VNA
NA continues its working session The National Assembly (NA) held a plenum under the chairmanship of vice NA Chairman Mai Thuc Lan on its second working day of the on-going 10th session of the 10th Legislature, November 21. Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Huy Ngo read a report on the overcoming of the aftermath of the floods in the Mekong River delta and the Lingling storm in the centre. The report says that the total losses were estimated at VND 3,100 billion (over US $200 billion). Of the figure, damage caused to Mekong River delta was put at around VND 1,500 billion; the centre and the north each VND 800 billion and the Lingling storm alone caused losses up to VND 500 billion. Flood and storm-hit provinces have received relief aid from the government, individuals, and organisations at home and abroad to overcome the consequences of the natural calamities. Minister Ngo also reported the NA about the plan to control the natural calamities in 2002 and the years to come. The NA deputies heard a report of NA Chairman Nguyen Van An on the amendments of and supplement to some articles of the 1992 Constitution. The NA chairman, also head of the Draft Committee on amending and supplementing of the Constitution, said that the draft amendments and supplements to some articles of the 1992 Constitution contain major and principled changes. According to Mr An's report, the NA will be authorised to pass a vote of confidence on office holders elected and approved by itself. The authority of the NA to allocate State budget is subject to alteration. The authority of the NA Standing Committee to ratify the appointment, relief of responsibility and dismissal from office of deputy prime ministers, ministers and other cabinet members is proposed to be cancelled. The draft committee also recommends cancelling the authority of the heads of government agencies to issue sub-laws. The function of the People's Procuracy is proposed to be adjusted to focus on prosecuting and supervising judicial activities. Those proposed changes will be a necessary constitutional foundation to gradually perfect the organisation of the State apparatus. Also today, the NA heard a report on the State's foreign affairs delivered by Director of the NA's Committee for External Relations, Do Van Tai. Head of the NA's Council for Nationalities Cu Hoa Van read a report on the implementation of a programme on socio-economic development in the communes of special difficulties, mountainous, remote and far-flung commune or called Programme 135. NA also heard a report on the activities of the People's Supreme Court in the fourth quarter of last year and the first nine months of this year delivered by head of the court, Trinh Hong Duong and activities of the People's Supreme Procuracy in 2001 by its head Ha Manh Tri. The management of the local people's courts on organisation and law enforcement work were also presented to the NA by Minister of Justice Nguyen Dinh Loc. Director of the NA's Law Committee Vu Duc Khien read an investigation report on the work of the head of the People's Supreme Procuracy, head of the People's Supreme Court and government's report on the management of the local people's courts on organisation and law enforcement. Today, November 22, NA deputies had group discussions on the implementation of socio-economic tasks and State budget in 2001; orientations, tasks and estimated budget of 2002; balance of payment of budget in 2000 and the five-year socio-economic development plan. **** Belorussian minister's visit will strengthen ties: president The current visit to Vietnam by Belorussian Interior Minister V V Naumov will contribute to expanding friendship and comprehensive co-operation between Vietnam and Belarussia, said President Tran Duc Luong. President Luong welcomed Minister Naumov's working visit to Vietnam on November 21, hoping that it will help boost practical co-operation in fields of mutual concern. He expressed his pleasure at the positive development in relations recently between Vietnam's Ministry of Public Security and Belarussia's Minister of the Interior. The Vietnamese leader took the occasion to ask Minister Naumov to convey best regards to President Alexander Lukashenko. Minister Naumov expressed his wish that the two countries' interior ministries would further co-operate in fighting economic, social, and drug-related crimes. By doing so, both countries may maintain social order and security and contribute to the current fight against international terrorism. He conveyed best regards from President Alexander Lukashenko to President Tran Duc Luong. During his November 20-23 visit, Minister Naumov held talks with his Vietnamese counterpart, Le Minh Huong. The two ministers informed each other of regional and international issues of common concern. They also exchanged national experiences with the fight against crime and discussed serious cases of organised crime and corruption. The two ministers expressed their satisfaction at the implementation of a co-operation agreement signed between the two ministries in 2000. They were unanimous in supporting the expansion of traditional friendship and comprehensive co-operation between the