VNA Vanguard Pioneers' 60th anniversary marked Hundreds of young pioneers and outstanding schoolchildren representing 44 million young pioneers of Cao Bang province and another 12 million across the country attended a meeting held at Kim Dong historic site, Truong Ha commune, Cao Bang northern mountainous province. They were celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Ho Chi Minh Vanguard Pioneers' Organisation (May 15, 1941 - May 15, 2001). Sixty years ago, the Ho Chi Minh Vanguard Pioneers' Organisation which was originally called, the Children's Organisation of National Salvation, and was founded in Na Ma village, Truong Ha commune, Cao Bang province with Kim Dong as the head officer. Over the past 60 years, under the leadership of the Party, the Ho Chi Minh Vanguard Pioneers' Organisation has developed unceasingly. Young pioneers have taken an active part in various humanitarian programmes; they have collected tens of billions of Vietnamese dong to set up a 'Fund for Poor and Exemplary Children', organised 1,000 classes of compassion, donated more than 500,000 packages of gift and helped about 300,000 poor schoolchildren and priority policy beneficiaries. To mark this occasion, young pioneers and children of ethnic minority groups of Cao Bang province were presented pioneer's red ties and gifts from the prime minister. The Vanguard Pioneers' Organisation and Cao Bang province gave gifts to Mr Thanh Minh, a veteran revolutionary, who was also one of the first six vanguard pioneers of the Children's Organisation for National Salvation and also to priority policy beneficiaries and children who overcome difficulties to obtain the best schooling results. **** French president wants co-operation with Vietnam boosted Vice President Nguyen Thi Binh meets French President Jacques Chirac.French President Jacques Chirac has reaffirmed his country's policy to continue boosting friendship and comprehensive co-operation with Vietnam. President Chirac expressed these sentiments in Paris on May 4, while receiving Vietnamese Vice President Nguyen Thi Binh, who was on an official visit to France. Mr Chirac praised Vietnam's achievements in national renovation process and its open-door foreign policy. He also spoke of the value he places on Vietnam's role as president of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)'s Standing Committee and its contributions to the French speaking community, especially to strengthening economic co-operation among the Francophone community. Vice President Nguyen Thi Binh relayed best regards from Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh and President Tran Duc Luong to the French President. She briefed president Chirac about the country's situation and the results of the Ninth National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam. Vice President Binh stated that Vietnam has always attached importance to enhancing economic, commercial, technological and cultural co-operation with France. They exchanged views on preparations for the Ninth Francophone Summit to be held in Beirut, Lebanon. (VNA) **** Buddha's birthday celebrated Buddha's 2,545th birthday held in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Buddha's 2,545th birthday was celebrated yesterday, May 7, with grand ceremonies in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and other localities across the country. Buddha's birthday is observed on the 15th day of the fourth lunar month every year. A function was organised at the Quan Su Pagoda in Hanoi in the presence of the Most Venerable Thich Tam Tich, patriarch of the Vietnam Buddhist Church (VBC), and many other Buddhist dignitaries, monks, nuns and followers in the capital city and neighbouring provinces. Also attending were President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee's Presidium Pham The Duyet; Director of the Government's Committee for Religious Affairs Le Quang Vinh and others. The function began with the reading of a message from the VBC leader by the Most Venerable Thich Thanh Tu, deputy president of the VBC's Executive Council. Many senior VBC dignitaries and Buddhists also spoke, expressing their dedication to the Buddhist doctrine and the nation's interests. VFF President Pham The Duyet praised the outstanding contributions and services by Buddhist dignitaries and followers to Vietnam's past wars for national liberation and present tasks of socio-economic development and socialist construction. In Ho Chi Minh City, a solemn ceremony was organised at the Vinh Nghiem Pagoda with the participation of the Most Venerable Thich Tri Tinh, first deputy patriarch of the VBC's Shangha Council and president of the VBC's Executive Council; and more than 7,000 Buddhist dignitaries and followers. Also present were representatives of Ho Chi Minh City Party and People's Committees, the municipal Department for Religious Affairs, and other relevant agencies. The anniversary of Buddha's birth, was also celebrated at pagodas in the former imperial city of Hue and other localities nationwide with various functions including prayers for peace, prosperity and happiness, freeing pigeons, and presenting gifts for poor households. (VNA) **** PM declares June 28 as Family DayThe prime minister has declared July 28 as national Family Day. In a relevant decision dated May 4, the Vietnam Committee for Child Care and Protection (VNCCCP) was assigned to co-ordinate with relevant agencies to organise activities for the day to encourage family unity. Under the plans, the VNCCCP will open festivals and seminars, with main subjects being things like the relationship between children and their parents and family and society. The Family Day will be celebrated every year. (VNS) **** Course on emerging issues in international relations startsAbout 40 officials from ministries and localities from central Quang Nam province northward have gathered in Hanoi for a training course on emerging issues in international relations in the 21st century. The course, jointly organised by the Institute of International Relations and the US Programme on International Study in Asia kicked off on May 7. It is the 16th and the final course of a training programme funded by the Ford Foundation. During the course, which will last until June 1, the participants will be lectured and have discussions on issues of controversy in the world today. Lecturers of the course, Professor David Capie from the York University in Toronto, Canada, and Professor Matthias Maass from the Tufts University in the United States, are to make brief presentations on globalisation, humanitarian intervention, weapons control, new concepts on security and the future of Asia. The organisers expect to help the participants improve their knowledge and raise their capacity in handling international affairs with newly-updated information. (VNA) _________________________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. 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