☀️ Morning digest June 9

Hanoi (VNA) - The following is a list of selected news summaries last night by the Vietnam News Agency.

- Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son highlighted Vietnam’s determination to achieve green transition at a panel discussion of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation Development (OECD) Ministerial Council Meeting 2023 in Paris on June 8. 

Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son speaks at the event. (Photo: VNA)

Speaking at the discussion chaired by the Secretary of State for the UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, Son said for the green transition process to succeed, balance and equity must be ensured.Read full story

- Vietnam resolutely opposes to and demands that Taiwan (China) cancel live-fire drills in the waters around Ba Binh island belonging to Vietnam’s Truong Sa (Spratly), Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pham Thu Hang said on July 8.

Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pham Thu Hang. (Photo: VNA)

Hang made the statement in response to reporters' queries about Vietnam’s reaction to the live-fire drills conducted by Taiwan on June 7. Read full story

- A ceremony was held in Hanoi on June 8 to mark the 50th founding anniversary of the Vietnam Office for Seeking Missing Persons (VNOSMP) and the 35th anniversary of the joint operation to search for US servicemen who were reported missing in action (MIA) during the war in Vietnam.

Participants at the ceremony (Photo: VNA)

Speaking at the event, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ha Kim Ngoc said over the past five decades, VNOSMP has been fulfilling its assigned political missions, contributing to healing the wounds of war as well as normalising and promoting Vietnam-US relations. Read full story

- The State budget's revenues from export-import activities hit over 152.94 trillion VND (6.5 billion USD) in the first five months of this year, making up 36% of the estimate, down 18% year on year, the General Department of Vietnam Customs (GDVC) reported on June 7.

During the period, the country's total export-import value was estimated at 262.54 billion USD, down 14.7% year-on-year. Of which, the export turnover reached 136.17 billion USD while the import value was 126.37 billion USD, down 11.6% and 17.9%, respectively. Read full story

- Challenges remain in the prevention and control of tobacco harms as violations of the law on tobacco harm prevention and control still remains high, especially in the advertisement and promotion of tobacco products, said Deputy Minister of Health Tran Van Thuan.

The official stated this at a conference on implementing the National Strategy on Tobacco Harm Prevention and Control to 2030 held by the Ministry of Health (MoH) and the Vietnam Tobacco Control Fund (VNTCF) on June 8 in Hanoi. Read full story

- As of 8:30 pm on July 8, the Vietnamese delegation pocketed 66 gold, 56 silver, and 77 bronze medals, ranking third in the medal tally after Indonesia and Thailand at the 12th ASEAN Para Games in Cambodia.

Although there is one more official competition day on June 9 at ASEAN Para Games 12, Vietnam is certain of the third place in the medal tally because it has left fourth-placed Malaysia far behind. Malaysia had won 46 gold, 38 silver and 29 bronze. Read full story

- The military chiefs of member countries of the Association of Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN) have agreed to hold joint military drills in the North Natuna Sea, Riau Islands, said Commander of the Indonesian National Armed Forces Admiral Yudo Margono.

This will be the first-ever joint military drills within the ASEAN member states, he added./. Read full story