VNA NA deputies discuss amendments to Constitution The National Assembly (NA) deputies yesterday discussed the amendment of and supplement to some articles of the 1992 Constitution during the plenary meeting chaired by NA Vice Chairman Nguyen Van Yeu. Fourteen delegates from 13 provinces and cities contributed their opinions concerning the guidelines to the amendment of and supplement to some articles of the 1992 Constitution on the organisation of the State apparatus and the purpose, requirement and sphere of amendment of some articles of the Constitution. The NA deputies also raised opinions on the renovation and consolidation of organisation and operation of the NA, the government, the People's Council, the People's Committee, the People's Procuracy and the People's Court as well as the membership to the Drafting Committee on the amendment of the Constitution. Generally, most of deputies held that the amendment of and supplement to some articles of the 1992 Constitution should focus on several articles of great necessity which relate to the function, duty and the right of each office in the State apparatus. This is to ensure a more streamlined, stronger and more effective State apparatus. Today, NA deputies met in the conference hall to continue debating on the amendment of and supplement to some articles of the 1992 Constitution and on the Son La hydro-electric power plant project. **** Party official meets Indian delegation Mr Tran Dinh Hoan (sixth from left) with Indian delegation.Politburo member and secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee Tran Dinh Hoan received a delegation of the India-Vietnam Friendship Association led by Politburo member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) Biman Basu yesterday in Hanoi. Mr Hoan spoke highly of the traditional relations between Vietnam and India and expressed his hope that both countries' friendship organisations would enhance their operations and develop the two countries' traditions. He also informed the Indian guests of the efforts made by the Vietnamese Party and State to bring a happiness to the people of Vietnam. Mr Basu wished the Vietnamese people, under the leadership of the CPV, every success in their process of national construction, defence, and renovation. He also wished for further development of the traditional friendship between the Vietnamese and Indian people. The two friendship associations signed an agreement on June 25 to expand bilateral co-operation and experience exchange in various fields. The two associations agreed to boost bilateral co-operation and jointly organise cultural exhibitions and art performances to mark major events of the two countries. They will also hold an art festival, and publish a book in Vietnamese and English about the friendship between the two nations. (VNA) **** Party official receives Chinese delegation Mr Vu Khoan (right) and Mr Liu Qibao.Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Vu Khoan has expressed delight at the development of the time-honoured relationship between the Communist Parties and governments of Vietnam and China. Mr Khoan was speaking to visiting Deputy Secretary of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region's Committee of the Communist Party of China, Liu Qibao, in Hanoi on June 25. The CPV Secretary said the Vietnam-China relations have been developing particularly well of late, with both countries standing by the principles of "good neighbourliness, comprehensive co-operation, long-lasting stability and a vision towards the future". He expressed his hope that co-operation between China and Vietnam, especially between Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Vietnam's localities, would continue to develop in the interest of the two countries. Mr Khoan's view was fully shared by Mr Liu Qibao, who is leading a delegation of the Communist Party of China on a visit to Vietnam from June 21. Mr Liu warmly congratulated the Vietnamese people for the great achievements they recorded during the process of renovation under the CPV's leadership. Earlier, the Chinese delegation had working sessions with the CPV Central Committee's Commission for External Relations and Commission for Ideology and Culture. They also worked with the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry and visited Ho Chi Minh City and central Thua Thien-Hue province. (VNA) **** Cambodian MP on visit Deputy PM Nguyen Manh Cam (left) greets Mr Sam Rainsy.Member of the Cambodian National Assembly Sam Rainsy and his wife have been in Vietnam since June 24 for a week-long visit. Mr Sam Rainsy was received by Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Manh Cam in Hanoi on June 25. Deputy PM Cam described the visit as a contribution to boosting mutual understanding, solidarity, and co-operation between the two countries. He affirmed that Vietnam, with its open, diversified, and multi-lateralised foreign policy, has always attached importance to developing positive relations with neighbouring countries, including Cambodia. Mr Rainsy went on to say that Vietnam continues to contribute to the worldwide trend toward peace, friendship, co-operation and development. Mr Rainsy congratulated the Vietnamese people for their achievements in national renovation and development. He said that Cambodia and Vietnam, with similarities, would strengthen economic co-operation and share experiences in national development. The same day, Mr Rainsy was received by Deputy Chairman of the National Assembly Vu Dinh Cu. The two sides both expressed their wish that relations between the two countries, particularly the two legislative bodies, would continue to develop. Earlier, the Cambodian MP met with Foreign Minister Nguyen Dy Nien and Director of the National Assembly's Committee for External Relations Do Van Tai. Mr Rainsy is expected to meet President of both Vietnam-Cambodia Friendship Parliamentarians Group and the Vietnam-Cambodia Friendship Association Vu Mao as well as visit a number of cultural sites and economic establishments in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, northern Ha Tay province, central Thua Thien-Hue province, and southern Dong Nai province. (VNA) **** Border provinces of Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia boost tiesCo-operation among four provinces, namely Gia Lai and Kon Tum in Vietnam, Attopeu in Laos and Ratanakiri in Cambodia was agreed upon at the first meeting of the Vietnamese, Lao, and Cambodian expert group. The meeting took place in Hanoi on June 20 and 21 and was convened in order to implement the Initiative of Co-operation for Development in the three countries' border regions put forth by the three Prime Ministers in October 1999. The Vietnamese delegation to the meeting was led by Le Chi Hien, Head of the Planning and Investment Ministry's Laos and Cambodia External Relations Department; the Cambodian delegation by Sun Saphoeun, Deputy Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation; and the Lao delegation by Somchith Inthamith, Director of the Foreign Ministry's Economics Department. The co-operation aims to promote economic ties among the four provinces, particularly in communications, commerce, tourism, agro-forestry, and energy. The enhancement of the three countries' co-operation will benefit the peoples of all three countries as they continue the international and regional trend toward development. The second meeting is to be held in Vientiane early next year to discuss communications and trade co-operation in these provinces. (VNA) **** Localities mark Anti-drug Day The Ministry of Education and Training held a meeting in response to the Anti-drug Day, June 26, in Hanoi on June 24. About 4,500 pupils and students took to the streets in marches, performed martial arts, participated in sports and gave art performances with the theme of drug control. After that, they disseminated information on drug consequences in �hot spots� of the city. The Standing Board for Social Evils Control of Binh Dinh province, in co-ordination with concerned agencies, investigated the total number of drug addicts and drug traffickers and worked out appropriate measures to deal with them. They have co-ordinated with mass media agencies to disseminate information on social evil and drug control. All schools of the province have committed to �Say "No" to drugs.� Quy Nhon city held a meeting to launch �An Environment without Drugs� campaign with the participation of 7,000 people. The Steering Board on AIDS, Drug and Prostitution Prevention and Control of Lam Dong province, in co-ordination with localities and relevant agencies, has disseminated information on drug prevention and control for nearly 25,000 people. Students and pupils of the province have also been providing public information on drug consequences and measures to prevent and control drug abuse. **** ESCAP considers agricultural projects for member countriesThe Economic and Social Council of the Asia and Pacific Region, (ESCAP) is meeting in Hanoi from June 25-27 to discuss aid to agricultural projects for regional countries. Central to the meeting's agenda are projects on the evaluation of crop quality, the prediction of crop yields (especially of rice harvests), and the application and development of environmental information crucial to agricultural production. It is hoped that all of these projects will help to ensure food security in the region. A project on the systematic management of land and water resources, aimed at evaluating the dangers of soil erosion has also been put on the table for discussion. These projects are set to be deployed within this year. 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