Pompeo: US hopeful about continuing talks with North Korea
VicePresidentV?Th?ánhXuangivesagifttoanAOvictimsatthecentreforcaring,nurturingandtreatingvictimsofAO/dioxininBaVìDistrict,HàN?i.—VNA/VNSPhotoHàN?I—VicePresidentV?Th?ánhXuanonAugust10visitedandpresentedgiftstoAgentOrange(AO)/dioxinvictimsatthecentreforcaring,nurturingandtreatingvictimsofAO/dioxininBaVìDistrict,HàN?i,ontheoccasionofthe63rdanniversaryoftheDayforAgentOrange(AO)/dioxinVictims(August10,1961-2024).Thecentreisnowhometo122AO/dioxinvictims.Manyofthemhavebeensufferingseriousillnesses.VicePresidentXuansaidthatovercomingpost-warconsequencesisstilldifficult,especiallyforAO/dioxinvictimswithmanysequelae,affectingthehealth,qualityoflife,andeconomicconditionsofthevictimsandtheirfamilies.Thisrequiresmorejointeffortsfromalllevelsandsectors.Onthisoccasion,shealsocommendedandthankedtheeffortsthatthecentreinHàN?iandother26onesacrossthecountryhavemadeforAOvictims.Vi?tNamhasabout4.8millionpeopleexposedtoAO/dioxin,ofthemabout3.2millionvictims,livinginallprovincesandcities.—VNS
InternationaltouristsinHàN?isN?iBàiInternationalAirport.VNA/VNSPhotoHàN?I–Thevolumeofinternationalpassengerspassingthroughthecountrysairportshasseensignificantgrowthinthefirsteightmonthsthisyear,reportedtheAirportsCorporationofVi?tNam(ACV).AccordingtoACV,thetransportationoutputforthefirsteightmonthshasmaintainedgoodgrowth.Thedomesticmarketsufferedaslightdecline,buttheinternationalmarkethasbeendoingwell.Thetotalvolumeoftake-offsandlandingsreached460,135flights,accountingfor65.2percentoftheannualplan,adecreaseof7.9percentcomparedtothesameperiodin2023,ofwhichinternationaltake-offsandlandingsreached170,362flights,up22percentanddomestictake-offsandlandingsreached289,772flights,down19.5percentcomparedtothesameperiodin2023.Thetotalpassengervolumereached75,852,267passengers,makingup66.6percentoftheannualplan,adecreaseof4.3percentcomparedtothesameperiodin2023.Notably,internationalpassengersreached27,472,661,up32.4percent,whiledomesticpassengersreached48,379,606,down17.3percentcomparedtothesameperiodin2023.ACVhasdirectedairportstocontinueperformingwellinoperations,ensuringnoseriousincidentsoccurinairportoperations,prioritisinggoodserviceforcharteredflights,officialdelegations,andinternationalguests.Thequalityofsecurityandsafetyservicesinoperationsisimproving,withincidentindicatorstrendingdowncomparedtothesameperiodin2023,perthereport.Acrossall22airportstherewere186securityincidentsrecordedinthefirsteightmonthsofthisyear,adecreaseof43incidentscomparedtothesameperiodlastyear.Incidentsandaccidentsinallthreeareasofairportoperations,flightmanagementandaircraftoperationshavedecreasedby20percentcomparedtothesameperiodin2023,accordingtoACVreports.-VNSDr.Nguy?nKh?cGiang,aVisitingFellowattheVi?tNamStudiesProgrammeattheSingapore-basedISEAS-YusofIshakInstitute,speakstoVietnamNewsAgencyaboutVi?tNamseffortstoremovetheyellowcardimposedbytheEuropeanCommission(EC)forillegal,unreportedandunregulated(IUU)fishing.Inyouropinion,whatarethemostoutstandingresultsthatVi?tNamhasachievedinthefightagainstIUUfishing?CombatingIUUfishinghasbeenidentifiedbytheVietnamesegovernmentasoneofthetopprioritiessincetheECissuedtheyellowcardwarningagainstVi?tNamsseafoodinOctober2017.TheVietnamesegovernment,alongwiththeentirepoliticalsystemfromthecentraltolocallevels,hasbeenactivelyengagedinthiseffort,demonstratingastrongdeterminationandcommitmenttoresolvethisissue.OneofVi?tNamsmostnotableachievementsinaddressingtheyellowcardissueistheestablishmentofalegalframeworkagainstIUUfishing,especiallythepromulgationoflaws,majordecrees,guidingcircularsandspecificguidancedocumentsdistributedtoministries,agenciesandlocalauthorities.Thereisastrongconsensusintermsofpolicyfromthecentraltolocallevels.ThisconcertedefforthasbeenwidelyrecognisedathomeandalsohighlyappreciatedbytheEC.AnothernotableoutcomeistheembraceofinternationalcooperationintacklingIUUfishing.Vi?tNamhasbeenveryactiveandwillingtoexpandcooperationnotonlywithcountriesintheregionthatalsofaceIUUfishingproblems,suchasIndonesia,thePhilippinesandMalaysia,butalsowiththeUnitedNationsandothernationsliketheUSandAustraliathroughvariouscooperativeagreements.Vi?tNamhasalsobeensettinguphotlineswithcountriesthatshareitsmaritimeborders,suchasthePhilippines,Indonesia,Malaysia,ThailandandCambodia.ThecountryhasjoinedanumberofAsia-PacificinternationalagreementsundertheauspicesoftheUnitedNationsinthefield.AnotherpositivedevelopmentisthatVi?tNamhasmadesignificanteffortstostrengthenlawenforcement.Localauthoritieshaveintensifiedinspectionsandmonitoringoffishingvesselactivities,andhaveencouragedfishermentoinstallvesselmonitoringsystems(VMS)devices.Thishasmadeiteasiertomonitortheactivitiesoffishingvessels.However,alongcoastlineofover3,000kmrunningthrough28outof63provincesandcitiesalongwiththelargenumberoffishingvesselsandmillionsoffishermenposeasubstantialchallengeforVi?tNaminenforcingthecomprehensivelegalframeworktofightIUU.Sofar,theEChashighlyappreciatedVi?tNamseffortsintacklingIUUfishing.However,onlytwokeyissuesremainunresolved:IUUfishinginforeignwatersandthetraceabilityoffisheryproducts.However,overall,theECstillhighlyappreciatesVi?tNamseffortsasthecountryhasaddressednearlyalloftheECsrecommendationsmadeafewyearsago.ThisshowsthatVi?tNamhasbeenveryproactiveincombatingIUUfishing.Nevertheless,completelyresolvingthisissueandgettingtheyellowcardliftedcannotbedoneovernight.Moreover,itisimpossibletoimposepunishmentsthataretoostrict,asitalsoinvolvesotherissuessuchassocialwelfareandthelivelihoodsofmillionsoffishermen.TheECitselfalsounderstandsthedifficultiesandthedilemmathatVi?tNamisfacing.TheECisscheduledtosendaninspectionteamtoVi?tNaminOctoberthisyear.Inyouropinion,whatdoestheECexpecttoseeinVi?tNamduringtheupcomingworkingtrip?Duringthisyearsinspection,theECwantstoseemoreclearlytheresultsofVi?tNamseffortsincombatingIUUfishing,andtoseewhetherthedifficultiesVi?tNamisfacingareduetoobjectiveorsubjectivematters.Ifthedifficultiesareduetoobjectivereasons,forexample,Vi?tNamneedingmoretechnicalsupport,suchashelpwithinstallingamonitoringsystemforfishingvesselmovementsandtracingtheoriginofseafoodproducts,thentheEC,withitshighleveloftechnicaldevelopment,willlikelyfindwaystosupportVi?tNaminsolvingthosetechnicalproblems.TheimportantthingisthatiftheECseestangibleprogress,atleastintermsofcommitmentandlawenforcement,itislikelytoconsiderremovingtheyellowcardforVi?tNam.Duringtheon-siteinspectionthisyear,theECwilllikelyvisitcertaincentrallocalitieswithlongcoastlinesandmanyfishingvesselstoinspectthecurrentsituation,suchastheinstallationofvesselmonitoringsystemsandmeasurestomonitorandassesslawenforcementforfishingvessels.Vi?tNamcanminimiseviolationsbystrengtheninginspectionandsupervisionoffishingvesselactivities,increasingcommunicationcampaignstoraisefishermensawareness,reducingthenumberoffishingvessels,focusingonthoseofbetterqualityandscaletofishlegallyandstrictlyhandlinganyviolations.WhentheECdelegationseessuchprogress,itislikelythattheywillconsiderliftingVi?tNamsyellowcardstatus.AfishermaninNinhThu?nProvinceintroducesavesselmonitoringsystemonhisboat.VNA/VNSPhotoHowhastheECsyellowcardaffectedVi?tNamsseafoodindustry?TheECsyellowcardhasmadeitmuchmoredifficultforVi?tNamtoexportseafoodtoothercountries,withVietnameseproductssubjecttoincreasedinspection.Furthermore,consumers,especiallyindevelopedcountriesandregionsthataremajormarketsforVi?tNamsuchasJapan,EuropeandtheUS,havebecomemoreconcernedaboutsustainabledevelopmentissues.Tariffs,rulesandregulationshavealsobecomemorestringent,causingfurtherdelaysinexports.Particularlyforfisheryproducts,therequirementforfreshnessiscrucial.Ifproductsarestoredforalongtimeandsubjecttolongerinspections,itcanleadtosignificantdegradationofqualityofVietnameseseafoodproducts.AnotherindirectimpactisrelatedtotheimageofVietnamesegoods,notonlyfisheryproductsbutalsoaquacultureproducts(suchasbasafish).Consumersmaychooseproductsfromothermarkets,eventhoughthepricesofVietnamesegoodsareverycompetitivecomparedtosimilarproductsfromothermarkets.Oneofthekeyunresolvedissuesisillegalfishinginforeignwaters.WhydoesthissituationstillexistandwhatdoyouthinkVi?tNamcandotoresolvethisissue?Thefirstreasonisthatnearshorefisheriesresourceshavebeendepleted,andthereisalmostnothinglefttoharvest.Secondly,someofthetraditionalfishinggroundsofVietnamesefishermenarelocatedindisputedmaritimeareas.Thirdly,whenthefisheriesresourcesaredepleted,peopleareundereconomicpressuretofindalternativefishinggroundstoexploit.Asforthegovernment,itisnotsimpletoimplementcomprehensivegovernanceandsurveillancesystemsacross28coastalprovinces,withalargenumberoffishingvesselsandmillionsoffishermen.EvenwhenvesselsarerequiredtoinstallVMS,someturnoffthedeviceassoonastheyleaveport.Thisproblemstemsfromalackofawarenessamongthefishermen.Meanwhile,Vi?tNamsfisheriessurveillanceforcefaceslimitations,bothintermsofpersonnelandtools,toeffectivelyhandleviolations.SomecountrieshavecriminalisedIUUviolations,whichhasquicklyproveneffective.However,thatmeasurecanadverselyaffectthelivelihoodsofpeople,especiallyinthecontextofVi?tNam,wherethemajorityoffishingvesselsaresmall,andtheprofitsarenothigh.Severepenalties,suchasconfiscatingorburningvessels,forexample,willgreatlyaffectthelivesoffishermen.TheVietnamesegovernmentalsorecognisestheseproblemsaswellastheECsrecommendationsregardingstrictpunishmentforviolations.However,itisdifficulttoquicklyadoptalloftheserecommendations.Itisnecessarytocarefullyconsideroptionstoensurethepeopleslivelihoods.Currently,apossiblesolutionisforVi?tNamtodownsizeitsfishingfleetandutilisemoremodernvesselsthatarequalifiedtosecurefishingcontractswiththecountriesitwishestooperatein.Anothersolutionisprovidingvocationaltrainingforthosewhomaylosetheirjobsduetothedownsizingofthefleet.Andlastly,thecountrycoulddevelopastate-ownedfleetthatcantakepartinbothsurveillanceandproductionactivities.VNS
