VNA Khmer people in Tra Vinh enjoy Chol Chnam Thmay It has become a tradition that people in southern Tra Vinh province enjoy two festivals a year: the Tet lunar New Year festival of the Kinh people and the Chol Chnam Thmay festival of the Khmer people (from 20th - 23rd of the third lunar month). Khmer people account for 30% of Tra Vinh population. On this occasion, Ms Tam Kha, deputy chairman of the provincial People¹s Committee, a Khmer person, visited Tra Cu district and presented gifts to outstanding priority policy beneficiaries and Heroic Mothers. The province, in co-ordination with districts and villages, have paid Tet visits and presented gifts to 141 pagodas and outstanding priority policy beneficiaries in the province. Tra Vinh is a poor province which was separated from Cuu Long province in 1992. The province¹s agriculture production is a monoculture with rice growing only, so the poverty rate is still high at 17%. During the Chol Chnam Thmay, the province has helped priority policy beneficiaries and poor households with sticky rice and money so that every families in the province can enjoy the festival period. We visited Kosla pagoda in Tra Cu district where two monks who bravely died to protect revolutionary cadres during the anti-US struggle for national salvation, were recognised martyrs. A lot of the locals visited the pagoda, bringing flags, incense, cylindrical glutinous rice cake and flowers to offer to Buddha and expressed new year¹s wishes to bonzes of the pagoda. Last year, the province built 10 primary schools. This year, Tra Vinh will pool efforts in building electricity works and upgrading roads. Many villages in Tra Cu district are building irrigation works so that local people can expand their cultivated land. In brackish water areas, the district instruct the farmers to develop shrimp farming. Mr Lien Thanh Liem, deputy chairman of the Ham Giang village¹s People¹s Committee told us that the two rice crop area of the village has increased by one third thanks to active efforts in expanding the irrigation system. The village has organised a sedge mat making establishment and a carpentry workshop, thus providing jobs for over 1,000 people. Last year, 50 households in the village escaped poverty. The village is striving not to be a village in special difficulties in the coming years. During the days enjoying the Chol Chnam Thmay, the electricity sector has started the construction of a five-billion dong electricity work in Nhi Long village, Cang Long district. The local people said this is a work to welcome the Ninth National Party Congress. We believe that Tra Vinh will quickly develop to catch up with other provinces in the region in the coming years. By PHAN HUY and QUOC KHANH **** WB considers US $500 million loan for economic restructure The World Bank (WB) is considering to provide Vietnam with a loan worth US $500 million to help the country implement its economic reform. This was reported by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) on April 14. ABC said that this is the first credit provided by the WB to Vietnam over the past five years to help the country restructure its economy, including the reform of the banking sector and State-owned Enterprises. ABC quoted a statement of Mr Andrew Steer, the WB's director to Vietnam, saying that WB supports Vietnam's economic restructure programme. He also affirmed that WB's experts highly appreciate this programme and believe that Vietnam is making the right direction. WB has pledged to give loans to Vietnam to sponsor 25 development projects already under operation. Also according to ABC, last week, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has decided to support Vietnam's restructure reform in a bid to increase investment in the private sector and competitiveness of Vietnam's economy. **** US president extends condolences on helicopter crash US President George W Bush has extended his condolences to President Tran Duc Luong on the death of the Vietnamese crew and officials in a helicopter that crashed in central Quang Binh province last weekend. In his April 12 letter to President Luong, the US president expressed thanks to Vietnam and high appreciation of Vietnam's co-operation in searching American servicemen reported missing in action (MIA). He said that American people's hearts and profound gratitude were with the families of the Vietnamese victims, adding that their sacrifices for full possible account of MIAs in the Southeast Asia war were an evidence for the humanitarian relationship that bound the two nations. Earlier, on April 10, Senator John McCain sent his condolences to the Vietnamese president over the helicopter crash. (VNA) **** Vietnam, Canada strengthen friendship Vietnam and Canada both want their friendship and fruitfully-developed co-operation strengthened. The wish was confirmed during an April 12-16 visit to Vietnam of a delegation from Canada's Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration led by Minister Elinor Caplan. Minister Caplan had a working session with Vietnam's Permanent Deputy Minister of Public Security Nguyen Khanh Toan. The Canadian MPs accompanying the minister exchanged views with representatives of Vietnam's Committee for the Advancement of Women. The minister and other delegates expressed their joy at visiting Vietnam where they could witness the great achievements obtained by the Vietnamese people in national construction. The two Parties exchanged views on issues of mutual concern and pledged to more discussions for agreements to ensure sustainable development of relations. The Canadian delegation was received on April 13 by Foreign Minister Nguyen Dy Nien. The Canadian minister took the occasion to announce her country's decision to set up a visa office in Vietnam. (VNA) **** More aid to flood victims, disabled The United Nations Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) will provide high-quality vegetable and fruit seeds and fertiliser for flood victims in Mekong delta provinces of Tien Giang, Can Tho, Dong Thap and Vinh Long. The US $219,485 project has been signed in Hanoi by FAO representatives and the Agriculture and Rural Development Ministry. Around 10,000 farmer households in the four provinces will receive the donations. (VNA) **** Whirlwind destroys 241 houses A whirlwind, along with hail, hit Phuoc Hiep and Phuoc Thanh communes, Cu Chi district, Ho Chi Minh City, destroying 241 houses on April 14. Phuoc Hiep commune suffered heavy losses with 29 houses totally destroyed, 162 houses damaged and a pupil injured. The whirlwind came with hail stones of finger-tip size. Old farmers said they have never seen such a hail storm. As reported by Cu Chi district's Electricity branch on April 15, the whirlwind pulled down three medium-voltage poles in Thai My commune. Mr Le Thanh Tam, chairman of Cu Chi district's People's Committee, along with representatives of Ho Chi Minh City's Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs Service visited the heavily-hit families. The district plans to support the families to overcome consequences of the disaster. _________________________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. 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