VNA Party Congresses of Nghe An province and railway sector held Nghe An province and the railway sector opened their Party Congresses on January 18. President Tran Duc Luong attended the Party Congress of Nghe An province and permanent Politburo member and National Assembly chairman, Nong Duc Manh, attended the Party Congress of the railway sector. President Luong praised the Party Committee and people of Nghe An for their achievements recorded over the past term. He heard a political report delivered at the congress by provincial Party Committee secretary Truong Dinh Tuyen who is also a member of the Party Central Committee. The report highlighted achievements as well as shortcomings of all socio-economic issues and outlined orientations for the next term. Apart from the achievements in socio-economic development, Nghe An's economic growth rate is still low as compared with that of the whole country. The provincial Party Committee is striving to reduce poverty within the next ten years in order to become one of the wealthiest provinces in the North as wished by President Ho Chi Minh. In the meantime, NA Chairman Manh spoke highly of the successes won by the railway sector over the recent years at its Party Congress. He heard a political report by Mr Dao Dinh Binh, Party Central Committee member, deputy minister of communications and transport, general director and Party Committee secretary of the sector, highlighted marked achievements recorded after 12 years of implementation of renewing of the sector. The sector's turnover increased by 13.5% last year. The sector's Party Committee mapped out targets for the time to come, including to further strengthen industrialisation and modernisation. It also strives to make the sector as modern as those of developed countries in south-east Asia. Also on the occasion, Chairman Manh paid a Tet visit to the staff of the sector. **** President sends gifts to over 100-year-olds President Tran Duc Luong has sent gifts and longevity postcards to people aged over 100, who represent the 54 fraternal nationalities of Vietnam. This is to celebrate the new spring, the Year of the Snake, the first year of the new millennium. The oldest people of the list are Mrs Hoang Thi Lo, Mong ethnic minority in Huy Giap commune, Bao Lac district, Cao Bang province and Mr Ho Van Pan, Pa Co ethnic minority in A Vao commune, Da Krong, Quang Tri, who are both 122 years old. The youngest of the list are Mrs Mung Thi Bung, Giay ethnic group in Binh Lu commune, Phong Tho district, Lai Chau province; Mrs Truong Thi Tam, Dao ethnic group in Luc Son, Luc Nam, Bac Giang; Lo A So, Ha Nhi ethnic group in Hua Bum, Muong Te district, Lai Chau; Vo Vut, Ta Oi ethnic group in Hong Thai, A Luoi, Thua Thien-Hue; and Oi Trep, Hcham roi ethnic group in Son Phuoc, Son Hoa, Phu Yen, who are all 101 years old. They have lived through three centuries and are people everyone respects and adores. "Respect old people and love children' is a tradition and morality of Vietnam. President Tran Duc Luong also wished the whole old people from all over Vietnam good health and longevity so that they could encourage and educate the younger generations to build Vietnam into a prosperous and strong nation. The president asked authorities at all levels, organisations and society to take good care of the elderly. **** National press awards 2000 presented The Vietnam Journalists¹ Association (VJA) and the Ministry of Culture and Information jointly held a ceremony on January 18 in Hanoi to present national press awards 2000 and the closing ceremony of the Spring Press Festival 2001. Present at the ceremony were Mr Le Xuan Tung, Politburo member in charge of the Party¹s cultural, ideological, scientific and educational work; Mr Hong Vinh, member of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee (CPVCC), VJA president and editor-in-chief of Nhan Dan (People) newspaper; Mr Tran Mai Hanh, CPVCC member, vice president and secretary general of the VJC, general director of Radio the Voice of Vietnam, head of the organising board of the Spring Press Festival 2001; Mr Phan Khac Hai, deputy minister of culture and information and Major General Phung Khac Dang, deputy director of the Vietnam People¹s Army¹s Political General Department. Mr Hong Vinh delivered a report on the national press awards 2000. Mr Vu Hien, member of the standing committee of the VJA announced the journalists, groups of journalists and their press works that have won the national press awards 2000. Nhan Dan newspaper won three B prizes and one C prize. Mr Hong Vinh, Mr Tran Mai Hanh and Mr Phan Khac Hai presented the five A prizes, 14 B prizes and 21 C prizes to the winners. More than 450 press agencies nationwide sent nearly 1,000 Tet and Spring newspapers to the Spring Press Festival 2001. During its three days of opening, some 75,000 people visited the festival. Many provinces and cities throughout the country have also held their Spring press festivals. The Spring Press Festival 2001 had 22 stands, reflecting the face of the Vietnamese press in the doi moi (renovation) process. Mr Hong Vinh presented all the press works displayed at the festival to representatives of the Border Guards and the Navy Service as gifts for soldiers of the Vietnam People¹s Army who are on duty in border areas and islands. Party Advisor Do Muoi visited the Spring Press Festival 2001 on January 18. *** Fireworks to light up 12 cities, provinces Fireworks will be displayed in 12 provinces and cities on the eve of the Year of the Snake. This is according to a Governmental Office document issued on January 17. The provinces and cities include Hanoi, Haiphong, Phu Tho, Tuyen Quang, Lai Chau, Nghe An, Thua Thien-Hue, Da Nang, Dac Lac, Can Tho, Ba Ria-Vung Tau and Ho Chi Minh City. The Ministry of Defence and the People¹s Committees of these 12 cities and provinces are in charge of ensuring a safe and happy new year¹s eve for the people. The Vietnam Television Station and the Radio Voice of Vietnam are responsible for covering the fireworks displays nationwide. **** Medals go to military officials for culture cause The Ministry of Defence's General Staff held a ceremony in Hanoi yesterday to celebrate the success of last year and launch a 'Determined to Win' Emulation movement. Also on the occasion, commemorative medals were presented to several senior military officials in recognition of their great contributions to the cause of ideology and culture. Party Central Committee member and head of the Party's Commission for Ideology and Culture, Huu Tho, presented the medals to Le Duc Anh, advisor to the Party Central Committee; General Van Tien Dung; Senior Lieutenant General Tran Van Quang and some