VNA IPU co-operates with Vietnam's National Assembly The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) will continue its close co-operation with Vietnam's National Assembly and be willing to share experiences with Vietnam, IPU Secretary General Anders Johnsson told National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Van An. The IPU official, who is on a working visit to Vietnam from July 1-5, congratulated Mr An on his election as Chairman of Vietnam's legislative body and wished him success in his new post. He also expressed his delight at Vietnam's fine development. NA Chairman An while receiving A Johnsson in Hanoi on July 2 spoke highly of IPU's effective assistance, especially that of Mr Johnsson, to Vietnam's National Assembly. He pointed to the efforts of Vietnam's legislature to be an active IPU member and said he hoped that Vietnam would continue to receive more assistance from the IPU. The same day, Chairman of the National Assembly's Committee for External Relations, Do Van Tai, held talks with Mr Johnsson. The two exchanged views on issues of mutual concern and discussed measures to strengthen the co-operative relations between Vietnam's National Assembly and the IPU. (VNA) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2,000 tonnes of rice granted to Mongolia Vietnam has provided 2,000 tonnes of rice as non-refundable aid to Mongolia. The aid was handed over by Vietnamese Ambassador Nguyen The Dac to the director of the Mongolian National Reserve Department at a ceremony held in Ulan Bator, Mongolia, on June 29. The Mongolian Minister of Agriculture took the occasion to ask Ambassador Dac to convey his thanks to the Vietnamese government and people. (VNA) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Ministry's major solutions to boost exports The Ministry of Trade has submitted to the Prime Minister five urgent solutions to overcome difficulties and boost exports in the remaining months of this year. The solutions aim to increase farmers' income, lower export product prices, expand outlets, further administrative reform, and facilitate export activities. Priority will be given to trade promotion while cumbersome import-export procedures will be streamlined to raise the efficiency of economic tools such as taxes, export credit and credit interest rates, foreign exchange, intermediary commissions, and export bonuses. Improving the export product quality and diversifying export products and markets are other measures that will be taken. Vietnam's exports in the first half of this year reached US $7,585 million, or a year-on-year rise of 14.8%. However, it represents only 45.3% of the yearly plan set by the government. The figures have aroused worries about fulfilment of Vietnam's 2001 export plan. The country targets an export turnover of US $16.76 billion this year. (VNA) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ PM outlines solutions for industrial production PM Phan Van Khai speaks at the review of industrial sector. Prime Minister Phan Van Khai outlined issues to be addressed by the industrial sector in the future. Local producers must raise the competitiveness of industrial products, domestically and globally, Mr Khai told a conference to review the country's industrial production in the first half of this year in Hanoi on July 2. He described the step as essential to the development of Vietnam's industry as well as of the national economy. To that end, Mr Khai noted, efforts must be exerted to map out effective investment solutions, apply technological advances to production, improve business management and train a contingent of science and technology administrators. Another solution cited by the PM is to re-arrange industrial production branches and enterprises with investment priority given to for-export production activities. In order to obtain a 14% growth rate for the sector in the second half of the year, the Ministry of Industry has mapped out solutions, covering enhancing investment, boosting exports and domestic purchasing power and designing production development strategies based on market elements. It was reported at the conference that in the first six months of this year, the country's industrial production value was registered at VND 113,337 billion or a year-on-year increase of 14.14%. The State-owned sector grew 12.7% year-on-year; the private sector, 17.6%; and the foreign-invested sector, 15.1%. Localities that obtained high industrial production growth rates in the first half of the year included Binh Duong, 33.6%; Quang Ninh 22.6%; Can Tho, 22.2%, Phu Tho and Vinh Phuc, 20.4%; Khanh Hoa, 19.2%; Da Nang, 18.4%; Haiphong, 18%; Ho Chi Minh City, 16.5%; and Ba Ria-Vung Tau, 16.1%. Quality and design of locally-made products have been improved markedly over the recent past. As a result, a number of products, including electric fans, farm machinery, milk products, vegetable oil, automobile tyres and batteries, prevailed over imports of the same kind in the domestic market. Export earnings from industrial products were US $4 billion