Inthefirsthalfof2024,basedondatafromtheViettelThreatIntelligencesystem,therehasbeenanincreaseinthenumberofcybersecuritythreats.—VNA/VNSIllustrationHàN?I—Thenumberofwebsitesimpersonatingorganisationsandbusinesseshasquadrupledcomparedtothesameperiodlastyear.TheinformationregardingmassincreaseinfinancialfraudandscamswasreleasedbytheViettelGrouponAugust26initsMid-Year2024CybersecurityReport.Thereportprovidesinsightsintodatabreaches,securityvulnerabilitiesaffectingVietnamesebusinesses,ransomwareattacksandDistributedDenialofService(DDoS)attacks,allcompiledbyViettelCyberSecurity(VCS).Inthefirsthalfof2024,basedondatafromtheViettelThreatIntelligencesystem,therehasbeenanincreaseinthenumberofcybersecuritythreats.Specifically,atotalof46databreacheswerereportedinvolvingbusinessesandorganisationsinVi?tNam.Themostcommonlyleakedinformationincludedcustomerdataandsalesinformationfromcompaniesintheretailsector.Additionally,customeridentityverificationdatathroughelectronicKnowYourCustomer(eKYC)applicationsandinformationfromseveraluniversitiesandeducationalinstitutionswerealsocompromised.Approximately17,000newvulnerabilitieswerediscoveredincyberspace,withmorethanhalfclassifiedashighandcriticalseverityaccordingtotheCommonVulnerabilityScoringSystem(CVSS).Amongthese,71vulnerabilitiesposedarisktoorganisationsandbusinessesinVi?tNam,includingseriousflawsintheIvantiConnectSecureinternalnetworkconnectionsolutionsandPaloAltoNetworksPAN-OSfirewallsolutions.FromJanuarytoJune2024,theamountofdataencryptedincyberattacksreachedthreeterabytes,withtotalestimateddamagesexceedingUS$10million.Numerousattackcampaignstargetedvarioussectors,includingfinance,publicservices,informationtechnologyandmanufacturing.ViettelThreatIntelligencerecordedthat56organisationsinthesefieldswereinitiallytargetedbyransomware,hadnotyethadtheirdataencrypted.Additionally,therewereapproximately500,000DDoSattacks,a16percentincreasecomparedtothesameperiodin2023.ViettelCyberSecurityrecommendsthatorganisationsandbusinessesreviewtheirbackupsystems,ensuringthatdataisphysicallyandlogicallyseparatefrommainsystems.Backupdatamustbecapableofbeingrestoredintheeventofamajorsystemfailure.Additionally,organisationsandbusinessesshouldreviewandtightenaccessandadministrativeprivilegesforserversandaccesscontrolsystems,implementmulti-factorauthenticationmechanismsforcriticalsystemsandaccounts,andregularlyupdatepatchesforinternet-facingapplications.Moreover,itisessentialtostayinformedaboutcyberattackincidentsandtrends,asearlyawarenessplaysastrategicroleinmaintainingaproactivestanceinhandlingandensuringinformationsecurity.—VNSHàN?iisdecoratedtocelebratetheNationalDaySeptember2.—VNA/VNSPhotoMinhQuy?tHàN?I—VotersfromseveralprovincessaytheywantmoredaysofftomarktheoccasionofNationalDayand?i?nBiênPh?Victory.Specifically,thoselivinginB?cK?n,H?iD??ng,Qu?ngNam,KhánhHòaandBìnhThu?nbelievethatthe?i?nBiênPh?VictoryonMay7,1954isamajornationaleventandbecauseithassuchgreathistoricalsignificanceforthenationitshouldbemarkedwithadayoff.Therefore,theysuggestedstudyingandsupplementingtheLabourCode2019tostipulatethatthe?i?nBiênPh?Victoryannualanniversaryisapublicholidayandthatthepeopleandworkersshouldgetadayoffwithfullpay.Inaddition,votersalsoproposedtoamendtheLabourCodebyaddingonemoredayoff,withfullpay,onSeptember5everyyear.ThisisconsideredanationalfestivalwhenpeopleacrossthecountrytaketheirchildrentoschoolandoneofthemostbeautifulcustomsoftheVietnamesepeople.Itexpressespeoplescarefortheyoungergeneration,demonstratesparentsconcernfortheirchildrenandthecommunitysattentionforeducation.ThevoterswanttoaddtwomoredaysoffforNationalDay,fromSeptember2toSeptember5,tocreateopportunitiesforallworkerstotaketheirchildrentoschoolonthefirstdayofthenewschoolyear.Thisistheearnestwishofthemajorityofworkerswhohaveschool-agechildren,accordingtotheirpetition.Manyvoters,whoaretradeunionmembersandworkers,agreewiththeproposaltoaddmoredaysoffforNationalDay,fromSeptember2to5everyyear,becausethenumberofofficialdaysoffintheyearisstilllimited.Respondingtothevotersproposal,MinisterofLabour,InvalidsandSocialAffairs?