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	Vietnam News Today (May 10): PM promises voters to work hard for stronger national development

Deputy Foreign Minister Dang Hoang Giang (Photo: Bao Quoc Te)

New Chairman of National Commission for UNESCO named

Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh has decided to appoint Deputy Foreign Minister Dang Hoang Giang as new Chairman of the Viet Nam National Commission for UNESCO.

Dang, aged 44, was appointed Deputy Foreign Minister last March from his previous role as the Assistant to member of the Political Bureau, Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh, and Head of the Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Commission is responsible for assisting the Prime Minister in directing and coordinating cooperation between Vietnamese ministries, ministerial-level agencies and governmental bodies, and the UN Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

The Commission is also missioned to put forward orientations, policies, programs and plans on cooperation between Viet Nam and UNESCO, its regional offices and member countries.

Vietnam conveys condolences to Afghanistan over terror attack at school

Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son has sent a message of condolences to his Afghan counterpart Mohammad Haneef Atmar over the recent school bombing attack in the country.

The bomb attack occurred outside a school in the Afghan capital city of Kabul on May 8, killing at least 52 people and injuring more than 100 others, VNA reported.

The bomb attack occurred outside a school in the Afghan capital city of Kabul on May 8, killing at least 52 people and injuring more than 100 others. (Photo: Reuters/VNA)

Deputy PM requests greater COVID-19 containment at industrial parks

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam on May 12 called for greater efforts to be made as part of the nation’s fight to contain the SARS-CoV-2 virus as it shows signs of spreading among industrial parks (IPs) in several localities nationwide.

Greater efforts are needed in order to keep COVID-19 outbreaks in check whilst maintaining ongoing production at industrial parks, Deputy PM Dam told a meeting held among leaders of Da Nang, Bac Ninh, and Bac Giang, all of which have recorded infections at IPs over the past few days.

Elsewhere, Bac Ninh confirmed two positive cases on May 12 at Canon Vietnam, and another one at Johnson Health at two IPs the locality.

At present, Vietnam is home to 369 concentrated IPs, roughly 30 border economic and export processing zones, and approximately 700 industrial complexes which house some 4.4 million employees in total.

As IPs are at a high risk of fresh COVID-19 outbreaks, Deputy PM Dam has requested that Da Nang, Bac Ninh, Bac Giang, and other localities direct their IPs to strictly abide by COVID-19 regulations set out by the Ministry of Health.

He requested that the Ministry of Health move to increase their testing capacity and license advanced testing technology, which enables localities to conduct testing in as swift a manner as possible, as reported by VOV.

Furthermore, the Ministry of Trade and Industry was asked to keep a close eye on production at IPs to ensure that it will not be disrupted in the event an outbreak occurs.

The national economy could be seriously damaged if production at IPs is disrupted, warned Deputy PM Dam.

He has also asked the Ministry of Transport to examine solutions aimed at transporting employees back and forth from one locality to another in order to ensure safety.

State President hails ethnic minority contributions to Bac Giang’s development

State President Nguyen Xuan Phuc has hailed the contributions made by ethnic minorities in the northern province of Bac Giang, contributing to the development of their own communities as well as to other socio-economic and cultural fields in the locality.

The State leader made the statement during his reception for a delegation of outstanding ethnic minority people from Bac Giang province in Hanoi on May 12.

President Phuc also expressed his pleasure at knowing that Bac Giang has had many outstanding examples in socio-economic and cultural development as well as in its defense and security maintenance.

President Nguyen Xuan Phuc speaking at his reception for outstanding ethnic minority people from Bac Giang province. (Photo: VNA)

He asked the provincial authorities to further implement important programmes related to ethnic minority people such as the building of new-style rural areas, poverty reduction and ethnic minority and mountainous area projects, in order to make the lives of ethnic minority people better in the future.

The President affirmed that the preservation and promotion of the national unity bloc plays a very important role in national construction and development; therefore, it is necessary to uphold the role of reputable people among ethnic minority groups, especially young officers.

Also at the reception, President Phuc asked the Bac Giang provincial Party Committee, People’s Committee and Fatherland Front to continue mobilising locals to strictly implement all regulations on COVID-19 prevention and control as well as make good preparations for the upcoming elections of deputies to the 15th National Assembly and People’s Councils at all levels for the 2021-2026 tenure, according to NDO.

Viet Nam, Thailand agree to foster mutual support at multilateral forums

Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha praised Viet Nam’s achievements in COVID-19 containment and economic recovery during his phone talks with Vietnamese counterpart Pham Minh Chinh on Wednesday.

Prayut also spoke highly of Viet Nam’s proactive and responsible engagement in addressing regional and international issues, affirming that Thailand attaches importance to further strengthen the strategic partnership with Viet Nam.

In reply, Pham reassured that he stands ready to work closely with Prayut to deepen the Viet Nam-Thailand strategic partnership in an effective and practical manner.

(Photo: VGP)

The two PMs tasked relevant competent authorities of the two countries to coordinate in organizing activities marking the 45th founding anniversary of the bilateral ties this year.

They agreed to soon convene the 4th Joint Cabinet meeting at appropriate time, sign an action plan to implement the enhanced Viet Nam-Thailand strategic partnership for 2021-2025 period, collaborate to raise the two-way trade to US$25 billion by 2025.

PM Pham reaffirmed Viet Nam will continue creating favorable conditions for and encourage Thai investors to do business in such fields like energy, tourism, high-tech agriculture, and digital technologies.

Prayut voiced support for Pham’s idea to create mechanisms to enhance direct exchanges between the two countries’ ministers to timely address obstacles in the bilateral trade and investment cooperation, including those arising in the COVID-19 pandemic time.

The two sides agreed to foster coordination and mutual support at multilateral forums like the UN, ASEAN, and APEC while accelerating transport connectivity and sustainable development in the Mekong Sub-region, as reported by VGP.

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