Category: General

Ottawa: A delegation of Vietnamese negotiators joined those from 176 countries worldwide at the fourth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-4) on plastic waste in Ottawa, Canada, on April 23. This session is to work towards finalising an agreement on a global treaty to eliminate plastic pollution by the end of this year. To achieve this goal, negotiators will need to reach a comprehensive legally binding compromise on plastic waste. In his opening speech, Canadian Minister of Environment and Climate Change Steven Guilbeault said plastic has become a microcosm of consumer culture since the mid-20th century, adding that the world has depended on this culture. He underlined the necessity to forge a new consensus to eliminate this, putting an end to the waste, expense, and harm of plastic. On the threshold of the meeting, Guilbeault said the meeting's goal is to achieve consensus on 60-70% of the treaty's content. Vietnamese head delegate, Director of the International Cooperation Depar tment under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE) Le Ngoc Tuan said Vietnam supports the current approach to tackling plastic pollution, but noted that to prepare for negotiations in this session and the next one, specific assessments of future impacts when participating in the agreement are necessary. As a developing country, Vietnam seeks a balance where, alongside control measures, consideration should be given to implementation methods, including financial, technological, and capacity aspects, he said. Talking to Vietnam News Agency in Canada, Tuan said Vietnam and other member countries all support building a legally binding global agreement to address plastic pollution. He noted that this will serve as a legal framework for member countries to develop actions to reduce plastic pollution and collectively address environmental challenges. Anthony Merante, a plastic waste campaigner from Oceana Canada, asserted that the world cannot delay resolving this crisis any longer. Plastic p ollution knows no borders and is the second most urgent environmental issue after climate change, he said, noting that the devastation caused by plastic pollution in the ocean is undeniable. Methods and implementation roadmaps are also crucial because each country has its level of development and unique circumstances, making it impossible to apply a one-size-fits-all formula, he stressed Statistics show that annual plastic production has more than doubled over the past 20 years to 460 million tonnes, and is on track to triple. Only 9% of the total is recycled. According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the "contribution" of plastic to global warming is likely to more than double by 2060. Inger Andersen, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme, emphasised the urgency for a treaty and specific actions to combat plastic pollution, affirming that time is running out for both finalising a treaty and for the earth's resilience./. Source: Vietnam News Agency

Hanoi: Eighty-four works were honoured with the 17th National Technical Innovation Awards at a ceremony held in Hanoi on April 23. Phan Xuan Dung, President of the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations (VUSTA) and Chairman of the Vietnam Fund for Supporting Technological Creations (VIFOTEC) said that in the 17th contest (2022 - 2023), organisers in provinces, cities, ministries, and sectors selected 587 outstanding solutions for the national competition. Eighty-four of them were awarded, including six with the first prize, 12 with the second prize, 24 with the third prize, and 42 with the consolation prize. The latest competition attracted over 8,000 entries from 55 ministries, sectors, and localities, he said, describing the achievements as a great source of encouragement for scientists, collectives, and individuals to push ahead with working and making innovations to contribute to socio-economic development. Thousands of scientific research and application projects carried out across socio -economic and security - defence areas are greatly helping with national reforms, he added. On this occasion, the organising board decided to commend nine collectives and eight individuals for outstanding performance in popularising and holding the contest. The Vietnam General Confederation of Labour presented the certificate of labour and creativity to the chairs and co-chairs of the solutions winning the first, second, and third prizes. The Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union Central Committee also honoured the authors aged 35 and below of those solutions. At the event, organisers also launched the 18th National Technical Innovation Awards (2024 - 2025)./. Source: Vietnam News Agency

