Illustrative image. Photo: VNA

Vietnam records 427 new Covid-19 cases on December 5

Vietnam's Covid-19 caseload rose to 11,518,149 after 427 new cases recorded on December 5, according to the Ministry of Health.

With 66 patients given the all-clear on the day, the number of recoveries climbed to 10,608,988.

Meanwhile, there are 51 patients needing breathing support, cited VNA.

No death from Covid-19 was recorded in the past 24 hours. The total number of fatalities stood at 43,177.

With 6,164 doses administered on December 4, the total number of Covid-19 vaccine doses injected so far rose to 264.720,297 million.

PM hosts USABC, US corporation leaders in Hanoi

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on December 5 received Michael Michalak, regional managing director and senior vice president at the US-ASEAN Business Council (USABC), and representatives of leading US corporations of Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Bell and Raytheon.

Chinh thanked the US and corporations for their support and cooperation with their Vietnamese counterparts over the years, contributing to the development of Vietnam in general and the Vietnam - US relations in particular.

He highlighted Vietnam’s resolve to build a fair, transparent and stable business environment, and reduce input costs for businesses and investors in the spirit of mutual benefits and shared risks by all parties.

The PM briefed his guests on the country’s post-pandemic economic recovery efforts and affirmed Vietnam always attaches great importance to the Comprehensive Partnership with the US, according to VOV.

He said economic and trade cooperation is a bright spot in the relationship between the two countries, noting the US is currently Vietnam’s top economic partner, with two-way trade turnover over the past 11 months rising 18% year on year to more than US$105 billion.

He suggested that the USABC and US corporations increase investment in the fields of high technology, digital transformation, green transformation, climate change adaptation, aviation industry, and cyber security in Vietnam.

The PM acknowledged US corporations’ proposals to increase cooperation in the fields of trade, defense industry, and security, and said Vietnam is willing to strengthen cooperation in various fields, for mutual benefits, contributing to peace, cooperation, stability, development and prosperity in the region and the wider world.

PM Pham Minh Chinh receives Michael Michalak, senior vice president at the US-ASEAN Business Council (USABC), and representatives of leading US corporations in Hanoi on December 5. Photo: VGP

Michael Michalak and leaders of visiting US corporations praised Vietnam for post-pandemic rapid economic recovery, with its GDP rate topping Southeast Asia in the third quarter of 2022. In addition, Vietnam is also effectively attracting new investment flows and taking advantage of the trend of the supply chain shifting globally.

They expressed their desire to strengthen cooperation with Vietnam in the fields of trade, defense industry, security, aviation, education - training, and human resource development.

Michalak took the occasion to highly appreciate Vietnam’s initiative to organize the 2022 international defense exhibition (Vietnam defense expo 2022).

Proper investment needed to develop night-time economy

The night-time economy of major cities in the country has remained underdeveloped due to a lack of proper investment and an absence of a legal framework and policies to promote it, authorities said.

The night-time economy is increasingly being recognised as a driver of economic growth globally, said Do Thang Hai, deputy minister of Industry and Trade.

In Vietnam, the night-time economy has tremendous potential to play a role in creating new jobs, improving incomes of locals and promoting domestic consumption and tourism, Hai said at a meeting held in HCM City recently.

In 2020, the Prime Minister approved a night-time economy development project with the aim of exploiting the potential of the night-time economy to promote overall economic growth and improve incomes for residents, he said.

Municipal and provincial authorities need to conduct research to formulate appropriate plans tailored to the specific socio-economic conditions, he added.

Nguyen Nguyen Phuong, deputy director of HCM City Department of Industry and Trade, said there is not much investment for developing the night-time economy in the city, leaving potential growth untapped, VNA reported.

Essential investment for developing the night-time economy includes public transport systems, infrastructure, pedestrian areas, and a wide range of services and products for nighttime activities, Phuong said.

The city’s socio-economic development master plan that integrates a plan of night-time economic development has not been issued, he said.

Illustrative image. Photo: VNA

Regulations on the management of a night-time economy have not been put in place, he added.

