VNA NA chairman meets praises Ninh Binh people Politburo member and National Assembly (NA) Chairman Nguyen Van An praised people of Ninh Binh northern province for their great efforts made in the socio-economic development and maintenance of political security and social law-and-order. NA Chairman Nguyen Van An paid a working visit to Ninh Binh province on July 3 and 4. Chairman An briefed the Ninh Binh people on the main content of the ninth session of the NA and also spoke about the advantages as well as disadvantages in order to achieve this year's socio-economic targets. He also said he hoped that the voters would take a more active part in bringing the laws into life. Also during the meetings, the voters expressed their satisfaction at the results gained by the NA's ninth session and confidence at a more effective operation of the NA, particularly in the law-making work. They also proposed that the NA should further strengthen its supervision in the implementation of the NA's resolutions, the solution of voters' complaints and should increase the time for the voters' queries in its sessions. **** Torrential rains in north claim 12 lives The recent torrential rains have killed twelve people, injured three and caused great losses in property in some northern provinces and cities. The country's northern part experienced heavy rains due to affect of the Storm 2, according to the National Department for Hydrometeorology. Hanoi also experienced heavy rain on July 4, with water logging level measured between 56 and 84 millimetres. Downpour has resulted in flooding in 11 places in the city's urban area. Tropical low pressure caused by the Storm 2 was blamed for causing the floods. In Thai Nguyen province, torrential rains have killed nine people and injured three. It also submerged more than 1,000 houses, pulled down and made roofless 30 others. About 2,000 hectares of rice were under water and some parts of the roads were eroded. Meanwhile Tuyen Quang province's Pho Day River water level has risen very rapidly, inundating the whole town of Son Duong district and many other parts of the province. More than 200 houses were under water and two province's bridges were heavily damaged. Two people were reported dead. In Bac Can province, the water level of Cau River has swollen, measuring between 120 metres and 133.6 metres, above the warning level two by 0.6 metres. Many parts of the province's communication roads were flooded and eroded. Heavy rains and whirlwinds have also hit the southern most province of Ca Mau in recent days, killing one person and damaging 24 houses and two schools. The unabated torrential rains and strong wind late last month eroded 400 metres of sea dyke system in Mui Canh area, An Bien district, Kien Giang southern province. In affected provinces, the local departments for flood and storm control are making great efforts to evacuate people to safer places, provide them with necessities and protect their property. **** College entrance exams to start tomorrow Over 2.1 million of examinees nationwide will sit for the 2001 college and university examinations tomorrow, July 6. This is the largest ever number of examinees registered. All student enrollment boards of universities and colleges have prepared necessary conditions for the exams as reported by the Ministry of Education and Training. Most of the examinees have received attendance cards. The remaining cases that have not yet received the cards have been dealt with immediately. Many ministries, sectors and localities have co-ordinated work to get everything ready for the examinations. The Youth Union and Hanoi�s Students� Association have mobilised about 5,000 volunteer students to help the potential students from provinces who are flocking onto Hanoi for the examinations on July 4-7. The students have guided them where to hire lodging and provided information on prices and locations of the exams. On the occasion, the Youth Union of Thanh Khe district, Danang city and Danang university�s youth union have grouped over 60 volunteers to help exam candidates from other localities for these exams. **** Danish ambassador awarded friendship order Empowered by the State president, Deputy Foreign Minister Chu Tuan Cap presented Vietnam's Friendship Order to Danish Ambassador to Vietnam Ove Ullerup at a ceremony held on July 4. The award was made in recognition of his active contributions to the development of the friendship and multi-faceted co-operation between Vietnam and Denmark during his term of office in Vietnam. Addressing the ceremony, Ambassador Ove Ullerup expressed his thanks for the award. He said he hoped to continue contributing to further development of the relations between the two countries in the years to come. (VNA) **** Milosevic extradition is Yugoslavia's internal affair: spokeswoman Vietnam's foreign ministry spokeswoman Phan Thuy Thanh yesterday described as Yugoslavia's internal affair all issues relating to its former President Slobodan Milosevic, stressing any pressure and intervention from outside would complicate the situation and may cause serious consequences. Asked about Vietnam's reaction to the extradition of S Milosevic to the International Criminal Tribunal for Yugoslavia (ICTY), the spokeswoman said "Vietnam's consistent position is that all internal affairs of Yugoslavia - an independent and sovereign state - must be decided by the Yugoslav people in conformity with its Constitution and laws." "Any pressure and intervention from outside will complicate the situation and may cause serious consequences," she emphasised. Ms Thanh said, "People can not but pay attention to Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica's