Chinese President Xi Jinping and UK PM Theresa May (Source: Getty Images)During the call, the two leaders agreed to further promote the “Golden Era” of bilateral ties between the two sides, adding that China was pushing for more cooperation with the UK under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, Xinhua reported. President Xi went on to say that as permanent members of the UN Security Council, China and the UK should work together to build a new international relationship on the basis of mutual respect, justice and win-win cooperation. He said both countries were supporters of globalization, and that China was willing to work with the UK to support free trade and multi-lateralism. According to China’s state media, President Xi also told PM Theresa May that there needs to be a comprehensive, just and objective probe into a suspected chemical weapons attack in Syria. The two also agreed that the use of chemical weapons “by anyone, anywhere, for any … [Read more...] about Chinese President Xi Jinping calls to UK PM Theresa May
Miguel Diaz-Canel selected as next President of Cuba
President of Cuba’s Council of State and Council of Ministers Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez (Photo: VNA)With 603 votes or 99.86 percent of the votes, Mr. Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez was elected as President of the Council of State and Council of Ministers by the ninth President of Cuba’s National Assembly of People’s Power (NAPP) for the next five years.Mr. Diaz-Canel, 58, has served as Vice President of the powerful Council of State since 2013, when he was appointed by party leadership and approved by the National Assembly. Mr. Diaz-Canel will succeed current President Raul Castro, the brother of revolutionary Fidel Castro and a symbol of the country's 1959 transition from an authoritarian government to a communist state.Mr. Raul Castro, the 86-year-old Head of the country’s Council of State and Cabinet has been ruling Cuba since 2008, succeeding his brother Fidel Castro. In 2013, he began his second tenure and promised that he … [Read more...] about Miguel Diaz-Canel selected as next President of Cuba
HCMC top official demands inspection on cheap public land sale
Part of the land that state-owned Tan Thuan Investment and Construction One Member Co., Ltd sells to property developer Quoc Cuong Gia Lai. Photo by VnExpress/Tuyet Nguyen A state-owned firm sold a riverside piece for $17.5 million, five times lower than the market price. Ho Chi Minh City authorities are inspecing a case in which a huge piece of public land was transferred to a private firm at a price five times lower than the actual market price. The city's Party chief Nguyen Thien Nhan ordered on Friday that the Party unit's inspectors check for law violations in the transaction, its consequences, and identify the people responsible. Nhan's statement came two days after the Party unit made its Tan Thuan Investment and Construction Company cancel a contract to transfer 32 hectares (80 acres) of state-owned land in Nha Be District to the city' southeast to property firm Quoc Cuong Gia Lai. The land was sold at VND400 billion ($17.5 million) in June last year. But the … [Read more...] about HCMC top official demands inspection on cheap public land sale
Swing for the Kids 2018 officially teed off
This year's tourney features record participation and funds raised This year, the Swing for the Kids tournament has reached new records in terms of the number of golfers and the charity funds raised. Notably, the tournament attracted 260 golfers and raised over VND1.8 billion ($79,051) in cash for VIR’s scholarship fund and Vietnam Learning Promotion Association. Especially, this is the first time that the tournament has taken place at the premier 18-hole Kings Course, the third golf course of BRG Kings Island Golf Resort. The field was designed by Jack Nicklaus II, the son of legendary Jack Nicklaus, and offers unique beauty in every aspect. The course is famous for its 19th hole, an exclusive setting for dramatic play-off rounds. With the tee box located on top of a nearly 30m high waterfall, a large lake away from the greens, it will certainly be the hole that all golfers want to try. Furthermore, with the prestige and professionalism of the tournament during the past … [Read more...] about Swing for the Kids 2018 officially teed off
CPTPP, EVFTA to benefit Vietnamese fishery sector
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Vương Đức Anh, from the Ministry of Industry and Trade’s Department of Export-Import talks about advantages that CPTPP and EVFTA will bring to Vietnamese seafood exporters. — VNA/VNS Photo Xuân AnhViet Nam News HCM CITY — Việt Nam’s fishery sector will gain advantages and export opportunities once the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and the European Union-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) take effect, heard a seminar in HCM City on April 20. Vương Đức Anh, from the Ministry of Industry and Trade’s Department of Export-Import, said the CPTPP and EVFTA are new-generation trade deals with trade facilitation as a core value via cutting tariffs. According to businesses, export taxes to some seafood markets are very high. Specifically, shrimp export of Việt Nam to the EU region has an average tax of 6-20 per cent, tuna products are … [Read more...] about CPTPP, EVFTA to benefit Vietnamese fishery sector
US, Europe order emergency checks on engine type in Southwest accident
