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Party General Secretary and State President Nguyen Phu Trong (R) and Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc at the meeting. (Photo: VNA)

Politburo, Secretariat of Party Central Committee hold first session

The Politburo and Secretariat of the 13th-tenure Party Central Committee held their first session in Hanoi on February 18 to discuss key tasks for the first quarter and the policy for purchasing and using COVID-19 vaccines, according to NDO.

The Politburo and Secretariat asked Party Committees at all levels to focus on leadership and direction and offer all possible support to fight the pandemic, considering it a task of top priority.

The Politburo and Secretariat highlighted the need to realise the Resolution adopted by the 13th National Party Congress right from the beginning of the year as well as the Politburo’s Directive on the elections of deputies to the 15th National Assembly and the People’s Councils at all levels for the 2021-2026 tenure.

Speaking at the event, Party General Secretary and State President Nguyen Phu Trong urged every agency, sector, and unit to build their own action plans for this year, initially for the first quarter, to conduct policies adopted at the 13th National Party Congress.

The Politburo and Secretariat agreed to use State budget and other sources to purchase vaccines. The use of vaccines must be in line with the law and recommendations from the World Health Organisation and manufacturers.

COVID-19 vaccines – shared asset of international community: Deputy PM

Vietnam therefore welcomes enhanced co-operation between Iraq and Kuwait in searching for Kuwaiti and third-country nationals who have gone missing in Iraq, along with returning Kuwaiti property in line with the UNSC’s Resolution 2107, he emphasised.

Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, special representative and head of the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), briefed the meeting on the ongoing situation in Iraq, stating that along with economic challenges caused by falling oil prices and the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), the security environment is complex. Indeed, there are still a number of terrorist attacks which target innocent people.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh (Photo: VNA)

She also provided an update on the operation of the UNAMI that can help the Iraqi Government and people stabilise the current situation and whilst handling ongoing difficulties.

Vietnam therefore welcomes enhanced co-operation between Iraq and Kuwait in searching for Kuwaiti and third-country nationals who have gone missing in Iraq, along with returning Kuwaiti property in line with the UNSC’s Resolution 2107, he emphasised.

Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, special representative and head of the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), briefed the meeting on the ongoing situation in Iraq, stating that along with economic challenges caused by falling oil prices and the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), the security environment is complex. Indeed, there are still a number of terrorist attacks which target innocent people.

She also provided an update on the operation of the UNAMI that can help the Iraqi Government and people stabilise the current situation and whilst handling ongoing difficulties, NDO reported.

Vietnam condemns terrorist attacks in Iraq

The nation condemns all terrorist attacks and acts of extreme violence in Iraq, Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy, permanent representative of Vietnam to the UN, said during an online meeting held on February 16 among the UN Security Council (UNSC).

The Vietnamese diplomat hailed efforts of the Iraqi Government, as well as praising recent progress, adding his concern over the security situation in the Middle-Eastern country.

With regard to upcoming elections which will take place in Iraq, Ambassador Quy said they should be both free and fair, whilst featuring the widespread participation of citizens, including Iraqi youths and women.

The UN Security Council's virtual meeting on the Iraq situation held on February 16 (US time). — VNA/VNS Photo

Furthermore, the Vietnamese Ambassador also called on the international community to continue meetings its commitments to support Iraq, while fully respecting its political independence, territorial integrity, and sovereignty.

Vietnam therefore welcomes enhanced co-operation between Iraq and Kuwait in searching for Kuwaiti and third-country nationals who have gone missing in Iraq, along with returning Kuwaiti property in line with the UNSC’s Resolution 2107, he emphasised.

Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, special representative and head of the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), briefed the meeting on the ongoing situation in Iraq, stating that along with economic challenges caused by falling oil prices and the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), the security environment is complex. Indeed, there are still a number of terrorist attacks which target innocent people.

She also provided an update on the operation of the UNAMI that can help the Iraqi Government and people stabilise the current situation and whilst handling ongoing difficulties, according to VOV.

Eighteen COVID-19 cases recorded in Hai Duong

Viet Nam confirmed 18 new community infection cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, raising the national patient tally to 2,347.

All the latest cases are F1 individuals in Hai Duong Province – the country’s current biggest COVID-19 hotspot, according to the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control led by Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam.

The same day, 25 patients were discharged from hospitals, bringing the total recoveries to 1,605.

The nation is placing 144,071 people under medical surveillance and quarantine nationwide. Of these 577 are being kept at hospitals, 14,325 at concentrated quarantine sites, and 129,169 at places of residence, as reported by VGP.

(Photo: VNE)

Import-export revenue soars sharply during Tet

Import and export activities remained active and even increased during seven days of the Lunar New Year (Tet) 2021 from February 10-16, with total import and export revenue of US$1.67 billion, up 53% over the Lunar New Year 2020

According to the General Department of Vietnam Customs, about 10,300 import and export declarations conducted by 960 enterprises were recorded during the Tet holiday, up 59% in terms of declarations and up 363 in the number of enterprises compared to Tet 2020.

Of the total import and export revenue, export revenue was posted at US$0.73 billion, up 79%, while import revenue reached US$0.94 billion, up 37% over the same period last year.

Some 190 tonnes of dragon fruits shipped to China through Kim Thanh II International Border Gate in the northern province of Lao Cai on February 12, the first day of the lunar New Year 2021. (Photo: NDO)

Since early this year to February 16, Vietnam reported total import and export revenue of US$74.51 billion, up 31% over the same period in 2020, including US$38.57 billion worth of export revenue, up 36%, and US$35.94 billion worth of import revenue, up 26%.

During the Lunar New Year 2021, Vietnamese goods were shipped to 80 markets across the world with the largest volume of exports going to China, accounting for 26% of the total export revenue. The US market came in second, making up 21% of the total revenue, while the Republic of Korea market came in third, accounting for 9% of the total export revenue, NDO reported.

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