HÀ NỘI — The Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) is offering significant opportunities for Việt Nam to secure external financial support to achieve its ambitious climate objectives, including funds from the UK for green transition and sustainable development. Thus, it was a valuable opportunity for Việt Nam to learn from and cooperate with the UK in the field of clean energy development. The two sides also agreed to promote specific renewable energy projects with the participation of leading enterprises as platforms to exchange experiences and enhance cooperation. Several investors, including those from the UK, were looking to invest in Việt Nam’s renewable energy market. Under PDP8, Việt Nam aimed to increase renewable energy to 30.9 – 39.2 per cent of the total energy source by 2030 and 67.5 – 71.5 per cent by 2050.

(Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – Four people have died and gone missing due to prolonged heavy rains and floods that hit northern mountainous provinces over the weekend. In the northern province of Yen Bai, three people died due to landslides. Continuous heavy rain led to extensive flooding, erosion and prolonged traffic congestion on some national highways and provincial roads in the province. In Lao Cai province, heavy rains damaged houses, and crops and caused landslides in several areas. From October 9 -16, rains are forecast for the central and southern parts of the central region, Central Highlands and southern region, particularly heavy rains in some areas mostly in the afternoon and evening.

400-hectare forest park project in Ha Long proposedA private firm has proposed to invest in a 400-hectare forest park project in Ha Long City in the northern province of Quang Ninh. The project will stretch on hills in the two wards of Ha Khau and Viet Hung located in the west of Ha Long. Ha Long authorities have asked the investor to ensure sufficient green space and to guarantee that the environment will not suffer when implementing the project. "We want to make it an annual event to further advertise Phan Thiet tourism," Long said. "Whether you're a history buff, nature lover, foodie, or adventure seeker, Ha Long Bay has something for everyone.

The central bank has lowered the operating interest rates four times since the beginning of the year by 0.5 to 2.0 percentage points per annum, considering the continuing global upward trend in interest rates. While the interest rates for deposits have decreased, the capital mobilisation in banks has continued to increase over the past nine months. For instance, Vietcombank has reduced deposit interest rates nearly 10 times and loan interest rates five times for all customer segments, both individuals and businesses. BIDV has announced a VNĐ300 trillion credit package with interest rates 0.5 to 2 percentage points lower than normal lending rates. For example, disbursement of the VNĐ15 trillion credit package for the aquaculture sector, launched in mid-July, has reached around VNĐ5.5 trillion.

HCM CITY — The role of the youth in digital transformation was highlighted at the 7th International Students Science Forum, which was held in HCM City from October 6-8. The event drew the participation of 100 students from 37 universities in 10 countries, namely Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Việt Nam, who came for high-quality academic exchanges, and to promote their role in the digital transformation process in their nations. In the framework of the forum, an array of research works on digital transformation were delivered by researchers and lecturers from Vietnamese and foreign universities. The 1st International Students Science Forum was organised in 2016 to welcome the establishment of the ASEAN Economic Community. The annual forum spotlights an array of issues, including sustainable development, the fourth industrial revolution, and digital economy.

In early September, the US Department of Commerce lowered anti-dumping duties on frozen tra fish filets from Vietnam following its latest preliminary conclusion. In August, the US Food Safety and Inspection Service conducted a thorough review of the food hygiene and safety management system pertaining to Vietnamese tra fish exports to the US. The initial findings of the inspection have garnered favourable responses from US authorities, with only minor technical discrepancies detected at some farms and businesses. Such results are excellent for Vietnam’s tra fish industry in particular and its agriculture in general, insiders said. Vietnam mainly exports frozen tra fish fillets to the US, along with frozen pieces/cuts, frozen breaded, dried puffed, and fried skin products from tra fish./.

– Prof., Dr. Wilfried Lulei, a German researcher on Vietnamese studies who made great contributions to forming the Germany-Vietnam friendship, passed away in Berlin at the age of 85.Wilfried Lulei was born in Láryšov, the Czech Republic, on September 7, 1938. His life from the beginning of his study, research and career were all related to Vietnam , giving the country and people of Vietnam an important place in his heart.As one of the founders of the German-Vietnamese Society (DVG), he wrote many books about Vietnam. Prof. Lulei also participated in many seminars, conferences, and talks on Vietnam to help German and international friends better understand the country's history as well as its current changes./.

We were walking on Hai Bà Trưng Street in District 3 when we saw a restaurant and bar opposite Tân Định Church called Ola Hale - Restaurant & Bar. So, in Hawaiian, Ola Hale means a home for well-being. The journey of Ola Hale began with Christina, a Vietnamese born in Việt Nam but raised in Hawaii. Ola Hale celebrates culture and pays tribute to the beauty of nature, and represents warmth, hospitality and the spirit of “Ohana”, or family. The restaurant serves three kinds of bowls: ola hale, ola pike bowl with a wide choice of base, protein, sides, and flavours and a vegetarian option.

