Vietnam supports Palestine





Ha Noi, April 4 (VNA) -- Viet Nam's Committee for Solidarity and Cooperation with African and Latin American People and Committee for Solidarity with the Palestinian People have expressed deep concern over the Israeli Government's "one hundred days" plan, saying it may worsen the crisis and bring the region to the brink of war.

People's awareness of HIV/AIDS improved markedly



Ha Noi, April 5 (VNA) -- People's awareness of the global epidemic HIV/AIDS has been improved markedly thanks to nationwide efforts to disseminate information about the disease, Public Health Minister Do Nguyen Phuong said.

Mr.Phuong was speaking to a two-day conference in Ha Noi on April 5 reviewing HIV/AIDS prevention activities over the past 10 years.

FM responds to Mr. Milosevic's arrest &landing of US aircraft


Ha Noi, April 3 (VNA) -- Foreign Ministry spokesperson Phan Thuy Thanh has stressed that any action or interference that puts pressure on another country is unacceptable.

Ms.Thanh was answering the Ha Noi-based AP correspondent who was seeking Viet Nam's response to the arrest of former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic by Serbia's security forces on April 1.

VN wants to boost software cooperation with India



Ha Noi, Apr. 2 (VNA) -- Viet Nam and India should further their mutual help and cooperation in software, particularly in personnel training and the marketing of software products, says Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Khiem.

Mr.Khiem told visiting Microsoft India President Rajiv Nair in Ha Noi on Apr. 2 that his arrival was of great significance to Viet Nam's plans for matching advanced soft-ware industry countries.

More care for social beneficiariers




Ha Noi, Mar. 30 (VNA) -- The Viet Nam Government and people give better care to those who rendered great service to the nation, war invalids and fallen combatants' families.

The assessment was made at a conference in Ha Noi on Mar. 30 to review the implemention of the Government policy giving priority to those who served the nation with distinction between 1994-2000.

GDP growth of 7,2% in first quarter



Ha Noi, April 1 (VNA) -- Viet Nam recorded a gross domestic product, GDP, growth of 7.2 percent in the first quarter of this year, as compared to 5.6 percent in the same period last year, according to the General Statistics Department.

The increase was attributed to the positive results obtained in all key economic sectors, the department said, adding that the industrial and construction sectors grew 9.9 percent as compared to 7.4 percent last year, while that of the service sector rose 6.1 percent from 4.6 percent.

PetroVietnam exports 100 million tonne of crude oil



Ha Noi, March 29 (VNA) -- The Viet Nam Oil and Gas Corporation, PetroVietnam, has exported the 100 millionth tonne of crude oil by the end of March. It passed the 100-million-tonne mark in tapping crude oil on Feb. 13, this year.

PetroVietnam exported more than 4.3 million tonnes of crude in the first quarter of this year, marking a year-on-year rise of 22.3 percent.

Government holds its March meeting



Ha Noi, March 29 (VNA) -- The Government held its regular meeting in Ha Noi on Mar. 28-29 chaired by Prime Minister Phan Van Khai and his deputies Nguyen Manh Cam, Nguyen Cong Tan and Pham Gia Khiem.

Cabinet discussed and gave opinions about a report on foreign direct investment during the 1996-2000 period, offered solutions for the 2001-2005 period and proposed an administrative reform strategy for 2001-2010.

VN signed agreement on environmental protection



March 29 (VNA) -- An agreement on environmental protection in East Sea and the Gulf of Thailand was signed in Bangkok, Thailand, on March 28 by representatives of Viet Nam, Thailand, China, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines.

This is the first agreement signed by such regional countries to improve the sea environment.

The region is a home for 270 million people which is estimatedly to be double in the next 30 years and bring about many environmental problems such as pullution and over exploitation of natural resources.

Vietnam calls help for disable &Agent Orange-affected children




Vietnam's Vice President Nguyen Thi Binh has called on all individuals and organisations at home and overseas to help and support disabled children in general and children who are victims of Agent Orange in particular.

The vice president made the call at a campaign launched in Hanoi on March 22, to support disabled children and children affected by Agent Orange between now and 2005.

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