Intellectual property helps develop agriculture

Reports from around the country indicate that most registered farm products, including Luc Ngan litchi and Hai Hau rice, are selling well at prices between 1.5-3 times higher and farmers have poured more investment into growing and producing these products.

In some areas, the protection of intellectual property has had a positive influence on socio-economic development in rural areas by generating jobs for local people and providing them with stable incomes.

However, intellectual property rights for Vietnamese farm products have not attracted much attention as among the 964 specialities nationwide, only 19 geographical indications, seven trademarks and 20 collective trademarks have been recognised.

Vietnam has a lot of potential in its agricultural exports with many products having a big impact on the global market. 

At present, Vietnam ranks second for its exports of rice, coffee and cashew nuts and first for pepper, supplying up to 50 percent of global demands.

Nevertheless, most exported Vietnamese agricultural produce is not processed and lack established trademarks, therefore their prices are lower than others in the world market. Some countries such as Indonesia , Malaysia , India and China import pepper from Vietnam to process and then export it at a much higher price.

However analysts say that with established trademarks, Vietnamese farm produce will be able to compete with overseas products but there needs to be more cooperation between farmers, scientists, businesses and the State in order to promote intellectual property protection.

In the 2005-2010 period, the Ministry of Science and Technology’s Department for Intellectual Property carried out a programme to support the development of intellectual property rights.

Under the programme, 53 projects have been undertaken to help with the procedures to register for intellectual property rights as well as designing programmes to promote products, building new models of management models and developing property rights.-Enditem

UNESCO honours 21 more world heritage sites

Buenos Aires (VNA) – The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has recognised 21 sites as world heritages at its regular meeting in Brasilia , Brazil from July 25-August 3. 

These additional 15 cultural heritages, five natural heritages and one cultural-natural heritage have raised the number of UNESCO recognised world heritages to 911. 

Director of the World Heritage Centre Francesco Bandarin said that this session had recognised the most world heritages in UNESCO’s history. 

The central sector of the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long-Hanoi became the 900 th site listed as a world heritage.-Enditem

Petrolimex opens representative office in Cambodia

Phnom Penh (VNA) – The Vietnam National Petroleum Corporation (Petrolimex) officially opened a representative office in the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh on August 2. 
Addressing the ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem said that Petrolimex opening a representative office in Cambodia is evidence of the strong development of trade ties and friendship between the two nations. 
He said that he hoped the office will soon expand into a company to increase the corporation’s operations overseas. 
Khiem took the occasion to thank the Cambodian Government for facilitating the investments made by Vietnamese enterprises. 
Cambodia ’s Trade Minister Cham Prasit hailed Petrolimex’s office in Phnom Penh , saying that this will help to facilitate the trade of oil and gas between Cambodian companies and Pertolimex, traditionally an important partner for Cambodia . 
Petrolimex is a trusted supplier due to their high quality products, said the Minister, saying that he hoped Petrolimex will continue to be a good partner and a major and stable supplier of petrol to the country. 
Petrolimex currently supplies half of Cambodia ’s petrol demands.-Enditem

US-ASEAN business council’s first mission to Brunei

Washington (VNA) - The US-ASEAN Business Council brought its first business mission to Brunei on August 2 to meet with the country’s government officials on developing future avenues of cooperation. 

Marc Mealy, Vice President of the US-ASEAN Business Council, noted that the Brunei visit by the delegation, which included executives from two of America’s leading energy companies, ConocoPhillips and the Chevron Corporation, reflects US businesses’ strong desire to explore opportunities to strengthen bilateral economic ties between the United States and Brunei. 

“This visit is a way for us to continue to build on Second Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Pehin Dato Lim Jock Seng’s highly successful visit to the United States in May where he met with executives from American companies, including several members of the US-ASEAN Business Council in Seattle, Washington and Washington DC." 

On the first day of their stay in Brunei , Aug. 2, the delegation had discussions with Minister of Energy Pehin Yasmin, Permanent Secretary Dato Lim Jock Hoi of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Acting CEO of Brunei Petroleum Azren bin Taib, and CEO Vincent Cheong of the Brunei Economic Development Board. 

