VNA Prime Minister leaves for JapanPrime Minister Phan Van Khai left Hanoi on June 3, for a seminar entitled 'Asia's Future' in Japan. The working visit was made at the invitation of Japanese Prime Minister J Koizumi and the chairman of the Japan Economic Times (Nihon Keizai Shimbun - Nikkei). PM Khai is accompanied by Minister-Director of the Government Office Doan Manh Giao, Standing Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Dinh Bin, Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Vo Hong Phuc and other government officials. (VNA) **** Drug control campaign launched The Youth Union�s Central Committee and the National Committee for Drug Prevention and Control, launched a peak campaign to prevent and control drugs among young people across the country, at Hanoi National University on June 2. After the launching ceremony, youth union members, young people and students disseminated information on drug prevention and control at residential quarters. They also joined in an activity entitled �sports help push back drugs.� The campaign, between June and July, will include activities such as dissemination information on drug consequences among young people and measures for drug control; creating a healthy environment for young people�s activities at a grassroots level. **** US president decides to extend waiver of Jackson Vanik amendmentUS President Bush has reportedly decided to extend waiver of the Jackson Vanik Amendment to Vietnam, for another year amidst speculations that he is to urge Congress to ratify the trade pact the United States signed with Vietnam last year, according to reports from Washington. The reports said that US Congress will have 60 days to consider President Bush's decision. Sources from the US Congress said that President Bush will send the US-Vietnam bilateral trade agreement to the Congress on June 4 for consideration after several months' delay that had reportedly disappointed American business circles. Both the US Senate and House of Representatives will consider ratifying the pact as soon as possible, said a Democrat aide under condition of anonymity. (VNA) **** Vietnam, Cuba agree to boost co-operationThe Vietnam-Cuba Inter-Governmental Committee, signed the minutes of its 19th session on economic and scientific and technological co-operation in Havana, on June 1. Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Environment Chu Hao, and Minister of the Cuban Government Ricardo Cabrisas led the session together. During the session, the two sides reviewed the implementation of agreements of the previous session, particularly their co-operation in agriculture, fisheries, healthcare, construction, science, technology, and information technology. The committee also passed a co-operation programme in agriculture, construction, health care, tourism, culture, sports, and light industry for the 2001-2002 period. Under the 2001-2002 co-operation programme, Vietnam agreed to sell rice to Cuba and help Cuba plant floating rice. Cuba will help Vietnam build a sugar plant in central Nghe An province, make plans to diversify sugar products, and send its sugarcane experts to Vietnam. Cuba will continue providing scholarships to 110 Vietnamese students who are studying in Cuba and 30 scholarships in the 2001-2002 school year. The two delegations also exchanged experiences in implementing short and medium-term plans for economic development and promoting educational and cultural co-operation. Deputy Minister Hao, also held working sessions with Cuba's Ministries of Science, Technology, and Environment; the Sugar Industry; Foreign Trade; and Construction. The Vietnamese delegates called at a number of scientific and technological establishments in the country. (VNA) **** Activities mark World Environment Day Many activities have been held to mark World Environment Day, June 5. In the central province of Thua Thien-Hue, activities started on June 1. The provincial Centre for Software Industry launched a website on environment information entitled �Hue xanh� (Green Hue). The website provides visitors with information about the province�s natural resources, environmental situation and pollution control, as well as community activities in protection of a green-clean-beautiful environment. A Hue University�s green volunteer group has been set up with the participation of over 100 members. From June 3-5, members of the group held cultural exchanges and open mobile painting exhibitions on the theme �Students with the Environment.� They also collect litter within the university. Meetings to mark the event were also held by the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Defence. **** 610,000 pupils take school leaving exams As many as 610,000 students in localities nationwide will take the senior secondary school leaving exams of the 2000-2001 school year tomorrow. The number of examinees this year is reported to increase by 20%, as compared to the previous end of year test. The exams, including literature, physics, biology, geography, maths and foreign languages, will take place from 5-7 June. Also during these days, another over 119,000 students of complimentary senior secondary schools, will take their school-leaving exams, an increase of over 11,000 over the last school year. _________________________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. 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