Illustrative image (Photo: The Nation)Hanoi (VNA) - Thailand has discovered nearly 15 million tonnes of lithium deposits, a boost for the country's goal of becoming a regional hub for electric vehicle (EV) production, its Government announced on January 19. Government deputy spokeswoman Rudklao Intawong Suwankiri said the 14.8 million tonnes of lithium are distributed between two separate sites in the southern province of Phang Nga. Lithium is a key component in the manufacture of batteries used in electric cars, as well as smartphones and other electronic items. The discovery means Thailand has the third largest lithium resources, behind Bolivia and Argentina, but it is not yet clear how much can be exploited commercially. In December 2023, two Chinese EV giants said they would invest 2.3 billion THB (64 million USD) to develop Thailand as a production hub./.

HÀ NỘI – The Vietnam Trade Office in the Netherlands has warned of online fraud cases, particularly related to petroleum products, amidst the high demand for this category of goods. Fraudsters often create fake websites with fabricated information or counterfeit websites impersonating legitimate import-export companies or companies providing petroleum storage tank services whose contact information being usually a mobile phone number or an internet phone number. According to the trade office, many companies are easy to become victims of the scams because of their fear of missing out on business opportunities and without information verification about partners due to they believe that the Netherlands is a developed country with a strict legal system and reputable companies. The payment method commonly used in petroleum trading transactions is through a letter of credit (L/C), it noted. The trade office has provided information related to online fraud and a list of counterfeit websites compiled by the port authority of Rotterdam (continuously updated), which can be accessed at https://ferm-rotterdam.nl/en/blacklist.

Việt Nam has clear and specific directions and action plans for the development of the semiconductor industry. The Government specifically asked the Ministry of Information and Communications to create a plan for developing the semiconductor industry in Việt Nam until 2030, with the final stages of drafting currently underway. Meanwhile, MPI has been entrusted by the Government and the Prime Minister to lead the human resources development project for the semiconductor industry in Việt Nam until 2030. Dũng underscored the significance of human resources development as a primary challenge in the semiconductor industry. Minister Dũng expressed confidence that Việt Nam is on the right path, making timely decisions to embrace the significant semiconductor industry wave currently underway.

Mr SAM robots will be rolled out at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital in March, 2024 (Photo: bangkokpost.com)Bangkok (VNA) – The King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital and the Thai Red Cross Society have deployed robots to speed up the administrative process in its outpatient department in an effort to improve public services. Dr. Chanchai Sittipunt, director of the hospital, and Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt said five of the robots, called Mr SAM, will be deployed, starting in March. The robots will take over some procedures of patient registrations, as they are equipped to take pictures that will aid the admission process. They can also reschedule appointments for registered patients. Meanwhile, Associate Prof. Dr. ML Kornkiat Sanitwong, the hospital's deputy director, emphasised that it is believed that the introduction of Mr SAM will speed up the hospital’s services.

Hungary and Romania were among the first 10 countries in the world to recognise and establish diplomatic relations with Vietnam. Over the past 70 years or so, the governments and people of the two countries have always given Vietnam great affection and support in its fight for independence, national unification, and socio-economic development. This is the first Prime Ministerial-level visit between Vietnam and Hungary for 7 years and between Vietnam and Romania for 5 years. Hungary has always viewed Vietnam as an important partner in Southeast Asia. A number of projects using Hungarian ODA loans have brought socio-economic efficiency to Vietnam, such as a project to build a residential management system and a water supply project in Quang Trach district, Quang Binh province./.

Representatives of the Sai Gon Giai Phong Newspaper and Global Entertainment JSC at the signing ceremony. (Photo: thethao.sggp.org.vn)HCM City (VNA) – Sai Gon Giai Phong (Liberated Sai Gon) Newspaper and Global Entertainment JSC on January 18 signed a cooperation agreement for co-organising the Vietnam Golf Festival 2024 in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong. The event will help bring the sport closer to people, creating a meaningful playground for connecting golfers and golf lovers. It is expected to offer a good chance to promote Vietnam's potential and strengths in golf-related tourism economic development, especially golf tourism to the world. Previously, on December 20, 2023, the provincial People’s Committee issued an official dispatch giving in-principle approval for the newspaper to organise the festival./.

