VNA President Ho Chi Minh's birthday marked In recent days, many activities are being held to celebrate the 111th birthday of late President Ho Chi Minh (May 19, 1890 - May 19, 2001). The southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau just opened an exhibition on President Ho Chi Minh. On display are more than 50 unique photos, depicting the struggle for national independence and socialist construction. President Ho Chi Minh is pictured in educational work and in socio-economic development. The exhibition runs until May 25. Also on the occasion, the Education and Training Department of Nam Dinh northern province organised a singing contest for teachers. The songs praise the Communist Party, beloved Uncle Ho and the country, as well as the love and responsibility of teachers for their school children. **** Last year's major socio-economic targets re-evaluated Vietnam has reassessed major socio-economic targets it obtained last year, with gross domestic product (GDP) growth surging to 6.75%, or 0.05% higher than the rate it announced at the eighth session of the tenth National Assembly last November. In a supplementary report on the implementation of the 2000 plan and the deployment of tasks set for 2001, the government says: "All major targets for socio-economic development in 2000 were fulfilled or surpassed, and many were higher than those presented at the eighth National Assembly session." "Last year's socio-economic development made a remarkable step forward, which helped to reverse a downward trend in economic growth and restore a high rate of development," the supplementary report emphasizes. The rise in agriculture, forestry, and fishery last year was 5.64%, or 0.74% higher than that announced at the National Assembly session, while the increases in industrial production and exports were 15.7% and 25% as against 15.5% and 21.3% as reported earlier, respectively. The report also says the last National Assembly session already passed tasks for socio-economic development and a State budget estimate for 2001, with the following targets: In 2001, Vietnam strives to achieve a GDP growth rate of 7.5%, with a 4.5% rise in agriculture, forestry, and fishery; a 14% rise in industry; a 7% increase in service value; and a 16% increase in export. Total investment capital for social development is planned to make up 30% of GDP, helping to provide about 1.4 million people with stable jobs, and 840,000 people with professional knowledge. Other major social targets include a population growth rate of 1.48%, a birth rate reduction of 0.05%, and a poverty reduction of 16% (according to the new poverty line). A total State budget revenue is estimated at VND 86,275 billion and a total State budget expenditure, at VND 115,975 billion. This will bring the budget deficit to VND 19,700 billion. Reviewing the socio-economic development in the first four months of this year, the report says that the country maintained a considerable socio-economic growth rate 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. Vietnam obtained a gross domestic product, GDP, growth rate of 7.2% in the past four months as compared to 5.6% in the same period last year and an industrial production growth of 14.4% in comparison with 14% in last year's corresponding period. Export turnover in the reviewed period increased 17.7% to US $4,888 million, while import turnover rose 10.9% to US $5,052 million. Social investment made up 27% of GDP and budgetary collection accounted for 36% of the yearly estimation. Last year's January-April figures were 24.3% and 26.2%, respectively. Meanwhile, the price index for the first four months of 2001 was minus 0.5% compared to December of last year when the price for the first four months of 2000 was 0.1%, as against December 1999. On solutions to implement socio-economic development targets set for 2001 by the eighth session of the 10th National Assembly, the report focuses on major solution groups, including an effort to increase production and product consumption, boost exports, further tap internal social resources, spur demand and boost investment, strengthen financial-monetary system, implement social policies, and ensure political and social security. **** Poet Huy Can elected as member of World Poetry Academy The World Poetry Academy has elected poet Cu Huy Can as its honourable member, said sources from Verona, Italy. The academy also invited the poet to attend the first meeting of the academy in Italy in June. **** Vietnam, Thailand discuss measures to boost trade co-operationVietnamese Trade Minister Vu Khoan and his Thai counterpart Adisai Bhotharamik discussed measures to boost trade co-operation in Bangkok, Thailand, on May 15 and 16. They exchanged views on the implementation of Vietnam-Thailand agreements on trade, especially rice exports, which were reached during Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's recent visit to Vietnam. The two sides agreed to improve trade balance, which has not been beneficial to Vietnam, and to boost co-operation in farm produce processing, especially that for exports. They focused discussions on co-operation in rice exports, which has faced reduction in price, and agreed to assign relevant agencies of the two countries to work out a common plan of action to maintain the rice price at a level that helps develop production. They also agreed to call on other ASEAN member countries to strengthen co-operation in agriculture, step up co-operation programmes concerning the banks of the Mekong river and the East-West corridor. Vietnam appreciates Thailand and other ASEAN member countries' decision to consider a tax exempt for products imported from Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar. Trade Minister Vu Khoan was received by Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and Deputy Prime Minister Pitak Intharavittayanan during his stay in Thailand. (VNA) **** Vietnam, Mexico sign co-operation agreement Vietnam and Mexico have signed a framework agreement on bilateral scientific and technological co-operation for the next five years. Under the agreement, the first ever so far between the two countries, both countries will exchange delegations of scientists; organise conferences, seminars, and training courses; and co-ordinate in conducting research works. The two will also co-operate in medical and biological research, environmental protection, natural resource management, agricultural