>NA discusses socio-economy, State budget > >National Assembly (NA) deputies continued their discussions on the >implementation of socio-economic tasks and the State budget this year, plans >and tasks for the next year and the State budget balance of last year on >November 18, the fifth working day of its on-going session. > >The plenum was chaired by NA Deputy Chairman Mai Thuc Lan. > >Eighteen deputies from 18 provinces and cities raised their opinions on the >strong and weak points in the implementation of socio-economic tasks and State >budget this year. They also discussed the difficulties and advantages in the >implementation of socio-economic task and State budget next year. > >The general targets and specific targets of the socio-economic fields, >feasibility and measures for the implementation were also mentioned. > >Several deputies voiced their ideas on concrete measures to strengthen >national programmes to eradicate hunger, reduce poverty, create more jobs and >fight against smuggling and other social evils. > >Others pointed out the situation and the results of the implementation of key >national works. > >Measures to overcome difficulties to accelerate equitisation and renovation of >activities of businesses and co-operatives were also discussed. > >The deputies also contributed opinions on corruption and measures to fight >against it and on measures to enhance the implementation of the NA�s >resolutions on the reform of the State�s apparatus. > >The NA continues its discussions on these issues today. **** > >US president concludes visit > >US President William Jefferson Clinton, his wife, Mrs Hillary Rodham Clinton >and entourage left Ho Chi Minh City for home, successfully concluding their >official visit to Vietnam on the evening of November 19. > >Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Nguyen Viet Thanh and his >wife, Minister of Trade Vu Khoan, Permanent Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs >Nguyen Dinh Bin, Vietnamese Ambassador to the US Le Van Bang, US Ambassador to >Vietnam Douglas Pete Peterson and Ambassador Vu Hac Bong, director of the >city's Foreign Service were at the Tan Son Nhat airport to see off the US >delegation. **** > >Vietnam supports widening of UN Security Council > >Vietnam strongly supports the increase in both permanent and non-permanent >categories of the membership of the United Nations Security Council, >Ambassador Nguyen Thanh Chau, Vietnamese permanent representative to the >United Nations, has said. > >Mr Chau expressed Vietnam�s support for the reform and expansion of the >Security Council at the 55th General Assembly of the United Nations in New >York on November 16. > >The diplomat said: "Item 59 on: �Question of equitable representation on and >increase in the membership of the Security Council and related matters� is an >important item on the Agenda of the General Assembly of the United Nations at >this Millennium Session. After six consecutive years considering this >question, we have now arrived at a very crucial juncture. In fact, the General >Assembly today should heed the earnest call to action made by the secretary >general of the United Nations, Mr Kofi Annan, when he sent his Millennium >Report to this august body last March. In the Millennium Declaration, the >heads of State and governments also called for intensified efforts to achieve >a comprehensive reform of the Security Council. Our delegation firmly believes >that the settlement of this question will be a major achievement in our >follow-up efforts to realise the Millennium Declaration." > >On Vietnam�s stance to the UN reform and expansion of the Security Council, >Ambassador Chau said: > >"The reform of the Security Council must ensure that the Council will be more >representative and accountable and its work more transparent and more >legitimate. Vietnam strongly supports the increase in both permanent and >non-permanent categories of the membership of the Council. In our opinion, an >expanded council of about 24 members can ensure that the Council works >effectively and legitimately. Developing countries must be represented >appropriately and can participate fully in the Council�s decisions on >important matters of world peace and security." > >He continued to say: > >"As regards the increase in the permanent membership, the general package to >be agreed upon should ensure that developing countries from the three >continents of Asia, Africa, and Latin America be represented; and it may also >take into account the inclusion of some developing countries and certain >developed countries such as India, Japan, Germany, which can play a >significant role and have made major financial and material contributions to >the United Nations. > >"On the veto issue, Vietnam fully supports the position of the Non-Aligned >countries that measures should be taken to curtail the application of this >power as interim steps. Until it is finally eliminated, the veto power should >be used only to deal with matters that may fall under provisions of Chapter >VII of the United Nations Charter." > >"Now, more than ever before, the United Nations must ensure that it can assert >its ability to reform itself and move forward with tangible steps in this >regard," Ambassador Chau stressed. (VNA) **** >Peace Committee marks its 50 years > >A grand meeting to celebrate the 50th founding anniversary of the Vietnam >Peace Committee (VPC) was held on November 18 in Hanoi by the Vietnam Union of >Friendship Associations and the VPC. > >Mr Vu Dinh Cu, VPC president, delivered the opening speech, reviewing the >process of establishment and development and the achievements of the VPC in >the past 50 years; its active contributions in the implementation of >revolutionary tasks of the Vietnamese people in different periods and its >efforts to strengthen the world peace movement. > >Speaking at the meeting, Vice President Nguyen Thi Binh stressed that during >its 50 years of development, the VPC has made great contributions to the Party >and State's external relations activities. Together with other mass >organisations, the VPC has actively mobilised to build up a world people front >to consolidate with and support the revolutionary cause of Vietnam, creating a >'Vietnam generation' amid international friends, making Vietnam a symbol of >peace and mankind's right senses and conscience. > >The vice president stressed the tasks for the committee in the years to come: >to participate more actively in strengthening peace and stability for >development, with the ultimate goal for targets of a wealthy people, a strong >country, and an equal, democratic and civilised society; together with people >all over the world striving for a century of peace without violence and wars >and for a culture of peace. > >The meeting was attended by a delegation of the China Union of People's Peace >and Disarmament Associations, led by its Vice President Zhou Shanqing, and a >delegation of the Lao Committee for Peace and Solidarity led by its President >Sihuaban Navong, who is also Acting President of the Lao Front for National >Construction. > >Representatives of the Chinese, Lao, Cambodian and Russian Embassies were also >present at the event. > >The Presidium of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Associations on this >occasion, presented 'For the Cause of Peace, Friendship between Nations' >medals to Mr To Huu and eleven other cadres for their active contributions to >the activities of the VPC. _______________________________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. 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