ASEM Green Growth Forum opens in Hanoi

The ASEM Green Growth Forum, with the theme “Jointly acting towards green economies,” officially opened in Hanoi on October 3, drawing the participation of 180 local and foreign delegates.
The ASEM Green Growth Forum, with the theme “Jointly acting towardsgreen economies,” officially opened in Hanoi on October 3, drawing theparticipation of 180 local and foreign delegates.

Initiated by Vietnam at the 8 th ASEM Summit in Belgium in 2010,the forum is co-sponsored by Germany , the Republic of Korea , theUK and the Netherlands .

Opening the forum,Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Vu Van Ninh reaffirmed the importanceof the ASEM Green Growth Forum. It is one of the important events ofASEM in 2011 and offers a chance for Vietnam as well as other membercountries to share experience in this new issue.

He stressed that green growth is not only a momentum for globaleconomic recovery but also a model and tool to promote sustainabledevelopment based on three mutually-influential factors, namely economicdevelopment, social security and environmental protection.

Building a green economy will bring in great socio-economic benefitsand help realise the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), Ninh said,adding that many ASEM members have taken the lead in building greeneconomy and considered green growth as a national developmentorientation in the coming decades.

The deputy PMstressed that, in its 2011-2020 socio-economic development strategy,the Vietnamese government advocates combining rapid, sustainableeconomic development with social progress and equality, andenvironmental protection. Vietnam is outlining a green developmentstrategy through 2020, he added.

VietnameseDeputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Doan Xuan Hung said that ASEM is oneof the inter-regional forums, which has led in terms of fostering greengrowth.

The contents and recommendations putforth at this forum will be included in the agenda of the 4 th ASEANEnvironmental Ministers’ Meeting scheduled for 2012 in Mongolia , henoted.

International delegates held that in thecurrent context when climate change is posing a regular threat, greengrowth has become an issue of common concern by many countriesthroughout the world.

Therefore, ASEM shouldplay a leading role in promoting the model of green growth, developingnew technologies and sharing experience in the entire region, they said.

During the two-day forum, participants willshare experience in making and carrying out national strategies on greengrowth. They will also discuss ways to enhance the role oforganisations in promoting the green growth model as well as strengthencooperation among ASEM members./.

See more

Illustrative image (Source: VNA)

Northern region to experience cold spell

The cold air is forecast to reach northeastern Vietnam from the evening and night of October 4 before spreading to other parts of the north and the area from Thanh Hoa to Hue. Winds will shift to the northeast at levels 2-3 inland and levels 3-4 along coastal areas.

Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Truong Thanh Hoai and CEO of GWEC Ben Backwell chairs a offshore wind development workshop in Hamburg on September 24, 2026. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, Germany promote cooperation in offshore wind development, supply chains

At the discussion session, representatives of the ministry, offshore wind developers, equipment manufacturers and international financial institutions, including CIP, Siemens and KfW, discussed Vietnam’s offshore wind investment potential and the Vietnamese Government’s plans to achieve an offshore wind capacity target of 17GW by 2035, including measures to attract international investment to the country.

In Kim Tan commune, Thanh Hoa province, flood has submerged more than half of the ground floors of two- and three-storey houses. (Photo: VNA)

Floods affect over 16,000 homes, nearly 25,000ha of crops

The floods submerged and damaged 22,499ha of rice, crops and vegetables, along with 2,172ha of other crops. A further 1,175.62ha of aquaculture areas were affected. Some 1,999 metres of irrigation canals were eroded or damaged, while 15 schools were flooded.

Landslides block roads in mountainous areas of Thanh Hoa (Photo: VNA)

Heavy rains cause widespread damage in Phu Tho, Thanh Hoa

Prolonged heavy rains from September 13–17 have caused flooding and landslides, damaging homes, crops, roads and infrastructure in Phu Tho and Thanh Hoa provinces, with local authorities mobilising forces for emergency response.

White-rumped langurs are rescued and conserved at the Endangered Primate Rescue Centre (EPRC) in Cuc Phuong National Park. (Photo: VNA)

Ninh Binh establishes Kim Bang white-rumped langur conservation area

Covering a total area of 3,182ha, the conservation area comprises 3,016.81ha of natural forest, 64.25ha of plantation forest and 100.94ha of land without forest, with no water surface area. It is located in the Ly Thuong Kiet, Tam Chuc and Nguyen Uy wards of Ninh Binh province.

The forum takes place in Hanoi on August 25, 2026. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, RoK promote cooperation to deliver on net-zero commitments

Sectors such as semiconductor manufacturing, nuclear power, science and advanced technologies are playing an increasingly important role in national competitiveness and economic development of each country. They also offer considerable room for Vietnam and the RoK to expand professional exchanges, share experience and promote cooperation, particularly among their energy experts.