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Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc in his video message to the UN General Assembly’s special session on COVID-19 response on December 3-4 (Photo: VNA)

PM delivers message on International Day of Epidemic Preparedness

The United Nations General Assembly approved Vietnam’s initiative with a resolution proclaiming December 27 as the International Day of Epidemic Preparedness. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc delivered a message on the Day (December 27,2020), VGP reported.

The following is part of the message:

“The international community is witnessing the closure of 2020, a year full of challenges and adversities stemmed from the COVID-19 pandemic. Against this backdrop and at Vietnam's initiative, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Resolution proclaiming December 27 as the International Day of Epidemic Preparedness. This Resolution holds great significance, as it helps raise awareness for each individual, community, state and the world on the importance, necessity and urgency of the prevention of, preparedness for and partnership against epidemics.

…

It is truly a great honor that this initiative has received strong support from the international community. To elaborate, 112 countries have co-sponsored it. This is testimony to the timeliness of Vietnam's initiative and its relevance to the international community in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and other ongoing and future epidemics. It also constitutes another milestone in Vietnam's pursuit of active international integration and enhanced multilateral diplomacy.

As we celebrate the International Day of Epidemic Preparedness for the first time, I call upon nations, organizations and individual to join us in endorsing and observing this Resolution.

…

Vietnam is confident that the international community shall be able to harness the will and strength of people of every nation, international solidarity and cooperation in order to together overcome current challenges and build a brighter future for every country and all citizens”.

Ceremony held to mark 75th anniversary of first General Election Day

The Delegation of National Assembly deputies of Thai Nguyen Province organized a ceremony on Saturday to mark the 75th anniversary of Viet Nam’s first General Election Day (January 6, 1946).

Participants at the event included former Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh; Politburo member, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh; leaders and former leaders as well as National Assembly deputies and former deputies of the locality.

According to VGP, Secretary of Thai Nguyen Provincial Party Committee Nguyen Thanh Hai recalled that just one day after the revolutionary State was born, President Ho Chi Minh called for organizing general election with universal suffrage as soon as possible while addressing the first meeting of the Provisional Government.

The successful organization of the election under the sound leadership of the Party and President Ho Chi Minh was a milestone in the development of Viet Nam’s revolutionary State, opening a new period of Viet Nam’s history with a National Assembly, a unified government, a progressive constitution, and a legal administration.

The National Assembly embodied national unity and represented the will, power, and aspirations of the people.

Participants to the ceremony marking the 75th anniversary of Viet Nam’s first General Election Day. (Photo: VGP)

Meanwhile, the National Construction Plan Study Committee, which was attached to the Government and composed of 50 members who were intellectuals, patriotic personalities, ministers and deputy-ministers, also studied and put forth another draft constitution submitted to the Government.

Based mainly on the Government’s draft constitution, which was compared with the draft constitution of the National Construction Plan Study Committee, and consulting constitutions of a number of European countries, the National Assembly’s Constitution Sub-Committee made a new draft constitution and presented it to the National Assembly at its second session lasting from October 28 to November 9, 1946 in Ha Noi.

The National Assembly deputies pointed to its pluses and added a number of specific points before it was unanimously approved.

On November 9, 1946, the National Assembly voted to pass the Constitution of the Democratic Republic of Viet Nam with 240 votes for among 242 present deputies.

Strong cold spell expected ahead of New Year holiday

People in northern Vietnam will brace themselves for a very strong cold spell which is currently moving southward and is forecast to strike the region on December 29.

Temperatures are anticipated to fall sharply to between 12 and 15 degrees Celsius on average in the plain and between 3 and 5 in the mountainous region.

Several places will even see temperatures to drop to below zero during the height of the spell. The freezing temperature is expected in mountain peaks.

The strong cold spell will likely cause the temperature to nosedive to below 10 in Hanoi capital alone.

The spell, the coldest this year, is forecast to last four days, according to the national weather forecast authority.

The northern region is getting warmer these days with temperatures rising to 23 and 25 degrees before the cold spell arrives, as reported by VOV.

VN economy grows by 2.91% in 2020 despite COVID-19 impact: GSO

Vietnam has achieved a GDP growth rate of 2.91%, an impressive figure despite the impact of the novel coronavirus pandemic, said the General Statistics Office (GSO) at a press briefing in Hanoi on December 27.

According to the GSO, Vietnam’s growth rate in 2020 is of the highest in the world, which testifies to the absolute determination of the entire political system, the Government, the Prime Minister, as well as all-out efforts by the people and the business community to effectively realize the dual goal of epidemic prevention and economic recovery.

For other economic indicators, Vietnam has enjoyed a record trade surplus of US$19.1 billion this year, the highest figure since 2016. Overall, the total trade revenue hit US$543 billion, up 5.1% from the previous year. Of the total, exports brought back US$281.5 billion, up 6.5%, while imports were valued at US$262.4 billion, up 3.6%.

Vietnam has achieved an impressive GDP growth rate of 2.91% in 2020 (Photo: VOV)

The country has also succeeded in keeping inflation in check, increasing 3.23% compared to 2019, a figure which is lower than the 4% estimate.

The Government has set a target of securing a GDP growth rate of approximately 6% in 2021. It is a challenging task for Vietnam, according to the GSO, as the Vietnamese economy’s openness is comparatively big, making it vulnerable to any market fluctuations, alongside drastic changes in the regional and global geopolitical landscape, VOV said.

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