VNA Party leader affirms assistance for Central Highlands The Party and the State consider Tay Nguyen (the Central Highlands) as a strategic area and have made and will continue to make proper investment in the region, said Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh during a visit to Central Highlands Gia Lai province on September 14 and 15. The Party leader stressed that Tay Nguyen should ensure political stability to continue boosting socio-economic development. He called upon the local people, both the Kinh and the Thuong, religious and non-religious followers to unite in fighting hunger and poverty in order to build Gia Lai into a more beautiful and prosperous province. Meeting with inhabitants in La Der commune of La Grai district and older villagers and commune chiefs in the province, General Secretary Manh listened to the locals' proposals to the Party and the State on measures to help the locality overcome difficulties. He laid stress on Party building work during his meeting with the Gia Lai Party Standing Committee. The Party leader asked Party committees at all levels to build and observe their working regulations, inspect Party members' assigned duties, and tighten the relations with the masses. He also called on a number of people and families who had rendered great services to the nation's revolution, had working sessions with officers of the local armed forces and police, and visited the Yaly hydro-electric power plant. (VNA) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Vietnam calls for promotion of ASEAN friendship, spirit of unity Prime Minister Phan Van Khai of Vietnam called for further promotion of ASEAN friendship and spirit of unity while addressing the opening of the 33rd ASEAN Economic Ministers' Meeting in Hanoi on September 15. He said "Challenges lying ahead require us to take greater efforts to enhance co-operation in the spirit of ASEAN friendship and unity. This is a source of strength we must nurture and use to help turn ASEAN into a region of peace, stability, and development." Reviewing regional economic development over the past few years, Prime Minister Khai noted thatanxieties and concerns about the future of ASEAN started to arise in 1997 when the financial crisis broke out. However, driven by the group's own tremendous efforts and valuable assistance provided by the international community, ASEAN was able to reverse the downward trend in 1998, stabilise the financial-economic situation in 1999, and attain a growth rate of 5.3% in 2000. Mr Khai told the meeting that, despite their successes, difficulties and challenges still lie ahead as the global economic slowdown, especially in the US, Japan, and the European Union, has adversely affected economies of ASEAN member countries. Each ASEAN member, therefore, should continue to reinforce economic reform and intensify regional economic co-operation, the Vietnamese leader said. He went on to say that with the successful implementation of the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA), ASEAN Investment Area (AIA), ASEAN Industrial Co-operation (AICO), and other programmes, the association will be able to promote trade and investment as well as enhance the competitiveness of ASEAN economies. The Common Effective Preferential Tariff Scheme for the implementation of AFTA (CEPT/AFTA)has laid the groundwork for numerous economic co-operation activities, Mr Khai noted. Regarding Vietnam's commitments to accelerate the implementation of AFTA, the Vietnamese leader said the country has phased in 700 tariff lines to the Inclusion List, raising the total number of tariff lines in this list to 4,933, 65% of which enjoy tariff rates between zero and five per cent. Mr Khai said he was pleased with the fresh reaffirmation of ASEAN member countries' commitment to press ahead with the economic integration agenda so as to position the region in the increasingly competitive global economy. The Vietnamese leader expressed his special welcome to ASEAN technical assistance programmes to help new members raise their integration capability and deepen mutual trust and understanding for closer ASEAN coherence. He also called on ministers to focus on speeding up the implementation of the e-ASEAN Framework Agreement as information technology has been playing an increasingly important role in economic development in the 21st century. He also welcomed initiatives for closer economic partnership between ASEAN and China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Australia, and New Zealand while boosting economic bonds with the US, Europe, and other regions The Vietnamese leader asked that ASEAN members strive for equality and development for all nations in facing the on-going globalisation process. Vietnam supports the launching of a new round of negotiations in the World Trade Organisation (WTO) on an equal and fair basis and in the interests of people all over the world. The country wishes for an early accession to the organisation with necessary preferences applicable to developing economies, Mr Khai stressed. In his opening remark, Trade Minister Vu Khoan of Vietnam said that the meeting took place at a momentous moment when the world is stepping into a new century with ASEAN facing new opportunities and challenges. He pledged that the meeting will focus discussions on new measures to implement the Hanoi Plan of Action, especially realising CEPT/AFTA, accelerate the establishment of the ASEAN Investment Area, turn e-ASEAN into a reality, intensify the Mekong sub-region and West-East Corridor co-operation programmes, and narrow the development gap among member countries. Mr Khoan said the meeting also offers opportunities for ASEAN to hold consultations with its dialogue partners, China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the European Union, Australia, and New Zealand, and exchange views with the ASEAN Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the US-ASEAN Business Council. The meeting drew Minister of Industry and Primary Resources Pehin Abdul Rahman Taib of Brunei, Minister of Commerce Cham Prasidh of Cambodia, Minister of Industry and Trade Rini Mariani Sumarno Soewandi of Indonesia, Minister of Industry and Handicrafts Soulivong Daravong of Laos, Minister of International Trade and Industry Dato' Seri Rafidah Aziz of Malaysia and Minister to the Chairman's Office State Peace and Development Council Brigadier-General D O Abel of Myanmar. Under Secretary of Trade and Industry Thomas G Aquino of the Philippines, Minister of Trade and Industry George Yeo Yong Boon of Singapore, Minister of Commerce Adisai Bondharamik of Thailand and