VNA
55th anniversary of National Resistance War marked Various activities have been held in these days to celebrate the 55th anniversary of the National Resistance War (December 19). A meeting was held in Ho Chi Minh City on December 19 to mark the event. Addressing the meeting, president of the city's Fatherland Front Central Committee pointed out that the day of December 19, 1946 turned the heroic and glorious historical pages of the Vietnamese people in the fight against the French colonialists and the US imperialists. On the occasion, he said, Ho Chi Minh City would strive to build a city deserving the role of a key economic region of the south. An exchange with journalists of the wartime was held last night, December 19 at the Hanoi Opera House. Minister of Culture and Information Pham Quang Nghi, Assistant to the General Secretary Ho Tien Nghi, deputy head of the Party's Commission for Ideology and Culture Hong Vinh and many veteran journalists attended the exchange. Journalist Tran Mai Hanh who is member of the Party Central Committee and secretary general of the Vietnam Journalists' Association delivered a speech, pointing out that since a winter night in 1946, following President Ho Chi Minh's appeal saying that "We would rather sacrifice all than lose the country and live in slavery", the whole nation stood up to fight against the French colonialists for nine years and US imperialists during 20 years for national independence. About 400 journalists sacrificed their lives on the battle fields during these years. In the same afternoon, Party Central Committee member and chairman of Hanoi People's Committee attended a ceremony to start the restoration of a memorial in honour of people who died in the bombing raids and during the historic famine in 1945, in Vinh Tuy precinct, Hanoi. Hanoi Library and Central Military Library co-organised a book and newspaper exhibition entitled �Vietnamese Nation�s anti-French Sacred and Great War of Resistance.� Many get-togethers for veteran revolutionaries and journalists during the wartime were also held in localities nationwide on the event. **** 10th Legislature tenure asked to be shortened National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Van An, on behalf of the NA Standing Committee, on December 19 presented a proposal to the National Assembly to shorten the 10th Legislature tenure by three months so that elections of the 11th Legislature can be conducted in early summer next year. The proposal was made to create more favourable conditions for voters to go to the polls. According to the Constitution, the 10th Legislature will end its five-year tenure on September 20, 2002 and the elections of the 11th Legislature must be completed on July 20, 2002 at the latest. If the elections are held in Autumn or at the end of the year, there will be difficulties caused by rains, storms and floods that often occur during this time of the year, particularly in northern mountainous, central, central highlands, and Mekong Delta provinces, the proposal explains. After reviewing the elections of the 10th NA deputies and the People's Councils at all levels, the Fatherland Front Central Committees at all levels and voting organisers all held that conducting elections of NA deputies in early Summer is the most convenient for all localities nationwide. NA will have more discussions before making any decision on the issue in the next plenary meetings. **** Vietnamese, RoK defence ministers hold talks National Defence Minister Senior Lieutenant General Pham Van Tra held talks in Hanoi on December 19, with his Republic of Korea (RoK) counterpart, Kim Dong Shin, on issues of mutual concern. Defence Minister Kim Dong Shin, at the head of a high-level military delegation of the RoK arrived in Hanoi earlier in the day for an official friendship visit to Vietnam as the guest of Defence Minister Pham Van Tra. Defence Minister Tra warmly welcomed Minister Kim visit which, he believed, would contribute to strengthening mnutual understanding and developing friendship between the two peoples. Minister Kim expressed his wish that the visit's positive results would boost the friendly and co-operative relations between Vietnam and the RoK. Defence Minister Kim and his entourage were feted by Defence Minister Tra this evening. (VNA) **** Vietnam, China resolved to maintain peace in East Sea Vietnam and China are resolved to maintain peace and stability in the East Sea. At the sixth round of negotiations of the experts group on Vietnam-China sea issues, held in Beijing on December 17 and 18, the two sides also exchanged views on sea issues, increasing mutual understanding of each other's viewpoints in order to seek a long-lasting, fundamental solution acceptable to both sides. At the friendly and frank meeting, the two sides agreed to convene the seventh round in Vietnam in 2002. The time and place will be agreed upon through diplomatic channels. On December 18, Wang Yi, Chinese deputy foreign minister and Head of the Chinese government delegation on China-Vietnam border and territory issues, received members of the experts group to the sixth round of talks. He also attended the ceremony to sign the minutes of the meeting. Vietnamese Charge d'Affaires in China Pham Van Chut was present at the reception. (VNA) **** Vietnam, India co-chair ARF meeting Vietnam and India are co-chairing the first inter-group conference of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF). The conference, opened in New Delhi on December 19, was attended by all 23 ARF members: Australia, Brunei, Cambodia, Canada, China, the European Union, India, Indonesia, Japan, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the Republic of Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Mongolia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Thailand, the United States, and Vietnam. During the three days of meetings, the participants are focusing discussions on measures to build confidence and the fight against international terrorism. Also placed high on the agenda of the meetings are issues relating to the political situation in the region and the world and other issues of mutual concern, including trans-national crime. (VNA) **** Get-together celebrates Christmas in southern province Catholic dignitaries in southern Ba Ria-Vung Tau province, about 100 kilometres from Ho Chi Minh City, gathered on December 19, to celebrate Christmas Day. The celebration, held by the provincial Fatherland Front Committee, was also attended by representatives from the local Party and People's Committees. Ba Ria-Vung Tau has four parishes, Vung Tau, Phuoc Le, Long Huong, and Binh Gia, all of which belong to Xuan Loc diocese, and which represent more than 200,000 Catholics, about 25% of the provincial population. At the get-together, local leaders praised contributions made by the Catholics to local socio-economic development through their active participation in various emulation movements in the community. Over the past ten years, local Catholics have followed Party and government policies and have strongly responded to movements launched by the local administration, such as the 'Entire People Unity for Building a New Lifestyle in Their Community' and 'Leading Good Secular and Religious Lives,' said a representative from the local Fatherland Front Committee. "Catholics have helped build about 1,000 houses as gifts for those who have rendered significant services to the nation, and for orphans and disabled people. They have also donated more than VND 30 billion (roughly US $2 million) for flood and storm victims and in support of the Cuban people, the participants were told. (VNA) **** Denmark supports rural development in central provinces The Danish Government has pledged US $1 million to set up the Fund for Rural Water Supply and Sanitation of Vietnam. An agreement to this effect was signed in Hanoi on December 19 in the presence of Danish Ambassador, Bjane H Sorensen and Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Pham Hong Giang. The donation aims to improve safe water systems and hygiene for poor people in rural areas of central Nghe An and Ha Tinh provinces and the central highlands province of Dak Lak. The donation is part of Denmark's US $88-million, five-year Water Sector Programme Support to Vietnam. **** HCM City and Vientiane boost co-operation A co-operation agreement has been reached between Ho Chi Minh City and Vientiane capital of Laos. Ho Chi Minh City will help build six projects including a plastic plant, an entertainment resort, a medical centre, a hospital, a seafood processing plant and a school valued at VND 4 billion. These projects will be carried out in 2002. _________________________________________________ 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] __________________________________________________
