Co-operation needed to safeguard East Sea fisheries: expertsThe South China Sea (the East Sea) is one of the richest seas in the world, but its resources are being depleted quickly. According to experts at the second Ocean Dialogue, themed fisheries co-operation, held yesterday in Hanoi, stakeholders in the sea, including coastal countries and international agencies, must collaborate on safeguarding fisheries. In remarks opening the dialogue, Vice President of the Diplomatic Academy of Viet Nam Le Hai Binh said for regional countries, fishing in the South China Sea brings about more than simple economic benefits. Wang Guan, a research fellow from China’s National Institute for South China Sea Studies Haikou, said at the meeting that China categorised the South China Sea issues into three main perspectives: politics, petroleum, and protein, with the last one referring to the fact that fish is currently the second source of protein for Chinese population (just after pork). It was held for the first time in late 2017 with the theme of governance strategy in the South China Sea.

Regional leaders to meet in HanoiVietNamNet Bridge – Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his regional counterparts are expected to gather in Hanoi this month to attend two development summits, announced the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday. Foreign Affairs Deputy Minister Dang Dinh Quy speaks at a press conference on Thursday in Hanoi. Early this week, the Asian Development Bank’s Division of Regional Co-operation and Operations Coordination in Southeast Asia director Alfredo Perdiguero told the media that an agreement for regional development worth of US$66 billion is to be signed at the GMS Summit. Business forumQuy highlighted the organisation of the GMS Business Forum, being held for the first time during the 25-year history of the GMS. The forum aims to create an opportunity for businesses seeking co-operation to meet up and connect.

Hanoi among top 13 destinations in March: Business InsiderHanoi has been named one of top 13 destinations for travellers in March by the US-based Business Insider magazine. A view of Tran Quoc Pagoda on West Lake in HanoiThe list is made based on analysis of airfare trends, climate data, and peak travel times. Last year, Time ranked Hanoi at No.1 on its list of Best International Destinations in terms of value for money. In early 2017, Britain’s Daily Telegraph listed Hanoi as one of the top 10 cities for street food. TripAdvisor, the world's popular travel guide and review website, also named Vietnam’s capital in the top 10 destinations for 2017, as voted for by its users.-VNA

GMS countries meet to facilitate cross-border transportThe Joint Committee for the Greater Mekong Sub-region Cross-Border Transport Facilitation Agreement (GMS-CBTA) convened its 6th meeting in Hanoi on March 15, attracting the participation of the six GMS countries. Transport connectivity is a leading priority in the GMS programme, he noted, adding that the GMS Transport Strategy recommends expanding the regional connectivity of hard infrastructure, including roads and railways. Notably, the GMS countries pledged to implement the GMS-CBTA through applying policies facilitating the cross-border transportation of people and goods, thus fostering economic cooperation and development, The noted. At the meeting, GMS ministers discussed the development of transport infrastructure, focusing on promoting connection corridors. They also looked into ways to turn the corridors into economic corridors so as to boost trade and tourism.

Nha Trang to host Vietnam Renewable Energy Summit 2018The Viet Nam Renewable Energy Summit 2018 (VRES 2018) will take place on March 26 to 28 in InterContinental Nha Trang in the south-central province of Khanh Hoa’s Nha Trang City. VRES 2018 will be a match-making platform for key stakeholders in Viet Nam’s renewable energy sector to source potential partnership in renewable sectors. VRES 2018 is organised by Neoventure Corporation, an energy advisory firm which helps international investors identify investment opportunities in the energy sector of emerging markets. The event will be a match-making platform for key stakeholders in Viet Nam’s renewable energy sector to source partnerships in renewable sectors. VRES 2018 can provide topical sessions to understand market intelligence and to get connected with key local developers with approved renewable projects open for investment.

PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc's busy schedule on Australia visitPrime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc had a busy day meeting with Australian leaders and other activities on his second day of the visit to Australia from March 14-16. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (left) pays a courtesy visit to Governor-General of Australia Peter Cosgrove on March 15. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (left) and Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull chair a press conference after the welcoming ceremony and their talks. (Photo: VNA) Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (left) pays a courtesy visit to Governor-General of Australia Peter Cosgrove on March 15. (Photo: VNA) Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (left) and Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull chair a press conference after the welcoming ceremony and their talks.

PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc expects new waves of investments from AustraliaPrime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said he believes a new wave of investments, both direct and indirect, from Australia, will land in Vietnam for win-win benefits, following the freshly-established Strategic Partnership. He made these remarks at a working session with leading groups and investors of both Australia and Vietnam on the afternoon of March 16 in Sydney during his on-going official visit to Australia. He hailed the PM for working actively to draw businesses and investment to Vietnam. PM Phuc welcomed the Australian groups’ interests in Vietnam and spoke highly of the organization of the session by VinaCapital and Macquarie. “Vietnam is concentrating on developing a sustainable and healthy finance market that is friendly to investors,” he noted.

