VNA Vietnam, China to boost comprehensive ties Vietnam and China agreed to boost their relations and co-operation in all fields during talks between Vietnam's National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Van An and Chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress Li Peng in Hanoi on the afternoon of September 7. Li Peng, who is also a member of the Politburo Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, arrived in Hanoi for a four-day official visit to Vietnam as guest of the Communist Party Central Committee and the National Assembly Standing Committee of Vietnam. Mr An and Mr Li informed each other of their respective countries' economic development and foreign policies as well as the two legislative bodies' operations. They agreed to strengthen and expand relations and co-operation in all fields in the future. Mr An welcomed Mr Li's visit to Vietnam and congratulated the CPC on its 80th founding anniversary. The NA chairman went on to praise the achievements recorded by the Chinese people in the recent past, especially in the last 20 years of reform and openness, and socialist construction. Chairman Li reiterated the time-honoured traditional friendship between China and Vietnam. He expressed his joy at the success of the Ninth Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) which affirmed Vietnam's continued development along socialist lines. He said he believed that the relationship and co-operation between the two countries would continue to develop. Regarding foreign relations, Mr An said Vietnam will continue with its policy of openness, diversification and multilateralisation of relations. "Vietnam wants to befriend all nations, striving for peace, co-operation and development," he said, adding that Vietnam will give co-operation priority to regional countries. He stressed that Vietnam aims to maintain close ties with China, Laos, Cambodia, and other ASEAN member countries on the basis of developing bilateral co-operation while boosting relations with traditional friends and other partners, particularly in economic and commercial co-operation on the basis of mutual benefit. Mr An thanked China for its co-operation with Vietnam when the latter became President of ASEAN and the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF). Regarding bilateral ties, Mr An affirmed that Vietnam attaches importance to its comprehensive co-operation with China. Vietnam's Party, government, National Assembly, and people are always grateful to China's Party, government and people for their great support and assistance to Vietnam. Solidarity and co-operation between the two country are important to the success of the renovation in Vietnam and reform in China. Chairman An expressed his pleasure at the strong development of the two Parties and States' ties, which have been broadened intensively on the principle of building stable, long-term, good-neighbourly, future-oriented, and all-round co-operative ties as agreed upon. He also spoke highly of the Chinese government's assistance to Vietnam in building a number of important economic projects, thus contributing to developing the relationship and mutual trust between the two countries. Mr An expressed his belief that, with concerted efforts, both sides, including Vietnam's National Assembly, would help to elevate the Vietnam-China ties to a new height. Chairman Li said that both countries share similar views on both bilateral and international issues; China supports Vietnam's entry into ASEAN as well as its role in this regional organisation. Like Vietnam, China attaches great importance to developing its relations with neighbouring countries because, by so doing, it will build a peaceful environment for national development. The Chinese leader expressed his belief that Vietnam would be successful in its renovation process. He also expressed his hope that the two Parties, governments and National Assemblies would continue to co-operate with each other. Mr Li expressed China's hope for a visit to China by CPV General Secretary Nong Duc Manh. He also recommended that the two legislative bodies promote exchange of high-level visits and visits by delegations of their functional committees in the near future. On this occasion, Li Peng invited Nguyen Van An to make a visit to China at an appropriate time in the near future, and his invitation was accepted with thanks. On the same evening, Chairman An gave a State banquet in honour of Li Peng, his wife, and entourage. The function was followed by a traditional art performance. (VNA) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Ha Tinh should develop production for export: PM PM Phan Van Khai works with Ha Tinh officials. Prime Minister Phan Van Khai on September 7 asked central Ha Tinh province to link its agricultural production with its industrial processing in order to develop all agriculture, fisheries, and product processing for export. Prime Minister Khai, who is leading a government delegation on a fact-finding tour of Vietnam's central provinces, praised Ha Tinh's relentless efforts over the past years to build rural traffic and electricity networks, develop educational and medical systems, and ensure security and defence. "However," he said "the province should make greater efforts to fully utilise its potential to expand education, health care, and irrigation works in every region, particularly its western and coastal areas." The PM urged Ha Tinh to make major economic structural changes because its agricultural production still comprises 51% of the province's total economic output. Mr Khai would like to see industrial production (only 14%) and the service sector play a greater role in the province's economy. To that end, he added, Ha Tinh should restructure its State-owned enterprises, saying: "Those businesses operating at a loss should change their ownership structure and call for more investment." "Within the next two years, we