Environment issues in investment planning



Ha Noi, Feb. 27 (VNA) -- The results and recommendations of a project that makes the environment part of investment planning were assessed at a seminar held in Ha Noi on Feb. 27 and 28 by the Planning and Investment Ministry.

The seminar was designed to introduce and collect opinions for the renovation of planning policies; assess environmental impact on planning and investment projects and examine environmental methods for analysing economy and the environment; environmental issues in planning as well as environmental improvement programmes.

Ho Chi Minh city - St. Peterburg sea route opens



Ha Noi, Feb. 27 (VNA) -- The Vietnamese cargo vessel, "Phuong Dong-3", arrived in St Petersburg, Russia, on Feb. 22, opening the Ho Chi Minh City-St Petersburg route.

Owned by the Viet Nam Sea Transport and Chartering Company (VITRANSCHART), Phuong Dong-3 sailed almost 10,000 nautical miles in 43 days before anchoring at Russia's northwestern port.

President Tran Duc Luong gave interview to Russian Radio and TV




Ha Noi, Feb.27 (VNA) -- President Tran Duc Luong has granted an interview to the National Radio and Television of the Russian Federation for the forthcoming visit to Viet Nam by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

In reply to a question about the main topic of the coming high-level talks, President Luong said:

FM Spokeswoman on U.S Human rights report



Ha Noi, Feb. 27 (VNA)-- The U.S. State Department's yearly human rights reports contains many remarks that are neither fully objective nor accurate about Viet Nam, says Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Ms. Phan Thuy Thanh.

Ms. Thanh, who was responding to questions by AP, Reuters and AFP reporters in Ha Noi on Feb. 27, described the review as "an intervention into the internal affairs of other countries," that was counter to the United Nations Charter."

It was an unacceptable action, she said.

Half century of Vietnam-Russia cooperation



Ha Noi, Feb. 26 (VNA) -- Cooperation between Viet Nam and first the Soviet Union and now the Russian Federation has brought about fruitful results, particularly in oil and gas, energy and training during the past 50 years.

* Oil and Gas

Oil and gas is the most successful example of economic cooperation between Viet Nam and the Russia Federation.

US organisation helps build rehabilitation centre



Feb. 26 (VNA) -- The U.S. humanitarian organisation, the Kids First in Viet Nam, has donated USD two million to help build a rehabilitation and vocational training centre for handicapped people in central Quang Tri province.

Construction of the three-hectare centre, estimated at almost USD 2.27 million, started in Dong Ha town on Feb. 23.

The centre will have one-storeyed buildings for accommodation, job-training and medical treatment. It is scheduled for completion by early 2003.

Access to electricity for minority communes



Feb. 25 (VNA) -- Minority people in six communes in the Central Highlands will have access to the national electric grid by the end of April.

A project to bring electric light to 1,750 minority households in Ro Men, Lieng Sron, Dam Ron, Da Long and Da Tong communes in Lam Dong province and Krong No commune in Dac Lac province started in Ro Men commune on Feb. 24.

Fisheries sector counts on technology to boost exports


Ha Noi, Feb. 25 (VNA) -- Fisheries Minister Ta Quang Ngoc believes technology renewal and facility restructuring will help the sector earn USD 1.6 billion from export this year.

"The sector plans to net 2.17 million tonnes of sea product with shrimp-for-export amounting to 120,000 tonnes. More than one-third of the output will come from the aquaculture. Frozen seafood - chiefly shrimp and squids - will rise to 325,000 tonnes," he says.

Aircargo route Ho Chi Minh city - Subic Bay



Feb. 23 (VNA) -- An air cargo route between Ho Chi Minh City and Subic Bay, the Philippines, openned on Feb. 23.

The five-flights-a-week service has been started by the U.S. Fedex Company with each flight carrying six tonnes of cargo.--VNA


Vietnamese leaders receive Cuban Foreign Minister




Ha Noi, Feb. 23 (VNA) -- President Tran Duc Luong and National Assembly Chairman Nong Duc Manh both welcomed the talks between Vietnamese and Cuban Foreign Ministers as promoting friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries.

President Luong and Chairman Manh separately received the visiting Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque on separately in Ha Noi today, Feb. 23.

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