Deputy PM Pham Binh Minh has directed relevant agencies in receiving and using the Asian Development Bank’s emergency aid to help the country deal with impacts of drought and saline intrusion.
A farmer works on his rice field, which has been mostly destroyed by saltwater intrusion, in An Bien district, the Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang. (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) 𝓡– Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh has directed relevant agencies in receiving and using the Asian Development Bank’s emergency aid to help the country deal with impacts of drought and saline intrusion in the South Central, the Central Highlands and the Mekong Delta regions.
He requested the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) to properly allocate the fund in accordance with Decree No.16/2016/ND-CP dated March 16, 2016 on the management and use of official development assistance (ODA) and concessional loans provided by foreign donors.
The State Bank of Vietnam, the MARD and related agencies have been tasked with preparing all necessary papers for receiving the aid without delay.
The El Nino-induced dry spell has affected 39 of the country’s 63 provinces and cities, triggering widespread water shortage and parching vast areas of farmlands in the predominantly agricultural country.
As a result, an estimated two million people have been deprived of access to safe drinking water, while one million people are in urgent need of food assistance. All localities in the three regions have borne the brunt of the irregular climatic patterns, with some 400,000 hectares of cropland in total impacted with varying degrees of productivity loss.
The prolonged drought and saltwater intrusion since early this year have caused 4.7 trillion VND, or 215 million USD, in economic losses for the Mekong Delta. More than 221,000 hectares of rice, 6,500 hectares of vegetables, and 26,500 hectares of orchards and industrial crops were affected while paddy grown on 128,205 hectares was completely destroyed.-VNA
The European Commission is making available 2 million EUR (roughly 50 billion VND) in emergency relief to communities affected by the drought and saltwater intrusion in Vietnam since the end of 2015.
The Mekong Delta suffered losses worth more than 4.7 trillion VND (215 million USD) due to the severe and prolonged drought and saltwater intrusion last dry season.
Vietnam posted a year-on-year GDP growth of 5.52 percent in the first half of 2016, down from 6.32 percent in the same period last year, according to the General Statistics Office of Vietnam (GSO).
Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Cao Duc Phat asked the agriculture sector to take specific measures to promote its development in a more efficient and suitable manner.
The programmes have brought about positive changes to rural infrastructure, comprehensively improved the material and spiritual lives of farmers, and contributed to Vietnam's economic restructuring, said PM Pham Minh Chinh.
The festival highlighted the contributions and robust development of Vietnam's revolutionary press over the past century while promoting press products and showcasing the creativity of Vietnamese journalists.
The programme on sustainable poverty reduction has achieved its annual targets for reducing the poverty rate as assigned by the National Assembly and the Government. It has fulfilled five specific objectives and five five-year goals, and met nine out of 12 indicators related to addressing basic social service shortages.
UNICEF stands ready to support the Government in implementing this important law and in continuing to invest in teachers as the cornerstone of a resilient, inclusive, and high-quality education system for all children.
PM Pham Minh Chinh highlighted how Vietnam's revolutionary press has continuously evolved and strengthened over the past century, affirming its role as a sharp and vital political, cultural, and ideological weapon serving the Fatherland and the people in the glorious revolutionary cause of the Party.
Vietnamese Consul General in Fukuoka Vu Chi Mai highlighted the growing demand for Vietnamese workers in Kyushu, especially in Fukuoka, Oita, and Saga prefectures. Currently, the region employs about 35,000 Vietnamese manual workers and over 5,000 IT engineers.
In Vietnam’s case, she said, President Ho Chi Minh demonstrated his strategic vision by founding the revolutionary press a century ago. The late leader understood the press's role not only as a means to reflect the country’s realities but also as a powerful tool to strengthen national unity and inspire the resistance wars and national construction process.
In recent interviews granted to the Vietnam News Agency (VNA)'s reporters in Mexico, prominent figures reflected on the press’s legacy and its global influence.
VietnamPlus e-newspaper of the VNA clinched an A prize in the “Outstanding Press Product” category for its immersive 3D multimedia project, “Epic of Reunification,” a groundbreaking blend of storytelling and technology. The VNA won another A prize for its eye-catching exhibition booth.
Today, the press for foreign service has evolved into a distinct, irreplaceable force, bridging Vietnam with the world and portraying a nation that is stable, peace-loving, and fully integrated into the international community.
At a review conference held on June 21, Deputy Minister of Construction Nguyen Van Sinh praised the province’s scientific, coordinated, and flexible approach. He noted that the early completion reflects the strong commitment of local authorities, the business community, philanthropists, and residents in improving housing conditions for disadvantaged groups.
The VNA delegation, led by General Director Vu Viet Trang, actively participated in the event, engaging in both professional and diplomatic activities.
In the context where AI dominates and produces vast volumes of content, the only sustainable path forward for journalism is to focus on high-quality content and core values. Journalism must redefine its mission - not to report the fastest, but to provide the most profound and trustworthy value.
Granma and the VNA have great potential for cooperation, especially in sharing content regularly, so that VNA products are published on Granma platforms and vice versa, thereby helping Cuban and Vietnamese people access true information and gain a deep understanding of each other's country and people.
During his stay in China’s Guangzhou city from 1924 to 1927 to prepare for the establishment of a Communist Party to lead Vietnam’s revolution, President Ho Chi Minh founded “Thanh nien” newspaper and released its first issue on June 21, 1925.
Vietnam and Cambodia are hoped to strengthen their robust collaboration across various sectors, particularly in resolving remaining border issues to transform the border area into a zone of peace, friendship, cooperation, and development.
The strategic product, managed and operated by the Vietnam News Agency Digital Media Centre (VNA Media), is an official channel for popularising the Party and State’s information and documents as well as delivering mainstream and trustworthy news to both domestic and international audiences through various kinds of multimedia formats.
Since President Ho Chi Minh founded Thanh Nien (Young People) newspaper in 1925, the Vietnamese revolutionary press has become the voice of the people. During the resistance war against the colonialists, journalists took great personal risks to inspire patriotism and the will of rising up against foreign invaders.
The total investment exceeded 319 billion VND (12.2 million USD), including over 261 billion VND from the state budget and 57.5 billion VND mobilised from businesses, organisations, and individuals.
A farmer works on his rice field, which has been mostly destroyed by saltwater intrusion, in An Bien district, the Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang. (Photo: VNA)
