VNA NA passes part of Customs Bill National Assembly deputies passed articles 28 to 56 of the third Chapter of the draft Customs Law on the 26th working day, June 22. The deputies also discussed articles 57 to 60 of the draft law. Head of the General Department of Customs, Nguyen Duc Kien, took the floor to clarify controversial issues raised by deputies. Forty nine delegates from 33 cities and provinces across the country contributed their opinions. The deputies meet in the conference hall today to continue debating for the approval of the draft Customs Law. **** Vietnam, China share views on religious affairs Vietnam is similar to China with respect to its religious policy; it respects the freedom of religion but also feels justified in punishing citizens who use religion to abuse the government or in any way harm the country, said Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung. Mr Dung was speaking to a delegation from the Religious Department of China, led by its Deputy Head Yang Tong Xiang, in Hanoi on June 22. He welcomed the Chinese delegation's Vietnam visit as a contribution to strengthening the solidarity, friendship, and comprehensive co-operation between the two Parties, governments, and peoples. As the two countries are both led by Communist Parties and both on the way towards socialism, Vietnam and China have much in common, especially with regard to religious policies. The exchange of experiences in this matter between the two countries is very necessary because it helps improve their work, Mr Dung said. Reiterating Vietnam's religious policy, Mr Dung said, "All Vietnamese citizens are equal before law,however, any citizen or dignitary who in the practice of his religion breaks the law will be duely punished by law." His viewpoints were fully shared by the Chinese head delegate, Yang Tong Xiang, who highly valued the Vietnamese Party and State's policies and law on religion. (VNA) **** Vietnam willing to boost ties with Cambodia: deputy PM Vietnam is always willing to co-operate with Cambodia in fields that both have potentials, thus contributing to the development and prosperity of both countries, said Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung to visiting Cambodian Minister of Industry, Mines and Energy Suy Sem in Hanoi on June 21. The Deputy PM welcomed the Cambodian delegation's working visit to Vietnam, saying it would help strengthen the relations between the two countries, as well as between their industrial sectors. He stressed that the Party, State and people of Vietnam always wished for fine development of the two countries' friendship and co-operation. Minister Suy Sem appreciated the co-operation between the two industry ministries, especially in electricity, energy, and geology. He expressed his delight at the rapid development of Vietnam's industries, and said he hoped to see development in the relations between the two countries' industrial sectors. (VNA) **** Vietnam-Vatican relationship becomes warmer: spokeswoman Mutual respect and understanding between Vietnam and the Vatican has gradually deepened, and progress has been recorded in the relationship since the early 1990s, Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Phan Thuy Thanh said. Ms Thanh's statement was made in reply to a question raised by a Reuters correspondent at a regular press conference in Hanoi on June 21. Despite the fact that both sides have not established diplomatic ties, Vietnam still allows Vietnamese Catholic bishops to take trips relating to their religious affairs to the Vatican, she said. In addition to maintaining regular contacts between the Vietnamese Ambassador to Italy and the Vatican, both sides exchange visits of officials on an almost annual basis. Since 1990, about 20 Catholic priests have been appointed or ordained. Representatives of the Vatican have visited different localities in Vietnam and met with a large number of local priests and Catholic followers. "Through these meetings, mutual respect and understanding have been increasing," the spokeswoman noted. (VNA) **** Hanoi mayor visits Germany A delegation of the People's Committee of Hanoi led by Chairman Hoang Van Nghien paid a working visit to Germany from June 17-21. The delegation had working sessions with senior officials of the Ministry for Economics and Industry, the Ministry for Co-operation and Development, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, the Federal Industry and Commerce Union, the Berlin Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Berlin Planning and Development Institute, major corporations, and Germany's Reconstruction and Development Bank. The two sides exchanged views on projects to develop Hanoi, opportunities for investment and trade, issues on urban planning, management and information technology. The delegation visited Potsdam, capital of Brandenburg State. Governor of Brandenburg State Dr Manfred Stolpe spoke highly of Hanoi's socio-economic achievements in recent years. Many ministers and officials of the State's government and the Mayor of Potsdam were present at the reception. Dr M Stolpe stressed that his State would help Hanoi conduct research on the preservation of cultural heritage sites, develop tourism and urban areas, treat rubbish and waste water, and train experts and skilled workers in information technology. (VNA) **** Vietnam to attend UN special session on HIV/AIDS A delegation of Vietnam, headed by Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Khiem, on June 22 left the country for a UN special session on HIV/AIDS to be held in New York. The Vietnamese delegates are from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Health, Education and Training, and the Government Office. They will join other senior officials, scientists, and representatives of social organisations from 160 countries and territories worldwide to discuss measures to gain control over the disease by 2015. This goal was set by leaders from 160 countries at the UN Millennium Summit in September last year. Vietnam strives to control the spread of HIV/AIDS, slow down the process during which HIV can develop into full-blown AIDS, and minimise the disease's harmful affect on economic development. To that end, the country will take great care to ensure safe blood transfusions, monitor 70% of HIV/AIDS carriers, boost education about the disease, and improve legal policies relating to HIV/AIDS and the fight against the disease. HIV infection has recently increased even among low-risk groups, with almost all detected HIV carriers being under 30. Meanwhile, the number of prostitutes and prisoners contracting the disease is on the rise. Vietnam presently has more than 28,600 HIV carriers. It is warning that the country will have 200,000 people infected with HIV by 2005. Of them, more than 50,000 will develop AIDS and over 45,000 will die of the disease. (VNA) **** UNICEF funds educational programme The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) will provide around US $12.3 million for its educational co-operation programme with Vietnam in the 2001-2005 period. The programme was signed in Hanoi on June 22 by Deputy Minister of Education and Training Vu Hung and UNICEF representative Morten Giersing. It involves projects on child care, primary education, and ways to teach young people how to live healthier and safer lives. UNICEF will make an effort to mobilise an additional US $10 million for the implementation of thisprogramme, says Morten Giersing. Since 1995, UNICEF has co-operated with Vietnam in the development of primary to senior secondary school education. Four projects, which were carried out in the 1996-2000 period at a total cost of more than US $9.1 million, have gained good results. These projects were a children's development project; a primary education project including a small-scaled project to universalise primary education for minority children, particularly Khmer, H'mong and Cham pupils; a non-regular education project for street children; and another on environmental education. The educational co-operation projects between Vietnam and UNICEF over the past five years have helped provide pre-education to nearly 80% of under five children, thus contributing to the universalisation of primary education in Vietnam. Other UNICEF-funded projects deal with such matters as environmental hygiene, health education and HIV/AIDS prevention. (VNA) **** Landslide hits Tra Vinh people There was a landslide by the Tien river�s bank in Duc My village, Cang Long district, the southernmost province of Tra Vinh on early June 21. This was the result of a 26 metre-long crack which had been known earlier by local people. Four houses of local people fell into the river. Luckily, no casualties were reported. There is another 10 metre-long crack in the village at the moment. This is threatening to cause more landslides which will damage many houses and the national electricity grid. Local authorities are taking measures to evacuate the people and move their property to safer places. _________________________________________________ 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] __________________________________________________
