Vietnam to discuss Afghanistan, ratify U.S. pact
HANOI - Vietnam's National Assembly will discuss
the U.S.-led war in Afghanistan and ratify an historic trade
pact with the United States during a session starting on
November 20, official media reported on Friday.
Director of the assembly office, Vu Mao, said delegates would
work out suitable moves for Vietnam's future after the
September 11 attacks on the United States and the
retaliatory raids against Afghanistan, the Thanh Nien (Young
People) newspaper reported.
It said delegates will also ratify the market-opening trade
pact with the United States at the end of November, after
which the legislation will take effect.
The assembly will sit from November 20 until late December,
following a preparatory meeting this week of its Standing
Committee, the paper said.
Mao said the working agenda also include approval of
amendments and supplements to the Constitution and three
existing laws on electing National Assembly delegates, the
organization of the assembly, and that of the government.
On Wednesday, Communist Party General Secretary Nong Duc
Manh was quoted as saying that the ratification of the trade
pact was part of Vietnam's policy on diversifying international
relations.
The Vietnam-U.S trade agreement signed last year commits
Hanoi to ongoing economic reforms and market opening in
exchange for Washington extending normal trade relations
annually.
Vietnam is one of just a few countries that do not have
normal trade relations with the United States. As a result,
U.S. tariffs on products from the country average 40 percent,
or more than 10 times the level for most other nations.
The U.S. Senate has approved the agreement and President
Bush signed the legislation early last week.
Reuters - October 25, 2001.
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