PM Pham Minh Chinh delivers a speech at the G77 summit on climate change in Dubai on December 2 afternoon. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam suggests climate change cooperation orientations for G77

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attended the Group of 77 (G77) summit on climate change in Dubai on December 2 (local time), as part of the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change there.

The event was chaired by President Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez of Cuba, which holds the 2023 chairmanship of G77 – a group of developing countries. It saw the presence of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, and leaders and representatives of 134 member states of G77 and international organizations.

Addressing the summit’s main debate, PM Chinh hailed Cuba’s initiative to hold the event and affirmed the Caribbean country’s leadership as Chair of G77.

He emphasized the importance of effective climate change response to the world and Vietnam and proposed three cooperation orientations for G77.

First, it is necessary to promote a global and all people-based approach and uphold multilateralism with the motto of common but differentiated responsibilities, justice, and reasonableness with socio-economic development demand of developing countries taken into account.

Second, science, technology, and innovation should be turned into the key cooperation area of G77 on the basis of establishing an inclusive cooperation mechanism and capitalizing on the strengths of both developed countries (capital, technology) and developing ones (markets, resources), cited VNA.

Third, preferential climate finance should be promoted in a way that makes it more accessible, does not increase the debt burden, and not at the expense of resources for realizing other development goals.

The PM highlighted Vietnam’s green transition resolve as seen in its strong commitments announced at COP26, participation in the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), and implementation of plans, projects, and strategies on green growth, sustainable development, and energy transition.

The Vietnamese leader expressed readiness to coordinate and share experience with other G77 members.

In his remarks, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez underlined the importance of enhancing international solidarity and cooperation in response to major global challenges. He called on G77 countries to stay united, share voice, and ensure the rights and legitimate interests of developing countries that are being directly and severely affected by climate change.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stressed the role of developing countries in promoting a multilateral process for climate targets and calling for climate justice. He urged developed nations to quickly increase assistance for the countries of the Global South and, especially, deliver on their climate finance commitments.

The summit welcomed and highly valued the turning-point significance of the adoption of the Loss and Damage Fund. It affirmed the need to bring into play the role of G77, step up actions, and boost effective solutions to climate change.

Vietnam vows to deepen cooperative relations with Cuba

The Party, State, and people of Vietnam wish to further deepen the traditional friendship, fraternal solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Cuba, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh told Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel in Dubai on December 2.

Meeting the Cuban leader on the sidelines of the COP28 World Climate Change Action Summit, Chinh reiterated Vietnam’s consistent policy of supporting the just revolutionary cause of the Cuban people and opposing unilateral embargo measures against the Caribbean state.

He respectfully conveyed the greetings of senior Vietnamese leaders to President Miguel Díaz-Canel and other Cuban leaders, as well as their invitation to Cuban Party and State leaders to visit Vietnam.

President Miguel Díaz-Canel for his part thanked Vietnam for its valuable support and assistance to Cuba, helping the Caribbean state to overcome difficulties in socio-economic development due to western sanctions.

He noted that the Cuba-Vietnam relationship is an exemplary role model in international relations that was painstakingly nurtured by President Fidel Castro, President Ho Chi Minh and generations of leaders of the two countries through various stages.

Both sides were delighted at the extensive development of the special traditional friendship and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Cuba over the years, according to VOV.

Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh meets Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel in Dubai on December 2.

They agreed to coordinate more closely to promote economic, investment and trade, and agriculture cooperation.

The two sides agreed to strengthen coordination of stances and exchanges at multilateral forums.

At the meeting, the Vietnamese PM congratulated on successfully hosting the G77 summit on climate change within the framework of the COP28 Conference in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates.

Vietnam honored as World’s Leading Heritage Destination for fourth time

Vietnam has won the World’s Leading Heritage Destination 2023 title of the World Travel Awards for the fourth time so far, reported the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT).

The award presentation ceremony recently took place in Dubai.

Together with the title obtained in 2019, 2020, and 2022, this time’s award shows the globally outstanding values and attractiveness of the country’s cultural heritage to the international community, the authority said.

Several destinations of Vietnam were also granted different awards this year.

Among them, Hanoi won the World’s Leading City Break Destination title while Phu Quoc in the Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang was named the World’s Leading Nature Island Destination. Moc Chau in the northwestern province of Son La was listed as the World’s Leading Regional Nature Destination, Ha Nam province the World’s Leading Regional Cultural Destination, and Tam Dao in the northern province of Vinh Phuc the World’s Leading Town Destination, VNA reported.

The Temple of Literature in Hanoi is a magnet for both Vietnamese and international visitors. (Photo: VNA)

The World’s Leading Heritage Destination title will continue to affirm Vietnam’s potential and attractiveness in terms of natural resources and long-standing cultural heritage values. It will help further popularize the country’s tourism images to the international community and also demonstrate local people’s efforts in preserving and promoting heritage values, according to the VNAT.