The Council said in its August 2 press release that although US-Brunei bilateral trade is relatively small, with only 140 million USD total trade in 2009, Brunei’s role in ASEAN and other regional organizations make it an important partner for US business. Council members have particular interest in Brunei ’s central role in the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP), a Trade Agreement that could potentially help serve as the building block of a Free Trade Area of the Asia Pacific.-Enditem

Website on Hanoi launches Japanese version

Hanoi (VNA) – The Thang Long-Hanoi website of the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) officially launched its Japanese language version on August 3. 

The website now has information in five languages - Vietnamese, English, French, Spanish and Japanese, just four months after inauguration. 

The version, available at http://jp.hanoi.vietnamplus.vn will provide details of activities to mark the 1,000 th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi as well as information about Hanoi . 

It will also include useful information on Vietnam for Japanese readers. 

As Japanese people love Hanoi and want to learn more about the capital city of Vietnam , a website in the Japanese language is the most effective way to bring them to Hanoi , Japanese Ambassador Sakaba Mitsuo said at the function. 

He also spoke highly of the efforts of VNA and VietnamPlus, VNA’s e-newspaper, in building the website. 

Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Nguyen The Thao said he believed the multilingual website would make a difference, helping to enrich forms of information access on Thang Long-Hanoi and attract more readers to the site.

According to VNA Vice General Director Ha Minh Hue, despite difficulties with a Japanese language editor shortage, the agency has worked hard to launch the site, considering it an initial step for future media products in the Japanese language. 

VNA’s Vietnam Pictorial website currently runs a Japanese version.-Enditem

Nation responds to war-era victims’ day

Hanoi (VNA)- The Vietnam News Agency (VNA) was among the earliest donors to respond to the “Day for Agent Orange/dioxin Victims in Vietnam ”, which falls on August 10. 

The nation’s only newswire on August 3 handed over 20 scholarships and three wheelchairs for victims in the northern port city of Hai Phong . The beneficiaries are war veterans now leading a hard life, either nursing deformed children or suffering a number of child deaths. 

Take Dinh Dang Luu for instance. The former soldier at the Quang Tri battlefield had all three children die at less than six years of age. 

Tran Van Binh is another example. The army man, once fighting at the Central Highlands battlefields during the war, has two of his three daughters suffering from schizophrenia. His entire five-member family is living on his allowances, totalling just 2.1 million VND (roughly 100 USD). 

For many years, the fund “For the Agent Orange Pain” run by VNA has made regular donations to the target population in Hai Phong, home to some 17,000 Agent Orange victims. 

The fund also provided financial support for 20 Agent Orange victims in Tien Giang, making it the fifth consecutive year VNA has contributed to alleviating the plight of AO victims in this Mekong Delta province. 

In 2009, the news agency built a charity home at a cost of 15 million VND for a victim in My Loi A village, Cai Be district, Tien Giang province. 

The province, home to almost 7,000 AO victims, has so far this year raised almost 650 million VND for 2,660 gifts, 72 wheelchairs and construction of eight charity homes. 

Also on August 3, the Red Cross Association of the Red River Delta province of Ha Nam launched a month of action for AO victims. 

After the launching ceremony the Vietnam Red Cross Association handed over gifts to 25 children affected by the toxic chemical and 50 wheelchairs for the provincial fund in support of AO victims. 

Many donors such as Hanoi Garment and Textile Corporation (Hanoisimex), the Ha Nam Garment and Textile Company and the Korean Copper Technology Company have joined hands in the charity movement, donating over 500 million VND and 30 industrial sewing machines. 

Ha Nam has almost 29,200 locals exposed to toxic chemicals, including almost 19,000 of the first generation, almost 9,736 of the second generation and 557 of the third generation.--Enditem

Border operations top health talks with Cambodia

Phnom Penh (VNA)- Border quarantine, controlling epidemics and humanitarian medical care were the major topics at a meeting of senior health officials from Vietnam and Cambodia in Phnom Penh in early August. 

The Vietnamese delegation was led by Health Minister Nguyen Quoc Trieu, who began a week-long visit to Cambodia on August 1. 

