Vietnam News Highlights for April 19, 2023

Son Nguyen - Anh Kiet

Apr 22, 2023 / 11:37 AM

Check out the top stories from Vietnam.

New Vietnamese ambassador in Japan appointed

President Vo Van Thuong, on April 18, appointed Pham Quang Hieu, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chairman of the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs, as Vietnam's ambassador to Japan and the Republic of the Marshall Islands.

The 48-year-old diplomat pledged to do his best to promote Vietnam-Japan relations during his tenure, especially in infrastructure investment and high-tech development, digital and green transformation, and local-to-local cooperation. Japan is one of Vietnam's most important strategic partners regarding official development assistance (ODA), trade, and investment. The country is Vietnam's fourth largest trading partner, with bilateral trade value reaching US$40 billion in 2022.

Australian trade and tourism minister wants lower airfares

Vietnam Airlines aircraft at Hanoi's Noi Bai International Airport. Photo: Pham Hung/The Hanoi Times

Australian Minister of Trade and Tourism Don Farrell, on April 18, urged Vietnamese airlines to cut airfares and increase the number of flights between Vietnam and Australia. He expected the number of travelers and passengers between the two nations to return to the pre-pandemic level.

Before the Covid-19 pandemic, about 520,000 passengers traveled between the two countries each year for tours and family visits. Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet Air, and Bamboo Airways are exploring direct flights to and from Australia. The aviation industry is expected to boost good circulation, and businesspeople travel between the two nations.

Vietnam to host global conference on sustainable food system

The One Planet Network's Fourth Global Conference of the Sustainable Food Systems Program (SFS Program) will take place on April 24-27. Co-hosted by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the United Nations SFS Program, the event is expected to attract around 300 delegates.

The global conference will be an opportunity to showcase Vietnam to the world as a transparent, responsible, and sustainable food producer. Discussions will focus on the food industry's difficulties and challenges and solutions to transform the food system. The event is expected to reveal typical models of food system transformation developed by other nations and international initiatives.

Vietnam Digital Awards 2023 to focus on unlocking data potential

The Vietnam Digital Awards 2023, focusing on unlocking data potential, was launched by the Vietnam Digital Communications Association (VDCA) on April 18. The sixth edition of the awards will recognize outstanding products and solutions in data generation, connectivity, and usage and recognize organizations and enterprises that have successfully completed their digital transformation phase.

Award entries must be submitted online at the organizer's website, www.vda.com.vn, by June 30. The awards ceremony will be held in October. In the previous five editions, about 350 organizations, enterprises, and nonprofit entities have participated in the awards, showcasing a range of potential products, services, and solutions in digital transformation.

Japan donates medical equipment to Vietnam's four central hospitals

Vietnam's four central hospitals received the first batch of medical equipment donated by the Japanese Government on April 18. The beneficiaries include three in Hanoi (Central Lung Hospital, National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, National Hospital for Tropical Diseases) and Da Nang C Hospital.

The donation is part of the Japanese government's non-refundable assistance of over JPY 1.9 billion (approximately US$14.2 million) to support Vietnam's response to infectious diseases in the country. The equipment is expected to help improve the overall quality of medical examination and treatment, according to Sasaki Shohei, First Secretary of the Japanese Embassy in Vietnam.

Vietnam, Australia eye stronger bilateral trade ties

18 Apr, 10:10

In 2022, two-way trade turnover increased by nearly 27% from the previous year to $15.7 billion.

Exhibition of traditional Japanese pottery to be opened in Hanoi

29 Mar, 20:10

The exhibition of Yakishime-style ceramics aims to help Hanoi residents and visitors understand the diversity of Japanese culture and appreciate Japanese creativity.

Hanoi targets 1,200 supporting industry firms by 2030

The city aims to enhance the competitiveness of the capital’s industrial sector by tightening cooperation with Vietnamese enterprises and multinational corporations operating in Vietnam.

12 Dec, 08:22 PM

Red River Boulevards shape Hanoi’s new growth axis

The creation of a landscape boulevard can help Hanoi reconnect with its historic identity shaped by water and restore the river-based character that defined the city for centuries.

11 Dec, 10:19 PM

Hanoi moves to strengthen urban order and civility

These include expanding public communication efforts, reorganizing and upgrading streets and sidewalks, maintaining a clean and orderly urban environment and carrying out strict inspections to address violations.

11 Dec, 09:49 PM

Hanoi honors 87 entities and buildings for using green energy

Enterprises adopted highly automated technologies in line with Industry 4.0 standards and all businesses in industrial parks, clusters, rural industries and craft villages will keep applying energy-efficient measures.

11 Dec, 06:23 PM

Hanoi boosts digital ecosystem through new public–private partnership framework

Hanoi has introduced a comprehensive public–private partnership plan to mobilize high-tech enterprises in tackling major challenges in science, technology, innovation and digital transformation, aiming to build a sustainable digital ecosystem and strengthen the city’s long-term competitiveness.

11 Dec, 11:21 AM