Assistant to the Sudanese President and deputy chairman of the National Congress Party (NCP), Nafie Ali Nafie Ahmed, paid a visit to Vietnam from March 25-28. He was accompanied by the Minister of Aquaculture and Agro-Forestry and some senior officials of Sudan.

The Indian delegation led by Speaker of India’s House of the People, Somnath Chatterjee left Ho Chi Minh City on March 27, successfully concluding its official visit to Vietnam at the invitation of the Vietnam National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong.

Many National Assembly deputies at the March 26 debate session pointed out the need to develop a market economic institution, saying it must be considered as a key task for the Government during its coming term.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao reiterated that exchanges of visits and meetings between Chinese and Vietnamese leaders is one of the best ways to create a firm political foundation for the two countries' relations during his meeting with visiting Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Khiem in Beijing on March 26.

Vietnam and Brunei have great potential for further cooperation, especially in trade, investment, education and training, human resources, tourism and aviation.

An agreement on cooperation between the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) and the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) was signed in Hanoi on March 26 by VNA General Director Nguyen Quoc Uy and BTA General Director Maxim Minchev.

The Ho Chi Minh (HCM) City mayor has expressed his wish that after the Indian House Speaker's visit to Vietnam, the friendship and multifaceted cooperation between the two countries as well as between HCM City and Indian localities would be developed to a new height.

Over the past two years, the State has spent hundreds of US dollars each year providing free healthcare services for children under six years old at public medical centres. As a result, nearly 8.5 million children under 6 have been provided with free medical cards.

The Vietnamese and Chinese foreign ministers held talks in Beijing on March 25, discussing measures to further boost friendly and cooperative ties between the two parties and the two countries.

“The Vietnamese Party and State have always had strong sentiments towards young generations. Therefore, young people should make greater efforts to be worthy of this confidence and love,” said State President Nguyen Minh Triet.

As many as 700 young people gathered at the Hanoi National University on March 25 for a meeting with State President Nguyen Minh Triet to discuss social and economic development issues.

“As a ruling Communist Party which leads the socialist State, the Party must master political and revolutionary theory, unceasingly renew its way of thinking, leadership method and organisation structure and improve the quality of Party members to boost social development, said Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and representatives from relevant ministries and sectors on March 24 had a working session with the Management Board of Hoa Lac high-tech zone and authorities of northern Ha Tay province.

Vietnam wants to further develop the traditional relations of friendship and cooperation with India in all areas, particularly in economics, trade and investment.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem will pay an official visit to the People’s Republic of China from March 24-29 at the invitation of Minister of Foreign Affairs Li Zhaoxing.

Vietnam wants to further develop the traditional relations of friendship and cooperation with India, said Vietnam National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong during his talks with Speaker of India’s House of the People, Somnath Chatterjee in Hanoi on March 23.

NA deputies on March 23 approved a Government report on legislative amendments and supplements to article 73 of the Labour Code providing another day off each year for labourers to celebrate the Hung Kings’ death anniversary.

Vietnam and Pakistan have constantly developed their friendly and cooperative ties over the past 35 years since the two countries established diplomatic ties in 1972.

Vice President Truong My Hoa will pay an official visit to Brunei from March 25-28 at the invitation of Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, senior minister of the Prime Minister’s Office of Brunei Darussalam.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has asked the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union to renew and develop its activities so that it will become the mainstay of the Party and State and the vanguard force in society.

Thailand is an important partner for Vietnam in economics, trade and investment, said Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung on March 21 while receiving visiting Arsa Sarasin, the Thai King's Principle Private Secretary, who was accompanied by representatives of more than 40 leading Thai groups and companies.

The Asia-Pacific Council of American Chambers of Commerce (APCAC) is willing to give more support to Vietnam in implementing its infrastructure projects, as well as its commitments to the WTO.

The National Assembly Committee for Science, Technology and Environment on March 21 agreed with the Government’s proposal to build a new NA House under the Ba Dinh National Political Centre project where the former Ba Dinh Square witnessed historical landmarks in the cause of national liberation, construction and defence.

Belorussian President Alexander Lukashenko will pay an official visit to Vietnam from March 25-27 at the invitation of President Nguyen Minh Triet, according to the Foreign Ministry.

Vietnam has always been an active member of the Francophone in following its direction and promoting the community's activities in both economic and political-cultural areas.

Over the past five years, despite regional and international complications as well as adverse impacts of natural disasters, Vietnam has made important achievements in various areas, helping improve people’s living conditions and elevate the country’s position and role in the international arena.

The Second Meeting of the Joint Committee of the Cross-Border Transport Agreement among countries in the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) was held in Beijing, China on March 20.

The 11th session of the 11th National Assembly is taking place at a time when Vietnam has fulfilled its socio-economic development tasks for 2006 - the first year in which the country successfully implemented the 10th National Party Congress’ resolutions and NA resolutions on the socio-economic development plan for the 2006-2010 period, said NA Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong.

President Nguyen Minh Triet has affirmed that Vietnam always creates the most favourable conditions for foreign investors to cooperate with their local partners and do business in the country.

Hungary wants to further foster its traditional friendship and long-term cooperation with Vietnam in all aspects, particularly in animal husbandry, education and training, and tourism, stressed a special envoy of the Prime Minister of Hungary.