The meeting shared the view that major progress has been made in carrying out the border quarantine agreement signed by the two countries on March 6, 2006, which has helped to control epidemics in the border region. 

The host expressed thanks to Vietnam ’s health centres, especially those along the border, for providing medical checks and treatment to Cambodians, including senior Cambodian officials. 

They also praised the regular trips made by Vietnamese health workers to a number of Cambodian provinces and cities to provide free medical checks and treatment for poor people. 

Trieu pledged to continue assisting Cambodia in healthcare, especially in charity work, and send more experienced medical doctors to help. 

Both parties showed their determination to speed up the construction of the Cho Ray-Phnom Penh hospital, which broke ground in the Cambodian capital in May. 

They also mulled over an option to start a joint venture ophthalmology hospital in Phnom Penh and steps to strengthen joint epidemic control. 

Also high on the agenda were measures to enhance cooperation in the fight against fake cosmetics being trafficked across the border. 

The talks also called for a regular exchange of experiences in supervising the quality of drugs, controlling the circulation of fake medicines or poor quality medicines that endanger human health. 

During his stay, Trieu was received by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen. The Vietnamese Health Minister and his delegation also visited the Cambodian Royal Military Hospital , the Khmer-Soviet Friendship Hospital and the Cambodian Medical College , where they discussed their experiences in public healthcare. 

The Medical and Pharmaceutical University and the Odonto-Maxillo Facial Surgery Hospital from Ho Chi Minh City also took the opportunity to sign a memorandum of understanding on professional cooperation with the Cambodian Medical College and the Khmer-Soviet Friendship Hospital.--Enditem

Fidel Castro introduces new memoir

Havana (VNA) – Cuba ’s revolutionary leader Fidel Castro has published his latest edition of memoirs called "The Strategic Victory," which describes the struggles of Cuban guerrillas in the Sierra Maestra.

The 900-page book tells readers about the guerrillas and their battles against Fulgencio Batista’s troops and the following victorious revolution led by Commander Fidel Castro in January 1959, that opened up a new era for Cuba – the new era of independence, freedom and socialism. 

At the debut in Havana on August 2, Castro read several extracts and commented on events written about in the book. He said he is currently writing a second volume.

50,000 copies of the book were published in the initial run.

China ’s Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi was among the first to be presented with the book, which included a dedication by Fidel Castro.

Before ending his official visit to Cuba , FM Yang Jiechi was received by Fidel Castro on August 1. They discussed international issues and ties between both countries.

On this occasion, Fidel Castro also presented the Chinese Foreign Minister with the book “One hundred hours with Fidel” in Chinese.-Enditem

Service trade unions discuss role in ASEAN integration

Hanoi (VNA) – A seminar in Hanoi on August 3 provided valuable orientation for trade unions on their role in the Vietnamese service industry during its integration into the ASEAN economy. 

The seminar was launched by the ASEAN Services Employees Trade Unions Council (ASETUC) and jointly held by the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL), the Vietnam Post Trade Union and the Friedrich Ebert Institute (FES). 

It touched upon topics on opportunities and challenges for the economic integration process and its impact on Vietnam ’s labourers. 

The participants shared the view that labour issues are not only the Government’s responsibility but also an issue of mutual concern for employers, trade unions and relevant partners. 

All concerned partners should work together to build a harmonious labour relationship during the economic integration, they said. 

The seminar is expected to help raise awareness of Vietnamese trade unions about the ASEAN integration process and the role of trade unionists in building a sustainable and sharing ASEAN community.-Enditem

Vietnam’s corporate bond market heats up

Hanoi (VNA) - The Song Da and Hoa Phat Corporations’ successful issuing of thousands of billions of VND worth of bonds in July is continuing to heat up the corporate bond market. 

The Song Da Corporation issued bonds worth a total of 1.5 trillion VND, or 79 million USD with a five year maturity and an interest rate of 15 percent for the first year while the Hoa Phat Corporation raised 800 billion VND, equivalent to 42 million USD, from bonds that mature in three years. 

Several larger companies have raised capital this way, such as Vietnam Electricity, the Vietnam Construction and Export Import Joint Stock Company, which issued two trillion VND worth of bonds each and the Vincom Joint Stock Company which issued one trillion VND in bonds. 

