Illustrative image (Photo: VNA)

Vietnamese, Russian power companies sign MoU at SPIEF 2023

Russia’s Rosseti power grid company and the National Power Transmission Corporation (EVNNPT), a subordinate company of the Vietnam Electricity (EVN) Group, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to resume their long-term strategic cooperation which has been suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The signing ceremony took place on the sidelines of the 26th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) in Russia, cited VNA.

The two companies agreed to develop joint projects based on the capability of each side and the advancements of Rosseti. They will also collaborate in technology exchange, digital transformation, personnel training, and occupational safety. Additionally, Rosseti will assist EVNNPT in developing primary power transmission lines and transnational high-voltage power connections in the region using advanced technologies.

EVNNPT Deputy General Director Vu Tran Nguyen said according to the government's plan, Vietnam needs new investments worth 15 billion USD to build and modernise over 36,000km of power transmission lines and put into operation more than 169,000 transformer stations by 2030. To such end, EVNNPT needs to cooperate with global partners, including Rosseti, in various advanced fields.

On this occasion, the EVNNPT delegation also visited the Training Centre of the Northwest Power Grid and the remotely controlled 330 kV Volkhov-Severnaya substation, which is part of the St. Petersburg Energy Belt.

Vietnam ranks first at Abu Reikhan Beruniy International Chemistry Olympiad

The nation took the top spot at the first Abu Reikhan Beruniy International Chemistry Olympiad after all of its eight students won medals, including four golds and four silvers, according to the Ministry of Education and Training and the Vietnam Chemistry Association.

The four golds were carried off by Do Phu Quoc from Quang Nam province’s Le Thanh Tong High School for Gifted Students, Nguyen Nguyen Hai and Le Quang Truong from Nghe An province’s Phan Boi Chau High School for Gifted Students, and Nguyen Huu Tien Hung from Bac Ninh province’s High School for Gifted Students.

The Vietnamese delegation to the Olympiad. (Photo: VNA)

The silver medals went to Truong Bao Ngoc from Bac Ninh province’s High School for Gifted Students, Hoang Tien Cuong from Nam Dinh province’s Le Hong Phong High School for Gifted Students, Tran Duc Anh from High School for Gifted Students of the University of Science under the Vietnam National University, Hanoi, and Giap Vu Son Ha from Bac Giang province’s High School for Gifted Students.

The competition, designed for students under 18 years old, was hosted by the Ministry of Preschool and School Education of the Republic of Uzbekistan in Khorezm region every two years, starting from 2023, according to VOV.

In the first round, students have a theoretical examination consisting of seven tests within a 5-hour timeframe. In the second round, they engaged in a practical examination lasting three hours.

This year, the one-week competition drew the participation of 15 countries. The Vietnamese delegation ranked above strong teams such as Russia, Uzbekistan, Brazil, India and Turkey.

Vietnam concerned about recent developments in South China Sea

Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the United Nations, has expressed concern that recent developments in the South China Sea could affect peace, security and development.

Addressing the 33rd meeting of States Parties to the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) which took place in New York from June 12-16, Giang affirmed that over the past four decades, the UNCLOS, referred to as the "Constitution for the Oceans," has provided a legal framework regulating all activities at sea. The Convention and its implementation agreements have laid a foundation for cooperation and actions by nations, regions, and the global community in maritime affairs.

The ambassador highlighted Vietnam's efforts in implementing the UNCLOS, including the National Strategy on Climate Change until 2050. As one of the founding members of the UNCLOS Group of Friends, Vietnam reaffirms its commitment to the Convention and the preservation of its universality, integrity, and full implementation, Giang said.

Reiterating Vietnam’s stance on the settlement of disputes by peaceful means in line with international law, especially the UNCLOS, he affirmed that respecting the sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction of coastal states over their territorial waters established by the Convention is a prerequisite for maintaining and ensuring peace, security, and prosperity in the South China Sea.

On this occasion, head of the Vietnamese delegation called on all relevant countries to exercise restraint and refrain from engaging in activities that could complicate the situation or escalate tensions.

At a discussion on the report of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS), the Vietnamese delegation stressed that the ITLOS has well performed its role as the judicial organ established under the UNCLOS and acknowledged the capacity-building programmes for developing countries conducted by the ITLOS. Furthermore, given the increasing challenges and emerging issues at sea, the role of ITLOS as the guardian of the integrity and comprehensiveness of the Convention becomes increasingly important.

