State President Nguyen Minh Triet stressed that Kon Tum province must pool all resources to reduce poverty for local people, particularly ethnic minority groups in especially difficult areas.

Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City’s People’s Committee Le Hoang Quan on April 19 received Iranian Vice President for Physical Education Mohammad Aliabadi, who is on a visit to Vietnam.

Mozambique is eager to strengthen ties with Vietnam, primarily in the fields of agriculture, education, healthcare and poverty alleviation, said Mozambique Minister of Planning and Development, Aiuba Cuereneia.

The province must give top priority to boosting socio-economic development, creating an open investment environment and reinforcing Party building and political system while maintaining security and national defense in the Central Highland strategic area, said State President Nguyen Minh Triet during his visit to Gia Lai from April 18-19.

“We were saddened by the shooting tragedy on April 16, 2007, which claimed the lives of more than 30 people, most of whom were students of the Virginia Tech University. We would like to send our deepest condolences to the families of the victims and the American people,” said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Le Dung.

At the 48th session of the National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee in Hanoi on April 19, deputies considered the approval of two ordinances concerning the exercise of democracy in communes, districts and townships and on the singing and implementation of International agreements.

Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Nguyen Van Yeu expressed his hope that businesses of Vietnam and Poland will accelerate cooperation in investment and trade, while receiving a delegation from the Legislative Committee of the Polish Parliament's Lower House, in Hanoi on April 18.

A National Assembly (NA) delegation led by its Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong will make official visits to Laos and Cambodia in the near future, announced the NA Office on April 18.

Vietnam and Iran have developed good relations in various fields, and Iranian Vice President Mohammad Ali Abadi’s visit to Vietnam this time will further enhance bilateral friendship and cooperation, said National Assembly (NA) Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong while receiving Mr Abadi in Hanoi on April 18.

Truong Tan Sang, a member of the Political Bureau of the Party Central Committee, has called for greater efforts to strengthen the Party’s leadership in popularising and educating the law so as to raise people’s awareness and observance of the law.

A national conference to examine the implementation of thrift practice and wastefulness prevention and to launch an inspection programme in 2007 concluded in Hanoi on April 17 after two days’ sitting.

The Party and State of China wish to strengthen cooperation with Vietnam in corruption prevention and inspection in an effort to further enhance bilateral relations on the basis of equality and mutual benefit.

State Vice President, Truong My Hoa held talks with Iranian Vice President for Physical Education, Mohammad Ali Abadi in Hanoi on April 17 with a view to boosting cooperation in all areas and in sports and physical training.

The State President’s Office on April 17 held a press briefing to announce amendments and supplements to Article 73 of the Labour Code and to some articles of the NA Organisation Law, which were approved at the 11th session of 11th NA on April 2, 2007.

On the first day of its 48th session, the National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee gave opinions on the establishment of a court in charge of marriage and family affairs.

Central Highland Dak Lak province should boost economic development while ensuring political and social stability and reinforcing the great national unity bloc, said State President Nguyen Minh Triet during his working session with local leaders on April 17 as part of his tour of Central Highland provinces.

State President Nguyen Minh Triet praised the recent achievements recorded by Central Highland authorities and people and asked them to fully tap their potential and implement comprehensive measures to boost socio-economic development and improve the living conditions of local people.

The Vietnamese Government will create all favourable conditions for Japanese investors to operate effectively in the country, said Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.

Vietnam and Japan will facilitate the exchange of information between their police forces to better combat atypical offenses such as high-tech and environmental crimes and terrorism.

Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Takatoshi Kato will pay a working visit to Vietnam from May 23-24, according to the IMF Vietnam Office.

State President Nguyen Minh Triet has called on mass organisations and people of all strata to pay more attention to people with disabilities and orphans and take practical action to help them get full access to rights like other citizens in society.

Liu Qibao, Secretary of the Party Committee of China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region has pledged to further promote bilateral cooperation with Vietnam, particularly in cross-border trade, and encourage local businesses to invest in the country.

The northern province of Hung Yen should fully tap its potential to boost socio-economic development and strive to increase the proportion of industrial production and services in its GDP to nearly 50 percent in the coming years, says Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh.

Choummaly Sayasone, Secretary General of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party Central Committee and President of Laos, has expressed his desire to further strengthen the close bonds and mutual assistance between the Laos capital city of Vientiane and Vietnam’s largest economic hub Ho Chi Minh City.

Vietnam will spare no efforts to promote the multifaceted cooperation with Cuba, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung told visiting Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque in Hanoi on April 14.

Science and technology play an important role in raising the competitiveness of the national economy, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung stressed during a working session with the Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST) in Hanoi on April 13.

National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong has asked the Chinese city of Chongqing to increase investment and cooperation with Vietnamese localities in urban construction, development and management.

The close ties between the two legislative bodies will help boost the friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries, said Cuban Parliament President Ricardo Alarcon while receiving Vietnamese delegation from the National Assembly’s Law Committee led by its president Vu Duc Khien.

Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Khiem chaired a meeting to discuss celebrations for the upcoming 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Vietnam and Laos and the 30th anniversary of the Friendship and Cooperation Treaty in Hanoi on April 11.

Vietnam’s National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong called on the Chinese business community, particularly those from Heilongjiang, to intensify their investment platforms in Vietnam during the working visit to the capital city of Heilongjiang province, Harbin, on April 11.