These moves showed that the corporate bond market is thriving and that investor’s confidence has improved. In this way, businesses can access middle and long-term capital at a stable interest rate and there is less pressure on the banks to supply capital. 

According to financial experts, the recovery in the economy, a stable inflation rate and a prime interest rate of 8 percent have had a positive impact on businesses and investors. 

It is forecast that the corporate bond market will be more vibrant when limited liability companies are allowed to issue bonds under a new draft decree.-Enditem

Ties with Africa possess great potential

Hanoi (VNA)- Vietnam is expected to release a roadmap of cooperation with African countries for the next decade, including steps to work out legal agreements and project priorities, at a three-day workshop scheduled to open in Hanoi on August 17. 

Deputy Foreign Minister Doan Xuan Hung told reporters on August 3 that priorities would be given to food security, agriculture, trade, investment and human resource development. 

The host Vietnam and African countries are also expected to sign a number of important documents related to immigration procedures and cooperation in economics, culture, science and technology. 

Hung said the workshop, entitled “Vietnam-Africa: cooperation for mutual sustainable development”, would provide a forum for partners to develop a mechanism for regular dialogue and discuss measures for a huge leap forward in key sectors such as agriculture, mining, trade, expert and labour cooperation, infrastructure construction and human resource development. 

On the sidelines of the workshop, international delegates will meet leaders of the host Vietnam , visit an exhibition of Vietnamese exports and visit manufacturers of products which the African continent is interested in importing. They include food and foodstuffs, tractors, electric appliances and apparel. 

The organising board has so far received participation confirmation from 41 foreign delegations. 

The workshop is to take place at a point when the host country is to wrap up a national programme of action to enhance Vietnam-Africa cooperation in the 2004-2010 period.--Enditem

Workshop on constitutional implementation held

Da Nang (VNA) – A workshop on developing criteria and reviewing methods on implementation of the 1992 Constitution was held in Da Nang on August 3 by the National Assembly Standing Committee’s Legislative Research Institute and the Vietnam Union of Science-Technology Associations.

The Vietnam Constitution institutionalises the Party’s policies and views, and identifies tasks of the State and society of Vietnam in each stage of development.

The 1992 Constitution was approved in the context that the country was on the road to implementation of the comprehensive renewal policy set by the sixth National Party Congress in 1986 and obtained initial achievements in aspects and areas of social life.

After about 25 years of implementing the renewal process and 18 years of implementing the Constitution, has developed a system of law and legal documents in order to regulate social relations in economic, civil, political, cultural, scientific-technological, diplomatic and security-defence areas, serving the country’s renewal process and contributing to the country’s international integration.

The documents institutionalising regulations on the human rights, rights and obligations of citizens in the 1992 Constitution have been also improved, creating an important legal basis for protecting and promoting rights and freedom of fundamental democracy of citizens.

But implementation of the Constitution over the past 18 years has shown that regulations on human rights and the rights and obligations of citizens stipulated in the 1992 Constitution have shortcomings which require studies and assessment for revision and supplements, in line with Vietnam ’s reality and ensuring the country’s ongoing regional and international integration.-Enditem

Vietnamese, Indian auditing agencies sign deal

Hanoi (VNA) – General Auditor of Vietnam Vuong Dinh Hue and Comptroller and Auditor General of India Vinod Rai signed a cooperation agreement between the state auditing agencies of the two countries in Hanoi on August 3. 

This is part of activities on the sidelines of the 42 nd meeting of the Asian Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions (ASOSAI) Governing Board to be held in Hanoi from August 4-5. 

Under the agreement, the two state agencies will share experiences, exchange high-ranking delegations and experts and organise joint conferences and seminars. 

The same day, General Auditor Vuong Dinh Hue held separate talks with leaders of delegations from the Republic of Korea , Turkey and Pakistan and received the Japanese delegation. 

At the meetings, Hue expressed his hope for closer cooperation in training, and audits in environment and information technology with ASOSAI members. 

