President ends China visit
President Tran Duc Luong has described his China visit as the successful
materialisation of agreements signed by general secretary of the Communist
Party of Vietnam (CPV), Le Kha Phieu, and general secretary of the Communist
Party and president of China, Jiang Zemin, in February 1999.
President Luong was speaking before leaving Xiamen, Fujian province on
December 29, to end his five-day official visit to China.
The president and his entourage arrived on December 25 in Beijing where he
held talks with the Chinese president and worked with other leaders.
He also visited Shanghai where he called at several production
establishments and places of interests.
The president said: "The Treaty on the Land Border between the Socialist
Republic of Vietnam (SRV) and the People's Republic of China" (PRC), signed
in December 1999; and the "Agreement on the Demarcation Territorial of
Waters, Exclusive Economic Zones and Continental Shelves in the Bac Bo
(Tonkin) Gulf between the SRV and the PRC" and the "Agreement on Fishing
Co-operation in the Bac Bo Gulf between the SRV and the RPC" signed during
this visit had historic meaning, which would help promote mutual confidence
and understanding between the two peoples, and boost neighbourly friendship
and comprehensive co-operation between the two nations in the new century.
In their meetings with President Luong, all senior Chinese officials
expressed the wish for China and Vietnam to further promote co-operation and
mutual help in economy, investment, commerce, science and technology, and
tourism, especially in agriculture and exploitation of aquatic products.
The president emphasised that in the context of complicated international
and regional developments, to strengthen and accelerate relations between
Vietnam and China was of great importance to the national construction and
development of both countries, commensurate with the interest of the two
peoples and a major contribution to the trend to peace, stability and
co-operation in the region and the world. (VNA)
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Milestone in Vietnamese, Chinese ties marked
President Tran Duc Luong granted an interview to Nhan Dan (the People)
newspaper on the results of his China visit. The interview was made in
Xiamen city, the final leg of the president's visit before ending his
five-day official visit to the People�s Republic of China. The content of
the interview is as follows:
Q: Could you assess the significant results of the visit to China?
A: The leaders of Vietnam and China have defined a guideline for their
relations in 21st century in 16 words �neighbour friendship, comprehensive
co-operation, long term stability and future-oriented thinking� during Party
General Secretary Le Kha Phieu�s visit to China in February 1999. In the
recent past, the bilateral relations have seen fine developments in
politics, diplomacy, economy, trade, science, technology, security and
defence. Many exchange visits between high-ranking delegations, social
organisations and businesses have helped enhance the mutual trust and
understanding. This visit was a vivid example of the materialisation of the
guideline, which reflects in the Joint Statement of the two countries aimed
at promoting Vietnam-China co-operative relations to a new plane in the 21st
century in line with interests and aspirations of the two peoples and for
the benefit of peace, stability and development in the region and the world.
What has impressed me and other members of the Vietnamese delegation most is
that Chinese leaders, including General Secretary and President Jiang Zemin,
Chairman of Chinese Chairman of the National People's Congress Li Peng,
Prime Minister Zhu Rongji and others, in the Central body as well in
Shanghai and Fujian province, all gave hospitable and cordial receptions to
our delegation, which show the mutual trust and understanding. The two sides
have agreed that the bilateral relations have finely developed in term of
politics. However, their co-operation in economy and other fields has yet to
develop matching with the great potentials of the two countries, so the two
countries should find out more positive measures to raise their
co-operation�s effectiveness.
This visit has marked a new development in the two countries� relations at
the threshold of the 21st century. With the agreements reached by the two
countries, I think that the visit is crowned in a success and the Chinese
friends have got the same idea.
Q: Could you describe the prospect of Vietnam-China relations in the 21st
century?
