Photo: VOV

Covid-19 infection count sharply rises to over 175,000

Health authorities confirmed a further 175,480 new Covid-19 cases on March 15 across 63 cities and provinces nationwide, an increase of 14,221 from the previous day, including 128,256 local infections.

Hanoi capital and the north central province of Nghe An led the daily tally with 26,708 cases, and 10,752 cases, respectively.

The Health Ministry also announced a further 111,164 recoveries on the same day, bringing the total number of recovered cases to close to 3.4 million since the start of the pandemic.

The average number of new infections recorded over the past week stands at 166,671 daily cases nationwide.

As of March 13, the country had injected over 200.5 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines.

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam has urged the Ministry of Health to swiftly adjust entry regulations to fall in line with the current situation, cited VOV.

He also requested that ministries, agencies, and localities co-ordinate with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to safely and effectively launch tourism activities, all of which should be convenient for tourists.

Under Resolution No. 25 dated March 7, the Government assigned the Ministry of Health to review pandemic risk levels and regulations towards Covid-19 cases and for those who came into close contact with them.

The Government also suggested the Ministry learn from international experience to take appropriate and effective measures to return to normal, with Covid-19 considered an endemic disease.

Vietnam fully reopens borders to tourists after pandemic hiatus

Hanoi-based Noi Bai International Airport welcomed the first international commercial flight on March 15 morning after a two-year hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Flight SQ192 from Singapore to Hanoi, operated by Singapore Airlines, marks a milestone as Vietnam fully opens its doors to international visitors, said Nguyen Thi Kim Nga, Deputy Director of Noi Bai International Airport.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) said country has resumed services to foreign tourists from March 15, noting that domestic airlines have geared up for the restoration.

To prepare for the increased frequency of international flights, the carriers have stepped up recruitment to fill up the layoffs triggered by the pandemic, the authority added.

According to the airlines, they allow international passengers to refund and change tickets free of charge since there have been no entry regulations in the new situation issued yet, according to VNA.

Flight SQ192 from Singapore to Hanoi is operated by Singapore Airlines. Photo: VNA

Bui Doan Ne, Secretary General of the Vietnam Aviation Business Association (VABA), said his association has proposed ministries and agencies restore the visa exemption policy for foreign arrivals, which was in force before the pandemic, and include more countries into the list.

Regulations on medical quarantine and testing should be scrapped to help foreign tourists feel secure in Vietnam, he suggested.

Many enterprises also shared the view that stringent regulations make it hard for them to approach international holiday-makers who would choose other countries with relaxed procedures.

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam has asked the Ministry of Health to quickly adjust entry regulations, making them match the latest situation.

Such adjustments should be sent to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) before March 15 for perfection and announcement, the Deputy PM requested in a document.

He also urged ministries, agencies and localities to coordinate with the MCST to safely and effectively launch tourism activities which, he stressed, should be convenient for tourists.

Vietnam to triple petroleum imports

On the afternoon of March 14, the Ministry of Industry and Trade informed that it has requested importers to triple petroleum imports in order to fill the shortfall from Nghi Son Oil Refinery.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade has assigned additional import quotas to 10 key enterprises and periodically checks the import to ensure there is no shortage of supply in any situation.

Along with that, the Ministry of Industry and Trade will pay regular and unscheduled visits to petroleum trading enterprises including key enterprises, distributors, and gas filling stations nationwide to control violations. Staff from market surveillance departments nationwide will continue to strengthen inspection and control of the market, closely coordinate with other functional forces have tough penalties on violators.

Vietnam triples petroleum imports. Photo: VNN

In the context of constantly fluctuating world gasoline prices, in order not to cause sudden changes such as shortages of goods or large fluctuations in prices, the Ministry of Industry and Trade recommended that domestic enterprises, organizations, and individuals use gasoline and oil rationally. It will regularly monitor energy and petroleum-using units to ensure reasonable, economical use and avoid waste.

