Vietnam News Today (Apr. 7): Seminar Examines Ways to Boost Vietnam-Singapore Logistic Cooperation

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Do Hung Viet (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam seeks stronger ties to deal with challenges in Mekong River basin

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s participation at the fourth Mekong River Commission (MRC) Summit in the Laotian capital of Vientiane shows the nation’s attention and determination to boost its role in responding to challenges, while reinforcing solidarity with other members to manage and use the river’s water resources in a sustainable manner.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Do Hung Viet made this statement in a recent media interview following the conclusion of the fourth MRC Summit.

According to Deputy Minister Viet, the Vietnamese Government chief extended important, profound messages at the summit, affirming the country’s strong commitments to the 1995 Mekong Agreement, thereby calling on countries to fully comply with the document, as well as rules relating to the use of the water resources.

He also underlined a comprehensive approach which puts people at the centre and the subject in the exploitation and use of the water resources, protects people’s legitimate rights and interests, as well as seeking to improve their adaptability to the river’s changes, along with devising ways to deal with extreme weather phenomena, floods, droughtsl and cross-border crimes.

PM Chinh proposed a broad array of specific co-operation activities, such as intensifying data sharing and uniting in research, climate change response, sustainable waterway development, cross-border crime combat, the building of a green economy and circular economy, electricity connectivity, and energy development, cited VOV.

He also called on partner nations, especially upstream ones and development partners, to co-operate and step up support in terms of knowledge, experience, finance, and resources to the commission, thereby helping it fulfill tasks and ensure sustainable development of the river and its basin.

The Lower Mekong countries of Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia. and Thailand have launched different socio-economic activities which impact the exploitation and use, Deputy Minister Viet said, citing forecast by experts that by 2040, the alluvium of the Mekong Delta will fall by more than nine times compared to the present, and nearly 30 times compared to 15 years ago.

The threat is further compounded by the extremely negative impacts of climate change that are causing extreme weather events, floods, droughts, and sea level rises, resulting in saltwater intrusion that adversely affect the Mekong Delta, as well as water and food security in the region.

Many other delegates shared the PM’s messages, Deputy Minister Viet said, adding that the participating countries also shared the need to step up co-operation and outline common plans and projects in a bid to ensure the sustainable development of the basin.

Union of Vietnamese associations in Japan established

A union of Vietnamese associations in Japan was officially established on April 6, aiming to strengthen the connectivity among the associations and build a growing Vietnamese community in the host country.

The 9-member standing board of the union consists of those prestigeous in the Vietnamese communities and representatives of associations in areas with large Vietnamese communities.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Quang Hieu, who is also Chairman of the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs, sent a congratulatory letter to the union, expressing his hope that the union will become a core factor to support the Vietnamese people in Japan to develop and integrate more deeply into the host society, help maintain the teaching and learning of the Vietnamese language, preserve and promote the Vietnamese cultural identity, and become a bridge connecting the two peoples.

Illustrative photo (Photo: jasa.edu.vn)

Nguyen Duc Minh, Interim Chargé d'affaires of the Vietnamese Embassy in Japan, said that besides the increasing number of Vietnamese people in Japan, many Vietnamese associations and unions have been formed and developed in the host country but they lack connection with each other.

Therefore, Minh emphasised that the establishment of the union is an important milestone in the development of the Vietnamese community in Japan, according to VNA.

Nguyen Hong Son, Chairman of the union, said that with the slogan "One community, connecting two cultures", the union will coordinate with other Vietnamese associations to build a growing Vietnamese community in Japan that actively contributes to the national construction and defense and building up the friendship between Vietnam and Japan.

Currently, there are about 500,000 Vietnamese working, studying and living in Japan.

Seminar examines ways to boost Vietnam-Singapore logistic cooperation

A seminar on logistics, trade, and connectivity was held on April 5 in Singapore under the co-sponsorship of the Agency of Foreign Trade at the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT), the trade office at the Vietnamese Embassy in Singapore, the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SCCCI), and the Singapore Logistics Association.

The event took place as part of a broad array of activities put on by a MoIT delegation that has arrived in Singapore to learn about the country’s experience and introduce both business and investment opportunities in logistics between the two nations.

Speaking at the seminar, Vietnamese Ambassador to Singapore Mai Phuoc Dung highlighted the occasion as a practical activity that reflects the dynamism of businesses, as well as the practical and specific working spirit of the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the need to connect Vietnamese and Singaporean firms, especially in the field of logistics, trade, and services.

Singapore is a country with a lot of experience in developing the logistics service industry, whilst also boasting huge potential for linkages between Vietnamese and Singaporean businesses, VOV reported.