Vietnam also wants to exchange high-ranking delegations to expand relations with other members of ASOSAI, he said.-Enditem

ASEAN steps up biodiversity preservation

Hanoi (VNA) – Deputy Secretary-General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Dato Misran Karmain has stressed on the need to improve awareness of biodiversity-related values and the significance to preserve the values among ASEAN residents. 

On addressing the opening ceremony of the ASEAN exhibition on biodiversity which took place in Hanoi on August 3, Dato Misran Karmain said ASEAN is well known as one of the most ecologically diverse regions in the world, and renowned for its rich biological heritage. 

However, the region is at risk with hundreds of species in ASEAN being categorised as threatened from internal and external socio-economic stresses, especially from climate change, he said. 

“Thus, the exhibition not only promotes public awareness and the need for people’s participation on biodiversity conservation but also strengthens cooperation among countries, within the region and beyond,” he added. 

Bui Cach Tuyen, Director-General of the Vietnam Environment Administration under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, said raising public awareness is of significance to fully fill people’s responsibilities for natural resources, including biodiversity. 

The exhibition, organised following the Vietnam ’s initiatives as the ASEAN Chairman on the sidelines of the 21th ASEAN Senior Officials’ Meeting on Environment from August 2-7, is also one of activities in response to the International Year of Biodiversity 2010 with the slogan “ Biodiversity is life. Biodiversity is our life”. 

The exhibition focuses on natural and biodiversity preservation and threats facing biodiversity. 

Among 28 national protected areas listed in the ASEAN Heritage Parks, Vietnam contributes four, including BaBe, Chu Mom Ray, Hoang Lien and Kon Ka Kinh.-Enditem

Cambodian legislators welcomed in Hanoi

Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam attaches importance to developing the relationship of fine neighbourliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation and long-term stability with Cambodia . 


So said National Assembly Vice Chairman Nguyen Duc Kien while receiving a delegation from the Cambodian National Assembly’s Commission on Planning, Investment, Agriculture, Rural Development, Environment and Water Resources (Commission 3) led by its head, Try Chheang Huot, in Hanoi on August 3. 


Kien said he was pleased with fine developments in bilateral ties, both bilaterally and multilaterally, especially between big cities and border provinces. 


The legislative bodies of the two countries have maintained regular visits to share experiences and increase cooperation in line with signed agreements, he added. 


The NA Vice Chairman expressed his belief that bilateral relations will further develop in the future, bringing practical benefits to the two nations. 


He also spoke highly of Cambodia ’s policy to facilitate Vietnamese businesses’ operations in the country and thanked the Cambodia NA and government for creating favourable conditions for Vietnamese nationals and seeking the remains of volunteer Vietnamese soldiers in Cambodia to be repatriated to Vietnam . 


For his part, Try Chheang Huot expressed the wish that his country will welcome more Vietnamese businesses and tourists. 


He suggested that Vietnam share experiences and assist Cambodia in developing export-oriented agriculture and that both countries work closely to complete border demarcation and landmark planting as scheduled. 


During their visit to Vietnam starting from August 2, the Cambodian delegation held talks with the Vietnamese NA’s Committee for Science, Technology and Environment and worked with the Ministries of Natural Resources and Environment, and Agriculture and Rural Development.-Enditem

State Audit to host ASOSAI executive meeting

Hanoi (VNA) – The 42 nd meeting of the Asian Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions (ASOSAI) Executive Board will open in Hanoi on August 4. 

This is the first time State Audit of Vietnam (SAV) will organise such a meeting, said General Auditor Vuong Dinh Hue, adding that SAV wishes to run for the chairmanship and host the ASOSAI congress in 2015. 

The two-day annual meeting is expected to draw 11 ASOSAI leaders and members from the General Auditing Bureau of Saudi Arabia , the State Audit and Inspection Committee of Mongolia and the International Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI) Development Initiative (IDI). 

The meeting will review ASOSAI’s activities, work out a future orientation for the organisation and recommend personnel and define topics to be discussed at the INTOSAI congress slated for November in South Africa . 

The participants will discuss the cooperation between ASOSAI and the European Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions (EUROSAI). 

