Over 2.1 million applicants for university and college

Fri, 06/01/2001 - 01:41



Ha Noi, May 31 (VNA) -- More than 2.1 million people have so far this year registered for entrance exams to universities and colleges nationwide, an increase of 12 percent over last year.

The figure does not include applicants to Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City conservatoirs, Bac Lieu Teachers' Training College, Ha Tay and Dong Thap Community College, and several cadet schools under the Defence Ministry, the Ministry of Education and Training reports.

Gov't pledges more funds to build infrastructure in rural areas

Fri, 06/01/2001 - 01:37


Ha Noi, May 30 (VNA) -- The Government will provide more than 2,000 communes described as the poorest in Viet Nam with VND 700 million (USD 50,000) each to build infrastructure facilities, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Cong Tan told National Assembly deputies at a debate held at the Ba Dinh Hall in Ha Noi Tuesday, May 29.

The money is part of the Government's plan called Programme 135 to develop infrastructure in these communes, which has been deployed nationwide for three years now.

Vietnam concerns about China's forbiding sea area for exercises

Sun, 05/27/2001 - 23:06



Ha Noi, May 27 (VNA) -- Viet Nam has expressed deep concern over the Guangzhou Radio's announcement on May 25 that China would mark off a forbidding sea area covering Coordinates between 14 degree 30' and 17 degree 00' to the North and between 111 degree 30' and 114 degree 00' to the East for shooting exercises from 0:0 hr on May 27 to 24:00 hrs on June 3.

Vietnam export turnover in May

Sun, 05/27/2001 - 22:54


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

Sun, 05/27/2001 - 22:45



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

Wed, 05/23/2001 - 14:35


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

Wed, 05/23/2001 - 00:31



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

Wed, 05/23/2001 - 00:22


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

Wed, 05/23/2001 - 00:19



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

Wed, 05/23/2001 - 00:16



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.

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