Vietnam Today

Within the framework of his State-level visit to Singapore, on February 25, State President Nguyen Xuan Phuc held talks with Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. The two agreed to expand cooperation in the fields of innovation, digital transformation, digital economy, and green and sustainable development, towards “connecting the two economies on a digital basis”.

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan has signed a decision on establishing a steering committee for agricultural and rural development in the Mekong Delta for the 2020-2025 period, to sustainably develop the region and adapt to climate change.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang affirmed on February 25 that Vietnam is concerned about the plight of the Vietnamese community in Ukraine in the face of recent developments. Vietnamese representative agencies in the area and domestic authorities are closely coordinating and preparing plans to protect citizens.

The World Health Organization (WHO) announced on February 23 that Vietnam, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Pakistan, and Serbia will receive mRNA technology from its mRNA technology transfer center. Addressing the online announcement ceremony, Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long said that Vietnam will produce mRNA vaccines on a large scale, not only meeting domestic demand but also supplying countries in the region and the world.

Vietnam’s transportation sector is developing an action program on green energy transition, reducing carbon emissions under the commitment the country made at the UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) to gradually reduce net emissions to “zero” by 2050. Road, railway, inland waterway, maritime, and aviation transport all use fossil fuels and add to emissions.

After two years of Covid-19, support for businesses and individuals in regard to taxes, fees, and land rentals has totaled VND328 trillion ($14.4 billion). To continue cutting outlays, the Ministry of Finance (MoF) has proposed the government reduce 37 fees and charges this year.