Vietnam News Today (March 3): Vietnam, Italy See Strong Potential in Agricultural Cooperation

Binh Duong and Japanese region cooperate in building environmental protection capacity. (Photo: VNA)

Binh Duong, Japanese region cooperates in building environmental protection capacity

The enhancement of environmental protection capabilities for officials has taken center stage in the collaboration between the southern province of Binh Duong and Japan's Kansai region, heard a meeting between the local authorities and the Kansai Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI Kansai) on March 3.

At the function, the sides underscored a shared commitment to exchanging experiences, technologies, and advanced solutions to ensure a sustainable and healthy environment.

Vice Chairman of the provincial People's Committee Mai Hung noted that the bilateral cooperation is not only an opportunity for local officials and businesses to access advanced technologies but also a significant step towards enhancing environmental management capacities and advancing sustainable development in the southern industrial hub.

The Japanese side proposed specific development directions, including encouraging businesses to invest in new environmental protection technologies in Binh Duong.

Morishita Tsuyoshi, Director-General of the International Affairs Department at METI Kansai, expressed his hope that Japanese environmental technologies will contribute to the province’s environmental improvement and carbon emissions reduction.

According to a report from the provincial Department of Natural Resources and Environment, the collaborative project on technology transfer, technical cooperation, and human resource training in the fields of environment and energy conservation has been underway since November 2022. Through training courses and seminars, it has significantly contributed to enhancing the capacities of environmental management officials in Binh Duong, while providing substantial support for the province in building plans and regulations regarding environmental protection, pollution control, and climate change response for 2021-2025.

Head of the CPV Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations Le Hoai Trung (R) and Italian Minister of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry Francesco Lollobrigida (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, Italy see strong potential in agricultural cooperation

The Vietnamese and Italian economies are complementary, with great potential for cooperation, with agriculture being a key area, said head of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations Le Hoai Trung. During a reception in Hanoi on March 1 for Italian Minister of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry Francesco Lollobrigida, Trung said that Vietnam attaches importance to and gives high priority to the strategic partnership with Italy, stressing that the two countries share views on many global issues, have mutual interests and enjoy strong people-to-people ties.

He informed Lollobrigida, who is also a Politburo member of the Brothers of Italy Party, about Vietnam's significant socio-economic achievements over nearly 40 years of reforms, particularly in the agricultural sector. Host and guest discussed several major directions and measures to expand and improve the effectiveness of bilateral collaboration, with party-to-party relations between the CPV and political parties in Italy playing a crucial role.

Lollobrigida, in response, affirmed that Italy attaches importance to Vietnam's role and position in the region and the Italy-Vietnam strategic partnership. He expressed the Italian leaders’ high regard for the positive developments of bilateral strategic partnership over the past years. He stressed the importance of outlining specific orientations to the further development of bilateral relations, including increasing contacts and exchanges through the party channels and promoting agricultural cooperation between businesses. The minister concurred with Trung on the need for the two countries to continue fostering political trust and people-to-people exchanges and making strong changes in all-around coordination, especially agriculture in which Italy boasts expertise.

(Photo: VOV)

January iron and steel imports from China see drastic upturn

In January Vietnam imported Chinese iron and steel with a value of more than US$1.06 billion, up 27.3% in volume and 22.3% in turnover compared to December 2023. According to the latest report from the General Department of Customs, the whole country imported US$1.61 billion worth of iron and steel of all types and products during the reviewed period, marking an increase of 20.1%, equivalent to an increase of US$268 million compared to the previous month.

Compared to the same period from last year, imports of this product group increased by 76.6%, equivalent to a rise of US$696 million. Of the figure, the amount of imported iron and steel alone reached 1.49 million tonnes, equal to US$1.06 billion with the average price being US$711.9 per tonne, an increase of 27.3% in volume, a rise of 22.3% in turnover, but down 3.9% in price compared to December 2023.

China is widely viewed as the leader in the iron and steel supply market for Vietnam, accounting for 67.6% of the total volume and 60% of the total turnover, reaching nearly 1.01 million tonnes, equivalent to nearly US$635.66 million. It is followed by the Indonesian market, accounting for over 4.4% of the total volume and 9.7% of the country's total iron and steel imports. Statistics compiled by the General Department of Customs also indicate that in January, Vietnamese steel exports increased for the fourth consecutive month, hitting more than 1.16 million tonnes with a value of more than US$822 million.

According to the Vietnam Steel Association (VSA), steel consumption in the year ahead is expected to surge by 6.4% to reach nearly 21.6 million tonnes. Among them, exports of finished and semi-finished steel products are forecast to go up by 12% to nearly 13 million tonnes. The Vietnamese iron and steel industry is forecast to recover in the time ahead with growth and recovery being seen in the profits of businesses operating in this field.

The Azamara Journey cruise ship docks at Tien Sa Port in the central city of Da Nang. (Photo: plo.vn)

Vietnam continues to welcome thousands of cruise tourists in March

A number of international cruise ships carrying thousands of foreign tourists are due to visit popular sites nationwide in March. According to the schedule, on March 2 the Azamara Journey cruise ship operated by Azamara Cruises brought more than 700 tourists from the EU, the United States, and Australia to Tien Sa Port in the central city of Da Nang.

Furthermore, also in March, Saigontourist Travel Service Company said it would welcome the Celebrity Millennium, Silver Moon, and Celebrity Solstice cruise ships to visit the southern provinces of Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Nha Trang City, the central city of Hue, and the northern city of Ha Long. Moreover, from March 19 to March 20 the country will continue to serve international tourists on the Resort World One, Azamara Onward, and Silver Shadow cruise ships as they explore some major cities in southcentral Vietnam

In the first two months of the year, Saigontourist successfully served more than 10 cruise ships carrying 30,000 international tourists to visit popular destinations. This figure increased by 15% compared to the same period from last year. In the year ahead the number of international cruise ships to the country is expected to surge by 10% to 15% compared to 2023.

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