VNA Russia to further help train students: Russian FM Russian has decided to give further assistance to training Vietnamese students in its universities, Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov assured Vietnam's Party leader Nong Duc Manh. Minister Ivanov, who is in Vietnam for the eighth ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF-8) and the Post Ministerial Conference (PMC), was received by Party General Secretary Manh in Hanoi on July 27. Briefing General Secretary Manh on his working sessions in Vietnam, Mr Ivanov praised Vietnam's role as ASEAN Standing Committee and ARF chairman and its delightful setting for the ARF-8 and the PMC. He also expressed his delight at the development of the relations between the two countries, affirming that Russia has actively taken part in the process of strengthening peace, stability, co-operation, and development in the Asian-Pacific region and the world as a whole. He conveyed President V Putin's best regards to Party leader Manh and his invitation to Mr Manh to pay an official visit to Russia. General Secretary Manh said he appreciated Russia's attendance in the ARF-8 and the PMC in Hanoi and congratulated Russia for the achievements she has gained under the leadership of President Putin. He expressed his belief that Russia with its historical traditions would succeed in rebuilding the country into a powerful one having a worthy position in the world arena, contributing to the cause of peace, stability, co-operation, and development throughout the world. Party leader Manh thanked the Russian people for having supported Vietnam's past struggle for national independence and for continuing to support Vietnam today in its national construction process. He affirmed that Vietnam always attached importance to the traditional relationship and multifaceted co-operation with Russia. General Secretary Manh asked Foreign Minister Ivanov to convey his regards and thanks to President Putin and said that he would arrange his next visit to Russia through diplomatic channels. (VNA) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Mongolia hopes to develop traditional ties with Vietnam The Mongolian government is taking measures to restore and develop its traditional relationship with friendly countries, including Vietnam, said Mongolian Foreign Minister Luvsangiin Erdenechuluum. Minister Erdenechuluum expressed Mongolia's wish during his separate meetings with Prime Minister Phan Van Khai and National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Van An in Hanoi on July 27. He added that his country has always placed importance on furthering the time-honoured traditional friendship and co-operation with Vietnam. He thanked Vietnam for helping Mongolia to overcome the consequences of recent natural calamities and for helping it to participate in regional and international forums. Speaking to his guest, Prime Minister Khai said that Vietnam and Mongolia should find ways to boost their traditional co-operation in conformity with the present situation and for the benefit of both nations. He also asked the two countries' inter-governmental committee for taking effective measures to promote economic and commercial co-operation. "Vietnam is ready to co-ordinate with Mongolia at regional and international forums and support Mongolia to join the Asian-Pacific Economic Co-operation forum," the prime minister stressed. Meanwhile, Chairman An expressed his wish for further development between the two countries in general and the two national assemblies in particular. (VNA) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ PM meets Lao military officers Prime Minister Phan Van Khai met a visiting high-level military delegation of the Lao People's Army (LPA) led by Major General K Senglathone, member of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee and chief of general staff of the LPA, in Hanoi on July 27. Mr Khai lauded the close co-operation between the two armies, which he said was for the interests of both countries and their revolutionary causes. He also stressed that the two armies should co-operate more closely in maintaining law and order in the Laos-Vietnam border region. The two countries must continue the fight against smuggling and drug trafficking to ensure a stable, peaceful life for Lao and Vietnamese people living in border regions. Mr Khai said Vietnam, though facing many difficulties, was always ready to support and share experiences with Laos. Major General Senglathone affirmed the LPA's determination to implement co-operation agreements between the two armies. The Lao military delegation started its official Vietnam visit on July 25. (VNA) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ PMC ends with success The Post Ministerial Conference (PMC) between the foreign ministers of the ASEAN countries and their counterparts ended successfully on July 27 after two working days. ASEAN foreign ministers met with all foreign ministers and heads of delegations of the ten dialogue partners and� had separate meetings with every dialogue partner. The two-day PMC, under the chairmanship of Foreign Minister Nguyen Dy Nien, discussed effective measures to boost co-operation for ASEAN�s development and economic integration. The conference also reviewed and assessed the political, economic, financial and trading issues of the region and the world in the recent period. