At the signing ceremony (Photo: VSS)

France, Vietnam boost co-operation in pharmaceutical system development

The Vietnam Social Security (VSS) and the France-Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIFV) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on strategic co-operation in optimizing the medical and pharmaceutical systems to care for people's health.

According to French Ambassador to Vietnam Olivier Brochet, the French Embassy in Vietnam has worked alongside the VSS in the fields of healthcare and pharmacy since 2018.

In 2019, the French Pharmaceutical Companies Association (Leem) signed an agreement with the VSS in the pharmaceutical area, he noted, affirming that the newly-signed MoU is the continuance of sound ties between the two sides.

Nguyen Duc Hoa, deputy general director of the VSS, said that currently roughly 18.26 million people have joined social insurance, accounting for 39.25% of the country’s workforce, along with about 14.7 million people joining unemployment insurance and over 93.3 million people covered by health insurance, or 93.35% of the country’s total population, cited VOV.

However, Hoa pointed out a number of difficulties that VSS is facing in ensuring that people covered by health insurance can access medicine, medical equipment, and services of a high quality, as well as challenges faced in terms of managing spending of the health insurance fund on drugs, medical supplies, and medical technical services.

He went on to underline that the MoU is not only a commitment to public health, but is also a shared effort of the two sides in providing high-quality medical services for people of the two countries, further contributing to promoting mutual relations.

Under the MoU, both sides will seek to share information and experience on measures aimed at increasing income sources for the health insurance fund and the implementation of supplementary health insurance packages, while supporting each other in enhancing capacity in medical technology assessment. This will serve as the building of a list of drugs, medical supplies, and technical services covered by the health insurance fund.

Meanwhile, they will also work together in communications as a means of raising awareness of the community and medical staff about safe, reasonable, and effective use of drugs, thereby ensuring the effective use of the health insurance funds and patients' rights, as well as optimizing resources for the improvement of healthcare services.

Vietnam, Germany boost cooperation in industry, trade, energy

The state visit to Vietnam by German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier is expected to create new momentum for Vietnam-Germany cooperation in key areas, including industry, trade and energy, Nguyen Sinh Nhat Tan, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade, told Michael Kellner, Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, in Hanoi on January 23.

At the meeting, Tan and Kellner, who is also head of an economic group comprising representatives from 12 major enterprises accompanying the German President on the Vietnam visit, discussed the implementation of the EU- Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and impacts of the agreement on bilateral relations.

Specifically, the agreement has helped promote the export of many key products of Vietnam to the German market and creates favorable conditions for Vietnam to increase the import of machinery, equipment, and modern technology from Germany, thereby raising Vietnam's ability to join the global value chain as well as Vietnamese products’ competitiveness, according to VNA.

Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Sinh Nhat Tan meets with Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action Michael Kellner in Hanoi on January 23. (Photo: The Courtesy of Industry and Trade)

Besides, the EVFTA has promoted its role in speeding up Vietnam's institutional reform, contributing to creating an increasingly favorable legal framework for multi-sector cooperation between Vietnam and Germany in the coming time.

The two sides also reviewed the two countries’ recent effective cooperation projects.

Tan said the approval of Vietnam’s Power Plan VIII has created new development space for the energy industry, opening up opportunities for international investors, including those from Germany.

So, he said, his ministry wishes to promote cooperation with the German government in the energy sector, such as renewable energy technology, and new energy, equipment serving the energy industry, advanced energy storage technology and high-performance fuel cells.

For his part, Kellner and the German business group evaluated Vietnam as a leading dynamic and potential market in Southeast Asia. In particular, the German businesses expressed their interest in cooperating and investing in companies in Vietnam in such specific fields as renewable energy, equipment, industrial measurement technology, new materials, environmental services, and organization of trade fairs.

Vietnam emphasizes people-centered approach to promote sustainable development

Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, permanent representative of Vietnam to the UN, proposed a number of major co-operation directions of the G77 Group at the Third South Summit of the Group of 77 countries and China (G77+China) that took place from January 21 to January 22 in the Ugandan capital of Kampala.

At the event, UN leaders hailed the role of the G77 Group and China, with a population accounting for 80% of all people globally, as an important force for developing countries in terms of promoting fair international economic order, for a world of peace, prosperity, and development over the past 60 years.

They said that the G77 Group plays a decisive role in shaping the upcoming major UN processes, especially the Future Summit which is scheduled to take place later this year in New York.

The conference also witnessed the transfer of the G77 Chairmanship from Cuba to Uganda amid increasing climate, humanitarian, economic, financial challenges, and geopolitical tensions, while the process of carrying out sustainable development goals (SDGs) is at risk of stagnating or even going backwards.

At the conference, developing countries asked developed ones to make commitments aimed at further contributing financially, improving capacity, transferring technology, ensuring preferential access to finance, and taking measures to resolve debts for developing countries.