Hanoi (VNA) – At least seven people, including five children, were killed after a landslide buried a house following days of heavy rains in the southern province of Davao de Oro, the Philippines. Ednar Dayanghirang, director of the regional civil defence agency on January 18 said that two other people were injured and approximately 10 were missing. Authorities suspended search and rescue operations due to continuing rains in a residential area for small-scale miners. According to data from the national disaster agency, heavy rains and floods have affected more than 187,000 people in four provinces in the Davao region. Landslides and floods are frequent in the Philippines, an archipelago of more than 7,600 islands that is hit by about 20 tropical storms annually./.

At the get-together marking the 74th founding anniversary of Vietnam – China diplomatic relations . (January 18, 1950 - 2024)The Ho Chi Minh City Union of Friendship Organsiations (HUFO) organised a get-together on January 18 to celebrate the 74th founding anniversary of Vietnam – China diplomatic relations (January 18, 1950 - 2024).At the event, Nguyen Huu Hiep, Secretary of the Party Committee of Thu Duc city and Chairman of the Vietnam - China Friendship Association (VCFA) of HCM City, laid stress on the sound cooperation between the two Parties, States and localities over the past time, saying it will chart a path for the bilateral ties to develop into a stronger and more practical fashion.He recalled mutual visits by top leaders of the two Parties and States in 2023, with the most notable one being the state visit by Party General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping in December which aimed at unceasingly consolidating and developing the traditional friendship – a precious asset of the two nations' people.Hiep said that HUFO, VCFA, the Consulate General of China and the Chinese business community in Ho Chi Minh City have worked together to organise an array of friendship, cultural, art, social and exchange activities with a view to promoting mutual understanding between the Vietnamese southern economic hub and Chinese localities, helping to nurture the time-honoured friendship between the Vietnamese and Chinese people.Wei Huaxiang, Consul General of China in Ho Chi Minh City, also attributed the practical cooperation between Vietnam and China to the regular high-level contacts and vibrant cultural exchange programmes.Besides being a leading investor with 707 new projects in 2023, accounting for 22.1% of the total number of new projects in Vietnam, China has maintained its position as the largest trading partner of the Southeast Asian country, he said, adding bilateral cooperation has brought practical benefits to the two countries and their people.The traditional friendship between the two countries have been nurtured by generations of leaders of both sides, becoming a common valuable asset of the two Parties, States and people, he stressed, highlighting the Consulate General of China in HCM City pledged to continue its bridging role to promote exchanges, cooperation and mutual understanding between HCM City and Chinese localities, helping to enrich the Vietnam – China Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership./.

Information related to online fraud and a list of counterfeit websites compiled by the port authority of Rotterdam (continuously updated) can be accessed at https://ferm-rotterdam.nl/en/blacklist/ (Photo: Screenshots)Hanoi (VNA) – The Vietnam Trade Office in the Netherlands has warned of online fraud cases, particularly related to petroleum products, amidst the high demand for this category of goods. Fraudsters often create fake websites with fabricated information or counterfeit websites impersonating legitimate import-export companies or companies providing petroleum storage tank services whose contact information being usually a mobile phone number or an internet phone number. According to the trade office, many companies are easy to become victims of the scams because of their fear of missing out on business opportunities and without information verification about partners due to they believe that the Netherlands is a developed country with a strict legal system and reputable companies. The payment method commonly used in petroleum trading transactions is through a letter of credit (L/C), it noted. The trade office has provided information related to online fraud and a list of counterfeit websites compiled by the port authority of Rotterdam (continuously updated), which can be accessed at https://ferm-rotterdam.nl/en/blacklist/./.

