VNA
President pledges support for disabled people State President Tran Duc Luong has affirmed Vietnam's commitment to fully and equally take part in a movement for disabled people in the Asia-Pacific region and elsewhere in the world. President Luong made the statement at a ceremony held in Hanoi on the morning of December 11, to launch a 'Campaign in Response to a Decade for the Disabled in Asia-Pacific Region.' The campaign, the ninth of its kind ever held in the region and the first in Vietnam, is entitled 'Helping the Disabled to Integrate Themselves into the Community.' Addressing the ceremony, President Luong welcomed the campaign and said "Prompted by their traditional humanitarian policy, the Vietnamese government and people have always reserved warm sentiments and support for disabled people." The president said he believed that programmes on international support and co-operation, particularly those from regional countries, will be expanded, thus promoting the campaign in Vietnam in the next decade. During the campaign, due to last until December 15, 2001, 11 seminars, four fact-finding tours and a wide range of sport, art and cultural activities will be arranged for disabled people. According to Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs Minister Nguyen Thi Hang, Vietnam now has almost five million disabled people including more than three million war invalids. "More than 38% of them have been given regular allowances," she said, adding "about 200 social welfare funds have been set up, over 6,000 disabled children have studied at 70 special schools and more than 400 production and business establishments have been set up for disabled people, employing about 14,500 disabled workers," Ms Hang said. On this occasion, more than 1,700 disabled children from Phu Yen, Dong Nai and Binh Duong provinces as well as Ho Chi Minh City on Monday attended an exchange programme entitled 'For integration of handicapped children,' sponsored by Huynh Huong company. The company has over the past ten years, provided social relief to thousands of disabled children and orphans in 61 provinces and cities across the country. It has also presented 60 houses to those who have rendered meritorious services to the nation and 200 wheelchairs to handicapped people. The company has decided to establish a 'Que Huong' (Hometown) centre in Di An district town of Binh Duong province to accommodate 100 disabled children up to 16 years old at a cost of VND 2.5 billion. (VNA) **** National interest must be put at the forefront: president State President Tran Duc Luong on Tuesday asked Vietnamese diplomats to put the national interest at the forefront of all external activities considering it the most important principle of Vietnam's diplomacy. "In order to ensure the national interest, it is essential for Vietnamese diplomats to make a profound and precise analysis of the relations and interests of every partner, country and region relating to Vietnam," the President told the diplomats who gathered for the foreign ministry's 23rd annual meeting which opened in Hanoi on December 10. Mr Luong also urged the diplomats to pay more attention to the overseas Vietnamese community, increase international unity and co-operation, combine national strengths with opportunities afforded by current global trends; maximise external sources and advantages for national development and raise Vietnam's status and prestige in the world. Addressing the meeting, President Luong spoke highly of the endeavours and contributions Vietnamese diplomats have made in national development and Vietnam's process of regional and international integration. He said "The new situation requires Vietnamese diplomats to enhance the revolutionary tradition of their predecessors and creatively apply the Party and State's foreign policy of independence, self-reliance and openness, as defined in the resolution of the Ninth National Party congress." The President also analysed the world situation and Vietnam's status and role in the international arena, looking at the close links between foreign affairs, national defence, and security tasks against the backdrop of current world events. Mr Luong stressed "Vietnamese diplomats must help the Party and government firmly grasp and keep pace with new developments and trends in the regional and global situation as well as provide them with accurate information and analysis of international and regional relations." Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Manh Cam also addressed the meeting. He encouraged the participants to contribute to the development of a knowledge-based economy, which he said is a new point in the resolution of the Ninth Party congress. Deputy Prime Minister Cam asked the diplomats to help entice more foreign investment capital into Vietnam, facilitate business operations, investment and trade promotion, and technology transfer especially information technology, and also mobilise human resources in the overseas Vietnamese community for national construction. (VNA) **** Protestant community should be active in renovation: chairman An National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Van An has asked the Protestant community in the Central Highlands region to take an active part in the on-going national renovation process. Chairman An was speaking to dignitaries of Protestant churches in the Central Highlands provinces at his reception in Hanoi on December 11. He also called on the Protestant community to strictly follow Party and State policies as well as