Vietnam ranks 89th in UNICEF's list on children




Ha Noi, Dec. 13 (VNA) -- Viet Nam has been ranked 89th of 198 countries in the Care and Protection of Children by the United Nations Children's Fund, UNICEF, following a decline in deaths of children under five.

UNICEF Country representative Morten Giersing announced the ranking at a news briefing about the World's Children 2001 in Ha Noi on Dec. 13. The briefing was given by UNICEF and Viet Nam's Committee for Protection and Care of Children.

NGO helps conduct plastic surgery for Vietnamese children




Ha Noi, Dec. 14 (VNA) -- Deformed children in the southern province of Dong Nai will benefit from plastic surgery, thanks to an assistance programme to be conducted by a Swiss non-governmental organization, Children Action, starting on Jan. 1 next year.

An agreement to the effect has been signed by the Dong Nai Health Service and Children Action.

ILO senior officials in Vietnam



Dec. 12 (VNA) -- Senior officials of the International Labour Organization, ILO, and Viet Nam's Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs Ministry met in Ha Noi today, Dec. 12.

Their purpose was to review a three-year project, funded by ILO and Japan and implemented by the ministry, intended to raise management capacity and upgrade facilities at job promotion centres in Phu Tho, Hai Duong, Nghe An and Dong Nai provinces and Ho Chi Minh City.

The project was started in 1998.

FM Nguyen Dy Nien explores potential with EU countries


Dec. 12 (VNA) -- Foreign Minister Nguyen Dy Nien sought stronger economic ties with several European countries at bilateral meetings in Vientiane, Laos, on Dec. 11 during the ASEAN-EU Ministerial Meeting.

He spoke with delegates from France, Italy, Ireland and Spain about Viet Nam's policy to accelerate economic cooperation with other countries.

Nien emphasized the importance of the economic ties between Viet Nam and European countries to relations between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, and the European Union, EU.

Ha Long bay listed UNESCO's World geological heritage


Dec. 12 (VNA) -- Ha Long Bay, a beautiful natural landscape in the northern province of Quang Ninh has been listed in the register of world geological heritage sites by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

A news briefing was held in Quang Ninh on Dec. 11, where the UNESCO recognition was announced by the Ministry of Culture and Information and the Quang Ninh People's Committee and the Viet Nam UNESCO Committee.

Vietnam's cyberspace IT Park launched




Ha Noi, Dec. 12 (VNA) -- Viet Nam's first-ever online IT Park was launched Dec. 11 with the aim of creating a forum in cyberspace for Vietnamese to pool ideas on boosting participation in the global information economy.

The park is not designed as an entirely online service, as it offers a combination of real-world services with Internet technology. The USD 4 million park located at www.itpark.com.vn, is split into four major areas: Research and Development; Commerce and Services; Training; and Entertainment.

FM Nguyen Dy Nien attends 13 th ASEAN -EU



Dec. 12 (VNA) -- Vietnamese Foreign Minister Nguyen Dy Nien, who is also President of the ASEAN Standing Committee, is attending the 13th ASEAN-EU Ministerial Meeting which opened in Vientiane, Laos on Dec. 11.

The two-day meeting drew foreign ministers from the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and ministers of the European Union (EU).

WFP helps Vietnam upgrade 300 km of sea dyke


Ha Noi, Dec. 8 (VNA) -- About 308 km of sea dyke in Hai Phong city and four northern provinces of Quang Ninh, Thai Binh, Nam Dinh and Ninh Binh have been upgraded under a project assisted by the World Food Programme (WFP).

Starting in January 1996, the project has completed between 76-89 percent of the workload, with 75.6 km of embankment being upgraded, 83 sewers built or repaired, 8.8 million cu.m. of earth removed, and 2,223 ha of trees planted, said reports delivered at a conference to review the project held in Ha Noi on Dec. 7.

VietsovPetro to pump 12.6 million tonnes of crude oil




Ha Noi, Dec. 8 (VNA) -- * VietsovPetro to Pump 12.6 Million Tonnes of Crude Oil

The Viet Nam-Russia Petroleum Joint Venture Enterprise (VietsovPetro) is expected to pump 12.6 million tonnes of crude oil and bring ashore 1.6 billion cubic metres of gas this year.

Up to early December, the enterprise tapped 11.575 million tonnes of crude oil and brought ashore over 1.447 billion cu.m. of gas. It pumped an average of 39,000 tonnes of oil and brought ashore 4.5 million cu.m. of gas a day.

Mining industry and national economic development in new century


Ha Noi, Dec, 9 (VNA) -- The mining industry plays an important role in the national economic development, especially in the early stage of national industrialization as it fuels other processing and energy industries as well as exports.

Lying in the Southeast Asian region, Viet Nam has abundant and diverse mineral resources, including oil and gas, coal, apatite, iron, tin, and mineral water.

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