HANOI, Dec 29, 2010 (AFP) - Eleven Vietnamese sailors were missing in the South China Sea after their cargo ship sank during high winds, a rescue official said Wednesday.

Twelve other mariners were rescued by fishermen after the Van Don-2 sank early Tuesday about 400 kilometres (250 miles) off the coast of Ba Ria-Vung Tau, said Bui Ngoc Tri, of the southern province's search and rescue centre.

"Our search is hampered by bad weather," he added.

The ship, weighing 6,900 deadweight tonnes, was transporting material for making iron from Malaysia to Ho Chi Minh City, Tri said. It belongs to the Quang Ninh Sea Transport company based in northern Quang Ninh province.

Foreign investment in S.Korea jumps to 10-year high

SEOUL, Dec 29, 2010 (AFP) - Foreign direct investment in South Korea rose to a 10-year high this year, boosted by the country's fast economic recovery and confidence about growth prospects, a government report showed Wednesday.

Investment pledged by foreigners this year reached 12.9 billion dollars, up 12.1 percent from a year earlier, the Ministry of Knowledge Economy said.

"The gain reflects confidence about our solid economic fundamentals," it said in a statement, adding tensions with North Korea had no serious impact.

In the fourth quarter of 2010, foreign investment rose 62 percent year-on-year to 5.61 billion dollars, it said.

Next year South Korea aims to attract 15 billion dollars in foreign investment, the ministry said, citing the country's fast economic recovery.

Investment from the United States rose 28.3 percent to 1.9 billion dollars this year, while that from Japan gained 7.7 percent to 2.08 billion. Investment from European countries fell 41.7 percent to 3.09 billion dollars.

The ministry said efforts to build up new green-growth industries fuelled overseas investments in such areas as biomedicine, solar energy and wind power generation.