Deputy Trade Minister speaks on Viet Nam's joining AFTA

Ha Noi, Dec. 27 (VNA)-- Viet Nam will add 760 more items to the list of tariff cut to below 20 percent in 2003 in line with its commitment to the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA), said Deputy Trade Minister Luong Van Tu.

The AFTA treaty signed by 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) fixed the deadline in 2006 for Viet Nam to cut import tariffs on almost all products down to below 5 percent.

Viet Nam's viewpoints on current international issues

Ha Noi, Dec. 19 (VNA) -- "Viet Nam hopes that an enlarged EU will actively contribute to peace, stability and development in Europe and the world," said Viet Nam's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Phan Thuy Thanh.

Thanh was answering questions on Viet Nam's reaction to the European Union (EU)'s decision at the Copenhagen summit to enlarge the EU by admitting 10 new members during a regular press conference in Ha Noi on Thursday.

Viet Nam's important achievements in foreign policy in 2002

Ha Noi Dec. 19 (VNA) -- Viet Nam continues its foreign policy of independence, sovereignty, diversification and multilateralisation of international ties along the guideline of Viet Nam being a friend and a reliable partner in the international community. This policy has obtained remarkable achievements.

Viet Nam slams Amnesty International's report on Tay Nguyen

Ha Noi, Dec. 19 (VNA) -- Viet Nam strongly rejects as a crude slander the Amnesty International's report which has accused Viet Nam of repressing ethnic minority people living in Tay Nguyen (the Central Highlands).

"This report has cynically distorted the reality in Tay Nguyen. We strongly reject it," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Phan Thuy Thanh said at a press briefing in Ha Noi today.

Viet Nam pledges more favorable conditions for foreign investors

Ha Noi, Dec. 16 (VNA) -- Viet Nam has pledged its stronger support for foreign investors, as well as its pursuit of constant policies towards foreign direct investment (FDI) businesses.

The commitment was renewed by Deputy Finance Minister Le Thi Bang Tam at the fifth dialogue in Ha Noi on Monday between her ministry and FDI investors in Viet Nam.

U.N. praises Viet Nam's social achievements

Ha Noi, Dec. 17 (VNA) -- Viet Nam has been leading the developing world in cutting poverty rates with the rate down to some 32 percent in recent years from more than 60 per cent in 1990, well ahead of the global schedule for achievement by 2015, says a United Nations report.

Overseas Vietnamese remit more than USD 2 billion in 2002

Ha noi, Dec. 17 (VNA) -- Overseas Vietnamese has so far this year remitted nearly 2.1 billion USD to their relatives at home, a 17.5 percent year-on-year increase, according to the State Bank of Viet Nam (SBV).

Ho Chi Minh City alone has received an estimated 1 billion USD remitted by overseas Vietnamese to their relatives. Particularly, the city saw sharp increases of 28-29 percent in October and November in comparison with September.

Donors pledge US$ 2.5 billion for Viet Nam

Ha Noi, Dec. 11 (VNA) -- The donors' community has pledged a total aid of 2.5 billion USD for Viet Nam in 2003, an increase of 4.5 percent over 2002.

This was revealed by Minister of Planning and Investment Vo Hong Phuc with the press after the 10th Consultative Group Meeting closed in Ha Noi today.

"Leading donors include Japan, the World Bank, the European Union, and the Asia Development Bank," he added.

Viet Nam delivering on its promise, say WB and ADB

Ha Noi, Dec. 11 (VNA) -- Viet Nam's strong econmic growth is associated with an external debt at a very manageable level, stated the World Bank (WB) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) said in a report delivered at the annual Consultative Group Meeting of international donors held in Ha Noi on Dec. 10-11.

The report said:

UNDP representative expresses support to gender equality in VN

Ha Noi, Dec. 11 (VNA) -- Development initiatives cannot be successful or sustainable unless they are designed and implemented in a manner that takes full account of the differing interests, needs and priorities of men and women, according to UNDP resident representative Jordan Ryan.

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