Illustrative image. Photo: VNA

Vietnam records 546 Covid-19 cases on October 24

Vietnam reported 546 new Covid-19 infections on October 24, according to the Ministry of Health.

The new cases lifted the country’s total to 11,497,533.

The same day, 124 patients were declared to be free from coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, raising the total number of recoveries to 10,601,089, cited VNA.

Meanwhile, there are 47 patients needing breathing support.

Two deaths from Covid-19 were recorded in the past 24 hours, raising to the total fatalities to 43,161.

The country has so far administered more than 261,297,020 doses of Covid-19 vaccines.

Vietnam, Laos bolster defense cooperation

Deputy Minister of National Defense Sen. Lt. Gen. Le Huy Vinh received a delegation from the Laotian Ministry of National Defence’s Office on October 24 led by its head Lt. Gen. Saichay Commasit.

Deputy Minister Vinh said the special relationship that exists between both sides has always been vital for the two nations, adding that their senior leaders place great importance on preserving and consolidating the special relationship and solidarity between the two governments, people, and armies.

Deputy Minister of National Defense Sen. Lt. Gen. Le Huy Vinh (R) and Lt. Gen. Saichay Commasit of Laos. Photo: VNA

He noted that given the complicated nature of developments relating to the Covid-19 pandemic, both Vietnamese and Laotian defense units have made great efforts to deploy cooperation tasks in the fields of politics, delegation exchanges, search and rescue, border protection, and human resources training, according to VOV.

Praising the closer collaboration taking place between the Laotian office and its Vietnamese counterpart, Deputy Minister Vinh affirmed that leaders of the Ministry of National Defense will strive to support and create the best conditions possible for the two sides to strengthen cooperation. Indeed, they will seek to implement common perceptions reached by the leaders of the two defense ministries as a way of deepening the special solidarity and friendship between the two countries and their respective armies.

This comes after the Laotian delegation held talks with the Office of the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense to exchange experience, review historical collaboration, and discuss future orientations for their cooperation.

Vietnamese airports expected to serve 100 mln passengers in 2022

Vietnamese airports are expected to serve 100 million passengers this year, compared to the pre-pandemic level of 120 million recorded in 2019, said the Director of the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam Dinh Viet Thang.

During a meeting of the Transport Ministry in Hanoi on October 24, Thang said over 81 million passengers arrived at Vietnamese airports in the past 10 months.

At Noi Bai International Airport. Photo: VNA

During the period, Vietnamese airlines carried 40 million passengers. The figure is expected to reach 55 million for the whole of this year.

According to Thang, the domestic market grew strongly while the international market only recovered by about 50%. The Covid-19 pandemic also deterred the resumption of flights to several key markets, especially China, reported VNA.

Though several markets like the Republic of Korea, Japan and Taiwan (China) have re-opened, travel demand remains slow.

The re-opening of the Indian market is considered a bright spot in outbound travel, with relatively positive passenger volume.

Vietnam backs central role of UN in dealing with common global challenges

The nation strongly supports the central role of the UN, including the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), as part of global governance to address common global issues.

Ambassador Le Thi Tuyet Mai, permanent representative of Vietnam to the UN, the World Trade Organization (WTO), and other international organizations in Geneva, made the statement at a high-level segment entitled "Looking at the future: Getting the economy back on track and addressing the most pressing challenges" within the 77th executive session of the Trade and Development Board and UNCTAC.

Leaders and representatives of various countries stated that the world is facing an extremely complex and challenging period, in which developing countries face even greater challenges. Financial space is in the process of shrinking, whilst food and energy prices are soaring and debt continues to pile up.

Simultaneously, recent international geopolitical tensions have put additional pressure on the already fractured multilateral system, cited VOV.

Speakers emphasized that solving the current series of crises facing the world and moving the global economy in the right direction requires greater will and strong actions. The solutions and recommendations presented at the session primarily focused on expanding the financial space of developing countries, reforming the global financial system, and reviving the multilateral system.

Ambassador Le Thi Tuyet Mai, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the United Nations (UN), the World Trade Organization and other international organizations in Geneva. Photo: VOV

The majority of the opinions expressed by countries also outlined the need to strengthen international solidarity, uphold multilateralism, and promote North-South cooperation, South-South cooperation, and tripartite cooperation. Indeed, these efforts are seen as the keys to achieving the goal of building the self-reliance of countries and reinforcing the multilateral system to cope with today's intertwined challenges.

