TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) - Taiwan has lent U.S. $15 million to Vietnam and plans to offer

another U.S. $30 million to the communist country, a local newspaper reported Monday.

The China times express, a leading daily, said the government extended the low-interest

loans to encourage investments in Vietnam.

It said the U.S. $15 million would be used to finance small businesses in Vietnam

and the U.S. $30 million loan would help build a highway there.