Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyễn Quốc Dũng speaks at the meeting. — VNA/VNS Photo HÀ NỘI — Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyễn Quốc Dũng suggested ASEAN soon finalise a travel corridor framework for the safe resumption of essential business travel. The official was speaking while addressing the ASEAN Joint Consultative Meeting (JCM) on Thursday. The event took place via videoconference chaired by Brunei, which holds the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2021. Participants at the meeting recognised the progress in ASEAN Community building over the last six months despite the complex COVID-19 situation in the region. They expressed their countries’ support for Brunei to promote the initiatives and priorities for the ASEAN Year 2021. They agreed on the roadmap for building the ASEAN Community’s post-2025 vision and on the establishment of a high-level drafting group this year. The meeting also concurred on building an ASEAN master plan on the … [Read more...] about Việt Nam calls for early completion of ASEAN travel corridor framework
Japfa Vietnam donates $1 million to the COVID-19 vaccine fund
Representatives of Japfa Vietnam handed over US$1 million to the Central Committee of Vietnam Fatherland Front on Thursday. — Photo Japfa Vietnam Japfa Vietnam handed over US$1 million to the Central Committee of Vietnam Fatherland Front to contribute to the COVID-19 Vaccine Fund, working with the Vietnamese Government to accelerate vaccination for the people as a condition for economic recovery. “We highly appreciate the initiative to establish the COVID-19 Vaccine Fund of the Vietnamese Government with a view to offering the vaccination to at least three-fourths of the population. With the commitment to doing sustainable business, we always stand with Viet Nam during these hard times to overcome the pandemic,” said Arif Widjaja, General Director of Japfa Comfeed Vietnam, at the ceremony. “Viet Nam has always been among a few countries succeeding in containing the spread of COVID-19. I believe that Viet Nam will contain the spread of the pandemic and continue its high economic … [Read more...] about Japfa Vietnam donates $1 million to the COVID-19 vaccine fund
Việt Nam aiming for a sustainable food system
Farmers in Bắc Giang Province's Lục Nam District harvest rice. — VNA/VNS Photo HÀ NỘI — The COVID-19 pandemic has caused the world unpredictable challenges, and the agriculture sector has not been spared, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Lê Quốc Doanh said. He made the remarks at the first National Food Systems Summit Dialogue held by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), in partnership with a number of ministries, the UN in Việt Nam and international development partners held earlier this week in Hà Nội. Themed 'Việt Nam Food Systems: Transparency, Responsibility, Sustainability', the dialogue is the first of a series of events to prepare the nation for its attendance in the UN Food Systems Summit (UNFSS) in September 2021. Speaking at the meeting, he said global supply chains are disrupted, food production is severely affected and rural people, particularly the poor and vulnerable groups, are struggling to make ends meet. … [Read more...] about Việt Nam aiming for a sustainable food system
Phú Quốc fish sauce making becomes national intangible cultural heritage
Phú Quốc fish sauce uses anchovy with high protein level as a key ingredient. — VNA/VNS Photo Thanh Vũ HÀ NỘI — The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has recognised the making of fish sauce on Phú Quốc Island City in the Mekong Delta province of Kiên Giang as national intangible cultural heritage. The move aims to help local residents maintain the essence of the traditional craft. Chairwoman of the Phú Quốc Fish Sauce Association Hồ Kim Liên said Phú Quốc’s waters are home to a variety of seaweed and plankton that are major feed sources for anchovies - a key ingredient in its fish sauce. The craft has existed in Phú Quốc for more than 200 years ago. Local residents catch fresh anchovies and salt them before fermenting them in giant wooden barrels. The older the barrel is, the more durable it becomes and the better the quality of the fish sauce is. The barrels have a wide mouth and are made from 55 planks of equal size: 2.2 metres long, 20cm wide, and 6cm thick. The … [Read more...] about Phú Quốc fish sauce making becomes national intangible cultural heritage
Depay and Dumfries send Netherlands into Euro 2020 knockouts
Memphis Depay's penalty set the Netherlands on the way to their 2-0 win over Austria. AFP/VNA Photo AMSTERDAM — Memphis Depay's early penalty set the Netherlands on the way to a 2-0 win over Austria in Amsterdam on Thursday, their second straight victory at Euro 2020 securing qualification for the last 16 already as winners of Group C. Depay made no mistake from the spot in the 11th minute after David Alaba's foul on Denzel Dumfries was spotted by the Israeli referee only after he had come across to review the images. Dumfries, so impressive in the thrilling opening 3-2 win over Ukraine, added another midway through the second half, his second goal of the tournament. The Dutch were comfortable at home in the Johan Cruyff Arena and Frank de Boer's side are so far making a success of their first major tournament appearance since the 2014 World Cup. That is great news for De Boer, whose predecessor as national coach, current Barcelona boss Ronald Koeman, was among the … [Read more...] about Depay and Dumfries send Netherlands into Euro 2020 knockouts