The ASOSAI environment audit working group will release its report at the meeting.-Enditem

Miss Earth 2010 to be held in Khanh Hoa

Hanoi (VNA) – Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan has approved the proposal of the Khanh Hoa Province People’s Committee to host Miss Earth 2010 in the coastal city of Nha Trang . 

Deputy PM Nhan asked the provincial People’s Committee to partner with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Foreign Ministry and other relevant agencies to ensure security for the event, contributing to promoting the image of Vietnamese land and people. 

The final round of the competition is expected to take place at Vinpearl Land Resort on the Hon Tre Island , Nha Trang city in December. 

Around 90 beauty queens from across the world will arrive in Vietnam in November and participate in a wide range of activities for charity and environmental protection.-Enditem

Former PMU 18 chief gets three more years in jail

Hanoi (VNA) - The Hanoi People’s Court on August 3 sentenced former General Director of the Project Management Unit (PMU 18) Bui Tien Dung to three years in jail for ‘deliberately acting against the State’s regulations on economic management, causing serious consequences’. 

According to the indictment, during his term of office from 1998-2005, Dung lent cars for wrongly-purposed uses, leading to the loss of almost 2.7 billion VND. 

Dung is already serving a 13-year term, which was imposed in 2007, for illegal gambling and for bribery in his attempts to cover up the crime. 

His accomplices Vu Manh Tien, vice chief of the PMU 18 office, got a two-year imprisonment, and Bui Thu Hanh, an official of the Finance and Accounting Department of PMU 18, was sentenced to 14 months and five days in prison for the same charge of ‘abusing positions and powers while performing official duties’ in pursuant to Article 281 of the Penal Code. 

The duo will be prohibited from holding positions within three years after serving their sentences. 

Of the two other defendants, Le Thi Thanh Hoa, deputy head of PID 6, received a three-year suspended sentence plus five years of probation, and Nguyen Thanh Son, also deputy head of PID 6, got a two-year suspended sentence and will be prohibited from holding positions within three years following his sentence for the same charge. 

The court requested the defendants reimburse the sums of money they had misappropriated in the case.-Enditem

VN, Cambodia in talks to boost border ties

Phnom Penh (VNA) – Officials from Vietnam and Cambodia gathered in a conference in Phnom Penh from August 2-3 to review the progress of cooperation between the two sides’ border provinces and discuss ways to enhance the relationship. 

The conference, the sixth of its kind, was co-chaired by Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem and Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sar Kheng. 


The two sides reviewed the implementation of agreements reached during the previous conference and noted that border trade ties have seen strong developments in the first months of 2010, making significant contributions to raising two-way trade between Vietnam and Cambodia to nearly 2 billion USD this year. 


Cooperation in other sectors, including agro-forestry and fisheries, industry, mining, transport and construction, telecommunication, education and health has also been consolidated and enhanced along with positive results in border demarcation and landmark planting work. 


The two sides agreed to strengthen political relations between the two countries in general and between border localities in particular through the exchange of delegations of all levels and people-to-people exchanges.

They will boost cooperation in trade, investment, tourism, agro-forestry and fisheries, industry and energy, education and training, health and culture, speed up border demarcation and landmark planting in order to complete the work by late 2010 and consolidate security along the borderline. 


The two sides issued a joint statement at the end of the conference. 


On the same day, Deputy PM Khiem paid a courtesy visit to Cambodia Prime Minister Hun Sen, who highly valued the results of the conference and suggested the two sides maintain this activity regularly to create a close cooperation mechanism between the two countries’ border localities. 


He affirmed that Cambodia will allocate 100,000 hectares for Vietnam to implement its rubber planting project. 
The Cambodian PM expressed his hope that the two countries will soon finalise feasibility studies of two hydro-power projects, namely Se San and Sre Pok.-Enditem 


Phnom Penh (VNA) – Officials from Vietnam and Cambodia gathered in a conference in Phnom Penh from August 2-3 to review the progress of cooperation between the two sides’ border provinces and discuss ways to enhance the relationship. 

The conference, the sixth of its kind, was co-chaired by Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem and Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sar Kheng. 


