Vietnam first petrol plant &biggest fertilizer plant to be built



Ha Noi, Mar. 7 (VNA) -- Viet Nam's first petrol plant and biggest nitrogenous fertilizer plant will be built in southern Ba Ria-Vung Tau province.

A contract to build the 340,000 tonne-per-year petrol plant was signed between the Gas Processing and Business Company and the joint venture company between the Machinery Installation and Construction Company 45-1 and Taiwan's CTCI Corporation on Mar. 6.

Construction of the petrol plant is estimated to cost USD 17 million and is scheduled to be completed in 2003.

Foreign tourists keep coming to Vietnam



Ha Noi, March 6 (VNA) -- Viet Nam welcomed 365,000 foreign tourists, including 71,000 overseas Vietnamese, in the first two months of this year, a year-on-year increase of 11 percent, says the Viet Nam Tourism Administration.

Most of the foreign tourists were Chinese.

The tourism sector also held tours for 1.5 million domestic tourists in the same period, a four percent year-on-year increase. All told, the sector turned over VND 1,500 billion (USD 107 million) in the period under review.--VNA

Largest banking payment project completed




Ha Noi, March 6 (VNA) -- The USD 13.1 million inter-bank payment project, the largest of its kind, was technically complete, the State Bank announced on March 6.

The project includes a national processing and balancing centre with regional branches in Ha Noi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hai Phong Da Nang and Can Tho as well as provincial branches.

It will link almost 100 credit agencies across the country and is a leap by Viet Nam's banking system into integrating with the region and the world.

Vietnam Airline and UPS cooperate in aircargo service




Ha Noi, March 6 (VNA) -- The national flag carrier, Vietnam Airlines, has signed a commercial cooperation agreement with the United Parcel Service, UPS, of the United States to use Boeing 757F to carry cargo.

The agreement will have UPS supplying the aircraft and Vietnam Airlines providing 35 tonnes of cargo for a flight every Saturday linking Ho Chi Minh City, North America, Europe and Japan.

The flights herald comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam Airlines and the UPS.

Russian president leaves Vietnam



President V V Putin pays floral tribute at President Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his entourage left Hanoi on March 2, after a three-day official visit to Vietnam.

President Putin was bid farewell by President Tran Duc Luong, Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Khiem, Foreign Minister Nguyen Dy Nien and other high-ranking officials.

Addressing the farewell ceremony, President Luong said President Putin's visit had brought traditional friendship and co-operation between the two countries to a new height.

Vietnam, Russia determined to raise two-way trade



Vietnam and Russia should coordinate and take drastic measures to raise two-way trade, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Manh Cam told his Russian counterpart Viktor Khristenko in Hanoi on March 2.

He cited efforts to boost trade exchange between localities of the two countries, the signing a free-trade agreement and establishment soon of Vietnam's commercial centre in Russia as contributing to the process. The two countries should be more active in economic and investment co-operation based on mutual understanding, trust and mutual benefit, Mr Cam said.

Vietnam, China continues border demarcation process



The Vietnam-China Border Demarcation Joint Committee held its second meeting in Hanoi from February 15 to March 2 to further implement the Border Treaty signed by the two governments on December 30, 1999.

The Vietnamese delegation was led by the Government Border Committee's Vietnam-China Border Department head, Tran Viet Hung and the Chinese delegation by the Chinese Foreign Ministry's Law and Treaty Department counsellor, Ma Yaou.

Party leader : Vietnam values relations with Russia



General Secretary Le Kha Phieu of the Communist Party of Vietnam assured Russian President Vladimir Putin of Vietnam's determination to attach importance to consolidating and developing its traditional friendship and co-operation with Russia.

The assurance was made during Mr Phieu's meeting in Hanoi on the morning of March 2, with President V V Putin who is on an official visit to Vietnam from February 28 to March 2.

President Putin meets former students in Russia



President Putin met former Vietnamese students and workers in the former Soviet Union and the Russian Federation March 2nd at the Hanoi Friendship Culture Palace.

In a warm atmosphere of friendship, the Russian president spent much time delivering a speech in Russian to participants. His speech was interrupted many times by long applause.

Russia and Vietnam have every condition for stronger co-operation



Vietnam and Russia now had every essential condition for building their stable and new-quality relations, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at a state dinner given in his honour by President Tran Duc Luong at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi on March 1.

President Putin said: "Vietnam has a saying that 'Friendship and brotherhood are more precious than any property! I think this is a wise and an accurate reflection of the ties between our two countries and peoples.

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