Photo for illustration (Source: luatvietnam.vn)
The test kits were transported free of charge by the national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines, according to the Vietnam News Agency.
The gifts came from a campaign launched by the World University Service (WUS) on the basis of a proposal raised by Vietnam Airlines, aiming to call on German states to help Vietnam with test kits.
Dr. Kambiz Ghawami, WUS President, lauded the national flag carrier’s role in the campaign, saying the test kits are significant as Vietnam are stepping up efforts in testing.
Currently, Vietnam Airlines is maintaining flights between Vietnam and Europe to ensure trade and connectivity between the two sides' organisations and communities.
Import-export value via Lao Cai int’l border gate increases nearly 42 pct in H1
The import-export value via the Lao Cai international border gate in the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai reached 2.08 billion USD in the first half of 2021, up 41.98 percent year-on-year, said the Vietnam News Agency.
Exports surged 42.12 percent to around 895 million USD in the period, while imports were valued at nearly 317 million USD, down 3.76 percent compared to the same period last year.
Lao Cai International Border Gate (Photo: bnews.vn)
Temporary import for re-export, bonded warehouses, border-gate transfer, and transit activities implemented by Lao Cai’s enterprises at other border gates reached over 867 million, up 71.61 percent year-on-year.
According to Hoang Chi Hien, Director of the provincial Department of Industry and Trade, the import and export of goods via Lao Cai are mainly carried out through international road and railway border gates.
Local authorities have developed an action plan to realise its export-import target in 2021, with a vision to 2025, which set out specific requirements, goals, orientations, main tasks and solutions on infrastructure construction, production development, economic restructuring, investment, and trade and tourism promotion.
They have also paid attention to developing services to support import-export activities, improving the investment and business environment and the capacity of custom clearance for goods, and strengthening coordination with the Chinese side to implement cooperation agreements on trade, investment and border management.
Nguyen Ngoc Khai, head of the management board of the Lao Cai Economic Zone said in order to facilitate cross-border import-export activities through the Lao Cai – Hekou international border gate amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, relevant agencies of Lao Cai have regularly kept in touch with those of China’s Yunnan province to promptly solve arising difficulties.
The Vietnamese and Chinese provinces have regularly hold online talks or through external affairs channels to report arising issues related to disease management, and propose coordination measures in order to remove difficulties and promote import-export through the Lao Cai ‑ Hekou international border gate.
Lao Cai and Yunnan provinces held an online conference between the Secretaries of the Party Committees of Vietnam’s Lao Cai, Ha Giang, Lai Chau, and Dien Bien provinces and the Secretary of Yunnan Provincial Party Committee in late May to promote friendly exchange, and seek opportunities for investment and business cooperation in all fields of investment, trade and tourism.
They also proposed solutions to remove difficulties and obstacles in the cooperation process and agreed on cooperation contents in the coming time.
Lao newspapers highlight top Lao leader’s Vietnam visit
The Laotian media published headlines on June 28 to report on the official friendship visit of General Secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith to Vietnam from June 28 to June 29, said the Voice of Vietnam.
Top Lao leader Thongloun Sisoulith welcomed in Vietnam (Photo: VNA)
The visit reaffirms the consistent stance of the Party, State, and people of Laos in preserving and promoting the traditional relations between both sides. It also contributes to nurturing the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two Parties, States and peoples, they said.
The Pathet Lao newspaper of the Lao News Agency (KPL) described the visit as the first diplomatic activity of a high-ranking Laotian leader following the success of the LPRP’s 11st National Congress.
It serves to affirm the consistent stance of the Laotian Party, State, and people in preserving and promoting their long-standing ties with Vietnam, whilst also nurturing the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive co-operation between the two Parties, States, and peoples. Indeed, these ties were initially founded by Vietnamese President Ho Chi Minh and Laotian Presidents Kaysone Phomvihane and Suphanouvong, before being promoted by generations of the two countries’ leaders and peoples, the newspaper reported.
It also shows that both nations are seeking to further develop ties in the face of challenges posed by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic both globally and regionally, it added.
Elsewhere, Pasaxon newspaper underlined the importance of the visit, stating that it is taking place in the year which marks the start of the implementation of each Party’s congress resolutions, as well as socio-economic strategies and plans moving forward.
The visit therefore provides a great opportunity for both sides to devise strategies and directions for future bilateral co-operation as a means of contributing to deepening the mutual relations, it said./.