fulfil their citizenship for the development and prosperity of the nation. After affirming the consistent religious policy of the Party and the State, the Chairman spoke highly of the progressive line of operations by the Vietnam Protestant Church of living the Gospel to serve their religion, the nation and the people. He hoped that the Protestant community in the Central Highlands would follow the line, stay vigilant and fight bad elements who abuse religion to undermine national unity. As Christmas approaches, Chairman An asked the dignitaries to convey his Merry Christmas wishes to the Protestant community in Central Highlands. Earlier, the delegation was received by Mr Pham The Duyet, president of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Presidium, and Mr Truong Quang Duoc, Politburo member of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee (CPV CC) and director of the CPV CC Board for Mass Mobilisation. (VNA) **** UNDP representative honoured Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Manh Cam has expressed thanks to Edouard A Wattez, UNDP resident representative and UN resident coordinator, for his effective assistance to Vietnam's finance, technology, training, and macro-economic policy. Deputy Prime Minister Cam made his statement in Hanoi on December 11 while receiving E A Wattez, who paid him a farewell visit before ending his term of office in Vietnam. Mr Cam said he believed in the development of co-operative ties between Vietnam, the UNDP, and other UN agencies. He also expressed his hope that Mr Wattez would provide, in his new capacity, continued valuable assistance to and fine sentiments towards Vietnam. Mr Wattez congratulated the Vietnamese people for their successes in the renovation process. He spoke highly of the Vietnamese government's exemplary co-operation with the UNDP and other UN agencies. The UNDP has sponsored four aid programmes worth about US $300 million to Vietnam since 1977. It has pledged US $68.5 million to Vietnam under a co-operation framework for the 2001-2005 period. Also on this occasion, Deputy Prime Minister Cam presented the Vietnamese State's Friendship Medal to Mr Edouard A Wattez. (VNA) **** Deputy PM speaks at US university Vietnam's Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung on Tuesday called at John Hopkins University in Washington. The deputy PM is on a working visit to the US. Addressing the university's professors and students, Mr Dung said: "For quite a long time in the United States, Vietnam was merely associated with a war that should not have happened at all; a war with painful memories. Today, Vietnam is no longer thought of and talked about just as memories of a war, but as a country, a people and a culture. "This is a positive change in the mindset of the American people. On that basis, I hope that you, as young people, will look at Vietnam with a broader, more in-depth and farther-sighted vision..." "Vietnam launched the doi moi renovation process in the mid-80s, when the old economic mechanism became obsolete and constituted an obstacle to development, with a view to maximising every resource, both internal and external. At the same time, we realise that development requires an environment of peace, stability and international co-operation. As such, Vietnam perseveres in the consistent pursuit of the foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification and multilateralisation of external ties and active regional and international economic integration. Vietnam is willing to be a friend and reliable partner of all countries in the international community, striving for peace, independence and development. "Vietnam's policy is also to actively join efforts in addressing global issues, to support and work together with world people in the struggle for peace and against wars and arms race, and for a democratic and just international political and economic order. "On this occasion, on behalf of the government and people of Vietnam, I share with and express my deepest sympathy over the sufferings and losses incurred by the American people as a consequence of the September 11th terrorist attacks. We condemn and oppose these brutal and inhumane acts. Vietnam is willing to co-operate with the United States and the international community on the basis of international laws and the UN Charter to fight for the deterrence and elimination of terrorism from human life. Vietnam affirms that she has never haboured nor tolerated terrorists acting against other countries and will never do so. In the meantime, we demand that other countries not habour nor tolerate terrorists acting against Vietnam. "As part of the big picture of her external relations, Vietnam places great premium upon its ties with the United States. The fact is that for a long time, the Vietnamese people and various leaders have time and again expressed the wish to build friendly and co-operative relations with the United States. As it was recorded in history, prior to the August Revolution in 1945 and in the following years, as the president of the new State of Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh, on many occasions, sent letters to the two consecutive American Presidents to express Vietnam's desire to establish relations with the United States on the basis of equality and mutual respect. "Regrettably, these opportunities were missed. Instead, the US authorities waged a war with heavy consequences inflicted on both peoples and countries. For Vietnam, the consequences are much heavier and linger on much