The summit of Central Asian countries and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) will be held on May 5 in Samarkand. This was announced by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan Bakhtiyor Saidov following the third meeting of foreign ministers in the format of the Central Asia – GCC strategic dialogue.
“We are looking forward to the Samarkand Summit on May 5 – an important milestone on the way to deepening ties between our regions. United by common values, strategic potential and unity of vision, we are building a new chapter in cooperation between Central Asia and the Gulf states,” the Uzbek Foreign Minister wrote on his telegram channel.
Celebrations on the occasion of the spring festival Navruz took place on April 23 in Kyiv, organized by the Embassy of the Republic of Tajikistan in Ukraine together with the National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine and the Public Diplomacy Foundation.
The event was attended by more than 600 people: representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine, the Kyiv City State Administration, ambassadors and diplomats of foreign countries, heads of international and regional organizations, rectors and teachers of higher education institutions, figures of science, culture, business and public organizations.
The cultural program of the event included watching videos about Navruz celebrations and tourism opportunities in Tajikistan, recitation of poems by Tajik classics by students of the Faculty of Oriental Studies of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, demonstration of national costumes of Tajikistan and Ukraine, and a joint concert with folk songs and dances.
As part of the celebration, an exhibition of photographs of Tajik women in national costumes, including chakan and atlas, as well as paintings by Ukrainian artist Lyudmyla Kobycheva “Philosophy of Spring” and works from the Ethno Fashion collection by Kateryna Potlova “Peace to Your Family, Ukraine!” were organized.
Among the guests of honor were People’s Artist of Ukraine Femiy Mustafayev, Honored Artist of Ukraine Olena Dobroziy, and the head of the Kalinochka artistic collective Maria Yastrebova.
In his speech, Ambassador of Tajikistan to Ukraine Davlatali Nazarzoda emphasized the historical importance of Nowruz as a holiday of ancestors, which, thanks to the efforts of Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, has become a worldwide holiday. He emphasized the unifying role of Nowruz in the development of intercultural relations.
Vadym Tkachuk, Rector of the National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine, emphasized that the celebration at the university helps to strengthen international relations and exchange of cultural traditions.
Yaroslav Hadzalo, President of the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Ukraine, expressed his respect for the Tajik people and emphasized the need to expand cooperation between Ukraine and Tajikistan in the field of agricultural development.
Head of the Public Diplomacy Foundation of Ukraine Fedir Lavrynenko emphasized the importance of public diplomacy as an important factor in bringing different peoples and cultures closer together.
Comparing the traditions of Tajik Navruz and Ukrainian Easter, Ukrainian orientalist Oleksandr Shokalo emphasized the deep cultural parallels between the two nations.
At the end of the celebration, the participants had the opportunity to socialize at the festive tables, where Tajik and Ukrainian national dishes were presented.
The culmination of the celebration was a football match for the Cup of the Ambassador of Tajikistan and the Rector of the University between the joint team of the Embassy and the Tajik diaspora and the team of NULES of Ukraine.
Source: https://interfax.com.ua/news/diplomats/1067312.html
On April 30, 2025, Vietnam celebrates the 50th anniversary of the country’s reunification, which has become a major milestone in the history of not only the republic itself but also the entire Southeast Asian region. This event put an end to the long-lasting military conflict and became a symbol of the victory of national unity, self-determination and independence.
Historical significance
On April 30, 1975, the fall of Saigon ended a more than twenty-year war that claimed millions of lives. This date marked the unification of North and South Vietnam and the beginning of a new stage in the country’s history.
The liberation of South Vietnam was the result of the Vietnamese people’s heroic struggle for sovereignty, will to self-determination, and ability to resist external interference.
Half a century of transformation: economic and social breakthrough
Today, Vietnam is among the fastest growing economies in Asia. Since the launch of the Đổi Mới reforms in 1986, the country’s GDP has increased tenfold.
– GDP in 2023 exceeded $476 billion;
– Exports reached a record $405.53 billion;
– The country has become a major production and logistics hub for global corporations.
Active foreign economic policy, steady growth rates, attention to innovation and green economy – all this shapes Vietnam’s image as a reliable international partner.
Potential for cooperation with Ukraine
In the context of global supply chain reformatting and geopolitical shifts, Vietnam-Ukraine relations are gaining new importance.
– Ukraine offers strong agricultural and engineering potential;
– Vietnam – access to ASEAN, low production costs, and logistics location.
Cooperation is possible in the following areas:
– Energy (solar and wind),
– IT and outsourcing,
– electronics and textile production,
– agricultural technologies and education.
Looking to the future
Celebrating its half-century anniversary, Hanoi is not only summarizing its historical results, but also signaling its readiness to meet new global challenges. Vietnam’s economic strategy until 2045 envisages joining the ranks of highly developed countries.
In this context, deepening ties with Ukraine, as part of the new Eastern European configuration, may open additional channels for the development and modernization of both countries.
Information about the Socialist Republic of Vietnam
– Area: about 331,212 km²
– Population: about 98 million people (2022)
– Literacy rate: about 94%.