Hanoi: The police have officially started legal proceedings against Vice Chairman of the Vinh Phuc provincial People's Committee Nguyen Van Khuoc and five others for their suspected involvement in the case at the Phuc Son Group JSC, Spokesman of the Ministry of Public Security (MPS) Lt. Gen. To An Xo said on April 23. He noted that the MPS's investigation police agency is probing into the case of 'violating the regulations on accounting that causes serious consequences, taking bribes, violating the regulations on bidding that causes serious consequences, and abusing influence on persons holding positions and power to seek illegal profit' at the Phuc Son Group JSC, the Thang Long Trade and Real Estate Investment JSC, the central province of Quang Ngai, the northern province of Vinh Phuc, and related units and agencies. During the investigation, the police found that while Thang Long company was implementing the Vinh Tuong wholesale market and urban area project in Vinh Phuc, Nguyen Van Hau, who is Chairman o f the company and also Chairman of the Phuc Son Group JSC, repeatedly met, gave money to, and asked some officials to create conditions for his company to gain favourable land use prices. While performing their duties, Nguyen Van Khuoc (Vice Chairman of the Vinh Phuc People's Committee and Chairman of the province's land price appraisal council), Chu Quoc Hai (former Deputy Director of the provincial Department of Natural Resources and Environment), and Hoang Van Nhiem (Deputy Director of the provincial Department of Finance) received money from Hau to order Dinh Thi Thu Huong (head of the division for compensation and resettlement land prices at the land management sub-department of the provincial Department of Natural Resources and Environment, and member of the team of assistants to the land price appraisal council), through Cao Dai Nghia (deputy head of the price division at the Department of Land Resources Planning and Development under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment) and Nguyen Ngoc Huy (Director of the Nam Ha price appraisal company), to advise on and appraise land prices in favour of Thang Long, causing a loss of 200.9 billion VND (nearly 7.9 million USD at the current exchange rate) to the State. Basing on these investigation results, the police on April 20 and 23 prosecuted and arrested Khuoc, Hai, and Nhiem on the charge of 'taking bribes' under Clause 4 of Article 354 of the Penal Code, and Nghia on the charge of 'abusing position and power while performing duties' under Clause 3 of Article 356 of the Penal Code. Meanwhile, Huong and Huy were investigated and banned from leaving their living places under Clause 3 of Article 356 of the Penal Code. On March 27, the MPS's investigation police agency also prosecuted and temporarily detained Le Viet Chu (former Vice Chairman and former Chairman of the Quang Ngai provincial People's Committee, and former Secretary of the provincial Party Committee) and Pham Hoang Anh (Standing Vice Secretary of the Vinh Phuc provincial Party Committee and former Director of the provincial Department of Construction) both for the charge of 'taking bribes' from Hau to assist his companies to carry out projects in the provinces. Regarding the case at the Phuc Son Group JSC, the police have prosecuted 15 suspects, including former Secretary of the Vinh Phuc Party Committee Hoang Thi Thuy Lan, Chairman of the Vinh Phuc People's Committee Le Duy Thanh, Chairman of the Quang Ngai People's Committee Dang Van Minh, and former Chairman of the Quang Ngai People's Committee Cao Khoa. Investigation in the case, which involves many localities, was initiated on February 26./. Source: Vietnam News Agency

