VNA Vietnam to boost trade ties with Russia Prime Minister Phan Van Khai said yesterday that he wanted Vietnam and Russia to focus on specific co-operation projects on a larger scale so that co-operation between the two countries could be more effective. Talking with the Russian deputy prime minister, Victor Khristenko, in Hanoi, Prime Minister Khai expressed his elation at the new development in economic and commercial ties between the two countries. However, he told Mr Khristenko that the two way trade turnover between the two countries remained modest and far below potential. Deputy Prime Minister Khristenko arrived in the capital yesterday. He is a member of the Russia delegation led by President V Putin who are paying an official visit to Vietnam at the invitation of President Tran Duc Luong. The prime minister reaffirmed the close traditional relations between Vietnam and Russia. He said many Vietnamese scientific workers, government and State officials have been trained in the former Soviet Union. Prime Minister Khai also highly valued the scientific potential of Russia, further hoping that Russia would continue providing training to Vietnamese cadres in oil and gas exploitation, nuclear power electricity generation and shipping industry. He also told Mr Khristenko that Vietnam has always given priority to co-operation and investment to Russia. Prime Minister Khai said the both countries will continue to discuss ways to reduce the price of equipment imported to Vietnam from Russia and to increase the income of Russian specialists working in Vietnam. **** Two Trung Sisters' uprising marked A ceremony to mark the 1961st anniversary of the Hai Ba Trung's (Two Trung Sisters) Uprising was held on February 28 (the sixth day of the second lunar month) at the Hai Ba Trung Communal House-Temple-Pagoda relics by the authority and people of the Hai Ba Trung district, Hanoi. In Spring in the year 40AD, the two Trung sisters, Trung Trac and Trung Nhi, raised the banner of revolt against the foreign domination. The Two Trung Sisters' Uprising has always been an eternal epic on the patriotism and sense of uprightness of Vietnamese women. Every year, the festival in memory of the Two Trung Sisters' Uprising in Hanoi takes place from the fifth to seventh of the second lunar month. Addresing this year's ceremony, Ms Ngo Thanh Hang, deputy head of the district's Party Committee and head of the People's Committee said: "By developing the glorious tradition of a district bearing the name of the Two Trung Sisters, the Party Committee and people in the district will pool efforts to achieve socio-economic development targets set for this year." After the incense offering ceremony, amateur art troupes in the district's wards gave various traditional performances such as dragon dance, lion dance, traditional wrestling, cock-fighting, and so on. **** Book on late prime minister published President Ho Chi Minh and Prime Minister Pham Van Dong. A book entitled Pham Van Dong, an Outstanding Son of Quang Ngai Province¹ has been published on his 95th birth anniversary (March 1, 1906-March 1, 2001). The book consists of articles written by veteran revolutionaries, scientists and Quang Ngai people, expressing respect and heartfelt sentiments of the Vietnamese people to the great late Prime Minister Pham Van Dong. Pham Van Dong was an excellent student of President Ho Chi Minh, an undaunted and exemplary communist fighter, a prestigious leader of the Party, State and the Vietnamese people, a great man of culture, a reliable person of international friends and one who devoted all his life for the national independence, freedom, socialism and people¹s happiness. The revolutionary life over the past 70 years of late Prime Minister Dong had been closely connected to the founding and development of the Party and the State together with fierce and proud struggle of Vietnam¹s revolution, the glorious Party and heroic Vietnamese people. Mr Dong was also a key leader of the Party and the State. He was assigned with many heavy responsibilities by Uncle Ho and the Party Central Committee. In any position, he fulfilled them all to satisfaction and made great contributions to the Vietnamese revolution. The book was published by the National Political Publishing House and Quang Ngai¹s Party Committee. **** Seminar on late prime minister held The Ho Chi Minh National Political Institute held a scientific seminar to mark the 95th birth anniversary of late Prime Minister Pham Van Dong (March 1, 1906 - March 1, 2001) in Hanoi on February 28. Attending the event were Party Advisor Do Muoi; Mr Nguyen Duc Binh, Politburo member and director of the institute; scientists and leaders from Quang Ngai province where the prime minister was born. Thirty scientific themes were given at the seminar to discuss the process of revolutionary operations of comrade Pham Van Dong, an excellent student of President Ho Chi Minh, and on his great contributions to the two struggles for national independence and re-construction. Mr Pham Van Dong was a leader with great personality and a compassionate heart, a great cultural activist, a bright example of morality and an excellent leader and manager of the Party and State of Vietnam. **** Relief to quake victims in Lai Chau The Ho Chi Minh City's Fatherland Front Committee sent a letter of sympathy and VND 100 million to quake victims in the northern mountainous province of Lai Chau. Thanh Hoa northern province donated VND 200 million to help Lai Chau people overcome the consequences of the recent earthquake. The northern mountainous province of Tuyen Quang joined the rescue efforts with VND 70 million. _________________________________________________ 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] __________________________________________________
