April 27-May 3: Reunification Day celebrated nationwide

The past week saw a series of ceremonies and special art programmes both at home and abroad to mark the 40th anniversary of Liberation of the South and National Reunification (April 30).

The parade of the infantry at the grand meeting in Ho Chi Minh City on the morning of April 30.

1. Grand ceremony celebrates 40th anniversary of Liberation of the South and National Reunification

A grand meeting and parade was held in Ho Chi Minh City on the morning of April 30 to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification.

The meeting was attended by senior Party and State leaders, international representatives, representatives of war veterans, heroic Vietnamese mothers, representatives of overseas Vietnamese communities, local and foreign members of the press, as well as local residents.

PM Nguyen Tan Dung delivered his speech at the meeting, emphasing that the 1975 Spring Victory marked a new chapter in Vietnam's history of national construction and defence.

The meeting was followed by a parade involving the people’s armed forces and masses representing workers, farmers, intellectuals, entrepreneurs and social organisations including the Vietnam Fatherland Front, the War Veterans’ Association, the Vietnam Women’s Union, and the Youth Union.

2. PM Dung attends 26th ASEAN Summit in Malaysia

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung attended the 26th ASEAN Summit in Malaysia from April 26-27 at the invitation of his Malaysian counterpart Najib Tun Abdul Razak.

In his speech at the plenary session, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung said the formation of the ASEAN Community later this year is a historic milestone in the regional integration process and a result of continuous co-operation among its member states over the past five decades, laying a solid foundation for regional development.

PM Dung underscored the need to develop the post-2015 ASEAN Community Vision and mentioned several strategic orientations for the vision and called for initiatives to boost solidarity and the central role of ASEAN in maintaining peace, security and development in the region, as well as its leading role in the evolving regional architecture and in the settlement of regional issues.

Concerned over current conflicts in the East Sea, he stressed the significance of abiding by a principle of self-restraint, not complicating the situation and settling disputes by peaceful means in line with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), towards the early formulation of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).

PM Dung also had separate meetings with his Malaysian counterpart Najib Tun Rajak, President of the Philippines Benigno S. Aquino III, and his Thai counterpart Prayut Chan-ocha on the sidelines of the event.

3. Mekong Expo 2015 kicks off in Can Tho city

The annual international trade fair, Mekong Expo 2015, themed ‘Strengthening co-operation to develop high-quality industrial and handicraft products’, kicked off on April 27 at the International Exhibition & Fair Centre in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho.

The six-day expo features 350 booths from more than 330 both domestic and foreign enterprises, featuring high-quality industrial products and appliances as well as the diverse specialties and tourist services of the localities.

Modern wooden products and handicraft products for export and domestic consumption were showcased at the event.

The expo also introduces agricultural projects, trade stimulus measures and industrial products serving agriculture and rural development.

4. Australia opens door to Vietnamese Litchi

The Vietnam's Ministry of Industry and Trade on May 1 announced that Vietnamese litchi has been permitted by the Australian Department of Agriculture to be sold in Australia from April 18, 2015, as a result of negotiations over many years between Vietnam and Australia.

Under the new decision, Vietnamese enterprises can apply for import licenses from the Australian plant quarantine agency to sign export contracts from April 18.

Australia has become the second largest market demand for the import of Vietnamese litchi after the US. At present, litchi is the first fresh fruit from Vietnam allowed to be exported to Australia.

Australian and US agencies are scheduled to visit Vietnam in May to directly examine and put forth product quality criteria before the importing of Vietnamese litchi commences.

5. Work starts on Vietnam National Mine Action Centre

Construction of the Vietnam National Mine Action Centre (VNMAC) kicked off in Hanoi on April 27.

The centre will be built on 52,400 square metres in Thach That district’s Thach Hoa commune, Hanoi with total investment capital of VND415 billion (US$19.09 million), VND212 billion of which has been sourced from domestic funding.

The centre will be put under the prime minister’s leadership and the defence ministry’s direct management, aimed at implementing the tasks of the national action programme on overcoming the consequences of post-war bombs and mines. It also serves as a hub for international co-operation and national-level mobilisation for support in the field of settling the aftermaths of UXOs left after the war in Vietnam.

6. Indonesian choir win 'Hoi An Choir Prize' 2015

The PSM Unpar Tabela Harati Choir from Indonesia won the 'Hoi An Choir Prize', the highest prize of the 4th Vietnam International Choir Competition 2015, which concluded in Hoi An on May 2.

The Organising Board presented 41 gold medals and 12 silver medals to outstanding choirs, Vietnamese choirs won three gold medals and one silver in total.

This year's competition, organised by the German-based International Choral Organisation, Interkultur and Hoi An, attracted the participation of nearly 1,500 artists from 45 choirs of 15 countries and territories.

7. Australian team triumphs in 2015 Da Nang International Fireworks Competition

The Australian team, with a fireworks performance titled ‘The Symphony of Colours’, won the 2015 Da Nang International Fireworks Competition, which wrapped up on April 29 in the central coastal city of Da Nang.

Poland's Surex Firma Rodzinna, which took part in the competition for the first time, was ranked second. Meanwhile, Da Nang-Vietnam and the United States' Pyrotec-nico team, who performed on the first night on April 28, received the third prize. The South African team was awarded the consolation prize.

Launched in 2008, Da Nang is the only city in Vietnam to host the annual competition.

8. Vietnam hosts Southeast Asian Women’s Football Championships

The 2015 Southeast Asian Women’s Football Championships, AFF Cup 2015, officially kicked off at the Thong Nhat stadium in Ho Chi Minh City on May 1.

This year’s tournament, which lasts until May 10, draws the participation of eight teams including U20 Australia, Thailand, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Malaysia, Philippines and Vietnam. The participants were divided into two groups A and B.

(Source: nhandan.org.vn)