Illustrative image. Photo: VNA

Additional 1,390 Covid-19 cases reported on Sept. 4

Vietnam reported 1,390 new Covid-19 cases on September 4, lifting the country’s total caseload to 11,418,894, according to the Ministry of Health.

Also on the day, 6,390 patients were declared to be free from coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, raising the total number of recoveries to 10,211,563, cited VNA.

Meanwhile, the death toll rose to 43,120 after another fatality were recorded on the day, accounting for 0.4% of the total infections.

Nearly 257.4 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines have been administered in Vietnam so far.

Vietnam, US expect stronger cooperation in climate change response

The US and Vietnam have enjoyed sound relations in a multitude of fields and need to further cooperation in an effort to quickly carry out policies on climate change adaptation.

US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry made the statement during a meeting with Nguyen Van Nen, Politburo member and Secretary of Ho Chi Minh City's Party Committee on September 4, during which both sides discussed the urgency of promoting national and global efforts to limit global warming and adapt to the impacts of climate change.

Talking about his cruise on the Saigon River with climate change experts, John Kerry wondered what will happen to the Saigon River in the next decade when sea levels rise and how will it affect Ho Chi Minh City?

Regarding renewable energy development, the US guest said that this is an area where the US and many major countries in the world have set many specific goals and are implementing, according to VOV.

Many countries globally are in a "race" to transition to a clean energy-using economy, John Kerry emphasized, while expressing his wish that Vietnam would jointly promote this transition process.

Expressing his agreement with what was shared by John Kerry, Nen affirmed that climate change response and promoting the use of clean energy have always been issues of great concern to the Party and State of Vietnam, and the nation has signed and issued many documents related to this content for years.

According to the Secretary of the municipal Party Committee, the southern metropolis is highly aware of these issues as it is the highest energy user in the country. However, the energy transition process still faces a number of difficulties, including policy difficulties and existing infrastructure that fails to meet the needs of the conversion.

The city is currently implementing many solutions to find resources for developing renewable energy. Additionally, municipal leaders will make proposals and recommendations to competent agencies in order to soon deal with issues relating to mechanisms and policies, thereby creating favorable conditions for clean energy development in Ho Chi Minh City as well as in Vietnam, Nen added.

Vietnam’s domestic tourism market back on track

The Tourism Information Technology Center (TITC) under the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) said in a recent report that the domestic tourism market has fully recovered.

Golden bridge in Da Nang city. Photo: baodanang.vn

The figures from the report showed strong growth in domestic tours. Local tourists in August were estimated at eight million, bringing the tally to some 79.8 million in the January-August period and exceeding the year’s target of 60 million, up 33.6% over the same period of 2019, the pre-Covid year.

According to VNAT’s statistics, revenue from tourism in the period hit VND356.6 trillion, mainly from domestic travelers.

The eight-month period saw over 1.44 million foreign visitors, down 87.3% over the same period in 2019, mainly South Koreans, at 369,800, and Americans, with 139,400. Tourists from European countries also grew, but slowly.

Meanwhile, August alone recorded some 486,400 foreign visitors, a 38% increase over July, reported SGT.

Vietnam welcomed visitors from Northeast Asian countries, excluding South Korea, the most before Covid-19 hit; however, it is now the slowest recovering market due to the strict Covid-19 prevention and control measures.

Vietnam, Cambodia intensify the fight against transnational crime

The two countries have agreed to step up cooperation in humanitarian aid and disaster relief activities along the border, combat transnational crime, and support human resource training.

The agreement was reached during a recent working session in Phnom Penh, between a high-ranking delegation of Military Region 7 led by Major General Nguyen Truong Thang, Commander of Military Region 7 and the delegation of Army Command of the Royal Cambodian Army headed by General Hun Manet, Deputy Commander-in-Chief.

During the meeting, the two side agreed that despite the complicated developments of the Covid-19 pandemic over the recent past, they still boosted closer cooperation across multiple fields such as exchanging information of mutual concern, maintaining political security, order and safety in border areas as a way of helping to stabilize people's lives.

During the process of cooperation, the two sides and their affiliated units have maintained a close connection, mutual trust and understanding. As a resutl, 71 units of the armed force of Military Region 7 have so far cooperated, twinned with 76 units of the Royal Cambodian Army.

Vietnam and Cambodia intensify the fight against transnational crime.​​​​​​ Image source: Facebook General Hun Manet (R). Photo: VOV

The two sides have strengthened a broad array of activities such as conducting delegation and cross-cultural exchanges, coordinating joint patrols, training, searching, and repatriating the remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who died in Cambodia.

This is addition to aid activities, financial, material and medical support in Covid-19 prevention and control, cited VOV.

Regarding orientation for cooperation in the time ahead, the two sides will go ahead with closer coordination and comprehensively realize cooperation activities identified in the 2022 cooperation plan and protocol as reached between the two defence ministries as well as the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two commands.

They will enhance information exchange, coordinate in joint patrols, put strict controls on common border areas and border markers, an work hand in hand in the fight against transnational crime, illegal border crossing and illegal immigration.

Additionally, both sides also reiterated their mutual support in difficult situations in the past, as well as in the current national construction and defence process.

They also underscored the need to step up propaganda and education for the people, youth, young cadres, especially young military officers of the two countries about the historical significance of the friendly neighborliness between Vietnam and Cambodia.

2023 Lunar New Year holiday could span 9 days

The 2023 Lunar New Year holiday could last for seven or nine days, according to two respective options proposed by the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA).

The proposal has been presented for feedback from ministries and departments, before being submitted to the Prime Minister for approval.

In the first option, the holiday break will last five days as per regulations, from January 20 (Friday) to 26 (Thursday).

The 2023 Lunar New Year’s Day falls on January 22.

Hang Dao Street in Hanoi on 2022 Lunar New Year's Day. Photo: VNA

People will also have two additional days off according to the Labor Code, as the break includes the two usual days off during the weekend, cited VNA.

In the second option, the holiday will also span five days, but from January 21 (Saturday) to 25 (Wednesday).

This option would result in two additional days off for the following Thursday and Friday, so people would effectively enjoy a nine-day break.

The MoLISA has recommended the first option to have a moderate number of consecutive days off, and to ensure a balance in time off before and after Lunar New Year’s Day.

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