According to the Canadian diplomat, one of the highlights of the relations is economic cooperation. Canada is around the 14th largest investor in Vietnam, Ambassador Steil said, suggesting measures to boost the cooperation in the coming time. On the occasion, the Canadian diplomat highly spoke of achievements Vietnam has gained over the past time in various areas. The success is also seen through economic development when international investors are looking to Vietnam, seeing it as a safe haven for investment. Sharing with the national news agency about the upcoming traditional new year, or Tet, of Vietnam, Ambassador Steil said, he was lucky to experience the biggest festival of the Vietnamese people./.

Videos International arrivals in Vietnam expected to grow in 2024 The volume of international arrivals in Vietnam is forecast to increase in 2024, according to The Outbox Company, a Vietnam-based market intelligence company, which focuses on South East Asia & the Pacific. Videos Artworks depicting Vietnam’s cultural heritage exhibited An awards ceremony for the 2023 painting competition on the cultural heritage of Vietnam through fine arts has been held and 100 artworks are being exhibited at the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum. Videos Vietnam looking toward effective IPEF for prosperity The Indo-Pacific Economic Cooperation Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) was initiated by the United States in May 2022. IPEF is expected to create a dynamic and effective economic cooperation framework in the region, as well as a level playing field for all countries, big and small. Therefore, Vietnam has been enthusiastic to make contributions to promoting negotiations of this framework.

HCM CITY Many patients say they are not satisfied with the service quality of medical check-up departments at public hospitals in HCM City. Other problems that lower the patient’s satisfaction at State-owned hospitals in HCM City are procedures for check-ups covered by health insurance, instructions and seats for patients in the waiting area. Since 2017, health check-up departments at the city’s public hospitals have been equipped with automatic survey machines on patient satisfaction. She said when hospital quality is improved, patient satisfaction will improve as well and medical complaints will be reduced. The hospital’s quality improvements focus on professional quality, patient satisfaction, facilities, medical equipment and medical staff morale.

HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam should improve the mobilisation of investment in infrastructure for industrial parks, particularly for ecological industrial parks, which have faced significant challenges in recent years, according to the Financial Association of Industrial Parks (FAIP). Industrial parks have become the major focus in attracting domestic and international investment projects, with major global corporations investing in them. Collaboration within and between industrial parks, economic zones, and regions, as well as subpar innovation, sustainability issues, and imbalances in socio-economic and environmental aspects, remained significant hurdles to overcome. This situation has led to low occupancy rates in many industrial parks. To mobilise capital for investment in industrial parks in the coming years, fundamental changes were required to facilitate the flow of funds.

HÀ NỘI — Tax authorities plan to expand the list of taxable entities to properly and fully tax digital business activities. There are many problems in managing e-commerce taxation, Nguyễn Thị Lan Anh, head of the General Department of Taxation (GDT)’s small and medium-sized enterprises, household and individual tax management department, said. Households and individuals involved in e-commerce often lack business and tax registration addresses, she said. In many cases, they use other people's information to register their business, making it difficult for the tax authorities, she said. It plans to set up a database using information from taxpayers, tax authorities, inspections, and third parties.

Vietnam and Hungary ink three cooperation documents Vietnam and Hungary signed three cooperation documents in the fields of culture, diplomacy and crime prevention during the ongoing visit to Hungary by Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh. Addressing a joint press briefing after their talks, Chinh said the two PMs had during their talks discussed major orientations and specific measures to take the Vietnam – Hungary comprehensive partnership to new heights. He is scheduled to meet with leaders and senior officials of Slovakia, attend a joint Vietnam - Hungary business forum, and visit universities and businesses there. The summit also presents the chance for Vietnam to boost cooperation with Uganda and other members of NAM. The event saw the participation of ambassadors, representatives from foreign embassies in Vietnam, international and non-governmental organisations, and foreign students studying in Hanoi.