statement that the extradition of S Milosevic to The Hague Court was a serious violation of Yugoslavia's Constitution." (VNA) **** US ambassador gives July 4 reception US Ambassador to Vietnam Douglas Pete Peterson and his wife gave a reception in Hanoi on July 4, to mark the 225th Independence Day of the United States of America (July 4). His guests included, Trade Minister Vu Khoan and permanent Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Dinh Bin. Speaking to the guests, Ambassador Peterson expressed his pleasure at the positive steps of development in the US-Vietnam ties. Taking the floor, Minister Vu Khoan said he hoped that the Vietnam-U.S relations would further grow for the two peoples' interests as well as for peace, stability and development. He also appreciated the ambassador's active contributions to consolidating and developing the Vietnam-U.S ties during his tenure of office in Vietnam. (VNA) **** Ambassador Peterson speaks about Vietnam-US ties An agreement on aviation co-operation and another on drug control between the US and Vietnam will be signed in the near future, US Ambassador to Vietnam Pete Peterson told the International Cultural and Economic Exchange Club on July 3. Before ending his term of office in Vietnam, the Ambassador thanked the Vietnamese government and people for their active assistance in finding the remains of American servicemen missing in action during the war. About the Vietnam - US bilateral trade agreement (BTA), he expressed hope that it would be ratified by the two countries' legislative bodies in the next few months, emphasising that the BTA would create conditions for Vietnam to sharply increase exports to the US, such as textiles, garments, footwear, fine arts, and farm produce. He also advised Vietnamese entrepreneurs that they would benefit from gaining a better understanding of American habits in carrying out transactions and deals as well as a better understanding of the rules of the US market. This wil help them to take advantage of the opportunities for trade that the BTA will produce. "Many US businesses are requesting information about Vietnam so that they may start investing or expanding business in Vietnam right after the BTA is ratified," he stressed. According to those who had taken part in the negotiation for the BTA, when the agreement comes into force, Vietnam's exports to the US will enjoy the US normal trade relations. This means that the tariff rate will drop from an average of 40% to 3%. The tax rates will fall strongly regarding some groups of staples, they said, citing garments and textiles, which will see their tax rates drop from 60% to 5%. The Vietnam-US import - export turnover is expected to double in the BTA's first year, they added. The General Statistics Office says that the two-way trade value between the two countries chalked up over US $1 billion in 2000, a rise of US $245 million over 1999. In the first six months of 2001, the figure is estimated to have reached US $562 million, with Vietnam's trade surplus being valued at US $400 million. The US had 119 investment projects with a combined capital of over US $942.8 million in Vietnam by the end of May, 2001. As a result, it occupied the sixth place on the list of countries and territories investing in Vietnam. (VNA) **** Party delegation visits China A delegation of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) led by Politburo member Phan Dien visited China from June 26 to July 4. The delegation was received by Permanent Politburo member Wei Jianxing of the Communist Party of China (CPC)Central Committee on July 3. Mr Wei stressed this was the first CPV delegation to visit China since the Ninth National CPV Congress in April. He pointed out that China and Vietnam were neighbouring countries which had been bound by time-honoured friendship and whose people supported and helped each other in their struggles for national independence. He noted with pleasure the fine development of friendship and co-operation between the two Parties and States under the motto "good neighbourliness, comprehensive co-operation, long-lasting stability and a vision towards the future." He conveyed best regards from CPC General Secretary Jiang Zemin to CPV General Secretary Nong Duc Manh. Mr Dien said that the CPV delegation has learnt from China precious experiences in national construction and development during the visit, which, he noted, contributed to consolidating and developing the relationship between the two Parties and States. Head of the CPC's International Liaison Department Dai Bingguo and Vietnamese Ambassador to China Bui Hong Phuc were present at the reception. (VNA) **** Cambodia presents friendship order to Vietnamese military attache The Royal government of Cambodia has conferred the Friendship Order on the Vietnamese Military Attache in Cambodia, Colonel Tran Ngoc Que, in recognition of his positive contributions to strengthening the friendship between the two armies. The conferment was made in Phnom Penh on July 3 during a farewell visit by the Vietnamese officer to Cambodian Defence Co-Ministers Tea Banh and Sisowath Sirirath. Minister Tea Banh spoke highly of the role played by the Office of the Military Attache of Vietnam in Cambodia as well as the contributions by the Military Attache himself to the promotion of understanding and ties between the two countries' armies. He said he hoped that the fine relations, combative solidarity and co-operation between the army of Cambodia and Vietnam would be further boosted in the future. (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] __________________________________________________