A: The signing of a number of important agreements, in combination with the
previously signed documents, would create a finer development in
Vietnam-China relations in the new century. Especially, the Treaty on the
Land Border between the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (SRV) and the People's
Republic of China" (PRC), signed in December 1999; and the "Agreements on
the Demarcation of Territorial Waters, the Exclusive Economic Zones and the
Continental Shelves in the Bac Bo (Tonkin) Gulf between the SRV and the PRC"
signed during this visit have the deep historic meaning, which would help
further promote neighbourly friendship and comprehensive co-operation
between the two nations in the new century. Both sides have unanimously
agreed on many fields and reaffirmed their determination to turn the
commitments and principles into a vivid reality.
I believe that the relations between Vietnam and China will develop
vigorously, much better in all fields in the future.
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Prime minister, diplomatic corps toast new year
Prime Minister Phan Van Khai gave a New Year banquet for the diplomatic
corps in Hanoi on December 29.
Together with the prime minister were his deputies Nguyen Tan Dung, Nguyen
Manh Cam, Nguyen Cong Tan and Pham Gia Khiem, cabinet members, heads of
Vietnam Communist Party Central Committee commissions and government
committees.
Ambassadors, charge d'affairs and chief representatives of international
organisations led by the dean of the diplomatic corps and ambassador of the
State of Palestine, Sayed Al Masri, attended the banquet.
In a toast to peace and co-operation for development and equality for all
humanity in the Year 2001, the prime minister said:
"In their cause of national liberation, construction and development, the
Vietnamese people have always enjoyed precious support and assistance from
international friends.
"On this occasion, I would like, on behalf of the government and people of
Vietnam, to ask Your Excellencies to convey to your countries, people and
international organisations for which and whom you represent, the sincere
sentiment and deep gratitude from the Vietnamese government and people.
"I also wish to reaffirm Vietnam's earnest desire to unceasingly strengthen
relations of friendship and co-operation in the spirit of Vietnam's wishing
to be a friend and reliable partner of all countries in the international
community, striving for peace, independence and development.
"During the year 2000, Vietnam has been able to overcome many difficulties
and challenges, especially destructive disasters and floods, take new steps
forward, maintain political security and social order, expand international
relations and record achievements in an enthusiastic emulation drive running
up to the ninth Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam.
"Looking ahead, the year 2001 is the first year for the implementation of
the 2001-2005 Plan and the 2001-2010 Socio-Economic Development Strategy in
order to improve our people's material and cultural life, promote
industrialisation and modernisation, lift Vietnam out of underdevelopment
and lay the foundation for an industrialised Vietnam by the year 2020."
The dean of the diplomatic corps conveyed the warmest greetings and
congratulations to the Vietnamese Party, State and people.
He said: "In recent years, despite difficulties, the people of Vietnam under
the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam have gained many successes,
external relations have been expanded and the people's spiritual and
material life has been improved. Those results have created the impetus and
momentum for the Vietnamese people to enter the year 2001 and the 21st
century.
"I would like to take this opportunity to express our great feelings and
commendation, admiration, and respect by our colleagues for the important
achievements of the Vietnamese people under the adopted policies of their
leadership geared towards a developed and prosperous economy of Vietnam."
(VNA)
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NA approves three ordinances
The National Assembly Standing Committee held a meeting under the
chairmanship of NA Chairman Nong Duc Manh on December 27 and 28 in Hanoi to
approve three ordinances on the status of the capital city, on the
protection of State secrets and on the national library system.
During the meeting, the NA Standing Committee raised opinions on the draft
of the cryptography ordinance and assessed the results of the eighth session
of the tenth National Assembly.
The NA Standing Committee also passed a resolution appointing several
procurators of the People�s Supreme Procuracy as members of the executive
procuracy committee.
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Congress of Advanced Youth opens
As many as 660 outstanding young people gathered in a congress of �Advanced
Youth� opened in Ho Chi Minh City today by the Communist Youth Union Central
Committee.
Sixty six most outstanding delegates from 66 cities and provinces are
presented with wreath of laurel.
President Tran Duc Luong sent a letter of greeting to the congress..
Many leaders of the Party, the State and Ho Chi Minh City attended the
congress.
The opening ceremony of the congress is broadcast live on the Ho Chi Minh
Television.
Earlier, the delegates organised an exchange with more than 500 young
soldiers of the Military Zone 7.