longer. Over three million Vietnamese were killed in this bloody war. More than 300,000 Vietnamese are still missing. It is very unlikely that their remains can all be located and reunited with their families and home villages, although they fell down in their beloved birthplace of Vietnam. Millions of people were rendered handicapped and are still suffering from their old wounds or dying in a prolonged manner due to Agent Orange sprayed in Vietnam, although the war ended more than a quarter of century ago. That is not to mention the severe damage the war caused to the Vietnamese economy. The war drove Vietnam's development back decades as compared with neighbouring countries. "Lessons from the past are unambiguous. We believe that the American leaders will make appropriate and judicious decisions to join efforts with Vietnam in forging a friendly and long-lasting bilateral relationship. "On her part, as a country and a people, Vietnam is not entitled to forget the past. However, with the tradition of reconciliation of the Vietnamese people, we always look forward to the future. We wish to build a good and lasting friendship and co-operation with the United States on the basis of the fundamental principles of respect for national independence and sovereignty, non-interference, equality and mutual benefit. Such a relationship will certainly meet the legitimate interest of both Vietnamese and American people as well as that of peace, stability, and development co-operation in the region and the world. "To date, it can be said that we have travelled a fairly long way, leaving behind us many twists and turns on the path from the past of war to the establishment of friendship and co-operation. "The coming into effect of the Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) marks the full normalisation of our bilateral relations and opens up new prospects for the expansion of the relations of trade-economics, culture, science and technology, education and training. It also helps strengthen the bilateral political and diplomatic relations and is instrumental to both sides' efforts in actively addressing humanitarian issues left behind by the past. Of course, things will not always move forward smoothly. Nonetheless, with the goodwill from both sides, I believe that the friendship and co-operation between the two countries will be increasingly strengthened in the interest of the two nations, peace, stability in the region and the world. Any attempt and act that run counter to this trend is out of date and will certainly end in failure. We are of the view that the best and most effective way to strengthen the bilateral relations is to work on areas of agreement and enhance co-operation while minimising differences existing in the two countries' relations. I am totally in agreement with what President George W Bush said at the ceremony of presenting letter of credence of our Ambassador Nguyen Tam Chien: "All differences between our two countries should be solved through dialogue and enhanced mutual understanding." In that spirit, I believe that the Vietnam-US relations will continue to see new steps forward in the future. "It is unfortunate that time is limited while we have wide range of issues to share with each other at this impressive meeting. Given the new relationship between Vietnam and the United States, I believe that more opportunities will be available for other Vietnamese high-ranking leaders and me to visit and exchange views with you, professors and students of the renowned University of John Hopkins. "You will also have more chances to know more about the country and people of Vietnam through various means and ways, including the Vietnamese students who are your schoolmates at this University. What I want to emphasise here is that Vietnam has changed considerably, especially since our country carried out the comprehensive renovation process. A vivid manifestation is that the Vietnamese economy has been able to sustain a high growth rate for a long period, helping improve substantially the people's life, especially the poor. Social and political stability has been firmly maintained. Even when many countries in the region experience economic slowdown, our GDP still grow at 7% per year, export is up by 7% and foreign investment is also on the rise. In addition, Vietnam is seen by foreign investors as one of the safest venues for business and investment. "With that, in this 21st century the Vietnamese people are endeavouring to overcome all difficulties and obstacles to firmly advance forward along the path of industrialisation and modernisation to realise the goals of 'wealthy people, strong country, just, democratic and advanced society.' As the future owners of the country, the Vietnamese younger generation always assumes the decisive role in this historic journey. "As a Vietnamese proverb says literally: 'A hundred times hearing is not worth one time seeing' or in your language 'seeing is believing.' You are welcomed to Vietnam to gain first-hand experience about the changes taking place in our country and particularly to bring your friendship to our people, thus contributing to the development and consolidation of the good and long-lasting friendship and co-operation between Vietnam and the United States. "Being in the United States, I am reminded of the words of John Smith in 1607 about this beautiful land: "Heaven and earth never agreed better to frame a place for man's habitation." It is in this very beautiful land, as expounded in the immortal Declaration of Independence