Politics

☕ Afternoon briefing on February 18

The following is a brief review of the day’s events as reported by the Vietnam News Agency.

☕ Afternoon briefing on February 18

Hanoi (VNA) – The following is a brief review of the day’s events as reported by the Vietnam News Agency.

- Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has signed Decision No. 266/QD-TTg, approving the implementation plan for the Global Coal-to-Clean Energy Transition Statement. The plan aligns with Vietnam’s commitment to low-carbon development and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

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Illustrative image (Photo: VNA)

It aims to mobilise domestic and international resources for power sector development, adopt co-firing technology with clean fuels to gradually reduce emissions from coal-fired plants, phase out outdated and inefficient facilities, and accelerate renewable energy expansion to ensure stable and affordable electricity supply. Read full story

- Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh signed an official dispatch on February 17, urging ministries and localities to take proactive measures against peak salinity intrusion in the Mekong Delta and Ho Chi Minh City.

The dispatch, citing the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, notes that salinity intrusion in the Mekong Delta and HCM City increased during the high tide period last week. It forecasts that from February to April, salinity intrusion will continue to rise, exceeding the multi-year average but remaining lower than in 2016 and 2020, and slightly below 2024 levels. Read full story

- A Vietnamese delegation, led by Rear Admiral Pham Van Hung, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Vietnam People's Navy, attended the 6th International Maritime Security Symposium (IMSS), which took place in Bali, Indonesia on February 17.

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The Vietnamese delegation at the 6th International Maritime Security Symposium in Bali, Indonesia (Photo: VNA)

The symposium, part of the Komodo 2025 Multilateral Naval Exercise, aims to address various forms of illegal maritime activities such as smuggling. Read full story

- A Vietnamese delegation from the Supreme People’s Procuracy, led by Procurator-General Nguyen Huy Tien, paid a working trip to Beijing, China, from February 17-18 at the invitation of Procurator-General of the Supreme People's Procuratorate of China Ying Yong.

The delegation paid a courtesy call to member of the Political Bureau and Secretary of the Communist Party of China’s Commission for Political and Legal Affairs Chen Wenqing, held talks with Procurator-General Ying Yong and met with Chief Justice of the Supreme People's Court Zhang Jun. Read full story

- The Da Nang Department of Tourism in coordination with Vietjet Air has organised a programme to promote tourism in India's Ahmedabad city.

The event featured various activities, including business networking, a film screening showcasing Da Nang's tourism products and services, and updates on the Ahmedabad-Da Nang direct air route. Read full story

- The Vietnam game festival – Vietnam GameVerse 2025 will feature tech giant Apple along with Beta and Google which already joined the 2024 edition, according to Le Quang Tu Do, Director of the Authority of Broadcasting and Electronic Information.

Do described the inaugural 2023 festival as a landmark for Vietnam's gaming community, adding the 2024 edition expanded in both scale and quality. Read full story

- Tan Cang-Cai Mep International Terminal (TCIT) in Phu My township of the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau has welcomed the first vessel from EC3 of the Premier Alliance, announced Truong Tan Loc, Chairman of the Members' Council of TCIT on February 18.

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The ONE EAGLE vessel is part of a new service route operated by the Premier Alliance at Tan Cang-Cai Mep International Terminal. (Photo: VNA)

The vessel, ONE EAGLE, has a capacity of 14,000 TEUs. EC3 is one of the four primary routes of the Premier Alliance, alongside PS3, FP2, and MS2, connecting Vietnam with North American and European markets. Read full story

- The Can Gio international transshipment port project has taken a significant step forward with its official inclusion in Vietnam’s seaport development plan.

The Ministry of Transport has approved adjustments to policies, solutions, and resource allocations for the implementation of the national seaport system master plan for 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050. The Can Gio port is now part of the implementation roadmap. Read full story

- As many as 8,928 blood units were donated at the Xuan hong (Red spring) blood donation festival that ran from February 8 to 16 at the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion (NIHBT).

First launched in 2008 to address post-Tet blood shortages, the festival expanded nationwide in 2010 under the direction of the National Steering Committee for Voluntary Blood Donation Campaign. Over 17 editions, the festival has attracted hundreds of thousands of donors across the nation, with the Hanoi event – hosted by the institute – collecting nearly 120,000 blood units./. Read full story

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