Prime Minister hopes for a more fruitful Vietnam-ADB partnership

Vietnam and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have cooperated fruitfully over the past 30 years, and their cooperation is expected to grow further in the next three decades, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said on March 13.

Addressing a ceremony in Hanoi marking the 30 years of the partnership, the PM appreciated the bank’s support to Vietnam, especially in infrastructure development, poverty reduction, education, and health care, particularly in remote, border and island areas.

It is the ADB that has inspired other partners to cooperate and support Vietnam in development, he stressed.

As a developing country with an evolving economy, a modest economic scale, and limited resilience to shocks, Vietnam needs both financial aid and policy consultation from the bank, as well as its assistance in institutional building and perfection, especially the institution for the socialist market-oriented economy, Chinh said.

He suggested the two sides choose specific, focused, key cooperation programs and projects to help Vietnam grow rapidly, sustainably and inclusively, with no one left behind.

Collaboration priorities should be given to climate change response, green transition, digital transformation, green economy, circular economy, and sharing economy, along with emerging sectors like semiconductors, artificial intelligence (AI), big data, and new energy, the leader suggested.

According to a report presented at the event, the ADB has financed about 600 programs and projects in Vietnam with a total funding of nearly 18 billion USD, covering agriculture, rural areas, education, health care, energy, and urban infrastructure.

It has also provided 6.45 billion USD for trade transactions through commercial banks in Vietnam.

During the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, the ADB granted non-refundable aid worth hundreds of millions of US dollars to help Vietnam purchase protective equipment, upgrade medical equipment, churn out pharmaceutical products, and support small and medium-sized and women-led businesses.

Earlier the same day, PM Chinh received ADB President Masatsugu Asakawa, who was in Vietnam for the celebration.

The PM affirmed that the Vietnamese government always considers the ADB an important, close, and reliable development partner, and attributed Vietnam’s achievements to the bank’s effective cooperation and support.

For his part, Asakawa emphasized that the ADB always pays attention to and supports Vietnam in socio-economic development, and wishes to work together with the country to launch result-oriented cooperation projects.

The bank can provide financial aid for Vietnam to implement projects in green transition, energy transition, and infrastructure, and help the country in emerging industries, he said, suggesting the Vietnamese government work to speed up the implementation of cooperation projects.

Lauding ADB's efforts in mobilizing resources of up to 3 billion USD for about 23 projects in Vietnam in the 2023 – 2026 period, the PM called on the ADB to coordinate with Vietnamese ministries and agencies to quickly put in place specific projects in 2024.

He also proposed the establishment of a joint working group to push ahead with capital cooperation and policy support for Vietnam.

The photo book is released on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu campaign. (Photo: VNA)

French agency releases photo book on Dien Bien Phu campaign

The French Defense Audiovisual Agency (ECPAD) has made public a photo book on the Dien Bien Phu campaign in Vietnam, including never-before-seen images, on the occasion of its 70th anniversary.

The 211-page book contains 162 photos, both color and black-and-white, re-creating the historic campaign, from March 13 to May 7, 1954, said Marina Berthier, an ECPAD employee who played a role in publishing the book, noting most of them taken by war photojournalists like Jean Péraud and Daniel Camus, or by soldiers themselves.

On this occasion, the agency, where many documents and photos related to wars in Indochina are kept, has introduced the website featuring the Dien Bien Phu campaign photos to the public, at imagesdefense.gouv.fr.

It has also participated in producing two documentaries on the wars in Indochina, including parts on the Dien Bien Phu campaign.

The ECPAD is keeping up to 2,500 photos on the campaign taken by war journalists, and a number of documentaries produced during the period.

Exactly 70 years ago, on March 13, 1954, the Vietnamese revolutionary army launched the first attack against the French colonialists’ heavily fortified base of Dien Bien Phu, starting a 56-day historic campaign whose victory directly led to the signing of the Geneva Accords on ending the war and restoring peace in Indochina.

During the 56 days of undaunted, brave, and creative fighting, the Vietnamese army and people created the Dien Bien Phu Victory that “resounded across the five continents and shook the globe”. The entire so-called “invincible” military base of Dien Bien Phu was completely eradicated by the Vietnamese army and people.