hope that the province will be able to reduce its poverty rate by one quarter, but this will take concerted efforts from every Party member and government official," Mr Khai told key provincial officials at a meeting held on the morning of September 7. Last year, Ha Tinh posted a total food output of 460,000 tonnes, with a per capita food output of 370 kilograms. It has to date ensured water for 75% of its rice fields and electricity supply as well as medical services for all of its communes. (VNA) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ NA acknowledges US House of representatives' passing of trade agreement Vietnam's National Assembly acknowledges the US House of Representatives' passing the Vietnam-US bilateral trade agreement (BTA) as a new move for the benefit of both countries. So said a statement released by the National Assembly's Committee for External Relations in Hanoi on September 7, in relation to the US House of Representatives' passing the BTA and the so-called 'Vietnam Human Rights Act' on September 6. The statement said: "Vietnam's National Assembly also expresses its discontent with the US House of Representatives' passing the so-called 'Vietnam Human Rights Act'. "This is a rude interference into Vietnam's internal affairs and a blatant violation of the fundamental standards of international law, including the United Nations Charter, thus creating a dangerous precedent in the relations between sovereign nations," the statement stresses. It continues to say that Vietnam-US relations can be developed healthily only on the basis of mutual respect for each other's independence and sovereignty, non-interference into each other's internal affairs, and equal co-operation for mutual benefit. "Vietnam's National Assembly strongly condemns and resolutely rejects the 'Vietnam Human Rights Act' and calls on the public in the US to stop the endorsement of this wrong act", the statement concludes. (VNA) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Statement by spokeswoman of Ministry of Foreign Affairs The Vietnam - US Trade Agreement results from efforts made by Vietnam and the United States and was concluded on the basis of respect for independence, sovereignty, equality and mutual benefit. Early approval and implementation of the Agreement are in the interest of both Vietnam and the United States. In this spirit, we recognise the approval of the Bilateral Trade Agreement by the US House of Representatives as a necessary step towards bringing it into life. On the other hand, we strongly object to the approval of the so-called 'Vietnam Human Rights Act' by the House of Representatives. This Act constitutes a flagrant distortion of the real situation in Vietnam, gross interference into Vietnam's internal affairs, runs counter to the UN Charter and fundamental principles of international law, creates a perilous precedent in international relations linking trade and economic relations with unacceptable political conditions. This document reflects the attempts of some individuals to put pressure on and set conditions for relations with Vietnam. It goes against the interests of the peoples of Vietnam and the United States and stalls the improvement of the bilateral relations. It will certainly be condemned by world public opinion. Relations between Vietnam and the United States are those between two sovereign states and can only be further developed on the basis of respect for independence, sovereignty, non-interference into each other's internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit. In this spirit, we vehemently reject the 'Vietnam Human Rights Act' and demand that this injudicious document be abrogated. The United States itself carried out a brutal war of aggression in Vietnam, seriously violating the Vietnamese people's fundamental rights. The Vietnamese people have undergone a protracted and arduous struggle against foreign aggression, made untold sacrifices and suffered great losses to regain the most fundamental human rights to live in peace, independence, freedom and human dignity and of the pursuit of happiness. The Vietnamese people are determined to preserve those sacred human rights and will not allow anyone to violate them. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Vietnam Red Cross appeals for flood relief The Vietnam Red Cross Society launched an appeal for immediate relief assistance to flood victims in the Mekong River delta region as rising water levels in the region caused severe hardship for the people living there. At least 44 people, 38 of them children, have died while 33 clinics, 466 schools and 800 kilometres of road have been damaged along with 107 bridges. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 21st SEA Games opens The opening ceremony for the 21st South East Asian (SEA) Games was solemnly held on September 8 in the national stadium in the Bukit Jalil sports complex, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. This is the biggest sports festival of the region in the new millennium with the participation of 3,512 athletes from ten ASEAN member countries. The opening ceremony has been arranged painstakingly with a cultural and artistic programme that is rich in the cultural identity of Malaysia. The theme of the ceremony is 'Youth and Sports.' ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Vietnamese flag raised at SEA Games 21 A ceremony was held on September 7 to raise the Vietnamese flag, along with the flags of eight other ASEAN countries, and the host, Malaysia. Vietnamese athletes and officials, including Mr Nguyen Danh Thai, minister in charge of sports, stood to attention as the national flag of Vietnam was raised to the tune of the national anthem. Vietnam is competing in 24 out of 32 sports at the region¹s biggest biannual sporting event. _________________________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. 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