VNA Party leader meets Zimbabwe's president Both Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh and his guest, President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, during their meeting in Hanoi on September 28, expressed their belief in the further development of friendship and co-operation between the two countries. President Mugabe praised the victories gained by the Vietnamese people in their past struggle for national liberation and re-unification as well as their achievements in the present national construction and renovation. He praised Vietnam's contributions to the movement for national liberation and non-alignment movement. He also praised the Communist Party of Vietnam for the success of its ninth congress and congratulated Mr Manh for being elected Party leader. General Secretary Manh welcomed the visit by President Mugabe and his entourage, who, he said, brought fine sentiments of solidarity and friendship to the Vietnamese people. He praised the all-round achievements Zimbabwe has gained in recent years and its role in Africa and in the non-aligned movement. President Mugabe is on an official visit to Vietnam from September 28-October 1. (VNA) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Vietnamese, Zimbabwean presidents hold talks Vietnamese President Tran Duc Luong and his Zimbabwean counterpart Robert Mugabe have discussed ways to boost co-operative ties between the two countries. President Mugabe arrived in Hanoi on the afternoon of September 28, for a four-day official visit to Vietnam. Presidents Luong and Mugabe expressed their satisfaction at the fine development of the traditionalfriendship and co-operation between Vietnam and Zimbabwe. They exchanged views on ways to strengthen the relations between their countries, thus meeting the desire of the two peoples. They also compared notes on regional and international issues of mutual concern, and agreed to enhance co-ordination between the two nations at international forums. President Luong welcomed President Mugabe's visit as a vivid manifestation of and a new, important landmark in traditional Vietnam- Zimbabwe relations. He assured President Mugabe of Vietnam's foreign policy of diversification and multilateralisation of international relations. He said that Vietnam has always attached importance to consolidating and developing relations with traditionally friendly countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. He stressed that the Vietnam-Zimbabwe relationship held an important position in Vietnam's foreign policy. President Luong expressed his high appreciation for President Mugabe and the Zimbabwean people's fine sentiments toward the Vietnamese people in their past struggle for national independence and present national construction and development. He emphasised that both developing nations shared many similarities so that they could support and co-operate with each other in developing their respective countries. President Mugabe welcomed the success of the ninth congress of the Vietnam Communist Party. He expressed his admiration for the Vietnamese people's heroic struggle for national independence and freedom. The Zimbabwean president spoke highly of Vietnam's achievements in its renovation process and national development, considering these achievements to be a source of inspiration for other developing countries, particularly those in Africa. He said he highly valued Vietnam's role in South East Asia, the non-aligned movement, and in the world. He expressed his wish to strengthen the traditional friendship and multi-faceted co-operation with Vietnam, especially in investment and trade. The talks took place in an atmosphere of friendship, and mutual understanding. After the talks, the two presidents witnessed the signing of one agreement on economic, cultural, scientific, technological, and commercial co-operation and another on trade between Vietnam and Zimbabwe. Later in the evening, President Luong hosted a banquet in honour of President Mugabe and other distinguished Zimbabwean guests. (VNA) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Zimbabwean president wants to learn from Vietnam's experiences President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe expressed his desire to learn from Vietnam's experiences in agricultural development, reform, and national industrialisation and modernisation during his visit to the country. He spoke of his purpose while meeting with Prime Minister Phan Van Khai in Hanoi on September 28. President Mugabe thanked Vietnam for supporting Zimbabwe's struggle for national independence and construction. He said he hoped the two nations would continue to help each other, especially in commercial, scientific, and educational development. Prime Minister Khai affirmed the fine relationship between the two countries. He said he believed that both Vietnam and Zimbabwe would boost their co-operative ties on the basis of framework agreements signed between the two countries. " Vietnam and Zimbabwe should increase the exchange of visits at ministerial and sectorial levels, and raise two-way trade value in the interest of the two peoples," Mr Khai added. (VNA) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Sympathy to victims of explosion in France President Tran Duc Luong has sent a message of sympathy to French counterpart Jacques Chirac over a recent explosion at a chemical plant in Toulouse. The explosion, which occurred on September 21, caused losses in lives and property to the local people. The same day, Prime Minister Phan Van Khai also expressed condolences to his counterpart Lionel Jospin. (VNA) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Mid-Autumn festival held for disabled children Children selecting mid-Autumn festival toys. Seven hundred disabled children from 32 disabled children's centres in Ho Chi Minh City joined a mid-Autumn festival held on September 28 night at the Reunification Hall by the Fund for Protection of Vietnamese Children, the Disabled People's Association of the city and the For the Children newspaper. Vice President Nguyen Thi Binh who is also head of the Sponsoring Council of the Vietnam Children's Fund, attended the festival. During the festival, the disabled children enjoyed art performances by those from Children Cultural House and artists in the city. Also on the occasion, the Command of Military Zone 7 presented gifts to disabled children. The Elidas P/S Company, the sponsor, also gave 700 packages of gifts worth VND 60 million in total to the children. The Bien Hoa Sugar and Confectionary Company presented 700 pieces of moon-cake, worth VND 40 million, to them. * The Mekong river delta provinces are making efforts to help children in flooded areas enjoy the upcoming mid-Autumn festival which falls on the fifteenth day of lunar August (Monday October 1). Dong Thap province has decided to spend VND 25 million from the Children�s Support Fund to organise the mid-Autumn festival for poor children, especially for those in seriously flood-hit areas. Every commune is assisted with VND 300,000 to organise the festival. Besides, the Youth Union, women�s union and the committee for child protection and care of the province will visit and present gifts to children in flooded areas on September 30 and October 1. Long An province has bought 1,240 gifts worth nearly VND 10 million for disadvantaged children and those in heavily flooded areas. Can Tho province will organise the mid-Autumn festival in Thanh An commune, Thot Not district and present 400 gifts, worth VND 20,000 each, to children. Besides, the children in safe places have made lanterns for their friends in flooded areas. