Category: General

Industrial and Technological Corridor under the framework of Comprehensive Strategic Partnership of Cooperation and the Diamond Cooperation between Cambodia and China, has been anticipated to become a driving force for Cambodia's economic growth to achieve her Vision 2050 as a high-income country. The expectation was made during a meeting between H.E. Suon Sophal, Deputy Secretary General of Cambodian Investment Board of the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC), and a delegation of China's National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) led by Ms. Zhang Jianhua, Deputy Director General in charge of Department of Foreign Capital and Overseas Investment, at the CDC headquarters here on April 24. Both sides discussed and exchanged views on concept of cooperation plan for the development of Industrial and Technological Corridor which will contribute to strengthening and expanding the prosperity of Cambodia-China Community of Common Destiny. They also agreed to consolidate the above-said cooperation with the Royal Government of Cambodia's Pentagonal Strategy and China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), and other key national policy documents to ensure effectiveness, efficiency and positive impact on the socio-economic development of both countries. Source: Agence Kampuchea Presse

Washington DC: Prof. Ron Carver, a peace activist of the US, engaged in protests against the unjust American war in Vietnam since 1968 and is still pursuing the struggle for peace for Vietnamese people nowadays. He worked tirelessly for the book 'Waging Peace in Vietnam' to be published in the Vietnamese language under the title 'Tranh dau cho hoa binh'. The book was co-compiled by Carver, his wife Barbara Doherty, and David Cortright, who are all peace-loving journalists. Since the publication of the book, they have held exhibitions to introduce it to 19 universities in the US and eight others in Vietnam. As the book's foreword reads, he and his US friends wished to write the stories 'to the millions on both sides, killed, maimed, and morally injured by the bullets, bombs, and chemical weapons unleashed during our war in Vietnam. And for people of conscience now and into the future who have the courage to stand against unjust war.' Together with some war veterans, historians, and scholars of the US, Carve r has carried out many humanitarian projects in Vietnam to assist people in war and disaster-hit areas. At their home, Carver and his wife reserved two spaces - one for objects and images of Vietnam and the other for South Africa's. He told the Vietnam News Agency that Vietnam and South Africa are the countries he has many connections with, and they also have the heroes he admires, including President Ho Chi Minh, Madame Binh (former Vice President Nguyen Thi Binh), and South African leader Nelson Mandela. On the 10th anniversary of the Vietnam - US comprehensive partnership in 2023, Carver and three other US nationals were honoured with the 'For peace and friendship among nations' insignia, the highest honour from the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO), in recognition of their significant contributions to peace, solidarity, friendship, and cooperation between the Vietnamese and US peoples. At the insignia presentation ceremony, Vietnamese Ambassador to the US Nguyen Quoc Dung expressed his admiration for and highly valued the relentless efforts by Carver and the other US friends to contribute to peace, justice, the healing of the wounds of war for Vietnamese people, and the enhancement of mutual understanding and friendship between the two countries' people. He described the honourees as unsung heroes in the US who are known by millions of Vietnamese people, adding that they could be proud to be part of the historical milestones of bilateral relations. Talking about the sound relations between Vietnam and the US since their ties were upgraded last year, Carver noted people-to-people links have become greatly important since the war ended. However, it took the US too much time to elevate the relations with Vietnam to the highest level, he said, expressing his regret that the two countries underwent 20 years of embargoes, from 1975 to 1995, which should have never happened. People of the US, especially war veterans, brought medical supplies and helped build health stations and schools in Viet nam as soon as the war was over. Since then, peace-loving people from the US began coming to Vietnam and took part in the clearance of unexploded ordnance left by their country. He voiced his delight that these efforts by the US people have received more assistance from their Government, a thing any country should do. Carver perceived that people of the US should continue taking responsibility and supporting Vietnamese people to deal with heavy consequences of the war. Over the last eight years, he has visited Vietnam for over 10 times to implement projects on war legacy settlement and education. He and many other peace-loving people of the US have been committed to devoting their entire life to the journey of 'Waging Peace in Vietnam'./. Source: Vietnam News Agency

