Vietnam steps up economic reform


Tokyo, May 21 (VNA) -- Viet Nam's government will further improve the country's business environment and create favourable conditions for every enterprise to have access to capital, technology transfer and other resources for its development, said Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Khiem.

"Fully mobilizing internal strengths, renewing technology, increasing the quality of human resources, raising the competitiveness of goods and services, and improving the business and investment environment are vital for Viet Nam's economic growth," Khiem stressed.

Annoucement of list of projects calling for foreign investment

Ha Noi, May 20 (VNA)-- Industrial and tourism sectors hold the important places in the list of 228 projects calling for foreign investments during the 2001-2005 period signed by the Prime Minister on May 17.

The oil and gas sector calls for foreign investment in a USD 17 million project on post-petrochemical products, an industrial gas project in the Hoa Khanh industrial park in central Da Nang city, a USD 12 million product-sharing contract for exploration and exploitation of new oil fields.

High turnout of the 11th National Assembly election on May 19

Ha Noi, May 20 (VNA) -- The national turnout of the 11th National Assembly election on May 19 reached 98.85 percent, reported the Information Board of the Electoral Council in a press release available on May 20. Voters will chose 498 representatives from 759 candidates.

The press release said 49,211,275, of the registered 49,783,769, voters nationwide went to the polls.

Feedback from all over the country has shown voters' satisfaction with the preparation of the election, which, most said, complied with law.

Vietnamese religious delegation visit the U.S

Washington, May 16 (VNA) -- The largest and most diverse ever religious delegation of Viet Nam has paid a visit to the U.S. A high-level delegation of dignitaries from the Buddhist Sangha, the Catholic Church and the Evangelical Church (Southern region), of Vietnam and a delegation of the government's Committee for Religious Affairs, the Government's Office have visited New York and Washington DC.

Improvements in rural infrastructure development


Ha Noi, May 13 (VNA) -- Viet Nam saw marked improvements in rural infrastructure development over the past seven years, according to the results of the 2001 rural, agriculture and fishery survey.

The latest survey was conducted in 80,544 villages of 8,950 communes across the country.

Statistics showed that 7,712 communes or 86. 2 percent of the total have been linked to electricity grids. In other words, an additional 2,403 communes were provided with electricity during the seven-year interval between the last two surveys.

Vietnamese and DPR of Korea leaders hold talks

President Tran Duc Luong visits DPR of Korea from May 2, 2002. At the talks with President of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK Kim Yong Nam on May 3rd, President Tran Duc Luong welcomed the results of the historic summit between the two Koreas in June 2000 as well as recent moves toward pushing up dialogue and consolidating peace and stability on the Korean peninsula and in the region.

Vietnam's cooperation with UN agencies helps UN aid operation

Ha Noi, May 2 (VNA)-- Viet Nam's close cooperation with UN agencies, which has proved decisive to every project's success, is an experience for the UN to improve its aid operation in other developing countries, said its senior officials.

President of the UNICEF Executive Board A. Franco, and Permanent Representative President of the UNDP/UNFPA Executive Board D. Van Den Berg shared this view in their interview with the national daily Nhan Dan (People) during their recent joint visit to Viet Nam.

Vietnam will use Cam Ranh for national development


Ha Noi, May 3 (VNA) -- Viet Nam's foreign ministry spokeswoman Phan Thuy Thanh today, May 3, said that Viet Nam will not cooperate with any country wishing to use Cam Ranh port for military purposes.

FM Spokeswoman rejects Human Right' report on ethic minority

On April 24, 2002, Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Phan Thuy Thanh answered question from many journalists:Please provide Vietnam's reaction to a report by the Human Rights Watch on 23 April 2002 accusing Vietnamese authorities of suppressing Central Highland ethnic minority people.

Answer:

President Tran Duc Luong and PM. Koizumi


Ha Noi, Apr. 28 (VNA) -- Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has expressed his admiration for Viet Nam's unceasingly improved prestige in the regional and international arena.

PM. Koizumi also highly valued the country's efforts in boosting multi-form cooperation with Japan during his meeting with Vietnamese President Tran Duc Luong in Ha Noi on Sunday. He said that a number of Japanese business people have found Viet Nam a trustworthy investment venue, therefore pouring their investment into long-term projects in the country.

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