B: Launched on March 15 and ending on August 31, the contest received 214 entries from listeners from 33 countries and territories.
A: And the first prize winner is Johnny Antonio Ramirez Lopez of Peru, a listener of our Spanish Service.
B: A listener of the English Service has won the second prize. Congratulations to Rabi Sankar Bosu of India!
A: And the third prize winner is C.R. Nurdin of Indonesia, a listener of our Indonesian Service.
B: These first 3 winners will be invited to visit Vietnam at an appropriate time when travel restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic have been removed.
A: And 5 Consolation prizes go to:
1. Ashik Eq0cbal Tokon of Bangladesh, a listener of the English Service.
2. Rudi Hartono of Indonesia, a listener of our Indonesian Service.
3. Sergey Afanasyev of Ukraine, a listener of the Russian service.
4. Paul Jamet of France, a listener of the French service.
5. And Xue Fei of China, a listener of the Chinese service.
B: We’re offering 2 prizes to entries with impressive content and illustration to Phonekham Sysomphan of Laos, a listener of the Laos Service and Oikawa Kazuaki of Japan, a listener of the Japanese service.
A: We’ll also present 3 prizes for the most impressive stories or impressive slogans about Vietnam’s success in the COVID-19 fight. The winners are Ralf Urbanczyk of Germany, a listener of the German service, Zhao Ya Dong of China, a listener of the Chinese service, and Ruchapon Ploythet of Thailand, a listener of the Thai service.
B: Winners of consolation prizes, perspective prizes, and prizes for COVID-19 stories will receive certificates and souvenirs. Congratulations to all the winners! To our other contestants, we will give you Certificates of Participation. Wish you luck next time.
A: According to the Organizing Board, many listeners gave accurate answers to our first question about Vietnam’s priorities for the ASEAN Chairmanship Year 2020 and Vietnam’s contributions to the UN Security Council as the Council’s President in January.
 Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) and Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha at a ceremony of Vietnam’s taking over ASEAN’s rotating chairmanship from Thailand, November 4, 2019. (Photo: VNA) |
B: The winners gave the right answers on Vietnam’s priorities in the ASEAN Chairmanship Year 2020 which include strengthening solidarity and unity to contribute to peace, security, and stability in the region; promoting regional connectivity, responsiveness, seizing opportunities of the 4th Industrial Revolution; improving the community awareness; creating identity and values of ASEAN; enhancing partnership for peace and sustainable development, promoting ASEAN’s role and contribution to the international community, and optimizing efficiency of ASEAN mechanisms.
A: Johnny Antonio Ramirez Lopez, Rabi Sankar Bosu, and Nurdin also analyzed and commented on the priorities showing their profound understanding of these issues.
B: Regarding Vietnam’s contributions to the UN Security Council as the Council’s Chairman in January 2020, many listeners provided good answers highlighting Vietnam’s major contributions amid complications in the region and around the world. They praised Vietnam’s responsibility and creativity in managing global issues saying these contributions reflect Vietnam’s love for peace and efforts to promote conciliation around the world.
 Ambassador Đặng Đình Quý, head of the Vietnamese Permanent Mission to the UN, swore with the UN Charter during a flag-raising ceremony held at the UN headquarters as Việt Nam starts its capacity as the President of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). — VNA/VNS Photo |
A: Through their answers, all the listeners showed that they closely follow the development in Vietnam and its external relations. More than that, the answers reflected their special love for Vietnam, its land and people, and particularly for the Voice of Vietnam. Thank you all for participating in our contest and supporting the Voice of Vietnam.
B: Since we announced the results of our contest, we have received greetings and feedback from our listeners around the world.
A: Mitul Kansal of India wrote: “Dear VOV team. First of all , congratulations to all winners! Thank you very much for organizing the contest with interesting questions! I participated in the Contest 2020. I hope this was a great chance not only to get knowledge about Vietnam but also to see the natural beauty of Vietnam. I am so delighted by the way you have launched this competition. “
B: Rasheed Naz of Pakistan wrote: “Congratulations to all winners. It is a good and informative contest.”
A: Other VOV English Service listeners including Kamal Hossain of Bangladesh, Nasser Farid, Amit Manzoor, and Amir Jameel all sent their congratulations to the winners and expressed their wish to visit Vietnam one day.
B: In an email to VOV this week, Amir Jameel of Pakistan wrote: “Floods and landslides caused by rains in central Vietnam have damaged lives and property. In this moment of grief, we send our condolences to the affected families, the Government of Vietnam and its people and pray that God protects Vietnam from all kinds of natural disasters. “
A: Thank you for sending your condolences to Vietnam, Mr. Jameel. Torrential rains and floods in central Vietnam since early this month have caused a tragic loss of lives and property. 130 people have died, 10 are missing, thousands of hectares of crops are flooded, and many roads have eroded.
B: The flooding in central Vietnam has been a historic disaster, but a prompt disaster response has mitigated the damage. In the last month, Vietnam’s central region has been repeatedly hit by 3 typhoons and 2 low tropical pressures which brought prolonged, torrential rains and historic flooding.
 Typhoon Molave hit Vietnam's central provinces on October 28, 2020 |
A: On Wednesday, typhoon Molave, the ninth storm in the East Sea this year, struck the central coast from Quang Nam to Binh Dinh. The storm is the strongest in 20 years with wind of 74km per hour. Coastal localities are being blanketed by heavy rains of 70-155mm.
B: Coastal areas from Thua Thien-Hue to Phu Yen will see gusting winds of 117 to 149 km per hour, while inland areas will be hit by winds of 102km per hour with gusts up to 133km per hour.
A: Hundreds of thousands of people have been evacuated to safer places. The military has mobilized 250,000 troops and 2,300 vehicles for search and rescue missions.
B: Disaster response measures have been stepped up to mitigate losses. We hope everyone stays safe and sound and we’ll continue to bring you updates on what’s happening in Vietnam and around the world. Once again, thank you all for tuning in to VOV.
A: Thank you all for sending us your detailed reception reports and feedback on our stories on shortwave, Mobile app VOV Media, our Facebook Fanpage VOV5 English Service, and at vovworld.vn, We welcome your feedback at: English Service, VOVWorld, the Voice of Vietnam, 45 Ba Trieu street, Hanoi, Vietnam. Or you can email us at our new email address: englishsection@vov.vn. Once again, thank you all for listening.