Hanoi: Vietnam needs a policy on artificial intelligence (AI) to help this industry develop strongly, while minimising risks, according to insiders. In the Prime Minister's Decision No. 127/QD-TTg dated January 26, 2021 promulgating the national strategy on research, development and application of AI by 2030, the building of a legal system and corridor related to AI is one of the highlights. Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Nguyen Hoang Giang affirmed that Vietnam cannot stay out of the game, but must ensure two factors. On the one hand, the country needs to build an open environment meeting practical needs in research and development and socio-economic development. But on the other hand, due to the downside of AI, it must be developed responsibly, in accordance with Vietnamese practice and culture. Digital technology development must go hand in hand with responsibility and ethics, he stressed. The ministry is also reporting to the Government on the need to propose the promulgation of a law on di gital technology industry to the National Assembly, in order to create new development space for digital technology, and turn it into a new production force, resource and factor, and a new driving force of the country. Nguyen Phu Tien, Deputy Director of the National Digital Transformation Department under the Ministry of Information and Communications, said that the ministry is tasked with developing and completing additional legal documents on establishing and sharing data about the testing framework (sandbox), thus creating a favourable space with specifically designed legal policy framework to conduct AI testing in potential fields. The ministry has also assigned the department to preside over the pilot implementation of large language models and virtual assistants, and build a Benchmark set (a strategic tool used to compare the performance of processes, products and services of a business with the performance of the best companies inside and outside the industry) to evaluate the quality of large langua ge models. It is expected to be issued in 2024. The Ministry of Science and Technology has proposed the Government approve a national strategy on AI research, development and application by 2030. The move is to create a boost for Vietnam's AI industry, turning the country into a bright spot in this regard, said deputy chief of the MoST's Department of High Technology Tran Anh Tu at the ministry's quarterly press conference in Hanoi on April 10./. Source: Vietnam News Agency

The Kingdom of Cambodia and the Lao People's Democratic Republic have been committed to further promoting their bilateral relations and cooperation for mutual interest. During their courtesy meeting at the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh this afternoon, Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet and visiting Lao President H.E. Dr. Thongloun Sisoulith emphasised the two countries' commitment to maintain their close and long-lasting friendship, solidarity and cooperation, especially in key areas such as energy, connectivity, border affairs, fight against transnational crime, national defence and security, as well as the people-to-people relations. Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet said that energy sector is important for Cambodia in ensuring energy security and the country's competitiveness in the region and the world. He thus asked the Lao side to find appropriate measures to ensure a sustainable and timely supply of electricity to Cambodia. For border affairs, H.E. Dr. Thongloun Sisoulith confirm ed the Lao side's readiness to work with Cambodia based on the Cambodia-Laos Border Demarcation Treaty 2023. The visiting Lao president noted that Cambodia has been politically stable and is moving forward in terms of security, peace, economic growth and living standard improvement during the past eight months under the new Royal Government led by Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet. H.E. Dr. Thongloun Sisoulith thanked Cambodia for her support to Laos as the rotating chair of ASEAN in 2024, stressing that Laos will learn from the success of Cambodia who held the ASEAN chairmanship in 2022. Laos also looks forward to welcoming the presence of Samdech Thipadei in Laos in the near future, especially his participation in the ASEAN Summit in October 2024. A high-ranking Laotian delegation led by H.E. Dr. Thongloun Sisoulith and his spouse arrived this morning in Phnom Penh to pay a two-day state visit, at the invitation of His Majesty Preah Bat Samdech Preah Boromneath Norodom Sihamoni, King of Cambodia. Source: Agen ce Kampuchea Presse

Visiting President of the Lao People's Democratic Republic H.E. Dr. Thongloun Sisoulith has asked the Cambodian National Assembly (NA) to share its experience with the Lao NA, at all levels and in all skills. H.E. Dr. Thongloun Sisoulith made the request while meeting with Cambodian NA President, Samdech Moha Rathsapheathika Thipadei Khuon Sudary, at the NA Palace in Phnom Penh this afternoon, during the former's two-day state visit in Cambodia. The Lao president also asked the two NAs to strengthen their active cooperation in order to bring benefits to the two peoples and countries. H.E. Dr. Thongloun Sisoulith recalled the long-standing friendship and cooperation between Cambodia and Laos, who have stood shoulder to shoulder in the struggle for independence for their respective countries. Cambodia-Laos relations are an invaluable asset for the people of both countries, he underlined. For her part, Samdech Khuon Sudary warmly welcomed H.E. Dr. Thongloun Sisoulith's visit to Cambodia, stressing that it i s very meaningful and an important driving force contributing to the strengthening and expansion of traditional friendship, good neighbourliness, close and lasting solidarity, especially to the upgrading of bilateral relations to the level of "long-term and comprehensive strategic partnership" that will bring mutual benefits to both countries and peoples. The Cambodian NA president congratulated the Lao NA on its success in hosting the CLV Summit, and wished Laos more success in hosting the ASEAN Summit and the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) at the end of this year. On behalf of the Cambodian NA, Samdech Khuon Sudary expressed her support to the official visit of Cambodian Premier Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet to Laos last month, during which the two governments signed seven agreements and memoranda of understanding on key areas, including energy, trade, education, tourism, security, defence, and the crackdown on cross-border drug and human trafficking. Source: Agence Kampuchea Presse

