Travellers with vaccine passports will be soon accepted in Vietnam
Under the MoH’s suggestion, the three groups of vaccinated people are: Vietnamese nationals left stranded overseas, Foreign citizens entering Vietnam on business and Foreign travelers.
The MoH made the recommendation at a meeting of the National Steering Committee on COVID-19 Prevention and Control in Hanoi, reported VOV.
Permanent members of the Steering Committee asked the MoH to develop detailed plans on monitoring, quarantine and medical surveillance for each of the groups.
Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam, who is also head of the Steering Committee, noted fighting COVID-19 is a must but “we have to seize any opportunity to open the door and develop the economy”.
At the meeting, representatives of information technology enterprises reported that they had completed technological infrastructure as well as technical solutions, to prepare for the deployment of the vaccine passport option.
The issue of vaccine passport has been raised at various forums in recent times. Despite concerns, many experts say Vietnam will lose out to regional rivals unless it accepts vaccine passports for entry.
At a recent Cabinet meeting, the Prime Minister asked relevant ministries and agencies to soon consider the option and submit it to the government for approval.
MoIT proposes 35 percent cap on foreign investment in petrol market
The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) has proposed a 35 percent cap on foreign investment in local oil and petrol businesses, but said it was open to scrapping the regulation.
Photo for illustration (Source: hanoimoi.com.vn)
The proposal is part of the draft revision and supplement of several articles in Government Decree No 83/2014/ND-CP on petrol and oil trading, which currently does not regulate a cap on foreign investment in the sector.
VNA quoted that the ministry said 24 out of 25 comments from Government members approved the draft decree with the 35 percent cap, while one disagreed.
The MoIT said foreign investment into the local petrol and oil market has caused controversy over the years and the Ministries of Public Security, Planning and Investment, and Finance have long had concerns about energy security, legality and the intrinsic benefits of investment from foreign firms.
The MoIT said despite these concerns, several firms already have sizeable foreign ownership, including Petrolimex (20 percent owned by foreign investors), PVOil (35 percent) and BSR (49 percent) through equitisation, capital mobilisation and receiving approval from the Prime Minister. All the above firms have operated stably.
Foreign investors have contributed to a significant improvement in governance and transparency in financial statements, improving efficiency and competitiveness, while helping businesses increase their value, the MoIT said.
Vietnam calls for int'l efforts to prevent violence, promote dialogue in Myanmar
Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy, head of the Vietnamese Mission to the United Nations, has called on the international community to make constructive contributions to help Myanmar prevent violence, promote an environment conducive to dialogue and reconciliation while respecting the country's principles of independence, national sovereignty, territorial integrity and unity, reported VNA.
Myanmar police tighten security in Yangon city (Photo: VNA)
During an Arria-formula online meeting of the UN Security Council member states which was co-chaired by the UK, the US, Estonia, France, Ireland and Norway on April 9, Ambassador Quy urged supporting the role of the Special Envoy of the UN Secretary General on Myanmar and creating favourable conditions for the envoy's working trip to Myanmar.
He stressed the top priority to ensuring life, security and safety of all, and unobstructed humanitarian aid to those in need of help, especially vulnerable groups in society. He called on parties concerned in Myamar to refrain from violent acts, conduct dialogues and reconciliation according to will and aspirations of the people, for the sake of peace and stability in the region.
Quy affirmed that Myanmar is a member state of the ASEAN family and the bloc is ready to help the country in a constructive and peaceful manner via related mechanisms.
ASEAN member states, including Vietnam, has been working with parties concerned in Myanmar to promote dialogue and seek solutions to the issue, he said. He also called on the international community to support ASEAN’s efforts and stance, and wished that discussions at the UN and relevant important issues need consultations with ASEAN member countries and others in the region.
Rapporteurs at the event expressed concern over current situation in Myanmar and warned about the risks of economic, food and health crises as well as a civil war. Many opinions called for refraining from violence and preventing tension escalation, while asking to settle differences and disputes via dialogue and reconciliation that meet Myanmar people’ aspirations.
Arria-formula meeting is an informal meeting of the UN Security Council to discuss important and emerging issues with the participation of countries in and outside the UNSC as well as related organisations./.