Vietnam news today (January 17): Party Central Committee convenes 15th plenum
	Vietnam news today (January 16): Deputy PM, FM Minh holds talks with U.S. National Security Adviser
	Vietnam News Today (January 15): VUFO to step up peace, solidarity, friendship activities

Top leaders of Viet Nam and China have exchanged messages of congratulations on the occasion of the 71st founding anniversary of diplomatic ties (Photo: VNA)

Viet Nam, China mark 71st founding anniversary of diplomatic ties

Top leaders of Viet Nam and China have exchanged messages of congratulations on the occasion of the 71st founding anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries (January 18, 1950 – January 18, 2021).

Party General Secretary and State President Nguyen Phu Trong, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Chairwoman of the National Assembly Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan exchanged congratulatory messages respectively with Chinese Party General Secretary and President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Keqiang, and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress Li Zhanshu.

On the occasion, Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh, Head of the Steering Committee for Viet Nam-China Bilateral Cooperation also exchange congratulatory message with Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi who is Chairman of the Steering Committee for China-Viet Nam Bilateral Cooperation, VGP reported.

Party Central Committee passes key personnel lists

The 15th plenum of the 12th-tenure Party Central Committee wrapped up on Sunday morning, 1.5 days ahead of schedule.

According to VGP, addressing the closing ceremony, Party General Secretary and State President Nguyen Phu Trong said the Party Central Committee reached high consensus in voting for personnel lists in preparation for the 13^th National Party Congress scheduled to take place from January 25-February 2.

Specifically, the Party Central Committee approved a list of fresh nominees and “special” cases (who are currently members of the 12^th-tenure Party Central Committee) to the 13^th Party Central Committee.

Party General Secretary and State President Nguyen Phu Trong addresses the closing ceremony of the 15th Plenum of the 12th-tenure Party Central Committee, Ha Noi, January 17, 2021. Photo: VGP

The Party Central Committee approved a list of nominees (who are current Politburo members) to be re-elected to the next Politburo and another list of nominees to the top positions of the Party and the State.

Trong said the Party Central Committee discussed and reached high consensus on a list of nominees to the Presidium, the Secretariat and Eligibility Verification Board on the delegates to the 13^th National Party Congress.

It also adopted reports of the 12^th-tenure Party Central Committee on the documents to be submitted to the next National Party Congress, the personnel work of the next Party Central Committee, and gave comments on the summary report on the Party’s financial work for the 2016-2020 term.

The National Party Congress is held every five years with main duties of approving the Political Report, adopting Viet Nam’s Socio-Economic Plan for the next five and 10 years, and most importantly electing new Party Central Committee.

The newly-elected Party Central Committee will then convene first Plenum to elect the Party General Secretary, the Secretariat, and Head of the Party Central Committee's Inspection Commission and its members.

VN goes 47 days without community infection case of COVID-19

As of 6:05 pm on Sunday, Viet Nam has gone 47 days without a single community infection case of COVID-19.

The country’s patient tally stands at 1,537, including 1,380 recoveries and 35 fatalities, according to the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control led by Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam.

Of the total patient, 693 are local infections while the rest are imported cases.

The nation is placing 17,954 people, who have come in contact with COVID-19 patients or returned home from the pandemic-stricken areas, under quarantine and medical surveillance. Of these 135 are being kept at hospitals, 16,466 at centralized quarantine sites and 1,353 at places of residence.

The National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control on Friday ordered subordinate levels to strictly control borders in order to absolutely prevent illegal entrants, VGP said.

A medical staff takes a sample for testing in Quang Nam Province, central Vietnam. Photo: VNE

Three Vietnamese women named as elite FIFA referees

The International Football Federation (FIFA) has recognised three local female referees, in addition to three assistant referees, as coming up the standards of its Elite level.

As reported by VOV, thisrepresents the highest level of officiating, with elite FIFA referees being chosen to officiate important events, such as World Cup qualifiers, the AFC Champions League, and the Asian Cup.

The three female referees acknowledged by FIFA include Cong Thi Dung, Bui Thi Thu Trang, and Le Thi Ly, in addition to three assistant referees, such as Truong Thi Le Trinh, Nguyen Thi Hang Nga, and Ha Thi Phuong, all of whom have been recognised by FIFA as making the Elite level.

Among the officials, referees Thi Dung and Thu Trang, in addition to assistants Le Trinh and Thi Phuong, have plenty of experience after being in charge of matches at the FIFA U17 Women's World Cup in Jordan in 2016, in addition to the 18th Asian Games (ASIAD 18) held in Indonesia.

Vietnam elevates rice brand in demanding markets

Vietnamese rice has affirmed its quality through brands in various fastidious markets after penetrating high-end markets such as the US, Japan, and the EU during 2020, VOV reported.

Notably, 1,600 tonnes of high-value fragrant rice were sold at high prices to Singaporean and Malaysian markets in recent times.

The latest increase in rice export value can largely be attributed to high-quality rice varieties such as fragrant rice, with the cultivation areas of the specialty rice accounting for 85%.

(Photo: VOV)

Rice exports represented a bright spot in the country’s agricultural exports last year with export turnover reaching over US$3 billion, in addition to the average export price for rice standing at between US$680 and US$1,000 per tonne.

Huynh Van Thon, chairman and general director of Loc Troi Group, said that in recent years, the group has deployed a sustainable rice production model in line with the SRP Standard on Sustainable Rice Cultivation, with a specific focus on economic, social, and environmental factors.

With a clear aim to improve the quality of rice grains, the company exported the first batch of 126 tonnes of rice to the EU market in line with the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA).

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