VNAT Deputy Director Ha Van Sieu said cultural heritage is a tourism resource with great attractiveness to travelers, especially international ones. The tourism sector views cultural heritage as an important pillar of tourism development and the building of Vietnam’s tourism brand.

Heritage-based tourism in many places like Hue, Hoi An, Ha Long, Trang An, and Hanoi has created jobs and income for many locals while promoting mutual understanding, respect for cultural diversity, and cultural confluence. Part of the revenue from this type of tourism has been used for heritage preservation, restoration, honoring, and management.

Heritage tourism has substantially contributed to the preservation and sustainable exploitation of cultural heritage, he added.

Vietnam is World Bank’s important partner, says President Ajay Banga

The World Bank considers Vietnam an important partner and it will continue to accompany and support Vietnam in meeting its development goals, said President Ajay Banga.

Meeting with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh in Dubai on December 2, Banga highly appreciated the government’s sound performance, resulting in positive socio-economic development in recent times despite global headwinds.

Chinh for his part thanked the World Bank for its effective cooperation with Vietnam, especially in policy advice, financial provision, and implementation of many development projects in the country, including those on poverty reduction.

To improve the efficiency of bilateral cooperation in the coming time, both leaders agreed to effectively implement existing projects and at the same time promote large-scale strategic projects within the framework of the World Bank’s US$5-7 billion loan for Vietnam in the next three years.

The large-scale projects with spillover effects include those on renewable energy development, 1 million hectares of high-yield, low-carbon rice, Hanoi - Hoa Lac high-speed railway, infrastructure development in the Mekong Delta to adapt to climate change, digital transformation, and green transformation, cited VOV.

An overview of the working session between Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and World Bank President Ajay Banga in Dubai on December 2. (Photo: VGP)

As the World Bank is restructuring its organisation globally, the Prime Minister proposed that the world’s financial institution establish a regional center with an office in Vietnam. He affirmed that the government would create the best possible conditions for the regional office to undertake projects in Vietnam and other countries in the region.

Banga welcomed Chinh’s proposal, and said he would seriously consider the idea.

He spoke highly of the efforts and determination of the Vietnamese Government in green transformation, climate change response and sustainable development, especially in implementing a project to grow 1 million hectares of high-yield, low-carbon rice, considering the project a role model for green agriculture of the World Bank in the world.

He proposed that Vietnam join the global carbon credit market, while affirming the World Bank stays ready to accompany and support Vietnam in this process.

South, Central Highlands regions to see unseasonal showers

Meteorological experts say that the rainy season in the southern region is gradually ending to enter the hot dry season. However, the South and Central Highlands still need to be wary of thunderstorms and unseasonal showers in the afternoon and evening.

The National Center for Meteorological and Hydrological Forecasting informed that on December 2, the temperature in the North dropped very low. For instance, the common temperature in Hanoi during the day was 18-19 degrees Celsius. At night, the temperature dropped further by 1-2 degrees Celsius.

It is forecasted that early next week, the temperature in Hanoi and the North may drop even further and it will be cold.

In the Central region, meteorological stations recorded that Ha Tinh, Thua Thien Hue, and Quang Nam will see rains on December 2 and 3, some parts from Thua Thien Hue to Quang Ngai will have rains over 200mm while other areas in the Central region will also have rain but the intensity will be weaker. According to meteorologists, from the night of December 3, the Central region will not see heavy rains any longer.

Notably, due to the impact of El Nino, the average temperature in December in the country may continue to increase higher than normal. Specifically, the Northern region and the Central regions will be warmer with temperatures about 1-2 degree Celsius higher than the average in previous years. The South Central region, the Southern region and the Central Highlands region will be about 0.5-1 degree Celcius higher. This means that winter in the North is getting less cold compared to the last few years.

Heavy precipitation causes flooding, landslide in North Central region.

Besides, moderate and heavy rains are still likely to occur in the Central region. From December, the Central Highlands and the South experience less rain, but residents should be careful because there may be days to have unseasonal showers.

In related news, Chief of Office of the Command Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Search for Disaster in Thua Thien Hue Province Dang Van Hoa said that from late at night on December 1 to the morning of December 2, mountainous districts in Thua Thien Hue Province had moderate rain and heavy precipitation in some areas.

In less than 10 hours, extremely heavy rain in upstream areas reached 350mm. Water from upstream causes flooding in many low-lying areas, SGGP reported.

Prolonged rain caused a cascade of cubic meters of soil and rock on the cliff to continue to block the National Highway 8A in Son Kim 1 Commune of Ha Tinh Province’s Huong Son District, causing traffic jams in the unique route to Cau Treo International Border Gate.

After receiving the news, the Border Guard Station of Cau Treo International Border Gate coordinated with local authorities to mobilize forces and equipment to regulate traffic as well as post warnings to drivers. Guards were sent to the landslide place to ensure traffic safety for people and vehicles.

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