two countries. (VNA) **** Laos extends sympathy to typhoon victims Prime Minister of Laos Boungnang Vorachith, on November 15th, extended his deep sympathy to Vietnam's Prime Minister Phan Van Khai and victims of typhoon Lingling. He expressed his sorrow at the loss of lives and property caused by the storm to Vietnam's central provinces. The storm, which struck Vietnam's central region at midnight of November 11, claimed 23 lives. Total property losses were estimated at VND 200 billion (US $13.3 million). (VNA) **** Hanoi, Havana have co-operation potential Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Nguyen Phu Trong has discussed with Secretary of the Havana Party Committee Esteban Lazo and Havana Mayor Conrado Martinez, areas of potential co-operation between Hanoi and Havana, especially in urban management and planning, economic development, personnel training, tourism, culture and sports. During his 10-day visit to Cuba starting from November 11, Mr Trong and these Cuban officials exchanged experiences on socio-economic development, urban management and the Party building work of the two capital cities. While in Cuba, Mr Trong, who is also a Politburo member of the Communist Party of Vietnam, met with Cuba's National Assembly Chairman and Politburo member of the Communist Party of Cuba Ricardo Alarcon, Politburo member and Vice President of the Cuban Council of State and permanent Secretary of the Cuban Council of Ministers Carlos Lage, Politburo member and Director of the Party's Organisation Committee Machado Ventura, and Politburo member in charge of foreign relations and ideology Jose Ramon Balaguer. At these functions, Mr Trong expressed his sympathy with the Cuban people over their sufferings from the recent disastrous typhoon Michelle. He also expressed his admiration for their hard working and staunch revolutionary spirit that, in his words, has gradually taken their country out of difficulties and brought about economic growth rate. Mr Trong took this occasion to thank the Party, government and people of Cuba for their solidarity with and whole-hearted assistance to Vietnam's national liberation struggle in the past and national construction at present. The Cuban leaders informed the guests of their country's current national building and defence efforts and economic development. They said they highly appreciated the valuable assistance and support given by the Vietnamese Party, government and people to Cuba. During the visit, Mr Trong and his entourage made a tour of the Nino Loper National Politics Institute, the Latin American Medical University, and some tourist and cultural sites in Habana and Matanzas province. (VNA) **** Steel company completed with Chinese assistance The Thai Nguyen Iron and Steel Company will now produce 240,000 tonnes of steel ingots annually following the completion of a Chinese-funded upgrade to the company. Vietnam's Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and Deputy Chairman of China's State Economic and Trade Commission Zhang Zhigang attended a ceremony on November 21, to mark the completion of the project. The project started exactly one year ago and cost US $43.4 million. As much as US $23 million came from the Chinese government's official development assistance and China's Kan Dan Steel Company donated US $2 million worth of equipment. The Thai Nguyen Iron and Steel Company in the northern province of Thai Nguyen plans to produce 220,000 tonnes of rolled steel, 210,000 tonnes of which will be sold this year. The company was built in the 1960s, also with Chinese assistance in the form of equipment and technology. (VNA) **** Vietnam-China economic co-operation commission meets The Vietnam-China Commission for Economic and Commercial Co-operation held their third session in Hanoi from November 19-21. The Chinese delegation was headed by Deputy Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Co-operation, An Min, and the Vietnamese delegation was headed by Deputy Minister of Trade, Mai Van Dau. The two sides agreed to increasing the two countries' trade value to US $5 billion by 2005. The Chinese side made a commitment to grant Most Favoured Nation Status (MFN) to Vietnam in the AFTA framework. Meanwhile Vietnam asked China to assist with five projects, namely the Cao Ngan hydro power project, the Rao Quan irrigation-cum-hydro power project, the Dong Sinh Quyen project, the Dac Nong bauxite project and a pulp and paper project. China pledged a preferential loan of US $40.5 million to the Dong Sinh Quyen project. The two parties also agreed to speed up the revision of the railway agreement and conduct research on upgrading the railway route linking Kunming in China with Lao Cai province and Haiphong city in Vietnam. During their stay in Vietnam from November 19-22, Deputy Minister An Min and his delegation were received by Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Cong Tan in Hanoi on November 21. Deputy Minister An Min told the Deputy PM that Vietnam and China, which are both developing countries in the transition period towards a market-oriented economy, can share experiences and help each other in socio-economic development. Deputy Prime Minister Tan said he