other generals. **** Celebrations mark Vietnam-China diplomatic tiesChina's Ambassador to Vietnam Qi Jianguo gave a reception in Hanoi on January 18 to celebrate the 51st anniversary of Vietnam-China diplomatic ties (January 18). Prominent among Vietnamese guests were Foreign Minister Nguyen Dy Nien and Chairman of the President Office and President of the Vietnam-China Friendship Association Nguyen Canh Dinh. The Chinese ambassador stressed that China and Vietnam were two friendly neighbouring socialist countries sharing the same mountains and rivers, whose two peoples had time-honoured traditional friendly ties. He said that over the past half century, the two peoples had supported each other in their revolutionary cause, socialist construction and fostering their ardent friendship. He affirmed that the Party, State and people of China attached importance to developing neighbourly friendship and comprehensive co-operation with Vietnam. Foreign Minister Nguyen Dy Nien said over the past 51 years-despite natural and historical changes- two countries' traditional friendship, fostered by President Ho Chi Minh and President Mao Zedong, had been constantly promoted and developed. The Vietnamese Party, State and people attached importance to traditional friendship and comprehensive co-operation between Vietnam and China and hoped that the new century would witness strong development of the relations for the interest of both countries, for peace, co-operation and development in the region and the world. The same day, Vietnam's Ambassador to China Bui Hong Phuc gave a reception in Beijing to mark the Vietnam-China diplomatic ties anniversary. Ambassador Phuc said that in their long-lasting revolutionary struggle, people of the two countries had developed the friendship of comradeship and brotherhood, which has been fostered and promoted by many generations of leaders from both countries. Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi stressed that in their revolutionary struggles, the two countries had supported each other and built sustainable friendship, and the friendship visit to China by President Tran Duc Luong in December 2000 was a step of development in the two countries' friendship and comprehensive co-operation. Vietnam's Consul General in Guangzhou Bui Trong Van also held a meeting with representatives of local authorities and mass organisations to celebrate the anniversary. Vietnam's Foreign Minister Nguyen Dy Nien and his Chinese counterpart, Tang Jiaxuan, exchanged greetings on the occasion. (VNA) **** Vietnam thanks for international helpThe Vietnam Union of Friendship Associations (VUFA) has expressed its sincere thanks to diplomatic missions, non-government and international organisations with whom it wishes to maintain closer ties in the interest of peace, national independence and development. In a Lunar year-end meeting with the representatives from the diplomatic corps, Hanoi-based NGOs and other international organisations yesterday, VUFA Acting President Vu Xuan Hong thanked them all for their support and assistance which, he said, had helped enhance the friendship and co-operation between Vietnam and countries and organisations the world over over. Mr Hong said the VUFA would broaden these relations as it continued implementing Vietnam's external policy of openness and diversification in the spirit of "Vietnam wants to befriend and be the faithful partner of all countries in the world community." Plan International representative Mark McPeak, who spoke on behalf of NGOs in Vietnam, acknowledged the country's socio-economic achievements in 2000, and pledged to promote co-operative ties for development and prosperity. (VNA) **** French Foreign Ministry's general secretary visitsGeneral Secretary of the French Foreign Ministry, Loic Hennekine, has visited Vietnam as part of regular exchange visits between the Vietnam and French foreign ministries. During the January 14-17 visit, Mr Hennekine paid courtesy calls to Foreign Minister Nguyen Dy Nien and deputy head of the Communist Party's Central Committee Commission for External Relations, Hoang Thuy Giang. He held talks with Deputy Foreign Minister Chu Tuan Cap and worked with the Institute of International Relations of the Foreign Ministry. During the meetings, it was emphasised that the visit would boost Vietnam-France co-operative relations which had culminated in the May 2000 visit to France by Vietnam Communist Party General Secretary Le Kha Phieu at the invitation of French President Jacques Chirac. Measures to further promote relations between the two countries were discussed and views exchanged about regional and international issues of mutual concern. Mr Hennekine also visited a number of Vietnam-France co-operation establishments in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. (VNA) **** Efforts to bring Tet to every family The northern border mountainous province of Lao Cai has spent VND 34.3 million to buy Tet gifts for Heroic Mothers, border guards garrisons, army units, war invalids and priority policy beneficiaries. The provincial Committee for Protection and Care of the Children has presented gifts to 30 excellent students in difficulties. The provincial Association of War Veterans had presented 140 gifts to war veterans and their Agent Orange affected children. The provincial Labour Federation presented 290 gifts worth VND 29 million to their members who are in difficulties. Bac Can northern mountainous province has also visited and presented 3,600 Tet gifts worth VND 133 million to priority policy beneficiaries. Ten businesses in Quang Ninh northern coastal province have donated 500 Tet gifts to 500 children in the 10 poor villages of the province. Each gift is worth VND 110,000. The provincial Committee for Protection and Care of Children also presented another 500 Tet gifts to children in mountainous villages. The Quang Nam central province¹s Committee for Protection and Care of Children presented 450 Tet gifts to children in special difficulties. The provincial authorities have paid Tet visits to centres of orphans in the districts of Hoi An, Dien Ban, Tam Ky and Tien Phuoc. The provincial Fund for Children has provided free health check-ups and medicine worth VND 20 million for 600 poor children in Hoi An township. _________________________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki Phone +358-40-7177941 Fax +358-9-7591081 http://www.kominf.pp.fi General class struggle news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe mails to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Geopolitical news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] __________________________________________________