U.S. NTSB investigators are on scene examining damage to the engine of the Southwest Airlines plane in this image released from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S., April 17, 2018. Photo source: NTSB/Handout via REUTERS U.S. and European airline regulators on Friday ordered emergency inspections within 20 days of nearly 700 aircraft engines similar to the one involved in a fatal Southwest Airlines engine blowout earlier this week, citing risks of a similar mishap. The directives by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration and the European Aviation Safety Agency for inspections of CFM56-7B engines, made by CFM International, indicated rising concerns since a similar failure in 2016 of the same type of engine. The engine explosion on Southwest Airlines flight 1380 on Tuesday was caused by a fan blade that broke off, the FAA said. The blast shattered a window, killing a passenger, in the first U.S. passenger airline fatality since 2009. "The unsafe condition," the FAA said in the order, … [Read more...] about US, Europe order emergency checks on engine type in Southwest accident
Points of interest at Investment Promotion Conference in Seoul
Over 400 South Korean investors and leaders of authorities, including Korea’s Financial Services Commission (FSC), Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), Korea Financial Investment Association (KOFIA), and Korea Exchange (KRX), as well as investment funds, investment banks and insurance companies participated at Vietnam’s Investment Promotion Conference in Seoul on April 18, hosted by Vietnam’s Minister of Finance. The Vietnamese speakers were bombarded by questions from Korean investors In his opening remarks, Minister of Finance Dinh Tien Dung highly appreciated the active involvement of Korean investors and partners who have helped build a sturdy rapport between Vietnam and Korea. Following some 25 years of formal diplomatic relations, the relationship between Vietnam and Korea has grown strong. Vietnam and Korea share many similarities in their cultural traditions, histories, and will for development. This is a very important factor to maintain … [Read more...] about Points of interest at Investment Promotion Conference in Seoul
Vietnam to set emission reduction targets for industry
VietNamNet Bridge - The Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment (MONRE) plans to submit to the PM a draft decree on ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). The government is about to set emission reduction targets This will clearly define legal responsibilities of involved parties in implementing Vietnam’s commitments in the Paris Climate Accord. By 2030, industry and trade, transport, construction, agriculture and rural development sectors will have to reduce emissions by at least 8 percent compared to conventional emission scenarios, or 62.8 million tons of CO2. The maximum reduction is 25 percent, equivalent to 135.4 million tons of CO2, if there is international support. As shown in the draft decree, the government will encourage ministries to cut emissions more sharply than they are requested to do so, allowing them to trade carbon credits and update periodic targets in NDCs (nationally determined contributions). RELATED NEWS … [Read more...] about Vietnam to set emission reduction targets for industry
Seven int’l teams join Da Nang fireworks contest
In addition to France, the US, Italy and Portugal, the event will see debutants Surex Firma Rodzinna from Poland, Vulcan Display Fireworks from Hong Kong, and GFF from Sweden. The makeshift stages can accommodate more spectators than last year. Each of them will have a large LED screen for the spectators to see the fireworks displays. Side events like a street parade and certain new activities are expected to bring more excitement and colour to the DIFF this year. The ninth annual event will have the theme “The Legends of Bridges” and feature stories about well-known bridges. Ticket will range from VND50,000 ($2.2) per night for children less than a meter tall to VND2 million (about $88 ) for each of the opening and final nights, the organisers said. The contest will take place on the banks of the Han River from April 29 to June 30. The main stages will be on Tran Hung Dao street and in the yard of Olalani Riverside Towers. Vietnam and Poland will perform on April 29, … [Read more...] about Seven int’l teams join Da Nang fireworks contest
Vietnam’s ‘crazy house’ named among world’s ‘coolest’ buildings
UK travel magazine Lonely Planet has unveiled its list of the 120 most breathtaking human constructions on Earth, and a bizarre building in Vietnam has made the list. The Crazy House in Da Lat. Photo by Xuan Lan The magazine's new "A Spotter's Guide to Amazing Architecture" introduces the world's "coolest" constructions and where to see them. Hang Nga Guesthouse, dubbed the "Crazy House" in the Central Highlands town Da Lat, has been recognized for its extraordinary exterior which resembles a monstrous banyan tree. Around one kilometer from the center of Da Lat, the guesthouse was officially opened in 1990, and has been compared to the amazing architecture of world-acclaimed constructions such as the Salvador Dalí Museum and Walt Disney Concert Hall. The design by Vietnamese architect Dang Viet Nga was inspired by the poetic natural scenery of the dreamy city and the architectural works of Catalan master Antoni Gaud. Once forgotten, it has now emerged as one of the most … [Read more...] about Vietnam’s ‘crazy house’ named among world’s ‘coolest’ buildings