HANOI， Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam's fruit and vegetable export value is expected to reach 2.5 billion U.S. dollars in 2016， surpassing rice export revenue for the first time， the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) announced on Thursday.
According to the ministry， the vegetable and fruit industry grew from earning 235 million U.S. dollars in 2005 to a record high of some 1.8 billion U.S. dollars in 2015.
In 2005， Vietnamese fruit and vegetables were shipped to 36 markets while the figure rose to 60 markets in 2015.
Le Quoc Doanh， Deputy Minister of MARD was quoted by the state-run news agency VNA as saying that Vietnam has emphasized rice exports for many years.
However， rice exports have been in downward trend. In January-August period， exports of Vietnamese rice experienced a decrease of 16.6 percent in volume and 13.1 percent in value year-on-year， said MARD.
At the same time， the world market has growing demand in fruit， so the country should promote fruit exports in the future， said Doanh.
Vietnam's Mekong Delta region alone has total annual output of 3.18 million tons of fruits for local consumption and exports， said MARD， adding that key fruit products include dragon fruit， mango， rambutan， durian， star apple， pomelo， longan， orange and tangerine.
By Sportswriter Michael Place
MOSCOW Nike Air Force 1 Black , June 15 (Xinhua) -- There is still a year to go until a ball is kicked in anger at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, but the competition's official warm-up event is already upon us.
Over the next 17 days, the holders of FIFA's six continental championships, plus the World Cup holders and the host nation Nike Air Force 1 White , will compete in international football's tournament of champions.
Since its inception in 1997, the Confederations Cup has been won four times by Brazil, twice by France and once by Mexico.
Despite its status as a World Cup dress rehearsal, no previous Confederations Cup holders have gone on to win the World Cup the following year.
Of the previous winners Nike Air Force 1 Off White , only Mexico will feature in this year's tournament. Other participants in the 2017 edition are Russia, Germany, Australia, Chile Nike Air Force 1 Shoes , New Zealand, Portugal and Cameroon.
Xinhua identifies five things to look out for during the June 17-July 2 event, which will be played in Moscow, Saint Petersburg Nike Air Force 1 , Kazan and Sochi.
MOTIVATED RONALDO
Few players will be as motivated to perform well in this tournament as Portugal's veteran talisman Cristiano Ronaldo.
A year after guiding Portugal to victory in the UEFA European Championship, Ronaldo will know that another title here will put him on course for a second consecutive Best FIFA men's player of the year award.
That would leave him level with his great rival Lionel Messi with five FIFA player of the year accolades (called the FIFA Ballon d'Or from from 2010 to 2015).
The former Manchester United forward has reinvented himself in recent seasons: his once trademark speed and athleticism being replaced by savvy positioning and clinical finishing.
Despite being just seven months shy of his 33rd birthday, Ronaldo is not far off the best form of his career.
Last month he led Real Madrid to their third UEFA Champions League title in four years, capping off a season in which he scored 42 goals in 46 matches across all competitions for the Spanish giants.
IMPROVED RUSSIA
The tournament's host nation looked to be in freefall late last year when they suffered friendly defeats to Costa Rica and Qatar. Just months earlier they were bundled out of Euro 2016 in the group stage without winning a match.
But a silver lining has appeared on the horizon with a 3-0 victory over Hungary and a 1-1 draw with Copa America champions Chile earlier this month.
Stanislav Cherchesov's team will be without striker Artem Dzyuba Cheap Air Force 1 , playmaker Alan Dzagoev and midfielder Roman Zobnin here due to injury.
But in emerging talents such as midfield pair Aleksandr Golovin and Aleksei Miranchuk, who are both 21, Cherchesov has good reason to believe his team can cover those losses.
Russia will be further boosted by the country's fervent fans, who are likely to make their match venues a cauldron of noise for opposing teams.
DOWN-UNDER SPIRIT
While the declaration by Australia coach Ange Postecoglou that he is aiming to "win the tournament Air Force 1 Sale , mate" might seem overzealous, the Socceroos should not be taken lightly.
Australia are unbeaten in their past eight World Cup qualifiers and showed by winning the Asian Cup final in 2015 that they can perform on the biggest of stages.
Their squad includes talented Celtic midfielder Tom Rogic, Hertha BSC forward Mathew Leckie and Manchester City's Aaron Mooy, who helped Huddersfield Town earn promotion to the Premier League during a loan spell last season.
Thirty-seven year-old former Everton midfielder Tim Cahill is also a part of the Socceroos squad and will be keen to preserve his fine record in major tournaments.
Likewise Air Force 1 Blue , Australia's trans-Tasman Sea rivals New Zealand should not be discounted as easy beats. The Oceania champions drew 1-1 with the United States in Washington last October, and their squad includes players of the ilk of West Ham defender Winston Reid and Leeds United striker Chris Wood.
DRAXLER ON THE RISE
Having chosen an under-strength squad, Germany coach Joachim Low is using the tournament as a litmus test for several players ahead of the World Cup.
Among those who will be watched closely is Paris Saint-Germain winger Julian Draxler, who has been named Germany's captain for the tournament.
A bit-part player for Germany at the 2014 World Cup Air Force 1 Red , Draxler has become a regular in Low's starting lineup and he can confirm his name in the coach's World Cup plans if he lives up to expectations here.
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