VNA
Hanoi's economic structure should be shifted: Party leader Communist Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh has asked Hanoi and other localities across the country to devise plans to shift their economic structure, mainly by utilising internal strengths. Mr Manh also urged them to capitalise on external sources to build an independent and self-reliant economy, thus helping the country to remain stable in the face of international circumstances beyond its control. The Party leader made the remarks while meeting with Hanoi's voters on October 23, in preparation for the forthcoming tenth session of the National Assembly, due to open in mid-November. He lauded Hanoi's efforts to fulfil almost all targets of its yearly socio-economic plan. In the first nine months, Hanoi's gross domestic product (GDP) grew 9.94% year on year as compared to the country's GDP growth of 7.1%. Also in the reviewed period, Hanoi registered year-on-year rises of 10.1% in industry, 1.2% in agriculture, 11% in the service sector, and 10.5% in service commodity circulation, according to a local report. Regarding the National Assembly session's agenda, Party General Secretary Manh said the National Assembly would discuss and pass amendments and supplements to a number of articles of the 1992 Constitution, and exchange views on how to increase the National Assembly's role in judicial supervision and inspection of law-enforcement. It would also discuss and approve a law on elections to the National Assembly in preparation for the 2002 National Assembly elections, Mr Manh said, adding that the session would consider and ratify the trade pact between Vietnam and the United States. (VNA) **** Vietnamese, Chinese legislative delegations hold talks A delegation of the Vietnam National Assembly's Council for Nationalities held talks with a visiting delegation of the National People's Congress Committee for Nationalities of China in Hanoi on October 23, discussing ways to boost assistance and co-operation between the legislative bodies of the two countries. They also informed each other of the socio-economic development in their respective countries and of the two legislative bodies' activities concerning ethnic minorities in recent years. The Vietnamese delegation was led by Cu Hoa Van, member of the Standing Committee of the National Assembly and Chairman of its Council for Nationalities, and the Chinese delegation, by Jiang Cun Luo Bu, member of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress and deputy chairman of its Committee for Nationalities. Later in the day, the Chinese guests were received by National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Van An, who spoke highly of the results of the talks between the two delegations. Mr An welcomed the visit as a contribution to developing the traditional ties and special friendship between Vietnam and China. He also recalled the visit to Vietnam by Li Peng, Chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, last September, which Chairman An described as "an important landmark in the relations between the Parties, governments, National Assemblies, and peoples of Vietnam and China." Chairman An expressed his belief that the two legislative bodies and their committees and agencies would promote bilateral co-operative ties and share experiences in their activities, thus helping strengthen the traditional relationship between the two countries. (VNA) **** Lao justice minister visits Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung described Lao Justice Minister Khamouan Boupha's visit as not only contributing to the development of relations between the two justice ministries, but also strengthening the special friendship and co-operation between the Parties, States, governments, and people of Laos and Vietnam. Deputy Prime Minister Dung on October 23, received the Lao Minister and his entourage who are currently on a six-day working visit which started on October 22. He expressed his hope that the two justice ministries would strengthen co-operation in the drafting and implementation of new laws as well as in the training of personnel. Minister Khamouan expressed his wish that Vietnam would co-operate, support, and share experiences with his ministry, especially in personnel training. Earlier, the Lao delegation held a working session with a delegation of the Vietnamese justice ministry led by Minister Nguyen Dinh Loc. The two sides discussed measures to boost co-operation in the years to come. The Vietnamese side affirmed its intention to continue assisting Laos in training doctors, masters, and post graduates of law. (VNA) **** More commercial exchange with China's southern provinces sought Vietnam's Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Cong Tan on October 22, ended a two-week visit to China's four southern provinces of Guangdong, Hainan, Yunnan, and Guangxi, to seek ways to bolster economic and commercial co-operation between Vietnam and these localities. During his fact-finding tour, Deputy Prime Minister Tan met with local leaders and business executives in these provinces to discuss measures to make full use of the potential for co-operation between the two sides. China's local leaders and entrepreneurs expressed their hope to boost economic and commercial ties with Vietnam in all areas, especially tourism, transit transport, and fisheries. The deputy prime minister also visited production establishments, farm and forest plantations, fisheries facilities, training centres, and research institutions in these localities. In recent years, the economic co-operation between Vietnam and these provinces has been promoted to help two-way trade between the two countries reach US $2.4 billion last year and an estimated US $3 billion this year. Chinese investors have also conducted various small and medium-sized projects in Vietnam. (VNA) **** Ho Chi Minh sea route anniversary marked The 40th anniversary of the Ho Chi Minh sea route was held at the Naval 125 Corps in Tan Cang (New Port), Ho Chi Minh City on October 23. Forty years ago, the 759 Corps (the predecessor of the Naval 125 Corps) was established. Its task was to open the strategic, the Ho Chi Minh sea route, to transport weapons, materials, technical equipment and personnel for the southern battlefield. During the anti-US resistance war for national salvation, the 125 Corps