Vietnam Promises Fresh Aid to Iraq

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Vietnam News Agency

Viet Nam pledges fresh support to Iraqi people

HA NOI (VNA) -- Prime Minister Phan Van Khai on Monday vowed that Viet Nam would
do its utmost to strengthen its relationship with Iraq, which he described
as "a special bond tried and tested in times of war."

The PM made the commitment during a reception held in Ha Noi on Monday for
Iraqi Trade Minister Mohamed Mehdi Saleh, who is in Viet Nam for the ad-hoc
meeting of the Inter-Governmental Co-operation Committee.

The visiting trade minister briefed Khai on the outcomes of Monday morning's
meeting.

He emphasised the success of the two countries' oil for food programme and
praised the prosperous strategic relationship between the two countries,
saying he hoped to garner further support from Viet Nam.

Saleh also touched on the challenges the Iraqi people have faced during the
10-year embargo, and the determination of the whole nation to withstand this
pressure.

The PM said the Vietnamese people had the deepest sympathy for the Iraqis,
as they had also experienced the ill-effects of an embargo.

He also spoke of the gratitude the Vietnamese people felt for the solidarity
and support they have enjoyed at all times from Iraq and its citizens.

Khai gave Saleh a run-down of Viet Nam's socio-economic situation, and
enumerated the agricultural products -- including rice, cooking oil and tea
-- that Viet Nam would export to Iraq under the oi for food programme.

The PM also said there was room for a significant expansion in the two
nations' wide-ranging co-operation.

Finally, he asked Saleh to convey his warmest wishes to Iraqi President
Saddam Hussein. -- VNS
 
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nytas-06.19.01-01:18:57-11036