biotechnology, and afforestation. Mexico in recent years has provided Vietnam with more than 50 types of sapplings, has trained a number of Vietnamese agriculturists, and has co-operated with Vietnam in matter of water supply. Mexico has also benefited from its close relationship with Vietnam, learning valuable techniques for wet rice cultivation from Vietnamese agriculturists. In addition to this, Vietnam helped to set up an acupuncture centre in Mexico. (VNA) **** ASEAN tourism service working group meets Representatives of national tourism agencies from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the ASEAN Secretariat met in Hanoi on May 16 for the fourth meeting of the ASEAN Tourism Service Working Group. They agreed on the scale for tourism services, focusing on hotel room arrangement, meal services in restaurants, and drinking services without entertainment. They also made a commitment to removing restrictions in the provision of across-border services and outbound services in the immediate future. The meeting, the first held by Vietnam, served as a chance for Vietnam's tourism industry learn experiences and make necessary preparations for meetings of Heads of ASEAN tourism agencies, ASEAN Tourism Ministers, and the ASEAN Tourism Forum. (VNA) **** ASEAN deputy foreign ministers meetDeputy foreign ministers from ten member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) met in Hanoi on May 15 and 16 to discuss preparations for the upcoming regional conferences. Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister Le Cong Phung chaired the meeting. Discussions focused on the 34th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (AMM 34), the eighth ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF 8), and the Post Ministerial Conference with ASEAN dialogue partners (PMC), scheduled to be held in Hanoi in July. The participants agreed to the topic of the AMM 34 being "Stability, solidarity, boosting economic alliance and expanding external co-operation" They gave opinions about a draft Hanoi joint declaration on ASEAN's joint efforts to narrow the development gap for a dynamic and sustainable growth, and a draft AMM 34 joint communique to be submitted to ASEAN foreign ministers. They discussed a report on mid-term review of the Hanoi Plan of Action to be submitted to the seventh ASEAN Summit in Brunei in November. They also passed an agenda for the July conferences and agreed to invite the UN Development Programme (UNDP) to the PMC+10 to boost relations between ASEAN and the UN and to accelerate UNDP projects in the region. Participants in the meeting discussed measures for early implementation of decisions made at the AMM Retreat in Myanmar on April 30 to enhance ASEAN co-operation, narrow development gap, and support new ASEAN members, particularly in development of infrastructures, human resources and information technology. Also discussed were preparations for the ARF Senior Officials Meeting (ARF-SOM), due to be held on May 17 and 18; the East Asia Study Group (EASG) meeting, and the ASEAN+3 meeting between Deputy foreign ministers of ASEAN countries with China, Japan and the Republic of Korea on May 19; and the direct dialogue between ASEAN countries with five nuclear powers, China, Russia, the UK, France, and the US, also on May 19. (VNA) **** Algerian war veterans minister on visit The Algerian Minister of War Veterans, Mohamed Cherif Abbas, had a working session with the President of the Vietnam War Veterans' Association (VNWV), Senior Lieutenant General Tran Van Quang, in Hanoi on May 16. Minister Abbas and his entourage arrived in Hanoi on May 15 for a working visit to Vietnam as guests of the VNWV Central Committee. VNWV President Quang spoke highly of the Vietnam-Algeria relationship, saying that the two countries had time-honoured relations and that their peoples have always united, supported, and helped each other in the struggle against the French aggressors. He stressed the importance of further development of the relationship, particularly since the visit to Algeria in December 1999 by President Tran Duc Luong, and the visit to Vietnam in October 2000 by President Abdelaziz Bouteflika. He said that he hoped the current Vietnam visit by Minister Abbas would contribute to the solidarity and friendship between the two countries' armies, war veterans organisations, and peoples. The VNWA President also expressed his wish for further exchange of information and experience, and the co-ordination at international forums. Minister Abbas expressed his joy at visiting Vietnam. He said he hoped that the fine traditional relationship between Algeria and Vietnam in general and between the two war veteran organisations in particular would be further strengthened. On this occasion, Minister Abbas presented President Bouteflika's Moudjahidine Armed Forces "Friendly Order" to VNWA President Tran Van Quang and received the Vietnam War Veteran Medal himself. (VNA) **** Trial of group accused of terrorism begins The Ho Chi Minh City People's Court began the trial on May 16, of Nguyen Huu Chanh and his 37 accomplices, who are charged with terrorism and propaganda against Vietnam's socialist state. In 1992, Chanh and other exiled Vietnamese in the United States set up a reactionary organisation to act against the Vietnamese State and Chanh styled himself "chief commander". In an attempt to sabotage Vietnam's revolution, Chanh and his accomplices had chosen Thailand and Cambodia as their bases to build their forces and send their men into Vietnam to sabotage the Vietnamese people's national construction. (He was once arrested and deported by the Thai government) Chanh, born in southern Binh Dinh province but resettling in the United States, had wooed some Vietnamese with previous convictions and bad records or light-hearted people to join their organisation. Between March 1999 and August 2000, his group had printed and distributed to Vietnam more than 17,000 leaflets, hundreds of banners, 37 kilos of explosives, 40 mine fuses and detonators to create explosions. They had spent US $13,500, Thai Baht 169,000, Cambodian Riel 50,000 and VND 12,680 million for sabotage activities. However, these activities were discovered and foiled by Vietnam's security forces. The trial is scheduled to last 10 days. (VNA) _________________________________________________ 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] __________________________________________________
