VNA Ho Chi Minh's 111th birth anniversary marked Many activities are being held throughout the country to celebrate 111th birth anniversary of late President Ho Chi Minh. The History Association of Thua Thien - Hue central province held talks named, 'Cause and Thought of President Ho Chi Minh'. Meanwhile, the Ho Chi Minh Museum in the province opened a mobile exhibition 'the Ho Chi Minh Thought and the National Renovation' in several localities in the mountainous district of A Luoi. Units of the Cultural and Information sector and Vinh Loi Poem Club organised poetic and musical nights to praise the Party and Uncle Ho. The Thong Nhat junior high school in Hue central city held an exhibition 'We Draw Uncle Ho' and a contest, 'Study on the Uncle Ho's Revolutionary Life and the Days Uncle Ho lived with his family in Hue'. Also on the occasion, the People's Army Publishing House published twelve books concerning Uncle Ho. The Culture and Information Publishing House has also published a book entitled, 'Forever Remember Uncle Ho's Birthday'. **** National ethnic minority sports festival opens The second national ethnic minority sports festival of region 1 was opened in the north-western mountainous province of Hoa Binh, on May 11. 384 athletes from 19 teams are competing in football, volleyball, tug of war, archery, con throwing, and stick pulling. The festival aims to launch physical exercise practices among the people, particularly people in remote and mountainous areas and accelerate the second phase of a campaign entitled �The Whole People Do Exercise Following the Example of Uncle Ho.� Participating teams are:� Bac Giang, Bac Kan, Cao Bang, Ha Giang, Ha Tay, Hoa Binh, Lang Son, Lao Cai, Lai Chau, Nghe An, Ninh Binh, Phu Tho, Quang Ninh, Son La, Thai Nguyen, Thanh Hoa, Tuyen Quang, Vinh Phuc and Yen Bai. **** Vietnam, Lao interior ministries ink co-operation agreement Public Security Minister Senior Lieutenant General Le Minh Huong and Lao Interior Minister Asang Laoly signed a co-operation agreement for the 2001-2005 period in Vientiane, Laos on May 11. The signing was part of a working visit made by a high-ranking delegation of the Vietnamese Public Security Ministry from May 8-11. The two ministries informed each other about their respective countries' political security situation and social order and exchanged views on international and regional issues of mutual concern. They spoke highly of the results of co-operation in fighting drug crime. They also discussed the implementation of the five-year agreement for this year. While in Laos, Minister Huong and his delegation paid courtesy visits to Khamtay Siphandon, chairman of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee and president of Laos; and Prime Minister Boungnang Vorachit. During the receptions, the Lao Party, State and government leaders spoke highly of the results of the talks between delegations of the Vietnamese Public Security Ministry and the Lao Interior Ministry, describing it as an important milestone in promoting the friendship and co-operation between the two ministries. They expressed their belief in a further development of the two ministries' co-operation and mutual assistance on the basis of the traditional friendship and comprehensive co-operation between the two Parties and States. President Siphandon and Prime Minister Vorachit asked Minister Huong to convey their best regards to General Secretary Nong Duc Manh, President Tran Duc Luong, Prime Minister Phan Van Khai and other Vietnamese Party and State leaders. The Vietnamese delegation also paid floral tributes to the War Martyrs Monument in Vientiane. (VNA) **** Peace Committee delegation visits China A delegation of the Vietnam Peace Committee led by its Deputy President Hong Ha, began an official visit to China on May 8. The delegation held a working session with He Luli, vice chairwoman of the National People's Congress and head of the People's Association for Peace and Disarmament of China. The two sides exchanged views on issues of mutual concern and agreed upon new measures to further promote their relationship. Dai Bingguo, member of the Communist Party of China Central Committee (CPC CC) and head of the CPC CC International Liaison Department, received the Vietnamese delegation on May 10. He said he was delighted at the success of the Ninth National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV). Dai Bingguo expressed his belief that under the leadership of CPV General Secretary Nong Duc Manh the Vietnamese people would continue to gain more achievements in the process of national renovation, modernisation and industrialisation. (VNA) **** �Moscow Days� to be held in Hanoi A �Moscow Days� programme will be held in Hanoi from May 18-25. Key activities of the programme include cultural and art performance; an exhibition entitled �Moscow-Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow,� an exchange between members of the Vietnam-Russia Friendship Association and Russian artists. A seminar on scientific and technological, tourism and economic co-operation between the capitals of the two countries will also be held. The 80-member Moscow delegation to the event will be led by Moscow�s first deputy mayor. **** Scientists become Russian IASS members Three Vietnamese scientists have become members of Russia' International Academy on Science System (IASS). Certificates were presented to the new members in Ho Chi Minh City on May 8 by IASS Chairman I Dorokhov. The IASS new members were Bui Ta Long,� director of the Applied Mechanics Institute, Nguyen Duc Canh, director of an Environmental Technology Centre; and Le Xuan Hai, from the Ho Chi Minh City Technology University. All received their Doctorates from Russian universities. (VNA) **** ASEAN official awarded Vietnam's educational medal Doctor Ruben C Umaly, former director of the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Centre, SEAMEC, has been awarded Vietnam's For the Cause of Education medal. Since 1991, Doctor Umaly, who is now director of the International Centre at Suranaree University of Technologies in Thailand, has helped Vietnam become a SEAMEC member, and also boosted co-operation in training between Vietnam and other centres of SEAMEC member countries. Thanks to SEAMEC assistance, almost 1,300 Vietnamese officials were invited to conferences, seminars and short-term training courses conducted by SEAMEC. Of the 1,300 officials, 180 received SEAMEC certificates. Vietnam has benefited from SEAMEC co-operation, not only in education, but also in agriculture, culture and healthcare. (VNA) **** Vietnam attends ASEAN COST in Phnom Penh Vietnam's deputy minister of Science, Technology, and Environment, Pham Khoi Nguyen, is leading a delegation to attend the 41st session of the ASEAN Committee of Science and Technology (ASEAN COST) held in Phnom Penh on May 7-15. The session, which was attended by delegations from 10 ASEAN member countries as well as China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea discussed a strategy for scientific and technological development in line with the Hanoi Plan of Action. The participants also discussed policies and measures to boost scientific and technological co-operation among ASEAN member countries as well as between ASEAN and its regional dialogue partners. Vietnam's delegation has briefed the session about the achievements made by the ASEAN Marine Science and Technology Sub-Committee chaired by Vietnam. It has also submitted a plan to set up an ASEAN Centre of Technology (ACT) in Vietnam and a formula to hold an ASEAN science and technology week in Brunei this September. (VNA) _________________________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. 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