highly appreciated Vietnam and China's multifaceted co-operation, stressing China's economy is one of the biggest in the world and it is an important partner and a major customer of Vietnam. He said that both sides should promote economic co-operation between provinces sharing a border; settle outstanding problems relating to infrastructure at border gates so as to facilitate customs clearance, epidemic prevention, and payment; and promote co-operation in fighting smuggling and trade fraud. (VNA) **** Finland supports Vietnam's WTO bid Finland will continue supporting Vietnam in its integration into regional and international economies, particularly its eventual inclusion in the World Trade Organisation (WTO). Finnish Prime Minister Paavo Lipponen made the statement during his meeting with visiting Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister, Nguyen Manh Cam, in Helsinki on November 20. Prime Minister Lipponen added that Finland will continue placing Vietnam on its official development assistance (ODA) priority list. It supports Vietnam's efforts at continuing the renovation process and developing the country. Finland considers Vietnam an important partner and will encourage Finnish businesses to promote co-operation, trade, and tourism development with Vietnam, affirmed the Finnish PM. Deputy PM Cam expressed his thanks to the Finnish government and people for their valuable assistance to Vietnam over the past 30 years. He said that Vietnam has always attached importance to strengthening friendship and multi-faceted co-operation with Finland. The country particularly appreciates Finnish assistance in the paper and pulp industry, forestry, telecommunications, water supply and treatment, and medical equipment supplies. The Vietnamese Deputy PM asked the Finnish government to increase its ODA to Vietnam, support the country's entry into the WTO and its co-operation with the European Union, especially Vietnam's drive to increase export quotas for its textiles and garments in the EU market. (VNA) **** Vietnamese, Lao supreme courts promote co-operation The chief judges of the Vietnamese and Lao People's Supreme Courts have reviewed bilateral co-operation and discussed plans for further co-operation in the future. The Lao People's Supreme Court Chief Judge Khammy Sayyavong, now on a working visit to Vietnam from November 19-27, held talks in Hanoi on November 20 with the Vietnamese Chief Judge Trinh Hong Duong. During their stay in Hanoi, Khammy Sayyavong and his delegation were received by National Assembly Deputy Chairman Nguyen Van Yeu on November 21. Deputy Chairman Yeu explained that he highly valued effective co-operation between the two judicial bodies, which he described as a contribution to friendship, solidarity, and comprehensive co-operation between two Parties, States and people of Vietnam and Laos. He said he hoped that the two judicial bodies would further enhance co-operation and mutual assistance to raise the efficiency of their work. Mr Khammy thanked the Party, National Assembly, and government of Vietnam for their valuable assistance to Laos. Earlier, the Lao delegation held working sessions with the Ministry of Justice, the Supreme People's Procuracy, and the Central Military Court. (VNA) **** Efforts to overcome disasters aftermath The postal services, which suffered great losses in the two typhoon Lingling-stricken provinces of Phu Yen and Binh Dinh, have recovered quickly with their own efforts and the help from neighbouring provinces and the trans-provincial Telecommunications Company. Although the water has not completely receded, local authorities and schools in flooded districts of Kien Luong, Hon Dat and Giong Rieng in southern Kien Giang province have pooled all their efforts to build temporary bridges to encourage pupils back to school. Volunteer young people have also helped parents in taking their children to primary school and bring them back safely. The provincial education and training service has provided support to over 1,000 teachers in difficulties. Kien Giang has also spent VND 1.35 billion from the relief fund to build 150 houses for people in flood-hit areas. Each VND 9-million house is 32 square metres in size. People who get the house will have to pay in installments. Eighty thousand households in southern Dong Thap province have received relief aid worth totalling VND 9.7 billion since the beginning of the flood season this year. Many poor families, due to proper assistance, have stabilised their lives, preparing for the winter-spring crop. The provincial Red Cross Society is to receive VND 484 million donated by international organisations and foreign countries. The sum will be used to buy boats, fishing nets and life jackets for flood-prone areas. Staff of the Vietnam Tourism and Commerce Service each has donated their two days of their salary to help the flood victims. Northern Quang Ninh province has sent VND 300 million to the Vietnam Fatherland Front to help people in the central region overcome the aftermath of typhoon Lingling. _________________________________________________ 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] __________________________________________________
