VNA
NA discusses Constitution revision National Assembly deputies discussed the draft resolution on the amendment of and supplement to several articles of the 1992 Constitution at the plenary meeting chaired by Vice NA Chairman Nguyen Van Yeu on December 6, the fourteenth day of the NA's session. At the opening of the session, NA Chairman Nguyen Van An who is also head of the Drafting Committee for Amendment of and Supplement to the Constitution delivered a report to explain, receive opinions from deputies and correct the draft resolution on the revision of the Constitution. NA Chairman An said that most of deputies and people agreed to the revision of the Constitution. They all held that the main revision should be focused on several articles on the State apparatus and others on the fields of economy, education, science and technology. Thirty deputies from 21 cities and provinces contributed their opinions on the issue. NA deputies concentrated on discussing the amendment of and supplement to Preamble and 21 articles of the 1992's Constitution which are expected to be revised. They also raised some other articles needing to be amended and supplemented. At the end of the session in the afternoon, NA Chairman An affirmed that all opinions on the Constitution revision from deputies would be carefully considered and perfected by the Drafting Committee before it is submitted to the NA for approval. This will help the Constitution, after being revised, to become a powerful legal document contributing to strengthening the national renovation for a rich people, a strong nation and a just, democratic and civilised society. The NA started hearing cabinet members' answers to voters' question and deputies' questions on December 7. **** NA issues resolution on ratification of Vietnam-US trade agreement The National Assembly has issued a resolution on ratifying the Vietnam-US Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA). The resolution was made public under President Tran Duc Luong's order, signed on December 4. The BTA was ratified by the 10th session of the 10th National Assembly on November 28 with 64.3% of the vote in favour. It will come into effect on the day the two sides have completed the necessary legal procedures. (VNA) **** German Parliament president concludes visit The president of the German Parliament (Bundestag), Wolfgang Thierse, left Ho Chi Minh City on December 6, concluding his five-day official visit to Vietnam. While in Vietnam, Mr Thierse held talks with National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Van An. He was received by President Tran Duc Luong and Prime Minister Phan Van Khai. During these various meetings, the German parliament chief and Vietnamese leaders exchanged views on developing and consolidating the relationship and co-operation between Vietnam and Germany in all fields. They agreed to further bilateral relations between the legislative agencies, the governments, and people of Vietnam and Germany. Mr Thierse attended a session of Vietnam's 10th National Assembly, and the signing of a memorandum of understanding on co-operation between Hanoi University of Technology and Dresden Technical University. He visited central Thua Thien-Hue province and southern Ho Chi Minh City. (VNA) **** Vietnam, RoK news agencies' co-operation praised The news agencies of Vietnam and the Republic of Korea (RoK) have co-operated effectively and they should maintain their role as the "leading information agency" in both countries, said Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Khiem. During his meeting in Hanoi on December 6 with a visiting delegation of the RoK's news agency, YONHAP, headed by its President and Publisher Kim Keun, Deputy Prime Minister Khiem stressed that in order to boost effective co-operation, the two agencies should increase exchanges of information and experiences in providing accurate news on a real time basis to serve the two nations' interests. He added Vietnam News Agency (VNA) and YONHAP should boost co-operation in training reporters and officials, assisting and creating favourable conditions for reporters of each country to operate effectively in the other. The deputy prime minister wished that the co-operation between VNA and YONHAP would be further developed to match up with the potential and aspirations of both sides. President Kim informed Deputy Prime Minister Khiem of the results of the talks between his delegation and VNA leaders, stressing the two sides agreed to accelerate practical and effective co-operation in various fields. The two sides reviewed the implementation of the agreement on co-operation and news exchange signed between the two agencies in Seoul on July 26, 2000. The YONHAP president affirmed his hope that YONHAP and VNA would promote co-operation in order to better spread information about RoK and Vietnam as well as to provide the Vietnamese and RoK people with regional and world news accurately, thus helping enhance friendship and co-operation between the two countries. VNA General Director Le Quoc Trung and RoK Ambassador to Vietnam Paik Nak-Whan were at the reception with the deputy prime minister. (VNA) **** Deputy PM to visit US Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung will pay a working visit to the United States from December 9-14, said Ms Phan Thuy Thanh, a spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry, in Hanoi on December 6. The visit, made under an agreement between the Vietnamese and US governments, is intended to boost the development of relations between Vietnam and the US, particularly in economic and commercial fields, Ms Thanh told reporters at a regular press briefing of the Foreign Ministry. She added it is the first visit by a leader of Vietnam since the new US administration took office. Mr Dung will be accompanied by Trade Minister Vu Khoan, Planning and Investment Minister Tran Xuan Gia, Construction Minister Nguyen Manh Kiem, senior officials of other ministries, and business people. He is scheduled to have talks with senior officials of the US government and Congress, and meet with representatives of US business circles. Besides Washington, the foreign ministry spokeswoman said, the deputy PM will also tour New York and San Francisco. (VNA) **** Spokesperson: US catfish law unilatural and arbitrary Vietnam protests a new US law which bans the import of "catfish" from other countries including Vietnam into the US, said Ms Phan Thuy Thanh, a spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry, in Hanoi on Thursday. She was responding to correspondents' questions about Vietnam's reaction to US President