The two sides reviewed the implementation of agreements reached during the previous conference and noted that border trade ties have seen strong developments in the first months of 2010, making significant contributions to raising two-way trade between Vietnam and Cambodia to nearly 2 billion USD this year. 


Cooperation in other sectors, including agro-forestry and fisheries, industry, mining, transport and construction, telecommunication, education and health has also been consolidated and enhanced along with positive results in border demarcation and landmark planting work. 


The two sides agreed to strengthen political relations between the two countries in general and between border localities in particular through the exchange of delegations of all levels and people-to-people exchanges.

They will boost cooperation in trade, investment, tourism, agro-forestry and fisheries, industry and energy, education and training, health and culture, speed up border demarcation and landmark planting in order to complete the work by late 2010 and consolidate security along the borderline. 


The two sides issued a joint statement at the end of the conference. 


On the same day, Deputy PM Khiem paid a courtesy visit to Cambodia Prime Minister Hun Sen, who highly valued the results of the conference and suggested the two sides maintain this activity regularly to create a close cooperation mechanism between the two countries’ border localities. 


He affirmed that Cambodia will allocate 100,000 hectares for Vietnam to implement its rubber planting project. 
The Cambodian PM expressed his hope that the two countries will soon finalise feasibility studies of two hydro-power projects, namely Se San and Sre Pok.

Muslim fasting month celebrated in An Giang

An Giang (VNA) – The authorities and Cham people in the Mekong Delta province of An Giang held a solemn ceremony to celebrate the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, which will last from August 11 to September 9. 

Ramadan, the ninth month of the year in the Islamic calendar, aims to encourage Muslims to do good deeds and avoid bad actions such as drinking, gambling, prostitution and drug-related crimes. 

During the month, Cham Muslims in An Giang province from 15 years of age will fast in the daytime and contribute four kilograms of rice and 2.5 percent of their yearly incomes to charitable work. 

Speaking at the ceremony, Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Vuong Binh Thanh praised local Cham Muslims’ efforts and expressed a wish that they will make more contributions to the country in the future. 

An Giang is now home to over 12,500 Muslims, mainly living in the five districts of An Phu, Tan Chau, Chau Phu, Phu Tan and Chau Thanh.

Da Nang aims to boost investment in tourism sector

Da Nang (VNA) — Da Nang will create new policies to encourage investors to develop key tourism areas, including Ba Na Tourist Site, Son Tra Peninsula and the beaches of My Khe and Non Nuoc. 

The local government plans to focus on tourist safety and invest in improving infrastructure, transportation and flight schedules. 

A travel promotion campaign via mass media, advertising and marketing will also occur locally and internationally this year. 

The city will increase marketing activities by publishing tourism brochures and maintaining websites with travel information for domestic and foreign tourists, tour organisers and travel agencies. 

As part of a media campaign, the authorities will support local agencies to co-operate with foreign partners in Japan , China and Singapore to produce promotions and create new tours. 

A tourism programme between Da Nang and neighbouring provinces of Quang Nam and Thua Thien-Hue will be expanded. 

" Da Nang is home to many beautiful landscapes, which creates business opportunities for local tourism. The city should be one of Vietnam 's most attractive destinations," Nguyen Manh Cuong, deputy director of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, said. 

The agency said it would support Da Nang to develop stable, long-term tourism. 

In recent years, many international-standard hotels have been built in Da Nang , including 4 – and 5-star luxury resorts Furama, Sandy Beach and eco-tourism resorts Ba Na and Son Tra. 

Since 2001, Da Nang has reported a 15 percent annual visitor growth. 

The city expects to attract 1.4 million visitors this year, including 350,000 foreigners, and earn more than 1 trillion VND (55 million USD) from tourism.

Agency launches website on laws for the disabled

HCM City (VNA) — Disability Resource and Development Vietnam has launched a website to provide people with disabilities information about laws related to them. 

Vo Thi Hoang Yen, head of the HCM City-based non-profit organisation, said she hoped the site would of benefit to them and help protect them. 

"When the DRD Vietnam was founded… a student sent me a letter saying he was seeking information about the disabled but could not find it anywhere." 

Many disabled people did not know their rights or the benefits the Government offers. 

