VNA Renovation will be continued, says PMReality has proved the orientations for renovation correct and they must be continued in order to raise the leading role, working capacity and efficiency of the central and local governments, said Prime Minister Phan Van Khai in Ho Chi Minh City on February 3. The prime minister was speaking at the closing session of a three-day government meeting to discuss measures for implementing the 2001 socio-economic plan. He reviewed the work of the government and local authorities during the past year, including the renovation of institutions and the operations of the administrative apparatus to have both adapted to State management and to a socialist-oriented market economy. The prime minister said there had been successes in bringing into full play Vietnam's internal strength and liberating and developing its production capacity; utilising the positive impacts of the market while raising the capacity of macro-state management; making external economic activities more efficient; combining economic growth with cultural development; and achieving social progress and equality while consolidating national defence and social security. The prime minister also discussed several key issues in leading and managing the central and local governments to effectively implement this year's tasks. He underlined the need to attract more investment for economic development and to expand markets to obtain a GDP growth of between 7.5% and 8% or more in 2001, saying the amount and efficiency of investment affected the pace of national growth. The prime minister emphasised the effective use of the State budget and credits, explaining that although the State budget accounted for only one-fifth of total investment, it was the prime source of capital for the development of infrastructure and public works - both spurned by investors because of slow return - and highway construction. In this way, it helped boost the investment environment. The prime minister also emphasized the need to create better conditions for all economic sectors so as to bring into full play their production and commercial capacity and incentive schemes for different types of enterprise: State-owned, co-operatives, private, and foreign-invested. In facilitating and expanding the market, the economy would see high growth rate and sustainable development only when it found outlets for products and services, he said. Therefore, production must be linked with marketing, and the competitiveness of goods and services must be raised in terms of quality and price. The prime minister noted that besides the many bright spots in social and cultural activities, there were still many outstanding problems in society. He asked authorities at all levels to become better State managers to develop cultural and social activities. He said that the decisive factor in effectively implementing the administrative reform programme was for himself, other ministers and authorities at all levels to be unanimous in their view and highly determined. Government members answered questions about concrete matters asked by key officials from localities and this created unanimous agreement and reinforced determination to efficiently implement the National Assembly resolution on socio-economic development in 2001. (VNA) **** Tree planting festival joined nationwide Pupils in the Co Loa primary school participate in festival. Photo: VNA Localities throughout the country are participating in a tree planting festival. A tree-planting festival was launched in Kieu Ky commune, in the Hanoi's outlying district of Gia Lam on February 3 with the attendance of National Assembly Chairman Nong Duc Manh. Chairman Manh, who is also permanent Politburo member, said that the yearly tree planting festival, initiated by President Ho Chi Minh 42 years ago, is a fine tradition. He further said he hoped that all the Vietnamese people are all aware of the importance of planting trees, and will take part in the festival. Meanwhile, the Hanoi People's Committee launched a tree-planting festival at the Co Loa historical site in Dong Anh district on February 4. Last year, apart from 170,000 trees planted sparsely, about 500 hectares of forest land in the capital were planted. This year, the city strives to green 1,500 hectares of waste land and bare hills. People of ethnic minority groups of Vinh Phuc midland province continued to implement the tree-planting festival in depth. Tens of thousands of trees and orchards have been ready for being grown in the favourable weather conditions. In the meantime, people in all seven towns and districts in the northern mountainous province of Bac Can have planted trees in celebration of this year's festival. The northern province of Hai Duong's tree planting festival was launched on February 2. In 2000, the province planted 1,300,000 scattered trees. This year, the province plans to plant 1.2 million more trees. Townships and districts in the central province of Ha Tinh target to plant eight million trees during their spring tree planting festivals. Hanoi Public Works and Transport Department launched their tree planting festival on February 2. The department aims to plant 10,000 green trees. Also on the occasion, the Military Zone 4 planted about 40,000 assorted trees, including 25,000 for timber. Since early this year, more than 5,000 staff of Haiphong port and 600 staff of Chua Ve Port in Haiphong northern port city planted thousands of assorted trees. Also in response to the tree-planting festival, the Forestry Company of Hoa Binh northern province is making preparations for the planting of 2,500 hectares of forest. **** Party¹s founding anniversary celebrated The 71st founding anniversary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) has been celebrated at public meetings throughout the country in recent days. Addressing in