign Ministries in 2020-2025 and in reviewing bilateral international treaties signed by the two countries, to promote the effective implementation of these documents.

The two sides also exchanged and shared views on regional and international issues of mutual concern. They agreed to work closely at multilateral forums, and together with other ASEAN countries, maintain ASEAN’s common stance on the East Sea issue. They voiced their strong support for settling sea-related disputes by peaceful means in line with international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982), while effectively implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) towards building the Code of Conduct in the waters.

FM Bui Thanh Son is in Laos for an official visit from April 27-29 at the invitation of FM Saleumsay Kommasith.

Vietnam draws over US$10.8 billion of FDI in four months

Vietnam attracted over US$10.8 billion of foreign direct investment (FDI) in the first four months of this year, equivalent to 88.3 percent of the amount recorded in the same period last year, according to the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI).

While a decrease of 56.3 percent was seen in the newly-registered capital to nearly US$3.7 billion, a respective surge of 92.5 percent and 74 percent was recorded in the investment injected into underway projects to nearly US$5.29 billion, and capital contributions and share purchase deals to US$1.83 billion.

Notably, FDI disbursement in the January-April period reached US$5.92 billion, a year-on-year rise of 7.6 percent, reported the MPI.

The processing-manufacturing sector attracts 6.2 billion USD, accounting for 57.2 percent of the total FDI. Photo: VNA

Foreign investors invested in 18 out of 21 economic sectors, mostly in processing-manufacturing sector with US$6.2 billion, accounting for 57.2 percent of the total FDI. It was followed by real estate with US$2.8 million, and retail with US$667.8 million.

In the first four months of 2022, Singapore led 72 countries and localities investing in Vietnam with US$3.1 billion, making up 28.8 percent of the total FDI. The Republic of Korea came second with US$1.82 billion, while Denmark was the third with Lego factory worth over US$1.3 billion, NDO reported.

Among 44 cities and provinces receiving FDI in the period, the southern province of Binh Duong took the lead with US$2.35 billion, followed by northern Bac Ninh province with US$1.57 billion and Ho Chi Minh City with nearly US$1.28 billion.

According to the MPI, so far this year, Vietnamese firms invested over US$327.72 million abroad, with 34 new projects worth over US$285.8 million, doubling that in the same period last year.

Currently, there are 1,549 underway Vietnamese-funded projects abroad with total investment of nearly US$21.55 million, mostly in mining, and agro-forestry-fisheries sector.

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