Asso. Prof. Nguyen Quyet Thang from the University of Technology in HCM City said that the night-time economy makes a significant contribution to the overall economy and employment and encourages tourism globally.

The night-time economy contributed 70 billion GBP (83.6 billion USD) to the UK and 400 billion JPY (2.97 billion USD) to Japan in 2020, Thang said.

In Vietnam, night-time economy development remains modest in some major cities, he said.

It is crucial to raise the awareness of authorities and the public on the benefits of the night-time economy, which is commonly perceived as ‘sensitive’ economic activities, he said.

Fear of crime and challenges related to security and order and noise pollution have hindered the development of the night-time economy, he added.

Vietnam welcomes New Zealand investors for win-win partnership

National Assembly chairman Vuong Dinh Hue encouraged New Zealand businesses to increase investment and expand operations in Vietnam for a win-win partnership, while addressing a Vietnam – New Zealand economic cooperation forum on December 5.

Hue, who is in New Zealand for an official visit, said the National Assembly and the Government of Vietnam are making efforts to reduce barriers to business, creating the most favourable business investment environment for foreign investors, including those from New Zealand.

The National Assembly of Vietnam is also actively amending the Land Law, a legal document that is related to all domestic and foreign investors, and the bill is expected to be approved at the year-end legislative session in 2023, he informed the forum.

National Assembly chairman Vuong Dinh hue speaks at the Vietnam - New Zealand economic cooperation forum on December 5.

According to Hue, Vietnam is preparing the necessary conditions to receive new investment flows, when the investment structure has changed and many foreign businesses are choosing Vietnam as their investment destination.

He recalled a Vietnam visit by NZ Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern in November 2022, noting New Zealand has officially recognized the opening of the market for Vietnamese lemons and pomelos. During his visit this time, he said the Vietnamese side has announced a decision to allow New Zealand to export pumpkins and strawberries to its market.

Along with agriculture, he said tourism is also a potential cooperation area that the two countries can promote in the coming time. The first 10 months of 2022 saw 14,000 New Zealanders visit Vietnam, helping the number of international visitors to Vietnam to increase 24 times over the same period last year, and this figure will continue to rise, if both sides maintain direct flights between Vietnam and New Zealand cities.

The National Assembly leader agreed with businesses at the forum that the two countries have the opportunity to cooperate in the fields of entrepreneurship, innovation, digital transformation, digital economy, digital society, as well as equitable energy transition, cited VOV.

He reiterated Vietnam’s commitment at the 26th UN climate change conference (COP26), Hue expressed Vietnam’s desires to ramp up cooperation with developed countries, including New Zealand, in technology transfer and in green finance for renewable energy development.

Vietnam welcomes New Zealand businesses and they will create new successes together, he stressed.

Honouring cultural values of Vietnamese Ao Dai

As part of the series of activities of the Hanoi Tourism Ao Dai Festival 2022, the Hanoi Women's Union in collaboration with the Hanoi Department of Tourism organised an Ao Dai (traditional Vietnamese long dress) mass performance themed "The capital's women integrate and develop" in Hanoi on December 4.

The event featured the participation of nearly 1,000 officers, members, women of the capital, families, child models, students, businesswomen, female civil servants, designers, artists, models, and representatives of several embassies of countries and international organisations, NDO reported.

Delegates in Ao Dai participate in the event.

The programme was organised with the purpose of honouring the traditional Ao Dai of Vietnam, sparking creativity from combination of the charming and elegant beauty of the capital's women with the city's unique tourism ecosystem.

This is a highlight of the Hanoi Tourism Ao Dai Festival 2022, contributing to the event’s overall success and creating opportunities for exchanges and cooperation between Hanoi's tourism businesses and artisans, designers, and Ao Dai brands, thus contributing to promoting the image of Hanoi as a “safe - friendly - quality – attractive” destination.

Chairman of the Hanoi Women's Union Le Kim Anh expressed her belief that the meaningful experiences from this programme will contribute to promoting the values ​​and cultural identity of the Vietnamese Ao Dai, honouring the image of the Ao Dai as an ambassador of Vietnamese tourism.

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