VNA Ten outstanding young people elected The Youth Union and the Vietnam Fund for Young Talents elected ten most outstanding young people in 2000, the Year of Young People in many aspects, including study, sport, science-technology, work, production, culture-art and security-national defence. This was on the occasion of the 70th founding anniversary of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union (March 26,1931 - March 26, 2001). Of those elected, Nguyen Ngoc Huy, born in 1982, a student of the Hanoi National University¹s Information Technology Faculty has won two gold medals at the International Informatics Olympic Contests. Le Quang Nam, born in 1980, a student of Mathematics and Informatics Faculty of the University of Natural Science, Ho Chi Minh National University, has won a gold medal at the Asia-Pacific Mathematics Olympic Contest in 1997. Nam also gained the Outstanding Young People and Student¹ titles in 1998 and 1999 and was a delegate to the National Emulation Congress last year. Tran Hieu Ngan, born in 1974, a teakwondo martial art athlete in Phu Yen northern province, won a silver medal at the Sydney Olympics 2000 becoming Vietnam's first olympic medal winner. She has also won many gold, silver and bronze medals at domestic and international competitions. Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son, born in 1990, is a chess player of Kien Giang southern province and a world chess champion. Son has won a gold medal at the South-East Asia Young Chess Championship and is also the youngest player in the list of the most outstanding athletes so far. Bich Tra, born in 1973, from Ho Chi Minh City, came first in the finals at the Higher Course Specialising in Piano Performance in the United Kingdom. She won the first prize at the International Piano Contest held in the UK in June last year. Nguyen Ngoc Khoa, born in 1965, is a cadre of the Anti-Aircraft - Air Force Technical Institute . He has directly conducted research, designed, improved and put into use many military technology and science themes of high practical value. Le Minh Hoang, born 1969, is a cadre of the Binh Duong Material and Construction Company from Binh Duong southern province. He has raised many technical initiatives of high economic value, contributing to saving expenditure and increasing profits for his company. Tran Thi Bich Le, born in 1968, is an excellent cadre of Youth Union of Binh Phuoc Secondary School in Binh Phuoc southern province. She has been presented Woman Good at Public Affairs and Housework' title in five successive years and For the Young Generation¹ Medal. Kbrel, born in 1967, is a Co Ho ethnic minority man in Di Linh district, Lam Dong southern province. He has made great achievements in tree planting and animal rearing. He has applied science and technology to production and helped create employment for many young labourers in his locality. Trinh Quang Thiep, born in 1976, is a police officer of the Investigation Police Department of Gia Lai Central Highlands province¹s Public Security. He has caught and called on many wanted offenders to give themselves up to the police. He has also received many certifications of commendation of the provincial Public Security Department and Youth Union and is one of 21 outstanding young people of Gia Lai province. **** Youth Union¹s 70th founding anniversary marked Activities are being held to celebrate the 70th founding anniversary of the Youth Union (March 26, 1931 - March 26, 2001). Ly Tu Trong Secondary School in Ha Tinh central province presented Ly Tu Trong prizes in 2000-2001 academic year for outstanding pupils on March 17. Youth Union cadres and pupils from Ha Tinh, Nghe An and Thanh Hoa provinces representing for 207 pupils from 61 provinces and cities received the prize. Thousands of young people, students and pupils of Ha Ba Trung district, Hanoi participated in a camping festival in Lenin Park during March 17 and 18. During the festival, young people joined exchanges and gave performances, singing songs about the revolution, the Party and Uncle Ho. **** Vietnam hosts ASEAN officials' meetingVietnam hosted the ASEAN Senior Officials' Meeting, ASEAN-SOM, and the fifth meeting on the Treaty on Southeast Asian Nuclear Weapon Free Zone, SEANWFZ, in Ho Chi Minh City on March 15 and 16. The deputy-minister-level meetings were chaired by Vietnam's Deputy Foreign Minister Le Cong Phung. During the meetings, ASEAN deputy foreign ministers exchanged views about regional and international issues of common concern and discussed measures to realise decisions reached at the fourth informal summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, in