VNA Many socio-economic targets met Vietnam has recorded a high socio-economic growth rate in the first four months of 2001, cabinet members noted at the government regular session on April 26-27. The session, chaired by Prime Minister Phan Van Khai and his four deputies, passed a draft decree on national defence education, heard a report on inspection work and petition settlement in the first quarter of this year, considered and finalised a draft ordinance on income tax (revised) for submission to the National Assembly Standing Committee. The cabinet members were of the view that last year the country successfully checked the slowdown of economic growth and regained a high growth rate. Five of the 12 major socio-economic targets set for 2000 by the National Assembly were achieved better than expected: a gross domestic product, GDP, growth of 6.75% against the target of 5.5-6%; an agricultural, forestry and fisheries growth of 5.64% against the target of 3.5 and four percent; an industrial production growth of 15.7% against the target of 10.5-11%; an export revenue growth of 25% against the target of 11-12%; and a decrease of the poverty rate to 10% against the target of 10-11%. The first four months of 2001 witnessed considerable socio-economic growth as agricultural production developed smoothly, while industrial production and foreign direct investment recorded higher year-on-year growth rates. Budget revenues were also higher than planned and social work made progress. The cabinet members focused their discussions on measures to improve the efficiency of implementing the Programme of Action for 2001, thus contributing to bringing the national socio-economic master plan to success. They considered the task as of prime importance and top priority for implementing the Resolution of the Ninth National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam. They also assigned the local authorities to continue implementing 11 socio-economic tasks set by the National Assembly and eight groups of main measures set by the government in the Programme of Action. Prime Minister Phan Van Khai drew the attention of the cabinet members to the four major issues as follows: Firstly, to speed up export operations. He said it is necessary to help people and businesses better understand the important significance of exports, which is a major measure to record high economic growth. Export earnings now make up more than 40% of the GDP. Secondly, to spare no efforts to achieve the target for infrastructure construction in 2001, explore more investment sources so as to prevent projects from falling short of investment capital, includingcounterpart investment for projects funded by official development assistance, ODA. Thirdly, to efficiently implement measures to accelerate the consumption demand, considering "accelerating demand through investment" a healthy measure and beneficial to socio-economic development. Fourthly, to continue the hunger eradication and poverty alleviation programme, first of all in 11 provinces, 91 districts and 2,000 communes in special difficulties so as to rapidly narrow the development gap between regions, especially to meet the development demand of the Mekong delta and Central Highlands provinces. The prime minister also urged ministries, branches and localities to translate the ninth CPV Congress resolution into practical work so as to speed up production and business as well as to increase investment to achieve a 7.5% economic growth rate this year. (VNA) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Over 2,000 prizes in excellent pupils' contest A number of 2,048 out of 4,544 pupils nationwide won prizes in 11 subjects at the national excellent pupils' contest in the academic year of 2000-2001. The award includes 36 first prizes, 347 second prizes, 924 third prizes and 741 consolation prizes. Among provinces which won many prizes are Hai Duong with 73 prizes; Hanoi, 72; Nam Dinh, 67; Phu Tho, 61; Ha Tay, 60; Hoa Binh, 64; and Lam Dong, 49. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Vietnam - Russian education co-operation to be further developed The educational co-operation between Vietnam's Education and Training Ministry and Russia's Education Ministry would be further expanded, thus creating conditions for promoting mutual understanding and multi-faceted co-operation between Vietnam and Russia. The statement was made by Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Manh Cam while receiving in Hanoi on April 27 a delegation of Russia's Education Ministry led by First Deputy Minister M Zurrakovski, who is on a five-day visit to Vietnam. Deputy PM Cam welcomed the delegation's visit and the results of the talks between the two ministries. He also stressed that Vietnam and Russia have had a fine traditional relationship and have effectively co-operated in education and training. First Deputy Minister Zurrakovski said he was pleased that both countries have paid special attention to the role of education in the national development and that both are carrying out educational reform. He further said that President V V Putin has assigned Russia's Education Ministry to carry out measures to boost educational co-operation with Vietnam such as by increasing the number of scholarships granted to Vietnamese students. * A three-day exhibition entitled 'Russian University Education in Early Third Millennium' was opened on April 27 at the Hanoi University of Technology. The opening ceremony was attended by Vietnam's Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Minh Hien, and Russia's First Vice Minister of Education M Zurrakovski. Russia's 24 leading universities are introducing the reformed education and study opportunities in their own universities. So far, more than 20,000 Vietnamese workers have graduated from vocational training schools, 20,000 students have graduated from universities, and 3,700 research students have defended their doctor degrees in Russia. Russia has also helped build five universities and refurbish 13 other universities in Vietnam. (VNA) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Early signing of US-Vietnam trade deal requested Vietnam would successfully implement the strategy for socio-economic development, adopted at the freshly-concluded Ninth National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam. The belief was expressed by speakers to a round-table meeting on Vietnam and Vietnam-US relations, which was held in New York on April 26 by the Fund for Reconciliation and Development (FRD) and the International Institute of Education (IIE). Speakers stressed that US Congress early approval of the Bilateral Trade Agreement, which was signed last year by the two countries' representatives, would help boost not only commercial ties but also other relations between the two countries. Participants in the meeting were informed by Vietnamese Ambassador to the UN Nguyen Thanh Chau of Vietnam's achievements in the 15-year renewal process and its new policies to encourage foreign investors and companies. (VNA) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Former US senator admits killing Vietnamese civilians Former US Senator Bob Kerrey, 57, said during a press conference in New York on April 26 that his unit killed women and children in a raid on Thanh Phong village, Ben Tre province in the Mekong River delta on February 25, 1969, the Vietnam News Agency correspondent in Washington reported. The United States awarded him a Bronze Star for the raid that killed unarmed civilians, many of them women and children, despite his reporting the killing to his seniors. In an article posted on the CBS website, Mr Kerrey said that for more than three decades, he had carried the deeply personal memory with a sense of anguish. "To describe it as a war crime, I think, is wrong," he said. "To describe it as an atrocity, I would say, is pretty close to being right, because that's how it felt and that's why I feel guilt and shame for it," he said in the CBS interview. "I want to be able to say to the people of Vietnam that I ask for your mercy as well," he added. Kerrey, who now serves as the president of the New School in New York City, was former governor of the State of Nebraska and a Democrat Senator. He has not ruled out a run for president in 2004. _________________________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. 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