àoNg?cDungsaidthatthetimeofffornationalholidayswasstudiedanddecidedbasedonmanyfactorssuchasreligion,customs,habits,themeaningoftheholidayandanysocio-economicimpact.Addingthatmoreholidayswithfullpay,inadditiontoencouragingemployees,wouldcreatepressureonemployersbecausethesearepaiddays,hesaid.Hesaidthathewouldcoordinatewithrelevantministries,agenciesandorganisationstoassessthesocio-economicimpactsandtakeintoaccountthevotersproposalwhileamendingandsupplementingtheLabourCode2019.—VNSAviewofLongThànhInternationalAirportspassengerterminal.—VNA/VNSPhotoC?ngPhong??NGNAI—TheState-runAirportsCorporationofVi?tNam(ACV)hasproposedusingitsownfundstobuildasecondrunwayatLongThànhInternationalAirportinthesouthernprovinceof??ngNai,withatotalinvestmentofoverVN?3.45trillion(US$138.6million).ACVhassubmittedaproposaltotheMinistryofTransport,requestinganappraisalofthepre-feasibilitystudyreportfortheconstructionofthesecondrunwayandthelevellingofthegroundforPassengerTerminalT3atLongThànhInternationalAirport.Thesecondrunway,whichwillbeparalleltothefirstrunway,willhavealengthof4,000m.Itwillincludeaparalleltaxiwaysystemandconnectingtaxiways,signallights,signs,airtrafficmanagementequipmentandotherrelatedinfrastructuretoensureoperationalefficiency.Thisproject,withanestimatedinvestmentofapproximatelyVN?3.45trillion($138.6million),willbefundedbyACVusingthecorporationsownresources.ThelevellingofthegroundforPassengerTerminalT3willcoveranareaofabout181hectares,withanestimatedinvestmentofapproximatelyoverVN?1.95trillion($78.3million),usingpublicinvestmentfundsmanagedbytheMinistryofTransport.AccordingtoACV,itisessentialforairportstohaveadditionalrunwaystoprevententireairportoperationsfrombeingdisruptedincaseofanaircraftincidentormalfunctionsonthefirstrunwayorwhentherearenaturaldisasteremergencies.Therefore,ACVemphasisedthattheconstructionofthesecondrunwayatLongThànhInternationalAirportiscrucialandurgenttomeetoperationaldemands,ensuresafetyandmaximisetheeffectivenessoftheinfrastructuredevelopedinphaseone.Previously,toensurecontinuousoperationsatLongThànhInternationalAirportintheeventofanincidentononerunway,theStateAuditofVi?tNamrecommendedconstructingthesecondrunwayoncethefirstphaseisoperational.ThefirstphaseoftheLongThànhInternationalAirportprojectrequiresatotalinvestmentofnearlyVN?110trillion.ACVisinchargeofkeycomponentswithintheairport,withanestimatedcostofVN?9trillion.ThefirstrunwayisexpectedtobecompletedbyApril30nextyear,whiletheconstructionoftaxiwaysandparkingfacilitiesisanticipatedtobefinishedbyJune2025.—VNS
Phan?ìnhSang,57,atthetrialonMondayinHàT?nh.—VNA/VNSPhotoHàT?NH—ThePeoplesCourtofHàT?nhProvincehandeddownasix-yearprisonsentenceandtwoyearsprobationtoalocalmanformaking,storing,disseminatingorpropagatinginformation,documentsormaterialsaimedatopposingtheStateoftheSocialistRepublicofVi?tNam,atafirst-instancetrialonMonday.AccordingtotheindictmentoftheprovincialPeoplesProcuracy,Phan?ìnhSang,57,anativeofH??ngLongCommune,H??ngKhêDistrict,createdandmanagedfiveFacebookaccountstoengagewithreactionarygroupsandforumsonlinebetween2016and2023.DrivenbydiscontentwiththeregimewhilelivingandworkinginLaos,heposted,sharedanddisseminatednumerousarticles,images,andvideosthatdistortedhistoricalfactsanddefamedtheadministration.SangwasprosecutedandplacedunderdetentiononMarch12,2024bytheInvestigationSecurityAgencyundertheprovincialDepartmentofPublicSecurity.HewaspreviouslysentencedtofouryearsinprisonbythePeoplesCourtofGiaLaiProvinceforembezzlementofassetsattheVi?tNamBankforAgricultureandRuralDevelopmentBanksBranchinChuPahDistrict.—VNSAnofficerprocessesalocalstaxdocumentsatHCMCityTaxDepartment.—VNA/VNSPhotoH?aChungHàN?I—TheMinistryofFinance(MoF)maintainsthatadjustingthefamilydeductionratesintaxpaymentsisnotappropriateatthemoment,especiallyastheminimumwagehasbeenraisedsinceJuly1,2024.ThestatementwasissuedinawrittenresponsetorecommendationsfromvotersinBình??nh,HàGiang,TháiNguyên,TràVinh,TuyênQuangandTayNinhprovinces.Thespecificdeductionlevelrequirescarefulcalculations,ensuringthatitishigherthantheaverageGDPpercapita,theregionalminimumwageandtheaveragespendingpercapitainacertainperiodoftime,theMoFsdocumentreads.Theministryalsocitedthe2023livingstandardsurveyreleasedbytheGeneralStatisticsOffice,whichshowsthatVi?tNamsaveragemonthlyincomepercapitastandsatVN?4.96million(US$199).Thegroupofhouseholdswiththehighestincome(includingthe20percentrichest)takehomeamonthlyaverageofVN?10.86million($437)perperson.Comparedtotheaverageincomepercapita,thecurrentdeductionfortaxpayersofVN?11million($442)perpersonpermonthisover2.2timeshigher,whilethedeductionofVN?4.4million($177)perdependentisalmostequal,theMoFsaid.Withsocial,healthandunemploymentinsurancededucted,peoplewithanaveragemonthlysalaryofVN?17million($683)withonedependent,orVN?22million($884)withtwodependents,arenotsubjectedtopersonalincometax.TheCPI(consumerpriceindex)fluctuateslessthan20percentsincethelatestadjustmentoffamilydeductionratein2020.Accordingtocurrentregulations,itisnotpossibletoadjustthefamilydeductionrateatthispoint,saidthefinanceministry.TheMoFisalsoconductingacomprehensiveevaluationofthecurrentLawonPersonalIncomeTax,whichwillreviewthefamilydeductionratesandprogressivetaxbrackets,andreporttothegovernmentandNationalAssembly(NA)StandingCommitteeforapossibleamendmentaccordingtotheNAslaw-buildingprogramme.Theamendedpersonalincometaxlawisexpectedtobeincludedinthe2025law-buildingprogramme,submittedtotheNAforcommentsandrevisionsinOctoberofthesameyearandslatedforapprovalMay2026.MultipleNAdeputiesaswellaseconomicandlegalexpertshaverecommendedthatadjustmentscanbeproposedinthenearestNAsession,withouthavingtowaituntil2026,toensurethatregulationsonpersonalincometaxandrelatedfamilydeductionsalignwiththecurrentpricingandspendinglevel.—VNS
AseminarheldonAugust24todiscusstheHCMCityssocio-economicdevelopmentstrategyforthe2026-30period.—Photowww.sggp.org.vnHCMCITY—HCMCityisseekingabreakthroughstrategytodrivesocio-economicgrowthinthenextfiveyears.ThemunicipalPeoplesCommitteelastSaturday(August24)heldaseminartodiscussthe2026-30socio-economicdevelopmentstrategy.Speakingattheseminar,ChairmanofHCMCityPeoplesCommitteePhanV?nM?isaidVi?tNamhastenyearslefttobreakfreefromthemiddle-incometrap.Therefore,thecityshouldoutlinestrategicsocio-economicplans,tasksandsolutionsby2030,hesaid.Theseeffortswillnotonlyfulfillthecurrenttermsobjectivesbutalsoestablishafoundationforthecitysdevelopmentby2035,contributingtothecountryseffortstoovercomethemiddle-incometrap,hesaid.Hecalledonparticipantstoprovideinputandproposesolutionstoachievethetermsgoalswhileaddressingkeystrategicbottlenecksandlayingthegroundworkforfuturedevelopment.Nguy?nKh?cHoàng,directorofthecitysStatisticsOffice,saidincreasinglabourproductivityisessentialforescapingthemiddle-incometrap.However,inrecentyears,thecityslabourproductivityhasdeclined,fallingbelowthenationalaverageandreachingasaturationpoint,hesaid.Withoutstrongincentives,furtherproductivitygainswillbedifficulttoachieve,hesaid.Hesaidrestructuringexportprocessingzonesandindustrialparks,attractingleadingenterprises,andreassessingkeyindustrieswerecrucial.Priorityshouldbegiventosectorswithgrowthpotential,suchascommerce,logistics,culturalindustries,financialcenters,tourism,healthcareandeducation,hesaid.V?ThànhT?Anh,DeanoftheFulbrightSchoolofPublicPolicyandManagement(FSPPM)underFulbrightUniversityVi?tNam,saidHCMcitymustmaintainaneconomicgrowthrateof9-9.5percenttoescapethemiddle-incometrap.Achievingthislevelofgrowthrequiresmakingtheindustrialsectorthetoppriority,hesaid.However,thecityseconomicstructureshowsclearsignsofdecliningindustrialproduction,makingitcrucialforthecitytorefocusonindustrialdevelopment.Technologymustbeattheheartofthisgrowth,especiallydisruptivetechnologieslikeAIandenergy.AIwillreshapecitieswithinthenextfiveto10years,sothecityshoulddevelopacoherentAIstrategy,hesaid.Healsosuggestedthecityadoptacorporatediplomacystrategytoattractmajorcorporationsandemphasisetheroleofprivateinvestment.Thecityscurrentgrowthmodelhasreacheditslimitsandlacksfurthermomentum.Therefore,thecitymustbroadenitsfocusbeyondeconomicgrowthtoincludeenvironmentalandsocialmetrics,hesaid.Addressinginstitutionalbottlenecksiscrucial.Thismeansidentifyingkeygrowthdrivers,determiningthenecessaryinstitutionalchanges,andremovingbarrierstoensureproactiveandeffectiveimplementation,headded.HCMCityscentralareaalongtheSàiGònRiver.—VNA/VNSPhotoThanhV?Overthenextfiveyears,thecityshouldcapitaliseonitspoliticalstabilityandtheopportunitiespresentedbytheFourthIndustrialRevolutiontoattractinvestmentandboostgrowth,Tr?nDuL?ch,aneconomicexpert,said.Priorityshouldbegiventourbanbeautificationanddevelopment,includingaddressingallhousingalongandnearcanalsandimprovingunsaferesidentialareaswithinadequatelivingconditions,hesaid.Thecityshouldputforwardspecialmechanismstoaccelerateurbaninfrastructureinvestment,withafocusonurbanrail.Itshouldalsorefineitsgovernanceframeworkstotransitiontowardsamoreeffectiveandefficienturbanadministrationmodel.Toachievethedevelopmentvisionfor2045,wemustembracenewthinkingandsolveproblemswithdifferentmechanismsandapproaches,hesaid.Tr?nHoàngNgan,AssistantoftheSecretaryofthecitysPartyCommittee,saidthekeytothecitysfuturedevelopmentliesinhavingasuperior,transparent,andopeninstitutionalframework.HecalledforthepromptenactmentofaspecialurbanLaw.Thecityshouldfocusoninfrastructuredevelopment,improvinghumanresources,supportingbusinessgrowth,andenhancingtheleadershiproleofState-ownedenterprisesinthemarket,hesaid.Ifweestablishacohesiveinstitutionalandsocio-economicinfrastructure,coupledwithhigh-qualityhumanresources,excellenthealthcare,stablepoliticalsecurity,andsafesocialconditions,investmentinthecitywillbehighlyattractive,hesaid.Herecommendedthecityprioritisethedisbursementofpublicinvestmentfundsandinfrastructureinvestmentstoserveasacatalystforsocio-economicdevelopmentby2030.MaintaininggrowthtargetThemunicipalPeoplesCommitteechairmanPhanV?nM?isaidthecitywillcontinuetoseekandintegrateexpertfeedbacktocreatethemosteffectivedocuments,andsetambitiousgoalstoleadtheway.Heurgeddepartments,agencies,experts,andscientiststofurtherresearchandrefinesocioeconomicgoals,ensuringthateachcomponentrepresentsacleartasksupportedbypracticalconditionsformaximumfeasibility.Hesaidthesoutherncityiscommittedtomaintaininganeconomicandsocialgrowthrateofapproximatelyninepercentforthe2025-30period.Thisrequiresaseriesoftasksandinitiatives,supportedbyasuitableinstitutionalframeworkandpolicymechanismstoattractinvestmentandenhanceinvestmentabsorptionthroughsubstantialreformsinadministrativesystemsandworkforcedevelopment,hesaid.—VNS
DeputyPrimeMinisterTr?nH?ngHàchairsthemeetingonMonday.—VNA/VNSPhotoHàN?I—Mineralmanagementmustbestreamlinedtopreventoverlappingresponsibilities,ensuringclearaccountabilityandefficientdecision-making.ThatsaccordingtoDeputyPrimeMinisterTr?nH?ngHàspeakingatthemeetingonthedraftLawonGeologyandMineralsonMonday.TheDeputyPMgavespecificinstructionsregardingcriteriaforcasesrequiringornotneedingauctionsformineralexploitationrights,handlingandresolvingoverlapsbetweenmineralplanningandotherplannings,andusinglandandwastefromminingactivitiesasfillmaterial.Thedraftlawwaspreviouslydiscussedatthe7thsessionoftheNationalAssembly(NA)andwasbeingrefinedbasedoninputfromvariousministriesandstakeholders.Atthemeeting,DeputyMinisterofNaturalResourcesandEnvironmentTr?nQuyKiênadvocatedforamorescientificapproachtoissuessuchasassigningresponsibilityformineralplanning,definingthescopeofareassubjecttomineralrightsauctionsandaddressingplanningoverlaps.Hearguedthatamoreprecisedelineationofthelawsscopewouldenhanceitsfeasibilityandcoherence.TheNAsStandingCommitteeaskedforinputonwhethertheplanningformineralresourcesshouldbehandledbytheMinistryofNaturalResourcesandEnvironment,theMinistryofIndustryandTrade,ortheMinistryofConstruction.Inresponsetothecommittee,lawmakersincorporateditintothedraftlawthattheNationalMineralReserveAssessmentCouncilhastheauthoritytorecognisetheresultsofmineralexplorationactivitiesapprovedbytheMinistryofNaturalResourcesandEnvironment.Representativesfromotherministriesdiscussedrevisingregulationsonmineralexplorationfees,investmentreimbursement,rightauctionsandmineralprocessing.Thedraftlawmustberefinedtoreflectmodernpracticesandtechnologies,makingtheprocessmoreefficientandenvironmentallyfriendly,saidtheDeputyPM.Healsosaidthedraftlawmustprovideaframeworkforfundingandmanagingtheexplorationofvaluableminerals,ensuringthattheseactivitiescontributetotheoveralleconomicandsocialdevelopmentofthecountry.HecalledontheMinistryofNaturalResourcesandEnvironmenttoworkdiligentlytoincorporatevaluablefeedbackfromallstakeholderstoproduceacomprehensiveandhigh-qualitydraftlawthatwillgarnerbroadsupportwithintheNationalAssembly.—VNSHeavyrainandstrongwinds,triggeredbytyphoonYagiwhenitmakeslandfallonHàN?iat8:05pminTr?nPhúWard,HoàngMaiDistrict.—VNA/VNSPhotoHàN?I—TyphoonYagimadelandfallinHàN?ionSaturdayevening,bringingpowerfulwindsof89-102kilometersperhourandheavyrainfall.Thestormcausedwidespreadfloodinganddownednumeroustrees.TyphoonYagicausesaninundationatAlleyNo154,NgocLamStreet,LongBiênDistrict,HàN?iat8:15pm.—VNA/VNSPhotoAtreesandalamppostfallonacarinTimesCityurbanarea,HaiBàTr?ngDistrictat9:10pmonSaturday.—VNA/VNSPhotoAtreein?anPh??ngTownisbrokenat8:10pmonSaturdaywhenthetyphoonmakesitlandfallonHàN?i.—VNA/VNSPhotoItisforecastthatfrom9pmto12amonSaturday,theinnercityofHàN?iandsurroundingareaswillcontinuetohavemoderatetoheavyrainwithrainfallrangingfrom50-100mm,withsomeplacesexceeding150mm.TreesfallonNguy?nV?nC?Street,LongBiênDistrict,HàN?iat8:25pmonSaturday.—VNA/VNSPhotoFallentreesareseenonLyTh??ngKi?tStreetat8:08pmonSaturday.—VNA/VNSPhotoTyphoonYagicausesheavyrainandstrongwindsattheLyTh??ngKi?t-PhanHuyChúintersection,HoànKi?mDistrictat8pmonSaturdaywhenitmakeslandfallonHàN?i.—VNA/VNSPhotoTorrentialrainistriggeredbyTyphoonYagi,onNg?cLamStreet,LongBiênDistrict,HàN?ionSaturdaynight.—VNA/VNSPhotoAseverefloodoccursonNg?cLamStreet,LongBiênDistrict,HàN?ionSaturdaynight.—VNA/VNSPhotoTheheavyrainsarelikelytocausefloodingonmanyinnercitystreetswithacommondepthof20-40cm.—VNS
