Vietnam News Today (March 20): Le Hoai Trung designated as head of Party’s Commission for External Relations
	Vietnam News Today (March 19): 17 Politburo members to stand in upcoming NA election
	Vietnam News Today (March 18): Vietnam must keep on pursuing twin goals: PM

NA Vice Chairman Phung Quoc Hien speaks at the session. (Photo: VNA)

NA Vice Chairman works with Thua Thien Hue election committee

A National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee inspection and supervision team led by NA Vice Chairman Phung Quoc Hien, member of the National Election Council (NEC), examined the preparations for the upcoming general elections in the central province of Thua Thien Hue on March 20.

NA Chairman Hien lauded Thua Thien Hue’s performance in preparing for the elections in line with guidance from central level.

The province has completed the second round of negotiations on candidates for the 15th NA and People’s Councils at all levels.

The provincial Election Committee had received the nominations of 13 candidates to the 15th NA, along with 96 candidates for the provincial People’s Council.

The NA Chairman reminded Thua Thien Hue to work hard to ensure that all elections will take place in a democratic, equal, safe and economic manner in line with the law.

He also asked that the locality continue strengthening communications on the elections, slated for May 23, according to NDO.

Religion, belief important to peace promotion: Vietnamese Ambassador

Vietnamese Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy underlined the importance of religion and belief in promoting peace, understanding, tolerance, and mutual respect among communities while addressing an UN Security Council (UNSC) meeting on March 19.

The Ambassador, who is the Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN, voiced the view that efforts should be made to address the root of religious conflict and hatred, to further facilitate people's participation in religious activities at the local, national and global levels, and to strengthen cooperation and dialogue among religious groups.

Stressing that Vietnam has 54 ethnic groups with different religions and beliefs, who are living peacefully and harmoniously together, the diplomat affirmed that Vietnam always spares no effort to promote solidarity and equality, and create favourable conditions for the operations of groups of different religions and beliefs.

(Photo: VNA)

The virtual Arria-formula meeting on “Religion, Belief and Conflict: the protection of members of religious and belief groups in conflict and religious actors in conflict resolution” was initiated by the UK and co-sponsored by Estonia, Norway and the US, NDO said.

Chaired by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, UK Minister of State at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, the event gathered representatives of all UNSC member states and invited speakers.

Guest speakers spoke highly of religious communities’ contribution to peace progress, humanitarian works, and development cause in many nations and territories worldwide. With some expressing concerns over increasing terrorism and violent extremism related to religion and belief in recent years, they emphasised the importance of ensuring freedom of religion and belief and called on the international community to strengthen the protection of religious groups and communities in conflict.

Hanoi municipal Youth Union receives Labour Order

The Hanoi Municipal Youth Union held a solemn ceremony to mark the 90th anniversary of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union (HCYU) (March 26) in Hanoi on March 20.

Speaking at the ceremony, Secretary of the Hanoi Municipal Youth Union recalled the glorious tradition of the HCYU over the past 90 years, and briefed attendees on the outstanding achievements of the municipal Youth Union in the recent past.

The Hanoi Municipal Youth Union receives the Labour Order, first class for its outstanding contributions in labour, and national construction and defence (Photo: NDO)

On this occasion, the Hanoi Municipal Youth Union received the Labour Order, first class for its outstanding contributions in labour, and national construction and defence.

In his speech, Politburo member and Secretary of the Hanoi Municipal Party Committee said the youth union is a valuable political asset of the country, so it must therefore always take the lead in encouraging young people to participate in national construction and defence.

He asked the union to continue to launch more effective movements to inspire young people as well as imbue them with revolutionary ideals, contributing to the country’s development, as reported by NDO.

Vietnam confirms two new COVID-19 cases

Two Vietnamese repatriated from Germany and the U.S. were confirmed positive for COVID-19 over the past two days, raising the national caseload to 2,572.

Specifically, patient 2,571 is a 49-year-old man in Thanh Khe Dong Ward, Thanh Khe District, Da Nang City.

He flew from the U.S. to the Republic of Korea and then to Ho Chi Minh City on March 10.

The patient is being treated at the Cu Chi field hospital.

(Photo: VNE)

Patient 2,572 is a 56-year-old woman in Thanh Cao Commune, Thanh Oai District, Ha Noi.

She flew from Germany to Ho Chi Minh City on March 11 and was quarantined in Ba Ria-Vung Tau.

The patient is being treated at the locality’s Long Dien Medical Center.

Among the national tally, 2,198 have recovered and exited hospitals while 35 others have been reported dead, VGP reported.

VN climbs up four places to rank 79th in World Happiness Report 2021

Viet Nam surpasses several Asian nations, including China and Malaysia to rank 79th in the World Happiness Report 2021.

Last year, Viet Nam ranked 83rd among 156 economies in the World Happiness Report.

The World Happiness Report 2021 focuses on the effects of COVID-19 and how people all over the world have fared. The Report’s aim was two-fold, first to focus on the effects of COVID-19 on the structure and quality of people’s lives, and second to describe and evaluate how governments all over the world have dealt with the pandemic.

A girl sits on her dad's back to watch fireworks on Lunar New Year's Eve on Nguyen Hue walking street in HCMC, January 24, 2020. Photo: VnExpress.

Earlier, the UK-based New Economics Foundation ranked Viet Nam at fifth in the Happy Planet Index results, and second in the Asia Pacific region.

Viet Nam is one of just three countries in the top ten Happy Planet Index rankings with an Ecological Footprint that is small enough to be considered environmentally sustainable, according to the New Economics Foundation.

The life expectancy at birth in Viet Nam in 2020 increased by 0.1 year compared to 2019 to 73.7 years, said the Vietnamese Ministry of Health, according to VGP.