At the event (Photo: VNA)

During the course of the event, representatives from agencies, associations, and businesses of both sides looked into the market situation, as well as the co-operation potential and opportunities that exist between the two countries, especially in terms of logistics.

Kho Choon Keng, chairman of the SCCI, hailed the country’s rapid recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic, with its GDP expected to grow by 6.0% this year, noting that the Vietnamese market remains a popular destination for Singaporean enterprises.

With its strong economic growth, coupled with a young, abundant, and skilled workforce, Vietnam is starting to lure more international investors, he said, noting that logistics services and supply chains will play an important role in spurring the national economy moving forward.

Statistics indicate that 30,000 businesses in Vietnam are operating in transportation, warehousing, and delivery services. The country thereby ranks third in the 10-member ASEAN for its logistics performance index (LPI).

Wang Swee Kit Winston, CEO of Kiomkee Pte.Ltd, said that whilst participating in this seminar, he expected to meet a number of partners who can conduct frozen logistics services to seek co-operation opportunities.

Currently, his company Kimomkee, which specialises in dim sum production, has been planning to invest in building a factory in the nation to produce goods to be exported back to Singapore and to other countries. The reason he has chosen Vietnam is because the nation is a friendly country that boasts a very good environment for business and development.

Thanh Minh festival in Vietnamese people's mind

For years, Tiet Thanh Minh (Tomb-sweeping festival) which comes in the early days of spring has become a familiar custom of Vietnamese people. This day has a humane meaning and is imbued with cultural and spiritual values.

Thanh Minh is not really a big festival in Vietnam, but it is of great spiritual importance as it is a time for family members to visit their deceased relatives' resting places.

Thanh Minh is a time for family members to visit their deceased relatives' resting places. (Photo: VNA)

It is the name of the fifth solar term of the traditional lunisolar calendar which divides a year into 24 ones. Therefore, there is no fixed date but normally it falls between April 4 or April 5 to April 20 or April 21. This year, it falls on April 5 (the 15th day of the second lunar month).

During this festival, people often visit the graves of their deceased relatives, and clean the grave areas by picking off the wild grass and adding new earth, cited VNA.

While the elderly are busy praying for their deceased relatives at the graves, children are instructed to follow the practices as well.

Offerings are also prepared to worship the deceased, including flowers, cakes and candy, votive offerings, and incense sticks.

Vietnamese brands aim for Chinese market

Vietnamese businesses have a geographical advantage in accessing China, the world's second-largest market, especially with support from e-commerce platforms, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT).

Nguyen Thi Minh Huyen, deputy head of MoIT's e-commerce and digital economy department, said cross-border trade via the platforms had so far been the fastest and cheapest way to access Chinese consumers.

But she said steps must be taken to ensure the trade's sustainable development.

Huyen's department has been working closely with several e-commerce platforms to connect with partners and consumers in the Chinese market. The focus is on how to best support Vietnamese businesses to link operations with Chinese retailers, brand-building companies and e-commerce firms.

A booth displays Vietnamese foods at an international trade event in China. Photo: MoIT

Huyen said feedback from businesses so far had been positive with the vast majority of them getting the hang of how to work with major Chinese e-commerce platforms. Some Vietnamese brands had been successfully marketed and sold widely in China such as Ca phe Sai Gon, Vicosap, Sao Thai Duong cosmetics, Lipo and Tipo snacks.

Nguyen Thi Diem Hang, chairperson of VinaNutriFood, who has been in charge of a Vietnamese national store on JD, one of the largest e-commerce sites in China, said her company had just finished setting up an office in China and officially launched the store on JD.com, a cross-border e-commerce platform that enables Chinese customers to purchase products from other countries.

She said it had taken a lot longer than previously anticipated due to China's strict social distancing measures, which had just been removed.

According to the ministry, more than 300 Vietnamese businesses have registered their products under the national store on JD.com but so far the store will only approve those that are qualified under Chinese regulations, VNS reported.

Hang said: "The Chinese market has certain standards, on par with the EU and US markets, which demand Vietnamese businesses to improve on safety, quality and packaging," she said, adding it would likely take some time for businesses to catch up.

"Preparing and getting things right on our first attempt is very important. It may take a bit longer but we do not want negative feedback from Chinese consumers, which may result in many Vietnamese brands getting blacklisted in the market."

Huyen added that businesses must take time to learn more about Chinese consumers and the best approach is to partner with Chinese companies that also operate on the same e-commerce platforms.

"We should seek out partners with experience in dealing with Chinese consumers and established customer bases to ensure a smooth introduction of Vietnamese products into the market," she said.

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