VNA Party officials visit China A Vietnam Communist Party delegation led by Ha Hoc Hoi, deputy director of the Party Central Committee's Commission for Ideology and Culture, visited China from March 6-13. The aim of the visit was to exchange experiences relating to the building of the Communist Party of China (CPC), especially in the struggle against corruption, in recent years. The delegation was received by Dai Bingguo, member of the CPC Central Committee and Chairman of its External Relations Commission. Vietnam's Ambassador to China Bui Hong Phuc was present at the reception. The Vietnamese Party officials had working sessions with senior officials of the CPC CC's Commission for Inspection and Discipline and the Organisation Committee. They also made a study tour of Fujian, Guangdong and others provinces. (VNA) **** CPV strengthens ties with old friends Senior officials of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) have reiterated the policy of promoting friendly ties during their separate meetings in Laos with their counterparts from Cuba, Russia, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Mongolia and delegations of Cambodia's ruling party CPP and its coalition party FUNCINPEC. The meetings took place in the sidelines of the Seventh Congress of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party from March 12-14. In the talk with the delegation of the Cambodian People's Party (CPP) led by its honourary President Heng Samrin, CPV Politburo member Nguyen Manh Cam and his party reached an agreement with the Cambodian delegation that they should further promote their co-operative ties in all fields, especially economic and commercial, to match their fruitful political relations. Mr Cam, who is also a Deputy Prime Minister, expressed his hope to welcome a high-level delegation of the CPP to the forthcoming ninth CPV Congress in Hanoi. The meeting with the delegation of the Communist Party of Cuba (CPC) was described as taking place in an atmosphere of friendship and solidarity. Mr Cam briefed the Cuban friends of the political and economic developments in Vietnam, especially the on-going preparations for the forthcoming ninth CPV Congress. The Cuban head delegate expressed his belief that the Vietnamese people, under the leadership of the CPV, would obtain greater achievements in their national construction and defence. He also wished the upcoming ninth CPV Congress great success. The meeting between Mr Cam and the delegation of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) showed both sides' strong determination to develop their co-operative ties in a wide range of fields to meet the interests of the two nations and demand of the new development stage. Mr Cam expressed support to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's policy for peace, self-determination and national reunification. He said the DPRK, under the leadership of the Workers' Party, would gain still more achievements in the cause of socialist construction. In turn, the WPK head delegate thanked the Vietnamese people for their support and also wished the forthcoming ninth CPV Congress success. In the meeting with the delegation of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF), Mr Cam said he followed with keen interest the CPRF's increasing role and position in the Russian political life. "The recent visit to Vietnam by Russian President V Putin was a great success," Mr Cam said. He expressed gratitude to the Russian people for their support of Vietnam's past struggle for national salvation and current national construction. The Russian head delegate, in turn, emphasised that the communists and all people in Russia have been and would be forever best friends and comrades of the Vietnamese people and communists. In the meeting with the delegation of the Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party (MPRP), Mr Cam congratulated the MPRP's success in the recent National Assembly election. He said the success showed that the Mongolian people have not forgotten the Party's great contributions to the national development over the past decades. "Mongolia, under the leadership of the MPRP, would certainly overcome the current crisis to build a prosperous country and a happy life for the Mongolian people," Mr Cam said. The Mongolian head delegate thanked Vietnam for its support and time-honoured friendship, especially during Mongolia's natural disasters. In the meeting with Cambodia's FUNCINPEC, the National United Front for Construction and Defence of the Kampuchean Fatherland, Mr Cam said that Vietnam and Cambodia are bound by good neighbourliness. The Communist Party of Vietnam had always tried to develop friendly and co-operative ties with both the Cambodian People's Party and the FUNCINPEC on the principles of equality, mutual respect and understanding, in the interests of both countries and for peace, stability, co-operation and development in the region. In response, the FUNCINPEC head delegate thanked the CPV and the Vietnamese people for their help to the Cambodian people in overthrowing the genocidal Khmer Rouge regime and in overcoming recent natural calamities. (VNA) **** Vietnam, Cuba share procuracy experiences Vietnamese and Cuban procuracy officers shared professional experiences in the enforcement of the law among the armed forces of each country during a Vietnam visit from March 5-14 by a Cuban Military Procuracy Institute delegation. They exchanged views on the function and tasks of their respective institutes. During its stay, the Cuban delegation paid a floral tribute to President Ho Chi Minh at his Mausoleum and called on the Chief Judge of the Supreme People's Procuracy Institute, Ha Manh Tri. The Cuban officers also discussed experiences with officers of procuracy institutes of military zones and visited places of interest in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. The Cuban delegation was led by Colonel F Perez Guerrero, vice director of the State Procuracy Institute and director of the Military Procuracy Institute of the Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces Ministry. (VNA) **** China grants non-refundable aid The Chinese government has granted a consignment of goods worth Chinese Yuan 10 million, almost US $1.3 million as non-refundable aid to Vietnam. A delivery note was signed in Hanoi on March 14, by Vietnam's Deputy Finance Minister Le Thi Bang