Geneva (VNA)🍸 – Vice Secretary of the Hanoi Party’s Committee Ngo Thi Thanh Hang led a delegation to Switzerland to strengthen ties with Swiss localities.
During the visit from July 25-27, the delegation had a working session with Luc Barthassat, Minister of Transport, Environment and Agriculture and Mauro Poggia, Minister of Social Affairs, Employment and Health, of Geneva State, on July 27.
Minister Barthassat shared with the guests local projects on urban waste treatment and public transport, including the Trolleybus Optimisation Systeme Alimentation (TOSA) project.
The TOSA project aims to launch a chargeable battery-run bus system in 2018 in Geneva, which can carry some 120 passengers each with less pollution and noise than normal buses, according to the minister.
Minster Poggia highlighted the measures the locality has taken to address unemployement and health care for the elderly and dependent people.
Previously on July 26, in the capital city of Bern, the Hanoi delegation met with Christoph Miesch, General Secretary of the municipal Agency for Judiciary, Local Affairs and Religion.
The host shared experience in preserving cultural and religious heritage with the guests.
Hang expressed her hope for Hanoi to team up with Bern in the conservation of cultural heritage.
The delegation is scheduled to visit Spain and Italy during the tour.-VNA
Swiss President Johann Schneider Ammann and Vietnamese Vice President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh affirmed the importance of ratchet up bilateral cooperation during their meeting in Bern on June 14.
The Swiss Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City held a ceremony on July 7 to celebrate 45 years of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Switzerland (October 11, 1971).
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The embassy advises Vietnamese citizens travelling in Greece that they should avoid standing close to cliff edges, boat sides, and refrain from going out to sea during storms to prevent unfortunate incidents.
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Deputy Foreign Minister Dang Hoang Giang reaffirmed that amnesty is a humanitarian policy of the Party and State, reflecting the Vietnamese tradition of compassion and winning attention and high praise both domestically and internationally.
Vietnam officially grants limited-term visa-free entry to high-profile foreigners whose presence is deemed beneficial to the country’s socio-economic development.
With support from the Vietnamese Association in Ufa, Vietnamese language classes for children have been offered for many years. Currently, 60 children of various ages are attending two classes taught by Duc Anh, free of charge.
Vietnam ranked among the top four countries and territories at the 2025 International Olympiad on Artificial Intelligence (IOAI), reaffirming its strong position in international academic competitions.
All 20 crew members aboard the Vietnamese oil tanker GT Unity were successfully rescued from a fire in the vessel’s engine room, thanks to the swift response of the Liberian-flagged ship Androusa and Vietnamese maritime rescue teams.
Describing Agent Orange as one of the most severe and enduring legacies of the war in Vietnam, Vietnam's former Honorary Consul to Belgium Joseph-Michel de Grand Ry warned that its impact – still affecting generations more than five decades later – could last another two to three decades.
Running from August 4 to September 2, under the hashtag #TuHaoVietNam, the campaign invites participants in two categories: “I Love My Country” video clips and “I Love My Country” check-in photos.
Decree No. 219/2025/ND-CP, which took effect on the issuance date, introduces amendments that integrate the procedure for reporting and explaining the demand for foreign workers into the process of submitting applications for work permits.
With a tight 13-month deadline, the move is under a strategic and urgent policy to bridge educational gaps, train the local workforce, and shore up territorial sovereignty in some of the country’s most remote areas.
The parade and personnel send-off ceremony will officially take place on August 10 at the area surrounding the Statue of King Ly Thai To and Dinh Tien Hoang street of Hoan Kiem ward, with the participation of nearly 3,000 officers, soldiers, and local residents.
According to national technical regulations, AIS installation is mandatory for boats carrying more than 50 passengers. However, operators of smaller vessels (under 50 seats) in Ha Long Bay have voluntarily committed to completing installation by the deadline to enhance operational safety.
The activities include a Vietnamese language teaching training course for overseas Vietnamese teachers from August 13 to 28 in Hanoi, Ninh Binh, and Thai Nguyen.
Specifically, the ships will carry out patrols from 7am to 6pm daily along the main tourist routes in Ha Long Bay, with one ship permanently stationed at Ti Top island. From 6pm to 7am the following day, the mobile vessels return to Tuan Chau island to maintain a 24/7 on-call duty shift, ensuring constant readiness.
The Ministry of Construction (MoC) plans to open to traffic 208km of expressways of six key projects by August 19, bringing the country’s total expressway network to 2,476km.
As of July 1, a two-tier local government model started in 34 provinces and cities, streamlining administration but creating a surplus of public properties. If not promptly addressed, these assets could become a financial burden.
Whether they grow up to become journalists, diplomats, or professionals in other fields, these children can one day become bridges of friendship and cooperation, telling new and inspiring stories of Vietnam – China relations, said Ambassador Pham Thanh Binh.
A corner of Bern (Source: timeout.com)
