Socialist Republic of Vietnam

Ha Noi, Nov. 30 (VNA) -- Representatives of more than 100 construction companies from the European Union and Viet Nam are meeting to explore possible partnerships at Ha Noi's first ever Asia-Interprise from Nov.29-Dec.1.

Asia-Interprise, run by the French Versailles Chamber of Commerce and the Viet Nam-based French Chamber of Commerce and Industry, offers Vietnamese construction companies the opportunity to develop cooperative potential with partners from Europe, particularly France, Italy and Belgium.

Ha Noi, Nov. 28 (VNA) -- Newly-launched, low-charge automatic paging services known as 1570 network have been snapped up by students, taxi drivers and other low-income people, according to the Viet Nam Telecom Company (VTC).

The new network, which was introduced into Viet Nam last October, provides for dial-up and voice-mail services which enable a person to contact another by either sending a message his/her pager screen or leaving a message on his/her answering machine.

Ha Noi, Nov. 28 (VNA) -- Viet Nam's industrial production value reached VND 178,966 billion (USD 12,428 million) in the past 11 months of this year, a year-on-year increase of 15.7 percent, according to the Ministry of Planning and Investment.

The State-run sector posted an increase of 12.5 percent, the foreign-invested sector, 18.1 percent, and the non-State sector, saw a the highest increase, 18.2 percent.

Ha Noi, Nov. 27 (VNA) -- Prime Minister Phan Van Khai chaired a cabinet meeting in Ha Noi today, Nov. 27, to discuss a scheme on university and college development up to 2010 and hear the report on socio-economic development in November and the last 11 months.

Addressing the meeting, the Prime Minister stressed the importance of education and training in a knowledge-led economy, which, he said, would be matter of fact in the 21st century.