George W Bush's signing of a budget bill on agriculture spending (called HR 2330). The bill contains a supplementary article (SA 2000) limiting the import of "catfish" from other countries, including Vietnam, into the US market. Ms Thanh stressed: "We reject this act and consider it as a unilateral and arbitrary one." "The act," she added, "is not in accordance with the spirit of the Vietnam-US Bilateral Trade Agreement which was passed by the US Congress itself and signed into law by President Bush." It runs counter to the spirit of business freedom that is promoted by the US and it harms the growing bilateral economic-commercial relations between Vietnam and the US, Ms Thanh noted. "We hope the US will not take similar actions in the future to avoid harming our bilateral relationship," the spokeswoman said. She also asked the US to take active support measures to minimise effects that the law would bring to Vietnam, especially to producers in Vietnam's Mekong River delta. Replying to a question from a correspondent of Radio the Voice of Vietnam about the official appointment of Mr Raymond Burghardt as the US ambassador to Vietnam, Ms Thanh said that Vietnam had received an official proposal from the US for approval of ambassador Raymond Burghardt. "Vietnam will consider the proposal in accordance with procedures and in conformity with the growing development of relations between the two countries," she added. The spokeswoman expressed her hope that the new US ambassador will make active contributions to promoting the relationship between Vietnam and the United States, thus conforming to the interests of both peoples. (VNA) **** Vietnam welcomes agreement of Afghan factions Vietnam is following with keen interest and welcomes the agreement reached in Bonn by Afghan factions, says a spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry. Answering questions from Vietnamese and foreign correspondents on Vietnam's reaction to the agreement reached by Afghan factions in Bonn, Germany, which will set up an interim government in Afghanistan, the FM spokeswoman, Phan Thuy Thanh, said in Hanoi on December 6: "Vietnam is following the process with keen interest and welcomes the agreement recently reached at the Bonn meeting between Afghan factions. We welcome all efforts for a political solution to put an early end to the present war in Afghanistan, ending the misery and loss of the Afghan people and creating conditions for them to reconstruct their country." She confirmed Vietnam's respect for the selection made by the Afghan people and stressed: "A government that creates solidarity among broad sections of the nation, which is selected by the Afghan people, and which establishes peace and friendship with other countries, will meet the interest of the Afghan people and benefit regional and global peace and stability." (VNA) **** Vietnam calls for peaceful solution in Middle East Vietnam once again calls for a peaceful, equitable, and sustainable solution to the Middle East process, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said. In a recently-released statement, he added that once again Vietnam calls on concerned parties to refrain from using force, build confidence, and resume negotiations on the basis of Resolutions 242 and 338 of the United Nations Security Council and the principle of "land for peace" in order to find a constructive solution. The foreign ministry spokesperson noted that the solution should meet the legitimate interests of related parties. He said the peace process in the Middle East is facing serious challenges, especially after Israeli attacks on the headquarters of the Palestinian Authority, causing great loss in life and property to Palestine. He added that the actions made the situation in the region more tense and threatened the possibility of peace and stability in the Middle East. (VNA) **** Concerns about lives and property of Vietnamese in Phnom Penh Vietnam is deeply concerned about the lives and properties of Overseas Vietnamese living in Cham Kamon and Mienchay districts of Cambodia's Phnom Penh after two fires occurred there late last month, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said. Phan Thuy Thanh, the foreign ministry spokeswoman, said at a regular press briefing in Hanoi on December 6, that "We follow the event with keen interest and deep concern about the lives and properties of the Overseas Vietnamese there." She stressed: "Vietnam is actively taking measures to support her nationals falling victim to the fires. The Vietnamese Embassy in Cambodia is co-operating with the local authorities to help the overseas Vietnamese overcome difficulties." Ms Thanh assured the press of Vietnam's request to the Cambodian government and the local authorities to create favourable conditions to help the affected Vietnamese bring their lives to normal soon. (VNA) **** Reception marks Finland's National Day Finnish Charge d'Affaires a i Hikka Talsio gave a reception in Hanoi on December 6, in celebration of the 84th Finnish Independence Day. Minister of Justice Nguyen Dinh Loc attended the event. The charge d'affaires expressed his pleasure at the development of friendship and co-operation between Finland and Vietnam with the recent exchange of high-level delegations. He said that in addition to bilateral co-operation agreements, Finland and Vietnam have signed multilateral agreements which create opportunities for the two countries to further develop economic ties. Minister Loc said he believed that the good relations between the two countries would continue meeting the interests of the two peoples and for global peace, stability and co-operation. (VNA) **** Vietnam expresses condolences over French reporter's death Vice President Nguyen Thi Binh has conveyed condolences to the family of Roger Pic, the French reporter, who passed away on December 3 at the age of 81. The vice president described Roger Pic as a close friend of Vietnam who strongly supported Vietnamese struggle for national independence. Roger Pic witnessed the US war in Vietnam from 1959 to 1975. He photographed and videotaped US bombings in several places in the country, including the Nam Dinh Textile Mill and a petrol warehouse in northern Haiphong port city. His film on 'Vietnam's Great Victory' was shown on France's TF1 channel just after the US was defeated in southern Vietnam in 1975. Roger Pic met the late President Ho Chi Minh, who described as an outstanding figure several times. His books and chronicles on President Ho Chi Minh and the war in Vietnam have touched thousands of readers. 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