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ China's national day marked Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam Qi Jianguo held a banquet in Hanoi on September 28, to mark the 52nd National Day of the People's Republic of China (October 1). Prominent among his guests were Vietnam's Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Manh Cam and Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and Trade Minister Vu Khoan. Ambassador Qi highlighted the time-honoured relationship between the two neighbouring countries, which has continued to develop in recent years following the slogan "friendly neighbourliness, comprehensive co-operation, long-term stability, and looking toward the future." "The signing of the land border treaty in 1999, the pact on the demarcation of the Tonkin gulf, and the agreement on fisheries co-operation in late 2000, have helped to lay the groundwork for the development of peaceful, friendly, and stable border relations between the two nations, thus contributing to increasing mutual trust between the two peoples," he emphasised. "The fine results of the recent Vietnam visit by Chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress Li Peng marked a new step in the development between the two Parties and States. The bilateral co-operation in economy and trade has grown remarkably, raising the two-way trade turnover in the first six months by 55% year-on-year, which is expected to reach US $3 billion by the year's end," Mr Qi noted. Both Qi and Cam expressed their belief that the neighbouring relations and comprehensive co-operation between the two countries would further develop for the benefit of the two peoples and for peace, stability and development in the region and the world. The Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations and the Vietnam-China Friendship Associations in Ho Chi Minh City and southern Can Tho province have also held get-togethers to mark China's National Day. (VNA) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Nicaragua's Sandinista delegation visits A delegation of the Nicaraguan Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN), led by its Deputy General Secretary Tomas Borge, arrived in Hanoi on September 27, commencing an official visit to Vietnam as guests of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee (CPVCC). Mr Borge held talks with Politburo member and CPVCC Secretary Phan Dien in Hanoi on September 28. Mr Borge conveyed the best regards from FSLN General Secretary Daniel Ortega to Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh and other Party and State leaders of Vietnam. He expressed his fine sentiment towards the late President Ho Chi Minh and praised Vietnam's victories in its past struggle for national independence and freedom as well as its achievements in national construction at present. He also expressed his wish for further strengthening of the traditional solidarity and friendship between the two Parties and the two peoples. Phan Dien, for his part, lauded the achievements recorded by the FSLN in its struggle for national independence, democracy, and social progress. He expressed his thanks to the FSLN and the Nicaraguan people for their warm support for Vietnam's struggle for national liberation in the past and its national construction and defence at present. He wished the FSLN more achievements in its glorious cause. The Vietnamese Party official asked the FSLN Deputy General Secretary to convey Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh's best regards to FSLN General Secretary Daniel Ortega and other FSLN leaders. While in Vietnam, the FSLN delegation will have a working session with the CPVCC's External Relations Commission and visit a number of localities. (VNA) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Organisations protest Human Rights Act More organisations have protested against the so-called �Vietnam Human Rights Act� passed by the US House of Representatives on September 6. * More than 300 war veterans representing 13,000 members of the war veterans association in Thua Thien-Hue province on September 26 held a meeting to condemn and demand the abrogation of the so-called �Vietnam Human Rights Act.� They called upon American war veterans to protest against the act, and expressed their determination to uphold revolutionary vigilance and foil all hostile forces' schemes, and defend national independence. * Earlier on September 26, more than 400 representatives of the armed forces in An Giang province held a meeting to speak out against the �Vietnam Human Rights Act.� They said that the US, which violated human rights and conducted an aggressive war in Vietnam, is in no position to speak about democracy and human rights in a sovereign country such as Vietnam. The armed forces strongly condemned and asked for the abrogation of the act. * The Labour Federation in Quang Ninh province has also rejected the act. The organisation said that living in a locality which suffered many sacrifices and losses caused by the US war in Vietnam, the Quang Ninh people understand the value of independence and freedom better than anyone. For this reason, the local people and trade unions at all levels in Quang Ninh province are discontented with the wrongful act and ask the US Senate to turn it down. * Youngsters of Nam Dinh issued a statement on September 28, strongly rejecting the act. * War veterans in Ha Nam province have protested against the act. * The Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) chapters in Nghe An and Ninh Thuan expressed their discontent with the US House of Representatives' passing the Vietnam Human Rights Act on September 28. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ UK military officers visit A delegation of 13 military officers and government officials currently attending a year-long course at the United Kingdom's Royal College of Defence Studies visited Vietnam from September 20-28. The visit, part of a month-long East Asian study tour of the Republic of Korea, Vietnam, Singapore and Japan, aimed to boost mutual understanding and bilateral co-operation in economic, cultural, defence and security between the countries. In Hanoi, the delegation, led by Rear Admiral Peter Dunt, paid a floral tribute to President Ho Chi Minh at his Mausoleum. They visited the National Defence Academy, the Institute for International Relations, and several relevant agencies. The delegation moved on to Ho Chi Minh City on September 26 to meet with the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the British business community in the city. They visited several industrial establishments. The delegation was the second from the Royal College of Defence Studies to visit Vietnam after the first in 1999. (VNA) _________________________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. 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