Viet Nam's response to Australian PM's remarks on anti-terrorism


Ha Noi, Dec. 5 (VNA) -- All anti-terrorism activities must conform to the United Nations Charter and international law and respect national independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Phan Thuy Thanh.

She was replying to correspondents' questions about Viet Nam's reaction to Australian Prime Minister John Howard's recent warning that Australia could launch pre-emptive strikes in a foreign country to prevent a terrorist attack against Australia.

Viet Nam - EU human rights dialogue held

VIET NAM-EU HUMAN RIGHTS DIALOGUE HELD


Ha Noi, Dec. 5 (VNA) -- Viet Nam and European Union (EU) countries have exchanged views on human rights issues at a dialogue held in Ha Noi on Thursday.

They discussed a wide range of issues related to human rights, including those listed in the agenda of the 57th session of the General Assembly of the United Nations.

The host delegation underlined Viet Nam's consistent policy and drastic measures to protect and ensure the practice of human rights by the Vietnamese people.

Asia Commercial Bank offers Viet kieu loans to buy houses


(VNA December 3, 2002)

HCM CITY — Overseas Vietnamese and their relatives in the country will now be able to borrow from the Asia Commercial Bank to buy houses, its general director Pham Van Thiet announced last Thursday.

However, those overseas Vietnamese (Viet kieu) who wish to borrow must have their income reviewed by a foreign organisation at their place of residence. If a relative wants to obtain a loan to buy a house, the Viet kieu must provide a guarantee besides agreeing to share in the repaying of the loan.

Nearly 6,900 new enterprises set up in HCM City

Ho Chi Minh City, Dec. 3 (VNA) -- An additional 6,883 new enterprises had been established in Ho Chi Minh City by the end of November with a combined registered capital of 11,025 billion VND (720.5 million USD).

The figures showed a year-on-year increase of 11 percent in the number of enterprises and 20 percent in capital.

Viet Nam considered a safe place in Southeast Asia

Ha Noi, Dec. 3 (VNA) -- Many countries are warning against travelling to Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines, but Viet Nam is one of the few places in Southeast Asia that is considered safe.

The Agence France Presse (AFP) on Dec. 3 quoted Alfonso Romero, general manager of Ha Noi's Melia Hotel, as saying in an article entitled "Viet Nam's tourist industry cashing in on regional terror fears".

Garment export earnings surging during year-end months

Ha Noi, Dec. 2 (VNA)-- Viet Nam's textiles and garment export earnings in the first 11 months of this year surged to 2.45 billion USD, a year-on-year rise of 34.7 percent, according to the General StatisticS Office.

The export value of this staple has continuously increased in year-end months, with the figure in November alone reaching 270 million USD. The 2002 figure is estimated at 2.7 billion USD, or an increase of 36.7 percent over 2001, the highest export growth rate since 1997.

Fifth National Buddhism conference to be held in Ha Noi

Ha Noi, Dec. 2 (VNA) -- The fifth National Buddhism Conference will be held in Ha Noi from Dec.4-6, the Viet Nam Buddhist Sangha Central Committee has announced.

The conference will draw the participation of 772 official delegates and nearly 1,000 observing delegates from all parts of the country.

Foreign guests from Laos, Cambodia, Russia, China, diplomatic delegations of some Buddhist countries, nuns, monks, and scholars from abroad will also attend.

Meeting with Highlanders allegedly killed with poison

Dac Lac, Dec. 2 (VNA) -- "I'm so angry with reports that I was killed some days ago," said Y Het Nie Kdam, one of the three ethnic minority highlanders, who were allegedly killed with poison injected by the local security force.

Y Het Nie Kdam, 42, a resident of Buon Sech, Dlie Yang commune, Ea H'leo district of Central Highlands Dac Lac province, was together with Y Suon M'lo and Y Ual Ayun reported dead in custody by the US- based Montagnard Foundation on Nov. 13.

Central Highlanders assisted in buying houses

Ha Noi, Dec. 2 (VNA) -- On-spot ethnic minority families and families covered by the State's preferential policy in Lam Dong, Dac Lac, Gia Lai and Kon Tum provinces of the Central Highlands will be helped to buy houses in the form of deferred payment in kind.

Viet Nam calls for concerted efforts to reduce poverty

New York. Nov. 27 (VNA) -- Ambassador Nguyen Thanh Chau, Viet Nam's permanent representative to the United Nations, called on governments and the international community to join efforts in fighting poverty for social development of all societies, particularly in the developing countries.

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