VNA
NA hears government's reports on first day National Assembly (NA) heard reports of senior officials of the government at the opening day of the 10th National Assembly's 10th session on November 20. After hearing the opening speech delivered by NA Chairman Nguyen Van An, NA heard a report of Prime Minister Phan Van Khai on boosting economic growth rate and increasing development quality, creating new socio-economic movement in the first five years of the new century. Director of NA's Committee for Economy and Budget Ly Tai Luan read an investigation report on evaluation of the implementation of the socio-economic tasks of this year, orientations and task of next year and the five year socio-economic plan (2001-2005). NA deputies also heard a report delivered by Minister of Finance Nguyen Sinh Hung on the budget revenue and expenditure of 2001, 2002's estimated budget and the balance of payment of State budget in 2000. Also in the opening day of the session, deputy director of the NA's Committee for Economy and Budget read an investigation report on the implementation of the State budget of this year, estimated budget for next year and balance of payment of budget last year. Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Dy Nien delivered a report on the foreign affairs of 2001. In the afternoon of the same day, NA deputies had group discussions. **** PM calls for further economic ties with China Prime Minister Phan Van Khai has called for further economic co-operation with China, especially in sharing its experiences in preparing for World Trade Organisation (WTO) membership. The government leader made the statement during his reception in Hanoi on November 20, of Zhang Zhigang, deputy chairman of the Economic and Trade Commission and head of a visiting government delegation, from China. Prime Minister Khai said the two countries have made satisfactory progress in economic co-operation in recent years with two-way trade turnover up to an estimated US $3 billion this year from US $2.3 billion last year. He also said the upcoming visit to China by General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nong Duc Manh would strengthen ties between the two countries. He expects there will be more China-funded industrial projects, some even larger than the Thai Nguyen Steel Complex in the northern province of the same name. The plant will inaugurate a production chain of steel ingots with an annual capacity of 250,000 tonnes on November 21. Mr Khai stressed that China's success in renovation and global integration, reflected in its high economic growth rate and recent admission to the WTO, were valuable experiences for Vietnam to emulate. Vietnam has sent a number of delegations to learn about China's experience and they have enjoyed valuable assistance. Vietnam would like to receive more assistance and experience from China on its global integration and national development," said the prime minister. In turn, Zhang assured his host of the high quality of the upgraded Thai Nguyen Steel Complex which, he said, would certainly enable the complex to improve product quality as well as raise production output. He shared Khai's view that the upcoming visit to China by Vietnamese Party leader Nong Duc Manh would deepen the relationship between the two countries, an objective of their commitment to "Friendly neighbourliness, comprehensive co-operation, long-term stability, and looking towards the future." (VNA) **** Deputy PM interested in China's banking experiences Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung on November 20 told a Chinese People's Bank Deputy Governor that the two countries' banking systems should share experiences in financial-monetary mechanism restructuring. Mr Dung was receiving in Hanoi Mr Shi Jiliang who is on a working visit to Vietnam from November 19-22. The second top government leader added that concrete measures for further co-operation between the two countries' banks are necessary. He praised the two countries' co-operation which, he hoped, would help Vietnam's banking system cope with the challenges which have emerged during the transition from a centrally-planned to a market economy as well as from the globalisation process. He hoped that such co-operation would help their countries to catch up with developed economies. In turn, Mr Shi expressed thanks to Vietnamese authorities for creating favourable conditions for making his working visit successful. (VNA) **** Activities mark Teachers' Day Various activities were held nationwide to mark Vietnamese Teachers' Day (November 20). The Ministry of Defence has held a meeting with People's Teachers and Teachers of Merit serving in the army. Speaking at the event, Defence Minister Senior Lieutenant General Pham Van Tra praised teachers who have devoted talent and energy to turn out contingents of politically and professionally qualified officers and technicians who have made worthy contributions to different revolutionary stages of the country. The minister asked the army education system, ranging from pre-school to post-graduate education to affirm its role in the national education system and to win prestige among foreign friends. Examination and Examination Festive Days are being organised by the British Council in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City on November 20 and 21 to mark the day. Teachers and professors of English in the two cities are invited to the event, which is part of the 'Education Culture UK' month in November. On this occasion, an Association of British-trained Students in Vietnam made its debut in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Any students who have attended training courses lasting for at least three months in Britain are offered membership to the Association. (VNA) **** Assistance given to flood victims The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has worked out a plan to distribute VND 500 billion for six flood-hit provinces in Mekong river delta to build urgently anti-flood residential areas in 2002. To date, Phu Yen storm-hit province has received VND 1.2 billion and 2,000 relief packages. Each package includes rice, instant noodle and other necessities, helping the locals stabilise their lives. Four hundred more soldiers of Military Zone 5 have been sent to Song Cau and Tuy An districts of Phu Yen province to help the inhabitants overcome the aftermath of the Lingling typhoon. To date, more than 11,000 soldiers of the military took part in the relief activities. They have repaired 4,900 houses, 461 kilometres of communications roads and picked up 332 ships and boats and provided free medical check ups and medicine for the locals. The administration of Thang Binh district, Quang Nam province has provide VND 1.5 million to households which have just evacuated to new resettlement areas from land-eroded areas. Dong Thap and Tien Giang have asked the government to support VND 2.2 billion to restore agricultural production while Can Tho province has proposed the government give VND 119.8 billion to overcome the flood consequences. An Giang province plans to invest about VND 241 billion to build new residential areas for households in flood-prone region. The provincial administration will also provide loans worth VND 485 billion to the locals to heighten their houses' floor against the flood. The Vietnam Red Cross has received VND 75 million as relief aid from Ericsson company for flood victims in Mekong river delta. The company has asked the society to buy 30 sets of boat and fishing net to help poor households restore to normal life. **** Tidal waves inundate HCM City Tidal waves broke part of the dykes in Thach Loc ward, district 12, Ho Chi Minh City, inundating five hectares of land and damaging many fishing ponds and orchards of the local. The tidal waves also broke part of the dykes in Hiep Chanh Binh ward, Thu Duc district, flooding 10 hectares of land and affecting 200 households. The total losses were put at around VND 1.8 billion. High tides also inundated the whole area of Thach Xuan ward, district 12 from 14 to 20 November. **** 12 sentenced for fraud, bribe taking Twelve people accused of fraud and bribe taking in the Muong Te district�s socio-economic development project have received from three-year suspended sentence to life imprisonment. Tran Hung Son, director of the mountainous areas and ethnic minorities development construction company and Nguyen Van Minh, the company�s deputy director and their likes set up false files from 1997 to 1999 to draw over VND 8.805 billion and shared the money between them. After seven days of trial, on November 20, the jury of Lai Chau provincial People�s Court declared that Tran Hung Son would receive life imprisonment; Nguyen Van Minh, 20 years imprisonment; Nguyen Manh Cuong, 18 years; Tran Trinh Hoan, 15 years; Nguyen Tuan Dat, 14 years and Tran Van Thong, 11 years. Among the accused Le Minh Thiet was sentenced to 11 years imprisonment; Nguyen Thanh Binh, five years; Nguyen Van Hoan, six years; Truong Tien Manh, three years and Vu Quang Long, four years. Ly Van Phong, former deputy chairman of Muong Te district People�s Committee got a three-year suspended sentence and 42 more months under probation. The defendants also have to repay to the State VND 8.805 billion and pay fines totalling VND 871 million. _________________________________________________ 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] __________________________________________________
