Topic 1: Food genetically modified

This is the first topic to take place in this blog, and is going to be related to Vietnam, offering different sources of information about it.


What is Genetically modified food?

Genetically modified (GM) foods are foods derived from organisms whose genetic material (DNA) has been modified in a way that does not occur naturally, e.g. through the introduction of a gene from a different organism. Currently available GM foods stem mostly from plants, but in the future foods derived from GM microorganisms or GM animals are likely to be introduced on the market. Most existing genetically modified crops have been developed to improve yield, through the introduction of resistance to plant diseases or of increased tolerance of herbicides.

In the future, genetic modification could be aimed at altering the nutrient content of food, reducing its allergenic potential, or improving the efficiency of food production systems. All GM foods should be assessed before being allowed on the market. FAO/WHO Codex guidelines exist for risk analysis of GM food.

WHO, Genetically Modified Food, World Health Organization, 29 September 2010.
Full Article: http://www.who.int/topics/food_genetically_modified/en/

HISTORY

Vietnam's identity has been shaped by long-running conflicts, both internally and with foreign forces. In 111 BC, China's Han dynasty conquered northern Vietnam's Red River Delta and the ancestors of today's Vietnamese. Chinese dynasties ruled Vietnam for the next 1,000 years, inculcating it with Confucian ideas and political culture, but also leaving a tradition of resistance to foreign occupation. In 939 AD, Vietnam achieved independence under a native dynasty. After 1471, when Vietnam conquered the Champa Kingdom in what is now central Vietnam, the Vietnamese moved gradually southward, finally reaching the agriculturally rich Mekong Delta, where they encountered previously settled communities of Cham and Cambodians. As Vietnam's Le dynasty declined, powerful northern and southern families, the Trinh and Nguyen, fought civil wars in the 17th and 18th centuries. A peasant revolt originating in the Tay Son region of central Vietnam defeated both the Nguyen and the Trinh and unified the country at the end of the 18th century, but was itself defeated by a surviving member of the Nguyen family, who founded the Nguyen dynasty as Emperor Gi
Independence: September 2, 1945.a Long in 1802. 
Full Article: http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/4130.htm

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

Treaties:
Land Border Agreement signed in December 1999, with China.
Borders in the Gulf of Tonkin signed in December 2000, with China.
Bilateral Trade Agreement on December 10, 2001, with U.S.A         


Organizations that this country belongs to: 

1ADB, APEC, APT, ARF, ASEAN, CICA (observer), CP, EAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO


                     FullArticle:http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/4130.htm#foreign

CULTURE

Population (2009): 85.79 million





Ethnicities: 54 groups including Vietnamese (Kinh) (85.73%), Tay (1.97%), Thai (1.79%), Muong (1.52%), Khmer (1.37%), Chinese (1.13%), Nung (1.13%), Hmong (1.11%).

Literacy rate (2009):  90%
Religion (2008): Buddhism (approx. 50%), Catholicism (8%-10%), Cao Dai (1.5%-3%), Protestantism (0.5%-2%), Hoa Hao (1.5%-4%), Islam (0.1%), and other animist religions.

FullArticle:http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/4130.htm

GOVERNMENT

Type of government: Single-party constitutional republic

Elections:
The assembly meets twice yearly for 7-10 weeks each time; elections for members are held every 5 years, although its Standing Committee meets monthly and there are now over 100 "full-time" deputies who function on various committees.

Current government officials:
President--Nguyen Minh Triet
Prime Minister--Nguyen Tan Dung
National Assembly Chairman--Nguyen Phu Trong
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs--Pham Gia Khiem
Ambassador to the United States--Le Cong Phung
Ambassador to the United Nations--Le Luong Minh 


      Full Article: http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/4130.htm

ECONOMY

Economy: 

GDP (2009): $92.6 billion.
Real growth rate: 5.32% (2009); 5.8% (first quarter of 2010 year-on-year).
GDP Per capita income (2009): $1,052.

Imports: $68.8 billion (first quarter 2010: $17.5 billion). Principal imports, machinery, oil and gas, iron and steel, garment materials, plastics.

Exports: $56.6 billion (first quarter 2010: $14.0 billion). Principal exports, crude oil, garments/textiles, footwear, fishery and seafood products, rice (world’s second-largest exporter), pepper (spice; world’s largest exporter), wood products, coffee, rubber, handicrafts. 

Trade Partners: China, Japan, Singapore, Taiwan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Thailand, U.S., EU, Australia, Germany, and the United Kingdom.

    Full Article: http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/4130.htm