VNA Spain's King welcomes PM Khai King of Spain Juan Carlos praised achievements of the Vietnamese people in their renovation process and expressed his hope that Vietnam-Spain development co-operation would be carried out in order to gain good results commensurate with the position and potential of each country. The King made the comments while he received Prime Minister Phan Van Khai in Madrid on October 8 during the first Spain visit by Prime Minister Khai of the government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. PM Khai expressed his pleasure at the fine development of the friendship and co-operation between the two countries. He highly valued and thanked the Spanish people for their support and assistance to Vietnam in the renovation process, as Spain had considered Vietnam as a preferential partner of Spain in its development co-operation and assistance policies. Spain has provided Vietnam with valuable aid in the implementation of a number of co-operation projects and programmes through investment and trade, Mr Khai noted. * The same day, Upper House of the Spanish parliament President Esperanza Aguirre, warmly welcomed Mr Khai's visit to the Upper House and presented him with the emblem of Spain's Constitution which had been preserved since Napoleon's invasion of Spain early in the 19th century. President Aguirre highly evaluated the achievements gained by the Vietnamese people in the renovation and the development of co-operation between the two countries, especially the implementation of agreements signed by the two countries. She affirmed that co-operative relations between Spain and Vietnam would develop in accordancewith their economic, investment and trade potential. She was pleased to accept the invitation of Vietnamese National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Van An to visit Vietnam. Mr Khai congratulated the Spanish people on their great achievements in socio-economic development, culture, science and technology and on Spain's important role in Europe and the world. He said he was delighted at the positive development of Vietnam-Spain relationship since the two countries established diplomatic ties in 1977, especially the signing of important and framework ageements between the two countries, which, he said, would be implemented effectively. Prime Minister Khai asserted that Vietnamese people have benefited and are benefiting from Spain's development co-operation projects on healthcare, energy and environmental protection. He reiterated that Vietnam wants, together with Spain, to further boost relations in the framework of multilateral, ASEAN-EU and Asia-Europe (ASEM) co-operation. Vietnam attaches importance to relations with member countries of the European Union, he affirmed. Mr Khai said that Spain in the position of EU President should give more support to Vietnam-EU economic and commercial ties. He also asked Spain to continue to support Vietnam in the process of international economic integration, especially Vietnam's joining the World Trade Organisation. * Later in the day, Mr Khai met with Chairman of the Spanish Congress External Relations Committee Gabrriel Elorriaga. Prime Minister Khai assured Elorriaga of Vietnam's policy to continue carrying out renovation and its strategy of socio-economic development as well as Vietnam's foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralisation and diversification of international relations, and active integration into the world economy. "Vietnam pursues a guideline of being a reliable partner of all countries in the international community," Mr Khai told Elorriaga. The visiting prime minister also made a visit to the Federation of Spanish Entrepreneurs (CEOE) and attended a seminar on Spain-Vietnam business. Taking the floor at the seminar, Mr Khai restated Vietnam's efforts to continue promoting reforms of the banking and financial sector, the tax system, and the State-owned corporate sector. "Vietnam will also help develop the private economic sector, as well as recognise and encourage foreign direct investment (FDI)," Mr Khai told Spanish entrepreneurs. Vietnam would continue finalising its legal system concerning foreign investment in order to make it more attractive, more open, more transparent and stable, Prime Minister Khai said. He further expressed his belief that Vietnam and Spain's economies have great potential to support each other's development through the exchange of trade and investment. (VNA) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Vietnam deeply concerned over the war in Afghanistan: FM spokesperson In answering to questions about Vietnam's reaction to the military strikes launched by the United States and its ally, the Foreign Ministry spokesperson said: "Vietnam strongly condemns any terrorist acts and supports efforts to eliminate terrorism from the life of mankind. Vietnam is of the view that anti-terrorist measures must be taken in conformity with the UN Charter and international laws. Vietnam expresses its deep concern over the war in Afghanistan, which poses serious threats to the lives of innocent civilians. We hope that the parties concerned will exercise maximum restraint, not to let the war spread out and expeditiously find appropriate solutions to early put an end to the war and restore peace." ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Cao Dai delegates visit Hanoi Pham The Duyet, president of the Presidium of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee, received in Hanoi on October 8, two religious delegations from southern Vietnam. They are from the Cao Dai Minh Chan Ly sect in southern Tien Giang province and Cao Dai Cau Kho-Tam Quan sect. Seniors dignitaries from the Cao Dai sects, who are currently visiting the nation's capital, expressed thanks to the Party, the State, and the Fatherland Front for having created favourable conditions for followers to practice religious rites. They also pledged to do their best to help laymen better their lives, for themselves and others. President Pham The Duyet welcomed Cao Dai dignitaries' visit to the Vietnam Fatherland Front and affirmed the Party and State's policy of great unity. He said he hoped that the Cao Dai Minh Chan Ly and Cao Dai Cau Kho-Tam Quan sects would strengthen solidarity and make Caodaist followers wealthy. (VNA) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ UNICEF helps raise awareness on children's rights Tran Thi Thanh Thanh, minister and chairwoman of the National Committee for Child Care and Protection, and Morten Giersing, head representative of Vietnam-based UNICEF, signed a joint project on raising awareness about the rights of children for the 2001-2005 period. Witnessing the signing ceremony in Hanoi on October 8 were representatives of the government Office; the Ministries for Foreign Affairs, Planning and Investment, Finance; the Vietnam Women's Union; and others. The project aims to raise people's knowledge and awareness on women and children, the whole society's viewpoint on children protection and care, encourage the people to help children implement their rights. The US $3,482,000 project is divided into three parts such as raising awareness of issues relating to women and children. It hopes to encourage the country's leaders, and other people who directly affect and the living conditions of children, to do more to help protect the rights of the nation's young people. (VNA) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Flood death toll rises to 222 in Mekong delta The flood death toll in the Mekong delta reached 222 on October 7. This number includes 182 children reported to the Southern Sub-committee for Flood and Storm Control. To date, floods have submerged 253,000 houses, 1,405 schools, 4,440 classrooms, 44 medical stations, and 161 offices. They completely destroyed 4,200 hectares of summer-autumn rice, inundated 18,000 hectares of rice, more than 13,500 hectares of subsidiary food crops and fruit trees, 2,500 hectares of industrial crops, and more than 3,100 hectares of aqua-culture. Total material losses were estimated at VND 680 billion (US $45.5 million). About 24,170 families have been moved to safe places, nearly 43,300 families were supplied with food, 2,264 needy families were provided with boats, and 681 child care centres, set up. (VNA) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Vietnam Studies Centre opened in Thailand A Vietnam Studies Centre has been inaugurated at the Pedagogy College in north-eastern Sakonnakhon province of Thailand. Sakonnakhon provincial authorities, representatives from Vietnam's Consulate General and a number of Vietnamese nationals in Thailand attended the inauguration ceremony. The Pedagogy College Rector said at the ceremony that the establishment of the centre aims to improve Thailand's understanding of and promote its relations with Vietnam and neighbouring countries. (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] __________________________________________________
