Conference on quality and food safety of aquatic products



Ha Noi. Jan. 9 (VNA) -- The Fisheries Ministry held the third conference on quality and food safety of aquatic products in Ha Noi on Jan. 9.

Representatives from aquatic processing enterprises and relevant agencies nationwide reviewed their work between 1996 and 2000, and worked out a plan of action from now to 2005 to improve the competitiveness of Viet Nam's aquatic products in the world market.

General Secretary reiterates importance of Laos ties



Ha Noi, Jan. 9 (VNA) -- The Vietnamese Party, State and people would always attach importance to constantly consolidating and developing the loyal and pure Viet Nam-Laos relationship, Viet Nam Communist Party General Secretary Le Kha Phieu said.

Vietnam Airline activities in 2000



Ha Noi, Jan. 9 (VNA) -- Vietnam Airlines - the national flag carrier - last year transported nearly three million passengers and more than 45,500 tonnes of cargo, a year-on-year rise of 11 percent and 15 percent respectively, an official of the Airlines said.

The official said Vietnam Airlines gained a share of about 40 percent of international air transport in the country and brought the rate of seat occupancy to 74.63 percent for the whole year. In addition, it provided supplies and services for about 14,540 flights operated by foreign airlines.

Vietnam - China border bridge opened to traffic



Ha Noi, Jan. 8 (VNA) -- Representatives of Viet Nam's Lao Cai province and China's Yunnan province cut ribbon to put Ho Kieu bridge into services on Jan. 8 after ten months of construction.

The 138-m long and 14-m wide bridge, spanning over the Nam Thi river and linking the Lao Cai international border gate and Hokou area of Yunnan province, was jointly designed and built by the Vietnamese and Chinese engineers with funds from the two governments.

Indian Prime Minister Vajpayee visits Vietnam

Ha Noi, Jan. 8 (VNA) -- A State ceremony was held in the morning, Jan. 8, to welcome Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who arrived in Ha Noi on Jan. 7 to begin his four-day official visit to Viet Nam.

The Indian Prime Minister was welcomed by Prime Minister Phan Van Khai, Foreign Minister Nguyen Dy Nien, Science, Technology and Environment Minister Chu Tuan Nha, Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Le Huy Ngo and Ha Noi People's Committee Chairman Hoang Van Nghien.

Vietnam forest coverage reaches 33,2 per cent




Ha Noi, Jan. 8 (VNA) -- Viet Nam now has 10,915,592 ha of forest or coverage of 33.2 percent, a national forests survey shows.

The country has replanted 1,491,394 ha, including more than 250,000 ha in 2000, the second year of its programme to plant 5 million ha of forest by 2010.

The Central Highlands has the largest forest acreage - 2,373,116 ha or coverage of 53.2 percent. The region has in recent years replanted 33,949 ha.

Temporary customs regulation on goods declaration procedure


Ha Noi, Jan. 9 (VNA) -- The General Department of Customs has issued a temporary regulation guiding importers and exporters to register a single declaration form of goods when going through customs procedure.

Under Decision No. 01/2001 QD-TCHQ issued on Jan. 3, 2001, subject to this new procedure are goods free or exempt from import and export duties, and goods with zero-percent duty rate.

The regulation takes effect 15 days after its signing and will be terminated when the Government changes policies on import-export management and taxes.--VNA

National Daily welcomes Indian Prime Minister visit to Vietnam




Ha Noi, Jan. 8 (VNA) -- The national daily Nhan Dan has welcomed Indian Prime Minister A. B Vajpayee's official visit to Viet Nam, which starts today at the invitation of Viet Nam's Prime Minister Phan Van Khai.

In its editorial of Jan. 8, the newspaper says: "Indian PM Vajpayee's visit and the cooperative documents to be signed while he is here will create new chances for both countries to both expand and make their bilateral cooperation more efficient, especially in trade, investment, science and technology so as to match their potential."

Pharmaceutical sector in Vietnam



Ha Noi, Jan. 7 (VNA) -- Viet Nam will invest more than USD 1,483 million to develop its pharmaceutical sector between 2001 and 2010.

Of this, USD 1,286 million will go to the pharmaceutical industry and USD 62.4 million will be used for pharmaceutical materials.

Mekong Delta proves its fertility




Ha Noi, Jan. 7 (VNA) -- The Mekong river delta is providing more than half of Viet Nam's total rice crop, helping ensure food security and increase rice exports.

The delta has earned more than USD 1 billion from exporting about 4.5 million tonnes of rice, or 2.1 times more than 1995, in the past four years, the agricultural ministry reports.

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