EU provides extra 1 bln EUR to developing countries

Tokyo (VNA) – The European Union on July 7 announced a fresh package worth 1 billion EUR (1.5 billion USD) in aid to developing countries to produce fertilizers and seeds for poor farmers.

”I am announcing today our intention to propose a new 1 billion EUR facility to support agriculture in developing countries, aiming at generating a strong and rapid agricultural supply response,” European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said at a press briefing in Toyako, Hokkaido, where he is attending the Group of Eight Summit.

In addition to 800 million EUR already raised, the European Union will provide a total of 1.8 billion EUR into the new fund for 2008 and 2009.-

China to issue special note to mark Olympics

Beijing (VNA) - The People’s Bank of China (PBOC), the country’s central bank, has issued a commemorative bank note with a face value of 10 yuan (1.46 USD) to mark the Beijing Olympic Games.

The PBOC said it would issue a total of 6 million such notes, which would be circulated in the currency market with the same denomination as the ordinary 10-yuan notes.

On one side of the new note is a picture of the National Stadium, or the Bird’s Nest, the main venue for the Games in August. Above the picture is the emblem of the Beijing Games, “Chinese Seal, Dancing Beijing”. The picture of national stadium and the emblem are both set against the backdrop of the Temple of Heaven , one of the country’s best-known landmarks.

This takes the place of the portrait of the late Chinese leader Mao Zedong and China ’s national emblem on the ordinary 10-yuan notes.

The other side features the famous ancient Greek marble statue of a discus-thrower, Discobolus, portraits of athletes and the Arabic numeral “2008″.-

D-8 Summit: Malaysian PM holds bilateral talks

Kuala Lumpur (VNA) - Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi held separately bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the 6th Group of Eight Islamic Developing Countries (D-8) Summit which opened on July 8.

PM Badawi kicked off his first round of bilateral talks with Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on July 7. The same day, he met with Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad and Egyptian Minister of State for International Cooperation Fayza Mohamed Abdoul Naga.

The D-8, formed in 1997, is a forum to enhance cooperation in areas such as trade, investment, rural development, human resource development, science and technology, energy, agriculture and health to improve the economic status of member states.

The grouping comprises Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan and Turkey.

Malaysia will assume the Chair of the D-8 from Indonesia at this summit.-

Over 1,600 foreign aid workers enter Myanmar

Hanoi (VNA) - Myanmar has allowed some 1,670 foreign aid workers and experts to enter the country for providing humanitarian aid to storm victims and assessing the damage as of the end of June since early May’s cyclone Nargis, according to news reports.

The aid workers included 1,076 from the United Nations and international non-governmental organisations, and 498 from member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and neighboring countries to carry out healthcare services as well as 96 persons to attend the May 25 ASEAN-UN meeting, according to the New Light of Myanmar.

A total of 913 have left Myanmar after completing their missions, with 757 still working in the cyclone-hit areas, the paper said. Deadly cyclone Nargis, which occurred over the Bay of Bengal, hit five divisions and states — Ayeyawaddy, Yangon, Bago, Mon and Kayin on May 2 and 3.

Myanmar estimated the damages and losses caused by the storm at 10.67 billion USD with 5.5 million people affected.

The storm has killed 84,537 people and left 53,836 missing and 19,359 injured according to the latest official death toll.-

Cambodia’s economy likely to grow 8 percent this year

Cambodia’s economic growth is expected to reach 8 percent this year thanks to the development of tourism, construction and garment production, Cambodian Minister of Trade Cham Prasith said.

The minister was quoted by Cambodia media as saying that rice and farm produce price hikes on the world market have increased the country’s export turnover and contributed to economic growth.

Minister Cham said he was optimistic about Cambodia’s economy, saying that Cambodia has the chance to boost its economic growth to higher level in the near future.

He added that the Cambodian government’s efforts to boost oil, gas exploration and exploitation is expected to earn the country 500 million USD from 2010-2011.

However, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) predicted that Cambodia’s economic growth can reach only 7 percent due to the world’s oil price hike and its inflation.-

China, Thailand to hold joint anti-terrorism training

Hanoi (VNA) - Chinese and Thai special forces will hold a joint anti-terrorism training exercise from July 9 to 31 in Thailand’s Chiang Mai province, foreign media reported on July 8.

The exercise, named “Strike-2008″, aims to deepen understanding, cement cooperation in non-traditional security areas, and safeguard regional peace and stability, foreign media quoted a statement from China ’s Defence Ministry as saying.

The exercise will be divided into four stages, covering combat techniques, tactics and comprehensive drills.

Last July, the two countries held their first joint training in Guangzhou, capital of south China’s Guangdong province, which was the first joint military training China held with other countries.-

Czech Republic focuses on trade relations with Vietnam

The Czech Republic sees Vietnam as one of its priority partners to boost trade relations with, a representative from Czech’s Ministry of Industry and Trade said on July 8.

The Czech official, Ales Uchytil, is in Vietnam in preparation for the first performance of Czech businesses at the fourth Vietnam International Precision Engineering, Machine Tools and Metalworking Exhibition and Conference (MTA), scheduled to be held from July 9-12.

At the press briefing on the event, Uchytil said the two countries’ trade has increased over the recent years but has not yet matched with their real potential, adding that the MTA Vietnam 2008 would provide a link for the two sides’ businesses as well as help enhance the bilateral ties.

Czech businesses will highlight their fortes in heavy mechanical engineering industries at the MTA Vietnam 2008, the Czech representative said.
According to Czech’s statistics, two-way trade between Vietnam and the Czech Republic last year reached 252 million USD, increasing 59 percent over last year’s figure.

Uchytil also said the Czech Republic , which became a member of the European Union in 2004, would support Vietnam in negotiations with EU countries, including negotiations on partnership and cooperation agreements between Vietnam and EU, and a free trade agreement between EU and ASEAN countries.-

Top tourist businesses to be honoured

The ninth annual Guide Awards 2007-08 will recognise 106 businesses in the tourism sector in Vietnam , the Vietnam Economic Times magazine has announced.

According to the sponsor, the prestigious awards will honour businesses ranging from hotel and resort services to travel and transport services all over the country.

This year also see new awards, called Green Lotus, to be presented to businesses that have creative ideas and actions to protect the environment.

Six businesses will receive the Green Lotus awards this year, including the Topas Eco Lodge in northern Sapa resort area, Mango Bay Resort on Phu Quoc island, and Evason Anan Mandara Villas and Six Senses Spa in Da Lat.

The presentation ceremony will be held in Da Lat on July 12.-

Poor regions work on food security

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) Cao Duc Phat has asked the northern mountainous and northern central regions to focus on rice production to increase the staple’s annual outputs by 2 percent from now to 2015.

Phat made the suggestion during an online conference on July 8 with authorities from 17 provinces in the two regions rated as the poorest in the country.

The growth rate of rice production set by the minister for the regions from 2015-2020 has increased to between 1.2 and 1.5 percent a year.

He also called for further investment in other food crops such as maize and industrial crops, including tea and rubber, to improve farmers’ incomes and ensure food security.

Progress made in implementing policies that support agricultural production for the poor and the Government’s relief aid during the recent prolonged cold spells also drew his attention.

Phat also asked local administrations about their preparations for difficulties in crop planting and animal husbandry arising from the approaching winter.–

Danish businesses seek opportunities in Vietnam

About 20 Danish businesses involved in printing and packing, and producing materials that help protect the environment and save energy, will arrive in Vietnam from 6-12 October to seek investment opportunities.

According to the Danish embassy in Vietnam , the businesses want to work with potential Vietnamese companies who wish to learn, exchange experience and technology from the Danish partners.

The embassy said that under its B2B business cooperation programme any cooperative projects between the countries’ businesses that establishes joint venture companies are eligible to receive financial support up to 1 million USD.

Meetings and seminars on producing materials that help protect the environment and save energy, as well as printing and packing will be held in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City by the Danish embassy.-