VNA
Election of NA deputies to be held on May 19The election of deputies to the 11th National Assembly will be held on Sunday, May 19, 2002, the NA Standing Committee decided on January 26. The National Assembly Standing Committee on January 26 issued decision on the announcement of the date for the elections of deputies to the 11th tenure of the NA and the establishment of an election council. The Standing Committee decided to establish a 21-member election council headed by Nguyen Van An, Politburo member of the Party Central Committee and NA Chairman. (VNA) **** Vietnamese, Cambodian, Lao PMs meet on development triangle The prime ministers of Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos have defined ways to strengthen co-operation in building a 'Vietnam-Cambodia-Laos development triangle,' and stressed the importance of strengthening friendship, considering it an important factor in their countries' stability and development. Vietnamese Prime Minister Phan Van Khai, and his Cambodian and Lao counterparts, Hun Sen and Bounyang Vorachith, respectively, met in Ho Chi Minh City on January 26. This is the second meeting between the prime ministers of the three Indochinese neighbours, the first held in Vientiane, Laos, on October 20, 1999. The leaders discussed concrete measures to build the development triangle, giving co-operation priorities to building and upgrading traffic networks linking provinces in the triangle, carrying out projects on developing trade relations, boosting co-operation in tourism for the idea of "three countries, one destination" and energy production. They agreed to devise a master plan for socio-economic development, starting with seven provinces - Ratanakiri and Stung Treng in Cambodia, Attopeu and Sekong in Laos, and Kon Tum, Gia Lai and Dak Lak in Vietnam. They also agreed to build mechanisms and develop policies for the master plan. The three prime ministers expressed their determination to build the development triangle to boost socio-economic development in the common border areas, in conformity with the 1998 Hanoi Programme of Action on poverty reduction and bridging the development gap among ASEAN countries. They informed each other of the situation in their respective countries and exchanged views on regional and international issues of common concern. The three prime ministers praised achievements gained recently by each country. They affirmed their determination to develop their internal strength, increase the efficiency of international co-operation and accelerate the process of integrating into regional and international economies, thus contributing to peace, stability, co-operation and development in the region. The three prime ministers agreed to accelerate their countries' close co-operation under the framework of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), with the aim of strengthening solidarity, boosting co-operation and maintaining the basic principles of the association. The leaders pointed to the need to work together in implementing co-operation programmes to develop the Mekong basin in order to ensure the interests of countries lying on the basin with regard to exploitation, utilisation and conservation of the resources; enhance economic co-operation in the Mekong sub-region, especially in transportation and communications, commerce, tourism, environment and personnel training; and promote co-operation programmes under the framework of the East-West Corridor. They exchanged views on concrete measures to boost co-operation in maintaining security and social order along the three countries' borders, preventing and fighting terrorist attacks in each country, and combating trans-national crime and drug trafficking. Prime Minister Khai and his Lao counterpart, Bounyang Vorachith, expressed their support for Cambodia hosting the eighth ASEAN Summit later this year. Vietnam and Laos pledged to co-operate with Cambodia in ensuring the success of the summit. Cambodian prime minister Hun Sen expressed appreciation for that support. The prime ministers unanimously agreed to organise the third conference in Phnom Penh in 2003. The Lao and Cambodian prime ministers thanked Prime Minister Khai, the government and people of Vietnam for their warm welcome. The same day, Prime Minister Khai met with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, discussing issues concerning their countries' bilateral relationship. Also on this occasion, talks were held between Foreign Minister Nguyen Dy Nien of Vietnam, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Somsavath Lengsavad of Laos, and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, Hor Namhong, of Cambodia. In the evening of January 26, Prime Minister Khai held a banquet in honour of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and Lao Prime Minister Bounyang Vorachith. The three prime ministers will also visit some cultural sites in Vietnam. (VNA) **** PM praises efforts of Fisheries Ministry Mr Khai praised the Ministry of Fisheries for its efforts in organising annual fisheries fairs, thus creating opportunities for domestic and foreign businesses to exchange information and product marketing and seek partners. This was during his visit to Vietfish 2002 on January 27, being held in Ho Chi Minh City by the Ministry of Fisheries, Association of Import-processing Aqua-products. The prime minister expressed his pleasure at the positive changes and useful activities of the fair, better in quality and quantity, as well as the contest 'Golden quality of Vietnam's aqua-products' and seminars on fisheries and the world market to discuss the orientation of Vietnam's fisheries development, assess the US market for Vietnam's aqua-products and initiate strategies for building Vietnam's aqua-product trademarks in the US, European markets, Thailand's shrimp industry and an overall view of China's aqua-product market. Mr Khai said he hoped that many businesses will benefit from the exhibition, in terms of seeking partners and signing contacts. He also asked the fisheries sectors and businesses to continue improving the quality of products so as to be more active in introducing products and expanding markets to gain higher export turnover and contribute to the national development. Vietfish 2002 attracts the participation of 122 Vietnamese and foreign establishments are displaying their products, including processed aqua-products, processing equipment, packaging animal feed and chemicals for aqua-culture at 180 pavilions, an increase of 20% over Vietfish 2001. Over 20 foreign companies come from the US, Japan, China, Thailand, Germany, Singapore, Australia, Sweden, France, Denmark and Taiwan. **** Belgian defence minister concludes visit The Belgian Defence Minister, Andre Flahaut, and his entourage left Hanoi on the afternoon, January 26, concluding a four-day visit to Vietnam. During their stay, the Belgian delegation paid courtesy visits to President Tran Duc Luong, National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Van An, General Vo Nguyen Giap, and Permanent Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Dinh Bin. They held talks with Vietnam's Defence Minister, Senior Lieutenant General Pham Van Tra, and attended the inauguration ceremony of a Belgian military attache office in Hanoi. They also laid a floral tribute to President Ho Chi Minh at his Mausoleum and visited his living and working quarters, the Navy Command Centre, the Bomb and Mine Treatment Centre, the Military Museum, the Temple of Literature, the Peace and Friendship Village, all in Hanoi, as well as Ha Long Bay - a world cultural heritage site in Quang Ninh province and the Dinh Vu industrial zone in Haiphong city. (VNA) **** Regional co-operation discussed Representatives of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam have met to discuss co-operation between themselves and other ASEAN member countries through new plans of action and co-operation programmes. The third meeting on regional co-operation of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam was held in Hanoi on January 21-24 by the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) and Technical Co-operation Agency (TCA). The meeting was attended by nearly 30 delegates from the four mentioned countries as well as the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia. The participants also discussed orientations for ASEAN co-operation, a plan of action between Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam, and a better mechanism for effective activities between governments and JICA offices in respective countries. (VNA) **** Volunteers' remains returned from Cambodia The remains of 200 army volunteers were handed over to Vietnam by Cambodia at a ceremony held at Duc Co border gate of Central Highlands Gia Lai province on January 27. The remains had been discovered during the first phase of the joint search conducted by the two sides in Natarakiri province of Cambodia. Among those present at the ceremony were representatives of the Vietnamese and Cambodian governments' taskforce committees and defence ministries of the two countries. Speaking on this occasion, the Gia Lai People's Committee's Chairman Ha Son Nhin spoke highly of the friendship and solidarity between the two peoples and thanked Cambodian province Natarakiri's officials and people for their close co-operation in the search for Vietnamese volunteers' remains. After memorial services, the remains were reburied at cemeteries for fallen combatants in Gia Lai and Kon Tum provinces. (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] __________________________________________________
