National HIV/AIDS writing competition launched; Indian navy ships visit Hai Phong; Koo Cha-yol appointed honorary general consul in RoK; Training jetfighter crashes, but no casualties; 50 percent of Vietnamese men are smokers

National HIV/AIDS writing competition launched

The second competition for HIV/AIDS stories for the Vietnamese press was launched in Hanoi on May 29 by the Vietnam Journalists’ Association.

The contest aims to encourage Vietnamese journalists to write about the HIV/AIDS situation in Vietnam and other countries around the world, prevent discrimination against people living with HIV/AIDS, and highlight inspirational examples of HIV/AIDS patients who overcome their pain and disease to integrate into the community.

All stories broadcast on mass media or printed in newspapers from January 1, 2009 to September 2010 are eligible to compete in the event.

Indian navy ships visit Hai Phong

Two Indian navy ships – INS RANJIT and INS KULISH have docked at Hai Phong Port.

While staying in Hai Phong city from May 30 to June 2, the ships’ crews will call on the City People’s Committee, the High Command of Military Zone 3 and the High Command of the Navy.

They will also play a friendly game of volleyball with Vietnamese sailors and visit some tourism sites in the city.

Koo Cha-yol appointed honorary general consul in RoK

Vietnam has appointed the General Director of the LS Cable Company, Koo Cha-yol, as Honorary General Consul to the Republic of Korea (RoK)’s Kyonggi-Incheon region.

An inauguration ceremony was held in Seoul on May 27 in the presence of Vietnamese Ambassador to the RoK Tran Trong Toan and RoK Trade Minister Kim Jong-hoon.

Addressing the function, Ambassador Toan stressed that the appointment shows the Vietnamese government’s appreciation of the contributions that Koo Cha-yol has made as a social activist, a successful businessman and an enthusiastic investor to strengthening the friendship and cooperation between the two countries as well as protecting Vietnamese residents in the RoK.

According to the ambassador, Vietnam is boosting cooperation with Kyonggi-Incheon region, which has an important position on the RoK’s economic-political map, especially in economics and culture.

Koo Cha-yol pledged to further support Vietnamese residents in the RoK and strengthen the friendship between the two peoples.

His company started to invest in Vietnam in 1996 and built the LS-Vina joint venture in Hai Phong city.

AIT grants degrees to many Vietnamese students

The Thailand-based Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) has granted degrees to 119 Vietnamese students, (three PhD degrees and 116 MA degrees).

Subjects usually selected by Vietnamese students include aquaculture management, energy, designing, management of environment and natural resources, cooking processing, rural development planning, construction and infrastructure management, telecommunication and business administration.

Vietnam ranks second in the number of students learning at the AIT, only after Thailand. At present, around 400 Vietnamese people are studying for PhD and MA degrees at the institute.

Since 1961, the AIT has trained some 2,600 Vietnamese students.

Training jetfighter crashes, but no casualties

A MIC 21 jetfighter crashed on the morning of May 29 in the central province of Binh Dinh during a training mission, but two pilots parachuted safely.

The jetfighter, which belongs to the C40 air force unit, fell into Nhon Tan commune of An Nhon district at about 09:05 to 09:10 a.m, destroying the eaves of a local house, said the provincial Military Command. Nobody was injured in the incident.

Officers of the C40 air force unit and local authorities are investigating the cause of the incident.

50 percent of Vietnamese men are smokers

A meeting was held in Hanoi on May 29 by the University of Public Health in coordination with the World Health Organisation (WHO) in Vietnam to launch National No-Smoking Week.

More than 500 students attended the event, which was held in response to the 2010 “World No Tobacco Day”, with the aim of telling young Vietnamese people not to smoke.

This year’s “World No Tobacco Day” theme is “Gender and Tobacco” with an emphasis on marketing to women.

Vietnam is one of the countries with a high rate of male smokers (about 50 percent), therefore, it is essential to raise public awareness of the dangerous health effects of passive smoking on women.

Contest on eloquence in Vietnamese and Lao languages held in Vientiane

The National University of Laos has organised the final round of a contest on eloquence in the Vietnamese and Lao language in Vientiane on May 28.

The event is part of the lead-up to the 1,000th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi and Vientiane’s 450th anniversary.

