VNA
President Tran Duc Luong watching the photo 'The Great Conductor'
taken by Lam Hong Phong from VNA.
Party General Secretary Le Kha Phieu and President Tran Duc Luong visited
the National Spring Press Festival held at the Giang Vo Centre for Fairs and
Exhibitions, Hanoi yesterday on separate occasions.
While there, General Secretary Phieu praised the Vietnamese journalists who
promoted the tradition of the Vietnam revolutionary press set up and
developed by late President Ho Chi Minh and pooled their efforts to reflect
truthfully the reality of the socio-economic and cultural development of the
country. He also called at stands exhibiting newspapers and newspapers
online.
Under the programme of the Spring Press Festival, the Vietnam Journalists¹
Association and Radiothe Voice of Vietnam jointly organised a musical
performance entitled �Everlasting Songs¹ last night at the Opera House.
Prominent among those attending the festive night were advisor to the Party
Central Committee, Do Muoi, Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Khiem and other
senior leaders.
The Department of Culture and Information, in co-ordination with the
Journalists¹ Association of Ho Chi Minh City, opened a Spring Press
Festival.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
59 babies presented gifts
President Tran Duc Luong has presented gifts to 59 babies, who were born on
the first moments of the new century and millennium (from 12 midnight to one
minute past 12 midnight on January 1, 2001).
Many of them are babies of people of ethnic minority groups.
These gifts shows the profound attention of the Party, State and President
Luong paid to the young generations in the new century.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Vice president praises contributions by Overseas Vietnamese
Vice President Nguyen Thi Binh has praised Overseas Vietnamese initiatives
and recommendations for national legal reform and economic development as
"honest and valuable."
Ms Binh was speaking while greeting more than 300 expatriates from 19
Vietnamese communities in Ho Chi Minh City on January 17 for the traditional
Lunar New Year festival.
The vice president and her co-host, Ho Chi Minh City Party Secretary Nguyen
Minh Triet, praised these contributions as a reflection of the national
pride and unity of the Vietnamese people throughout history.
She quoted the Vietnamese saying: "One drop of blood is more valuable than a
water pond," to praise the unity of the family or the nation.
The national and municipal leaders said they hoped this spirit would always
prevail among Vietnamese both at home and abroad in support of the common
goal of a prosperous people, a strong country and a just, democratic and
advanced society.
An Overseas Vietnamese from France, Lam Thanh My, was optimistic about
national sustainable development. He emphasised that the Vietnamese
communities abroad would always consider unity and mutual help a must.
He also pledged to contribute further to development of his native land.
The number of Overseas Vietnamese companies in Ho Chi Minh City increased by
30% to 105 last year and they donated more than VND 6 billion to social
development programmes.
Last year saw almost 300,000 Overseas Vietnamese visit their homeland
through Tan Son Nhat Airport, Ho Chi Minh City, a year-on-year increase of
14.1%, reports the Committee for Overseas Vietnamese's Ho Chi Minh City
branch.
For this new year festival, the airport welcomed an all-time-high of about
150,000 Overseas Vietnamese.
The government has issued a single-price policy for transport and services
for Overseas Vietnamese from January 1 to March 30. (VNA)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Early ratification of Vietnam-US trade agreement sought
Foreign Minister Nguyen Dy Nien would like the US Congress to make further
contributions to improving relations between Vietnam and the US - especially
by ratifying the Bilateral Trade Agreement, BTA, signed last July.
The foreign minister was speaking about the efforts by the Congress to boost
relations between the two countries while receiving a visiting House of
Representatives delegation in Hanoi on January 16. The delegation is led by
Democratic Party leader Richard Gerphardt.
Members of the delegation said they recognised Vietnam's socio-economic
achievements and expressed support for early ratification of the BTA,
describing it as a measure to boost development of the two countries'
relations.
The delegates said they appreciated the Vietnam government and people's
co-operation in the search for information about US servicemen listed as
missing in action.
Foreign Minister Nien and the US Congress delegation compared notes about
Vietnam's foreign policy, regional situation and the relations between
Vietnam and other Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, and Asian
countries. (VNA)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ben Tre uprising celebrated
The Party Committee, administration and people of the southern Ben Tre
province held a solemn meeting yesterday to celebrate its 41st uprising
(January 17, 1960 - January 17, 2001).
Forty one years ago yesterday, at 8am, the people in Dinh Thuy village fired
its first shot, killing the head of the Dinh Ran out post and seized it,
starting the concerted uprising which then spread to the whole province
until January 25, 1960.
The army and people of Ben Tre eliminated or forced to surrender or withdraw
over 100 enemy garrisons; captured 1,700 firearms of different kinds,
liberated more than 70 villages and carried out 7,000-plus big and small
struggles with the participation of over half a million people.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cultural activities to welcome Tet
To welcome the Year of the Snake, cultural and information activities have
been closely linked with the celebration of the founding anniversary of the
Party (February 3), the Party congresses at all levels and the ninth
National Party Congress.
Mass media have launched an information dissemination campaign nationwide on
the achievements of 2000, and the outstanding units and individuals in the
patriotic emulation movement.
The Ministry of Culture and Information, the Hanoi Department of Culture and
Information and the Vietnam Television Station have co-ordinated to organise
an art performance to welcome the New Year's Eve in Hanoi.
Theatres and professional art troupes have worked out performing programmes
during the Tet holidays for people in localities, especially those in
revolutionary bases and remote areas.
Cities and provinces will open book festivals and film weeks to greet the
Party and welcome the Spring; provide and enhance the showing of Vietnamese
feature films, films for children and documentary films.
Publishing houses and book delivery networks have set up agents to introduce
art and cultural, technological works of great value and books about the
Party, revolutionary traditions, calendars and open new book houses during
the Tet festival.
Paintings exhibitions and exhibitions on the Party and Uncle Ho will be
held.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gathering celebrates Vietnam-China diplomatic ties
A gathering was held by the Vietnam-China Friendship Association (VCFA) in
Hanoi on January 17 to celebrate the 51st anniversary of diplomatic ties
between the two countries.
Among those attending were acting president of the Vietnam Union of
Friendship Organisations, Vu Xuan Hong, and China's ambassador to Vietnam,
Qi Jianguo.
VCFA President Nguyen Canh Dinh said he believed that co-operation and
mutual help between the governments and peoples of the two countries would
undergo stronger development in the new century.
He also wished to see the traditional friendship, solidarity and
co-operation between the two peoples bloom forever.
Qi Jianguo said that China and Vietnam were bound by a time-honoured
friendship which had been built and developed through revolution and
socialist construction. (VNA)
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