New Year's Message - 2000 delivered by President Tran Duc Luong

Together with the people across the world, the Vietnamese people are cheerfully celebrating the year 2000, the final year of the 20th century that spans the two centuries and millennia.

As always, on the occasion of the new year, people around the globe in their diverse customs shall extend best wishes to each other.

At this historic moment of the New Year

Socio-Economic Achievements of 1999

1999 saw significant socio-economic achievements recorded by the Vietnamese people. The achievements are as follows:

1. The gross domestic production grew by 5%.

2. The agricultural production increased by 5.5%

3. Rice-equivalent food output reached 33.8 million tonnes.

4. The industrial production grew by 10.3%.

5. The export turnover grew by 22%.

6. More investments were concentrated in agriculture, and in the rural and remote areas.

7. The number of poor households was reduced.

Top Ten Vietnamese Cultural Events of 1999

Nhan Dan newspaper has featured top ten cultural events in 1999. The events include:

1. Hanoi was awarded with the "Cities for Peace" prize by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

2. Construction of the Cultural and Tourist Village of Vietnamese Nationalities started on October 3 by the Ministry of Information and Culture.

3. My Son Sanctuary and Hoi An ancient town in the central province of Quang Nam were recognised as the world heritage sites by UNESCO.

Urgent task to stabilize people's lives in flood-hit areas

The recent flooding in seven central provinces of Vietnam has inflicted widespread losses of lives and property, production and infrastructure. At least, 592 people were killed and 24 left missing. Thua Thien-Hue province was the hardest hit province. In that province 351 people died, 24 went missing and 250 others were injured. Floods have severely affected over 670,000 households of which 15,000 have had to move to other places. About 1.6 million people are homeless and relying on relief supply.

Positive growth expected despite economic slide, calamities

(SGT) Nov. 16- Vietnam can still record positive growth in almost all sectors despite the adverse impact of the regional economic crisis and natural disasters on the economy, according to a Government report.

The Government is expected to present the report on the country's 1999 socio-economic performance at the sixth National Assembly sitting, which the National Assembly Office has announced will be opened on Thursday.

The report says the country will realize many economic forecasts and that performance in a number of sectors can surpass the year's targets.

Vietnam welcomes the Sino-US trade and economic agreement

VNA Ha Noi, Nov. 16 -- Vietnam welcomes the Sino-US agreement on economic and trade issues, which creates favourable conditions for China to join the World Trade Organization (WTO), a spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry said in Ha Noi on Nov. 16.

Viet Nam holds that being a major economy in the region and the world, China should obtain WTO membership, the Vietnamese diplomat stressed while answering foreign reporters' questions about Viet Nam's stance on the Sino-US relations.

Vietnam earns more than US$10.2 billion from exports in 11 months

Ha Noi, Nov. 29 (VNA) -- Viet Nam earned more than USD 10.2 billion from exports in the past 11 months, a year-on-year increase of 20.1 percent, according to the General Statistics Office (GSO).

The country is expected to obtain an export value of USD 11.25 billion this year, nearly USD 2 billion more than in 1998, registering a growth rate of 20 percent.

Foreign-invested enterprises earned an export value of nearly USD 4.1 billion in the past 11 months, a 39 percent year-on-year increase.

ASEAN Focuses on Economic Recovery

The ASEAN leaders agreed to strengthen cooperation for peace and stability in the region, with the aim of facilitating economic recovery and development during the third ASEAN informal Summit in Manila, the Philippines, on November 28.

The participants expressed their happiness at ASEAN member countries' economic recovery, with an average growth rate of 2-3% in 1999 as compared with a 7% contraction in 1998. The figure is expected to reach 4-5% in 2000.

Peace and Stability Vital for Development

The maintenance of a peaceful and stable environment in the region is a prerequisite for cooperation and development, said Prime Minister Phan Van Khai at the third ASEAN informal Summit held in Manila, the Philippines on November 28.

The situation in the Korean Peninsular, the East Sea, and East Timor, and the threat of an arms race only confirm the value of the basic principles of international relations, such as respect for independence, non-interference in each other

East Asian Leaders Issue Joint Declaration

After the meetings of ASEAN +3 and ASEAN +1, the leaders of the ten ASEAN countries, China, Japan and the Republic of Korea signed a joint declaration on East Asian co-operation.

The announcement noted, "Diplomatic and trade relation in Eastern Asia have become more and more developed, which has created many opportunities for co-operation. Many new factors have pushed peace, stability and prosperity in the region".

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