The Vietnamese side hoped that the ITLOS would seriously consider the request of the Pacific Island States for opinions on climate change and international law, thereby clarifying the obligations of countries in protecting the marine environment while considering the legitimate rights and interests of developing nations. They also announced their intention to submit the national position on this matter to the ITLOS, reported VNA.

Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang at the event (Photo: VNA)

Regarding the report of the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS), the Vietnamese delegation highlighted the need for improvements in the CLCS's process of examining submissions on the limits of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles to ensure the full and effective implementation of the UNCLOS. This is especially important in determining the "outer limits of the continental shelf" to proceed with the implementation of the Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) after its adoption and entry into force in the near future.

The meeting reviewed the UN Secretary-General’s annual report which called for urgent efforts to address challenges faced by developing countries, including building capacity, developing a sustainable blue economy, and innovative financial solutions.

Delegates underlined the need to comply with the UNCLOS and enhance regional and global cooperation in maritime and ocean-related affairs to address challenges such as marine pollution, climate change, rising sea level, contributing to realising sustainable development goals related to the conservation and sustainable development of the oceans and marine resources.

On this occasion, UNCLOS member states elected seven judges for the ITLOS for the 2023-2032 tenure.

Vietnam joins Hong Kong International Travel Expo

National flag carrier Vietnam Airlines has participated in the Hong Kong International Travel Expo (ITE-2023) in Hong Kong (China) from June 15-18.

The English and Chinese versions of Vietnam Pictorial, a magazine published by the Vietnam News Agency (VNA), are on display at the annual expo, also the biggest travel event in Hong Kong.

At the Vietnamese booth. (Photo: VNA)

ITE-2023, in its 37th edition, brings together more than 400 enterprises from over 50 countries and territories worldwide.

In an interview granted to VNA correspondents in Hong Kong, Vietnamese Consul General in Hong Kong Pham Binh Dam noted his belief that tourism cooperation between Vietnam and Hong Kong will soon be restored, even grow stronger than that before the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, saying the two sides hold great potential for the collaboration.

Ngo Tri Hung, chief of the airline's branch in Hong Kong, said the expo will help promote the image of Vietnam and Vietnam Airlines among Hong Kong people, while boosting Vietnamese tourism in the time ahead.

The number of Hong Kong visitors to Vietnam is expected to rise in the second half of this year. Therefore, the carrier said it will increase its daily flights from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to Hong Kong to two from July, VOV reported.

Some businesspersons suggested that visa procedures should be accelerated to attract more Hong Kong tourists to the Southeast Asian nation.

Within the framework of the expo, there will be workshops on tourist destinations and products, and tourism trends, thus helping recover Hong Kong’s tourism sector completely. The expo is expected to welcome some 60,000 visitors.

Vietnam’s seedless lychees available in UK for the first time

On June 16, the first batch of Vietnamese seedless lychees went on sale for the first time in the UK market, becoming the fourth Vietnamese fruit to enter this demanding market in 2023, after Tan Lac pomelos, Yen Thuy pomelos and Cao Phong oranges.

Such lychees were grown by Ho Guom-Song An High-tech Agriculture Company in Thanh Hoa Province and imported to the UK by TT Meridian, a distributor of Vietnamese agricultural produce in the European country, cited NDO.

Vietnam's seedless lychees are now available in the UK.

According to TT Meridian CEO Thai Tran, a kilogram of seedless lychees cost around 16-18 pounds, which is 3-4 pounds higher than ordinary lychees, but the company still decided to import this speciality to assess market demand.

If seedless lychees are welcomed by the UK market, TT Meridian plans to import around one tonne each week in June and July, the main lychee harvest season in Vietnam.

Thai said the entire duration for the lychees from orchards in Vietnam to arrive in the UK market is only 36 hours, including packaging, transporting, customs clearance and distribution to retailers.

According to the Thanh Hoa Information Portal, seedless lychees in Thanh Hoa are grown following global good agriculture practices and are qualified for export to Japan, Canada and Europe.

The variety was imported from Japan and piloted on 30 hectares in 2019. This is the first year that the lychees have been harvested with an estimated output of 20 tonnes.

Ho Guom-Song An is planning to expand the growing area in the coming years to meet both domestic demand and export.

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