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ASEAN to boost economic relations with dialogue partners ASEAN placed importance to the promotion and expansion of co-operation with their dialogue partners, said Foreign Minister Nguyen Dy Nien in a press briefing held at the end of the ASEAN Post Ministerial Conference (PMC) in Hanoi on July 27. During the two-day conference, foreign ministers of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) member countries met with their dialogue partners, namely Australia, Canada, China, the European Union, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Russia, and the United States, jointly and separately. "At those meetings, we focused our discussions on economic, financial, trade and investment issues in the region and the world," Mr Nien told reporters. Both ASEAN and their dialogue partners found it important to bridge the development gaps between the group members, as well as between South East Asia and other parts of the world. The implementation of the Initiative for ASEAN Integration and the 'Hanoi Declaration on Narrowing the Development Gap,' especially in terms of information technology, had drawn strong attention from most countries, Mr Nien said. He added that the foreign ministers held discussions on trade liberalisation and the new round of the World Trade Organisation talks in Doha. It was affirmed at PMC meetings that peace and stability are always the prerequisite for the development of each country, each region and the whole world. In that spirit, ministers discussed regional and international issues of mutual concern, the Vietnamese chief diplomat noted. He said: "The PMC meetings have reaffirmed the importance of the PMC ASEAN plus 10 and praised the achievements recorded last year. Ministers also expressed their strong resolve to further promote the activities of this forum in the interests of ASEAN and its dialogue partners." Also at the press briefing, the ministers and heads of delegation praised contributions by Foreign Minister Nguyen Dy Nien in his capacity as chairman of the 34th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting the eighth ASEAN Regional Forum, and the Post Ministerial Conference. ASEAN dialogue partners said they highly valued the accomplishment recorded by the PMC over the past year and ASEAN's efforts to build confidence at this forum. Representatives from Canada, China, Russia, and the European Union expressed their commitment to assist ASEAN member countries in narrowing development gaps, particularly in the fields of information technology, human resource development, and personnel training. (VNA) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Vietnamese and Indian ministers meet FM Nguyen Dy Nien meets his Indian counterpart Krishna Chandra Pant. Vietnamese Foreign Minister Nguyen Dy Nien and Indian Minister Krishna Chandra Pant have exchanged views on ASEAN-India co-operative ties, recent progress in the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) process, as well as rapid development of the Mekong-Ganges Co-operation (MGC) The Indian minister, who is also vice chairman of the Indian Planning Commission, is heading the Indian government delegation to the Post-Ministerial Conference, the ARF, and the MGC, held in Hanoi this week. At their meeting held in Hanoi on July 27, the two ministers also discussed measures to further enhance and step up the two countries' multifaceted co-operation, particularly the implementation of the agreements reached during Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's recent Vietnam visit. Minister Krishna Chandra Pant said he highly valued the hosting role of Vietnam, saying the country has made positive contributions to the success of the Hanoi conferences, thus promoting solidarity and co-operation among ASEAN member countries and between ASEAN and its dialogue partners, including India. Mr Nien said he appreciated India's efforts to accelerate peace and stability in South Asia, particularly its recent initiative on the high-level dialogue between India and Pakistan. He expressed his hope for continued dialogue which, he said, will pave the way for normalising relations between the two countries in the interest of their people, for peace, stability, co-operation and development in the region and the world. (VNA) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Vietnam-Belgium co-operation - positive development Vietnam has always attached importance to boosting co-operation with Belgium and the European Union, said Foreign Minister Nguyen Dy Nien in Hanoi on July 27. Foreign Minister Nien held talks with Louis Michel, Belgian deputy prime minister and foreign minister, who is on an official visit to Vietnam after leading an EU delegation to the recently finished ASEAN Regional Forum and the Post-Ministerial Conference in Hanoi. The two foreign ministers exchanged views on the Vietnam-Belgium, Vietnam-EU and ASEAN-EU relations and co-operation. They expressed their delight at the positive development of bilateral co-operation in the recent past and agreed to promote multi-faceted co-operation between the two countries for the interest of peace and development in the world. Minister Nien welcomed the Belgian foreign minister's visit as a manifestation of Belgium and the EU's interest in strengthening relations with Vietnam. He expressed thanks to the Belgian government for its support and assistance to Vietnam's renovation process, saying Belgian-funded projects have been proving effective in Vietnam. The Vietnamese foreign minister said he hoped that Belgium, in its capacity as EU president, wouldcontribute to boosting co-operation and trade exchange between Vietnam and the EU and support Vietnam in joining the World Trade Organisation. Mr Michel affirmed Belgium's policy to continue to strengthen and expand co-operation with Vietnam, especially in economy, investment, and commerce. He also spoke highly of Vietnam's foreign policy of diversification and multilateralisation of relations as well as its regional and international integration. (VNA) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Vietnam, Mongolia look to boost ties Foreign Minister Nguyen Dy Nien and his Mongolian counterpart, Luvsangiin Erdenechuluum, have discussed measures to boost the friendship and co-operation between Vietnam and Mongolia. During their talks in Hanoi on July 27, the two foreign ministers dealt with regional and international issues of mutual concern. They expressed their satisfaction at the new steps of development in the traditional friendship and co-operation between the two countries recently, marked by visits by