a meeting to mark the Party's founding anniversary held in Ho Chi Minh City on February 3, Politburo member and the city's Party Committee Secretary Nguyen Minh Triet reviewed the glorious history of the Vietnamese people since the founding of the CPV. He said that the Party had led the people to successfully carry out the revolution for national liberation and the country's reunification. Also under the leadership of the CPV, the Vietnamese people have gained many great achievements during the past 15 years of implementation of doi moi (renovation), thus, contributing to changing the face of the country and the society. The meeting was attended by former State president and former advisor to the Party Central Committee, Vo Chi Cong. Also during the meeting, engineer Ha Thanh Man, a young Party member and an outstanding young person, representing for the city's young people, expressed his gratitude to and pride in the Party and pledged to pool his efforts to follow the glorious revolutionary tradition of the Party. A similar meeting was also held in Haiphong city on February 2 in celebration of the 71st Party's founding anniversary. Speaking at the meeting, Party Central Committee's member and the city's Party Committee secretary To Huy Rua called on people of all social strata in the city to strengthen solidarity and strongly promote the dynamism and creativity in a bid to rapidly develop the city, thus making a positive contribution to the growth of the northern key economic zone. Public meetings were also organised in provinces of Dong Thap, Phu Yen, Lam Dong, Bac Can, Ha Tinh and Phu Tho and Military Zone 2 to mark the CPV's 71st founding anniversary. **** Nhan Dan sales drive for Party's founding day Nhan Dan (the People) newspaper reporters, who are members of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, took part in publicising the Party newspaper on February 3, the 71st founding anniversary of the Communist Party of Vietnam. The special issue on the 71st Party founding anniversary published the full text of the Draft Political Report of the Party Central Committee to be submitted to the upcoming Ninth National Party Congress. The Party respects and wishes to receive opinions from revolutionary veterans, scientists and people all strata. Therefore, quick delivery of the Draft Political Report to each Party committee, quarter and house is an activity of practical significance. Mr Vu Than, head of the residential quarter in 86 Doi Can precinct, holding the newspaper on his hand, scanning through the editorial ŒMobilising great mind of entire whole Party and people,¹ said: " Very good. Our Party is working in a democratic manner. Delivery of Party¹s newspapers to residential areas is a good initiative.¹ A female student waiting for her train to Vinh city in the central province of Nghe An bought two newspapers. She said: "I will read the Draft Political Report carefully to understand the Party¹s policies and lines." Many young people bought the newspapers. They said: "We read Nhan Dan newspaper and we were very happy to know that in 2000, 110,000 people joined the Party, more than half of them were Communist youth Union members." Other places where the newspaper was publicised also attracted a lot of readers. An elderly woman living in Trang Tien street walked to Hoan Kiem lake Post Office to buy a Nhan Dan newspaper. She said that she bought Nhan Dan newspaper everyday for 40 years now. She added "It is very convenient that the Party¹s newspaper published the Draft Political Report in five consecutive pages; and the words are in bold letters and clear, so it is easy to read." The retail selling of newspapers was also enhanced on February 3 in Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Can Tho and Haiphong. Nhan Dan newspaper¹s the February 3 issue increased to 200,000 copies. The young reporters of Nhan Dan newspaper sold over 1,000 copies. The Party¹s newspaper wishes to soon publish opinions contributed by the people to the Party¹s Draft Political Report. **** Calling for early approval of Bilateral Trade Agreement The US-Vietnam Trade Agreement Support Union has sent a letter to the newly elect US President George Bush on January 29 requesting the passing of the Vietnam-US Bilateral Trade Agreement to the US parliament for approval as soon as possible, according to the Vietnam News Agency correspondent in Washington. The letter, which collects the signatures of 251 US companies, commercial councils, business representatives and other organisations, says that it is suitable time now to consider the agreement to promote progresses in bilateral relations. In addition, it will help maintain the support of the US bi-parties for trade ties with Vietnam. Analysing the pros of the agreement, the letter underlines that the agreement would open new business opportunities for both US and Vietnamese businessmen. Representatives of many big companies signed in the letters, including Boeing, FedEx, Exxon Mobil, New York Life International, Coca-Cola, Nike, Motorola, Eastman, Kodak, Cargill, Conoco, DHL, General Electric and Hewlett Packard Corp. **** Memorial medals awarded to former Youth Union members The Party's Commission for Ideology and Culture presented memorial medals to 357 former Youth Union members in recognition of their contributions to the Party's ideological and cultural work on February 2 in Ho Chi Minh City. They are those who took part in revolutionary activities in the anti-US resistance war when they were in the Southern Department of Propaganda and Training's units. First memorial medals of this kind were presented in August last year on the 70th founding anniversary of the propaganda and training sector. _________________________________________________ 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] __________________________________________________
