Vietnam News Today (Jun 6): Vietnam Leads Transition to Clean Energy in Southeast Asia

COVID-19: New cases total 685 on June 5. Illustrative image. Photo: VNA

Covid-19: New cases total 685 on June 5

A total 685 new cases of Covid-19 were recorded in the past 24 hours from 4pm June 4 to 4pm June 5, according to the Ministry of Health.

Hanoi still reported the highest number of infections on the day with 207 cases, followed by Yen Bai with 79 and Vinh Phuc with 46.

The national caseload reached 10,725,239, cited VNA.

A total 8,548 Covid-19 patients were given the all clear on June 5, bringing the number of recoveries so far to 9,504,955.

There are 35 patients needing breathing support, while no death was recorded in the past 24 hours. The total fatalities stood at 43,080.

By June 4, the country had injected 222,023,219 doses of Covid-19 vaccines, including 4,240,666 first doses and 564,465 second doses for children from five to under-12 years old.

Vietnam leads transition to clean energy in Southeast Asia

Vietnam is leading the transition to clean energy in Southeast Asia and is a bright spot on an otherwise soot-black map, according to an article published recently on The Economist.

In the four years to 2021, the portion of electricity generated by solar in Vietnam increased from practically nothing to nearly 11 percent, the article said, noting it is not only a faster rate of increase than almost anywhere else in the world, but also a bigger share than larger economies such as France or Japan have managed.

Photo: VOV

It said Vietnam had become the world’s tenth-biggest producer of solar power last year and recalled that while underlining Vietnam’s commitment to the energy transition, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh vowed in November last year to stop building new coal-fired power plants and to reduce Vietnam’s emissions to net zero by 2050.

The article said that other Southeast Asian countries hoping to up their game can learn a few lessons from Vietnam - the country has quadrupled its wind and solar power capacity compared to 2019, according to VNA.

It attributed the "extraordinary achievement" to Vietnam’s political will and market incentives.

As many as 100,000 rooftop solar panels were installed in 2019 and 2020, lifting Vietnam's solar output to 16GW.

Reforms have made it easier for foreign investors to do business in Vietnam, the article said, noting that the Southeast Asian country will have to make greater efforts if it hopes to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.

Two more African swine fever vaccines to be licensed in Vietnam by year-end

Two more vaccines against African swine fever (ASF), developed by AVAC Vietnam Co., Ltd. and Dabaco Group JSC, are expected to be licensed in Vietnam by the end of this year.

Testing of AVAC ASF LIVE vaccine started in pig farms in March 2022, with the efficacy rate reaching 95%. AVAC is finalizing legal steps to register for the circulation of the vaccine.

Meanwhile, Dabaco’s DACOVAC-ASF2 vaccine has been tested and evaluated since March 2022.

An African swine fever outbreak was first detected in Vietnam in February 2019, and then spread to all 63 provinces and cities nationwide, causing more than 6 million pigs to be culled, cited VOV.

NAVET-ASFVAC vaccine. Photo: VOV

The disease cost Vietnam over VND30 trillion (US$1.29 billion) in losses, and affected the national consumer price index (CPI) in 2020. Currently, it is still reported in many localities nationwide.

Vietnam has recently authorized the commercial circulation of NAVET-ASFVAC vaccine produced by Navetco National Veterinary JSC (Navetco), helping the country to become the first in the world to successfully research and produce a vaccine against African swine fever, and license its commercial circulation.

The company began developing the vaccine in February 2020 with the help of US experts. Following lab trials, the vaccine has proved to be able to protect at least 80% of immunized pigs, which retain immunity for six months.

International search volume for Vietnam sharply increases

The volume of international searches for Vietnam’s tourism has surged by 50-70 percent, the fourth highest increase in the world, according to Google’s market trend tracker tool.

The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) on May 5 reported that after Vietnam fully reopened for tourists from March 15, 2022, this index of Vietnam has maintained a high growth, showing the strong recovery of the country's tourism industry.

Large volumes of search for Vietnam tourism information are seen in the US, Singapore, Japan, India, France, Germany, Thailand, Canada and the UK.

Vietnam's most searched destinations were Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Phu Quoc, Da Nang, Hoi An, Nha Trang, Da Lat, Phan Thiet, Hue and Quy Nhon.

Data from Google shows that by the end of April 2022, the international search volume for flights related to Vietnam increased by 1,114 percent, and continued to climb by 2,000 percent in May compared to the same period in 2021.

Meanwhile, the search volume for accommodation in Vietnam increased more than 4 times from the beginning of April 2022 to mid-May 2022.

The VNAT attributed the results to the removal of requirements for medical declaration since April 27 and Covid-19 test since May 15 for arrivals; as well as the strengthened promotion of Vietnam's tourism, especially on digital platforms.

Statistics show that international visitors to Vietnam increased sharply in May. The number of international visitors to Vietnam in the first five months of 2022 were 4.5 times higher than that of the same period last year.

The volume of domestic travelers reached 48.6 million in the five month period from January to May.

The tourism sector 's revenue hit 211 trillion VND (US$9 billion) in the last five months.

Vietnam Economic Forum aims for an independent and self-reliant economy

The 4th Vietnam Economic Forum, themed “Building an independent and self-reliant economy with extensive integration in the new context” opened in Ho Chi Minh City on June 5 under the chair of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.

The event was organized by the Party Central Committee's Economic Commission, and the Government in collaboration with the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee.

The Forum discussed the content of an independent and self-reliant economy, and propose policies and solutions for building capacity for economic self-reliance and approaches between building a self-reliant economy and global integration.

Within the framework of the Vietnam Economic Forum, there are a plenary session and three seminars on developing a stable labor supply chain after the Covid-19 pandemic; developing capital and real estate market; technological innovation, digital transformation and supply chain diversification.

According to the Organizing Committee, this year's Vietnam Economic Forum serves as a place for representatives of central and local departments, ministries, sectors, and international organizations, scientists, research experts, and entrepreneurs to exchange ideas and share views on issues of shared concern, VOV reported.

Delegates welcomes Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh at the forum. Photo: VGP

The plenary session focused on topics such as the global economy and major trends in international economic cooperation, Vietnam in the current global economy, opportunities and challenges, training digital human resources for digital transformation, digital economy development and digital society promotion and risk management in the new context.

Deputy Head of the Party Central Committee’s Economic Commission Nguyen Thanh Phong said, “One of the core long-term issues in economic development is to build a dynamic, sustainable, independent, self-reliant economy based on science, technology, and innovation, while improving the efficiency of external affairs and international integration as defined in the 2021-2030 socio-economic development strategy approved at the 13th National Party Congress.”

The Vietnam Economic Forum has always resonated with great influence at home and abroad and has been assessed as Vietnam's leading economic forum of regional and international stature, he added.

According to Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Tran Quoc Phuong, one of the key factors to build an independent and self-reliant economy is to be technologically independent and self-reliant. We have made a big leap in technology to catch up with the 4th Industrial Revolution, but are still short of our targets. Technology reform and digitalization are important issues in building an independent and self-reliant economy.”

The Vietnam Economic Forum has been held annually since 2017 with the purpose of discussing opportunities and challenges facing the national economy, and outlining orientations for national development under the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

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