Hanoi: The capital of Hanoi was named the world's 97th smartest city, moving up three places from its ranking in 2023, according to the 2024 Smart City Index. The index was produced by the Swiss business school Institute for Management Development (IMD) World Competitiveness Centre's Smart City Observatory in collaboration with the World Smart Sustainable Cities Organisation (WeGO). It listed 142 cities in all and graded them on the basis of how they use advanced technology to improve the lives of their citizens. Hanoi has eyed fast and sustainable development in the direction of green urban area and smart and modern city by 2025, while aiming to cement its status as a smart and modern city and gradually connect with the regional and global smart urban area networks by 2030. According to Vice Chairman of the municipal People's Committee Ha Minh Hai, the city has reaped significant achievements in its digital transformation over the past time, with digital signatures being implemented and common database ca rried out at the grassroots levels to better serve the settlement of administrative procedures. Together with accelerating the building of the e-administration, it has applied scientific and technological advancements to handle urgent issues, forming elements to develop a smart city, he said, adding that priorities have been given to infrastructure development in the areas of transport, tourism, healthcare and environment. Ho Chi Minh City also made it on to the list of the world's 142 smartest cities, ranking 105th. Zurich took the lead in the index, while Oslo came in second, followed by Canberra, Geneva and Singapore. Singapore remained the smartest city in Asia as it excelled in areas such as providing satisfactory basic sanitation for the poorest areas, public transport and public safety./. Source: Vietnam News Agency

Hanoi: A sharp surge in the number of visitors since the beginning of this year has prompted the northern mountainous province of Dien Bien to encourage local people to use their houses to accommodate tourists, who flock to the province on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu Victory (May 7, 1954-2024). The host of the Visit Vietnam Year 2024, Dien Bien has welcomed 845,000 visitors in the first four months of the year, a 1.86-fold increase year on year. It is estimated that 3,000-5,000 people travel to the locality each day. The number is expected to peak in the coming days as a grand ceremony will be held to mark the Dien Bien Phu Victory. As of April 20, over 140 households in Dien Bien Phu city and Dien Bien district have registered to accommodate visitors, capable of serving nearly 2,000 people. Those households have received guidance in ensuring security and order as well as fire prevention and fighting. The list of households eligible to provide accommodation services has been regularly updated on the mass media and social network platforms. Besides cultural tourism resources associated with key relic sites in the locality such as the headquarters of Dien Bien Phu - Muong Phang Campaign, A1, C1, D1 and E1 hills and the central area of the French stronghold, Dien Bien province is creating a highlight for the northwest region with various new tourism products, exploiting the strength of natural resources. The provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism said that in recent years, Dien Bien has worked with many travel agencies to building new tourism products with regional linkages, such as Caravan (self-driving tour) on Hanoi - Son La - Dien Bien route and Ban (Bauhinia) flower season tour./. Source: Vietnam News Agency

Hanoi: The Hanoi Great Souvenirs 2024 fair opened at the Hanoi Museum on April 25, offering a venue for businesses and producers to showcase cultural and souvenir products. Addressing the opening ceremony, Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Industry and Trade Nguyen The Hiep said the event aims to support industry associations, businesses, rural industrial production establishments, and artisans to introduce handicraft souvenirs imbued with cultural identities of traditional craft villages in Hanoi. It also provides an opportunity for businesses and producers of handicraft souvenirs in the city to promote cooperation in producing, processing, and selling typical and high-quality rural industrial goods, thus forming sustainable production and consumption chains of rural products. The fair features 100 stalls, exhibiting wooden, pottery, bamboo and rattan items, glassware, textiles, yarn and embroidery products, small mechanical products, along with those under the One Commune, One Product (OCOP) programme. Running until 28 April, the event is expected to attract thousands of visitors./. Source: Vietnam News Agency

