Socialist Republic of Vietnam

US Ambassador to Vietnam Michael W. Marine said that the US embassy in Vietnam will try its best to urge American non-governmental organisations to work out humanitarian assistance projects for Kon Tum province, and is willing to serve as a bridge to help US businesses inquire into investment opportunities there.

Ambassador Marine visited the Central Highlands province of Kon Tum from March 8-9.

Ha Ban, Chairman of the People's Committee of Kon Tum, introduced to the US Ambassador the province's economic, cultural and social achievements, which helped improve the people's living conditions to an average annual income of US $290 per person in 2005.

He spoke about Kon Tum province's great potential, saying that the province is calling for foreign investment in forest planting, construction of hydro-power projects, livestock breeding and eco-tourism.

In regards to religious freedom, a matter of the US Ambassador's concern, Mr Ban said Kon Tum now has four religions - Catholicism, Protestantism, Buddhism and Caodaism - with a total of more than 140,000 followers including more than 90,300 ethnic minority people, accounting for 39% of the province's population.

There is no discrimination between religious and non-religious people in Kon Tum, Mr Ban said. The authorities and priests have met regularly to discuss measures to help ethnic people, including Catholics and Protestants, develop economic production.

With regard to those who illegally crossed the border to Cambodia and have returned home voluntarily, the residents of the province do not discriminate against them, but have created favourable conditions for them to reintegrate into the community. The Chairman of the provincial People's Committee noted that they still receive assistance through State policies on the allocation of farm land, housing, education and health care.

Ambassador Marine visited the Kon Tum Polyclinic Hospital, which receives a large number of ethnic minority patients, beneficiaries of the Vietnamese Government's policy on free health care; and a charity centre of Kon Tum province, where 60 handicapped children, victims of Agent Orange/ Dioxin, are being brought up and cared for.

Source: Vietnam News Agency (VNA)

Photo: Tuoi tre Online.