Business Forum a highlight of GMS-6The first-ever GMS Business Forum will be a highlight of the sixth Greater Mekong Sub-region Summit (GMS-6) to be held in Vietnam later this month, heard an international press conference in Hanoi on March 15. The GMS cooperation was launched in 1992 as an initiative of the ADB. The GMS Economic Cooperation Programme is the most complete cooperation programme that involves Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar, and China’s Yunnan and Guangxi provinces. The GMS is expected to receive 66 billion USD in investment to strengthen regional economic cooperation in the next five years. Since its inception, the GMS Programme has mobilised 21 billion USD for the region.-VNA

At least four dead in Florida university bridge collapseAt least four people are dead and 10 others are injured after a bridge collapsed near Florida International University in Miami, officials say. Witnesses told local media vehicles were stopped at a traffic light when the structure collapsed at around 1330 local time (1730 GMT). We look outside... we thought something had fallen but it was the bridge that collapsed. President Donald Trump tweeted on Thursday night he was monitoring "the heartbreaking bridge collapse". Munilla Construction company (MCM), a family-owned contractor that helped build the bridge, tweeted "thoughts and prayers" for those affected by the tragedy.

Seminar talks fruit, veg exportsViet Nam’s fruit and vegetable exports are expected to top US$4.5 billion by 2020, with fruits accounting for $3.6 billion, according to the Crop Production Department. Viet Nam’s fruit and vegetable exports are expected to top US$4.5 billion by 2020. Fruit and vegetable exports increased from $151.5 million in 2003 to $1.07 billion in 2013 and $3.52 billion last year, with fruit export accounting for 80 per cent of total export. “A lack of diversity in fruit exports (dragon fruit accounts for 60 per cent of fruit exports) and a reliance on the Chinese market is another problem,” he said. The country’s fruit and vegetable exports accounted for less than 1 per cent of the global trade in them, meaning there was great potential to increase their exports, he said.

Retail chains seek more workers as Amazon prepares to arriveVietNamNet Bridge - Vietnam, a promising retail market for retailers thanks to its young population and economic growth, faces a lack of qualified workers for the sector. The decision by Amazon shows the great potential of the market, the second market in South East Asia that Amazon has chosen for development. Vietnam, a promising retail market for retailers thanks to its young population and economic growth, faces a lack of qualified workers for the sector. Dinh Thi My Loan, chair of the Vietnam Retailers Association, said in Vietnam retail is not considered an occupation. RELATED NEWSAfter Alibaba, Amazon to arrive in VietnamVietnamese farm products sold on Amazon at exorbitant pricesDuy Anh

Artist enthusiastic to promote Vietnam’s puppetry arts to the world“For such a long time, international friends have only spoken about water puppetry while they are talking about Vietnam’s arts of puppetry. However, I want to let them know that our country’s has a wealth of puppetry arts which are also wonderful.”Meritorious Artist Nguyen Ho Thuy Tien (Photo: thanglongwaterpuppet.org)This is a sharing from Meritorious Artist Nguyen Ho Thuy Tien, who has a great passion for and creativity in puppetry. The appraisal of the audiences and fellow professionals fuelled her courage to develop a solo puppetry show in Vietnam. As she has support during her solo puppetry, the baggage for the show should be lightweight and neat. Earlier, the show also brought Tien accolades at the International Puppetry Festivals in Indonesia in 2013 and in Thailand in 2014.

Green buildings - An indispensable trend in VNGreen building has become a growing trend worldwide and real estate developers in Vietnam have begun to pay heed. According to the Vietnam Green Building Council (VGBC), green buildings are those posting high efficiency in energy and material usage, minimising adverse impacts on the environment. Vietnamese green building standardsMany domestic firms are applying Vietnamese green building standards (LOTUS) compiled and enacted by VGBC in 2009. Perception-related challengesAlbeit a common trend worldwide, green buildings remain modest in number in Vietnam. According to industry experts, the modest number of green buildings came from limited access to information related to green buildings.

Top legislator: SMEs - momentum of national economyChairwoman of the National Assembly Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan (5th, right, front) and representatives of SMES. Three new Deputy Ministers appointedThe PM has appointed two Deputy Ministers of Planning and Investment and a Deputy Minister of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs. Vu Dai Thang, former Vice Chairman of the Nam Dinh Province’s People’s Committee was assigned as Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment. Le Quang Manh, former head of the Local and Territorial Economy Department of the Ministry of Planning and Investment was appointed as Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment. The PM assigned Ms. Nguyen Thi Ha, Deputy Secretary of the Bac Ninh Province’s Party Committee as Deputy Minister of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs.

Attending the workshop, Francesco Checchi, an anti-corruption adviser from the UNODC, said that corruption had been recognised as a threat to national security, and social and economic development globally. The contest is also organised by the alumni network of the French Vietnamese Centre of Management and Centre for Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship-National Economics University. Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia have also become transit places for taking victims to third countries. Contestants can send the files directly via email or upload the videos to the YouTube social network and send the link to the organising committee. The participants offered incense and flowers in tribute to the Vietnamese soldiers who sacrificed during the Gac Ma battle 30 years ago.