the two nations' leaders and the signing of the Vietnam-Mongolia Friendship and Co-operation Treaty in April 2000. The two foreign ministers agreed on measures to constantly strengthen and expand bilateral co-operation in the political, economic, scientific, technological, commercial, investment, construction, educational, cultural, health care and tourism fields. To that end, Vietnam and Mongolia will organise the 10th session of the Inter-governmental Committee for Economic, Scientific, and Technological Co-operation in September this year. Both nations will make better preparations for the early signing of co-operation agreements in education, transport, banking, customs, quarantine, veterinary care, and tourism. Ministers Nien and Erdenechulum affirmed that the two countries will strengthen their co-operation and co-ordination at regional and international forums, contributing to peace, stability, co-operation, and development in the Asian-Pacific region and the world. (VNA) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Vietnam will not punish returning minority people: spokeswoman Vietnam again affirmed its policy of not discriminating against and not punishing those minority people who repatriate in Vietnam after having fled to Cambodia. The Vietnamese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Phan Thuy Thanh said that after meetings between Vietnam, Cambodia, and the UNHCR, the three parties have agreed upon four basic points: - those who illegally crossed the border are not considered as refugees, - refugee camps will not be set up on Cambodian territory, - these people will not be settled down in a third country, and - concerned parties should co-operate to return these people to Vietnam as soon as possible. Ms Thanh was responding to a correspondent of Reuters in Hanoi, who queried about the outcome of a two-day tripartite meeting in Hanoi on repatriating minority people (in the Central Highlands) who had fled Vietnam and penetrated into Cambodia. "The meeting took place in an atmosphere of frankness, mutual understanding, and co-operation," Ms Thanh said, adding that the three parties had discussed technical issues relating to procedures to repatriate these people. "Basically, the three parties have reached an agreement on procedural process and financial support for the returnees. However, they need continued discussions on a number of technical points," Ms Thanh noted. (VNA) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ US lower house extends limited trade priorities The US House of Representatives on July 26 voted 324 to 91 in favour of extending the waiver of the Jackson Vanik Amendment to Vietnam for another year, the fourth in a row. Vietnam, therefore, will continue to be given access or guarantees and credits funded by the US government agencies such as the Department of Agriculture, the Export-Import Bank (Exim Bank), and the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC). The White House immediately issued a statement welcoming the voting result, saying that US business circles recognised Vietnam with the world's 13th largest population, as a market of great potential. Also on July 26, the House Committee of Banking and Financial Service passed the Vietnam-US Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) signed on July 13, 2000. The accord, which was also passed by the Senate's Finance Committee last week, now has only one step to go, namely a ballot at the Congress, expected between now and the first week of August. (VNA) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Activities mark War Invalids and Fallen Combatants' Day Representatives of Ha Nam province's� police present gift� to Heroic Mother Truong Thi Nhuan in Xuan Khe commune, Ly Nhan. Mr Tran Dinh Hoan, Politburo member, member of Party Central Committee's Secretariat, visited at and gave presents to priority policy beneficiaries in Nam Dinh province on July 27 to mark the 54th anniversary of the War Invalids and Fallen Combatants' Day. Mr Hoan who is also director of the Party Central Committee's Organisation and Personnel Commission and director of the Ho Chi Minh National Political Institute, praised the efforts to live and work for a better life of war invalids and, at the same time, asked local authorities to improve the spiritual and material life of beneficiaries to State priority policies and Vietnamese Heroic Mothers and create jobs for children of the beneficiaries. Mr Hoan also visited and burnt incense to remember heroic fallen combatants at the temple for fallen combatants in Nam Truc district. Lieutenant General Le Van Dung, member of the Party Central Committee's Secretariat and director of the Political General Department of the Vietnam People's Army; Lieutenant General Nguyen Van Rinh, member of the Party Central Committee and deputy minister of defence; Lieutenant General Nguyen Huy Hieu, member of the Party Central Committee and deputy minister of defence; and Major General Pham Van Long, deputy director of the Political General Department of the Vietnam People's Army, have visited and given gifts to disabled soldiers who are being treated at the Army Hospital 108, the Army Medical Institute, Hospital 103, Army Hospital 110 (the first Military Zone,) Army Hospital 7 (the third Military Zone,) and the Army Hospital 4 (the fourth Military Zone.) Leaders of Ho Chi Minh City and representatives from the commands of Military Zone 7 and more than ten thousand young people and children in the city visited and laid wreaths at the municipal cemetery for fallen combatants on July 27. Haiphong city's leaders and many people paid floral tributes at the municipal monument for heroic fallen combatants and to the monument of comrade Nguyen Duc Canh on the morning of July 26. The same activities also took place in Vinh Long and Dong Nai province on July 26 and 27 respectively. _________________________________________________ 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] __________________________________________________
