Kindergartens set up to protect children from floods


Ha Noi, Sept. 25 (VNA) -- Relief workers have set up as many as 510 kindergartens in the Mekong Delta in a bid to stop the deaths of children in flash floods while their parents are away at work.

Of the latest death toll of 155 in the delta, as many as 134 are children. The victims are mostly poor families where the parents have to leave their children behind as they go out in search of work to eke out a living.

PM Phan Van Khai calls for expanding overseas markets

Ha Noi, Sept. 22 (VNA) -- Prime Minister Phan Van Khai has asked Vietnamese commercial counsellors abroad to further expand overseas markets.

During his meeting with 41 counsellors in Ha Noi on Sept. 22, PM Khai encouraged the counsellors to find ways to boost external economic activities in line with Viet Nam's foreign policy of being friends with all nations, diversification, multilateralisation, mutual respect, non-interference in each other's internal affairs, and mutual benefit - for the interest of each country, the region, and the world.

Vietnam welcomes China's entry into WTO



On Sept. 20, 2001, FM Spokeswoman Phan Thuy Thanh answered quesstion regarding China's entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO). Ms. Thanh said that Viet Nam welcomes China's WTO admission, considering it to be an important event for China and the global economy.

China is a major economy in the region as well as the world, so its admission to the WTO will bring about new opportunities and challenges for Viet Nam.

Fisheries sector calls for more investment over next 4 years


Ha Noi, Sept. 19 (VNA) -- The fisheries sector has called for an investment of VND 23 trillion (USD 1.46 billion) for the 2001-2005 period so as to catch 2.4 million tonnes of fish and earn USD 3 billion from exports by 2005.

Fisheries Minister Ta Quang Ngoc told members of the International Economic and Cultural Exchange Club on Sept. 18 that the funding is expected to come largely from the State budget.

Vietnam Airlines &Thai Airway agreement on Da Nang-BKK route


Ha Noi, Sept. 19 (VNA) -- Vietnam Airlines and Thai Airway International signed in Ha Noi today, Sept. 19, a code-sharing agreement on Da Nang-Bangkok route.

The 50-50 partnership agreement will come into effect as of Oct. 28, 2001. Under code-sharing and block seat principle, Vietnam Airlines will sell tickets under its own name and Thai Airway Int'l will provide services on Da Nang-Bangkok route and vice versa.

Textile industry records 25% growth rate

Ha Noi, Sept. 14 (VNA)-- The garment and textiles industry has registered an annual growth rate of between 20 and 25 percent in recent years, and provided almost 1.6 workers with jobs, not accouning for those in the cotton growing and sericulture areas.

Knitwear exports alone earn around USD 25 million every year, reports the Viet Nam Corporation of Textiles and Garments.

The success has largely resulted from the industry's intensive investment in technological upgrades and expansion of raw material areas such as cotton.

Vietnam ratifies UN protocols on the rights of the child


Ha Noi, Sept.11 (VNA) -- Viet Nam has ratified two optional protocols to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which were passed by the United Nations General Assembly on May 16, 2001.

These are optional protocols on the sale of children, child prostitution, child pornography, and the involvement of children in armed conflicts.

Gen. Secretary Nong Duc Manh highlights national unity


Ha Noi, Sept. 8 (VNA) -- Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh said that the Communist Party of Viet Nam has always considered the task of building national unity between all 54 ethnic groups in Viet Nam a crucial part of the Party's revolutionary cause.

Mr. Manh also lauded the great contributions made by all ethnic groups to Viet Nam's revolutionary cause as well as the services rendered by those who have worked to help ethnic minority groupings over the past decades.

Improve healthcare system in mountainous areas


Ha Noi, Sept. 4 (VNA) -- The healthcare sector has worked out a plan to improve the healthcare system in nothern mountainous and central highlands provinces and make medical services accessible to all local people.

To this end, the training of highly qualified medical workers for these areas is an important measure.

Though the northern mountainous and central highland provinces, home to more than 50 minority groups, have seen considerable socio-economic progess, its healthcare service is still poor.

Gov't plans to attract USD 12 billion foreign investment

Ha Noi, Sept. 4 (VNA) -- The Government has unveiled its ambitious plan to solicit USD 12 billion in foreign investment between now and 2005, considering this part of its effort to bolster the national economic development in the years to come.

In a recent regulation coded 09/NQ-CP, the Government said: "Foreign investment must be promoted to attract USD 12 billion of registered capital, with USD 11 billion to be disbursed, in the 2001-2005 period."

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