Vietnam, RoK celebrate 30th anniversary of diplomatic tiesThe Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) held a ceremony in Hanoi on December 20 celebrating the 30th anniversary of Vietnam-Republic of Korea (RoK) diplomatic ties. The RoK Ambassador to Vietnam, Oh Young-ju, said bilateral ties have reached an unprecedented level during just 30 years. HCM City launches action programme for childrenThe Ho Chi Minh City Children Committee and the Save the Children organisation on December 20 launched an action programme for children in the city until 2030. The match with Laos, which will take place at 19:30 on December 21, will be the first for Vietnam at the AFF Cup 2022. Concluding the event, they agreed that the 33rd meeting will be held in the fourth quarter next year in Vietnam.

At the session (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – The National Assembly Standing Committee offered opinions on the National Master Plan for the 2021-2030 period with a vision to 2050 during the ongoing 18th session in Hanoi on December 21. Under the plan, Vietnam is set to become an upper middle income country with modern industry and economic growth based on sci-tech, innovation and digital transformation by 2030. Agreeing with Chairman of the NA Culture and Education Committee Nguyen Dac Vinh’s proposal, Hue said high priority should be given to education, with regulations on improving high school and tertiary education to ASEAN regional standards. The top legislator also provided his feedback on orientations for the development of infrastructure, tourism, industry and support industry in service of agriculture and rural development. The 18th session wrapped up in the afternoon the same day./.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo puts on a mask after delivering a speech at an economic seminar in Jakarta on December 21. (Photo: https://jakartaglobe.id/)Jakarta (VNA) – Indonesian President Joko Widodo on December 21 indicated that the government will lift all social restrictions related to COVID-19 that have been in place for nearly three years. Addressing a seminar on the Indonesian economic outlook in Jakarta, the leader said Indonesia is now well-equipped to deal with the ongoing pandemic. The daily number was recorded at 1,200 on December 20, he said, noting that maybe at the end of 2022, his country will declare an end to large-scale social restrictions and people’s activity restrictions that began in April 2020. The country of 273 million people has reported 6.7 million cases and over 160,000 deaths since the pandemic broke out in March 2020./.

Son's work won the first prize for the Year’s Best TV Series at the 1997 National Film Festival presented by the Vietnam Cinematography Association. Binh Thuan finalises preparations for National Tourism Year 2023The south-central coastal province of Binh Thuan is finalising preparations for its hosting of the National Tourism Year 2023, the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism said on December 19. Vietnam will meet Laos at the Laos National Stadium at 7.30pm on December 21. Following the match with Laos, Vietnam will meet Malaysia on December 27, Singapore on December 30 and Myanmar on January 3, 2023. Amongst regulations issued by the Drug Administration of Vietnam, the most important is the Circular 15/2019/TT on the procurement of drugs at public health facilities.

In the 12 days and nights of fierce fights in Hanoi in late December 1972 against the US air force, the Vietnamese army and people defeated US airstrikes in the North. This triumph is also called the “Dien Bien Phu in the air” victory, which took the name from the victory of the Dien Bien Phu Campaign in 1954 that put an end to the French colonial rule over Indochina.

With an area of over 1.2 hectares, the Korea-Vietnam smart farm is located at the Vietnam Academy of Agriculture. Despite the sweltering summer heat, the plants can still grow normally thanks to the application of smart technology from the RoK. All irrigation comes from drilled wells, with filtration, automated irrigation, and drone sprayers, to ensure that RoK quality standards are met. The construction of the Korea-Vietnam smart farm commenced in December 2021, and all equipment and machinery were transported from the RoK. The application of new cutting-edge technology is expected to improve the competitiveness of Vietnam’s agriculture sector, contributing to the country’s sustainable development./.

Cambodian PM Samdech Techo Hun Sen (lef) chaired an official welcome ceremony for his Vietnamese counterpart Pham Minh Chinh in Phnom Penh. Read full story - The Ho Chi Minh City People’s Council has passed a resolution on socio-economic development tasks in 2023, aiming to achieve economic growth of between 7.5%-8% next year.The city also plans to ensure labour productivity growth of 7% and maintain the proportion of services in its economic structure at above 60%. Read full story - Coach Park Hang-seo has announced his squad of 25 players for the AFF Mitsubishi Electric Cup 2022.The coach from the Republic of Korea has put his faith in three new faces – Khuat Van Khagn, Hai Huy and Chau Ngoc Quang. The goalkeepers in the team are Dang Van Lam, Tran Nguyen Manh, and Nguyen Toan./. Read full story

Earlier, on December 16, KTO organised a meeting between tourism partners of Vietnam and the RoK, a Korea Travel Mart, and a 2022 Korea Night. Within the framework of the event, the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism and KTO signed a Memorandum of Understanding on further support for tourism cooperation between the two countries. Cyclo touring attracts foreign touristsCyclo is a three-wheel bicycle taxi that appeared in Vietnam in the early 20th century. The last two parts contain information necessary for the registration and operation of a foreign enterprise in Vietnam, including the administrative and legal environment. VCCS President, Priest Giuse Tran Xuan Manh wished to receive further support from authorities to help with national development.

In his speech, Saudi Arabian Ambassador to Vietnam Mohammed Ismaeil A. Dahlwy expressed his wish to enhance cooperation with Arabic language training establishments in Vietnam, especially ULIS – the first educational establishment in Vietnam to teach Arabic. The event will involve the attendance of representatives from several Australian universities, including Adelaide University, Australian National University, Melbourne University, Monash University, New South Wales University, Queensland University, Sydney University, and the University of Western Australia. During the festival, the organizers plan to announce a decision to establish the Vietnam Ginseng Association, the Vietnam Ginseng Usage Day, and the National Ginseng Programme. They will also host seminars on ginseng quality, ginseng heritage, ginseng security, as well as policies to develop national ginseng. The first National Ginseng Festival is expected to popularize Ngoc Linh ginseng brand domestically and internationally, promote the value of Ngoc Linh ginseng (Vietnamese ginseng), and create a unique tourism product to attract tourists to Quang Nam.

