Vietnam, Cuba Issue Joint Declaration

VNA July 16, 99 - Vietnam and Cuba issued a joint declaration on July 14 at the end of an official visit by General Secretary Le Kha Phieu of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee.

Following is the full text of the declaration:

Foreign Visitors Up 7%

Nhandan July 14, 1999 - The number of foreign tourists to Vietnam in the first half of 1999 increased at the rate of 7% in comparison with the first six months of last year, reaching 54% of the annual target, according to statistics released by the General Department of Tourism. The number of domestic tourists occupied only 44% of the annual target.

Localities with large foreign tourist arrivals are Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Quang Ninh, Thua Thien Hue, Hai Phong, Can Tho, Khanh Hoa, Ha Tay.

732 projects in Industrial Zones so far

Nhandan July 12, 1999 - Industrial Zones in Vietnam have so far attracted 732 projects with a total investment capital of over US $6.8 billion according to the Management Board of Vietnam

Investment for Trans-Vietnam Railway

VNA July 12, 1999 - The railway service has so far attracted four foreign-invested projects on upgrading bridges, signal system and tunnels of the trans-Vietnam railway.

Japanese investors have involved in a project worth nearly JPY 5.5 billion (US $43.6 million) to upgrade eight bridges. Upgrade of the bridges including the Da Rang bridge, 1,603 metres long, in Phu Yen province, the biggest on the trans-Vietnam route, started early this year and is expected to be completed next year.

55 More Rep Offices in HCM City

Nhan dan July 10, 99 - There are 55 more new foreign representative offices in Ho Chi Minh City in the first half of 1999.

11 of these are from Singapore, 7 from Taiwan, 6 from Hong Kong and Republic of Korea, 5 from Japan and 4 from USA and France.

There are 1,342 foreign representative offices in Ho Chi Minh City to date. These offices employ about 5,000 Vietnamese people and 2,241 expatriates.

Party Leader Conferred with Cuba's Highest Distinction

VNA July 10, 1999 - General Secretary Le Kha Phieu of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee was conferred with the Jose Marti Order, the highest distinction of Cuba, in a ceremony in Havana on July 8.

The Vietnamese Party leader has been in Cuba since July 7 for an official visit at the invitation of Fidel Castro Ruz, First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba Central Committee (CPC CC), President of the State Council and the Government of Cuba.

Fidel Castro Ruz himself pinned the order on General Secretary Phieu.

Party Leader Visits Cuba

Nhan Dan July 6, 1999 - Vietnamese Communist Party General Secretary Le Kha Phieu is flying to Cuba today for an official visit at the invitation of Cuban Communist Party leader Fidel Castro.

General Secretary Le Kha Phieu

FDI Shows Positive Contributions

Nhandan July 4, 1999 - According to tax statistics, during the first six months of the year, the foreign direct invested (FDI) businesses have contributed some VND 5,907 billion to the state budget, accounting for 42.7% of the annual plan. This means 92% in comparison with that of the same period last year. FDI businesses have shown great efforts in the implementation of tax laws.

Export from Foreign Invested Businesses Up

NhanDan July 4, 1999 - Exports from foreign invested businesses in the first half of 1999 were 9% and revenue 22% higher than last year, according to statistics released by the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI).

MPI figures indicated a slight decline in the amount of investment capital being realised, reaching only 75% of the planned amount while registered capital occupied 60% as compared to the first six months of 1998. New investment capital and capital increase from existing projects accounted for only 60% of the same period last year.

US $885 Million of Foreign Investment

Nhandan July 4, 1999 - Vietnam has attracted some US $885 million as investment capital in the first half of 1999, according to statistics released by the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI).

According to MPI figures, there were 109 new foreign direct investment (FDI) projects with total investment capital of US $601 million and 58 existing projects were also applying for capital increase. There are now about 2,123 foreign direct investment projects in effective operation in Vietnam to date with total invested capital of over US $35 billion.

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