ASEAN Secretary General Rodolfo Severino also attended the meeting. (VNA) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ NA Chairman urges Ca Mau to make better use of resources The southernmost province of Ca Mau should work out appropriate policies and solutions to make better use of its potential resources, said National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Van An. During his tour of Ca Mau on September 13 and 14, Chairman An discussed with the province about its socio-economic development and Party building and activities in the coming period. Mr An noted that the province's economic progress has proved its great potential for further development and added that Ca Mau should take advantage of its resources to change its economic structure and apply scientific and technical advances in production. He cited the province's potential in sea, forest, land, and labour, saying these are important for the local socio-economic development. Mr An also spoke of the working capacity of local government officials, and the importance of Party building work, unity, criticism, and self-criticism. Calling on the Military Zone 7 on September 15, he emphasised its strategic position in the region. (VNA) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Bilateral ties discussed on foreign minister's Indian visit Vietnamese Foreign Minister Nguyen Dy Nien and Indian Foreign and Defence Minister Jaswant Singh, have exchanged views on the bilateral co-operative relations at their talks held during Mr Nguyen Dy Nien's five-day official visit to India from September 12. The two ministers also discussed measures to further consolidate and develop the traditional friendship and comprehensive co-operation between the two countries, particularly in the fields of trade, investment, credit, information technology as well as close and effective co-ordination within the framework of the ASEAN-India relations and the Mekong-Ganges Co-operation. This aims to accelerate the implementation of the Hanoi Programme of Action approved by the second Meeting on Mekong-Ganges Co-operation recently held in Hanoi. They also compared notes on preparations to jointly celebrate the 30th anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam-India diplomatic relations, scheduled to take place on January 7, 2002. On this occasion, Foreign Minister Nguyen Dy Nien and Indian Foreign and Defence Minister J Singh signed an agreement under which the two countries will create favourable conditions for each other to build their embassy in the other country's capital city. At their talks, the two ministers informed each other of the current situation in their respective countries. Foreign Minister Nien spoke highly of India's great achievements in recent years, welcomed its external relations policy of peace and independence, and expressed his belief that India would soon become a strong country with a worthy position on the international arena. Foreign Minister J Singh praised Vietnam's achievements in the renovation process and its efforts towards regional and international integration. He welcomed the successful performance by Vietnam of its role as president of the ASEAN Standing Committee (ASC) and ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF-8) as well as its hosting of AMM-34, PMC and ARF-8 Meetings in Hanoi in July, 2001. During the visit, Foreign Minister Nien was received by Indian Vice President Krishan Kant and Prime Minister A B Vajapayee. Mr Nien paid courtesy visits to leaders of great political parties in India such as the Communist Party of India (CPI), the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M), the Indian National Congress (I) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The Indian leaders welcomed the Vietnamese Party and State's renovation policy and its socio-economic achievements over the recent past. Mr Nien conveyed the best regards from Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh, State President Tran Duc Luong and Prime Minister Phan Van Khai to Indian Vice President Krishan Kant and Prime Minister A B Vajapayee and leaders of Indian political parties. While there, Mr Nien visited a number of cultural and historical relics in India and met with India's scholars, well-known people, and business people from the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry. (VNA) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Conference of Asian-Pacific UNESCO members hosted The 14th conference of the Asian and Pacific Federation of UNESCO Clubs and Associations (AFUCA) was opened in Hanoi on September 16. The two-day conference drew 34 delegates from AFUCA-member countries including India, Bangladesh, Nepal, the Republic of Korea, Japan, Thailand and Vietnam. Also present were Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Manh Cam, President of the Vietnam UNESCO Club Nguyen Truc Luyen, AFUCA President Kim Ran Soo, and representative of the World UNESCO Federation Kuniaki Yamashita. The conference was held to review co-ordination plans of regional member countries of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) since the previous conference as well as discuss programmes for the coming time, thus improving the quality of AFUCA members' operations and strengthening the solidarity, co-operation and mutual understanding among nations in the region. Addressing the conference, Deputy PM Nguyen Manh Cam highlighted the role of UNESCO clubs and centres. He said that these organisations have not only disseminated the progressive ideals of the times and helped raise the national pride of each country, but also created favourable conditions for each nation to integrate into the international community, thus contributing to maintaining and consolidating peace for all nations. He asked each country to protect and develop their traditional cultural values while inheriting the quintessence of world culture and scientific and technological advances. The Vietnam UNESCO Club in its capacity as a non-governmental organisation expressed its discontent with the US House of Representatives' passing the Vietnam Human Rights Act, saying that it is an intervention into Vietnam's internal affairs, causes instability and runs counter to the Vietnamese people's interest. The Club called on public opinions and mass organisations in the world, particularly AFUCA members, to prevent the approval of the Act. Founded in August 1993, the Vietnam UNESCO Club now has 80 centres with nearly 2,500 members. (VNA) _________________________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. 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