The Government's websites published legal information related to many fields, meaning people with disabilities find it hard to get through the clutter and access the information related to them. 

The DRD Vietnam has invited legal experts like Le Thi Bich Tho, Dang Thi Tuyet Mai and Dang Duc Tri to help update its website. They will also provide disabled people with legal advice and represent them if required. 

The site will assist them with administrative tasks like obtaining birth and marriage certificates, licences, pensions, and others. 

But www.luatvachinh-sach.drdvietnam.com will also be very helpful for people without disabilities seeking information about legal provisions. 

According to the General Statistics Office, 15 percent of the population has disabilities. Of them, less than a fifth have a high school degree and less than 1 percent have gone to college or graduated. 

The DRD Vietnam said the disabled faced not only attitudinal and infrastructure barriers in Vietnam but also often lacked confidence, basic education, working skills and knowledge of the law, which pose hurdles to their efforts to find work and climb out of poverty. 

Since 2005, the DRD has been working to support and raise awareness of issues affecting people with disabilities. 

It collaborates with other organisations that support such people in the south and is in touch with over 2,000 people with disabilities.

Biological fuel fails to attract consumers

Hanoi (VNA) — Biological E5 ethanol, produced by Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group, officially went on sale on August 1, but the environmentally friendly fuel has yet to be embraced by motorists. 

The fuel, a mixture of 95 percent A92 petrol and 5 percent bio-ethanol produced from cassava, tobacco and sugar cane, is now available at 20 filling stations in Hanoi , HCM City , southern Ba Ria-Vung Tau province and northern Hai Phong and Hai Duong provinces. 

However, demand is limited. 

At Hanoi-based Thai Thinh filling station, there were typically long queues of drivers waiting for A92 petrol on August 2, but few callers for E5. 

Nguyen Van Duc, a petrol pump attendant, said few motorist wanted E5 petrol, even though it was cheaper than other kinds of fuel. 

E5 costs 15,500 VND (0.8 USD) per litre, while regular A92 costs about 16,000 VND (8.4 USD) per litre. 

"Many people do not know about this kind of petrol, while those that are familiar with it are hesitant to change their behaviour and are not sure about quality," Duc said. 

However, he said the number of motorists using E5 had gradually increased partly because it was cheaper but also because it was "cleaner and safer." 

He said motorists should be made fully aware of E5's benefits. 

"I didn't know that E5 was already on sale," Tran Hoang Nam , a motorist from Hai Ba Trung district, said. 

"I have no idea if the fuel is as good as regular petrol, so I will wait until it becomes more popular," he said. 

Nguyen Xuan Son, director general of Viet Nam Petrol Oil Corporation, said E5 had been thoroughly tested to ensure it was suitable for all vehicles. 

E5 petrol was launched as part of the Government's biofuel development master plan (up to 2015). 

E5 petrol will next go on sale at three stations in central Da Nang city, three in central Thua Thien-Hue province and five in the Mekong Delta's Can Tho city. 

It will be sold at more than 4,000 stations by the end of 2012.

Funds for student dormitories to be paid in advance

Hanoi (VNA) — The Government will provide money in advance for the building of student accommodation approved for 2010-11. 

Government Office document 211/TB-VPCP says the pre-payment is primarily intended to ensure the projects are completed on schedule. 

The Government has also agreed to transfer 59.5 billion VND (3 million USD) for 44 Construction Ministry-approved student-accommodation projects. 

And Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has asked the municipal administrations of Hanoi and HCM City to provide scheduled moneys in advance for projects that he has approved. 

The payments will be refunded from next year's State budget, says the document. 

The document says Planning and Investment Minister Vo Hong Phuc has been asked to coordinate with the Construction and Finance Ministries to complete a list of student-accommodation projects for 2011-15 that have been given prime ministerial approval but which have not been included in capital allotments for 2010. 

The list will go to the National Assembly Standing Committee. 

The Construction Ministry has been asked to coordinate with the Education and Training, the Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, Planning and Investment and the Finance Ministries together with relevant agencies to complete a list of proposed projects that are to be financed from the sale of government bonds in 2011-15 for the prime minister's approval.