in 1776 that "All men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness," the people of the United States have developed their country into one with the world's most advanced economy, science and technology and is now taking the lead in forming the knowledge economy in the 21st century. It is my sincere wish that the United States will score ever greater achievements and develop fine relations with all nations in the world. "Once again, I would like to thank you for making this impressive and cordial meeting possible. I would also like to thank the John Hopkins University for having trained highly qualified professionals for Vietnam, of whom some have become our senior diplomats and ambassadors abroad. I do hope that the John Hopkins University will admit more and more Vietnamese students and provide them with favourable conditions to study and do research." (VNA) **** Vietnam-US trade pact takes effect Vietnam's Minister of Trade Vu Khoan and the US Trade Representative Robert Zoellick exchanged letters on the ratification of the Vietnam-US Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) at 3pm. Washington time on December 10 (3am Hanoi time on December 11), giving the BTA immediate and unconditional effect under Article 8, Chapter 7 of the BTA, according to a communique issued by the Trade Ministry. Earlier, the BTA was passed by the US House of Representatives and Senate and the Vietnam National Assembly and ratified by the US and Vietnam presidents. The agreement, once taking effect, will contribute to bolstering economic and commercial ties between Vietnam and the US Under the agreement, Vietnamese-made goods including textile and garment products, footwear, wooden furniture, home electric appliances, electronics, and handicraft items, that will be shipped to the US, will enjoy Normal Trade Relations (NTR) tariff rate as from December 10. The average rate is only 3% compared with 40% imposed previously. (VNA) **** "Fuller official ties" with US welcomed A Foreign Ministry spokesperson on December 11 welcomed the coming into effect of the Vietnam-US Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA), considering it a fuller normalisation of the two countries' official relations. The spokesperson, Ms Phan Thuy Thanh, was responding to a German news agency (DPA) correspondent who asked whether Vietnam-US relations would really become normal with the BTA coming into force on December 10. Ms Thanh said the document was signed after a prolonged negotiation process in which both sides had made great efforts. She noted all legal procedures for the pact had been fulfilled with its recent ratification by both countries. A ceremony was held in Washington on December 10 for the two countries' representatives to exchange notes on completion of the procedures, meaning that the BTA has officially come into effect and will now be implemented. "The event has shown that the normalisation of Vietnam-US official relations has been implemented on a fuller scale," Ms Thanh said. She added "Implementation of the BTA will usher in broader co-operative ties in commerce, investment and economy." This is in the interests of the two peoples and for the sake of regional and global peace, stability, and development, the Foreign Ministry spokeswoman concluded. (VNA) **** NA's committee protests against US act The External Relations Committee of Vietnam's National Assembly has expressed discontent with the US HR 2330 Act which includes a clause obstructing other countries, including Vietnam, from exporting catfish to the US. In a statement issued in Hanoi on December 11, the committee also demanded that the United States respect the Vietnam-US trade agreement, abolish the clause, and abide by practices on international trade co-operation. The HR 2330 Act on agricultural expenditure in 2002 was signed by the US President on November 29, 2001, only a day after Vietnam's National Assembly passed the Vietnam-US trade pact. The statement said: "Obviously, this move aims to create a trade barrier that goes against the spirit of the trade agreement, and negatively impacts the development of bilateral ties and normal production and life for tens of thousands of farmers, households in Vietnam's Mekong Delta." "Vietnam-US relations can only be developed on the basis of respect for national independence and sovereignty, non-intervention into each other's internal affairs, and equal and mutually-beneficial economic co-operation, thus meeting the two people's aspiration and interests," the statement stressed. (VNA) **** Storm No 9 hits Quang Ngai Two people died when a whirlwind blew away the roofs of nine houses in Nghia Dung commune, Tu Nghia district, the central coastal province of Quang Ngai. They were Mr Bui Van Tam, aged 23 and a child also named Bui Van Tam in Binh Son district. The province was badly affected by storm No 9 that brought along the floods and heavy, unabated rain lasting from December 8 to 10. Many roads are underwater, causing prolonged traffic jams. The Phuong Hoang reservoir in Binh Son district was damaged, collapsing eight houses and inundating 198 others. Twelve fishing boats carrying 151 crewmen have been missing for the past two weeks. Quang Ngai province gave relief to the victims in the submerged areas on the evening of December 10 and armed forces and young people have arrived in flooded areas to help local people. _________________________________________________ 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] __________________________________________________
