Nobel laureate calls on students to combat HIV/AIDS 
French virologist and 2008 Nobel laureate Francoise Barre-Sinoussi on November 24 called on students in Ho Chi Minh City to actively combat HIV/AIDS.
Barre-Sinoussi is on a three-day visit to Ho Chi Minh City, where she will meet with officials of the Pasteur Institute, students, health officials and medical staff involved in treating and preventing HIV/AIDS.
During her meeting with students, the French scientist praised the constant efforts made by local residents, including young people in recent years.
She called for stronger cooperation among countries to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS.
As one of the three scientists to discover the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) that causes AIDS and the human papilloma virus that causes cervical cancer, she has been in the frontline against AIDS in many countries, especially in Cambodia and Vietnam.
The United Nations says that 2.7 million people are infected with HIV each year and approximately 95 percent of new HIV infections are found in low – and middle-income countries, with the vast majority in sub-Saharan Africa.
Australian MP supports natural disaster victims in Vietnam
The New South Wales Parliament Asia-Pacific Friendship Group has organised a fund-raiser for natural disaster victims in Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines, Samoa and Tonga.
Sonia Kathleen Hornery, chairwoman of the Group expressed her condolences to the relatives of Ketsana storm victims in Vietnam and the Philippines and Sumatra earthquake victims in Indonesia, Samoa and Tonga.
She pledged to send all donated money the Red Cross Organisations in these countries.
In early October, the Australian government announced that it would transfer AUD1 million to Vietnamese victims through non-governmental organisations in Vietnam.
Vietnam needs to build brand name in ICT
Vietnam needs to build strong brand names in the field of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in order to make it a strong ICT nation, according to the National Council for Scientific and Technological Policies (NCSTP).
At the council’s second plenary session in Hanoi on November 25, Minister of Information and Communications (MoIC) Le Doan Hop proposed four strategic measures to make Vietnam a strong ICT nation including improving infrastructure for broadband services, training human resources in ICT for the development of the e-Government and e-citizen models, completing the e-Government project and focusing on ICT production.
Mr. Hop also emphasised the two main targets of setting up ICT corporations to meet the country’s demand and penetrating the global market in order to make Vietnam become one of the world’s top ICT nations in the near future.
Many experts wanted the MoIC’s project to be carefully considered before submitting it to the Prime Minister for consideration.
Although the ICT sector has had great achievements in recent years, hardware production does not meet the domestic demand and this is considered an obstacle for the development of Vietnam’s ICT industry.
Dr. Do Trung Ta, NCSTP’s chairman, said Vietnam should attach greater importance to building brand names in ICT as well as promoting the images of Vietnam’s ICT with high-quality products and services.
Int’l Odonto-Maxillo-Facial Conference and Expo opens in Hanoi
The 5th International Odonto-Maxillo-Facial Conference and Expo was held in Hanoi on November 25 with the participation of more than 1,000 Vietnamese and foreign professors and doctors.
At the conference, leading experts from the US, Germany, Japan, France, the Republic of Korea, China, Singapore, Thailand, India, New Zealand and Vietnam discussed the application of the latest technology in preventive dental care, surgery, and dental implants. In particular, they also talked about treatment for child facial cancer.
They agreed to increase cooperation in training dentists for Vietnam as like many other developing countries, it has a serious shortage of dentists.
Now technologies, medicines and medical equipment of 40 famous companies around the world were introduced at the exhibition.
Seminar discusses gender equality in Vietnam
“The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and the law on gender equality in Vietnam” was the theme of a seminar held in Hanoi on November 24.
Vice NA Chairman Tong Thi Phong and Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan were among others attending the seminar jointly held by the National Assembly’s Committee for Social Affairs, the Vietnam Women Parliamentarians’ Group and the UN office in Vietnam.
Talking about Vietnam’s efforts in the application of the CEDAW in the country, Vice President Doan affirmed that since the Law on Gender Equality took effect in 2006, gender integration has become a compulsory legal procedure for building legal documents-an important step towards boosting gender equality in Vietnam.
The State will create every condition for women to exercise their right to equality in all aspects of social and family life, she added.
Vietnam’s achievements in developing human resources and protecting human rights, as well as promoting gender equality, are acknowledged by the international community,
Mrs Doan said, adding that the position and role of women has much improved.
She expressed her hope that with assistance from the UN and other international organisations, Vietnam will effectively implement the contents of the convention and the law on gender equality, helping successfully fulfill the goal of a “Rich people, strong country and just, democratic and civilised society.”
The CEDAW was approved by the UN General Assembly on December 18, 1979. To date, 186 countries, including Vietnam have ratified the convention.
Jesper Morch, Acting UN Resident Coordinator in Vietnam, said the ratification of the CEDAW reflects international efforts in both protecting and extending women’s rights in the world over the past decades.
Japan to assist technical personnel training
The Japanese Government will support the Hanoi University of Industry’s efforts to develop human resources to meet Vietnam’s growing demand.
An agreement regarding the three-year project was signed in Hanoi on Nov. 24 by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)’s Vietnam Office, the Hanoi University of Industry (HUI), the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Planning and Investment.
