State President on October 26 said he was pleased with the great efforts made by different agencies and organisations in preparing for the APEC 2006 Week scheduled on November 12-19.

The President was speaking at a rehearsal for a Gala Dinner of the State President and his wife which will take place at the National Conference Centre on the occasion of the 14^th APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting.

The President inspected the facilities including meeting rooms, guest welcoming protocol and art performances areas at the National Conference Centre

He stressed that great attention had be given to ensuring the Gala Dinner be a solemn, joyful, impressive and safe event.

Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Khiem also said that Vietnam was ready for the APEC 2006 Week.

"We can now say that we have made good preparations. All issues, from working out an agenda to protocol, logistics, media and security have been carried out as planned. A number of rehearsals have been made to correct every tiny inappropriate details," the Deputy PM said.

Inside the main conference hall.	Guest welcoming practice in front of the hall.

Present at the rehearsal were also Vice President Truong My Hoa, Prime Minister's Special Envoy Vu Khoan and officials of the APEC Secretariat.

It is expected that nearly 1,000 guests will be invited to the Gala Dinner where they will enjoy a lot of Vietnamese traditional art performances with the participation of around 300 artists and a chamber music programme. The guests will include economic leaders, ministers and senior officials from APEC members and representatives from diplomatic agencies in Hanoi.

The centre, which covers on an area of 64 ha in My Dinh, Hanoi, was designed by a German architect. It accommodates a main conference hall with 3,800 seats, two special 42-seat meeting halls, one conference hall with 442 seats, a 1,000-seat banquet hall, and an International Media Centre (IMC).