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Quang Tri: Flag-raising ceremony held to mark Reunification Day (Photo: NDO)

Quang Tri: Flag-raising ceremony held to mark Reunification Day

A flag-raising ceremony was solemnly held by the central province of Quang Tri at the Hien Luong - Ben Hai special national monument on April 30 to mark the 46th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification Day.

At 7:00 am, the national flag was raised to the peak of the monument as the national anthem was being played.

This year, the ceremony was scaled down due to fears over COVID-19 spread, with side events such as a traditional boat race and “bai choi” singing events cancelled.

The Hien Luong - Ben Hai special national monument is located at the foot of Hien Luong Bridge across Ben Hai River, according to NDO.

Ben Hai River divided North and South Vietnam after the signing of the Geneva Accords in 1954. Though the river is just over 100m wide, it took 21 years for the Vietnamese people on the two banks of the river to be united.

Vietnam reaches new milestone in diplomacy

As the final minutes of the meeting concluding Vietnam’s Month of Presidency of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) clocked in, the country could be proud of reaching a new milestone in its diplomacy via successfully assuming the role of UNSC Chair for the second time.

Vietnam’s achievements at the UNSC - the UN’s most important body responsible for maintaining world peace and security - were fulfilled amid the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, rising conflicts, and a serious political crisis in Myanmar, which like Vietnam is a member of ASEAN.

Three high-level discussions initiated and chaired by Vietnam - the High-level Open Debate on "Cooperation between the UN and regional organisations in enhancing confidence-building and dialogue in conflict prevention and resolution”, the open debate on “Mine action and sustaining peace: Stronger partnerships for better delivery”, and the in-person and online debate on “Protection of Objects Indispensable to the Survival of the Civilian Population” - have been hailed by the international community.

As the only ASEAN representative at the UNSC, Vietnam upheld the spirit of the bloc, prompting UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres to recognise the importance of Southeast Asia in reconciliation diplomacy, conflict prevention, and the building of international peace. He also affirmed ASEAN’s important role when the region faces a crisis such as that being seen in Myanmar.

In an interview with the Vietnam News Agency following the meeting, head of the EU Delegation to the UN Olof Skoog said the topics selected by Vietnam for discussion came at the right moment amid complex developments around the world.

Achievements in partnerships between the UN and regional organisations can be seen in various areas, he went on, from reconciliation, anti-terrorism, and the maintenance of peace to the protection of human rights, climate change response, and COVID-19 prevention.

Vietnam also left positive impressions on the international community when selecting mine action as a discussion topic at a high-level debate on April 8. In 2020, the UN recorded 7,000 deaths and injuries from bombs and mines, including nearly 2,000 children.

Speaking highly of the initiative, Secretary General Guterres expressed his belief that dealing with this issue not only at the national but also at the regional and global levels will be the first solid step towards achieving real stability and peace, according to VOV.

Vietnam leads meeting to review its month as UNSC President

Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy, permanent representative of Vietnam to the UN, chaired a meeting on April 29 aimed at reviewing activities during the Month of Vietnam’s Presidency of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) in April.

This marks the second time that the nation has taken on the role of President of the UNSC during its non-permanent membership of the Council for the 2020 to 2021 tenure.

The event featured the participation of over 70 representatives from various UNSC member states, along with several UN observers.

This marks the first time that a Vietnamese President has presided over a meeting of the UNSC, whilst also being the first important multilateral diplomatic activity of President Nguyen Xuan Phuc since the 13th National Party Congress. Following the event, the Council’s member states approved a presidential statement proposed by the country on this topic.

The UNSC therefore adopted the first presidential statement proposed by the Vietnamese delegation on overcoming the consequences of bombs and mines. The debate regarding sexual violence in conflict zones was also welcomed by many UN members, as reported by VOV.

Vietnam, Hong Kong foster collaboration

Vietnamese Consul General to Hong Kong Pham Binh Dam on April 29 was received by Chief Executive of Hong Kong Carrie Lam, as he began his tenure in the Chinese special administrative region.

At the reception, the host said as Hong Kong has recovered its stability, the region’s relations with Vietnam are seeing more room for stronger development in trade, investment, tourism, and yacht industry.

In 2020, trade between the two economies reached over US$24 billion, with Vietnam being the third biggest trade partner of Hong Kong in ASEAN.

Lauding Vietnam’s effective COVID-19 prevention and control, Lam said it is time for Vietnam and Hong Kong to seriously consider establishing a bilateral travel mechanism.

Informing her guest on Hong Kong’s quarantine-free travel bubble with Singapore, she expressed her hope for negotiations between Hong Kong and Vietnam to take place so that the two can set up a similar mechanism in line with their conditions and situations. She believed it will help their residents travel easier.

For his part, Dam praised Lam’s leadership role toward developing Hong Kong into a prosperous city and an important international financial hub as well as her success in restoring the local social order and controlling the pandemic in the past year.

The diplomat took the occasion to thank the Hong Kong administration for relaxing regulations on granting student visa to Vietnam as well as committing to making similar relaxation regarding other types of visa, VOV reported.

PM convenes urgent meeting after eight local COVID-19 infections reported

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on Friday morning convened an urgent meeting as authorities have confirmed eight local COVID-19 infection cases.

All the above cases are linked to a 28-year-old man who was repatriated from Japan on April 7 and quarantined in Da Nang for the subsequent 14 days.

Also on Saturday, the Ministry of Health ordered Ha Nam, Ha Noi, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City to expand epidemiological investigation and accelerate contact tracing to prevent spread of COVID-19 to communities.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chairs an urgent meeting on COVID-19 response, Ha Noi, April 30, 2021. Photo: VGP

The health ministry urged the aforesaid localities to promptly track down, isolate, and test everyone who came in close contact with the confirmed cases and strictly monitor their health conditions.

These localities must also review and seriously supervise the implementation of the protocols on entry, medical surveillance, quarantine, and diagnosis to prevent community transmissions.

As of 6:05 am on Saturday, Viet Nam documented 2,914 COVID-19 infection cases, including 2,516 recoveries and 35 fatalities, as reported by VGP.

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