<B>Of Human Rights in Vietnam</B>

This topic is not chosen at random in the wake of a related action taken early September by the US House of Representatives, an action in no way acceptable to the Government and people of Vietnam.

Human Rights are a cultural value of humankind, with enormous importance. As the Vietnamese often say, to lose one

FM rejected claims by Amnesty Int'l and H.R Watch


Ha Noi, Oct. 1 (VNA) -- The Foreign Ministry today, Oct. 1, rejected claims by Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch that the Vietnamese Government had used closed-door trials to impose prison terms on 14 ethnic minority people in Tay Nguyen (the Central Highlands).

U.S Government helps restore cultural relics


Ha Noi, Sept. 27 (VNA) -- U.S. Charge d' affaires to Viet Nam Robert Porter on Sept. 26 granted USD 15,000 to the effort to restore 29 ancient statues and articles of worship in the Dau Pagoda in Thuan Thanh district of northern Bac Ninh province.

This is the U.S. Government's first official donation to Viet Nam's cultural relics restoration.

The project, expected to be complete by the end of 2001, will be carried out at a total cost of USD 20,000, including USD 5,000 contributed by Viet Nam's Ministry of Culture and Information.

PM Phan Van Khai calls for expanding overseas markets

Ha Noi, Sept. 22 (VNA) -- Prime Minister Phan Van Khai has asked Vietnamese commercial counsellors abroad to further expand overseas markets.

During his meeting with 41 counsellors in Ha Noi on Sept. 22, PM Khai encouraged the counsellors to find ways to boost external economic activities in line with Viet Nam's foreign policy of being friends with all nations, diversification, multilateralisation, mutual respect, non-interference in each other's internal affairs, and mutual benefit - for the interest of each country, the region, and the world.

NGOs representatives reject Vietnam Human Rights Act


Ha Noi, Sept.20 (VNA) -- Foreign non-governmental organisations (NGO) in Viet Nam have adopted a joint statement protesting against the so-called "Viet Nam Human Rights Act" passed by the U.S House of Representatives on Sept.6, calling on all U.S senators not to endorse the Act.

FM Spokeswoman on BTA and VN Human Rights Act

Sept. 20, 2001 Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Phan Thuy Thanh anwsered questions from reporters on approval of Bilateral Trade Agreement and Vietnam Human Right Act as follows:


1. AP: Please advise if Viet Nam will reconsider the approval of the Bilateral Trade Agreement if the US Senate approves the Vietnam Human Rights Act?

Answer:

Americans overwhelmed by Vietnamese sympathy over attacks


By Michael Mathes (DPA)

Hanoi (dpa) - American businesspeople, aid workers and embassy officials said Wednesday they have been overwhelmed with the amount of support and sympathy offered by Vietnamese over last week's devastating terrorist attacks in the United States.

While Vietnam's normally reserved state media has confined its expressions of sorrow to an announcement by President Tran Duc Luong, personal reactions by Vietnamese have been deep and heartfelt.

Vietnam strongly condemns terrorism


Viet Nam's Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Pnan Thuy Thanh on Thursday, Sept. 20, answering questions from reporters said that " consistently, Viet Nam opposes terrorist acts that bring about death and suffering to innocent people", "the culprits of terrorist attacks must be punished" and "think that the United States must exercise caution, correctly identify the culprits and in its action, must respect the UN Charter, respect fundamental principles of international law". The full text is as following:

Vietnam welcomes China's entry into WTO



On Sept. 20, 2001, FM Spokeswoman Phan Thuy Thanh answered quesstion regarding China's entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO). Ms. Thanh said that Viet Nam welcomes China's WTO admission, considering it to be an important event for China and the global economy.

China is a major economy in the region as well as the world, so its admission to the WTO will bring about new opportunities and challenges for Viet Nam.

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