Tam and Chinese Ambassador Qi Jianguo on behalf of the two governments. The aid was granted within the framework of an agreement on economic and technical co-operation between the two countries. The aid will be used in building a dormitory at the Ho Chi Minh National Political Institute. (VNA) **** Friendship Medal conferred on French scientists Vietnam has conferred the Friendship Medal on four French scientists in recognition of their contributions to scientific co-operation and development between Vietnam and France. The medals were handed over in Paris on March 13 to Raymond Aubrac, former member of the Republic of France; Monique Chemillier Gendreau, lawyer and professor of Paris University; Henri Van Regemorter, director of the Paris-Meudon Observatory and Louis Reymondon, president of the Vietnam Friendship Association. Vietnamese Minister of Science, Technology and Environment Chu Tuan Nha chaired the medal presentation ceremony. Minister Nha ended a four-day working visit to France at the invitation of France's Research Ministry. While there, he had a working session with the Research Ministry. The French officials expressed their hope to strengthen co-operation with Vietnam in science, technology and environment. The Vietnamese and French leaders discussed ways to develop information technology, biotechnology and scientific co-operation as well as to enhance the co-operation in training undergraduates and postgraduates in their respective countries. The Vietnamese minister also paid working visits to several universities, Paris-Meudon Observatory and cultural establishments. **** Francophone community's anniversary marked A large number of activities have been held jointly by the Agency of Francophone Universities (AUF) and the Bureau of the Francophone Asia-Pacific to welcome the French-language Internet and the Francophone Community's anniversaries. Among them, a contest entitled 'Tourism within the Francophone Community' was launched on the Internet from March 2-17. Meanwhile, cultural and sport activities for bilingual classes will be organised in 18 provinces and cities including Hanoi, Haiphong, Ha Long, Hue and Ha Tay province. Also on this occasion, four writers from four Francophone countries: Congo, France, Belgium and Switzerland, pay a visit to Vietnam. Canada's welknown singer Sandra Leconteur gave a premier performance at the Hanoi Horison Hotel on March 14. The programme, the first by Sandra Leconteur in Vietnam will be joined by pianist Isabelle Theriault. It is held to mark the Francophone Community's anniversary and honour the 'Canadian Cultural Week' in Hanoi. (VNA) **** Priest Ly's move causes indignation from Catholic church Priest Nguyen Van Ly's sending through the Internet of his alleged 'evidence,' that distorts and slanders Vietnam's religion policy, to the US Congress's recent hearing on religious freedom in some countries, including Vietnam, has sparked off widespread indignation among the Vietnamese people, including the Catholic Church. Priest Vo Van Tan from Go Vap diocese of Ho Chi Minh City described Ly's action as completely wrong as it runs counter to the Church's teachings and the Holy Bible, saying: "A priest's job is to teach the Christian religion to people and help them live the Gospel amidst the nation." "Priests are supposed not to get involved in both economic and political activities. Priest Ly's move runs counter to the Church's teachings and philosophy, making him a saboteur of the Christian religion," he added. "Ly was completely wrong because he lost the virtue of a priest," Priest Tan stressed in an interview with the army newspaper Quan Doi Nhan Dan on March 14. He said: "Nguyen Van Ly must be subject to punishment, first of all by the Archbishop of the Hue Church, and also by the government according to law, because he is a Vietnamese citizen." Priest Nguyen Van Luat from Hoa Binh diocese of Ho Chi Minh City said: "Nguyen Van Ly's wrongdoings are so clear as he has abused religious freedom to act against Vietnam's law." "Priest Ly has also violated the Holy Bible," he added, after reading page 941 of the New Testament to the interviewer. "Ly must be punished according to law," he emphasised, adding "The administration's cautious action to handle Ly's wrongdoings proves that it respects the Christian religion." Priest Nguyen Van Thien and about 13,000 Catholics at The Virgin Mary-Save diocese also voiced their demand for tough punishment to Nguyen Van Ly according to law as well as their discontent at Ly's actions which have marred the Christian Church's prestige and Catholics' confidence. (VNA) **** VNA Ly violates Vietnam's law: MoFA spokesperson In answer to a question raised by a Reuters correspondent on the article 'Hanoi sabotages a deal' in the Asian Wall Street Journal on March 9, referring the case of Nguyen Van Ly and saying that the "Vietnamese government crackdowns on religion only increase the chances of the legislature being voted down," Ms Phan Thuy Thanh, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on March 12 that the article by the Asian Wall Street Journal was a sheer fabrication. 'We have stated many times that there is no such things as Vietnamese State crackdowns or prevention of religious activities. Vietnam's law stipulates citizens' rights and the State protects everyone's right to adhere to religion or not to adhere to religion. Certainly, any abuses of religions or beliefs to carry out illegal activities, disrupting social order, impairing the national independence, sabotaging the great national unity will be dealt with according to the law," she said. "Nguyen Van Ly has repeatedly carried out actions that violate Vietnam's law. His actions were uncovered by the religion followers and criticised by the Church. Many Vietnamese people including a large number of religion believers have shown their outcry about and criticised his actions which go against interests of the country and the entire people of Vietnam." "We hold that the Vietnam-US Trade Agreement would by no way be affected by actions taken by persons who willfully attempt to undermine relations between Vietnam and the US, as the agreement results from the efforts by both sides and meets the interests of the two countries." _________________________________________________ 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] __________________________________________________
