Vietnamese, US students strive for peace



by Thu Phuong, Vietnam News Daily
January 22, 2003

HA NOI — As American leaders threaten to go to war against Iraq, members of the country’s younger generation came to Viet Nam with a clear message for world leaders: that war can be avoided through friendship and communication.

Ten undergraduates from St. John’s University in Jamaica Plains, New York met with their Vietnamese counterparts from the Institute for International Relations at an unprecedented five-day conference that ended last Friday.

More disabled and Agent Orange victims receive foreign aid

Ha Noi, Jan. 6 (VNA) -- More than 2,000 disabled and agent orange victims have benefitted from a two-year aid project for disabled and agent orange victims funded by the U.S. and Swiss Red Cross Societies.

The project was reviewed at a meeting held in Ha Noi on Monday by the Fund in Support of Agent Orange Victims.

It has been conducted since 2001 in the provinces of Ha Nam, Thua Thien-Hue, Quang Nam, Binh Dinh, Dong Nai, and Da Nang city and Ha Noi at a total cost of 362,000 USD.

Viet Nam has never dumped catfish


Ha Noi, Jan. 3 (VNA) -- Viet Nam has never dumped "tra" and "basa" catfish in any markets, reiterated Deputy Trade Minister Luong Van Tu.

Tu made the reaffirmation in Ha Noi on Friday while talking with Vietnamese pressmen on the American Catfish Farmers Association (CFA)'s accusation of Viet Nam's dumping of catfish on the international market. He said the CFA's accusation has caused harm to trade and interests of catfish raisers and consumers in the two countries.

Direct dialogues on basa catfish needed


Ha Noi, Dec. 11 (VNA) -- The Viet Nam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) wishes U.S. businesses to early recognise that lawsuit is not the best way to commercial disputes, but direct dialogues.

However, VASEP and its members will follow through the U.S. lawsuit against Viet Nam's "tra" and "basa" catfish in case the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) gives an unobjective and harmful decision against Vietnamese catfish enterprises, said VASEP Secretary General, Dr. Nguyen Huu Dung.

US Ambassador to Viet Nam appreciates BTA enforcement

Ha Noi, Dec. 6 (VNA) -- US Ambassador to Viet Nam Raymond F. Burghardt on Friday described the first year of implementing the bilateral trade agreement (BTA) as being "off to a good start, marking a new era in the US-Viet Nam bilateral relations".

The ambassador made the comment at a press conference at the US embassy Annex in Ha Noi today to mark the first anniversary of the BTA going into effect (Dec. 10), which was just five days before he took office as the mission chief in the country.

Foreign Ministry's Spokesperson on one-year enactment of BTA

Ha Noi, Dec. 5 (VNA) -- "Viet Nam is willing to cooperate with the U.S. in a constructive manner and with goodwill to settle issues arising in the process of implementation of the Viet Nam-U.S Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA)," spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry Phan Thuy Thanh said at a regular press briefing in Ha Noi on Thursday.

This will contribute to boosting the two countries' economic and trade ties for mutual benefits, she stressed, adding "Viet Nam has always respected the BTA's spirit".

Handicapped children benefit from foreign donations

Ha Noi, Nov. 18 (VNA) -- Orphans and handicrapped children in Da Nang and Ha Tay saw international promises become reality last week.

In Da Nang city, a Village of Hope was opened, built and equipped through a 150,000 USD donation from the Unilever group.
Unilever has also provided 100,000 USD to built a school for blind children in the city.

The group, arrived in Viet Nam six years ago, and has granted about 70 billion VND (4.7 million USD) in aid to Viet Nam for humanitarian and social activities.

Ho Chi Minh City remains attractive to foreign investors

Ho Chi Minh City, Nov.12 (VNA) -- Effectively streamlining administrative procedures, organising on-line dialogues with businesses, improving and diversifying information services, and drawing up list of projects calling for investment attached with preferential treatment are measures taken promptly by Ho Chi Minh City's authorities in a bid to lure more foreign investment.

In the first ten months of this year, the city attracted 186 foreign-invested projects capitalised at 254 million USD, a 35.2 percent increase year on year.

VN deputy trade minister rejects US DOC's conclusion

Ha Noi, Nov. 13 (VNA) -- The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC)'s conclusion that Viet Nam's economy is a non-market one is extremely unreasonable, said Deputy Trade Minister Luong Van Tu.

The NY Times: "Americans and Vietnamese Fighting Over Catfish"

The New York Times
November 5, 2002

By SETH MYDANS


HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam, Nov. 3 — This time, the Vietnamese have invaded the United States, with catfish, and a bitter war has broken out for access to America's frying pans.

The battlefield is the free market, new terrain for Vietnam, which gave in to American pressure last year and signed a trade agreement that knocks down trade barriers in return for access to American markets.

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