Better use of Vietnam-China border bridge




Ha Noi, Jan. 15 (VNA) -- The Prime Minister has entrusted the Transport Ministry to strengthen the management of and better exploit a border bridge across the Nam Thi river linking Viet Nam's Lao Cai border area and Hokou area of Yunnan province (China).

The Prime Minister also entrusted relevant ministries, agencies and localities to sign agreements on operation of the border bridge with authorised agencies of China.

The PM's decision is aimed to boost economic exchange between the two border areas.

More equitised state owned enterprises in Ho Chi Minh city



Jan. 15 (VNA) -- Ho Chi Minh City equitised 22 more State-owned enterprises (SOEs) in 2000, bringing the total number of equitised SOEs in the city to 64.

Eighteen of these enterprises had a total capital of VND 205.913 billion owned by the State, a total registered capital of VND 207.765 billion, and mobilized a further VND 17.663. They refunded VND 126.326 billion to the State Budget right after their equitisation.

Vietnam and Russia boost fisheries cooperation





Ha Noi, Jan. 11 (VNA) -- Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Manh Cam received in Ha Noi on Jan. 11 I. P. Sinelnik, Chairman of the Fisheries Committee of the Russian Federation, currently on a visit to Viet Nam.

Mr. Cam described the visit as a contribution to boosting cooperation in fisheries between the two countries.

Japanese Justice Minister visits Vietnam


Ha Noi, Jan. 11 (VNA) -- Viet Nam's Justice Minister Nguyen Dinh Loc and his Japanese counterpart, Masahiko Komura, have discussed broadening co-operation between the two countries.

Mr. Loc and Mr.Komura, who began a three-day visit to Viet nam on Jan. 10, spoke highly of the active and effective cooperation between Viet Nam and Japan in the recent past and agreed to develop their bilateral ties to a new dimension, thus contributing to a closer friendship and better understanding between the two countries.

New Year gifts for needy people




Ha Noi, Jan. 11 (VNA) -- The State, local administrations and mass organisations have helped social welfare beneficiaries and needy people to prepare for the coming lunar new year (Tet) festival which will fall on Jan. 24 this year.

President Tran Duc Luong has signed a decision to present Tet gifts to beneficiaries of social policies nationwide.

Jobs to be created for 1,4 million people in 2001




Ha Noi, Jan. 11 (VNA) -- Jobs will be created for 1.4 million people in 2001, reported the Ministry of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs at a conference to review its work in 2000 and launch the tasks for 2001.

Bilingual ethnic primary school programme



Ha Noi, Jan. 11 (VNA) -- A project to provide bilingual primary school education to ethnic minority children in 39 Vietnamese provinces has won acclaim from countries around the region.

Education experts and officials have labelled the multi-grade bilingual education (MBE) programme as a model of educational reform in the Asian region.

Other regional governments are considering adopting the programme, including Thailand, India, Laos, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal.

Winter-spring rice crop begins




Ha Noi, Jan. 11(VNA) -- Farmers in northern provinces are harvesting maize, a main subsidiary food crop in the winter.

Though the cultivated acreage of maize dropped by 7 percent as compared to the previous season due to heavy rain, the yield is good.

As soon as the maize crop is finished, farmers are preparing for the next winter-spring rice crop.

Vietnam - Lao new border gate to boost trade




Ha Noi, Jan. 11 (VNA) -- The Cha Lo-Nam Phao border gate between Viet Nam's central province of Quang Binh and Khammounane province of Laos was inaugurated on Jan. 10.

The border gate was jointly built by the two countries. It is expected to become a major busy trading centre as it helps create a commercial corridor by linking the Vung Ang sea port, the Ho Chi Minh City highway and the National Highway 1A of Viet Nam to central Laos and northeastern Thailand, Myanmar and Yunnan province of China.--VNA


Issue of drug abuse in Hanoi




Ha Noi, Jan. 11 (VNA) -- Ha Noi is encountering widespread drug abuse and trafficking despite its initial achievements in drug control, says director of the Metropolitan Social Evils Control Department, Nguyen Vi Hung.

Hung says the abuse and trafficking is a pressing issue and constitutes a great loss to the entire community.

The senior officials who was addressing a meeting of the Ha Noi People's Council last week, says relentless endeavours have been made to halt the spread of drug abuse and addiction.

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