☕ Afternoon briefing on July 10

The following is a brief review of the day’s events as reported by the Vietnam News Agency.
☕ Afternoon briefing on July 10 ảnh 1
Hanoi (VNA) - The following is a brief review of the day’s eventsas reported by the Vietnam News Agency.

- The 14th meeting of the AIPA Caucus14 themed “Promoting innovation, transfer, application, and development ofscience and technology for sustainable growth and development” kicked off in PhuQuoc city of the Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang on July 10. Read full story

- Vietnam's Level-2 Field Hospital Rotation 4 has completed its UN peacekeepingmission in South Sudan after more than a year, with a homecoming ceremony heldfor its staff in Hanoi on July 9.

Fifty-one officers and staff of the hospital arrived in Hanoi on July 9 night,while the remaining 12 members will fly home after they complete necessaryhandover procedures with Level-2 Field Hospital Rotation 5, which landed inSouth Sudan on July 7 (local time). Read full story

- The Government Office has  issued adocument announcing  Deputy PrimeMinister Tran Luu Quang's directions made at his recent teleconference withleaders of 13 Mekong Delta localities, requesting more aggressive actions tocombat illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing.

Accordingly, Deputy PM Quang requested that plans and agenda must be carefullyprepared before the upcoming working session with the European Commission'sfourth inspection team, in order to have the commission’s ‘yellow card’ warningagainst Vietnamese seafood exports removed by this October. Read full story

- Strong disbursement of public investment, especially from the second quarterof this year, has helped increase demands and promote growth of economicsectors, thus contributing to boosting economic growth in the second quarter andthe first half of 2023, said General Director of the General Statistics OfficeNguyen Thi Huong in an interview granted to Vietnam News Agency (VNA) on therole of public investment in the national economic growth. Read full story

- Vietnam’s gross domestic product (GDP) is expected to grow 5.34% this yearunder the first scenario set out by the Central Institute for EconomicManagement (CIEM).

The institute announced a report on the domestic economy in the first half ofthis year, and prospects for the second at a workshop in Hanoi on July 10,where its three scenarios on the national economy were made public. Read full story

- With flourishing economic results in the first six months of this year, manyenterprises in Ho Chi Minh City expect to keep pace with the growth momentum toaccelerate their production and business activities in the coming months.

According to the municipal Statistics Office, in the period, total retail salesof goods rose by 9.7% year-on-year, revenue from accommodation and foodservices increased by 36.2%. In particular, the number of foreign tourists tothe city tripled over the same period, contributing to the boost in domesticdemand and economic growth. Read full story

- National flag carrier Vietnam Airlines reported a 7% growth in the domesticaviation market in the first half of this year compared to the same period in2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic broke out.

However, the international market has not fully recovered, reaching over 80% ofthe pre-pandemic level, the airline said. Read full story

- The volume of the fresh lychee exports transported by Vietnam Airlinesflights in May, June and the beginning of July increased by 200% over the sameperiod last year. It transported nearly 90 tonnes of the fruit to the UK,France, Germany, Japan, Malaysia, Laos, and Cambodia in the period. Read full story

- Vietnam's Ha Long Bay, Hoi An, and Phong Nha-Ke Bang have been named amongthe 16 most favourite UNESCO world heritage wonders in Southeast Asia byleading UK-based travel magazine Wanderlust. Read full story

- Over 50,000 students are studying Korean at more than 60 universities andcolleges in Vietnam, making it the top Asian language in terms of the trainingscale.

According to Office of the President of the Republic of Korea (RoK), Vietnamhas the largest and most comprehensive training and research programmes for theKorean language and culture in Asia. Read full story./.
VNA

See more

Director of the General Department of Politics under the Vietnam People’s Army General Nguyen Trong Nghia inspects the ongoing search and recovery operation for martyrs’ remains at Le Thi Rieng Park in Ho Chi Minh City. (Photo: VNA)

Senior military officer inspects martyrs’ remains search at Le Thị Rieng Park

Nghia described the ongoing 500-day campaign as a sacred mission that embodies the Vietnamese tradition of remembering those who served and sacrificed for the nation. The current generation, he said, must spare no effort in carrying out the Party’s policy and fulfilling the aspirations of the people, particularly the families of the fallen.

Prime Minister Le Minh Hung (L) presents the First-Class and Second-Class Fatherland Protection Orders to the collectives for their achievements in search and rescue, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations in Venezuela. (Photo: VNA)

PM calls for building elite, professional international search and rescue force

During its mission from June 29 to July 7, the team worked around the clock under extremely hazardous conditions amid heavily damaged and contaminated disaster zones. Despite the challenges, rescue personnel recovered 57 victims' bodies and handed them over to local authorities and families. They also identified and reported several suspected locations where additional victims might be trapped.

People gather at Den Thuong (Upper Temple) during the Hung Kings' Commemoration Day in Phu Tho province. (Photo: VNA)

📝 OP-ED: Respect for history, gratitude a lasting cultural value of Vietnamese people

In Vietnamese cultural life, gratitude toward preceding generations has long been preserved as an integral part of the nation's identity. This tradition is reflected in ancestor worship practiced in families, the Worship of the Hung Kings, village deities, national heroes and eminent cultural figures, as well as tributes to generations who sacrificed their lives for the nation's independence and freedom.

General Phan Van Giang (R) and General Khamlieng Outhakaysone plant a tree at Thanh Thuy border gate. (Illustrative photo: VNA)

Border community twinning strengthens Vietnam–Laos friendship

Over the past decade, the twinning relationship between Thuy Phong village in Nghe An’s Kim Bang commune, and Xop Tuong village in Nam On commune, Xaychamphone district, Bolikhamxay province of Laos, has become a model for fostering a shared border of peace, friendship and cooperation.

Delegates from the two nations, along with military attachés from several countries accredited to Vietnam, lay flowers in tribute to the Cuban military experts at the memorial monument within the Vietnam Military History Museum in Hanoi on July 10. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, Cuba pay tribute to fallen Cuban military experts

Cuba and Vietnam on July 10 commemorated six Cuban military experts who lost their lives 60 years ago while supporting the Vietnamese people's resistance war, reaffirming the enduring solidarity and defence ties forged through the two countries' shared history.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Pham Viet Hung (third from left) poses for a commemorative photo with Honorary Consul Thaneth Tantipiriyakij and officials from several southern Thai provinces in front of the Honorary Consulate of Vietnam in Phuket. (Photo:VNA)

Vietnam opens first honorary consulate in Phuket

The ambassador said the establishment of Vietnam's first honorary consulate in Phuket reflects both countries' commitment to enhancing cooperation with the Andaman sea economic gateway while meeting growing demand for consular services and better support for Vietnamese citizens and the Vietnamese community in southern Thailand.

Spokeswoman of the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pham Thu Hang speaks at the press conference on July 9. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam seeks early signing of trade deal with EFTA

Vietnam will continue working closely with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) member states to sign their free trade agreement (FTA) at an early date and effectively implement its commitments.