Ecovietnam - AUSTRALIA

President Luong greets former Australian leader
http://vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn/Update/New.htm#President%20Luong%20greets%20former%20Australian%20leader
Thursday, December 30, 2004

HA NOI — Australia wants to share its expertise in environmental protection and social services with Viet Nam, according to former Australian prime minister Robert James Lee Hawke, currently visiting the country.

Speaking at a meeting with President Tran Duc Luong on Wednesday, the former PM said that the Oceanic nation needed Viet Nam’s support for its efforts to establish a closer link with southeast Asian nations.

He told the president that he was impressed with the Vietnamese people’s achievements in economic development, particularly in poverty reduction programmes.

President Luong reteirated Viet Nam’s firm policy of improving multifaceted co-operation with Australia, and praised the valuable help that Australia offered to Viet Nam to help heal the wounds of war, as well as assistance in the present national development process. He expressed his delight over the progress of the relationship between the two nations in economy, trade, investment, politics, security and defence, and hoped that the bilateral ties would continue to flourish in the years to come. — VNS

Australian CARE helps Vietnam supply clean water to southern most province

The Australian non-government organisation CARE will donate US$1 million to a project to supply clean water to 10,000 poor households in rural areas in the southernmost province of Ca Mau between 2005-2010.

The project, which also helps build toilets for beneficiaries, will start in May 2005 in 32 villages in Ngoc Hien, Dam Doi, U Minh and Cai Nuoc districts.

Previously the organisation has provided US$11,500 for two pilot projects in Khanh Lam commune, U Minh district.

The province plans to raise the rate of rural people using clean water to 68 percent in 2005 from 65 percent at present.

Australia to finance clean water project in central province
11/11/2004 -- 22:17(GMT+7)

Quang Ngai, Nov. 11 (VNA) - A four-year project on clean water and environmental hygiene is scheduled to start in 2005 in the central province of Quang Ngai, with a total capital of over 20 billion VND (1.25 million USD) coming from the Australian Government.

The project was announced at a seminar held in Quang Ngai on Wednesday to review the implementation of recent projects on clean water and environmental hygiene funded by the Australian Government through Plan International.

The project will help provide clean water to the local people and raise their awareness of health protection.

It aims to raise the number of communes having enough clean water for their daily use to 71-85 percent, and family hygienic waste water treatment systems to 30-60 percent by 2010.-Enditem

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