The Vietnamese Government will strive its best to promote Vietnamese-British cooperation, with priority given to economic-commercial and educational and training areas, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung told a British Prime Minister envoy.

A Russian appeal court's recent decision to uphold a verdict by a Saint Petersburg court to free all defendants accused of killing Vietnamese student Vu Anh Tuan has caused disappointment and discontentment for the bereaved family in particular and Vietnamese people in general, said Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Phu Binh.

Economic development must ensure labourers’ legitimate interests and rights, said Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung while working with the Presidium of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL) at the Government Office in Hanoi on March 7.

Panama will support Vietnam's candidacy for non-permanent membership in the UN Security Council for the 2008-09 term, affirmed Panamanian senior officials while meeting with Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister Le Van Bang during his recent visit to Panama.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem reaffirmed Vietnam's traditional friendship with Cuba while meeting with the Communist Party of Cuba Central Committee (CPC CC) Secretary, Fernando Remirez de Estenos, in Hanoi on March 6.

The Vietnamese subcommittee of the Steering Committee for Vietnam-China Cooperation (SCVCC) convened in Hanoi on March 6 to prepare for the second meeting of the SCVCC scheduled for October.

The Vietnam People's Army and the Japanese Ground Self-Defence Force have agreed to intensify bilateral cooperation in rescue and relief activities, as well as in information technology training in the near future.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has praised Radio the Voice of Vietnam (VOV) for its substantial contributions to national achievements in recent years, particularly for its recent dissemination of accurate information about big events such as the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting and Vietnam’s admission to the WTO.

Radio the Voice of Vietnam (VOV) should strive to become a strong national radio station in the region and the world, providing up-to-date information for domestic people and international friends, said Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.

Over 200 Japanese pupils and students on the “Peace” ship wrapped up their two-day visit to the central city of Da Nang on March 5.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung praised great contributions by the culture and information sector to the country's socio-economic achievements in 2006, especially in making culture become the foundation of society.

The Vietnamese Government will create favourable conditions for Japanese investors to do business in Vietnam, said Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung while receiving a delegation of the International Friendship Exchange Council of Japan on March 5.

Vice Chairman of the Vietnam National Assembly of Vietnam Nguyen Van Yeu received a visiting delegation of the Swedish Parliament's Committee for External Affairs in Hanoi on March 5.

The Vietnam Lawyers’ Association (VLA) should actively take part in consultation work and social critique, intensify its supervision of law enforcement and persistently fight against bureaucracy, power abuse and law breaking to clean up the Party and State apparatus.

An awards ceremony was held at the Temple of Literature, Hanoi on March 4 to honour 17 overseas Vietnamese whose laudable activities have helped glorify the country.

It is important to answer all voters’ questions and work out specific measures to resolve concerns, says National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong.

The Hanoi Women’s Union on March 4 organized a ceremony to mark the 97th International Women’s Day (March 8) and the 1967th anniversary of an uprising led by the Trung Sisters against Chinese aggressors.

The charter of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) should reaffirm the group’s goals and fundamental principles, particularly those on non-interference and consensus, which are considered the key to success, said Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung applauded cultural exchanges between Vietnam and Japan as well as charitable and humanitarian activities of goodwill ambassador Sugi Ryotaro for disadvantaged Vietnamese children in recent times, while receiving the ambassador in Hanoi on March 2.

The Alliance of Francophone Parliaments' (APF) Asia-Pacific Region approved resolutions on developing tourism industry for poverty elimination and environment protection for sustainable development at a three-day session which closed in Siem Riep province, Cambodia, recently.

Over the past two months, the national economy showed positive signs of growth with industrial production value reaching more than VND89,000 billion, up 17.5 percent compared to the same period last year.

Vice State President Truong My Hoa has praised Orbis International for its effective assistance to the country, considering it a good example of collaboration between a developing country and an international non-government organisation for humanity and development purpose.

Vietnam’s achievements are impressive, said Dominican Ambassador to Vietnam Hans Dannenberg Castellanoss at a recent reception in Hanoi to mark the 163rd anniversary of National Day of the Dominican Republic.

Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Khiem has called on Indian businesses to pour more investment into Vietnam, particularly after it joined the World Trade Organisation, and pledged to grant more preferences to them.

Vietnam welcomes the organisation of bilateral talks between Japan and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on the normalisation of their ties in Hanoi from March 7-8, 2007, said announced Le Dung, spokesperson of the Vietnam Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Gia Khiem will pay an official visit to the US from March 11-16 at the invitation of US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, announced Le Dung, spokesperson of the Vietnam Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The 47th session of the National Assembly Standing Committee opened in Hanoi on March 1, presided over by the NA Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong.

The National Assembly (NA) Committee for Economic Affairs and Budget has examined reports on the implementation of socio-economic tasks in 2006, the State budgets for 2006 and 2007, and the Law on Thrift Practice and Wastefulness Prevention and the plan for socio-economic development in 2007.

The Vietnam, India inter-governmental committee on economic, trade and science and technology cooperation held its 13th meeting in New Delhi on February 27.

India considers Vietnam a key partner in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and in its "Look East" policy, emphasised Indian Minister of External Affairs Pranab Mukherjee.