VietNamNet Bridge – Most Venerable Thich Tri Tinh, First Deputy Patriarch and Chairman of the Viet Nam Buddhist Sangha (VBS) Executive Council and Most Venerable Thich Minh Chau, Deputy Patriarch of VBS, were awarded Ho Chi Minh Orders yesterday, Dec 28.

On behalf of Party and State leaders, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan presented the Orders to them at separate ceremonies held in the city.

Nhan said the awards recognised their contributions to the sangha, taking part in patriotic emulation movements and Buddhist campaigns for peace.

He wished the two leaders health and happiness for the new year and conveyed his best wishes to Buddhist dignitaries, monks, nuns and followers, both in and outside the country.

* Ethnic committee delegation in Laos

Lao Vice President Bounnhang Volachith received a visiting delegation of the Vietnamese Government's Committee for Ethnic Minority Affairs led by Minister-Chairman Giang Seo Phu in Vientiane yesterday.

Bounnhang Volachith thanked the Vietnamese Party, Government and people for past assistance to Laos.

He expressed his wish that the Committee for Ethnic Minority Affairs and the Lao Front for National Construction will boost co-operation in personnel training and build special policies for ethnic people.

This was aimed at helping border residents manage the common borderline and fight crime, strengthening the special ties between the two countries.

Giang Seo Phu, who is on a two-day working visit to Laos, said he was overjoyed at great changes in Laos and briefed the host about the delegation's working session with leaders of the Lao Front for National Construction.

During the session, the two sides agreed to accelerate exchanges of information and experience in training and co-ordination.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News