In her speech, Ambassador Mai shared that Vietnam highly appreciates and supports the implementation of visions and roadmaps outlined in the Bridgetown Agreement, adopted by UNCTAD members at the UNCTAD-15 conference held in October 2021. This aims to help countries overcome inequality and vulnerability, move towards a comprehensive and sustainable recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic, and transform the model of national development and international cooperation to bring prosperity to everyone.

The Vietnamese representative also emphasized the need for coordinated solutions and actions at international, regional, and national levels to address the intertwined challenges and create conditions specifically for inclusive and sustainable growth. Indeed, this would see people placed at the center of all development policies and strategies.

The Ambassador went on to emphasize that the support of development partners is needed to come up with innovative solutions and actions in order to ensure resources and finance to increase support for low-income countries. This is especially true for developing and under-developed countries in addressing global issues to promote trade and inclusive and sustainable development.

Moreover, Ambassador Mai also shared Vietnamese success in bringing the Covid-19 pandemic under control and implementing the Socio-Economic Development and Recovery Program. Through this, the country has maintained a strong GDP growth rate in the 2020 to 2022 period with a stable socio-economic situation, guaranteed macroeconomic balance, and controlled inflation.

Vietnam is also in the process of transforming the economic model towards a digital economy, innovation, green growth, sustainability, harmony between economic development, environmental protection, and social welfare for the people, she went on to say.

Ambassador Mai emphasized that Vietnam continues to contribute to global food security whilst maintaining open trade on the basis of a rules-based multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization (WTO) being as the center, while promoting sustainable agriculture.

As one of the most vulnerable countries due to the negative impacts of climate change, the nation continues to participate in climate change adaptation initiatives and commitments such as the goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2050. It also looks forward to continuing to receive active support from UN agencies and other partners in promoting green finance and building the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP).

World-leading tourism website highlights Vietnam's major tourist destinations

Breaking Travel News, a world-leading online tourism information website, has run a story highlighting major tourist destinations of Vietnam that have been honored with the World Travel Awards recently.

It spotlighted Ho Chi Minh City as a metropolis vibrating with energy, innovation, and traffic, describing the city as the economic heart of the country and the main hub of the southern region.

A freewheeling, cosmopolitan metropolis, the dynamic cityscape draws together old and new Vietnam in the most compact of spaces, representing the past as well as the future, it said, adding Ho Chi Minh City was honored with the title of Asia’s Leading Business Travel Destination.

Breaking Travel News spotlighted Ho Chi Minh City as a metropolis vibrating with energy, innovation and traffic, describing the city as the economic heart of the country and the main hub of the southern region. Photo: Getty Images

Meanwhile, founded over 1,000 years ago, Hanoi remains a jewel in the Vietnam tourism crown, it said.

The capital city is rich in history, with the streets of its rambling Old Quarter dating back to the 14th century. “Wandering these tree-lined lanes, past crumbling colonial facades, will transport you back in time,” it said.

However, the city is today about much more than in the past, according to the website which adds that the ancient city is being invigorated with modern cafes, world-class restaurants, and cool art galleries.

Hanoi Department of Tourism took the title of Asia’s Leading City Break Destination at the World Travel Awards.

According to Breaking Travel News, with broad beaches, fantastic street food, the fabled Hai Van Pass and a growing collection of cafes, restaurants, and bars, Da Nang is a fast-growing favorite on the Vietnam tourist trail.

The warm sands of My Khe beach sweep south from the mountainous Son Tra peninsula, playing host to some of the top luxury resorts in the country.

Da Nang is a dream destination for foodies, with scores of seafront eateries and street food stalls, it commented.

Da Nang Tourism Promotion Center was honored with the title of Asia’s Leading Festival & Event Destination at the World Travel Awards.

Also honored by the World Travel Awards is Moc Chau which took the title of Asia’s Leading Regional Nature Destination earlier this year.

A rural district in the northwest of the country, the area remains undisturbed by mass tourism. Home to the famous tea hills which roll across the highland landscape, the region provides some of the most awe-inspiring scenery anywhere in the country, the website underlined.

It noted that Vietnam has fully reopened to tourists earlier this year, allowing visitors to be free to discover and enjoy various wild nature destinations like limestone mountains, green terraced rice fields and white sandy beaches.

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