Yen Bai: More than 200 precious artifacts, photos and documents related to the Dien Bien Phu Campaign have been announced in the northern province of Yen Bai, demonstrating activities taken by the provincial Party Organisation, administration, army and people to serve the campaign 70 years ago. Many artifacts were collected from historical places and witnesses such as submachine guns, rifles, defensive shirts, rice sacks, and emulation flags. Hoang Tien Long, Director of the Yen Bai Museum, said that documents created in the 1952 - 1954 period mentioned historical circumstances, policy decisions and the process of direction and leadership of the Yen Bai provincial Party Committee in preparing conditions and participating in the Dien Bien Phu Campaign. He said that many photos and artifacts were made public for the first time, showing the great sacrifice, solidarity and high determination of the people of Yen Bai province for the campaign. Meanwhile, nearly 100 photos that are introduced to the public for the first time truly and vividly reflect the contributions of the people of Yen Bai to the campaign, specifically in supplying food and weapons to the Dien Bien Phu battlefield, or opening roads. During the Dien Bien Phu Campaign in 1954, Lung Lo pass in Thuong Bang La commune, Van Chan district, Yen Bai province, was one of the vital routes for transporting troops, weapons, and food to the Dien Bien Phu battlefield. For the campaign, the Party Central Committee decided to open route 13A from Hien ferry in Tuyen Quang province, running past Ben Au Lau to the Lung Lo pass to connect with Road 41 (now Highway 6) at the Co Noi T-junction in Son La province. The trail stretched 120 kilometres over high mountains and across three big rivers - the Chay, the Red, and the Da. The Lung Lo pass, one of the most treacherous sections, had a steep mountain on one side and a deep abyss on the other. More than 124,000 sappers and civil workers used millions of bamboo plants and trees contributed by local people to build the route through the Lung Lo pass in about 200 days. Tens of thousands of trucks, carts, and pack-bikes carried weapons and food to the battlefield. To obstruct the supply route to Dien Bien Phu, the French army dropped about 12,000 tonnes of bombs on the Lung Lo pass. Some days they dropped as many as 200 bombs. During the campaign, 16 to 18 enemy planes bombed the area five to six times a day. But tens of thousands of people bravely risked their lives under bombs and bullets to keep the road clear for undisrupted transport. Dozen thousands of tonnes of military equipment, weapons, and food were stockpiled at Thuong Bang La and transported across the pass to the battlefield./. Source: Vietnam News Agency

Kon Tum: An international culinary contest opened in Tu Mo Rong district in the Central Highlands province of Kon Tum on April 25 set a record by making 120 dishes using bastard ginseng (codonopsis tangshen), a medicinal plant grown in the locality. Hosted by the People's Committee of Tu Mo Rong district, the two-day event is expected to contribute to promoting the cultivation of the medicinal plant, thus preserving cultural heritage, and creating more livelihoods for the local Xo Dang ethnic minority community. The competition attracted 21 teams, including 11 squads from communes and cooperatives in the district and 10 others from Laos, China, Switzerland, and domestic culinary associations and clubs. Vo Trung Manh, Chairman of the Tu Mo Rong district People's Committee, said this is the second culinary competition featuring dishes made from medicinal ingredients the district has hosted, adding that this year's event is upgraded to an international contest. Through this event, the locality hopes to widel y introduce medicinal plants planted in Tu Mo Rong and their useful effects, he said. The record affirmed the value, quality, and allure of the bastard ginseng of Tu Mo Rong compared to other ginsengs cultivated in other regions and localities, he noted. Within the framework of the event, various other activities are being held, including a Gong festival, an art exhibition, an awarding ceremony for winning videos and clips in a contest to introduce tourism and culture of Tu Mo Rong, and a livestream contest on the international culinary contest. In recent times, the local authorities have encouraged residents to switch from less efficient crops to ginseng cultivation and called on businesses to invest in this field. Currently, many businesses have engaged in partnerships with residents and established factories to produce products from ginseng./. Source: Vietnam News Agency

To further promote road safety campaign, Prime Minister Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet today announced six provinces that recorded zero road accident during the four-day celebration of Khmer Traditional New Year in mid April. In his opening speech of the cabinet's plenary meeting at the Peace Palace here this morning, Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet expressed his congratulations to the six provinces, including Prey Veng, Koh Kong, Kampong Chhnang, Pailin, Thbong Khmum, and Mondukiri. The six provinces will receive each a letter of appreciation to be handed over by Samdech Thipadei Prime Minister, a cash reward of KHR 200 million (about US$50,000) and 1,000 boxes of soft drinks. The Premier re-appealed to his compatriots to continue respecting the traffic law, and to drive with great caution, responsibility, and adhere to a high level of understanding and tolerance. During the Khmer New Year holiday from April 13-16, 2024, there were 64 cases traffic accidents, killing 37 people and injuring 88 others . Source: Agence Kampuchea Presse