FM Spokeswoman on US Senator John McCain's use of "ill-will words"

Ha Noi, Feb. 21 The FM spokesperson, Ms. Phan Thuy Thanh was answering foreign correspondents' question on Viet Nam's comment on recent statements by US Senator John McCain, slandering that Viet Nam beat and tortured US prisoners as well as his usage of "ill-will" words when referring to the Vietnamese people in particular and the Asian people in general. Ms. Phan Thuy Thanh said:

The Dragon New Year celebration of Embassy of Vietnam in Washington

The Vietnamese Embassy in the US on Feb. 9 held a get-together to celebrate the Vietnamese New Year Festival (Tet), which fell on Feb. 5 this year.

Vietnam Celebrates Anniversary of International Recognition

The Vietnam Fatherland Front, the government and the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations jointly held a meeting in Hanoi on January 17 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations with the People

Chairman Nong Duc Manh meets US Representative

National Assembly Chairman Nong Duc Manh received in Hanoi on January 14 a visiting delegation of members of the US House of Representatives led by Edward Royce, Vice Chairman of the Sub-committee for Asia-Pacific of the US House of Representatives' Committee for Foreign Affairs.

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.

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

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