VNA Deputy PM meets Russian officials, businessmen Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Manh Cam received in Hanoi on October 5, a Russian delegation of local officials and businessmen. The Deputy PM welcomed the working mechanism of the Sub-committee for Localities under the Vietnam-Russia Inter-governmental Co-operation Commission, as discussed by the visiting Russian delegation and a Vietnamese delegation. He expressed his wish that, following the visit, many localities in the two countries would take advantage of the potential benefits to be gained from expanding co-operative relations in economics, commerce, culture, education, and tourism. First Deputy Minister Kirpich Nhicov of the Ministry of Federal Affairs, National Policies and Immigration, noted that the visit aimed to reach an agreement regarding co-operative contracts on bartered goods, labour exports, and culture. He said he hoped that with mutual support, the co-operative ties among localities and businesses of the two countries would be developed dynamically and multilaterally, thus benefiting both sides. (VNA) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Vietnam pledges to join worldwide anti-terrorism work Vietnam is willing to fulfil its obligations in conformity with national and international law in a worldwide endeavour to counter terrorism. The statement was made on October 4 by Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the United Nations Ambassador Nguyen Thanh Chau at a UN discussion on measures to eliminate international terrorism in New York. Ambassador Chau stressed the need to bring the planners, organisers and perpetrators of senseless acts of terrorism to justice in such a way that would not turn into acts of vengeance which can easily endanger other innocent people. He noted that terrorism is going global, therefore, counter-terrorism should go global as well. The solidarity and unity among people around the world and their participation in a common endeavour is badly needed in the goal of rooting out terrorists from daily life. The Vietnamese ambassador pointed out: "To this end, a comprehensive strategy should be worked out to deal with the political, diplomatic and development issues of genuine concern. And the UN, as a universal organisation where every nation, big or small, acts on an equal footing should play a key role in the process through discharging the functions entrusted to it in the UN Charter, in accordance with international laws and other relevant international conventions." After strongly condemning the terrorist attacks in New York on September 11, Ambassador Chau pointed out that having been victims of such acts of terrorism, such as the hijacking of an airliner in 1978, the attacks and bombings on its diplomatic representation offices in a number of foreign capitals in Europe and Asia in 1999, the violation of its airspace by a criminal pilot in 2000, Vietnam is fully aware that it is important to have international co-operation in the prevention of terrorism and in the punishment of the culprits. He went on to say it is the responsibility of each nation not to provide shelter to and/or support, in whatever form, the terrorists before, during and after such acts of barbarism. The Vietnamese representative noted that right after the September 11 tragedies, President Tran Duc Luong and Foreign Minister Nguyen Dy Nien of Vietnam, in their condolence messages addressed to President George Bush and State Secretary Collin Powell, had extended the sympathy and condolences of the Vietnamese people and government to the US government and people. They voiced their indignation and strong condemnation of the barbarous acts that involved a heavy loss of innocent lives. (VNA) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Russian trade union delegation visits The trade unions of the Vietnamese Electricity and Russian Industry and Nuclear Power sectors have exchanged experiences in labour safety and social insurance, education and training of trade unionists in the market economy. Both sides also discussed a co-operation programme on the training of trade unionists in the power sector of both countries. The exchange of experience was conducted on October 3 in Hanoi as part of an 11-day working visit to Vietnam by a nine-member delegation of the Russian Industry and Nuclear Power sector trade unions, which began on October 1. The visit is the first since the two trade unions signed a co-operation programme in October, 2000. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Primary health care activities reviewed Vietnam has developed the best primary health care infrastructure in South East Asia by establishing a network of medical stations covering all communes across the country. This was reported at a workshop in Hanoi on October 5 to review primary health care activities in Vietnam from 1978-2000. The workshop was organised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Health Ministry. It was attended by Deputy Health Minister Professor Dr Pham Manh Hung; WHO Resident Representative in Vietnam Dr P Pascale Brudon; and representatives of the Swedish and Australian embassies, the UN Children's Fund, and the US Save the Children Fund. The report, prepared by WHO on the primary health care situation in Vietnam since 1978, affirmed that Vietnam was one of the pioneer countries in practising primary health care. Vietnam now has 90% of its population living within 5 kilometres of a medical station. Programmes on expanded immunisation, malaria control, and anti-tuberculosis have been effectively implemented in Vietnam, thus contributing to remarkably reducing the number of patients and fatalities caused by contagious and infectious diseases. The mortality rate of contagious diseases decreased from 50% in 1976 to 27% in 1997. The mortality rate of new-borns and children under five also decreased remarkably. The participants in the workshop also pointed to major challenges in primary health care for Vietnam in the next 15 years, including a high increase in the number of people suffering from non-infectious diseases such as chronic malnutrition, anaemia and food poisoning. (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] __________________________________________________
