VNA
Belorussian minister's visit boosts bilateral relations: President Luong President Tran Duc Luong welcomed the current visit by Belorussian Defence Minister Senior Lieutenant General Maltesev L S, describing it as a practical contribution to further strengthening the traditional friendship and comprehensive co-operation between the two nations. President Luong was speaking while receiving Belorussian Defence Minister Maltesev L S on December 13. President Luong expressed thanks to the Belorussian Minister for his warm sentiments towards the Vietnamese people. He noted with satisfaction the positive results of talks between the two defence ministers as well as the co-operation between the two ministries over the past period. He said he believed that the visit would actively contribute to fostering friendship and co-operation in many fields in the interests of both countries, and for peace, stability and co-operation in each region and the world. On this occasion, President Tran Duc Luong asked Minister Maltesev L S to convey his best regards to Belorussian President Alexander Lukashenko and wished the Belorussian people prosperity and happiness. Belorussian Defence Minister Maltesev L S expressed his pleasure at visiting Vietnam and his admiration for the victory of the Vietnamese people's struggle for national liberation in the past as well as their socio-economic achievements in national construction and defence at present. (VNA) **** Trade Agreement with US to form centrepiece of relations: deputy PM Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung on Wednesday said the Vietnamese government considers full realisation of the bilateral trade agreement (BTA), which has just been put into force, the centrepiece of Vietnam-US relations in the near future. "This will help give economic and commercial co-operation between the two countries a new dimension," said Nguyen Tan Dung, who is currently on a five-day visit to the United States from December 9. Mr Dung affirmed Vietnam's commitment to do all it can to enhance potential and advantages and to continue reforming mechanisms, policies, and administrative procedures. "This is part of Vietnam's efforts to raise its managerial capability and create a more favourable and attractive business and investment environment in Vietnam," the deputy prime minister told a Vietnam-US Trade and Investment Forum held in New York on December 12. The forum, jointly sponsored by the American International Group, Inc, the Asia Society, and Credit Suisse-First Boston (CSFB), was attended by about 300 American financiers, traders and entrepreneurs as well as business managers of more than 50 Vietnamese companies and corporations. Deputy Prime Minister Dung told the participants that the BTA, which took effect on December 10 following the exchange of letters of approval between the two sides, will open up new prospects for building and developing long-term and friendly ties between Vietnam and the United States. American investors, traders and entrepreneurs welcomed the recent exchange of letters implementing the BTA between the two countries, as it will facilitate business and investment operations of American companies in Vietnam. They also expressed their belief that Vietnam's government and business partners will help them while operating in Vietnam. Deputy Prime Minister Dung also attended the ceremony to inaugurate the representative office of the Vietnam Textile and Garment Corporation (Vinatex) in New York, and met with the president of Citigroup's Executive Council, the President of the Asia Society, the deputy president of the AIG group and the vice-president of International Business Machines (IBM). He also visited the New York Stock Exchange and the ruins of the twin-tower World Trade Centre to express sympathy with the American people over their losses in the September 11 terror attacks. (VNA) **** Party official lauds Chinese community Nguyen Minh Triet, Politburo member of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and secretary of Ho Chi Minh City's Party Committee, has affirmed the position and role of the ethnic Chinese community in Ho Chi Minh City and the whole country. The Party official also lauded traditional unity and mutual help among the ethnic Chinese community in the city. He praised the ethnic Chinese people's work ethic and their observance of Vietnam's laws in past years. Addressing a conference held in Ho Chi Minh City on December 13 reviewing the implementation of the Party's instructions relating to the ethnic Chinese community in the country, Mr Triet urged the City's Party Committees, People's Committees and Fatherland Fronts to encourage the Chinese community to enhance their tradition of unity with each other and with the Vietnamese in the city. The ethnic Chinese were also encouraged to contribute to Vietnam's economic development and the improvement of local people's living conditions and also fulfil their citizens' rights and obligations, becoming actively involved in social activities. About half a million ethnic Chinese live in Ho Chi Minh City, representing half of all Chinese people in the country, according to a local report. The report said about 1,400 businesses have been established by ethnic Chinese in the city, accounting for 20% of local private businesses. Most Chinese people live in the city's inner districts, making up 65% of the people in District 5, 44.5% in District 6, and 70% in District 11, the report said, adding 12,513 ethnic Chinese pupils study at 23 Chinese-language primary and secondary general schools in the city. (VNA) **** Hanoi Joint Statement aims to integrate disabled into community CAMPAIGN 2001 on Thursday ended in Hanoi with the Hanoi Declaration which asks for favourable conditions for the disabled to integrate into the community. The closing ceremony of the campaign, which was held in response to �Asia-Pacific Decade for Disabled People (1993-2002)� was attended by Minister of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs Nguyen Thi Hang, representatives from UN-ESCAP, international disabled people�s organisations, Vietnamese delegates and representatives of the disabled from 37 countries and territories in the region. Yutake Takamine, UN-ESCAP project expert and representative of International Disabled People thanked the government and people of Vietnam for their warm sentiments and most favourable conditions to the disabled people in the Asia-Pacific region to meet and exchanged opinions and experiences so that disabled people can fully and equally integrate into the community. John Lancaster, director of the Office of Disability Technical Assistance of the United States, presented the Joint Statement of CAMPAIGN 2001, calling on Asian-Pacific nations to give better care to disabled people in the social and economic arenas, thus helping them to better integrate into their communities. Addressing the ceremony, Minister Hang thanked UN-ESCAP, governments of regional countries and international organisations for their care and assistance to help the disabled in general and those in Vietnam in particular. The issues exchanged and discussed at CAMPAIGN 2001 will help countries to have proper and more effective policies to help the disabled. Vietnam pledged to do its utmost to create the most favourable conditions for people with disabilities to fully participate in the community activities. The deputy minister of labour, war invalids and social affairs, Dam Huu Dac presented the CAMPAIGN flag to Mr Komada, representative from Japan, the host country of the CAMPAIGN 2002, due to take place in Osaka in October. On this occasion, America's Transit Sales International (TSI) Company, has donated bust of a disabled passenger to the Ministry of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs. **** Efforts made to ease flood impact The government of Vietnam will provide VND 500 billion (US $33.3 million) to Mekong River delta provinces to build residential areas for local people in flooded areas so that they can live normally in the flood season. These areas, upon completion, will accommodate as many as 30,000 households. Of the sum, An Giang province will receive the most with VND 190 billion; followed by Dong Thap, VND 145 billion and Long An, VND 85 billion. Kien Giang and Can Tho, each receive VND 25 billion while Vinh Long and Tieng Giang get VND 15 billion each. An Giang is also the province that receives the Australian government�s funding for a flood control project at the Bac Vam Nao island. The funding, which is estimated at AUD 13 million, will be disbursed over four years. _________________________________________________ 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] __________________________________________________
