Thai Gov't continues strengthening ties with Vietnam



Ha Noi, March 7 (VNA) -- Thailand's new government would continue strengthening its friendship and multi-faceted cooperation with Viet Nam, Thai Foreign Minister Surakiart Sathirathai said in Ha Noi on March 7.

Vietnamese leaders promote ties with Thailand




Ha Noi, March 7 (VNA)-- President Tran Duc Luong and Prime Minister Phan Van Khai told visiting Thai Foreign Minister Surakiart Sathirathai in Ha Noi today, March 7, that Viet Nam would always attach importance to enhancing the friendship and multi-faceted cooperation with Thailand. They said also that the two countries should work harder to boost bilateral ties for mutual and regional benefit.

Equal access to education for female students




Ha Noi, March 7 (VNA) -- Thirty secondary school female students from mountain and remote provinces gathered in Ha Noi today, March 7, to share their experiences and concerns on improving the education quality for girls in those areas.

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.

National week on labor safety and working conditions




Ha Noi, March 7 (VNA) -- Safe working conditions for labourers will be the focus of a national week on labour safety and hygiene, fire and explosion prevention which will be held in all 61 provinces and cities from March 18-24.

The week, the third of its kind, is jointly organised by the Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs, Public Security, Public Health, and Trade Ministries, and the Viet Nam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL).

In Int'l Woman Day- Women receive more effective asssistance



Ha Noi, Mar. 8 (VNA) -- The Viet Nam Women's Union, VWU, obtained good results in implementing projects for the benefits of women throughout the country last year.

The VWU effectively implemented a programme to help women to conduct scientific research and apply scientific advances. It also assisted women to generate jobs and increase their income to get out of poverty.

Last year, 22,661 women savings groups and 14,197 women credit groups were set up, bringing the total number of these groups to 161,109 and 64,385, respectively.

Vietnamese overseas contribute opinions to Party's draft


Ha Noi, Mar. 8 (VNA) -- Most overseas Vietnamese, responding to the Viet Nam Communist Party's draft political report, say the economy's effectiveness and competitiveness is the key to development.

The overseas Vietnamese, who gathered in Ha Noi on Mar. 8 to make comments about the report, also discussed a wide-range of issues, including education and training, a knowledge-based economy and the defeat of corruption.

World Vision and Plan Int'l help with housing



Ha Noi, Mar. 8 (VNA) -

* World Vision Gives House Frames to Flood Victims
World Vision has so far presented 512 ready-made house frames, each worth VND 9 million, about USD 600, to flood victims in the Mekong-delta province of An Giang.

The floods that struck the Mekong delta last year seriously damaged tens of thousands of houses and knocked down more than 3,000 others, leaving many people homeless.

Leprosy successfully eradicated in Vietnam



Health Minister Do Nguyen Phuong yesterday, March 6, declared that leprosy had been eradicated nationwide in accordance with the criteria set by the World Health Organisation, WHO.

"By the end of 2000, all provinces and cities across the country had achieved the target of eradicating leprosy under WHO's criteria," Mr Phuong said.

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

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