This is a follow-up to the 2000-2005 project under which JICA helped the Hanoi College of Industry - HUI’s predecessor - improve its vocational training capacity.
As part of the project, a range of equipment, machines and training methods were transferred to the college. A Vietnam-Japan centre was established at the end of the project, providing high-quality training in welding, lathing, metal cutting and sharpening.
Vietnam’s HIV/AIDS prevention efforts praised
Vietnam has well controlled the spread of HIV/AIDS among drug users and raised public awareness of reducing discrimination against people suffering from the disease.
Deputy Executive Director of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) Jan Beagle made the comment while meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Truong Vinh Trong in Hanoi on November 24. She affirmed that UNAIDS will further support and work with Vietnam to promote concerted efforts in preventing the disease.
Deputy PM Trong, who is also Chairman of the National Committee on AIDS, Drugs and Prostitution, welcomed the UNAIDS delegation’s visit to Vietnam and thanked the organisation for supporting for Vietnam in preventing HIV/AIDS in the recent past. He stressed that Vietnam fully understands and values the connection between nations and international organisations in combating HIV/AIDS, drug trafficking and prostitution.
With the participation of 26 ministries and agencies, the national committee stands ready to guarantee close and united coordination at all levels, from central to local, in the fight against this social problem, he added.
On the occasion, the UNAIDS official conveyed to Deputy PM Trong the UNAIDS Executive Board’s invitation for a Vietnamese representative to join the board.
All urban areas to have clean water by 2025
Vietnam has set a target of supplying clean water to all urban areas across the country by 2025, providing an average volume of 120 litres of clean water/person/day.
By 2050, Vietnam will provide an adequate volume of clean water to industrial zones in a stable manner. To achieve this target, the country will apply new technologies use more surface water than underground water in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and other big cities.
In addition, new water supply networks will be built in provinces and cities, while priority will be given to carrying out water supply projects.
In the meantime, Vietnam is reinforcing drainage systems to prevent flooding during the rainy season.
First Protestant church in Dak Nong inaugurated
Construction work on a Protestant church, the first of its kind in the Central Highland province of Dak Nong, was finished on November 23 to provide services for nearly 1,000 followers, said Pastor Y Dier, Head of the Dak Nong Protestant Representative Board.
Covering an area of 2,000sq.m in Jun Ju village, Duc Mil commune, Dak Mil district, the church was built at a cost of VND1.6 billion donated by local believers.
Dak Nong province has nearly 40,000 Protestants operating in 116 prayer groups, with 17 chapters and 29 pastors. The province has organised refresher courses on theology and the fundamentals of the Bible.
Vietnam to host 46th Int’l Chemistry Olympiad
Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has agreed that Vietnam will host the 46 International Chemistry Olympiad in 2014.
The annual event, which started in 1968, is one of the five contests for international secondary pupils. It is aimed at helping pupils develop their aptitude and promoting international relations.
Vietnam has participated in the Olympiad since 1997 and has ranked highly in recent competitions.
In the 2009 contest, Vietnam got a gold, two silvers and a bronze.
HCM City, Czech City to establish cooperation
Ho Chi Minh City and the Czech Republic’s second biggest city of Brno need to establish ties of cooperation, said Jiří Liška, Vice-Chairman of Czech’s Senate in a meeting with the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee’s chairman Pham Phuong Thao.
Ho Chi Minh City is the last destination in Jiří Liška’s visit to Vietnam from November 14-23 to seek cooperative opportunities for the two countries’ legislation offices and businesses.
On the same day, Mr. Liška attended the opening of the Czech-Vietnam Trade Department’s branch in Ho Chi Minh City and met with Vietnamese people who used to study and work in the Czech Republic.
He said the Vietnamese community in Czech has contributed many important initiatives to the local administration.
He also introduced the potential of 15 accompanying businesses in the fields of environmental protection, garbage treatment, energy and clean water which he said can meet Ho Chi Minh City’s great demand in the process of development.
During the meeting, Pham Phuong Thao talked about socio-economic developments in Ho Chi Minh City as well as other issues related to infrastructure, human resources and administration reform.
Mrs. Thao also pledged to create favourable conditions for Czech companies to do business in Ho Chi Minh City.
Thua Thien-Hue becomes 25th member of PNLG Organisation
A forum of the Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA) Network of Local Governments for Sustainable Coastal Development (PNLG) was held in Bataan city, the Philippines on November 21.
In the presence of representatives from 25 provinces and cities in 10 East Asian countries, Vietnam’s Thua Thien-Hue province was officially admitted to the organisation as its 25th member.
After joining the organisation, Thua Thien-Hue province will enjoy favourable conditions to implement the strategy for general management of coastal areas and action plans.
The PNLG will also focus on supporting the province in carrying out national objective programme on general management of coastal areas under the Prime Minister’s decision.
Up to present, the PNLG has granted two scholarships for staff of the Thua Thien-Hue provincial Department of Natural Resources and Environment to attend short-term training courses in the Philippines.
