NA chairman asks minority officials to fulfil their obligations National Assembly Chairman Nong Duc Manh has asked key minority group officials to be fully aware of their tasks in understanding the people and their aspirations and encouraging them to follow Vietnam Communist Party line and State policy. Mr Manh was meeting with more than 60 key minority group commune officials from Central Highlands Dak Lak province in Hanoi on March 8. The officials are visiting Hanoi. He praised the contributions and sacrifices by the people of the Central Highlands, especially Dak Lak province, in Vietnam's struggle for national liberation and present national defence. The National Assembly chairman called on the people to continue upholding the revolutionary tradition to build a prosperous life in their locality. (VNA) **** Activities welcome women¹s day Vice President Nguyen Thi Binh met ethnic minority female students in Hanoi on March 8 to praise them for their efforts to overcome difficulties to study well. Ms Nguyen Thi Oanh, vice chairwoman of Vietnam Women¹s Union reported their achievements. Ms Hoang Thi Hanh, a Dao ethnic minority female student from Ha Giang province and Ms Lam Thi Chien, a Day female student from Lao Cai province, spoke of the difficulties which students from ethnic minority groups face. She asked for help from the Party and State so that others like them living in remote areas and areas in difficulties have an opportunity to go to school and receive proper education. Vice President Binh encouraged them to continue their study and presented them gifts. On the same day, Ms Ha Thi Khiet, chairwoman of the Vietnam Women¹s Union met 24 outstanding representatives of Hanoi¹s women on the occasion of the women¹s day. Participants exchanged their work experiences and asked for more assistance from the Party and the government to improve their performance and the role of the woman in the family. The women¹s unions in Ha Giang province have guaranteed more than VND 4 billion of loans from banks for women of ethnic minority groups to develop household economy. The regular checking of the effectiveness of the loans revealed that 67% of them used loans effectively, 56% of them got out of poverty while 37% of them have new jobs as part of the assistance from the programme. Women¹s unions in Long An province in the Mekong river delta promoted activities to help one another eliminate hunger and poverty and in other social works as well as educating members on the role of women in the history of the country. The Women Union of Vinh Long province co-ordinated with the provincial sports and physical training to organise a sporting event for more than 700 women in the province. **** Vietnam to join young people's peace camp A delegation of five young people of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union will join a international Asia young people's camp for peace in Cambodia on March 11. Participating in the event will be eighty young people from Myanmar, Bangladesh, Laos, the Philippines, South Korea, Sri Lanka, the United States, Vietnam and Cambodia. The participants will discuss the awareness of globalisation and its influence on young people, the roles of religion and peace in peaceful construction, potential of young leaders and the situation of young people in each country and learn about Cambodian culture and the process of building peace in Cambodia. **** Efforts made to relieve hail, whirlwind aftermath A number of strong whirlwinds together with hails hit the northern mountainous province of Ha Giang late last month, causing great losses to houses and vegetables of the ethnic minority people there. VNA The total losses were put at some VND 3 billion. Of which, Vi Xuyen district suffered damage estimated at over VND 825 million; Quan Ba district, VND 30 million; Yen Minh, VND 600 million and Dong Van and Meo Vac, VND 1.4 billion. The provincial administration has provided people in the calamity-stricken areas with seed rice and maize. At first, Quan Ba district has been supported VND 6 million, Vi Xuyen district, VND 565 million and Yen Minh, VND 117 million. In addition, the local administration has also offered non-interest loans to families of priority policy beneficiaries and natural calamity victims with a view to helping them repair their houses and restore production. **** Vietnam, Lao provinces boost economic ties Vietnam's northwestern Son La province and its Lao neighbouring province, Saynhaboury, have signed an economic co-operation document for the 2001-2005 period. Under the document, Son La province will promote trade in Sayaboury province's capital, expand goods exchange and help zone off areas for planting tea, coffee, maize and soya beans. Son La province will also help train Lao technicians. (VNA) _________________________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. 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