Visitors at a Christmas market in Paris, France on December 9. — Xinhua/VNA Photo

The Vietnam News Agency (VNA) has selected the top 10 international events that shaped the world in 2021.

1. Many countries shift to living safely with COVID-19

Variants of the virus SARS-CoV-2, especially Delta and Omicron, complicated the COVID-19 pandemic with nearly 280 million infections and over 5.4 million deaths globally. 

Taking samples for COVID-19 testing at Yokosuka, Kanagawa, Japan. — AFP/VNA Photo

The World Health Organization has approved eight vaccines against COVID-19 for emergency use. Many countries have adjusted from a policy of “zero COVID” to “safely living with COVID-19,” sped up mass vaccination and applied mandatory vaccination regulations to control the pandemic, thus helping the global economy gradually get out of recession and recover in the last months of the year.

To date, more than 56 per cent of the world's population have been inoculated with the full two doses, while the vaccination rate in poor countries is less than 10 per cent.

2. COP26 makes numerous commitments on gas emissions reduction

The 26th session of the Conference of the Parties of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP26) took place in Glasgow in the United Kingdom and agreed to adopt the Glasgow Climate Pact, reaffirming its commitment to maintaining the goal of keeping the global temperature rise at below 1.5 degrees Celsius.

The opening ceremony of the 26th session of the Conference of the Parties of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in Glasgow on October 31. — AFP/VNA Photo

Many countries announced specific deadlines to bring net emissions to zero and put an end to deforestation, while pledging to cut greenhouse methane emissions by 30 per cent by 2030, stop investment in fossil fuels, and increase financial assistance for poor and developing countries in response to climate change. This represent a step forward in the global approach to climate change.

3. ASEAN strives to find solutions to regional stability and development

ASEAN reached a 5-point consensus on resolving the Myanmar situation, while agreeing to promote cooperation in response to COVID-19, step up economic recovery, and build the ASEAN Community Vision after 2025.

The 39th ASEAN Summit in Hanoi. — VNA/VNS Photo Dương Giang

ASEAN has also been a hallmark of external relations with the establishment of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnerships with China and Australia, the granting of the full Dialogue Partner status to the United Kingdom, and efforts to demonstrate its central role in cooperation with partners and organisations outside the region.

4. China declares completion of a moderately prosperous society

China marked the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China by affirming the accomplishment of the goal of building a moderately prosperous society and entering a new stage of developing a modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious and beautiful by 2049.

Inside a supermarket in China. — Xinhua/VNA Photo

China has made prominent achievements in all fields, and shown an increasing role and influence. China is currently the world’s second largest economy, with its total trade volume leading the world. It is the largest trading partner of 130 economies, and contributes about 30 per cent of global economic growth.

5. US President Joe Biden changes many policies issued by predecessor

With the policy of partnering with friends and learning more about rivals, President Biden abandoned the principle of “America first” and changed or even reversed many of the policies adopted by his predecessor. Biden has re-engaged the US with many multilateral organisations and international agreements, cemented ties with traditional allies, and built alliances like AUKUS, a trilateral security pact between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States, to maximise benefits and restore its international position.

US President Joe Biden at the White House on December 16. — AFP/VNA Photo

Domestically, Biden signed an economic relief package named the “America Rescue Plan” worth 1.9 trillion USD, proposed a plan to build infrastructure worth 2.3 trillion USD, promoted the approval of two bills on tightening gun control, and made a number of commitments on immigration.

6. Taliban returns to power in Afghanistan

On August 15, the Taliban took control of the capital Kabul, and returned to power in Afghanistan after 20 years. Currently, the new Taliban government has not been recognised internationally, and the South Asian country is facing violent conflicts, a division between ethnic groups, terrorist threats and a serious humanitarian crisis.

Taliban force in Mehtarlam, Laghman, Afghanistan. — Xinhua/VNA Photo

The international community has stepped up efforts to stabilise the situation in Afghanistan and prevent multinational terrorist activities in the context of the US officially completing a plan to withdraw all forces from Afghanistan on August 31 after 20 years of fighting.

7. German Chancellor Angela Merkel leaves office after 16 years

On October 26, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier handed over the decision to end the term for Chancellor Angela Merkel. With four consecutive terms in office since 2005, Angela Merkel has left deep hallmarks as a powerful female politician who has helped lead Germany and the European Union (EU) to overcome difficult times related to financial, public debt and migrant crises, with many achievements both at home and abroad.

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier hands over the decision to end the term for Chancellor Angela Merkel. — VNA/VNS Photo

Rated as Europe's most influential leader, and voted the most powerful woman in the world by Forbes magazine 14 times, Merkel made Germany the largest economy in Europe and a symbol of peace and harmony.

8. Energy crisis and global supply chain disruptions

Energy shortages and supply chain disruptions on a global scale have severely impacted the supply and distribution of numerous types of goods. The price of oil, gas and coal skyrocketed, pushing up the price of electricity, and leading to an escalation in the consumer price index and inflation. Many businesses and factories had to close due to the shortage of electricity and production materials, thus negatively affecting the world economic recovery.

A worker checks the gas pipeline system at a natural gas control centre in Hajduszoboszlo, more than 200km east of Budapest (Hungary). — AFP/VNA Photo

In March 2021, the supply chain through the Suez Canal was paralysed due to the super-heavy container ship Ever Given being stuck for nearly a week, causing about 400 million USD in damage per hour. The incident caused more than 400 other ships to be blocked, thereby cutting off the circulation of about 15 per cent of global sea freight at that time.

9. Space tourism and culture

The journey to explore space made significant progress thanks to the development of the private space tourism industry.

On July 20, US billionaire Jeff Bezos joined the first space exploration on the New Shepard spacecraft researched and tested by his company Blue Origin. The youngest passenger on board the spacecraft was an 18-year-old Dutch student. Three months later, Blue Origin made a second flight carrying its oldest passenger, 90-year-old Canadian actor William Shatner.

Blue Origin's New Shepard spacecraft departs West Texas in the US on October 13, 2021. — AFP/VNA Photo

In October, a Russian film crew spent 12 days on the International Space Station (ISS) shooting the first movie in orbit called “The Challenge.” Russian news agency TASS signed an agreement to open the first permanent representative office of a media agency on the ISS.

10. Many major international sport events resume

After a year of being postponed due to COVID-19, the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics and Paralympic Games were held in Japan from late July to early September. Meanwhile, June and July saw the UEFA Euro 2020 taking place in 11 European cities and the 2021 Copa América in Brazil.

Italy win UEFA Euro 2020. — AFP/VNA Photo

The organisation of major sport events on a global scale has helped gradually recover the field, bringing positive energy to fans after a long wait due to the COVID-19 pandemic. — VNS