VNA
President Luong visits Indonesia Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri, gave a red carpet welcome to Vietnamese President Tran Duc Luong, who arrived in Jakarta on November10, beginning a three-day official friendship visit to Indonesia. President Luong reviewed the guard of honour of the Indonesian army after the national anthems of Vietnam and Indonesia were played amidst a 21-gun salute fired to greet the head of state of Vietnam. Later, President Magawati introduced to her Vietnamese counterpart senior officials of Indonesia present at the welcome ceremony and, President Luong introduced to the Indonesian leader members of his delegation on the visit. President Megawati welcomed the visit by President Luong as an important event, bringing to the Indonesian land and people close friendship and fine sentiment which have bound the two nations with many historical and cultural similarities. The Indonesian leader expressed her pleasure at the achievements the Vietnamese people have made in socio-economic development during the process of renovation, thus helping elevate Vietnam's position and status in the region and the world at large. President Megawati said she was pleased to see the extensive and intensive development of the traditional friendship and multi-faceted co-operation between the two countries in all areas. She also expressed her belief that the visit by President Luong this time would further step up the joint efforts of both countries in the ASEAN community to develop the Indonesian-Vietnamese ties to a new height in the 21st century, thus meeting the two peoples' interest and for peace, co-operation and development in the region and elsewhere in the world. President Tran Duc Luong expressed his joy to visit Indonesia, witnessing the great socio-economic achievements recorded by the Indonesian people over the past more than half a century, particularly the efforts made by the Indonesian government and people in stabilising the political situation, maintaining their territorial integrity and national unity, building a prosperous country and playing an important role in consolidating the solidarity and co-operation among ASEAN countries and in the region and the world. President Luong thanked President Megawati Sukarnoputri and the government and people of Indonesia for their warm welcome and hospitality as well as their fine sentiment toward the delegation, the land and people of Vietnam. He affirmed Vietnam's wish and determination to unceasingly consolidate and strengthen its traditional friendship and multi-faceted co-operation with Indonesia. He expressed his belief that the visit will create a good chance for the two sides to discuss the establishment of a new framework of Vietnam-Indonesia co-operation in the 21st century, meeting the desire of the two peoples for lasting peace and stability in the region for socio-economic development, and contributing to the maintenance of peace, co-operation and prosperity in the region and the world. After the welcoming ceremony, President Tran Duc Luong held talks with Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri. Later, President Luong and President Megawati witnessed the signing of co-operation documents between the two governments, including the minutes of the third session of the Vietnam-Indonesia Joint Commission for Economic, Scientific and Technological Co-operation, and the Protocol to the agreement on economic, scientific and technological co-operation between the Vietnamese and Indonesian governments. Meeting with mass media workers in the afternoon of the same day, President Luong and his Indonesian counterpart spoke of the results of their talks and reiterated the two countries' common determination to continue to further boost their traditional friendship and comprehensive bilateral co-operation as well as co-operation within the ASEAN framework, meeting the aspiration and interests of the two peoples and contributing to peace, stability, co-operation and development in the region and the world. In the evening, President Tran Duc Luong and his delegation were feted by Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri. Later, President Megawati, President Luong and his entourage enjoyed a special art performance given in honour of the distinguished Vietnamese guests. (VNA) **** Vietnam- Indonesia summit talks Vietnam's President Tran Duc Luong and his Indonesian counterpart Megawati Sukarnoputri held talks at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on the afternoon of November 10. President Megawati welcomed President Luong's visit as an event of great significance, marking a new step of development in the Vietnamese- Indonesian traditional friendship and all-round co-operation. President Luong said he believed that the visit would make an important contribution to strengthening and broadening the existing fine relations between the two countries and within the ASEAN framework. The Vietnamese leader affirmed that constantly promoting and developing the friendly and co-operative ties with Indonesia, a big country playing an important role in South East Asia, is Vietnam's consistent and long-term policy in the interests of both peoples and the region at large. The two leaders informed each other of the present situation in their respective countries and dicussed measures to further bolster the friendly and co-operative relations between the two sides. They also exchanged views on a wide range of regional and global issues of mutual concern. President Megawati said he highly valued Vietnam's renovation policy as well as its foreign policy of openness and regional and international integration. She praised Vietnam's great achievements in its renovation process. She said that Indonesia held that these major achievements the Vietnamese people have recorded are of great significance as they help affirm Vietnam's position and status as well as its prospect of development in the next decade. President Tran Duc Luong expressed his joy at the great efforts exerted by Indonesia to overcome many difficulties in maintaining political stability, unity and territorial integrity and restoring the national economy. President Luong said he believed that the Indonesian people with their industrious and creative labour would continue gaining greater achievements in building an increasingly stable and prosperous country. The two sides noted with satisfaction a new development of bilateral relations, especially after the Vietnam visit made by Indonesian President Megawati in August, 2001. They