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.

Japan Airway ANA opens Tokyo-HCM route



Ha Noi, March 27 (VNA)-- Japan's All Nippon Airway, ANA, today, March 27, launched a new air route from Tokyo to Viet Nam's Ho Chi Minh City to meet Japanese tourists' increasing demand for flights to Viet Nam.

The Japanese aviation giant will cooperate with the Viet Nam flag carrier, the Viet Nam Airlines, to conduct two flights a week.

An estimated 140,000 Japanese tourists visited Viet Nam last year. The figure is expected to rise to one million by 2005, said Viet Nam Tourist Administration.--VNA


Vietnam steps up poverty-eradication efforts



Ha Noi, March 27 (VNA) -- Viet Nam has stepped up its efforts to eradicate hunger and reduce poverty across the country with more investment in poverty-stricken areas.

Prime Minister Phan Van Khai has assigned the State Bank, the Finance Ministry, the Planning and Investment Ministry and other relevant agencies to the task of seeking more investment capital for the Bank for the Poor so as to enable it to expand services for poor people.

FM Spokeswoman rejects an intervention by Amnesty Int'l



Ha Noi, March 27 (VNA) -- Amnesty International's call for those who illegally flee their country be given refuge is an intervention in the internal affairs of that country and that cannot be accepted, says Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Phan Thuy Thanh.

Ms. Thanh was responding to questions by reporters from AFP, AP and The South China Morning Post newspaper seeking Viet Nam's response to Amnesty International's call for a number of Vietnamese minority people, who recently left the country for Cambodia, be given refuge. She said:

PM wishes for closer VN-Israel economic ties



Ha Noi, March 26 (VNA) -- Israel could either import rice, coffee, rubber and other tropical products from Viet Nam, or invest to produce products satisfying its taste and take advantage of Viet Nam's abundant labour, Prime Minister Phan Van Khai has told Israeli business people.

Speaking at his reception for an Israeli Producers' Association delegation in Ha Noi on March 26, the Prime Minister spoke highly of Israel's scientific and technological development.

VN earns USD 3.55 billion in first quarter



Ha Noi, March 26 (VNA) -- Viet Nam earned USD 1.32 billion from exports in March, a month-on-month increase of 15.5 percent, says the General Statistics Office.

The figure brought first-quarter export turnover to USD 3,554 million, a year-on-year increase of 14.2 percent.

Rice remained the stable with 653,000 tonnes exported between January-March, a year-on-year increase of 78 percent. The return of USD 114 million was, however, only about 40 percent higher than last year because of low prices.

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