Vietnam News Today (Apr. 30): Vietnam Enjoys US$2.53 Billion of Trade Surplus in Four Months

Photo: VOV

Over 6,000 new Covid-19 cases, just one death recorded on April 29

A total of 6,068 fresh Covid-19 infections were reported in the nation, a fall of 1,048 compared to the previous day, while only one fatality was confirmed, according to figures given by the Ministry of Health on April 29.

The latest transmissions thereby bring the total national caseload up to more than 10.631 million since the start of the pandemic.

Hanoi continues to lead the way in terms of number of infections, with 843, followed by Phu Thọ with 386.

At present the death toll has now reached 43,038, roughly 0.4% of total infections.

Furthermore, an additional 3,225 patients fully recovered from the virus on April 29, thereby bringing the total number of recoveries up to 9,245,132, according to VOV.

In the latest wave of infections that hit the country in late April, 2021, more than 10,636,951 million cases have been confirmed, with more than 9.24 million of those now having recovered.

On April 28, the entire country injected a total of 887,474 doses of Covid-19 vaccines to bring the total number of vaccinated doses up to more than 214.5 million.

Vietnam now ranks 24th out of 227 territories in terms of deaths, with the number of deaths per one million people being 130th out of 227 countries and territories globally. In comparison with Asia, the overall number of deaths stands at sixth among 49, third in ASEAN, with the mortality rate per one million people coming 25th out of 49 Asian countries and territories, fourth in ASEAN.

Vietnam enjoys US$2.53 billion of trade surplus in four months

A trade surplus of about US$1.07 billion was recorded in April, pushing the total in the first four months of this year to 2.53 billion USD, the General Statistics Office (GSO) reported on April 29.

In the January-April period, the domestic economic sector suffered a trade deficit of US$9.2 billion, while the foreign-invested sector enjoyed a surplus of US$11.73 billion.

The export revenue in April reached US$33.26 billion, down 4.2 percent from the previous month but up 25 percent year on year. The figure hit US$122.36 billion in the first four months, a rise of 16.4 percent over the same period last year.

So far this year, 22 goods groups have seen export revenue exceeding US$1 billion, including five each with a revenue of over US$5 billion. Exports of fuel and mineral products accounted for 1.3 percent of the total export revenue, while contribution from processing sector is 89 percent, and that of the agro-forestry and fisheries sectors, 6.8 percent and 2.9 percent.

Illustrative image. Photo: VNA

According to the GSO, the country’s imports were US$32.19 billion in April and US$119.83 billion in four months, mostly production materials, cited VNA.

In the first four months of this year, the US remained the largest export market of Vietnam with US$35.7 billion, while China was the largest goods supplier with US$37.1 billion worth of goods.

In the period, trade surplus generated from the EU market was US$10.4 billion, up 36.1 percent year on year.

In order to promote export in the time to come, the Ministry of Industry and Trade reminded exporters to apply measures against risks while trading with foreign businesses.

Domestic exporters were also advised to optimize advantages from 15 free trade agreements that Vietnam has signed to diversify markets.

Noi Bai Airport sees record passenger numbers ahead of national holidays

Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi served a record of 78,000 passengers on April 29, the highest figure ever recording ahead of the upcoming holidays, including National Reunification Day on April 30 and May Day on May 1.

In line with this, the northern airport received over 2,000 visitors during each peak hour, with the peak hours ranging from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Noi Bai Airport sees record passenger numbers ahead of national holidays. Photo: VOV

According to an official at the airport, domestic passenger transportation volume at Noi Bai International Airport strongly recovered after enduring two years of struggle due to Covid-19 induced restrictions. On April 28 alone, the number of passengers passing through the airport reached 71,777, surpassing the peak level seen on April 30, 2019, with 60,500 passengers, reported VOV.

In order to ease traffic pressure on roads leading to the airport during peak hours, the international airport will encourage passengers to use public transport instead of private vehicles. Moreover, passengers should arrive at the airport two hours prior to their departure time for domestic flights and three hours prior to their departure time for international flights.

The airport also recommends people complete online check-ins as a means of avoiding long waits. After finalizing the check-in process, they have been requested to promptly queue before passing through the security screening areas.

It has also arranged aviation security and police forces to ensure smooth traffic, the use of a reliable security screening system, and increased check-in kiosks.

Denmark seeks new cooperative opportunities in Vietnam

Many Danish enterprises, especially small and medium-size ones, want to seek opportunities for cooperation with Vietnam and Asian countries, according to leaders of Asia House, a a Danish organization that connects Denmark and Asia.

At a working session on April 27 with Vietnamese Ambassador to Denmark Luong Thanh Nghi, Asia House’s Chairman of the Board Ove Ullerup and Executive Director Susanne Rumohr Hækkerup said Danish businesses have limited information about the investment and business environment, markets, and potential partners in Vietnam and the Asian region.

That is why cooperation between the sides has not matched potential and their expectations, they said.

Ullerup underlined that as the Danish Government attaches special importance to SMEs, one of the top missions of Asia House in the time ahead will be expanding the cooperative links between Danish SMEs and their peers in Asia, particularly Southeast Asia, cited VNA.

He added that Vietnam has a great appeal to Danish SMEs thanks to its increasingly favorable business environment and competitive edges that suit the enterprises’ need.

Ambassador Nghi hailed the Asia House as a special bridge connecting Denmark with Vietnam and Asia in general, and Danish organizations and individuals with the Embassy of Vietnam and embassies of Asian countries in Copenhagen in particular.

Ambassador Luong Thanh Nghi (R) at the working session with leaders of Asia House. Photo: baoquocte.vn

The diplomat pledged that the Vietnamese Embassy will cooperate closely with Asia House to expand partnerships across the field, contributing to deepening the friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and Denmark.

The two sides spent time to consider specific measures and plans for their joint work in the time ahead, including promoting the exchange of delegations at all levels, holding trade and investment promotion events, and providing information and connecting enterprises of the two countries.

They also agreed to work together to seek ideas and initiatives on new cooperative opportunities.

Vietnam sees sharp increase in foreign arrivals in the first four months

The number of foreign visitors to Vietnam reached nearly 192,400 in the first fourth months of 2022, a year-on-year increase of 184.7 percent, announced by the General Statistics Office on April 29.

In particular, Vietnam received 101,400 foreign arrivals in April, 2.4 times higher than last month and 5.2 times higher than the same period last year. The positive results were thanks to the full reopening of international tourism and many air routes.

Among them, the number of visitors traveling by air was 170,4000, accounting for 88.6 per cent of the total international arrivals to Vietnam and four times higher than the same period last year, NDO reported.

Meanwhile, arrivals by road reached 21,900 (accounting for 11.4 percent) and by sea counted 64,000 (accounting for 0.03 percent).

The number of foreign visitors to Vietnam in the first fourth months of 2022 saw a year-on-year increase of 184.7 percent. Photo: NDO

The total revenue from tourism in the first four months of this year saw a year-on-year increase of 10.5 percent.

Vietnam will host the 31^st Southeast Asian Games in May. The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism has been working with the General Department of Sports and Physical Training, including relevant agencies to boost the promotion of both the image and tourism brand of Vietnam towards the delegations and international friends and visitors.

The country set a target of welcoming 65 million tourists, including 5 million internationals, and collecting VND400 trillion from the tourism industry in 2022.

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