Month: March 2024

Hanoi: In a written response to a lawmaker’s inquiry on March 1, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh directed ministries, agencies, and localities to address challenges hindering the timely supply of materials, particularly sand, for infrastructure projects in the Mekong Delta.

Acknowledging the limitations of completely replacing natural sand with artificial alternatives, he highlighted the high costs associated with large-scale rock quarrying and establishing production lines to meet the demand.

Therefore, it is preferable to prioritise artificial sand as a substitute for natural sand in specific projects in certain items with relatively low consumption, such as asphalt concrete and cement concrete production, he said.

To address the immediate sand shortage in the Mekong Delta, the Ministry of Transport (MoT) has launched a pilot project using sea sand as a substitute for river sand on a small scale. In the coming time, it should be tested on a larger scale under stricter design standards and in different env
ironment conditions to fully evaluate the long-term viability of this approach, he added.

The PM also further highlighted efforts by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to manage available resources and explore sustainable solutions.

Looking ahead to future infrastructure investments in the Mekong Delta, the PM instructed the MoT to conduct a comprehensive study on developing sustainable transportation solutions for the region. This study should also include proposals to secure reliable sources of filling materials for project implementation./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

HCM City: The Ho Chi Minh City Association for Protection of Child Rights and the Save the Children International in Vietnam on March 1 launched a project ‘Rainbow Voice – Gender and gender equality issues in implementing programmes to support children and adolescents’.

Nguyen Trong Vu Binh, a representative from the Save the Children International in Vietnam, said that the project’s goal is to accompany Ho Chi Minh City in gradually improving gender capacity and gender equality issues for municipal agencies, units, and social organisations in the process of implementing support programmes and in the field of child and adolescent protection, thus helping children develop physically, intellectually and spiritually.

Mai Thi Ngoc Mai, President of the Ho Chi Minh City Association for Protection of Child Rights, said that the project helps build and complete communication documents to support the raising of public awareness of gender and gender equality issues; and holds training for non-public social assistanc
e organisations, and organisations, agencies and units of the child protection system.

Surveys will be conducted to collect opinions from children and adolescents to assess their awareness of gender and gender equality issues in the supply of support services, along with seminars related to domestic violence prevention and control for those directly affected.

The project also aims to promote the right to participation of children and adolescents on the basis of ensuring gender equality issues, and provide training for children and adolescents on gender-related knowledge and gender equality issues in accordance with the Children’s Law, and the National Strategy on Gender Equality./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

HCM City: The Ho Chi Minh City Union of Friendship Organisations and the Bulgarian Embassy in Vietnam on March 1 co-organised a ceremony to mark Bulgaria’s National Day (March 3,1878-2024) in the southern metropolis.

Addressing the event, Bulgarian Ambassador Pavlin Todorov stated that it is an act of preserving memories of Bulgaria in Vietnam, contributing to the development of the relationship between the two nations.

The diplomat said the Vietnam-Bulgaria traditional friendship has been preserved and developed across various fields. In addition to strong political and diplomatic relations, their economic and trade ties have seen positive developments and still have plenty of room for improvement in the future.

Potential areas for bilateral collaboration also include science and technology, energy, industry, agriculture, healthcare, information technology, tourism, education and training and locality-to-locality cooperation, he noted.

People-to-people and cultural exchanges between the two countries pla
y a crucial role in strengthening their relations, he added.

In response, Chairwoman of the municipal Vietnam-Bulgaria Friendship Association Hoang Thai Lan said that the countries have a long-standing bond of friendship, as Bulgaria was one of the first ten countries in the world to recognise Vietnam’s independence and establish diplomatic relations with Vietnam on February 8, 1950. In 2013, they elevated their relations to a strategic partnership, opening up new opportunities for cooperation.

Over the past 74 years, the governments and people of both countries have continuously nurtured the traditional friendship in various fields such as politics, diplomacy, culture, science, education, and security-defence, she remarked./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency