Vietnam export turnover in May


Ha Noi, May 25 (VNA) -- Viet Nam's export turnover in May reached USD 1.32 billion, according to the General Statistic Office.

The figure brought the country's export turnover in the first five months of this year to more than USD 6.16 billion, a year-on-year increase of 16.2 percent.

Vietnamese FM meets Asian, European counterparts



May 27 (VNA) -- Viet Nam's Foreign Minister Nguyen Dy Nien met his counterparts from China, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, France, Spain, Denmark, Austria and the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs of the United Kingdom, while attending the third Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) for Foreign Ministers in Beijing on May 24 and 25.

Urban population to rise by one million each year


Ha Noi, May 23 (VNA) -- Viet Nam's urban population is estimated to annually increase by one million from now until 2020, according to the Construction Ministry.

Infrastructure development in urban centres of Viet Nam annually needs between VND 3,000 and 5,000 billion, the Ministry added at the recent Viet Nam Urban Forum on May 21.

National Assembly session opens



Ha Noi, May 22 (VNA) -- Viet Nam's tenth National Assembly begins its ninth session in Ha Noi on morning, May 22.

In his opening speech, National Assembly Chairman Nong Duc Manh said that the month-long session would discuss and pass six draft laws such as the Law on the Amendment and Supplementation to the Land Law; the Law on Fire Prevention and Fighting; the Law on Cultural Heritage; the Law on Customs; the Law on Land Traffic; and the Law on Amendment and Supplementation to the Criminal Litigation Code.

Gov't takes measures to stop downward trend of consumer price


Ha Noi, May 21 (VNA) -- Economists say that the downward trend of Viet Nam's consumer price index which has been happening for a number of years now, especially in the first four months of this year, has mainly stemmed from the slow-down of food and foodstuff consumption.

"Food prices have dropped by 19.4 percent in the last 28 months and 3.7 percent in the first four months of 2001, while the price index of other commodities has remained mostly stable, fluctuating around one percent," says Associate Prof. Dr Ngo Tri Long.

France increases efforts to promote teaching of French in Vietnam



Ha Noi, May 21 (VNA) -- The French Government will grant French Francs 13 million to support the teaching of French as a second language in Vietnamese secondary schools for the next three years.

To this effect, French Ambassador to Viet Nam, Serge Degallaix, and Vietnamese Education and Training Minister Nguyen Minh Hien signed an agreement in Ha Noi May 21.

Bumper harvest but price drop



Ha Noi, May 22 (VNA) -- Favourable weather has so far indicated the likelihood of a bumper winter-spring harvest and a record fish catch, but a sharp drop in prices has dampered farmers' hope for an increase in income.

This year, almost 3 million ha of winter-spring rice will be harvested across the country, an increase of more than 10,000 ha over the corresponding period last year. Yields are higher than the previous crops. Increases in yields and output are also expected for maize and other food crops.

Government maps out path toward free trade



Ha Noi, May 22 (VNA) -- The Ministry of Trade (MoT) has issued for the first time a long-term decision setting out its trade policies for 2001-05, making it easier for both enterprises and State agencies to formulate their inmport and export strategies.

Trade Minister Vu Khoan has said that the decision is a positive step that will help domestic firms prepare for the process of regional and international integration.

He said the decision will also reduce excessive bureaucracy and increase transparency in allocating quotas.

Gov't supports software human resources development



Ha Noi, May 21 (VNA) -- The Government has agreed in principle to the use of India's loan of 230 million rupees (about USD 5 million) to build two human resources training centres for the software industry in Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City.

A decision to this effect has been signed by Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Manh Cam.

The two centres will be built by the Ha Noi University of Technologies and the Ho Chi Minh City Science, Technology and Environment Service under the management of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment.

National Assembly Standing Committee meets



Ha Noi, May 19 (VNA) -- The National Assembly Standing Committee met in Ha Noi from May 14-19. It was presided over by Chairman Nong Duc Manh and Deputy Chairman Mai Thuc Lan.

The Standing Committee reviewed the preparations for the coming ninth session of the tenth National Assembly, due to open in Ha Noi on May 22. It also discussed a supplementary report on the implementation of socio-economic tasks and the state budget for last year as well as the deployment of socio-economic tasks and the state budget for this year.

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