VNA NA deputies debate socio-economic tasks
National Assembly deputies discussed the implementation of socio-economic tasks and the State budget in 2001, the orientation and estimates for the State budget in 2002, and a socio-economic development plan for the 2001-2005 period on November 24. The deputies focused on assessing the implementation of socio-economic tasks and the State budget for this year at Ba Dinh Conference Hall in Hanoi. They pointed out what has yet to be completed, advantages and disadvantages, and current results in order to work out future measures. They also concentrated on economic restructuring, particularly in agriculture, operation of new co-operatives, and restructure of State-owned enterprises. Developing tourism potential and increasing investment in education, health care, science and technology were also discussed at the plenum. The deputies gave suggestions and solutions to fight floods and storms in the Mekong Delta and the central region. They also dealt with administrative reform, corruption and wasteful spending, job creation, poverty, the reduction of social problems, and settlement of citizens' claims and petitions. The deputies continued their discussions on November 26. (VNA) **** President leaves for Cambodia visit President Tran Duc Luong left Hanoi today, November 26 for a four-day official friendship visit to Cambodia at the invitation of King Norodom Sihanouk. This is the first visit to Cambodia by Mr Luong as president of Vietnam. The visit aims to expand and consolidate Vietnam and Cambodia's traditional friendship and co-operation on the principles of good neighbourliness, traditional solidarity and friendship, and long-lasting stability in the 21st century. President Luong is accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Cong Tan, Foreign Minister Nguyen Dy Nien, Director of the President Office Nguyen Canh Dinh, Director of the National Centre for Social Science and Humanities Nguyen Duy Quy, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Huy Ngo and Minister of Public Health Do Nguyen Phuong. The delegation also includes Assistant to the State president Pham Quoc Anh, Deputy Defence Minister Nguyen Huy Hieu, Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Lai Quang Thuc, Deputy Minister of Public Security Hoang Ngoc Nhat, Deputy Trade Minister Mai Van Dau, Deputy Minister of Education and Training Dang Huynh Mai, Deputy Finance Minister Vu Van Ninh and Deputy Minister of Culture and Information Phan Khac Hai. Others officials joining the delegations are Head of the Vietnam Civil Aviation Department Nguyen Tien Sam, Head of the General Department of Hydro-Meteorology, Deputy Head of the National Administration of Tourism Nguyen Phu Duc and Vietnamese ambassador to Cambodia Nguyen Duy Hung. **** Norway pledges development assistance to Vietnam Norwegian leaders have pledged to continue giving priority in development assistance to Vietnam and help it in negotiating for an admission to the World Trade Organisation (WTO). The commitment came during meetings between Vietnam's Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Manh Cam and Norwegian Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik and Legislature President Joergen Kosmo in Oslo on November 22. The Norwegian leaders spoke highly of Vietnam's role in southeast Asia and the world as well. They said they would encourage and create every favourable condition for Norwegian business people to promote co-operation with Vietnamese partners in areas where the two countries are strong and full of potential. The Norwegian leaders also placed high value on Vietnam's political and social stability as well as its increasingly favourable investment and trade environment. They lauded Vietnam's efforts in national construction and economic development, particularly in poverty reduction, in order to constantly improve people's material and spiritual life. Nguyen Manh Cam led a Vietnamese government delegation on a visit to Norway from November 22-24. He assured Norwegian leaders of the high efficiency and practical effectiveness of all programmes and projects of co-operation between Vietnam and Norway in fisheries, oil and gas, administrative reform, primary education and functional rehabilitation for disabled people. (VNA) **** Vietnam-Hungary co-operation promoted Two documents on co-operation between Vietnam and Hungary in the areas of culture and livestock breeding for the next five years have been signed. The signing took place at the end of the 20th session of the Vietnam-Hungary Committee for Economic, Commercial, Scientific, and Technical Co-operation held in Budapest from November 13-21. The plan for cultural co-operation in the 2001-2004 period was signed