– Main trading partners: China, USA, Japan, South Korea, Germany
– Main exports: electronics, textiles, footwear, seafood, coffee, rice
– GDP growth over the past 10 years: from 2013 to 2023, GDP grew from $187 billion to $410 billion, indicating significant economic growth in the country.
Leading plastic surgeons from all over Ukraine gathered at the Breast Weekend 2.0 conference organized by Lita Plus clinic on the initiative of its founder, Sergey Derbak.
At the conference, which took place on April 26 in Uzhhorod, leading experts discussed, among other things, modern approaches to reconstruction after trauma and cancer, which is an extremely important area for Ukrainian medicine in the context of war and the ever-growing need to restore the quality of life of victims.
“Today, plastic and reconstructive surgery in Ukraine is reaching a new level. It is not only about restoring appearance, it is about restoring people’s faith in themselves, in life, in the future. And we, the medical community, must do everything possible to support our people and our country,” said Serhiy Derbak, founder of Lita Plus clinic and initiator of the conference.
Breast Weekend 2.0 has become not only a manifestation of support for the army, but also an important step for the development of plastic and reconstructive surgery in Ukraine, an industry that is now gaining new strategic importance and shaping the future of national medicine.
Source: https://interfax.com.ua/news/pharmacy/1067245.html
Breast Weekend 2.0, CLINIC, Lita Plus, MILITARY, plastic surgery, Serhiy Derbak
Primary nickel production in the world will increase by 5.9% to 3.735 million tons in 2025, according to the International Nickel Study Group (INSG).
In 2024, it increased by 11.1% to 3.526 million tons.
These estimates do not take into account the possibility of any disruptions in the operation of enterprises, INSG said in a statement.
Indonesia is expected to continue to increase production of various types of nickel products, including nickel pig iron (NPI). In China, nickel production is forecast to grow this year due to higher output of cathode nickel and nickel sulfate, while NPI production is expected to decline further.
In other countries, mainly due to problems with profitability, a number of production facilities have been mothballed, reduced output or are considering one of these options in the future, INSG said.
Growth in the use of nickel in batteries for electric vehicles was weaker than expected, in particular due to competition from other types of batteries (mainly lithium-iron-phosphate), the organization’s analysts say.
Global consumption of primary nickel is expected to increase by 5.7% this year to reach 3.537 million tons. Last year, it increased by 4.8% to 3.347 million tons.
Thus, the global nickel market will remain in surplus. The surplus of the metal in 2023 amounted to 170 thousand tons, in 2024 – 179 thousand tons, and by the end of 2025, production will exceed demand by 198 thousand tons, according to INSG.
INSG is an independent intergovernmental organization founded in 1990 and based in Lisbon, Portugal. The members of the group are nickel producing and consuming countries: Australia, Brazil, Cuba, France, Germany, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Norway, Portugal, Russia, Sweden, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the European Union.
– The open solution provides fast installation and optimizes reimbursement processes to support fleet electrification.
– Minimizes power outages to accelerate the development of charging infrastructure in multi-family buildings and private homes.
– Remote monitoring through one easy-to-use mobile application.
Schneider Electric, a leader in digital transformation in energy management and automation, has launched Schneider Charge Pro, a reliable, energy-efficient electric vehicle (EV) charging solution in Europe to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles among commercial fleet and apartment building owners. In line with the EU’s Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), which requires the modernization of EV chargers by 2027, Schneider Charge Pro aims to address key barriers to growth in a complex and fragmented market landscape as a comprehensive, affordable solution for electric mobility.
More than just a charging station, Schneider Charge Pro is part of a fully integrated turnkey solution that simplifies the charging process from start to finish, making it easy for charging point operators (CPOs) and building owners to upgrade or install new EV charging stations, and easy and smooth for electricians to install. The solution also comes with open system software that efficiently tracks charging times, simplifying the process of reimbursing CPOs for employees who charge EVs that are part of a residential complex’s fleet.
This open solution is complemented by two new products designed to provide fast and reliable access to electric vehicle charging for cars, vans and other electric vehicles. The EVCE MFH solution, designed specifically for multifamily buildings, manages electricity loads in real time, allowing large numbers of EVs to be charged without overloading or disrupting power supply to tenants or the building. This is supported by a new cloud-based remote monitoring tool that allows for off-site pre-commissioning and faster on-site commissioning through a single, intuitive mobile app.
“As the market and regulatory environment rapidly evolves, Schneider Electric continues to lead the way in the new energy era,” said Nadezh Petit, Chief Innovation Officer at Schneider Electric. “Schneider Charge Pro builds on our century-long legacy of energy management innovation by offering an open, affordable and efficient EV charging solution designed to enable companies to easily electrify their fleets. By simplifying the adoption of electric vehicles for fleet operators, building owners, electricians and apartment buildings, we ensure compliance with EU regulations while helping companies accelerate their electrification goals, move forward and make the transition to sustainable energy.”
The Schneider Charge Pro electric vehicle charging solution is now available in France, Ukraine, and Hong Kong, with more countries to follow within a year.
To obtain the brochure, please follow this link.
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