Singapore last November. They focused on boosting co-operation among ASEAN countries, narrowing the development gap, supporting new ASEAN members, and developing human resource and information technology. Singapore and Thailand presented projects to help new ASEAN members including Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam develop information technology and human resource. Vietnam in its capacity as President of the ASEAN Standing Committee (ASC) and the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) briefed the meeting about its preparations for the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (AMM-34), ARF and other ASEAN meetings to be held in Hanoi in July. The ASEAN deputy ministers agreed to the next Hanoi AMM's theme of striving for stability, solidarity, closer economic co-operation and expansion of international co-operation. They also acknowledged Vietnam's proposal for 'Declaration on narrowing the development gap for an ASEAN of dynamic and sustainable development' to be submitted to the AMM-34 for approval. They unanimously agreed to make a mid-term review of the implementation of the Hanoi Plan of Action at the ASEAN Summit to be held in Brunei next November and continue implementing Vietnam's initiative for setting up ASEAN hotlines, organising the ASEAN cultural week and the East Asia tourism festival. The ASEAN deputy ministers also discussed the Code of Conduct in the East Sea. They agreed to enhance bilateral and multilateral talks with a view to reaching an early agreement with China on the Code of Conduct, thus contributing to strengthening the ASEAN-China relationship for peace and stability in the region. The ASEAN deputy ministers agreed to make direct negotiations between SEANWFZ members and the nuclear powers, China, France, Russia, Britain and the United States, in Hanoi in May in the hope to strengthen the efficiency of the SEANWFZ. ASEAN-member countries welcomed Vietnam's decision to co-chair the International Support Group on Confidence Building Measures, ARF ISG-CBM, during 2001 and 2002. They also welcomed Vietnam's initiative to organise a seminar on economic security in the Asian-Pacific region in the early decades of the 21st century by the end of 2001. The ASEAN group decided to set up an East Asia research group which will consist of deputy foreign ministers of the 10 ASEAN countries, China, Japan and the Republic of Korea and the ASEAN General Secretary. The group will present recommendations for boosting East Asia co-operation at the upcoming ASEAN+3 meetings. (VNA) **** East Asian studies group set upASEAN countries, China, Japan and the Republic of Korea (RoK) have agreed to set up a joint East Asian Studies Group (EASG). The agreement, made in furtherance of a decision of the Summit between ASEAN and China, Japan and the RoK held in Singapore in November last year, was reached at a Senior Official Meeting of 13 countries (SOM/ASEAN+3) in Ho Chi Minh City on March 17. The EASG will include senior officials from 10 member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), China, Japan and the Republic of Korea (RoK), and the ASEAN General Secretary. Vietnam holding now the post of ASEAN president, was appointed to be the group's co-ordinator among ASEAN countries; and the RoK, a co-ordinator of the three remaining countries. Participants agreed to hold the EASG's meeting in Hanoi in May 2001 on the occasion of a special SOM meeting. (VNA) **** Sweden opens honorary consulate general Sweden has opened an honorary consulate general in Ho Chi Minh City. Swedish Consul in the city Niels Sundvik will serve in the new post. Swedish Ambassador Marie Sjolander, who is visiting Ho Chi Minh City, held a banquet on March 16 to inaugurate his appointment. Earlier, she was received by Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Vo Viet Thanh. (VNA) **** Vietnam-Russia exchange held An exchange entitled 'Prospects of Vietnam-Russia Co-operation and Friendship' was held on March 18 in Ho Chi Minh City. The exchange was between 200 students of universities and Russian consul general in Ho Chi Minh City, Mr Y G Grashenkov. During the three-hour cordial and open exchange, Mr Grashenkov provided to the young people updated information on Russia-Vietnam diplomatic ties and prospects of co-operation in economic, cultural and educational fields between the two countries in the coming time. This was an activity to mark the 70th founding anniversary of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union. _________________________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. 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