VNA State-owned businesses� development on Party plenum agenda The third plenum of the Ninth Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee was opened in Hanoi on August 13 with development and efficiency of State-owned businesses on its agenda. During the plenum the Politburo will submit a report to the Party Central Committee for discussion and decision on the rearrangement, renovation, development and increasing efficiency of operation of State-owned enterprises, an issue of great economic, political and social significance in the national renovation and development. The plenum is also to discuss and approve the working regulations of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee, the Politburo, the Party Secretariat and the Party Commission for Inspection and the working agenda of the Ninth Party Central Committee. Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh delivered the opening speech. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ President Luong to visit Republic of Korea President Tran Duc Luong and his wife are to visit the Republic of Korea from August 22-25, the Foreign Ministry announced on August 13. The visit will be made at the invitation of President Kim Dae-Jung, the Foreign Ministry's press release adds. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Vietnam joins women, children trafficking control A working session on the fight against women and children trafficking in the Mekong Sub-region was held in Hanoi on August 13 by the Ministry of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs. The joint project has been carried out in Laos, Cambodia, Yunnan in China and Thailand since February last year. Vietnam started to take part in the project this year with over US $470,000 worth of assistance from the International Labour Organisation for two years. The project aimed at improving knowledge and education and providing vocational training and jobs to disadvantaged people and combating women and children trafficking in the country. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Vietnam invited to take part in 21st SEA Games Vietnam has been invited to take part in the 21st South East Asian (SEA) Games scheduled in Malaysia from September 8-17. The invitation was handed to Minister-Chairman of the Vietnam Sports and Physical Training Committee Nguyen Danh Thai on August 13 by Abdul Latif Endot, special envoy of the Malaysian Youth and Sports Minister and head of the ASEAN Goodwill and Friendship Itinerary delegation. The 32-member delegation, including seven journalists and 10 young people, has been here since August 12 for a four-day visit. The delegates are on a tour of the nine ASEAN member countries and to give invitations for the 21st SEA Games. Speaking at the letter hand-over ceremony, Minister-Chairman Thai, who is also President of the Vietnam Olympic Committee, stressed that the 21st SEA Games was the biggest regional sporting event, thus helping people of ASEAN member countries move closer with a noble spirit for peoples' friendship and world peace. (VNA) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Bac Lieu rice crop damaged by drought, pests A two-week long drought has damaged more than 3,500 hectares of summer autumn rice crop in Gia Rai district, Bac Lieu southern province. Up to now, 15,000 hectares of rice crop out of 74,000 hectares which have been sown have beendamaged by harmful insects. The provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has helped local farmers control insects and minimise the losses. _________________________________________________ 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] __________________________________________________
