Despite its limited resources, Vietnam has supported many other nations worldwide in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, proving itself as a responsible member of the international community, especially when the country is holding the ASEAN Chairmanship 2020.

China’s circulation of a number of diplomatic notes at the United Nations (UN) that raise unreasonable sovereignty claims over Vietnam’s Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos as well as maritime claims in the East Sea runs counter to the provisions of the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), an official said on April 23.

Vietnam shared its experience in COVID-19 prevention and control at the G20 health ministers’ meeting via video conference on late April 19.

YBO - Despite numerous difficulties amid the Covid-19 pandemic, Yen Bai continues accelerating administrative procedure reform in the first months of 2020, in order to enhance its Public Administration Reform (PAR) Index. The province aims to rise by four to six places to be among the 30 best performers this year.

The Asialyst, a French online newspaper specializing in news from Asia, posted an article recently that highlighted Vietnam’s achievements in combating the COVID-19 pandemic.

YBO - The electronic government project marks a breakthough in administrative reforms of Van Yen district of Yen Bai province.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has sent a letter to the overseas Vietnamese community, calling on them to remain unanimous and stand side by side with the homeland in the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Three Vietnamese entrepreneurs have been honoured in the US prestigious magazine Forbes’ annual “30 Under 30 Asia” list, said the Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST) on April 7.

Mu Cang Chai district in Yen Bai province has come up with a slogan in both Kinh and Mong languages to raise public awareness of the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. 

YBO - Following the direction of the Prime Minister and Yen Bai province’s guidance documents on the implementation of urgent measures on COVID-19 prevention and control, Van Yen authorities have launched 14 vonluntary groups, 14 medical quarantine checkpoints, and 24 travel control points in villages and residential areas in Mau A town and Yen Thai and Quang Minh communes, with the involvement of over 100 local volunteers.

YBO - Amidst the complex developments of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Chairman of the People’s Committee of Yen Bai province issued Document No. 832, asking local departments, agencies, steering board for COVID-19 prevention and control in Yen Bai city, districts and towns, organisations, enterprises, and production and business facilities in the locality to take urgent measures against the epidemic.

YBO - Many organisations and individuals in the northern province of Yen Bai have raised money to support those seriously affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, in response to the call of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has issued a range of stringent social distancing measures, including restricting people from leaving their homes and banning gatherings of more than two people in public.

The Ministry of Transport sent an urgent dispatch to the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) on the suspension of international flights carrying Vietnamese citizens to the Hanoi-based Noi Bai Airport starting from 0:00am on March 26.

YBO - The first blood donation festival was held at the General Hospital in Nghia Lo region of Yen Bai province on March 24.

YBO - Aside from four existing concentrated quarantine facilities, Yen Bai province has added another eight centres of district-level localities in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

YBO - The People’s Committee of Yen Bai has issued Plan No. 54/KH-UBND dated on March 14 on the conservation and promotion of the special national relic of Mu Cang Chai terraced rice fields in line with tourism development in the 2020-25, with a vision to 2030.

YBO - The province has issued a detailed plan on responding to the "Second situation” – Plan No 16/KH-UBND dated January 31, 2020 of the provincial People’s Committee – in which first Covid-19 cases are reported in the locality.

Vietnam is now at the “golden stage” of COVID-19 prevention and control, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said on March 16.

Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang on March 14 answered reporters’ queries about entry and exit policies for foreigners who are subject to temporary suspension of entry into Vietnam within 30 days from 12:00 on March 15, 2020.

The Consular Department under the Foreign Ministry has issued advice to Vietnamese citizens on what they should do amid latest complicated developments of the COVID-19 epidemic in many countries and territories worldwide.

YBO - The People’s Committee of Yen Bai province has issued a plan on external cultural activities for 2020.

Vietnam has officially entered the second phase of the fight against COVID-19 since the 17th case was detected two days ago, and this phase is even more difficult than the first one, but the country is ready to respond to any circumstance, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam said on March 8.

YBO - YBO - According to Decision No. 409/QD-UBND of Yen Baiprovincial People's Committee on the announcement of the results of the survey assessing the competitiveness of departments, agencies and localities in the province in 2019, the provincial Taxation Department and Tran Yen district topped the rankings.

Vietnam will focus on Olympic sports at the 31st Southeast Asian (SEA) Games to be held in Hanoi next year.