Sustainable development plan for industrial sector



Ha Noi, Feb. 22 (VNA) -- Industry Minister Dang Vu Chu has identified boosting the production capacity and competitiveness of the industrial sector as the way to sustainable development.

In an interview with the Sai Gon Giai Phong, Liberated Sai Gon, daily, Chu says his ministry's 2001-2005 industrial development strategy is focussed on measures to increase efficiency and competitiveness to gain a bigger share in the domestic and global markets and boost productivity to meet local demand.

NA Standing committee calls for legal drafts completion



Ha Noi, Feb. 22 (VNA) -- The National Assembly's Standing Committee has called for completion of draft laws on cultural heritage and the customs service before its ninth session, which is scheduled for the second quarter of the year.

Members of the Standing Committee, who ended a five-day meeting on Feb. 19 in preparation for the ninth session of the National Assembly, agreed that the next session would focus on building the nation's legal system.

Healthcare: epidemic control and strengthen grassroot services




Feb. 23 (VNA) -- The health sector plans to actively prevent and control epidemics and strengthen grassroots medical services, particularly in remote and mountainous areas, this year.

The plans are just two of ten major tasks set by the sector for 2001 at a two-day conference ending in Ho Chi Minh City today, Feb. 23.

Strengthening all-people national defence education



Ha Noi, Feb. 21 (VNA) -- Improving the quality and efficiency of all-people national defence education to meet the requirement of defending the Socialist Repulic of Viet Nam in any situation is the main content of the directive issued by the Party Political Bureau on Feb. 12.

Russian President to visit Vietnam




Ha Noi, Feb. 21 (VNA) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin will make an official visit to Viet Nam from Feb. 28 to March 2, the Foreign Ministry has announced.

It will be the first visit to Viet Nam by a Russian President.

Earth tremor shakes Lai Chau province again





Ha Noi, Feb. 21 (VNA) -- An earth tremor shook Dien Bien Phu basin in northwestern Lai Chau province at 18:05 hrs on Feb. 21.

The quake measured two on the Richter scale.

Earlier on Feb. 19, an earthquake measuring 5.3 on the Richter Scale hit the province, heavily damaging schools, houses and hospitals there. No deaths were reported and total material damaged was estimated at VND 200 billion (USD 13.8 million).

Porcelain potential in Vietnam



Ha Noi, Feb. 20 (VNA) -- Graphite deposits estimated to contain millions of tonnes of ore have been found in the northern-midland Phu Tho province.

The 28 pegmatite-graphite deposits will be mined to make porcelain.

Viet Nam has 105 known kaolin ore deposits with reserves estimated at 639 million tonnes, 39 white-clay ore deposits, reserves estimated 52 million tonnes, and 184
red-clay ore deposites.

HIV/AIDS prevention model for border provinces



Ha Noi, Feb. 20 (VNA) -- A prevention model titled "Community Action to Fight HIV/AIDS" will be deployed in five provinces along the border with Cambodia and Laos between June 2001-June 2002.

They are northern Lai Chau province, central Quang Tri province and the southern provinces of An Giang, Dong Thap and Kien Giang. All are designated "hot spots" with high rates of HIV/AIDS carriers.

Seminar on patent cooperation among ASEAN




Ha Noi, Feb. 20 (VNA) -- Measures to help Viet Nam and other Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, countries better use the protection offered by the association's Patent Cooperation Treaty, PCT, are being discussed at a three-day seminar that began in Ha Noi on Tuesday, Feb. 20.

PCT's patent-protection system is designed to promote technological innovation among ASEAN countries as well as help them attract foreign investment. It is crucial to developing countries that have just started industrialization and modernization like Viet Nam.

Opium poppy acreage shrinks




Ha Noi, Feb. 20 (VNA) -- Viet Nam's opium poppy acreage has shrunk from 19,000 ha in the 1992-93 crop to 420 ha at present, according to the State Committee for Ethnic Minorities and Mountainous Areas.

The committee held a conference in Ha Noi today, Feb. 20, to review the implementation of the opium poppy eradication programme in the 1993-2000 period.

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