Illustrative photo (Source: VNA)At the event (Photo: VNA)VNATraining on free trade agreements are among the measures suggested for the development of the farm produce market and rural tourism in the Mekong Delta.The region is a key agricultural development area for the country, making up 32% of GDP of Vietnam’s agricultural sector.According to Nguyen Van Hong, Vice Chairman of the Can Tho People’s Committee, despite such potential, the average income of people, especially farmers, in the region remains low. Local agricultural products are mainly exported raw, with a large post-harvest loss rate recorded. In addition, local agricultural companies will benefit from the bloc’s high-quality goods and services. Capitalising on these advantages will promote the delta’s integration into the global agricultural value chains.Experts said incorporating tourism into the value chain of farming products in the region is the way forward. However, it is necessary to orient rural tourism development towards sustainability and responsibility, they noted./.

Rice fields in Vietnam (Photo: VNA)A strawberry growing model (Photo: VNA)VNA– The agricultural sector is aiming for a growth rate of 2.8-3% this year, higher than the growth of 2.5-2.8% assigned by the Government, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development It is also striving to earn 55 billion USD from agro-forestry-aquatic product exports in 2022, 5 billion USD higher than the figure assigned by the Government.In the first nine months, the export turnover of agro-forestry-aquatic products is estimated at 40.8 billion USD, up 15.2% year-on-year. Meanwhile, imports totalled 33.9 billion USD, up 5.7% year-on-year. This means the trade surplus mounted to 6.9 billion USD, doubling the same period last year.To achieve the targets, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien said that the ministry will adjust production plans and the crop structure to suit domestic consumption and export demand, and focus on directing the development of concentrated production areas.Efforts will be made to promote sustainable livestock development, ensure supply and stabilise food and pork prices to keep the consumer price index (CPI) within the allowable range, especially during the coming Lunar New Year, Tien said.Along with closely monitoring the developments of climate and diseases on plants and livestock, the ministry will seek measures to boost production; remove difficulties in circulation, consumption and exports of agricultural products; and ensure sufficient supplies of food and foodstuffs.To develop the consumption market for agricultural, forestry and aquatic products, the ministry will cooperate with the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to research, analyse and forecast market developments, opportunities and challenges; and consult the Prime Minister on countermeasures and scenarios to adapt to the supply and demand of agro-forestry-aquatic products in the world./.

Vietnam’s participation in the UN peacekeeping operations has come from its sense of responsibility. (Photo: VNA)Vietnam has gained a position and reputation in the international arena thanks to its contributions to the international community, a researcher has said, mentioning the country’s engagement in United Nations peacekeeping operations.Dr. Nguyen Hong Hai , a researcher at the Centre for Policy Futures under the University of Queensland in Australia, told the Vietnam News Agency (VNA)’s correspondent that Vietnam’s participation in the UN peacekeeping operations has come from its sense of responsibility.Therefore, the country has won the trust of the UN, partners and host countries, Hai noted.According to the researcher, Vietnam is a pioneer in joining international conventions on human rights , adding that Vietnam is the first country in Asia and the second in Asia-Pacific to sign and ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.Vietnam has also joined and ratified the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women and the Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities.It has integrated provisions of the conventions into domestic laws, making the national legal framework for the disadvantaged groups more perfect and suitable with international standards.During two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Vietnamese State and Government worked hard to ensure people’s rights by providing free-of-charge medical services and vaccination, and launching packages in support of affected businesses and people, the researcher said.Hai also cited statistics by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as saying that Vietnam lifted 40 million people out of poverty between 1993 and 2014, saying Vietnam’s outstanding economic development has been acknowledged by many international experts./.

Acupuncture is one of traditional healing methods. (Photo: VNA)– A seminar on traditional medicine of Vietnam and Japan was held in Hanoi on October 7, attracting the participation of almost 100 experts and researchers in the areas from the two countries.At the event, the participants exchanged experience in the application of advanced techniques in traditional medicine to raise the efficiency of community health care.Nguyen The Thinh, head of the Traditional Medicine Management Department under the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Health, said that there are 63 specialised hospitals in this area across the country.Vietnam has set a goal that by 2030, all provinces and centrally-run cities will have a general hospital for traditional medicine, he said.According to Truong Viet Binh, Oresident of the Vietnam Traditional Medicine Association, the demand for treatment with traditional medicine is a trend not only in the East, but also in the world due to its great health benefits.At the event, experts from Vietnam and Japan presented reports affirming the role of traditional medicine in people’s health care while proposing solutions to renew traditional treatment methods./.

According to data of the Ministry of Information and Communications, Vietnamese people spent more than 934 million hours on local platforms, making up nearly 14 percent of total time they spent on all digital platforms. On average, a smart phone user spent roundly 10 hours on Vietnamese digital platforms in August, up 11.4% from July and about 4.5% from January this year. Five local platforms reported more than 10 million users monthly, namely Zalo with 75 million, followed by Zing Mp3 with 23.6 million, Momo e-wallet, 19.6 million. Digital platform users on mobile devices have been on the rise as the number of new app downloads hit about 312 million, surging 19% compared to that in July. With this momentum, Vietnam is projected to maintain the seventh place in the number of new app downloads globally./.

