Vietnam News Today (June 6): Vietnam elected to UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee of 2005 Convention

	Vietnam News Today (June 5): Compiles first Covid-19 map as part of disease control efforts
	Vietnam News Today (June 4): Vietnam orders 170 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine
	Vietnam News Today (June 3): Noi Bai, Tan Son Nhat airports continue receiving foreign arrivals

A work in the Vietnam Photo Contest “Showing we care, sharing our vision on culture diversity” organized by UNESCO Office in Vietnam. Photo: WVR

Vietnam elected to Intergovernmental Committee of 2005 Convention of UNESCO

Vietnam and Bangladesh (two representatives of the Asia-Pacific region) have just been elected to the Intergovernmental Committee of the Convention for the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions (Convention 2005) for the term 2021-2025.

The UNESCO Convention for the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions was adopted on 20 October 2005. According to UNESCO, 75% of conflicts in the world are related to culture.

Therefore, narrowing the cultural gap is an urgent task for safety, peace and development. Cultural diversity is a powerful driver of development, not only related to economic growth, but also to a more complete life intellectually, emotionally, morally and spiritually.

The 2005 Convention was drafted and put into practice with the aim of protecting and promoting diversity in cultural expressions as globalization expands.

In that context, instead of existing and maintaining naturally, or may be affected by other fields, cultural activities and cultural products need legal grounds to be protected and developed.

Vietnam is one of the countries making efforts to participate in the drafting and early ratification process of the Convention. Especially, after ratifying the Convention, Vietnam was elected and successfully assumed the role of Vice Chairman of the Intergovernmental Committee and Vice President of the General Assembly of the UNESCO Convention for the 2011-2015 term.

Vietnam is also assessed as a responsible member of UNESCO and has made practical contributions to the organization's work.

According to information from the UNESCO Affairs Department (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), the Committee will meet annually to ensure the appropriate implementation of the Convention in an ever-evolving world.

Currently, UNESCO member countries believe that Vietnam will continue to make outstanding contributions to the joint efforts of the international community in protecting and promoting the diversity of cultural expressions.

Russia to discuss Sputnik-V production cooperation with Vietnam

Russia is set to discuss cooperation in Covid-19 vaccine Sputnik-V production with Vietnam, Press Secretary for the Russian President Dmitry Peskov told the media recently.

Peskov said his nation will contact the Vietnamese side to discuss the vaccine production cooperation, noting this issue was touched upon in a letter Vietnamese President Nguyen Xuan Phuc recently sent to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, cited VOV.

Vaccine Sputnik-V. Photo: VOV

On the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund Kirill Dmitriev said he had revealed the list of countries wishing to produce the Russian vaccine to President Putin, and that 20 manufacturers of 14 countries, including Vietnam, have expressed their willingness to cooperate in this regard.

Many important agreements on the Sputnik-V production have been reached, and more and more countries, most recently Vietnam, have showed their readiness to produce the vaccine.

Upon addressing the economic forum on June 4, Russian President Putin said that Sputnik-V is highly effective in preventing Covid-19, and it is capturing attention from business people in Europe who are ready to come to Russia for vaccination.

Vietnam, Russia should cooperate in IT development

Vietnam and Russia can cooperation in developing information technology (IT) and implementing major projects in this field, a representative of the Vietnam Software and IT Services Association (VINASA) has said.

Nguyen Thi Thu Giang, vice chairwoman and secretary general of VINASA, made the remark while attending via videoconference a roundtable workshop as part of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum on Friday.

Talking about Russia’s role in the IT market of Viet Nam, she said people are now living in a world where technology can change everything.

A plenary session of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. Photo: VNA

Russia and Vietnam boast a time-tested friendship, she noted, adding that while Russia owns strong technological platforms, Vietnam has an advantage in IT personnel, according to WVR.

Therefore, the two countries can cooperate in IT development and implementation of large projects, according to Giang.

At the workshop, Andrey Bezrukov, president of the Technological Sovereignty Exports Association and a professor at the Department of Applied International Analysis at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations, said Russia needs to become a technological hub, which is one of the major tasks for the country in the next 20 - 30 years.

Assistant to the Russian President Andrey Fursenko suggested his country export scientific ideas to be applied in other countries, noting that it should set international-level strategic targets about technological development, such as in the fields of vaccine production, environment, and energy, so as to export knowledge.

Textile and footwear exports see robust growth in 5 months

During the opening five months of the year, Vietnam’s textile-garment, leather and footwear industries enjoyed positive signs in several key export markets.

This vigorous growth can largely be attributed to the gradual recovery occurring in several major markets in the post-novel coronavirus (Covid-19) period, along with opportunities brought about by the enforcement of new-generation free trade agreements (FTAs).

The textile industry. Photo: VOV

Throughout the reviewed period, the local garment and textile sector’s production index increased by 8.1% on–year, while that of the clothing industry witnessed a rise of 9.1%, VOV reported.

The production index of the domestic leather sector and related products rose by 12% compared to the same period from last year.

The garment-textile industry raked in US$12 billion, a year-on-year rise of 15%, while export turnover of fiber and yarns of all kinds increased by over 60%.

Furthermore, exports of shoes and sandals surged by 26.4% to more than US$8 billion compared to last year’s corresponding period.

GreenHub, Da Nang city pursue to project to reduce plastic pollution and conserve clean water

GreenHub, CECR and Da Nang city signed an MOU to implement projects to promote water protection and combat plastic waste sponsored by USAID.

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Da Nang, the Center for Environment and Community Research (CECR) and Center for Supporting Green Development (GreenHub), signifying cooperation and implementation of the U.S. Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Collective Action for Water Conservation project and Local Solution for Plastic Pollution project to support Da Nang city’s Action Plan "Building Da Nang - Environmental City 2021-2030".

The signing ceremony. Photo: WVR

According to GreenHub’s research in 2019 on 30 coastal in Vietnam, over 90% of waste found in the ocean are plastic, nylon bags, plastic bottles, foam panels, ropes, plastic nets, foam boxes are belong in the top 5 most found plastic waste.

However, the locals’ capacity, co-operation and knowledge accessibility are limited, along with lacking of comprehensive initiatives or information systems, digital platforms about plastic pollution, knowledge of environment health of Viet Nam for stakeholders to interact and connect with, according to WVR.

“Local Solutions for Plastic Pollution” Project is implemented by Center for Supporting Green Development (GreenHub), in collaboration with Institute of Strategy, Policy on Natural Resources and Environment (ISPONRE), Vietnam One Health University Network (VOHUN), U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). This project is created and deployed with a purpose to authorize the local community, encouraging joint action to reduce plastic pollution. The project will focused on building, consolidating and connecting networks, communities and individuals in Hanoi, Ha Long (Quang Ninh), Da Nang and Hoi An (Quang Nam).

Stated at the Ceremony, Robert Layng, director of USAID/Vietnam’s Environment and Energy Office shared: “Aware that Vietnam is one of the countries most affected by climate change and environmental pollution, USAID Viet Nam is currently implementing programs to enhance environmental quality for citizens - our goal is to support an "Open, prosperous and secure Vietnam that is effective and inclusive in tackling its own development challenges."

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