Poverty reduction program contributes to economic development

Mon, 02/10/2003 - 16:11


Ha Noi, Feb. 10 (VNA) -- The National Programme on Hunger Elimination and Poverty Reduction (Programme 135) has contributed to socio-economic development, markedly improving the living conditions of the poor in more than 2,300 poor communes.

In 2002, through the programme, more than 890 billion VND from the central budget were channelled to 2,233 communes with special difficulties and 51.6 billion VND from the local budget to 129 communes.

Great Buddha bronze statue put to worship

Mon, 02/10/2003 - 16:09


Ha Noi, Feb. 10 (VNA) -- A 6.5m-high, 30-tonne bronze statue of the Great Buddha, the biggest of its kind in Viet Nam, has been put to worship at Non Nuoc Pagoda in Soc Son district on the outskirts of Ha Noi.

Superior Bonze Thich Thanh Quyet in charge of Non Nuoc Pagoda said that the restoration of the pagoda and the inaugural ceremony of the statue on Saturday night would contribute to the 1000th anniversary of Thang Long-Ha Noi.

Leaders on visits to enjoy Tet with people

Thu, 02/06/2003 - 16:53

Nam Dinh, Feb. 6 (VNA) -- State President Tran Duc Luong on Thursday made visits to northern Nam Dinh and Ha Nam provinces to extend best wishes to local leaders and people on the occasion of Tet (lunar new year celebrations).

In Nam Dinh, the President attended a ceremony to launch a campaign of planting bamboo trees to prevent the local dyke system from floods on the Red River at My Trung commune of My Loc district.

Mekong Delta set to double catfish farming

Thu, 02/06/2003 - 16:52


Ho Chi Minh City, Feb. 5 (VNA) -- Despite the on-going row between Viet Nam and the U.S. over catfish dumping, local farmers are pushing ahead on an investment plan to double the amount of catfish produced in the next five years in the provinces along the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta.

The provinces have recently introduced a two-year master plan to boost tra and basa (the most popular varieties of Vietnamese catfish) production and consumption in the region, in order to meet the fishery sector's target of 3 billion USD in export turnover for 2005.

Viet Nam calls for joint efforts to peacefully solve Iraq issue

Thu, 02/06/2003 - 16:47

VIET NAM CALLS FOR JOINT EFFORTS TO PEACEFULLY SOLVE IRAQ ISSUE


Ha Noi, Feb. 6 (VNA) -- Viet Nam has called for concerted efforts to solve the Iraq issue by peaceful means, saying "UN weapons inspectors need more time to give their own conclusion."

"All parties concerned should cooperate in an active way to solve the Iraq issue by peaceful means," said foreign ministry spokeswoman Phan Thuy Thanh on Thursday.

Pilgrims seek spriritual high

Thu, 02/06/2003 - 16:44


Ha Noi, Feb. 5 (VNA) -- The Tet (lunar new year) festival is always an ideal occasion for visiting pagodas in Vietnamese cultural life.

"We come home to visit our relatives, seek local business opportunities and travel throughout the country to visit ancient communal houses and pagodas," a group of Viet kieu (overseas Vietnamese) said when they recently returned to the country.

State President praises overseas Vietnamese

Thu, 01/30/2003 - 11:57

Ha Noi, Jan. 29 (VNA) -- President Tran Duc Luong on Wednesday praised overseas Vietnamese for having granted continuous contributions to developing the homeland.

He said the Party and the State highly valued contributions made by overseas Vietnamese in all fields, particularly in scientific and technological domains.

He told representatives of the overseas Vietnamese community at a meeting in Ha Noi today that the Party and the State have always considered overseas Vietnamese as an integral part and great source of the nation.

Viet Nam wishes for a peaceful solutioin to Iraq issue

Thu, 01/30/2003 - 11:10

Ha Noi, Jan. 30 (VNA) -- Viet Nam has expressed its wish for a peaceful solution to the Iraq issue.

"We hope for the Iraq crisis to be solved in a peaceful manner on the basis of respecting Iraq's independence and territorial integrity and conforming with the UN Charter and international law," said spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry Phan Thuy Thanh in Ha Noi on Thursday.

Central Highland's biggest water park inaugurated

Tue, 01/28/2003 - 11:25

Dac Lac, Jan. 28 (VNA) -- The biggest water park in the Central Highlands was put into operation in Buon Ma Thuot town, Dac Lac province, on Sunday.

The 5-ha park was built at a cost of 13 billion VND (867,000 USD).

Earlier, the Dai Vinh Gia Trang ecological tourism area, covering more than 3ha in Pleiku town, the Central Highlands Gia Lai province, was also put into operation. It is run by a private company which made an initial investment worth 200,000 USD in the area.

Viet Nam maintains high economic growth in January

Tue, 01/28/2003 - 11:21

Ha Noi, Jan. 28 (VNA) -- Viet Nam's socio-economic development in January is on the right track as it was in the last months of 2002, said Planning and Investment Minister Vo Hong Phuc at a monthly cabinet meeting in Ha Noi on Tuesday.

"In January, industrial production grew 14.9 percent year-on-year, of which the state-owned sector recorded an increase of 9.7 percent; the non-state sector, 21.5 percent and the foreign-invested sector, 16.3 percent," the minister told the cabinet.

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