VNA
NA Standing Committee meets The National Assembly Standing Committee has required the government to take drastic measures to tackle difficulties in production and business, and review domestic revenue with the aim of obtaining the budget estimate for 2002 as stated in the National Assembly's Resolution. The request was made at a meeting of the NA Standing Committee held in Hanoi on December 26 and 27 under the chairmanship of NA Chairman Nguyen Van An. During the two-day meeting, the NA Standing Committee discussed and passed a resolution on allocation of the State budget in 2002. It also urged the government to provide capital for key projects, national and targeted programmes. Members of the NA Standing Committee gave suggestions to the preparations for the elections of the National Assembly deputies for the next tenure. They also gave opinions on the establishment of election councils and asked concerned agencies to implement their functional tasks to make the elections of NA deputies for the 11th legislature successful. (VNA) **** Lunar March 10 decided as national holiday The death anniversary of Hung Kings, lunar March 10, has been decided as an annual national holiday. This was recently announced by Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Khiem. Accordingly, the prime minister has agreed upon a proposal by the Ministry of Culture and Information to amend and supplement Labour Code so that people nationwide have a day off on lunar March 3. **** Air Force asked to raise responsibility President Tran Duc Luong asked the Air Defence and Air Force to be always conscious of their great responsibility as the national defence is of prime importance to protecting the national sovereignty and territorial integrity. During a visit to the corps on December 27, a hero unit of the Vietnam's People Army, President Luong told generals, officers and men of the corps that they could only execute successfully their mission by working closely with other armed forces units nationwide. After visiting a number of units at the headquarters and the Corps Museum, President Luong had a cordial talk with the officers and men there. He praised the great contribution of the People's Army, including the corps, to the nation's great victories in the past decades, particularly the Dien Bien Phu Air Battle 29 years ago. The Party, State and people recognised the corps' magnificent achievements by awarding the title of hero to the radar, air, missile and anti-aircraft troops, he said. Lieutenant General Nguyen Duc Soat, commander of the Air Defence and Air Force, briefed the president on almost 40 years of the corps' activities and achievements. He said that together with other arms of the army and the support of the whole people, the Air Defence and Air Force had defeated two wars of destruction of the enemy to gain national independence in the past and build up and protect the country at present. **** PM praises police's efforts to fight criminals Prime Minister Phan Van Khai highlighted the police's efforts to ensure political and social security and their recent attacks on criminals and organised criminal rings in Ho Chi Minh City. The prime minister on December 27, addressed the two-day national conference of the police in Ho Chi Minh City, praising their campaign to prevent social evils. "The police at all levels have to raise their sense of responsibility in observing situation in localities and co-ordinate with relevant agencies to solve problems arising in the society, ensuring peace and security for the people," he said, stressing the importance of the State management efficiency in maintaining security and social order, which will contribute to socio-economic development. He pledged the government allocate more budget to meet the police's requirements in the new situation. (VNA). **** First post installed on Vietnam-China border line A border post was officially installed at the Mong Cai-Dongxing international border gate on the Vietnam-China border line at 10:22 hours on December 27. The boundary post No 1369 (2) of Vietnam became the first post installed under the Vietnam-China Land Border Agreement, which was signed on December 30, 1999 and came into effect as from July of 2000. The installation of the 2-metre high boundary post marked a milestone in the relationship between Vietnam and China, opening a new historical stage of a common borderline of long-lasting peace and prosperous friendship between Vietnam and China. The Mong Cai-Dongxing international border gate is passed by between 4,000 and 5,000 business people and tourists a day. (VNA) **** Fatherland Front�s conferences held The Vietnam Fatherland Front held a conference for its affiliates of Phu Tho, Bac Giang, Bac Ninh, Vinh Phuc, Thai Nguyen, Quang Ninh and Hoa Binh provinces in Bac Ninh on December 27. Mr Pham The Duyet, the president of the Vietnam Fatherland Front�s presidium chaired the conference. Participants discussed three major issues, including the situation and obstacles of the building and organisation of Consultancy Council, the network of fatherland front�s co-ordinators at all levels; experience in leading and measures to implement movements and campaigns in the framework of the great movement �The whole people are united to build a new lifestyle in residential quarters�, the role of fatherland front in the implementation of democratic regulations at grassroots levels; petitions and solutions for fatherland fronts at all levels to efficiently participate in movements, making contributions to the national construction and defence. Another conference was also held in Lam Dong on December 27-28 for its affiliates in the Central Highlands regions. **** Hanoi wishes to accelerate co-operation with Stockholm Hanoi wants to promote the exchange of experiences in culture, tourism, construction, economic development, and urban and population management with Stockholm, said Chairman Hoang Van Nghien of the Hanoi People's Committee. Receiving President Axel Wennerholm of Stockholm City Council in Hanoi on December 26, Mr Nghien thanked the Swedish people for their valuable assistance to Vietnam's past struggle for national freedom, independence and re-unification and its current national construction and defence. The chairman briefed his guest of Hanoi's challenges in socio-economic development. Both host and guest agreed to better tap potentials for bilateral co-operation. (VNA) **** Hanoi, Beijing to co-operate in agriculture Hanoi and Beijing will co-operate in building a high-tech agricultural zone, producing active coal, and opening a roast duck shop in Hanoi. A minute to the effect was signed in Hanoi on December 26 by a representative of the Hanoi Agriculture and Rural Development Service and Chairman Zhao Fengshan of Beijing Rural Working Committee. Chairman Zhao visited several establishments of the Municipal Agriculture and Rural Development, and Trade Services during his working visit to Hanoi from December 23-26. (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] __________________________________________________
