VNA Ideology work should promote unity of minds: Party leader Party leader Nong Duc Manh speaks at the conference. Cultural and ideological work should be geared to promote the unity of minds among the Party, the people and the army regarding the ninth Party Congress's major documents, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Nong Duc Manh said. He told a three-day national conference on the cultural and ideological work in Ho Chi Minh City on May 15, that relevant staff should try to make a major, profound and comprehensive change in the ideological system, thus strengthening and developing the national spirit, patriotism and self-reliance of the entire nation and every citizen as well. "The task is very important and hard. It should focus on effective implementation of the socio-economic targets set forth by the ninth National Party Congress in the interest of the construction and defence of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam," Mr Manh emphasised. He warned of the development of selfishness and opportunism among society and in the political system, which, he said, needs a national effort to curb. The Party leader also stressed on an urgent task to fight corruption, bureaucracy and wastefulness. (VNA) **** Vanguard Pioneers' Brigade anniversary marked About 1,200 vanguard pioneers of Ho Chi Minh City joined a parade and meet on May 15 to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Ho Chi Minh Vanguard Pioneers' Brigade (May 15, 1941 - May 15, 2001). In 1941, there was just one Vanguard Pioneers' Detachment, 'Le Van Tam', there are now about 430,000 pioneers in the city. Following the revolutionary tradition of their predecessors, the city's pioneers have participated in many movements and humanitarian activities. They have contributed more than VND 8.1 billion toward the schooling of 180,000 disadvantaged children. In addition, they have collected over VND 2.1 billion in donations for public works, a children�s school in Cu Chi district, and seven classrooms in An Thach and An Ngoi communes. The city's pioneers have donated money to build 34 houses of gratitude and 200 houses of compassion for families of priority policy beneficiaries and households in great difficulties. A meeting was held in the southern province of Can Tho on the occasion. Nine outstanding pioneers were presented Kim Dong Prize from the Ho Chi Minh Youth Union. Quang Tri central province's Youth Union and Vanguard Pioneers' Brigade also met to celebrate. Fifty-one outstanding pioneers were presented gifts and nine others were given Kim Dong Prize. **** Vietnam wants closer co-operation with Poland: Deputy PM Deputy PM Nguyen Manh Cam receives Mr Piotr Gadzinowski. NA Deputy Chairman Nguyen Van Yeu receives Mr Piotr Gadzinowski. Vietnam's Deputy Prime Minister, Nguyen Manh Cam, has stressed the need to restore the Vietnam-Poland inter-governmental co-operation commission in order to lay the ground for closer co-operation between the two countries in all areas. Mr Cam met with a delegation of the Poland-Vietnam Friendship Group in the Polish Parliament in Hanoi, led by its chairman, Piotr Gadzinowski, who are on an official Vietnam visit from May 13-19. The Deputy PM said that one priority in Vietnam's foreign policy is the consolidation and strengthening of its relations with traditionally friendly countries, including Poland. He expressed his hope that the economic and commercial co-operation between Vietnam and Poland will be expanded to meet the potential that closer co-operation could bring to each country. A more fruitful relationship would contribute to bringing peace, stability, co-operation, and development in each region and in the world. The guests were received by Vietnam National Assembly's Deputy Chairman, Nguyen Van Yeu, who thanked the Polish people for helping Vietnam in its struggle for national liberation and national reconstruction. Mr Yeu said that the legislatures and governments of the two countries should boost their co-operation so that they may share experiences in all sectors, especially science and technology. In reply, Mr Piotr Gadzinowski said Poland and Vietnam are old friends who were bound together by many years of struggle for peace and national independence. Mr Gadzinowski echoed Vietnam's wish to develop the traditional ties between the two countries. The guests are expected to visit a number of Vietnam's economic and cultural sites in Hanoi, Quang Ninh, Thua Thien-Hue, and Ho Chi Minh City before ending the visit May 19. (VNA) **** Vietnam attends ASEAN environment meeting Vietnamese Minister of Science, Technology and Environment Chu Tuan Nha, joined 100 representatives of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the United Nations, and other international organisations, at the sixth ASEAN Informal Meeting of Environment Ministers (IAMME), in Phnom Penh. At the May 15-16 conference, participants will review implementation of the previous meeting's targets and work out solutions for pressing environmental issues. They will also review working groups' activities and examine the possibilities of environmental co-operation between ASEAN countries and China, Japan and the Republic of Korea. Representatives will hear reports on the implementation of the ASEAN environmental action plan. They will also discuss preparations for the upcoming conference on the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change as well as the World Climate Summit Rio-10, to be held in South Africa next year. (VNA) **** 5,000 visitors to Pac Bo relics The historical relics of Pac Bo in Truong Ha commune, Ha Quang district, Cao Bang province received 5,000 Vietnamese and foreign visitors. On the occasion of the 111th birthday of Uncle Ho, 503 Vietnamese and foreign delegations have registered to visit these relics, including Coc Bo cave, Khuoi Nam shelter, Lenin stream, Karl Marx mountain where Uncle Ho lived and worked after returning from overseas. The State has invested over VND 13 billion to repair the relics. **** Peace marathon The Department of Sports and Physical Education and the Committee for Peace of Hanoi, together with the Union of Friendship Organisations, will launch a marathon for peace on May 19, that falls on 111th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh. The event is expected to attract the participation of thousands of people from the Committee of Peace and the Union of Friendship Organisations (including nearly 300 from foreign embassies in Hanoi), foreign students and a delegation from Moscow, Russia. _________________________________________________ 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] __________________________________________________
