VNA Government members respond to voters' questions The on-going National Assembly session yesterday began interrogating government members on the issues raised by voters. The NA Standing Committee has received more than 1,548 petitions from voters nationwide. The governor of the State Bank of Vietnam, Le Duc Thuy, was the first to start the hearings. He answered deputies' questions on issues relating to the dealing with assets in order to get the money back for credit organisations; mechanism on loan granting for agricultural production, poor students, co-operatives, people in flood-prone areas of Mekong River delta to build houses; restructure for outstanding debt of commercial banks; strengthening of liquidation through banks; inspection and dealing with wrong-doing within the sector. Trade Minister Vu Khoan responded to six main questions from NA delegates. These covers areas such as relations between home and foreign trade, the expansion of the market for farm produce, solutions for selling of farm produce in the coming time and the import of farm produce. He also answered deputies' questions on home-made motorbike accessories, trade activities in mountainous areas, quotas for textile and garment products, measures to control negative behaviour, steps and measures of the State in the integration into the regional and international economy. Minister of Industry Dang Vu Chu answered deputies' questions concerning investment for development of electricity in rural areas, the production and assembling of motorbikes, domestic production of motorbike accessories and responsibility concerning road safety. Minister of Culture and Information Nguyen Khoa Diem responded to issues on karaoke bars, discotheques, and circulation of videos, CDs and VCDs of ill content. The session was broadcast live on the Vietnam Television and Radio the Voice of Vietnam. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ PM praises Australia's ODA PM Phan Van Khai (right) receives Mr Philip Ruddock. Australia's official development assistance (ODA) to Vietnam has brought about social and economic achievements, which have helped to improve the living conditions for the Vietnamese, said Prime Minister Phan Van Khai to visiting Australian Immigration and Multicultural Affairs Minister Philip Ruddock in Hanoi on June 15. The prime minister praised the bilateral co-operation in human resource training, considering it a long-lasting basis for the two countries' relations. Minister Ruddock expressed his fine impressions of Vietnam's development and its policies to raise people's living standard. He briefed the PM of his working sessions with relevant Vietnamese ministries and agencies. The same day, Vietnamese Foreign Minister Nguyen Dy Nien and Minister Ruddock signed a memorandum of understanding on receiving back Vietnamese citizens who are expelled from Australia for breaking the country's laws. Minister Ruddock also discussed with Public Security Minister Le Minh Huong, and Minister-Chairman of the State Committee for Ethnic Minorities and Mountainous Affairs Hoang Duc Nghi measures to push up the co-operation in consular work and fighting crime fight. (VNA) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Party official meets Peru Communist Party leader Tran Dinh Hoan, Politburo member and Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee, received General Secretary of the Communist Party of Peru (CPP) Alberto Morono Rojas in Hanoi on June 15. General Secretary Rojas is on a working visit to Vietnam from June 14-18 as guest of the CPV Central Committee. He highly valued Vietnam's revolutionary experiences, its renovation process, and the role of the CPV. He also expressed his admiration for the late President Ho Chi Minh and his hope that the relationship between the parties and the people of Vietnam and Peru would further develop.� The CPV Secretary congratulated the CPP on the success of its recent congress with the orientation of building a new strong leftwing force for the goal of national independence, social progress, democracy, and socialism. He thanked the Peruvian communists for their support to Vietnamese people's past struggle for national independence and present cause of building and defending the socialist Vietnam. Also on June 15, the CPP General Secretary held talks with Nguyen Van Son, member of the CPV Central Committee and Chairman of the CPV CC's Commission for External Relations. The two sides briefed each other of the situation in their respective countries and parties. They also exchanged views on international issues of mutual concern and discussed measures to boost relations between the two parties and countries. Mr Rojas will pay a floral tribute to President Ho Chi Minh at his Mausoleum, visit his home and office, and call on some economic and cultural establishments in Hanoi and northeastern Quang Ninh province. (VNA) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Vietnamese ambassador to RoK honoured The Republic of Korea (RoK)'s government has conferred a Diplomacy Order on Vietnamese Ambassador Nguyen Van Xuong. Mr Xuong is being honoured for his great contributions to promoting friendship and co-operation between Vietnam and the RoK. Empowered by President Kim Dae Jung, RoK Ambassador to Vietnam Paik Nak-whan awarded the Order to Ambassador Xuong at a ceremony held in Hanoi on June 15. (VNA) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Vietnam donors' consultative group to meet in Hoi An The consultative group to donors of Vietnam (CG) will convene a mid-tern meeting in Hoi An, central coastal Quang Nam province, on June 18 and 19, the World Bank Representative Office announced at a press briefing in Hanoi on June 15. Participants in the conference will include members of the Vietnamese government and representatives of about 50 donors to Vietnam. They will focus discussions to the present economic situation, the programme on policy reform and the progress made in developing partnership relations in poverty reduction and comprehensive development. Minister of Planning and Investment Tran Xuan Gia will head the Vietnamese government delegation to the conference. (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] __________________________________________________