also focused their discussion on measures to continue accelerating the bilateral co-operation, particularly in economics, trade and investment. Exchanging views on regional and international issues, the two leaders shared the view that the close collaboration and co-operation between Vietnam and Indonesia not only serves both countries' interests, but also is of great significance to the ASEAN solidarity and co-operation and raising the association's position. In the rapidly changing and complicated situation in the world and the region at present, this co-operation has become all the more necessary. The two leaders expressed their belief that the fine results of the visit would make an important contribution to bringing the traditional friendship and comprehensive co-operation between the two countries to a new height, thus meeting the two peoples' aspiration and interests and for peace, stability, co-operation and prosperous development in South East Asia and the world. President Tran Duc Luong invited President Megawati Sukarnoputri to pay an official visit to Vietnam. President Megawati accepted the invitation with pleasure. The talks took place in an atmosphere of sincerity and mutual understanding, manifesting the traditional friendship and fine co-operation between Vietnam and Indonesia in all fields. (VNA) **** Vietnam, Indonesia bolster co-operative ties Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri and her Vietnamese counterpart Tran Duc Luong have expressed their resolve to further strengthen the friendly and co-operative ties between the two countries. Speaking at a banquet in honour of the Vietnamese leader in Jakarta on November 10, President Megawati noted that the current visit to Indonesia by President Luong reflected the good neighbourliness and close co-operation between Indonesia and Vietnam. She recalled the fact that right from the outset her country had recognised only one Vietnam - the Democratic Republic of Vietnam - whose independence was declared by President Ho Chi Minh on September 2, 1945, just 15 days after Indonesia proclaimed its own independence. As a loyal friend of Vietnam, Indonesia has tried its best to serve as an intermediary in the past dialogues between the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Vietnam, the Indonesian President said. She highly valued the significant achievements made by Vietnam in a very short period of time. She expressed the hope that the two countries will continue strengthening partnership relations and bilateral co-operation by implementing measures reached at the freshly-ended third session of the Joint Governmental Committee between Vietnam and Indonesia for the interests and prosperity of the two peoples. Regarding the continental shelf issue, Ms Megawati said that though the two sides failed to arrive at an agreement at the recent technical meeting, she believed that the issue will be resolved soon. "We should commit ourselves to address outstanding issues in a friendly and constructive way," the Indonesian leader noted. She pointed to the need to join efforts in controlling and combating transnational crimes and terrorism within the framework of ASEAN. Ms Megawati highly praised the accomplishments made by Vietnam in its capacity as president of the ASEAN Standing Committee over one year ending last July. "ASEAN remains the foundation of Indonesia's foreign policy," the Indonesian President affirmed, adding that the friendship between her country and Vietnam will last forever. In reply, President Tran Duc Luong said the Vietnamese State and people have always highly regarded the time-honoured friendship and multi-faceted co-operation with Indonesia and always given priority to the development of these ties on a bilateral basis, within the framework of ASEAN as well as at regional and global forums. He said the Vietnamese people would never forget the Indonesian people's valuable support and assistance during their war of resistance against foreign aggression, for national independence. He said as a big country in South East Asia, Indonesia recognised Vietnam at an early date and was not involved in the war against Vietnam during the 60s and 70s. He said the Vietnamese people will never forget the great help given by the Indonesian government and people by lending a large quantity of rice to Vietnam at a time when it was in need of food supply. President Luong took this opportunity to thank the Indonesian government and people for their support to Vietnam's current renovation process. He also expressed thanks to the Indonesian president personally for her visit to Vietnam in the early days of her office term, which, he said, has shown her goodwill to further strengthen and develop the two countries' friendly and co-operative ties. He said that will has been strongly reflected in the outcome of the just-concluded talks in Jakarta between the two high-level delegations. "We sincerely share the Indonesian people' joy over their achievements in national construction and development in the recent past. We believe in the national unity and territorial integrity of Indonesia," President Luong stressed. He concluded his speech by wishing for a constant development of the friendly and co-operative ties between the two countries. (VNA) **** Vietnam to promote solidarity with other ASEAN members President Tran Duc Luong on November 11 said that Vietnam would promote co-operation, solidarity and mutual assistance with other ASEAN member countries in order to narrow the development gap between ASEAN old and new members and between ASEAN and other regions in the world as well as accelerate ASEAN competitiveness for sustainable development and bridge the development differences among ASEAN areas. President Luong was speaking to Secretary General Rodolfo Severino of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Jakarta. President Luong expressed his thanks to ASEAN Secretariat headed by Secretary General Severino for their close co-ordination with Vietnam at regional and international forums and organisations, particularly while Vietnam was holding the presidency of the ASEAN Standing Committee, ASEAN regional forum and organising the 34th ASEAN Economic Ministers' Meeting, the eighth ASEAN Regional Forum and Post Ministerial Conference of ASEAN. Secretary General Severino spoke highly of Vietnam's socio-economic achievements in the renovation process and its positive contributions to boosting solidarity and co-operation among ASEAN members while Vietnam was holding the presidency of the ASEAN Standing