VNA Vietnam, China boost bilateral ties The visit to Vietnam by China's Defence Minister Senior Lieutenant General Chi Haotian constitutes continued steps in the development of the traditional friendship and comprehensive co-operation between the two countries. The assessment was provided by Vietnam Communist Party General Secretary Le Kha Phieu and President Tran Duc Luong during their separate meetings with the visitor in Hanoi on February 9. Both expressed delight at the fine development of comprehensive bilateral relations, saying it meets the aspiration and fundamental interests of people in each country, thus contributing to peace, national independence, democracy and progress in the world. General Secretary Phieu wished the Chinese people, led by the Communist Party of China, still greater achievements in their socialist construction and asked the visiting defence minister to convey his best regards to President Jiang Zemin and other Chinese leaders. President Luong expressed his appreciation of the close co-operation between the two defence ministries, armies and peoples in implementing agreements made by leaders of both countries. He said the co-operation would contribute to national construction and defence in each country, thus contributing to the friendship and comprehensive ties between the Parties, States and peoples of Vietnam and China. Defence Minister Chi Haotian briefed the Vietnamese leaders about the results of talks between himself and his Vietnamese counterpart Pham Van Tra. During their talks, the two defence ministers discussed measures to boost co-operation between the two armies and peoples. (VNA) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Singapore's president leaves for HCM City Singaporean President S R Nathan, who began an official friendship visit to Vietnam on February 7, left Hanoi on February 9 for Ho Chi Minh City. The president, his wife and entourage were given a farewell party at the Presidential Palace and seen off by President Tran Duc Luong and his wife, Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Khiem, Foreign Minister Nguyen Dy Nien, Presidential Office Director Nguyen Canh Dinh, Hanoi People's Committee Chairman Hoang Van Nghien and other senior officials. President Nathan said he was delighted with the results of his talks with senior Vietnamese officials and his country's great attachment to the development of the Vietnam-Singapore relationship. He said his country valued Vietnam's co-operation and stressed his hope that the two countries would continue their close co-operation. He affirmed that Singapore would help Vietnam develop human resources and train information technology experts. President Luong said that it was his desire that the two States and peoples show the importance they attached to the development of both traditional relations between both countries as well as their roles in building a fine relationship within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The Singaporean delegation was received by Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Chairman VoViet Thanh yesterday afternoon. Chairman Thanh thanked Singapore for its help to the city with education, cultural studies and human resources development. He affirmed that the city's administrators would welcome and create favourable conditions for Singaporean entrepreneurs. President S R Nathan said he believed that his country's entrepreneurs would find more opportunities to do business and increase their investment in the city. This would contribute to the prosperity of Vietnam and Singapore and deepen bilateral co-operation. (VNA) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ UNESCO Committee honoured with Labour Order The Vietnam UNESCO Committee has been awarded the Labour Order, first class, for its contribution to developing education, science and technology and preserving traditional culture. The committee - a contingent of scientists and cultural activists, has helped introduce the Vietnamese culture, land and people to foreign friends and in turn has learned about their cultural and science in the 23 years since it was established. It has taken advantage of co-operation with and help from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) to develop education and science and maintain the invaluable cultural traditions of Vietnam. The order was presented in Hanoi on February 9, at a ceremony attended by Vice President Nguyen Thi Binh, Foreign Minsiter Nguyen Dy Nien, Hanoi People's Committee Chairman Hoang Van Nghien and UNESCO chief representative in Vietnam Rosamaria Durand. (VNA) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Tree planting festivals continue nationwide Tree planting festivals are continuing in localities nationwide. The northern province of Phu Tho has planted 500,000 assorted trees in the past ten days. The province plans to grow 3,100 hectares of forest in a bid to reach a forest coverage to between 38 and 39% this year. Meanwhile, Bac Giang northern province has planted 10,000 scattered trees. The province strives to grow 4,000 hectares of concentrated forest and more than two million scattered trees. Over the past three years, localities in the province have planted 34,000 hectares of fruit trees, contributing to increasing the forest coverage to 32%. Also on the occasion, Hung Yen province strives to plant 300,000 fruit trees and 50,000 other kinds of trees. With the slogan of 'For a Greener, Cleaner and More Beautiful Environment,' Hung Yen has planted thousands of trees for shade by the roadside. Since early in the year, the central province of Quang Tri has grown 200,000 trees. Last year, the province planted 5,000 hectares of forest and continued to tend 7,500 hectares of natural and cultivated forests, contributing to increasing the forest coverage to 32%. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ HCM City helps Indian earthquake victims Ho Chi Minh City's people have collected VND 150 million to help the Indian people overcome the aftermath of the earthquake which hit the state of Gujarat on January 26. The money was handed over to India's General Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City by the municipal People's Council chairman, Huynh Dam, and the city's Fatherland Front Committee president, Tran Thanh Long, on February 8. _________________________________________________ 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] __________________________________________________
