VNA
More qualified economists needed for national development Prime Minister Phan Van Khai has urged the Hanoi National University for Economics (NUE) to raise training standards and academic quality to turn out more qualified economists for national industrialisation and modernisation. The prime minister made such an urge during his visit to the university in Hanoi on January 16. He praised the university's lecturers and students for their achievements, particularly their effort to make the university a unit of 'Labour Hero' in the renovation process. He also stressed that the NUE, as well as other colleges and universities, should pay more attention to two strategic issues, including the raising of the quality of teaching and learning and the settlement of the relationship between the scale and training quality of tertiary education at present. He also asked the university to pay more heed to both professional and ethical training for students. To improve the knowledge of lecturers, he suggested, more favourable conditions should be created for them to make field trips, so that they can understand more about the actual situation and apply it in their teaching as well as in scientific research work. Prime Minister Khai also asked the university to improve its teaching and learning methodologies in a bid to promote the creativity among students. He wanted sectors and branches to give more help to the university to upgrade its infrastructure and equipment. He also called on the university's dormitory, several classes and planted a tree there. **** NA Chairman urges further efforts of Supreme People's Procuracy National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Van An said he highly valued achievements made by the staff of the Supreme People's Procuracy in 2001 and asked the sector to make further efforts in 2002. This was said during the NA chairman's working visit to the Supreme People's Procuracy on January 16. Director of the Supreme People's Procuracy, Ha Manh Tri, reported the activities of the sector in 2001 and plans in 2002 to Chairman Nguyen Van An. Chairman Nguyen Van An analysed the importance of the amendments of and supplement to some articles of the 1992 Constitution concerning the adjusted functions and tasks of the Supreme People's Procuracy to focus on prosecuting and supervising judicial activities made at the tenth session of the Tenth National Assembly last year. Mr An praised the sector for its efforts in rearranging personnel and improving capability to better implement the tasks entrusted by the Party, State and people. The NA chairman said he believed that all the staff of the sector will continue to promote the responsibility in assessing shortcomings to complete their tasks in the spirit of clear conscience and justice, thus contributing to the cause of healthy society, especially to the successful implementation of targets set out by the Party, State and people in 2002. **** Hanoi targets 10-11% GDP growth Hanoi Peoplešs Council held its sixth meeting of the 12th tenure on January 16 to review the implementation of the committeešs resolution on socio-economic, security, defence tasks and budget collection and spending in 2001 and discuss measures to fulfil the 2002 plan. Hanoišs economy registered remarkable growth in 2001. The cityšs general domestic production (GDP) rate was the highest of the country at 10.03%. Total investment capital of the whole society reached VND 18,120 billion, accounting for 50.87% of GDP. Of this figure, NVD 15,870 billion were domestic investment, accounting for 87.6% of the total investment of the whole society. Budget collection was VND 15,960 billion, 20% (or over VND 3,000 billion) exceeding the planned figure. Budget spending on basic construction was VND 1,956 billion, a 43% increase against last year. As many as 843,000 square metres of housing were built, exceeding 68.6% of the targeted figure. Positive changes were seen in urban infrastructure construction, administrative reform, culture and society. The peoplešs material and spiritual lives were much improved. Political security and social order was protected. Pressing social issues are being dealt with effectively and partly controlled. Hanoišs socio-economic development targets in 2002 are: GDP to increase by 10-11%; industrial production value, by 14-15%; services value, by 11-12%; agricultural-forestry-fisheries production value, by 1.5-2.5%; import-export turnover, by 12-14%; total investment capital of the whole society, by 10%; birth rate, down 0.015%; number of poor households, down 0.8% and to build 720,000 more square metres of housing. Addressing the meeting, NA Chairman Nguyen Van An praised the authorities and people of Hanoi for their great achievements in 2001. He also pointed out the weaknesses that Hanoi needs to overcome such high economic growth but poor competitiveness; serious traffic jams in some key sections; high rate of traffic accidents; the ever complicated prostitution and drug addiction situation and the still rampant bureaucracy and red tape. The NA chairman asked the leaders and people of Hanoi to pool greater efforts to overcome these weaknesses and successfully realise the 2002 socio-economic development plan. Also present at the meeting were Mr Nguyen Phu Trong, Politburo member and secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee, and representatives from the NA Office, the Presidential Office and the Governmental Office. **** Russian Deputy PM optimistic on co-operation prospects Russian Deputy Prime Minister Viktor Khristenko, who will visit Vietnam, has spoke highly of co-operation prospects with the country. The Russian leader was speaking in an interview to Russian News Agency Novosti in Moscow on January 15, saying that co-operation in oil, gas and power remains a Russian priority in bilateral co-operative ties with Vietnam. He cited the fact that a number of top Russian businesses, including the Zarubenznheft Economic Relations Confederation and Gasprom Corp, have been engaged in building infrastructure facilities for Vietnam's oil, gas and power industries. The two governments have made great efforts in improving mechanisms and removing barriers, including those in finance, to expand bilateral co-operation. Deputy Prime Minister Khristenko described the Dung Quat Oil Refinery, being jointly built by Vietnam and Russia and the first one of its kind in Vietnam, as an outstanding example of the strengthened co-operation between the two countries during their renovation process. The Russian leader also said that the