The Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA) handed over equipment worth US$150,000 to help prevent bird flu in 12 southern provinces through the National Centre for Agricultural Promotion in HCM City on December 20.

Danida has donated a total sum of $300,000 to 31 provinces and cities under the programme to support Vietnam 's agricultural sector.

The centre's Deputy Director Tran Kim Anh said that only 70% of the country's poultry stock have been restored, including 60% of the national breeding stock.

He stressed that the risk of bird flu reoccurrences remains high, especially at present when the changing weather conditions and the large supply of poultry for Tet can easily lead to a bird flu outbreak.

(Source: VNA)

Can Tho city has become the 24th member of the Green City - Denmark .

The decision was announced at a seminar on Vietnam-Denmark environment day held in the southern city of Can Tho on Tuesday.

Can Tho is Vietnam 's first city to join the Green City - Denmark and the organisation hoped that more cities in Vietnam will become green cities in the future.

Can Tho was recognised as a green city thanks to its achievements in effectively implementing a project on environmental protection, which received 779,000 EUR from the European Community and the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA) for its first phase (2003-2004). The project, a model for building a city toward sustainable development in Vietnam , will receive an additional 720,000 EUR for its next phase.

Besides Can Tho, HCM City , Vung Tau city, Qui Nhon city, Hau Giang and Ben Tre provinces have carried out green city projects.

The Green City Denmark was established in 1994 and has operated in Vietnam for nearly eight years. The organisation has coordinated with its Vietnamese counterparts to transfer technology and know-how in environment, energy and sustainable urban development.

(Source: VNA)