President asks Fatherland Front to enhance role

HA NOI — The Viet Nam Fatherland Front and its member organisations should further promote their role in consolidating national unity, improving mass mobilisation and promoting democracy.

President Nguyen Minh Triet made the statement in a meeting with the VFF Central Committee yesterday to review co-operation between the President's Office and the committee last year and key tasks for the year ahead.

Triet also asked the VFF to better implement Party and State's foreign policies and enhance the unity and friendship between Vietnamese and other peoples.

Outgoing RoK ambassador receives friendship medal

HA NOI — Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Gia Khiem yesterday presented a Friendship Medal to outgoing Ambassador of the Republic of Korea Im Hong Jae for his active contribution to the friendship and multifaceted co-operative ties between his country and Viet Nam.

Khiem affirmed that the Vietnamese Government and Ministry of Foreign Affairs always highly appreciated the ambassador's active and efficient contribution which had helped lift the relationship between the two countries to new heights, as a strategic co-operative partnership.

Im Hong Jae pledged to continue supporting the traditional friendship and strategic partnership.

VN aids Chilean victims after earthquake

HA NOI — On behalf of the Vietnamese Government, Permanent Deputy Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh conveyed deepest sympathies to the Chilean Government over the huge loss of life and property in the recent earthquake. The Vietnamese Government also provided US$150,000 to the Chilean Government and people to help them overcome the consequences of the earthquake.

Chilean Ambassador Jorge Canelas thanked the Vietnamese Government and people for their assistance. He emphasised that this would strengthen the friendly and co-operative relations between the two countries. — VNS