Committee, ASEAN regional forum and organising ASEAN annual conferences in Hanoi. Secretary General Severino informed President Luong of the co-ordination among ASEAN member countries to reach the goal of a stable and united ASEAN, to increase ASEAN's competitiveness, ensure a sustainable development and avoid another financial crisis. He expressed his hope that Vietnam would continue to gain more achievments and join efforts with other ASEAN member countries for that goal, thus contributing to peace, stability, co-operation and development in the Asia-Pacific region and the world as a whole. (VNA) **** More favourable conditions pledged for investors President Tran Duc Luong has pledged to boost administrative reform to offer more favourable conditions to foreign investors, including those from Indonesia. Speaking to the business circles of Vietnam and Indonesia in Jakarta on November 11, the Vietnamese leader said the reform aimed to attract long-term foreign investment in the country. President Luong said he hoped business people of Vietnam and Indonesia share experiences and support each other during their investment course for mutual benefits and in the interest of the two peoples, thus contributing to the traditional friendship and multi-form co-operation between Vietnam and Indonesia. Mr Luong took this occasion to praise joint efforts by businesses and relevant agencies of the two countries in broadening and deepening bilateral co-operative ties and raising their efficiency in recent years. He affirmed Vietnam's consistent policy to further promote its traditional friendship and co-operation, particularly in economic, trade and investment domains, with Indonesia. President Luong left Indonesia for Brunei, the second leg of his tour to three South East Asian nations on November 12. (VNA) **** President Luong leaves Jakarta for Brunei President Tran Duc Luong and his entourage left Jakarta on November 12 for an official visit to Brunei, successfully concluding his official visit to Indonesia. The visit is made at the invitation of Brunei's Head of State Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah. This is the first visit made by President Tran Duc Luong to Brunei. Earlier, on November 11, President Luong and his delegation paid floral tribute at Indonesia�s Martyrs� Monument and visited some cultural, socio-economic sites in Jakarta: the Indonesia Miniature Park, the Keong Emas Imax Theatre and the Glass Factory. The State president also visited and talked with staff at the Vietnamese Embassy in Indonesia. **** PM congratulates China on joining WTO Prime Minister Phan Van Khai on November 10 sent a message of congratulations to his Chinese counterpart, Zhu Rongji, on China's gaining official membership of the World Trade Organisation (WTO). Foreign Minister Nguyen Dy Nien and Trade Minister Vu Khoan have also congratulated their counterparts Tang Jiaxuan and Shi Guangsheng, respectively, on this occasion. (VNA) **** Vietnam hopes China will help its WTO bid China, as a full member of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) would continue to actively help and support Vietnam in joining this organisation, said the spokeswoman of the Foreign Ministry, Phan Thuy Thanh, on November 11. She extended her congratulations to the government and people of China on gaining a full membership of the global economic organisation, in response to a question by the Xinhua correspondent in Hanoi. Ms Thanh said the event has marked China's victory as well as its full integration into the global economy. It reflected the Chinese people's great achievements in their national construction, and the nation's increasing prestige and position in the international arena. It was also an important event in the WTO's development, Ms Thanh said. She expressed Vietnam's belief that, by officially joining the WTO, China, as a major economy and market in the world, would make an important contribution to promoting prosperity in the region and the world as a whole. "Vietnam highly values China's announcement that it grants the most-favoured-nation status to Vietnam and other ASEAN members which are not yet members of the WTO. We hope that as a full WTO member, China will continue to actively help and support Vietnam in joining this organisation," the spokeswoman stressed in conclusion. (VNA) **** Typhoon Lingling hits central Vietnam Typhoon Lingling moved to the mainland of the central provinces of Binh Dinh and Phu Yen early morning of November 12. The tropical storm centre passed through Phu Yen province. At 8am of November 12, the wind force was measured at nine to ten grade on the Beaufort scale, 75 to 102 kilometres per hour. Later the storm died down. It is predicted that over the next 12 hours, the storm will move in a westerly direction with a speed of 15 kilometres per hour. The storm directly affected provinces from Quang Ngai to Phu Yen and the northern part of the Central Highlands region. Medium to heavy rains poured in the provinces from Quang Tri to Khanh Hoa. This is the eighth storm to hit Vietnam so far this year. Earlier, the storm killed at least 201 people in the Philippines. Provinces concerned have made good preparations to deal with the typhoon. Young volunteers in Da Nang central city have helped move 60 riverside households to safer places. The city authorities have deployed forces and means of transport to be ready for rescue activities. The city has also prepared food, foodstuff and other necessities to provide to the locals in one month. Quang Nam authorities held a meeting on November 11 to carry out measures to control the typhoon. Local people in coastal and riverside areas have been evacuated to safe places. The Steering Committee for Flood and Storm Control of Quang Ngai province has helped 100 ships and boats off sea cruises into safe places. The local armed forces have prepared means of transport, materials and arranged teams to work a round-the-clock to stand ready for the storm. Binh Dinh province worked out measures to minimise consequences caused by the typhoon such as opening a sluice gate for water drainage, evacuating people in flood-prone areas and giving signals to ships and boats, so that they can find a safe place to drop anchor. Preparations have been made to deal with the typhoons by other central provinces of Khanh Hoa, Thua Thien- Hue, Quang Tri and Phu Yen in a bid to minimise the losses caused by Lingling storm. _________________________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. 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