In the first half alone, Cong Phuong, Hoang Son, Dinh Thuong and Long Vu scored four goals for Vietnam respectively. The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health pays special attention to monitoring and detecting imported cases at Tan Son Nhat International Airport and seaports. Dr. Nguyen Luong Tam affirmed there has so far been no case of transmission from the first patient after she returned to Vietnam. All homeowners in these dormitories agreed to rebuild them into new apartments, according to the Hà Nội People's Committee. Returning to Hà Nội this year for three days, from October 7-9, the festival will include many new exciting events to attract participants.

A Vietnamese real estate tycoon was arrested on suspicion of financial fraud, the police said on Saturday, as the country broadens its years-long anti-graft drive.Truong My Lan , chairwoman of Ho Chi Minh City-based Van Thinh Phat Holdings Group , was accused of illegally issuing bonds to raise trillions of dong (tens of millions of dollars) from investors during the 2018-2019 period, the Ministry of Public Security said in a news release on Saturday. "Further investigation is underway to clarify the frauds," the ministry said.Lan's company did not immediately respond to Reuters request for comment. Vietnam recently broadened its anti-graft drive with a series of high-profile corporate arrests, including top stockbrokers, property developers and even regulators.Three others accused of involvement in Lan's case were also arrested, the police-run ministry said on Saturday.The ministry said on Friday there had been irregularities in Van Thinh Phat Holdings' acquisition of several state-owned land slots at prime locations in downtown Ho Chi Minh City Rumours about the imminent arrest of Lan earlier on social media this week had triggered a run on Saigon Joint Stock Commercial Bank (SCB) over suspicions of ties between Lan and the bank.Vietnam's central bank on Saturday reassured depositors at SCB and said it was monitoring the situation there. "The State Bank of Vietnam affirmed that it will have solutions and policies in accordance with the law to ensure the rights and interests of depositors, maintain the stability of SCB in particular and the system of credit institutions in general," the central bank said in a statement.Calls to SCB went unanswered on Saturday.

VF e34, the first model developed by Vietnamese automaker VinFast , has seen a sudden sales surge and is ranked 8th in the list of best-selling cars in the Vietnamese market in July 2022. (Photo muaxegiatot.vn)- The Vietnamese electric vehicle market promises to be more exciting after many years of consumers saying no to hybrid and e-cars, industry insiders said.Experts believe that Vietnamese people have gradually opened their hearts to green cars. However, it saw sluggish sales in August due to a lack of components.According to a recent report on Vietnam’s electric car market published by the Vietnam Petroleum Institute, Vietnam has great potential to develop this segment. Looking forward, 2022 was expected to see another all-time high for electric vehicle sales, lifting them to 13% of total light duty vehicle sales globally.The IEA has previously stated that electric vehicle sales hit 6.6 million in 2021. A growing number of countries have pledged to phase out internal combustion engines or have ambitious electric vehicle targets for the coming decades./.

World Four killed, 72,000 households affected by floods in Thailand Four people have been killed, two others injured and more than 72,000 households affected by flooding in 30 provinces of Thailand since September 28, according to the country’s Department of Public Disaster Prevention and Mitigation. World Singapore and Cuba reaffirm ties The prime ministers of Cuba and Singapore have reaffirmed their long-term relationship as the two countries mark 25 years of diplomatic ties. World Indonesia considers imposing excise tax on sweetened beverages The Indonesian government has considered realising its plan to impose an excise tax on all packaged sweetened beverages. World Malaysia: new policy aims to maintain investment growth The Indonesian International Trade and Industry Ministry (MITI) has launched a new investment policy (NIP) to maintain sustainable economic growth.

Indonesian Minister of Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), Teten Masduki , at the 2022 Innovation Conference. Baqir Idrus Alatas)Jakarta (VNA) – Indonesian Minister of Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) Teten Masduki on October 6 stated that his government is preparing a policy to expedite the growth of digital economy in Indonesia. President Joko Widodo was said to have assigned Minister Masduki to work on a digital economy development policy with three main missions, with the first being to protect domestic e-commerce. Under the second mission, the government aims to protect MSMEs by opening business opportunities in various digital platforms. The government is paying significant attention to the digital economy, as Indonesia is projected to become a country having the largest digital economy value potential in Southeast Asia by 2030, at around 4,500 trillion Rp (315.7 billion USD)./.

