Environmental priorities set

Priorities for sustainable development of Vietnam's natural resources and the environment were set forth at the annual meeting of the International Support Group for Natural Resouces and the Environment, held in Hanoi recently. Pham Khoi Nguyen, Vietnam's Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment, said these priorities include:

- making full use of donor support,
- establishing an international institute on natural resources and the environment,
- disbursing internatianl aid to urgent national environmental issues, and
- integrating management of river basins, riverbanks and coastlines, with an overall survey of natural resources and management as the first step.

Donors provided $97 million last year to projects carried out by the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment. (VNA March 4)