by Vietnam's Ministry of Culture and Information and Hungary's Ministry for National Culture Heritages; and the co-operation agreement on livestock breeding by the two Ministries of Agriculture and Rural Development. The Vietnamese delegation to the session was led by Deputy Minister of Industry Bui Xuan Khu. The two sides reviewed economic, commercial, and technical co-operation over the past two years and agreed on an orientation for further co-operation to the end of 2003. (VNA) **** Vietnam, Japan discuss WTO admission negotiations Vietnamese and Japanese trade officials gathered in Hanoi on November 23 for a forum on trade in services and negotiations on admission to the World Trade Organisation (WTO). They exchanged experiences and discussed issues relating to competitive policies, the use of the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status, and statistics methods, in service commerce. Regarding Vietnam's process of joining the WTO, experts said that Vietnam has completed its clear transparency of policies and begun negotiations at bilateral level. The Vietnam-US Bilateral Trade Agreement, which includes commitments on service commerce, will provide Vietnam with a favourable basis for negotiating admissions to the WTO, the experts noted. The forum was held by Vietnam's Trade Ministry and the Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA). (VNA) **** HCM City to build Hung Kings memorial area Ho Chi Minh City has decided to invest VND 108 billion to build a Hung Kings memorial place on an area of 59,000 square metres in Long Binh, District 9 of the city and Di An district of Binh Duong province. This is part of a project to build a historical and national culture park. The site is planned to begin in March next year and able to serve from 200,000 to 300,000 visitors a year after completion. The area was designed by architect Nguyen Truong Luu and selected in a design competition. **** Donations sent to flood and storm victims Local administrations, sectors and provinces nationwide are continuing to make their efforts to help people in flood and storm-hit areas stabilise their lives. The Health Department of Phu Yen province has asked the Ministry of Health to support VND 500 million and medicine to repair infrastructure, clean up the environment and control epidemics after the Lingling storm. The administration of heavily storm- hit Song Cau district in Phu Yen province has helped rebuild 300 out of over 1,000 houses pulled down during the typhoon. The provincial authorities will continue to give assistance to the victims to repair their damaged houses. Quy Nhon city in Binh Dinh province has donated VND 35 million and medicine to families in Nhon Ly peninsula commune to overcome the aftermath of the Lingling storm. About 32,000 households in Dong Thap Muoi (Plain of Reeds) are in great need of relief aid after the floods. To date, the local administrations have disbursed VND 7 billion as donations from people nationwide to three flood-hit districts of Cai Be, Cai Lay and Tan Phuoc. Ben Tre province has asked the government to grant VND 10 billion to overcome the flood consequences. Of this figure, VND 6.4 billion will be used to restore the damaged dyke and dam system and VND 3.6 billion will be spent for repairing and upgrading damaged roads. The Ministry of Defence has donated VND 400 million to storm-hit provinces of Phu Yen, Binh Dinh, Quang Ngai and Thua Thien - Hue. The ministry has also sent 70 soldiers to Song Cau district of Phu Yen to help the locals repair houses and schools damaged during the storm. According to the Ministry of Health, VND 23.3 billion is needed to repair the infrastructure and upgrade the medical equipment in Mekong river delta provinces. Of this, as much as VND 15 billion will be spent for repair health stations in Can Tho province. Another sum of VND 3.6 billion is also needed to give medical treatment for cattle after the floods. People in Gia Lai Central Highlands province have collected VND 800 million for people in flood and storm-hit areas. **** Ca Mau presents Independence Order to revolutionary veterans Ca Mau provincial Party committee held a ceremony to present 30 Independence Orders, second and third class, to revolutionary veterans. Twenty six of them received the order posthumously. All veterans were former cadres working at district level. Mr Bui Cong Buu, deputy secretary of the provincial Party committee made a speech during the ceremony to reaffirm the contributions of the revolutionary veterans in the fight for national liberation and independence. _________________________________________________ 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] __________________________________________________