AninternationalexpertsharesinnovativesolutiontoenhancethesuccessrateofassistedreproductionatasymposiuminHàN?ionSeptember7.—PhotocourtesyoftheorganiserHàN?I—HealthexpertsinreproductivehealthsharedinnovativesolutionstoenhancethesuccessrateofassistedreproductionatasymposiuminHàN?ionSeptember7.Thetwo-dayeventwasjointlyorganisedbytheVietnamAssociationofObstetriciansandGynaecologistsandMerckVietnam.Thesymposiumbroughttogetherover1,000globalexpertstodiscussthelatestadvancesinassistedreproductivetechnology(ART),coveringtopicslikeovarianstimulation,individualisedtreatment,maleinfertilityandfertilitypreservation.Theyalsosharedinsightsonthesocioeconomicimpactoffertilityandupdatedreproductivehealthoutcomes.Speakingattheevent,Prof.Nguy?nVi?tTi?n,FormerDeputyMinisterofHealthandChairmanoftheVietnamAssociationofObstetriciansandGynaecologists,said:Vi?tNamfacesacriticalchallengewithlowfertilityratesandhighinfertilityrates.Weneedtoexploreeffectiveinterventionsandsupportsolutionstohelpindividualsandcouplesachieveparenthoodandenhancetheirqualityoflife.ThisworkshopwillserveasaguidethroughtheARTlabyrinth,offeringnewdirectionsandsharingthelatestinfertilitytreatmentsfromglobalexpertstoadvanceourapproachestofertilitycare.StatisticsfromtheMinistryofHealthshowthatitisestimatedthateachyeartherearemorethanonemillioninfertilecouplesinVi?tNam,equivalenttoabout7.7percent,ofwhichprimaryinfertilityis3.9percentandsecondaryinfertilityis3.8percent.Ofthese,about50percentarecouplesundertheageof30.Inparticular,therateofsecondaryinfertility(infertilityafteronepregnancy)isincreasingby15-20percenteachyearandaccountsformorethan50percentofinfertilecouples.Accordingtoexperts,ARTisarapidlyevolvingandcomplexfieldofmedicine,toimprovefertilityandimprovepatientsuccessrates.Forthosewhoareeagertostartafamily,choosingtherighttreatmentcanbedifficult.ARTincludesavarietyofmethods,frominvitrofertilisation,andinjectionofspermintosoybeansporestofreezingofeggsandembryos.Therefore,itisnoteasyforpatientstofindtherightmethodtohelpthembuildtheirdesiredfamilyinthemazewithaseriesofpotentialtreatments.SeniorVicePresidentofMerckHealthcareAsiaPacificAlexandreDeMuraltspeaksonthesidelineofthesymposium.—PhotocourtesyoftheorganiserSeniorVicePresidentofMerckHealthcareAsiaPacificAlexandreDeMuraltsaid:Astheworldsleadingpharmaceuticalcompanyininfertilitytreatment,responsibleforoverfivemillionIVFbirths-nearlyhalfofallsuchbirthsglobally-MerckisacutelyawareofthefertilitychallengesVi?tNammayface.MerckHealthcareVietnamiscontinuouslyworkingtowardsadaptingitssolutionstoVi?tNamseconomicandsocialcontext,leveragingexperiencesandinnovationsfromacrosstheAsia-PacificregiontoaddresskeychallengesinVietnamesehealthcare.TheeventisaforumtoupdatespecialisedinformationonreputableassistedreproductioninAsiaPacific.TheknowledgethatexpertsshareandexchangeatthisconferencewillmakeasignificantcontributiontoimprovingreproductivehealthforpatientsinVi?tNam.AccordingtotheMinistryofHealth,thecurrentpopulationworkstillhasmanydifficultiesandchallenges,typicallythereplacementfertilityrateisnotsustainable.Vi?tNamstotalfertilityratein2023is1.95children/woman,downfrom2.01childrenin2022,belowtheplanof2.1replacementbirths,andisforecasttocontinuetodecrease.Thelowbirthratehasadirectandprofoundimpactonthepopulationstructure,affectingtheeconomy,labour,employmentandsocialsecurity.—VNSAstreetlightbrokenandbentneartheNguy?nTuan-Ng?yNh?KonTumintersectioninHàN?i.VNA/VNSPhotoTu?nAnhHàN?I—TyphoonYagi,aftermakinglandfallinthenortherncoastalprovincesofQu?ngNinhandH?iPhòngonSaturday,isstilloncoursetowardsthecapital,HàN?i.Theworldssecond-mostviolenttropicalcyclonein2024afterHurricaneBeryliscurrentlyhavingastrongestwindforceof133-148km/hnearitscentre,equivalenttolevels12-13ontheBeaufortwindscale(aboutcategory2ontheSaffir-Simpsonscale),gustingtolevel15,accordingtoanupdatefromtheNationalCentreforHydro-MeteorologicalForecast(NCHMF).Accordingtoearlyreports,YagiclaimedfourlivesinitspathonSaturday,withthreedeadinQu?ngNinhProvince,andonevictiminH?iD??ng.Thestormalsoinjured78peopleinQu?ngNinhandH?iPhòng.FivecementbargesandonesmallwoodenboathavesunkattheirmooringlocationsinQu?ngNinh.Additionally,acargoship(Huy?nTrang2-H?iPhòng)hasbrokenfreefromitsanchoranddrifted.Treeswereuprootedandfalleninnorthernprovinces,withmanyhousesintheareadamaged.PowerlinestoQu?ngNinhandH?iPhòngwereeitherdamagedorautomaticallycutoffduetothestorm,whichcausedprovince-widepoweroutages,accordingtoVietnamElectricity(EVN)lateSaturday.TheEVNalsosaidthattheycurrentlydonothaveaplantocutoffpowerinthecapitalofHàN?i,butnotedthatstrongwindcoulddamagepowerlinesinthepowergrid,whichcancauselocaloutages.Authoritiesareadvisingpeopleinareasaffectedbythetyphoontostayathomeandnottogooutunlessreallynecessary.Thosealreadyoutsideshouldseekpropershelter.VNSHàN?iAseriesoftreesfellattheendoftheTr?nKhátChanoverpasstowardsNguy?nKhoái,HaiBàTr?ngdistrict.