President Ho Chi Minh affirmed that the Dien Bien Phu Victory was a brilliant golden milestone in history that directly led to the signing of the Geneva Accords on ending the war and restoring peace in Indochina. It also created the foundation and conditions for the Vietnamese people to secure victory in the resistance war against the US, liberate the South, and reunify the country in 1975.

A booth at the first Vietnam International Logistics Exhibition in 2023. (Photo: VNA)

Second Vietnam international logistics expo to open in HCM City in August

The second Vietnam International Logistics Exhibition (VILOG) will be held in Ho Chi Minh City from August 1 to 3, said the Vietnam Logistics Business Association (VLA). The exhibition, to be co-organized by the VLA and VINEXAD Company, will bring together domestic and international logistics firms, representatives from government agencies, and other stakeholders, and display the most cutting-edge technologies and trends in the sector.

It will focus on transport and forwarding, warehouse system, cold chain, packaging, and logistics IT and relevant services. The Vietnam Medi-Pharm Expo will be held simultaneously with VILOG 2024, expected to attract the participation of more than 450 businesses from 35 countries and territories.

Organizers said VILOG 2023 lured 256 firms with 354 booths from 22 countries and territories, and more than 25,000 visitors.

Logistics is one of the fastest growing and most stable industries in Vietnam, with an average growth rate of 14–16% a year and a scale of 40-42 billion USD per year. According to Agility's assessment in 2022. Vietnam is ranked 11th in the group of 50 global emerging logistics markets.

The meeting sees the participation of members of the governing council, officials from 21 member countries of the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP), guest delegates from 10 maritime organizations, shipping associations, international and regional research institutes. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam Coast Guard attends the 18th ReCAAP ISC Governing Council Meeting

Vietnam has shown its responsibility in participating in the ReCAAP Agreement and effectively combating maritime crimes, affirmed Major General Vu Trung Kien, Deputy Commander in charge of law of the Vietnam Coast Guard (VCG) at the 18th ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre (ISC) Governing Council Meeting in Singapore on March 13.

The meeting saw the participation of members of the governing council, officials from 21 member countries of the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP), and guest delegates from 10 maritime organizations, shipping associations, international and regional research institutes.

In his remarks, Kien underscored the need for countries to enhance awareness of the overall situation and instability in maritime security caused by piracy and armed robbery at sea.

It is important to continue timely and effective cooperation and information sharing, and to enhance coordination among countries and with the ReCAAP ISC to ensure security and safety across all maritime routes regionally and globally, he said.

On the sidelines of the function, the VCG delegation held meetings with leaders of law enforcement forces at sea from the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, and India, exchanging information and coordinating efforts to combat various crimes and protect the marine environment.

In particular, Vietnam reiterated its significant efforts to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing activities and urged partners to cooperate with and assist the country in quickly getting the "yellow card" warning imposed on Vietnamese seafood products by the European Commission lifted.

Photo: VOV

Ho Chi Minh City to open Asia’s best culinary festival in late March

The Ho Chi Minh City food culture festival, which was voted Asia's Best Culinary Festival by the World Culinary Awards in 2022, is scheduled to return to the southern city from March 26 to March 31. The festival will introduce a food map of the nation made from 400 typical dishes originating from three regions across the country.

The food map will be created by hundreds of chefs from various five-star hotels nationwide. The previous 20-metre-long food map of Vietnam featured 63 dishes prepared by 50 chefs nationwide and set a record that was certified by the nation’s record organization in April 2022.

The culinary event organized by Saigontourist Group aims to honor Vietnamese cuisine. It will feature up to 40 booths with a range of delicacies aimed at satisfying both residents and visitors.

Besides booths of culinary brands from Ben Tre and Tay Ninh provinces, Vietnam Airlines and Saigon Trading Corporation (Satra) is expected to lure plenty of visitors. Indeed, the festival will be capable of serving over 12,000 customers.

Food lovers will also have the chance to sample coffee at an event arranged by Binh Quoi tourist village. Furthermore, several programs such as Seven Villages will introduce their crafts of making vermicelli, traditional cakes, bamboo wickerwork, hats, sedge mats, and pottery.

Artists nationwide will promote their culture through performances of quan họ (love duet singing), Bai choi (folk singing), and Đờn ca tài tử (southern folk music).

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