VNA
President leaves Phnom Penh for Siem Reap President Tran Duc Luong, left Phnom Penh for Siem Reap province on November 27. He was warmly welcomed by Governor Chap Nhalyvuth and the people of Siem Reap province. The Siem Reap people expressed their admiration for Vietnam's achievements in its historical struggle for national liberation as well as in present national construction. They described it as a great source of encouragement for boosting socio-economic development and building Siem Reap province into the largest centre of tourism in Cambodia. Chap Nhalyvuth briefed President Luong about the co-operative ties between Siem Reap province and Vietnam's localities. He said he hoped that, after President Luong's Cambodian visit, the friendship and co-operation between the neighbouring countries and between Siem Reap province and Vietnamese provinces would be expanded and consolidated. President Luong expressed his pleasure at visiting the ancient city of Cambodia, home to a famous temple complex. He was also impressed by the socio-economic achievements recorded by the people of Siem Reap. He said he believed that with such great potential, Siem Reap province would make more contributions to developing multi-form co-operation between the two countries, particularly in commerce and tourism. While in Siem Reap, President Luong and his entourage called at a number of Cambodia's well-known historical sites, including the Angkor Wat, Banteay Srei and Boyon temples. (VNA) **** Cambodia proud of being friend with Vietnam: King Sihanouk King Norodom Sihanouk of Cambodia has praised the Cambodia-Vietnam relations as fraternal and neighbourly, and said "The Cambodian people are proud of being a friend of heroic Vietnamese people, who altogether fought colonialism and imperialism." Speaking at a state banquet in honour of visiting Vietnamese President Tran Duc Luong, Norodom Sihanouk recalled his visit to Vietnam in 1995 as well as the Cambodia visits by Vietnam's then President Le Duc Anh in 1995 and former Party General Secretary Le Kha Phieu in 1999. "The current visit by President Tran Duc Luong as well as the exchange of official visits by top leaders of Cambodia and Vietnam have brought about good results, thus further strengthening the friendship and solidarity between the two countries," King Sihanouk stressed. "These have also consolidated and developed our comprehensive co-operation and created our unified stance in international forums as well as preserved our noble ideals and interests through peaceful means," he added. King Sihanouk said "The Cambodian people are deeply moved at the good deeds of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and its people and leaders by providing the Cambodian people with great help in overcoming natural disaster consequences." He also expressed the Cambodian people's profound gratitude towards Vietnam for its strong and effective support in helping Cambodia become a full member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). In reply, President Luong praised the close co-operation and mutual help between the two countries in their past struggle for national independence and in their present national construction. He said "These profound sympathy and mutual help were tested with the blood of many Vietnamese and Cambodian generations and have become a bright symbol of the Vietnam-Cambodia friendship." "This is an invaluable asset not only for the present generation but also for all generations in the future," the Vietnamese president stressed. He noted "The Vietnamese leaders and people respect the King of Cambodia as a great faithful friend and place high value on his tireless efforts to cultivate the traditional friendship and all-round co-operation between the two nations." "As a close neighbour, Vietnam always gives high priority to reinforcing and strengthening its ties of close co-operation, good neighbourliness, traditional friendship and durable stability with Cambodia," the Vietnamese President Luong added. (VNA) **** Vietnam, Cambodia pledge to solve border issues Vietnam and Cambodia have pledged to soon solve outstanding border issues prior to reaching a border agreement. The commitment was made during a meeting in Phnom Penh on November 26 between President Tran Duc Luong of Vietnam and King Norodom Sihanouk of Cambodia. The two leaders also expressed their determination to build a common border of peace, friendship, co-operation and durable stability between Vietnam and Cambodia. The host and the guest shared mutual understanding on a number of international issues of common concern. President Tran Duc Luong, who began a three-day official visit to Cambodia from November 26, gave the Cambodian King a token of Vietnam's gifts, including 2,000 tonnes of rice and 2,000 metres of cloth, for the Cambodian people. The Vietnamese leader invited King Norodom Sihanouk and his wife to pay an official visit to Vietnam. The Cambodian King thanked President Luong for his invitation. An agreement between the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation; an Agreement on Investment Encouragement and Protection; and an Agreement on Goods Exchange and Trade Services along the Vietnam-Cambodia Borderline were signed during President Luong's visit. King Norodom Sihanouk held a banquet in honour of President Tran Duc Luong and his entourage later that day at the Royal Palace. (VNA) **** Vietnamese and Cambodian foreign ministers exchange views The Vietnamese and Cambodian Foreign Ministers have affirmed that President Tran Duc Luong's current official visit to Cambodia will facilitate the promotion and development of ties between the two countries in the interests of the two peoples. In turn, this will bolster peace and stability in the region and the world. Vietnam's Foreign Minister, Nguyen Dy Nien, who accompanies President Luong on the official visit to Cambodia from November 26-28, exchanged views with his Cambodian counterpart, Hor Nam Hong, on issues of mutual concern. Foreign Minister Nien agreed with Foreign Minister Hong's proposed measures to enhance co-operation between the two countries and foreign ministries, including collaboration on the protection of water resources in the lower basin of the Mekong river. He also said he hoped that Cambodia would ratify the agreement on maritime transport co-operation as soon as possible. (VNA) **** Vietnam, Denmark sign co-operation agreements Three agreements on development co-operation worth DKK 78.3 million (US $10 million) between Vietnam and Denmark were signed in Denmark on November 26. A DKK 18.5 million agreement on industrial and urban area development in Viet Tri city in Vietnam's northern Phu Tho province was signed by Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment, Vu Huy Hoang, and Danish Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, A Petersen. The two other agreements include a DKK 13.8 million project on co-operation between Can Tho University and Aarhus University, a DKK 12.5 million project on biodiversity in the northern Truong Son range, and a DKK 17.5 million project on forest protection and management in central Nghe An province. Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Manh Cam, who was on a visit to Denmark, witnessed the signing ceremony. (VNA) **** Indonesian leaders extend sympathy to typhoon victims Indonesia's President Megawati Sukarnoputri on November 22 sent a message of sympathy to President Tran Duc Luong over the great loss in lives and property caused by typhoon Lingling in Vietnam's central provinces. Indonesian Foreign Minister Hasan Wirayuda extended his sympathies to his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Dy Nien on the same day. Typhoon Lingling, which hit Vietnam at midnight on November 11, killed 23 people and total losses were estimated at VND 200 billion (US $13.3 million). (VNA) **** Netherlands helps develop community-based high schools The Dutch government will provide Vietnam with US $3.2 million to carry out a project on developing community-based high schools in the 2001-2005 period. A memorandum of understanding was signed in Hanoi on November 27, by Vietnam's Education and Training Ministry and the Netherlands' Co-operation and Development Ministry. Beneficiaries of the project are six community-based high schools in northern Ha Tay province, northern Haiphong city, central Quang Ngai province, and southern Tien Giang, Ba Ria-Vung Tau and Dong Thap provinces. (VNA) _________________________________________________ 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] __________________________________________________