—VNA/VNSPhotoAtreeandastreetlightaredamagedneartheNguy?nTuan-Ng?yNh?KonTumintersectioninHàN?i.—VNA/VNSPhotoTu?nAnhAbrokentreeinV?Th?Sáustreet,HaiBàTr?ngDistrict,HàN?i.—VNA/VNSPhotoTu?nAnhAtreefallsacrossHùngV??ngStreet,HàN?i.VNA/VNSPhotoD??ngGiangSomepeoplearestilltravellingintheroads,despitewarnings.VNA/VNSPhotoHoàngHi?uSomepeoplearestilltravellingintheroads,despitewarnings.VNA/VNSPhotoHoàngHi?uTháiNguyênAuthoritieshandlefallentreestoensuretrafficflowonNationalHighway3,locatedinS?ngC?ngCity,TháiNguyênProvince.VNA/VNSPhotoTh?oNguyênB?cNinhFallentreesarescatteredacrossKinhD??ngV??ngStreet,B?cNinhCity.VNA/VNSPhotoThanhTh??ngH?iPhòngWavescrashinginthecoastof??S?n(H?iPhòng).VNA/VNSPhotoMinhQuy?tAcraneinH?iPhòngPortisbrokeninhalfandfallen.PhotofromsocialmediaFloodingin??S?n,H?iPhòng.VNA/VNSPhotoMinhThuQu?ngNinhAstheconditionsstarttostabilise,H?Longresidentsarecleaninguptheaftermath.VNA/VNSPhoto??cHi?uArestaurantroofinH?LongCityisblownoff.VNA/VNSPhoto??cHi?uNam??nhTreesalongV?NguyênGiápstreet,Nam??nhcity,areuprooted.VNA/VNSPhotoC?ngLu?tTreesalongV?NguyênGiápStreet,Nam??nhCity,areuprooted.VNA/VNSPhotoC?ngLu?tYênBáiTyphoonYagicausesdamageto123housesinTr?nYên,V?nCh?n,L?cYên,andV?nYênDistricts,YênBáiProvince.VNA/VNSPhotoTu?nAnh
HeadofficeofThu?n??cImport-ExportTradingCompanyLimitedinN?m??mHamlet,L??ngTh?TranCommune,CàMauProvince.—Photosggp.org.vnCàMAU—AseafoodprocessingandexportcompanyledbyaChinesenationalinCàMauProvincehasbeenfinednearlyVN?2.2billion(US$90,000)forenvironmentalviolations,includingthedischargeofuntreatedwaste.AccordingtoCàMauauthorities,theThu?n??cImport-ExportTradingCompanyLimited,locatedinCáiN??cDistrict,hashaditsenvironmentalpermitsuspendedfor4.5monthstoaddresstheseissuesandmustdismantleillegallyinstalledwastedischargepipes.ThecompanyisawaitingapprovalfromtheprovincialPeoplesCommitteeregardingthepaymentofthefine.ItisheadquarteredinN?m??mHamlet,L??ngTh?TranCommune,andspecialisesinseafoodprocessingandexport.—VNSBoatsinH?Long,Qu?ngNinhdriftinginthesea,despitebeinginananchorspot.PhotoscreencapturedfromTu?iTr?Newspapersvideo.HàN?I—TyphoonYagimadelandfallinQu?ngNinhandH?iPhòngprovincesonSaturdayafternoon,bringingwithitstrongwindsof118-149kilometersperhour.Awidespreadpoweroutageaffecting238,000customersinQu?ngNinhwasreportedasaresultofthestorm.Powerrestorationisexpectedonceweatherconditionsimprove.StrongwindsbatteredQu?ngNinhprovincestartingaround11am,causingwidespreaddamage.Metalroofsandotherobjectswereblownintothesea,andnumeroustreeswereuprooted.ThestreetsofH?Longweredesertedasthestormintensified.ManyboatsanchoredinH?LongBayweresweptawaybythepowerfulwinds,highlightingthestormsdestructiveforce.TreesfellandadvertisementpanelswereblownawaybythestrongwindsinQu?ngNinhProvinceasthetyphoonmakeslandfallthisafternoon.—VNA/VNSPhoto??cHi?uArestauranthasitsfrontbillboardandroofcollapsedinQu?ngNinhasTyphoonYagiapproaches.Photothanhnien.vnTyphoonYagiuprootstreeinQu?ngNinh.Photothanhnien.vnAbillboardinPh?mV?n??ngroadin??S?n,H?iPhòngisknockeddownbythestorm.Phototuoitre.vnRainandWindintensifyinginH?iPhòngAsof12am,thestormsintensityinH?iPhònghadincreasedsignificantly,withstrongerwindsandheavierrain.Numeroustreesandstreetlightswereuprooted,anddebrislitteredthestreets.Heavysteelawnings,weighinghundredsofkilograms,weretornfrombuildingsandfellontotheroads.AteamfromtheH?iPhòngRoadMaintenanceCompanyworkedtirelesslytoclearroadsanddebris,ensuringtrafficsafetyamidstthesevereweatherconditions.Nguy?nV?nNam,anemployeeofthecompany,describedthechallenginganddangerousconditionstheyfacedastheycleareddebrisfromtheroads.Despitetherisks,Namemphasisedtheircommitmenttomaintainingroadaccessibility.Despitethedangers,wearededicatedtokeepingtheroadscleartopreventaccidents,Namsaid.EmergencydirectivesOnSaturdayafternoon,theMinistryofTransportissuedanotheremergencynotice,callingonallagencies,departments,andprovincialtransportdepartmentstofocusonrespondingtostormNo3andthesubsequentheavyrainandflooding.Theministryinstructedtheseagenciesandunitstostrictlyadheretothedirectivesforstormpreparednesspreviouslyissued.Theyaretopreparepersonnel,equipment,machinery,andmaterialsforstormandfloodresponses,ensuringthatthefouron-siteprincipleisfollowed.Specialattentionmustbepaidtothesafetyofpeopleandequipmentinvolvedinstormandfloodreliefefforts.AccordingtotheVietnamDirectorateforRoads,asof11amonSaturday,theRoadManagementUnit1hadclosedTanV?-L?chHuy?nBridgetotraffic,ensuringpublicsafetyaheadofthedirectimpactoftyphoonYagionH?iPhòng.LocalauthoritiesalsoprohibitedtrafficonB?iCháyBridgeinH?LongCity(Qu?ngNinh)andKi?nBridgeonNationalRoute10(H?iPhòng).—VNS