Việt Nam News reporter Nguyễn Khánh Chi spoke to President of the region Attilio FontanaFirst of all, could you please tell us more about the Lombardy region and purposes of the delegation’s visit to Việt Nam? The Lombardy region is the most important region in Italy, and the second in Europe. Is there any specific areas you look forward to seeking cooperation with in Việt Nam and Việt Nam’s localities in particular? The two-way trade between the Lombardy region and Việt Nam makes up 40 per cent of the total trade between Việt Nam and Italy. Already much of the trade between Việt Nam and Italy is a back and forth trade in the productive chain.

At the meeting of the UN General Assembly’s Disarmament and International Security Committee (Photo: VNA)New York (VNA) – Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN, has called for stepping up the implementation of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) across all three pillars, namely nuclear disarmament, nuclear non-proliferation, and the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. The ambassador reiterated Vietnam's commitment to maintaining a Southeast Asian region free of nuclear weapons and weapons of mass destruction along with other ASEAN nations. During multilateral negotiations on issues related to peace, security, and disarmament, he said strong political commitments, trust-building measures and transparency are essential. Delegates at the event also underscored the importance of multilateralism and called for the strengthening of disarmament and non-proliferation mechanisms for the sake of global peace and security. The meeting is expected to last till early November, with discussions on seven agenda items, including crucial issues such as nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, reform of disarmament machinery, enhancing international security, and ensuring the security and safety of outer space./.

The wine-making process is meticulous and requires patience and experience, especially in fermentation. 52 households in Xieng hamlet are involved in the traditional craft, producing 6,000 - 7,000 litres each month. The profession brings an average annual income of around 18 million VND (740 USD) to each worker. In 2021, the craft of fermented mixed-leaf wine-making in Xieng hamlet was recognised as a provincial traditional craft. Everyone is working towards continuing traditions while sending the wine to a larger market./.

Following the Paris Climate Accords, Vietnam must fulfill its mandatory obligation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from 2021 according to the Nationally Determined Contribution. The country also needs to make efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions towards the goal of net-zero emissions by 2050. In Vietnam, the voluntary exchange of carbon credits with the world has been carried out by businesses since the mid-2000s in projects and programmes under the Clean Development Mechanism - a United Nations-run carbon offset scheme. Data from the Department of Climate Change under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment show that to date, more than 300 programmes and projects have registered to be implemented with carbon credit mechanisms. Of these, about 150 programmes and projects were granted more than 40.2 million carbon credits which have been exchanged on the world carbon market./.

The Vietnamese delegation visited global auto maker Stellantis and Bizzcom Ltd in Bucany. They also scheduled joint work to honour the bronze plaque in remembrance of President Ho Chi Minh and support the Vietnamese community in Trnava. After Hanoi and Da Nang, GBA Oktoberfest 2023 is scheduled to entertain local people in Ho Chi Minh City on October 12-14. They contributed importantly to the inauguration of the statue of President Ho Chi Minh to mark 100 years since President Ho Chi Minh first set foot in Petrograd (now St. Petersburg) (June 30, 1923-2023). The latest case, born in 2004, was said to have earlier met a monkeypox patient, 22, in nearby Ho Chi Minh City.

HÀ NỘI A top priority among Vietnamese businesses is to diversify their supply sources, as shown in a recent survey by Vietnam Report, a market research company in Việt Nam. However, many said they have been struggling in their quest to find new suppliers, especially for imported raw materials. The trade deal has been hailed as an opportunity for Vietnamese businesses to import raw materials, adopt advanced technologies and develop new industries. However, according to the chamber Vietnamese businesses currently benefit from very few tax cuts from the trade deal including preferential import tax rates. Economists and industry experts have long urged businesses to be more proactive and diversify their supply sources.

The country earned 3.66 billion USD from exporting rice in the period, up 40.4% year-on-year, the ministry has reported. The result was attributed to the increasing price of Vietnamese export rice, and the decreasing rice supplies in many markets during the reviewed period, it said. The Philippines was the largest buyer of Vietnamese rice products in the first eight months, accounting for over 40% of the total rice export. Additionally, positive growth in rice exports has been also recorded in countries in the European Union, such as Poland, the Netherlands, Spain, and Belgium, and African nations such as Ghana and Angola. Vietnam is expected to pocket some 4.5 billion USD this year from the agricultural product’s exports, according to insiders./.