Extracts. Vietnam demands US Cuba embargo lifted Ambassador Nguyen Thanh Chau, Head of Vietnam's Permanent Mission to the United Nations, has expressed Vietnam's deep concern over the losses and sufferings caused to the Cuban people by the US embargo. He demanded the US completely lift the embargo. Ambassador Chau was speaking at the 55th session of the UN General Assembly in New York on November 9. He said that differences between the US and Cuba should be solved through dialogue and negotiation on the basis of mutual respect for each country's independence and national sovereignty, and non-interference in each other's internal affairs. He renewed Vietnam's full support, comprehensive co-operation and solidarity with Cuba. The UN General Assembly adopted its solution, reaffirming the need to end economic, commercial and financial embargo against Cuba. This is the ninth consecutive time that the UN General Assembly issue such a solution to demand the US to lift its embargo against Cuba. (VNA) **** Vietnam, China to stay on socialist path The Communist Parties of Vietnam and China (CPV and CPC) have unshakeable belief in the socialist path and will pursue it constantly in the cause of national development. Senior officials emphasised at a seminar in Hanoi on November 10 that the guidance of both parties was indispensable to the renovation process that the two countries were going through, and that there could be no development without socialism. Party Politburo member Nguyen Duc Binh said that Vietnam would not have been able to conduct its vigorous doi moi process had it not been for the CPV. This view was shared by his Chinese counterpart, Politburo member Li Tieying, who said that without the CPC there would be no new China. Mr Binh, who is also head of the Ho Chi Minh National Political Academy, told the seminar that it was the CPV which had initiated Vietnam's revolutions and its doi moi process. He said 70 years of the CPV's existence testifies that without the heroic struggle full of sacrifices by the Vietnamese people under the leadership of the Party, there would have been no Socialist Republic of Vietnam. No other political party could replace or challenge the role of the CPV because there was no path to national independence, people's happiness and prosperity that did not link up with the path of socialism that was mapped out by the late President Ho Chi Minh. The CPV was founded, guided and led by President Ho Chi Minh himself, Mr Binh noted. "Every Vietnamese citizen understands today that the lives of the people have improved, the situation in the country has changed for the better, and the nation has a prestigious position in the international arena. All this would not have been possible without the leadership of the Party," Mr Binh said. He admitted that the CPV had committed some mistakes in rigidly copying economic models of some former socialist countries due to limited knowledge that was unable to overcome dogmas in theoretical socialist thought. But the Party had initiated the doi moi process without hesitation and indecision, knowing the destiny of tens of millions of people and of socialism was at stake, he said. The Sixth Party Congress in December 1986 had seriously criticised itself for its mistakes, Mr Binh said. It had acknowledged that major orientations, policies and strategies to build a new socialist regime had been set based on irrational and wishful thinking. It had then devised a new orientation based on the comprehensive doi moi policy to take the country out of crisis toward stability and development. The renovation process had marked a turning point in the concept and method of building socialism. >From a centrally planned economy, Vietnam has shifted to a socialist-motivated >market-oriented economy having trade ties with all countries instead of >exchanging goods only with former socialist countries, Mr Binh said. The improved economy and living conditions of the people were followed by changes in the political life including the expansion of democratic rights, strengthening the legal system and maintaining the role of the CPV. The Party has to use available opportunities to overcome present challenges and meet requirements of the new time without being side-tracked from the chosen path of socialism. He said it was the first time that the Party has had to build socialism in the present context of the market economy, so it was faced with a series of unprecedented problems and contradictions in both theory and practice. One of the problems was whether socialism could develop in harmony with the market economy or would it be neutralised in the process. Other questions included: linkages between public ownership of means of production and the inefficiency of State-owned enterprises; how to improve the functioning of SOEs; to what extent could the State sector's role be reduced while maintaining a socialist orientation; and what the nature of major private economy is. The two-day seminar titled "Socialism: the Vietnam and China experience" will end on November 11. This is the second such seminar be organised by both parties, the first being held in Beijing in June this year. (VNA) **** NA year-end session to begin next week The eighth session of the 10th National Assembly will be held in Hanoi for about one month from November 14, National Assembly Office Director Vu Mao told foreign reporters in Hanoi on November 10. The reporters were told that NA deputies at the eighth session will hear reports on the implementation of socio-economic development tasks and the State budget in 2000, and on the orientations and plans as well as State budget estimates for 2001. Also to be presented to the deputies are reports on national defence, security and external relations; on the implementation of the three national key projects and draft adjustments to targets of the project to plant five million hectares of forests; on renovation of general education curricula, and on universalisation of junior high education. The Chief Judge of the Supreme People's Court and the Director of the Supreme People's Procuracy will also report on their sectors' activities and verdict execution. NA deputies will discuss for approval the Bills on Insurance Business and Drug Prevention and Fight. They will give opinions on the draft Laws on Cultural Heritage and Fire Prevention and Fighting. The programme on building laws and ordinances in 2001 will also be considered by NA deputies at this year-end session. (VNA) _______________________________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki - Finland +358-40-7177941, fax +358-9-7591081 e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.kominf.pp.fi _______________________________________________________ Kominform list for general information. Subscribe/unsubscribe messages to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Anti-Imperialism list for anti-imperialist news. Subscribe/unsubscribe messages: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] _______________________________________________________