two countries have made drastic efforts to implement new scientific and technological co-operation projects, citing the approved Russia-Vietnam scientific and technological co-operation programme for the 2002-2003 period. He went on to say that co-operation between Vietnamese and Russian organisations and scientists in this domain have proved efficient in the recent past. More than 30 co-operative projects in biotechnology, production and the application of advanced laser equipment for health care and keeping water resources clean have been undertaken, the Russian deputy prime minister noted. The two countries have also co-operated in conducting research on the long-lasting effects of dioxin chemical, which was sprayed on Vietnam during the anti-US war, on the environment and people's health. Deputy Prime Minister Khristenko said the two-way trade value between Russia and Vietnam in the past period was not high, at US $420 million in the year 2000, attributing the low level to the impacts of the transitional economy. "An increase in the two countries' trade turnover is possible in the coming time," said the deputy prime minister, stressing that the two countries are making efforts to implement important co-operative projects, including the Dung Quat Oil Refinery, and hydro-electric and thermo-electric power plants. Russia will accelerate the supply of its traditional products like steel and fertilisers to Vietnam while facilitating the import of Vietnam-made products to Russia, Mr Khristenko affirmed. In the past, Vietnam's textiles and garments and other light industrial items sold better in Russia and the two countries' trade value in 2001 is estimated to have reach between US $500-550 million. (VNA) **** Education co-operation to bolster Vietnam - France ties Co-operation in training and education should be regarded as a prerequisite to furthering socio-economic co-operation between Vietnam and France. The view was agreed upon by Deputy Minister of Training and Education Le Vu Hung and president of the visiting France-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentarians Group of the Senate, Jacques Oudin, during their working session in Hanoi on January 16. The two sides discussed an initiative to establish a Vietnam-France higher education training establishment which may be placed in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City. They reflected upon the two countries' co-operation in training and education in the past, particularly in using the French language in 600 schools, in training high-tech engineers and in teaching the French language as a compulsory subject on a trial basis in 22 provinces and cities in Vietnam. The French MPs have expressed their interest in expanding France's scholarship grant programme to Vietnamese students wishing to study in France. The French parliamentary delegation has been in Hanoi since January 14 and will remain until January 22. (VNA) **** Tunisia hopes for strengthened ties Tunisia hopes for further expansion and development of friendly and co-operative ties with Vietnam, particularly in investment and trade, the Tunisian Secretary of Foreign Affairs Youssef Mokaddem has said. He was talking with Vietnamese Foreign Minister Nguyen Dy Nien in Hanoi on January 16. Mr Nien said he believed the prospects for further enhancement of co-operative ties between Vietnam and Tunisia are great. However, the two countries have to work out suitable measures to make their ties beneficial to their national construction and development, he noted. The Tunisian guest, who arrived in Hanoi on January 14, held talks with Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Van Nganh. The two officials informed each other of the recent situation in their respective countries and discussed ways to boost bilateral co-operation in the future. They also compared notes on regional and international issues of common concern. Secretary Mokaddem held working sessions with Minister of Fisheries Ta Quang Ngoc, the External Relations Board of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee, the Trade Ministry, the Agriculture and Rural Development Ministry and the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Visiting Tunisian business people had contacts with their Vietnamese partners to explore business opportunities in the country. The Tunisian guests will leave Hanoi for Ho Chi Minh City on January 17. (VNA) **** Deputy foreign minister meets Overseas Vietnamese in Germany "The Vietnamese State attaches importance to contributions of Overseas Vietnamese to the country's construction," Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Dinh Bin said. Mr Bin, who is also chairman of the Overseas Vietnamese Committee, was speaking at a recent conference of the Overseas Vietnamese community in Germany to review community work in 2001. Deputy Foreign Minister Bin, who is on a tour of Europe, informed the participants of Vietnam's achievements last year in renovation and national construction, as well as the Party and State's new policies for Overseas Vietnamese. He praised the Association of Overseas Vietnamese in Germany for their contributions to organising and encouraging activities of the Vietnamese community in Germany. He called on Vietnamese intellectuals in Germany to make more contributions to Vietnam's development, and noted that their home country is willing to welcome their return. (VNA) **** National Women's Congress to open in Hanoi The ninth National Women's Congress will be held in Hanoi from February 20-23, announced permanent Vice President of the Vietnam Women's Union Le Thi Thu at a press briefing in Hanoi on January 15. The congress will be attended by 900 official delegates and 300 guests, including 100 foreign guests. The congress will review its implementation of the resolution of the Eighth National Women's Congress and discuss orientations of the women's movement and a plan of action for the union in the 2002-2007 tenure, with a view to contributing to successful implementation of the Resolution of the Ninth National Party Congress, gender equality, national construction and defence. The goal of the women's movement for the 2002-2007 period is to raise women's educational level, improve women's material and spiritual life, and promote role models of Vietnamese patriotic, knowledgeable, creative, and healthy women, according to a draft report of the Women's Union Central Committee. (VNA) _________________________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. 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