Deputy Minister of Environment and Natural Resources Vo Tuan Nhan (centre) and other members of the Vietnamese delegation at the meeting (Photo: VNA)- Vietnam will further actively be part of efforts for the global biodiversity preservation and is willing to mobilise all resources for effectively implement its national strategy on the matter, affirmed Deputy Minister of Environment and Natural Resources Vo Tuan Nhan.Addressing a high-level session of the ongoing 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP 15) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in Canada, the Deputy Minister called on member countries to take similar actions towards building a prosperous and healthy planet.As an active member of the convention, Vietnam recommended quickly establishing mechanisms to support its implementation, including new ones for finance, resource mobilisation, capacity building, technique, scientific cooperation and technology transfer.It is also necessary to strengthen cooperation among stakeholders to successfully realise the ambitious goals of the global biodiversity framework, creating opportunities for each person, organisation, and country to maximise their roles and responsibilities in realising Vision 2050 on living in harmony with nature. Vietnam joined the CBD in 1994. In January 2022, the Vietnamese Government approved a national strategy on biodiversity to 2030 with a vision to 2050. COP 15 takes place from December 7 to 19 in Montreal, with governments from around the world coming together to agree on a new set of goals to guide global action through 2030 to halt and reverse nature loss./.

Politics Sri Lanka Ambassador awarded with friendship insignia Sri Lankan Ambassador to Vietnam Prasanna Gamage has been awarded with the insignia “For Peace, Friendship among Nations”, the most noble distinction of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO), in recognition of his dedication to traditional friendship and solidarity between the two peoples. Politics Four Vietnamese peacekeepers to depart for Central African Republic The Ministry of National Defence held a ceremony in Hanoi on December 16 to present President Nguyen Xuan Phuc’s decisions to send four military officers to the UN peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic, replacing four others who have finished their tenure. Politics Quang Ninh seeks to further beef up cooperation with Chinese city The People's Committee of the Vietnamese province of Quang Ninh and the administration of Fangchenggang city in the Chinese province of Guangxi held their first virtual meeting on December 16. Politics ☕ Afternoon briefing on December 16 The following is a brief review of the day’s events as reported by the Vietnam News Agency.

Chau later visited the Vietnam Baptist Church and conveyed best wishes to the church's President - Pastor Nguyen Vo Khanh Giam. Chairman of the Vietnam Government Committee for Religious Affairs Vu Hoai Bac visited the Vietnam General Protestant Church (the South). This created an occasion for Vietnam and Belgium to share experiences and discuss solutions to boost their co-operation in sciences and technology. Following this, the Vietnam national team will then play another away match against Singapore on December 30 before playing at home against Malaysia on December 27 and Myanmar on January 3, 2023. Under the impact of the cold weather, residents in Ho Chi Minh City will enjoy chilling nights and early mornings with temperatures of 21 degrees Celsius.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Venezuela Le Viet Duyen (4th from right) and leaders of Venezuela's National Experimental University of the Armed Forces (UNEFA) attend the celebration. (Photo: VNA)Buenos Aires (VNA) – The Vietnam Embassy in Venezuela and a local university on December 14 celebrated the 78th founding anniversary of the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA) (December 22, 1944 - 2022) and the 33rd All People’s Defence Festival (December 22, 1989 – 2022). At the event taking place at the National Experimental University of the Armed Forces (UNEFA), Vietnamese Ambassador to Venezuela Le Viet Duyen reviewed the developments of the army and its contributions to Vietnam’s national construction and defense. The army also promotes defense diplomacy in co-operation activities with neighbouring countries, ASEAN member countries, and others. He said the celebration of anniversary in Venezuela helps boost the friendship between the two peoples, contributing to promoting the comprehensive, friendship, and traditional partnership between the two countries./.

At the event (Photo: baoquocte.vn)Hanoi (VNA) – The Foreign Ministry and Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism co-hosted a conference promoting tourism cooperation between Vietnam and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries on December 15. Speaking at the event, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Doan Van Viet highlighted yet-to-be-tapped potential to improve the efficiency of bilateral tourism cooperation. They also explored the possibility of joint investment in tourism infrastructure and services. Chairman of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism Nguyen Trung Khanh said the two ministries will continue working closely together to hold tourism promotion activities in the region in the coming time. The number of tourists from GCC countries visiting Vietnam is around 6,000 each year./.

Foreign Ministry deputy spokeswoman Pham Thu Hang (Photo: VNA)The US’s decision to put Vietnam in the special watch list on religious freedom is based on unobjective assessment and inaccurate information regarding the situation of freedom of religion and belief in Vietnam, Foreign Ministry deputy spokeswoman Pham Thu Hang said at the ministry’s regular press briefing on December 15.Vietnam follows a consistent policy of ensuring human rights as well as the freedom of religion and belief, Hang said, noting that this is clearly stated in the 2013 Constitution as well as laws of the country, and has been ensured and respected in practice.Vietnam has constantly improved the legal system and policies on religion and belief, and the country’s efforts and achievements in ensuring freedom of religion and belief have been widely acknowledged by the international community, she said. Vietnam stands ready to discuss with the US side issues of common concern on the basis of openness, candidness and mutual respect, contributing to strengthening the comprehensive partnership between the two countries, Hang stated./.