Cambodian Senate President, Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, has sought support from Lao President H.E. Dr. Thongloun Sisoulith to Cambodia's Techo Funan Canal project for the national development. Samdech Techo Hun Sen raised the canal project when holding talks with vising H.E. Dr. Thongloun Sisoulith this morning at the Senate Palace in Phnom Penh, during the latter's two-day state visit in Cambodia. The Cambodian senate president affirmed that the project will not affect the environment or the water flow. It will link the Bassac River to the sea route. According to a statement released after the meeting, H.E. Dr. Thongloun Sisoulith expressed his support to the project. The Funan Techo Canal project has been carefully studied by experts. This canal is 180 kilometres long and 100 metres wide upstream and 80 metres downstream with two navigation lanes. It would be broken ground for construction at the end of 2024, and is expected to take around four years to complete with an estimated cost o f some US$1.7 billion. The canal will link Prek Takeo of Mekong River to the sea in Kep province crossing four provinces: Kandal, Takeo, Kampot and Kep with a total of 1.6 million people living on either side of the waterway. In the meeting, Samdech Techo Hun Sen and H.E. Dr. Thongloun Sisoulith exchanged views on various agendas as both leaders are old friends and they were both former Prime Minister of their respective countries. H.E. Thongloun Sisoulith said this visit will further strengthen the relationship between the two neighbouring nations and their peoples. With Samdech Techo Hun Sen as the President of the Senate, he believed that the relationship between both countries' legislative bodies. For his part, Samdech Techo Hun Sen lauded the good relations between the two countries and peoples as well as between the Cambodian People's Party and the Lao People's Revolutionary Party. Samdech Techo Hun Sen also briefed his guest on Cambodia's current development, particularly key achievements in the p ast eight months under the leadership of the new Royal Government. Source: Agence Kampuchea Presse

The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) will continue supporting Cambodia for the successful hosting of the Asian Youth Games 2029, through the organisation of important sporting events to build the capacity of Cambodian athletes. The support was emphaised by Mr. Tang Gordon, OCA Vice President, while paying here at the Peace Palace this morning a courtesy call on Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet. On the occasion, Mr. Tang Gordon expressed thanks to Samdech Thipadei Prime Minister for his acknowledgement of his contribution, both financial and technical, to the development of Cambodia's sports sector, particularly in sailing and gymnastics as well as in sending Cambodian athletes for training in China. Mr. Tang Gordon also informed Samdech Thipadei about the cooperation between OCA and the National Olympic Committee of Cambodia (NOCC) in organising the Asian Mixed Martial Arts (AMMA), the 2nd of its kind, scheduled to be held in the Kingdom of Cambodia in July 2024. The OCA vice president expressed his belief that under the leadership of Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet, the Cambodian sports sector will see further development and the Cambodian athletes will win more medals from major international competitions for the nation. In response, Samdech Thipadei Prime Minister said the Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC) is preparing to host the Asian Youth Games 2029 based on the experience from hosting the 32nd SEA Games and 12th ASEAN Para Games last year. Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet underlined that the hosting of international sports events not only shows the strengthening of solidarity and friendship in sports, but also promotes Cambodia to the world. Besides, he reaffirmed the readiness of the Cambodian government and private sector in cooperating with the OCA in organising the upcoming Asian Mixed Martial Arts. Source: Agence Kampuchea Presse