Vietnam and China meet on borderline demarcation





Dec. 1 (VNA) -- An official declaration of the intention to establish a joint Viet Nam-China committee for borderline demarcation and the setting up of landmarks has been made in Beijing, China.

The declaration was made when the Joint Committee met for the first time in the Chinese capital from Nov. 19-Dec. 1.

The meeting was held to further implement the Viet Nam-China Land Border Treaty signed on Dec. 30, 1999.

Vietnam's economic growth to pick up - say ADB and WB




Ha Noi, Nov. 30 (VNA) -- "Viet Nam's economy is to pick up, and "with the right policies, the country can grow at 7-9 percent per year over the coming decade," the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank say in their reports released in Ha Noi on Nov. 29.

GDP growth in Viet Nam is expected to accelerate to 6.1 percent in 2000 and 6.4 percent in 2001 from 4.7 percent in 1999 due to a recovery in domestic private demand and robust export performances, according to the ADB's Country Economic Review for Viet Nam.

US companies and Australia Gov't help flood victims in Mekong



Nov. 30 (VNA) -- Unocal and Conaco, two US oil firms, have provided USD 200,000 as relief for flood victims in Viet Nam's Mekong delta provinces.

The sum was handed over to the Viet Nam Red Cross (VNRC) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) on Nov. 29.

It will be used to build 330 storm and flood-resistant houses in the flood-prone areas.

Meanwhile, the Austrian Government has donated VND 950 million (USD 67,800) as relief aid to the flooded areas in the Mekong delta.

Trade Minister Vu Khoan answers questions on trade





Ha Noi Nov.30 (VNA) - Trade Minister Vu Khoan on Nov. 29 told the National Assembly that the Government made greater efforts this year to beef up export operations, with priority given to seeking new markets.

This helped achieve a total export value of more than USD 13 billion in the first 11 months of the year, an increase of 25.2 per cent over the corresponding period last year, the minister explained.

Land tourist route from Vietnam to Cambodia




Ha Noi, Nov. 30 (VNA) -- A land tourist route from Rach Gia town in Viet Nam's southern province of Kien Giang to Kep town in Cambodia's Kampot province has been officially opened by the Kien Giang Tourism Company.

The company is conducting three tours a day, carrying tourists by tourist vehicles from Viet Nam to Cambodia and vice versa.

Vietnam inaugurates Embassy in Switzerland




Nov. 30 (VNA) -- Viet Nam officially inaugurated its embassy in Berne, Switzerland, on Nov. 29 in the presence of the visiting Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Dinh Bin and Swiss Secretary of State F.V. Daniken.

Vietnamese and European businesses meet to search of partnerships




Ha Noi, Nov. 30 (VNA) -- Representatives of more than 100 construction companies from the European Union and Viet Nam are meeting to explore possible partnerships at Ha Noi's first ever Asia-Interprise from Nov.29-Dec.1.

Asia-Interprise, run by the French Versailles Chamber of Commerce and the Viet Nam-based French Chamber of Commerce and Industry, offers Vietnamese construction companies the opportunity to develop cooperative potential with partners from Europe, particularly France, Italy and Belgium.

US assists research on environment in Ho Chi Minh city



Ha Noi, Nov. 30 (VNA) -- The U.S. Government has given Ho Chi Minh City equipment to analyse dust in the air worth USD 10,000.

The equipment was presented to the city's Science, Technology and Environment Service by the U.S. Consulate General, the U.S. Agency for Environmental Protection and the California Natural Resources Office on Nov. 30.

The donation was part of the U.S.-Asia Environment Programme (U.S.-AEP).

Factory on liquefied petroleum gas is under construction



Ha Noi, Nov. 28 (VNA) -- Work started on construction of a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) loading factory in Ho Chi Minh City on Nov. 27 by BP Petco, a joint venture between British Petroleum (BP) and the Viet Nam Petroleum Corporation.

The factory, capable of loading 50,000 tonnes of LPG a year, has total investment capital of USD 10 million and will be built in three phases. Phase one is scheduled for completion in late 2001, when the factory will have a yearly capacity of 15,000 tonnes.

Industrial production increase in 11 months



Ha Noi, Nov. 28 (VNA) -- Viet Nam's industrial production value reached VND 178,966 billion (USD 12,428 million) in the past 11 months of this year, a year-on-year increase of 15.7 percent, according to the Ministry of Planning and Investment.

The State-run sector posted an increase of 12.5 percent, the foreign-invested sector, 18.1 percent, and the non-State sector, saw a the highest increase, 18.2 percent.

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