The 17 candidates who have made it to the final have already treated audiences to new experiences and ideas on language and thought in the two countries through demonstrations that have been both impressive and profound.

With four first prizes and other awards, the contest helps increase awareness among young people of both Vietnam and Laos on the friendship between the two countries.

ASEAN contest boosts students’ integration knowledge

Ho Chi Minh City on May 28 kicked off a contest on knowledge about ASEAN among municipal students under the theme of “Integration and Development.”

The event has drawn 193 student teams from 20 municipal universities and colleges to show off their knowledge of diplomatic relations and economics, cultural and educational cooperation within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

The contest will also include questions about Vietnamese culture and history, especially sites of cultural interests and the Thang Long - Hanoi millennium anniversary.

The final of the three-round contest will coincide with the ASEAN festival on June 25, where nine of the ten member countries, have registered to showcase their cultural, educational and musical products and paintings. Only Brunei, which has not yet opened representative office in HCM City, will not participate.

Organisers from the municipal League of Friendship Associations said the contest aims to improve students’ knowledge on ASEAN in celebration of the 15th anniversary of Vietnam joining the group and its ASEAN presidency this year.

Japan-Vietnam centre grants scholarships to students

Five outstanding students, including disadvantaged pupils at Thai Thinh junior secondary school were granted scholarships each worth US$120 by the Japan-Vietnam Culture Friendship Exchange Centre of Hachiouji city on May 28.

The school’s head master Nguyen Duc Thinh thanked the centre for its support, saying the scholarships would encourage students to learn more and also consolidate the friendship between Hachiouji city and Hanoi in particular, and Vietnam and Japan in general.

This is the second time the centre has granted scholarships in Hanoi.

Established in 2006, the centre has conducted various cultural exchanges and charitable activities to help cities and provinces in Vietnam, including Hanoi, Hai Duong and Ninh Binh.

Vietnam, Belgium cooperate in urban, rural planning

Vietnamese Ambassador to Belgium and Luxemburg Nguyen Manh Dung has visited Belgium’s famous Catholic University of Leuven and inaugurated an exhibition on the scenery of the Mekong delta city of Can Tho.

At his meeting with university leaders on May 26, ambassador Dung highlighted Vietnam’s achievements, particularly in tertiary education and training in the country and overseas.

He expressed his country’s thanks for Belgium’s help, especially that from Leuven university, in providing training for Vietnamese students and postgraduates in various fields as well as in practical studies on urban and rural planning in Vietnamese localities.

The Leuven university, supported by the Belgian government, arranges postgraduate internships in Vietnam every year.

International experts share experiences on institutional reform

International experiences in regulatory and institutional reforms and their application in Vietnam were topics of discussion at a seminar in Hanoi on May 28.

According to international consultant Karen Hill, former Head of the UK office of the Prime Minister’s Regulatory Reform Department, regulations may have both positive and negative effects with the latter being the restriction of the economy’s competitiveness and growth, and increased unemployment.

The UK Government has focused on regulatory reform over the past 30 years, considering it a primary task, she stressed.

She expressed her surprise at the results of the administrative reform scheme that Vietnam has achieved in a relatively short period of time.

The country’s national database system of administrative procedures and its target to cut administrative expenses by 30 percent are impressive, she said, noting that European nations have only begun the process of slashing such expenses by 25 percent.

She suggested that Vietnam improve its institutional system, simplify regulations, monitor and assess the impact of such changes on people and businesses.

According to Minister-Director of the Governmental Office Nguyen Xuan Phuc, in the second half of this year, 24 ministries and branches and 63 provinces and cities will review more than 5,500 administrative procedures to reduce administrative costs by at least 30 percent, thus saving VND30 trillion for people and businesses each year.

Japan helps build schools in Dien Bien province

Japan will provide US$78,000 in non-refundable aid to the mountainous northern province of Dien Bien to build a primary school in Ta Te commune, Dien Bien Dong district.

An agreement to this effect was signed between Japanese Ambassador Mitsuo Sakaba and Deputy Chairman of the Dien Bien Dong district People’s Committee Vang A Ho on May 28.

The new Ta Te school will be a two-storey building with six classrooms, replacing the old structure which is currently also used as a kindergarten.

The same day, a Japanese-funded secondary school, Ang To, in Muong Ang district, was inaugurated.

The US$86,000 school includes six classrooms and six boarding rooms.

PV