VNA NA passes part of draft Law on Government Organisation (revised) The National Assembly continued its discussion so as to part by part approve the draft Law on Government Organisation (revised) during its 27th working day, December 22. Opening the session, NA Chairman Nguyen Van An delivered a speech to congratulate all soldiers, war veterans, war invalids and families of fallen combatants, Vietnamese Heroic Mothers and armed forces nationwide on the occasion of the 55th anniversary of the National War Resistance Day (December 19), 57th anniversary of the Vietnam People's Army Day and the All People Defence Festival (December 22). During the day, a total of 70 deputies raised their opinions on the government's duties and rights in science, technology and environment (article 10); in culture-education, information, sports and tourism (article 11); in social affairs and healthcare (article 12); in nationalities and religion (article 13); in external relations (article 15); for provincial and municipal people's councils (article 17); in law and judicial administration (article 18); and on government's important issues to be discussed and voted in accordance with majority vote (article 19). Deputies also spent some time to debate Chapter III which concerns the duties and responsibilities of the governmental prime minister. After discussion, deputies approved articles 10-13 and 17 and 18 of the Chapter II and article 20 and 21 of the Chapter III. They also contributed their ideas on articles 14-16 of Chapter II. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ President praises Cao Bang ethnic people President Tran Duc Luong praised ethnic minority people of Cao Bang northern mountainous province for their efforts to overcome difficulties in changeable weather and natural calamities in the locality to step-by-step boost local agricultural infrastructure and industry, thus contributing to socio-economic development. Also during a meeting with elders and heads of villages of Cao Bang province in Hanoi on December 22, President Luong said he highly appreciated the village heads and elders for their positive role in encouraging their locals to implement well the policies of the Party and State in recent time. Many village heads and elders expressed their deep gratitude to the Party, State and president for their attention given to them. They also briefed the president about their socio-economic achievements as well as their efforts to eradicate hunger and poverty and improve local people�s living standards, particularly those in the remote, far-flung and former revolutionary base areas. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 55th anniversary of War Resistance Base D marked Dong Nai province held a ceremony to mark the 55th founding anniversary of the War Resistance Base D on December 22. The ceremony was attended by leaders of the southeastern provinces, army officers, war veterans and Vietnamese Heroic Mothers. Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh and Prime Minister Phan Van Khai sent baskets of flowers. Mr Le Hoang Quan, the secretary of the provincial Party�s Committee, delivered a speech, reviewing the foundation and development of the base over the past 55 years. He said that talking about the War Resistance Base D means speaking about the tradition of unity among people in the southeastern region, the sacrifice of generations of cadres and soldiers, the huge assistance from the great rear base of the north, the close links between the base with the war resistance bases of B, C and E and the significant support of patriotic people in the enemy�s temporarily-occupied areas. The southeastern provinces drew a lesson on the construction of revolutionary resistance war base, from the practice of the base. With such glorious tradition, over the past 26 years after the liberation day, the people of the southeastern region have overcome difficulties and worked hard to build a new life, gaining encouraging socio-economic and cultural achievements, building the region into a key economic region in the south. On the occasion, the province received a certificate of the Ministry of Culture and Information to recognise the working place of the Party Committee of southeastern region as a cultural and historical relic. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Christmas celebrated nationwide Activities to celebrate Christmas are being held nationwide. In Thua Thien-Hue central province, a delegation of provincial leaders paid a greeting visit to the Hue Episcopal Office and Archbishop Nguyen Nhu The on December 21. The delegation included Mr Ho Xuan Man, member of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee, secretary of the provincial Party Committee and chairman of the People�s Council; Nguyen Van Me, chairman of the People�s Committee; and chairman of the Fatherland Front Committee; head of the provincial Party Committee�s Department of Mass Mobilisation; head of the Provincial Committee for Religions and others. They extended the season�s greetings to the archbishop, bishops, priests, nuns, and parishioners on the Christmas Day. Archbishop Nguyen Nhu The thanks the leaders for their concern and promised to encourage the Catholics to make more contributions to the strengthening of the national great unity and live in gospel within the nation. A meeting was held in the southern Ba Ria-Vung Tau province between provincial leaders and shepherds and priests on the occasion. An art performance entitled �Baby and the Santa Claus� was organised at the Ben Thanh theatre in Ho Chi Minh City from December 21-23. Christmas songs were performed along with dances and circus items. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ RoK defence minister ends visit Defence Minister Kim Dong Shin of the Republic of Korea left Ho Chi Minh City on December 22, concluding his four-day official visit to Vietnam. Minister Kim paid a floral tribute to late President Ho Chi Minh at his Mausoleum and visited his home and office in Hanoi. He called on Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Manh Cam and held talks with Defence Minister Pham Van Tra. He also visited the Command of Military Zone 7, Division B08, Cu Chi underground tunnel and a number of historical sites in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. (VNA) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Vietnam attends Indian Trade Union Conference Nguyen Van Dung, member of the Vietnam Confederation of Labour, Presidium has been in India for the 37th Conference of the All-India Trade Union Congress (AITUC). Addressing the conference, held in Hyderabad from December 19-23, Mr Dung affirmed that the traditional solidarity and friendly relations between Vietnam and India, especially between the two trade union organisations, will be strengthened further in the 21st century. AITUC maintained the friendly and co-operative ties with Vietnam over the past 50 years and made important contributions to the Indian people's solidarity with Vietnam. (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] __________________________________________________