They therefore called for greater reform of the multilateral system, especially international financial institutions, in order to better meet the needs of developing states.

​Countries also agreed to approve the summit’s documents, thereby underlining the need for relevant parties to urgently act to implement the SDGs according to the motto of leaving no one behind.

Leading the Vietnamese delegation to attend the event, Ambassador Giang proposed a number of major cooperation directions of the G77 Group, VOV reported.

Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the United Nations speaks at the event.

Firstly, the Group needs to strengthen actions to coordinate in properly realizing the SDG implementation roadmap, with an approach that puts people at the center of all development processes.

Secondly, science, technology, and innovation must become a key area of co-operation and the Group needs to take advantage of all frameworks to mobilize maximum capital and knowledge.

Thirdly, responding to climate change must be parallel with a fair energy transition process, on the basis of ensuring fairness and reasonableness, taking into account circumstances, specificities, as well as both economic and social development needs.

On the sidelines of the summit, Ambassador Giang had a meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Bahamas to discuss specific measures to strengthen bilateral relations, including the signing of the Vietnam-Bahamas Framework Cooperation Agreement, and the acceleration of visa exemption for citizens of the two countries.

The South Summit represents the highest-level meeting of the G77 Group and China, including 134 member states which are developing nations. The event aims to discuss emerging global issues and set out the Group's action directions at UN forums in the fields of economics, finance, and sustainable development.

This is the third meeting, after the ones in Cuba in 2000 and in Qatar in 2005. Moving forward, the fourth is expected to be held in 2029.

Party official makes working trip to Russia

Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee and head of its Commission for External Relations Le Hoai Trung led a CPV delegation to Russia for a working trip from January 20-23.

The delegation held meetings and working sessions with Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko who is also co-chair of the Vietnam-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Economic, Trade, Scientific and Technological Cooperation; Secretary of the Security Council Nikolai Patrushev, and leaders of major political parties in Russia, cited VNA.

Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee and head of its Commission for External Relations Le Hoai Trung and Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko who is also co-chair of the Vietnam-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Economic, Trade, Scientific and Technological Cooperation. (Photo: VNA)

At the events, both sides affirmed the significance of the Vietnam-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership and highlighted the ties between the political parties of Russia and the CPV as a political foundation for the relations between the two countries and their people. They also hailed the developments in bilateral ties in the recent time.

The Vietnamese delegation expressed gratitude on behalf of the Vietnamese Party, State, and people for the substantial and effective support extended by the Party, State and people of the Soviet Union, including Russia, during Vietnam's two wars for national independence, as well as the ongoing assistance provided by Russia.

During the visit, Trung and Chairman of the Communist Party of Russian Federation (CPRF) Gennady Zyuganov signed an agreement to expand and deepen the cooperative relationship between the CPV and the CPRF.

The Vietnamese official also attended a round-table conference hosted by the United Russia Party, which centered on the role of politically responsible forces of Russia and ASEAN countries in shaping a new and equitable world order.

Vietnam to join global tourism recovery trend this year: insiders

The global tourism market is set to fully recover from the COVID-19 pandemic in 2024, and Vietnam will not stand out from this trend, insiders have said.

According to the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the first UNWTO World Tourism Barometer of the year showed there were an estimated 1.3 billion international travelers in 2023, representing 88% of pre-pandemic levels.

It also reported that international tourism receipts reached US$1.4 trillion in 2023, equivalent to 93% of the figure of US$1.5 trillion in 2019.

“The latest UNWTO data underscores tourism's resilience and rapid recovery, with pre-pandemic numbers expected by the end of 2024,” said UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili.

“The rebound is already having a significant impact on economies, jobs, growth and opportunities for communities everywhere,” he noted.

For Vietnam, the country welcomed 12.6 million international arrivals last year, reaching 70% of the 2019 pre-pandemic level.

Vietnam to join global recovery trend this year. (Photo: Laodong.vn)

World-leading indie travel news source Travel Off Path has listed Vietnam as the safest country to visit in Asia in 2024, saying the country is both prosperous and peaceful, as it enjoys low rates of crime and impressive political stability.

Vietnam is ideal for slow travelers and backpackers seeking to reconnect with nature and expose themselves to a culture that is almost entirely different from their own, especially for those coming from the Northern Hemisphere, it said.

Many Vietnamese places have made their names on prestigious voting sites, leaving good impressions on international tourists and friends.

However, experts said, limitations still remain, especially in making policies and long-term strategies whose efficiency requires many factors, including data sources to ensure accuracy and harmony in tourism statistics.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has asked the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism to coordinate with the Ministers of Planning and Investment, Public Security, and Information and Communications to launch a tourism business and administration platform in line with the Government's Resolution No. 82, which should be completed within the second quarter of this year.

Phung Quang Thang, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Society of Travel Agents (VISTA), told Lao Dong (Labor) Newspaper that accurate statistics play a crucial role in coordinating tourism activities.

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