Vietnam Today

In a recorded speech at the 4th Russian Energy Week taking place in Moscow from October 13-15, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh affirmed that Vietnam will continue to improve institutions, policies, and laws to support the development of its energy sector. The country will also encourage the promotion of public-private cooperation mechanisms and continue to create favorable conditions for Russian enterprises to invest and do business in the sector.

At an October 13 seminar on economic recovery and adaptation amid Covid-19, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized that now is the right time to renew mindsets, operations, and socio-economic management to jointly manage change. He directed localities to develop appropriate plans for safe, flexible adaptation and effective control over the pandemic.

A memorandum of cooperation on low-carbon growth in the 2021-2030 period was signed between Vietnam and Japan on October 14, aimed at promoting investment in and the development of technologies, products, systems, services, and low-carbon infrastructure in Vietnam, with financial and technological support from the Japanese Government.

Nearly 2 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine have arrived in Vietnam from the US through the COVAX facility. The US has also committed grants totaling $26.7 million to help Vietnam cope with the pandemic.

A meeting on October 13 between Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam, who is also Deputy Head of the National Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control, and leaders from the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Science and Technology reached agreement that by the end of this year, Vietnam will be able to basically take the initiative in sourcing vaccines, therapeutic medicines, and biological products to bring the country into the new normal.

Vietnam has received just over 80 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine, or 20 per cent of its plan. Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long has identified three main difficulties: legal issues relating to purchases; the sale and import of vaccines; and a shortage of vaccines globally and countries adjusting their supply policies.