The World - News from Dec. 14, 1988

Vietnamese Vice Premier Vo Van Kiet painted a bleak picture of the nation’s economy, calling for the abolition of free health care and education. “The country’s social, economic and financial position did not improve in 1988,” he said in his opening speech at the December session of the National Assembly. A relatively strong growth rate is being offset by inflation, poor tax collections and a budget deficit, he said. Meanwhile, Hanoi said it will withdraw 18,000 more troops from Cambodia beginning this week, fulfilling a pledge to pull out half its contingent by the end of the year.