VNA
PM ends Spain visit Prime Minister Phan Van Khai left Madrid on October 9, concluding his official visit to Spain at the invitation of the Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar. The same day, Prime Minister Khai arrived in Berlin, starting a five-day official visit to Germany, the second leg of his European tour. Earlier, while in Spain, Prime Minister Khai visited the world and Europe's biggest environmentally friendly thermal-power plant, an oil refinery of the Tecnicas Reunidas Corp and a coal-mining area about 200 kilometres away from Madrid. **** Spain wants to co-operate on a long-term basis: Spanish PM Vietnam is one of three Asian countries that Spain gives co-operation priority to, said Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar in an interview granted to a Vietnam News Agency correspondent on the occasion of Prime Minister Phan Van Khai's visit to Spain from October 8-9. He said that the signing of a framework agreement on development co-operation which includes regulations on the establishment of a joint committee proved that Spain's desire for co-operation with Vietnam is constant and long term. On the aim of the first official meeting between the two countries' leaders after 24 years of establishing diplomatic relations, the Spanish prime minister said that he was pleased with Prime Minister Khai's visit, which, he hoped, would help consolidate the friendship between the two nations. The Spain-Vietnam relations have been considerably improved in recent years. Spain established a chamber of commerce in Ho chi Minh City in 1997 and opened its embassy in Hanoi later. Assessing the renovation process and open economic policy in Vietnam over the past 15 years, Prime Minister Aznar said Vietnam has proved its determination to open and reform the economy. He expressed his support for Vietnam in establishing a firm marco-economic foundation and integrating into the world economy. The results of Vietnam's open policy and its political stability have been manifested through a fast economic growth in the 1990s, Prime Minister Aznar noted. He added that the achievements have helped Vietnam eradicate hunger and reduce poverty. "I believe that such growth rate will be maintained in the next decade," Prime Minister Aznar said. Vietnam should further its renovation process so that foreign investment will come and bring great benefits to the country, he said. The Spanish prime minister also expressed his support for Vietnam's comprehensive integration into the international economic and financial community, considering it as a decisive factor for Vietnam's prosperity. He reaffirmed his country's policy to give high priority to its relations with Vietnam to tap its great potential. Bilateral trade, though remaining modest with a turnover of US $320 million in 2000, has represented a four-fold increase in Spain's exports to Vietnam over the last five years, and Spain has become an important market for Vietnam as its imports rose to US $270 million last year. Spain is a major financial donor to Vietnam. The country has provided Vietnam with a package aid of US $180 million in two financial programmes. It signed another financial aid programme worth US $135 million last month. Spain has also strongly supported the European Union's move to increase Vietnam's garments and textiles quotas. "The two countries have a great potential to boost economic and commercial co-operation in the future. I believe that an agreement on bilateral investment protection and encouragement as well as another on avoidance of double taxation will be signed soon," he said. The Spanish government leader said his country was ready to co-operate with Vietnam in tourism promotion by offering assistance in expertise and experience. He said it would be fine for the bilateral relations if the number of Spanish tourists to Vietnam will surpass last year's 15,000 record in the years to come. He also mentioned efforts to promote the Spanish language study in Vietnam through broadcasting a programme on television and publishing a Spanish-Vietnamese dictionary as there are more than 2,000 Vietnamese public workers using the Spanish language in their work. "Such efforts are to promote mutual understanding between the two countries," the Spanish leader said. (VNA) **** PM Phan Van Khai begins Germany visit Prime Minister Phan Van Khai was given an official welcome ceremony in Berlin, Germany, on October 10, the first of a five-day official visit to the country as a guest of German Federal Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder. After the welcoming ceremony, Prime Minister Khai and his German counterpart held talks and had a press briefing. The two leaders briefed the press on their talks dealing with bilateral co-operation and agreements. At the briefing, Prime Minister Khai stressed that his visit was of great significance, opening a new stage in the development of bilateral relations in the spirit of mutual understanding and mutual benefits. He said he believed that the Vietnam-Germany relationship would further develop, bringing more prosperity to both countries. Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Khai visited the famous Sanscoussi Palace in Potsdam city where he was greeted by Brandenburg state governor Manfred Stolpe. In the afternoon, the Vietnamese Prime Minister and accompanying Vietnamese business people attended a debate held by Germany's Asia-Pacific Committee. He then joined Germany's Minister of Economics and Technology Werner Mueller in chairing a talk on economics. Participants from German economic associations and firms expressed their belief that the agreements reached by Vietnam and Germany would create more opportunities for the development of economic, commercial, and investment co-operation between the two countries. (VNA) **** Lao PM extends sympathy to flood victims Lao Prime Minister Bounyang Vorachith has sent to Vietnamese Prime Minister Phan Van Khai a message of sympathy over the great losses in life and property caused by the floods that have ravaged the Mekong Delta provinces for the last three months. In the message, the Lao PM expressed his deep sympathy for the flood victims. **** Late PCC advisor's birthday commemorated A meeting was held in Hanoi on October 10 to commemorate the 90th birthday of Mr Le Duc Tho, former advisor to the Party Central Committee (PCC), Politburo member, PCC's secretary and head of the Party's Commission for Organisation. At the ceremony, Politburo member and PCC's secretary Tran Dinh Hoan reviewed the revolutionary life of Mr Tho over the past 60 years. Mr Tho took part in the patriotic movements since he was 15 years old. At 19, he was imprisoned for ten years by the French colonialists. Tortured savagely by the enemy, Mr Tho was staunch and loyal to the Party and people. He was also an excellent diplomat who, together with assistants, fulfilled marvellously their task in a brave and strategic struggle that lasted for four years and nine months, thus forcing the US imperialists to withdraw unconditionally. Politburo member Hoan also emphasised that Mr Le Duc Tho had set a good example on the loyalty and devotion to the country, the Party and the people of Vietnam. Earlier, General Secretary Nong Duc Manh paid a tribute to Mr Tho at his house. **** Funeral service held for Most Venerable Sieu Memorial services for Most Venerable Thich Thien Sieu were held at the Tu Dam Pagoda in Hue city and at the headquarters of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS) in Hanoi's Quan Su Pagoda on October 10. The Most Venerable was deputy to the National Assembly at the eighth, ninth, and tenth legislatures; and was also a member of the Patronage Council, Standing Deputy President of the Executive Council, and head of the Education Board, of the VBS. In addition to this, he served as director of the Vietnam Institute for Buddhism Studies and abbot of the Tu Dam and Thuyen Ton Pagodas in central Thua Thien-Hue province's Hue city. He was presented with the Independence Order, second class, and the Medal for the Cause of Great Unity, by the State. Delegations of government agencies, mass organisations, Buddhist dignitaries and followers as well as authorities from Hanoi, Thua Thien-Hue and Khanh Hoa provinces paid homage to the Most Venerable. During his funeral speech, Most Venerable Thich Thanh Tu, Standing Deputy President of the VBS Executive Council, said that throughout his life Most Venerable Sieu embodied the spirit of reconciliation, solidarity, and unity. He reflected the aspiration for Buddhist unity Buddhists nationwide. "The Most Venerable worked unceasingly to build the house of Vietnamese Buddhists into a stronger and more prosperous entity. He made great ethical contributions to building and developing Vietnamese Buddhism in the spirit of national reconciliation and reunification under the Sangha's guideline of region, nation, and socialism." Most Venerable Thich Thien Sieu was buried at the Bao Thap To Su Lieu Quan, near Thuyen Ton Pagoda in Hue. (VNA) **** Sweden helps Vietnam strengthen legal assistance The Swedish government will help Vietnam strengthen legal assistance in a bid to bring the Vietnamese legal system closer to the people. An agreement on implementing the project was signed in Hanoi on October 10 by Justice Minister Nguyen Dinh Loc and Swedish Ambassador to Vietnam Marie Sjolander. The project aims to help several disadvantaged groups get access to legal assistance, including the poor, priority policy beneficiaries, those in rural, remote and far-flung areas. Under the project, citizens will be given help to implement their rights stipulated by laws by strengthening the capacity of the Justice Ministry's Legal Assistance Department, the Centre for Legal Assistance and the conciliation centres in 15 provinces and cities nationwide. **** Protection of children in Mekong delta called for The Central Steering Committee for Flood and Storm Control asked that efforts be made to ensure safety of children in flood-prone areas in the Mekong Delta at a ceremony to mark the International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction in Hanoi on October 10. Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Huy Ngo, and representatives of the United Nations Development Programme, the International Federation of the Red Cross and Crescent Societies, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of National Defence, and the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Environment, were present at the function. Safety for children is an urgent issue that the Party, the State, and the people of Vietnam have paid special attention to because child deaths have made up a high proportion of the total deaths caused by floods in Mekong delta provinces. According to the committee, since 1996 more than 6,700 people have either died or been reported missing as a result of natural disasters. Total losses in property were estimated at VND 34,000 billion (roughly US $2.5 billion). (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] __________________________________________________