Enterprises, production, and business establishments need to pay attention only to the consumption of petrol and oil in the process of production and circulation of supplies, raw materials, and products and must consider this as the organization and rearrangement of production.

The Ministry has assigned the Domestic Market Department to coordinate with other relevant units to continue to grasp the world situation on petroleum products to promptly formulate suitable response plans, reported VNN.

Moreover, related agencies must accurately assess domestic supply and actual demand in order to have a reasonable import plan to cover the shortfall. Responsible bodies must keep a close eye on the world prices of gasoline and conduct regular reviews to promptly report petrol price fluctuations to the Government.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade said that it would work with relevant ministries and sectors to study and report to the Government for consideration and adjustment of taxes and fees such as special consumption tax that applies to the production or importation of specific goods and to certain services, environmental protection tax and other expenses related to gasoline business to control price increase in the context of unfavorable development of the world petroleum prices.

Vietnamese, Sierra Leonean Presidents discuss ways to boost cooperative ties

Vietnamese President Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Sierra Leonean President Julius Maada Bio have agreed on orientations to foster cooperative relations between the two countries in the time to come.

During their talks in Hanoi on March 15 following a welcoming ceremony for the Sierra Leonean leader, both Presidents expressed their delight at the fruitful development of the bilateral relationship in all fields.

President Phuc hailed the Sierra Leonean leader’s visit and congratulated the African country on its achievements in socio-economic development and Covid-19 pandemic prevention and control. He believed that the country will reap more successes and reach all targets of the middle-term national development plan for the 2019-2023 period.

President Nguyen Xuan Phuc (left) welcomes Sierra Leonean President Julius Maada Bio in Hanoi. Photo: VNA

The Sierra Leonean President expressed his impression at socio-economic achievements of Vietnam in the recent past as well as its successes in pandemic control and economic recovery at present.

Despite modest value, two-way trade has been on the rise, increasing from US$17 million in 2018 to US$51.5 million in 2021, they noted, adding that both sides have worked together in agriculture and investment.

In the time to come, the two leaders agreed to continue to maintain visits and meetings at high level and all levels, while strengthening collaboration and mutual support at multilateral forums, especially at the UN, the Non-Aligned Movement, and assisting each other to expand partnerships at regional level in Africa through the African Union, cited VNA.

They concurred to consider economy as the focal cooperation area. Vietnam and Sierra Leone will optimize the strengths and potential of the two economies, while drastically implementing their signed agreements to boost trade ties, including the trading of rice.

Both sides will encourage and create favorable conditions for businesses of both sides to seek business and investment opportunities in each other’s country.

At the same time, the two countries will turn agriculture into a key pillar of the bilateral partnership, and share experience to promote cooperation in the field within bilateral and tripartite frameworks with the engagement of international organizations and countries with developed industry as well as the private sector.

The two leaders also focused discussion on seeking measures to expand collaboration in other areas such as high technology, telecommunications, digital transformation, innovation, and education and training.

Vietnam exempts entry visas for citizens from 13 countries

The Government issued Resolution No. 32/NQ-CP on March 15 which allows visa exemption for citizens visiting the nation from 13 countries.

The countries in the visa waiver are Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the UK, Russia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Belarus.

Under the terms of the policy, citizens from these nations will not have to apply for a visa providing that the duration of their stay does not exceed 15 days from the date of arrival, regardless of passport type and entry purpose, proving that they satisfy all conditions as prescribed by Vietnamese law, cited VOV.

Photo: VOV

The visa exemption policy for citizens of these countries will be implemented out for a three-year period running from March 15 and ending on March 14, 2025, with a potential extension being considered in accordance with Vietnamese law.

Furthermore, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will also review, evaluate, and recommend to the Government the extension, suspension, or termination of the unilateral visa exemption policy set out in this Resolution.

As a result of the effective implementation of the Covid-19 vaccination campaign launched on March 8, 2021, the Government decided to move away from its zero-Covid policy in a bid to safe and flexibly adapt to the pandemic as it seeks to implement the gradual recovery of economic activities.

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