Politics ☕ Afternoon briefing on October 7 The following is a brief review of the day’s events as reported by the Vietnam News Agency on October 7. Politics Vietnam, Palestine step up people-to-people exchanges President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO), Ambassador Nguyen Phuong Nga on October 7 reiterated Vietnamese people’s solidarity with and support for Palestinians. Politics Vietnam, Palestine strengthen solidarity, friendship Le Hoai Trung, head of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations, has suggested Vietnam and Palestine take measures to enhance solidarity, friendship and cooperation between their Parties, States and peoples in the time ahead. Politics Vietnam keen on boosting partnership with Japanese localities: official Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh has affirmed that Vietnam is keen on promoting partnership among localities of Vietnam and Japan, considering it as a substantial and effective cooperation channel for both sides to beef up bilateral ties in various fields

Vietnam, Germany boost academic exchangeA scientific workshop to promote academic exchange between Vietnam and Germany was held by the Vietnam Academy of Social Science (VASS)’s Institute for European Studies (IES) in Hanoi on October 6. Representatives of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Vietnam, Vietnam Federation on Disability and the General Statistics Office (GSO) held a consultation workshop regarding the issue on October 6. Dang Van Thanh, vice president of Vietnam Federation on Disability, said there were about 6.2 million people with disabilities in Vietnam including more than 700,000 children. He said that the number of people with disabilities in Vietnam released by different agencies was different from each other. Over 17 million join social insuranceOver 17.24 million Vietnamese people, or 34.84% of the workforce, are joining social insurance, according to the Vietnam Social Security (VSS).

Coffee is one of the major export products in New Zealand (Photo: VNA)– Vietnam is trying to tap great potential to increase exports to New Zealand, a promising market where it has won only 1.7% of the local market share, held insiders.In the first eight months of this year, two-way trade between reached 1.7 billion NZD (963.81 million USD), up 21.4% year on year.Upturn was seen in the revenue of many Vietnamese exports, including tea and coffee (52%), pottery and ceramics products (108%), paper and paper products (48%), steel (36.8%), and garment, footwear and accessories (22.8%).According to the Vietnamese trade office in New Zealand, revenue of the majority of the exports has recorded double-digit growth, especially construction materials. It explained that along with an increase in export volume, the prices of products in New Zealand has also risen.The office forecast that Vietnam’s exports to the market will continue to grow as the two countries have been members of many common trade deals which provide many tariff advantages in the market, thus increasing the competitiveness of Vietnamese products.Alongside, many businesses are considering switching their supply chains and seek more suppliers from Vietnam, especially in garment and construction materials.At the same time, thanks to the development requirement after the COVID-19 pandemic and the recovering consumption and travel demands, economic cooperation and trade between Vietnam and New Zealand are likely to be lifted up in the future, according to the office.However, it reminded exporters to make sure that their products meet food safety requirements in this choosy market.The office stressed the need for Vietnam to design a systematic and long-term strategy to promote exports to the market, focusing on creating a smooth legal corridor for the export of agro-forestry-fisheries products, asking New Zealand to continue to widen its door for Vietnamese farm produce and aquatic products, building value chains and improving food processing technologies to enhance product quality, and strengthening trade promotion activities./.

Workers at Duc Giang Garment Company Limited in Long Bien District in Hanoi. However, it was still higher than the same period before the COVID-19 pandemic.Unemployment continued to have a downward trend compared to the previous quarter and the same period last year. The number of unemployed people of working age during this period was over 1.6 million, down nearly 14,000 compared to the previous quarter and 658,000 compared to the same period last year.According to the GSO, in the past nine months, Vietnam's economy has witnessed a strong recovery in all economic sectors and workers' lives are improved. The average income of workers increased well in all three economic sectors.The income of salaried employees was 7.5 million VND (314 USD), an increase of 805,000 VND or 12.1% over the same period in 2021. Salaried workers in urban areas had an average income 1.24 times higher than those in rural areas./.

The Vietnamese delegation attends the international inter-party conference via videoconference on October 6. (Photo: VNA)– A delegation of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) attended virtually an international inter-party conference on ecological security and sustainable development held by the United Russia party in Sakhalinsk city on October 6.The hybrid event saw the presence of Chairman of the United Russia party and Vice Chairman of the Security Council of Russia Dmitry Medvedev, President of the Cambodian People’s Party and Prime Minister of Cambodia Hun Sen, along with leaders of the ruling parties in some Asian-Pacific countries.In his speech, Le Hoai Trung, member of the CPV Central Committee and Chairman of the CPV Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations, highlighted the main content of Vietnam’s sustainable development policy.He affirmed that the sustainable development policy of Vietnam both reflects common positive trends in the world and appropriately applies them in a way that takes into account the country’s conditions, with the consistent goal of socialism, rich people, and a strong, democratic, equitable, and civilised nation.The official also suggested some orientations for strengthening cooperation among political parties, as well as international cooperation for the sake of sustainable development and ecological security At the event, participants shared the view that cooperation among political parties plays an increasingly important role in promoting the settlement of global issues, making policies, identifying risks and challenges, and devising general solutions to risks and challenges in terms of ecological security to serve sustainable development around the world and in each country.They held that political parties should engage more actively in resolving urgent issues in bilateral and multilateral cooperation in different areas.Vietnamese Ambassador to Russia Dang Minh Khoi directly took part in the conference, held on October 6 - 7./.