or 52% of the country's total. However, the sector faced difficulties selling diesel-fueled engines, ingot tin, phosphorous and NPK fertilisers, footwear, paint and bicycle tyres in the reviewed period. (VNA) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ VOV broadcasts in more ethnic languages Radio the Voice of Vietnam (VOV) has started broadcasting 30-minute programmes in Kohor ethnic language with three sessions a day on medium and short wave-lengths. The programmes serve the more than 80,000-strong Kohor ethnic minority group and other minority groups with similar languages in the southern Central Highland area. VOV has so far had seven channels in ethnic languages for H'mong people in the north and Khmer, Edeh, Gia Rai, Bahnar, and Sedang groups in the Central Highlands. A VOV conference on radio broadcast in ethnic languages held in Buon Ma Thuot City of Central Highland Dak Lak province on July 1 stressed that the ethnic language programmes showed their advantages in disseminating the Party and government's policies to people, thus helping push up socio-economic development as well as preserve and uphold the national culture, and refute hostile propaganda. Since the early 90s, VOV has focused on broadcasting in ethnic languages, equipping facilities for provincial, district, and communal radio stations, and installing transmitters to cover mountainous areas. Many opinions at the conference suggested the VOV should expand its broadcast in the Central Highlands, provide facilities, and train more workers for local stations. The radio was also asked to increase broadcasting time in ethnic languages as well as to the improve quality of such programmes. The VOV leadership early this year made a fact-finding tour of the central region, the Central Highlands, the northwestern and the western Nam Bo (the south) areas with the aim of developing its broadcast there. (VNA) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Young volunteers help people in disadvantaged communes Young people of Phu Yen province and Dak Lak Central Highlands province have volunteered to go to their provinces' communes in special difficulty to provide local people with education and help them in agricultural production during the summer time. Two hundred students and 12 border guards of Phu Yen province joined the campaign 'Summer of Volunteers' which started on July 1. They went to six disadvantaged mountainous communes of the province and will stay there for one month to help the local people in agricultural production and livestock breeding. They will also repair rural communications roads, build and repair houses for the inhabitants and provide the children with education. The province expects to launch another similar campaign early next month. Fifty two young intellectuals of Dak Lak province over the past six months have helped people in 13 disadvantaged communes work out better methods for agricultural production. They have also opened three literarcy classes for 120 learners and helped the locals build a new cultural lifestyle. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Prevention of smuggling, trade fraud discussed Measures to prevent smuggling and trade fraud were discussed when Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung worked with heads of the Ministries of Public Security, Defence, Trade, Finance, the General Customs Department and other agencies in Hanoi on July 2. Representatives from the Ministries of Trade, Public Security and the General Customs Department reviewed the fight against smuggling and trade fraud in the first six months of this year. They announced that although the quantity of smuggled goods in some localities decreased smuggling and trade fraud are developing in a complex manner. Making a conclusion of the conference, Mr Dung stressed the role of the fight against smuggling and trade fraud in the situation when Vietnam�s economy is not strong enough and domestic goods have yet to have high competitiveness. He asked the ministries and agencies concerned to complete their tasks in fighting smuggling and trade fraud in the last six months. He asked the Ministry of Trade to chair every three months a conference to discuss measure to prevent smuggling and trade fraud more effectively and every six months to work with the prime minister to solve emerging issues. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Youth launch essay writing contest The Youth Union Central Committee launched an essay writing contest in Hanoi on July 2 in response to the 15th World Youth and Student Festival, which due to be held in Algeria in August. Vietnamese youth, aged from 18-30, are eligible to take part in the contest with topics of peace and world security, globalisation and development, democracy, human rights and social equality, youth and students� rights. The contest will end on July 25 after awarding contestants who have excellent entries. _________________________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. 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