Vietnam helps promote tourism in Cambodia
Ho Chi Minh City are joining efforts with An Giang and Kien Giang provinces to launch a tourism investment promotion programme along with Cambodia’s Sihanoukville and capital PhnomPenh on December 7-9, according to the municipal Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
Vietnamese business people will meet directly with leaders from Cambodia’s Ministry of Tourism and several local provinces to look at ways of developing the country’s tourist industry.
Discussions will focus on facilitating the flow of tourists through border gates, investing in the infrastructure, real estate and tourist services.
Female overseas Vietnamese applauded in Hanoi
Nguyen Thi Thanh Hoa, Chairwoman of the Vietnam Women's Union, has praised the role of overseas Vietnamese, especially the female in contributing to the country’s development and boosting the friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and other countries.
Speaking at a meeting with 200 female overseas Vietnamese in Hanoi on November 22, Chairwoman Hoa said that overseas Vietnamese have been very active in promoting Vietnam’s images, culture and people.
Overseas Vietnamese are an integral parts of the great family of Vietnam and they always bring into full play their patriotism, cultural identities, and national traditions. The Party and State have acknowledged and highly valued women’s great contributions and have created favourable conditions for them to implement gender equal and advancement.
Nguyen Van Ky, an expatriate in France, called on the Union to help overseas Vietnamese maintain and impart the Vietnamese language, culture and history to young generations.
Other representatives from the US and Ukraine expressed their sentiments to the country and gave opinions on the development of the Union.
Hanoi Youth Union holds its 5th Congress
More than 350 youth delegates have gathered in Hanoi for the Hanoi Youth Union’s Congress for (the 2009-2014 term) on Nov. 22.
Present at the event were former Party General Secretary Le Kha Phieu, former State President Tran Duc Luong, Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Pham Quang Nghi and Secretary of the Central Youth Union Committee Vo Van Thuong. State President Nguyen Minh Triet and former Party General Secretary Do Muoi sent baskets of flower to congratulate the congress.
The participants at the event discussed ways of promoting young people’s movements in the future and elected the union’s new executive board. Nguyen Hong Dan was named the board’s Chairman.
In its last term, the Union successfully launched many movements to encourage young people to boost socio-economic development. It also raised funds to support poor students with outstanding academic abilities and encourage young people to donate blood. Young people in the capital city also took part in many activities to protect the environment.
In particular, members of Hanoi’s Youth Union were also encouraged to study, conduct scientific research and join the country’s workforce. As a result, the number of young people in industrial and processing zones increased rapidly, and 26,670 working in the non-State sector are also members of Hanoi’s Youth Union.
More than 5,000 Vietnamese and foreigners join 2009 Terry Fox Run
More than 5,000 young Vietnamese and foreigners took part in the 2009 Terry Fox Run around Thien Quang lake in Hanoi on Nov. 22 to support poor child patients.
The event was part of charitable activities launched by the Canadian Embassy in Vietnam in coordination with the Hanoi Union of Friendship Organisations, the Canada Chamber of Commerce and the Vietnam-Canada Friendship Association. It aims to call on the community to raise funds for poor Vietnamese children suffering from cancer and heart diseases.
According to the organising board, this year’s event collected VND960 million from the participants, as well as businesses, organisations and schools. The money will be sent to Hanoi Heart Hospital, Central Children’s Hospital and the fund for poor child patients.
The Terry Fox Run is annually held in honour of the inspirational Terry Fox, a young Canadian who ran across Canada to raise money for cancer research after his leg was amputated due to bone cancer.
French university helps build plasma lab in Danang
A plasma laboratory has been built at Danang University with the funding of France’s Joseph Fourier University.
The project is part of a programme on training, scientific research and technological transfer cooperation between Danang University and its French counterparts.
The lab, which includes a plasma reactor and an electric discharging equipment, will be put into operation later this month.
With its well-trained staff and modern equipment, Danang University is expected to develop a modern plasma research and training centre in Vietnam.
Vietnam talks disaster risk reduction at IFRC session
Vietnam has made a presentation on mitigating the damage caused by disasters at the 17th session of the General Assembly of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) which is being held in Nairobi, Kenya, from November 18-25.
The Red Cross of Vietnam delegation led by its President Tran Ngoc Tang also chaired sessions of the Red Cross organisations of the Southeast Asian region on the sidelines of the session on November 18-19.
Tang said at the session, the IFRC General Assembly will discuss and approve a strategy until 2020 which will serve as basis for national Red Cross organisations to design plans of actions appropriate to each country’s conditions, thus improving the efficiency of humanitarian assistance to vulnerable populations.
The General Assembly will also discuss several key issues, such as the impact of climate change on people’s lives, Red Cross operations to mitigate disaster risks, emergency health care, and the development of a contingent of Red Cross volunteers and young activists.
Coordination between Red Cross organisations and other international and governmental organisations in assisting vulnerable populations is also on the agenda.
Prince Tadateru Konoe, Vice President of the IFRC and President of the Red Cross Japan, has been elected as the IFRC President for the 2009-2013 term.
PV
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