Christmas celebrations held nationwide


Ha Noi, Dec. 24 (VNA) -- The birthday of Jesus Christ was celebrated with great joy on Dec. 24, across the country.

In Ha Noi, a delegation of the Presidium of the Viet Nam Fatherland Front Central Committee (VFFCC) led by Le Truyen, member of the VFFCC's standing board, this morning visited the Ha Noi Archbishopric to convey greetings from Pham The Duyet, President of the VFFCC's Presidium, to Vietnamese Catholics.

10th National Assembly closed its one month session

Ha Noi, Dec. 25 (VNA) -- The 10th National Assembly closed its month-long session this morning, Dec. 25.

During the session, the National Assembly discussed and assessed the implementation of socio-economic tasks and the State budget in 2001 and in the 1996-2000 period; passed a resolution on 2002 plan, a resolution on the five-year (2001-2005) plan, a resolution on estimation of the State budget for 2002, a resolution approving the balance of payment in 2000, and a resolution on ratification of the Viet Nam-U.S. Bilateral Trade Agreement.

PM Khai tells diplomats to get down to business


HA NOI

Forum to discuss measures to improve investment environment


Ha Noi, Dec. 3 (VNA) -- More than 250 representatives of Vietnamese and foreign businesses, Government agencies, diplomatic corps, and international organizations gathered at a forum held in Ha Noi on Dec. 3 to seek measures to further improve investment and trade environment in Viet Nam.

Vietnam gives priority to fight against poverty

Ha Noi, Dec. 4 (VNA) -- Viet Nam will give first priority to programmes on hunger elimination and poverty reduction in the years to come, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Cong Tan has affirmed.

Mr. Tan was addressing the international forum for the nationally-targeted programme on hunger eradication, poverty reduction and employment held by the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs in Ha Noi on Dec. 3.

He said hunger elimination and poverty reduction will be a key target of Party and State development policies.

Vietnam welcomes 2.13 million foreign tourists in 11 months


Ha Noi, Dec. 2 (VNA) -- Viet Nam welcomed 2.13 million foreign tourists in the first 11 months of this year, a year-on-year increase of 9.4 percent, reports the Tourism Administration.

The number of foreign tourists travelling by air and sea in 11 months saw year-on-year increases of 17 percent and six percent, respectively.

Interview of Gen. Secretary Nong Duc Manh to the Chinese press


Ha Noi, Dec. 1 (VNA) -- "The friendship between Viet Nam and China is an invaluable asset of the Parties and people of the two countries," General Secretary Nong Duc Manh of the Communist Party of Viet Nam assured the Chinese press.

He confirmed that the Vietnamese people will do all they can to constantly develop these ties and treasure them forever.

Deputy PM Nguyen Tan Dung visits American countries

PERMANENT DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER STARTS CUBA VISIT


Ha Noi, Dec. 1 (VNA) -- Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung started a working visit to Cuba on Nov. 30, the first leg of his tour to four American countries.

Deputy PM Nguyen Tan Dung was accompanied by Construction Minister Nguyen Manh Kiem, General Director of the Viet Nam Tourism Administration Vo Thi Thang, and others.

Deputy PM Dung was welcomed at the Jose Marti International Airport by Carlos Lage, Deputy Foreign Minister Jose Guerra M., and other Cuban leaders.

Plan to achieve universalization of junior secondary education

Ha Noi, Nov.27 (VNA)-- The Government of Viet Nam plan to achieve universalization of junior secondary education nationwide by the end of the first decade of the 21st century.

To formalise the plan, the Prime Minister issued a decree on Nov. 22 outlining its implementation.

The decree states that all Vietnamese, aged between 11 and 18, are eligible for universalised junior secondary education.

Vietnam sets poverty reduction records among developing countries


Ha Noi, Nov. 27 (VNA)-- The renewal process over the past ten years has helped reduce the poverty rate in Viet Nam by 33 percent, the best result among the developing world.

This was announced in Ha Noi on Nov. 26 by the National Centre of Social Sciences and Humanities in the National Human Development Index, HDI, Report-2001, prepared for the first time by Viet Nam with assistance from the United Nations Development Programme, UNDP.

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