fulfilled its assigned task. During the 14 years working on the Ho Chi Minh sea route, non-numbered ships carried out 853 trips, transporting 47,650 tonnes of weapons and 28,741 officers and men to the south. The Corps also shot down the enemy¹s five fighters and destroyed 16 warships and captured 42 prisoners of war. In the historic Ho Chi Minh campaign, the 125 Corps co-ordinated with other arms and services to liberate Truong Sa (Spratly Islands), Thu Island, Con Dao and Tho Chu. On this occasion, the State president conferred the Hero of the Armed Forces title onto officers and men of Ship 165 of the 125 Corps; Military Exploit Order, third class, to Brigade 125 and Feat-of-Arm Order, third class, to Truong Sa 02 Ship. Many war veterans were presented with Vietnam People¹s Naval Service medals. **** Armed forces join rescue activity in central provinces The armed forces are now pooling their efforts to rescue people and their property in the central provinces which were hit by a severe flood. The border guards of Da Nang central city saved one boat which was sinking due to a torrential rain on October 22. After five hours of searching for victims, they have found two people. The same day, the naval force of Quang Binh province saved seven people who were on a fishing boat during a sudden downpour. The boat was carrying eight people when it was sunk. One person is still missing. Five fishing boats were sunk and two others were missing after a downpour accompanied with a whirlwind hit Nghe An central province. The provincial Border Guard Command has mobilised seven ships and fishing boats of fishermen to rescue people. Eighteen people have been saved. Soldiers are now searching for those who are still missing. All soldiers of the Military Zone 5 are mobilised to be ready for the flood rescue activities. The Military Command of Quang Nam central province has worked out a plan to send troops to help local people deal with the floods. The Military Agency of Dai Loc flood-prone district has set up a mobile team of civil defence in each commune. The Military Command of Quang Ngai central province has also mobilised forces, three trucks, canoes, aluminium boats and other equipment to be ready to deal with the floods. The Border Guard Command asked its soldiers stationed in the coastal areas to let off flares as signal to boats to take shelter in case of floods and torrential rains. Border posts of Thuan An and Hoa Duan ports have deployed five boats and canoes for rescue activities. The provincial border guards have prepared four high-speed canoes to be ready for joining rescue activities from Bach Tho bridge area in Hue city to the upstream of Huong river. Border soldiers of A Luoi district have informed the inhabitants of flash flood, so they can minimise the consequences. According to an initial report, floods killed one person in Binh Dinh province. The flood also collapsed seven houses, sunk 13 boats sunk, broke three portions of dyke system and submerged tens of hectares of rice. In order to help the local people promptly stabilise their lives, the local administrations have provided families having one person dead with VND 1 million, households losing food due to flood with 10 kilograms of rice per each person per month and also given parts of expenses to rebuild collapsed houses. A downpour, which was caused by a tropical depression, fell in Quang Binh central province from October 21 to 23. The rainfall was measured at 150 to 250 millimetres. As of October 23, three people were reported killed because their boats were capsized, six fishing boats were sunk and 125 houses were submerged. Meanwhile, storms, whirlwinds and floods have taken the death toll in the Mekong delta since August to 305. Of this figure, 241 were children as of October 21. Waters have submerged 313,000 houses, destroyed almost 3,000 others and flooded 186 offices and 1,658 schools in the delta provinces. Material losses are estimated at VND 886 billion (about US $59 million). The local administration have helped evacuated 26,700 households in flooded areas to higher ground, provided food to 112,000 households and boats and fishing nets to 3,400 others. **** Vietnam, Singapore, Thailand to boost science, technology co-operation Vietnam has discussed with Singapore and Thailand how to boost co-operation in the scientific, technological, and environmental fields. A delegation of the Committee for Science, Technology and Environment of the National Assembly (NA) led by its Vice Chairman Vu Dinh Cu paid a working visit to Singapore and Thailand from October 13-21. In Singapore, the delegation met with the Singaporean Parliament's Deputy Speaker and relevant committees. They also had working sessions with Singapore's agencies relating to scientific and technological, telecommunications, agricultural, and veterinary fields. In Thailand, they met with the Vice President of the House of Representatives and worked with the Committee for Science and Technology and the Committee for Environment and Natural Resources of the House of Representatives, and the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment. The Singaporean and Thai agencies stressed their wishes to boost the co-operation and exchange of experiences with Vietnam under agreements on bilateral co-operation and within the ASEAN Inter-parliamentary Organisation. (VNA) **** Vietnam, Ukraine Inter-governmental Commission discusses boosting ties The Vietnam-Ukraine Inter-governmental Commission for Economic, Commercial, Scientific and Technological Co-operation held its sixth session in Kiev from October 18-21. Vietnam's delegation to the sixth session was led by Deputy Trade Minister and Chairman of the Vietnamese section to the Commission Le Danh Vinh and the Ukrainian delegation by Minister of Economy and European Integration A V Shlapak. The two sides reviewed the implementation of agreements reached at the previous session and discussed measures to boost the two countries' co-operation in trade, industry, energy, geological exploration, tourism, science and technology, and education as well as the development of relations between the two countries' localities. While in Ukraine, the Vietnamese delegation also held working sessions with a number of Ukrainian ministries and agencies and toured some localities in the country. 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