The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) posthumously conferred the Gold Star Order on former member of the Party political bureau, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Nguyen Co Thach, at a ceremony in Hanoi on January 15.

Mozambique President Armando Emilio Guebuza and his wife arrived in Hanoi on January 16 beginning a five-day official visit to Vietnam at the invitation of President Nguyen Minh Triet.

The relations between Vietnam and China will steadily develop in the coming years, said Tong Thi Phong, Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee.

Cambodian Ambassador to Vietnam Long Kem has been bestowed with an insignia “For Peace and Friendship among Nations” in recognition of his contributions to boosting relations between Vietnam and Cambodia.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung returned to Hanoi on January 15 after attending the 12th ASEAN summit and related meetings in Cebu, the Philippines. Mr Dung granted an interview to VOV to talk about Vietnam’s contributions to the success of these meetings.

The 10th Party Central Committee began its fourth conference in Hanoi on January 15 focusing discussions on preparations for the election to the upcoming legislature, reorganisation of Party and State bodies, important economic development policies in the post-WTO period and a marine strategy.

East Asian leaders agreed to adopt the Cebu Declaration on Energy Security in East Asia in which regional countries pledged to seek alternative energy sources, effectively use and preserve available energy sources aimed at ensuring stable supplies of energy for common developments in the region.

The Journalism and Propaganda Institute held a meeting in Hanoi on January 14 to mark its 45th anniversary and receive the Ho Chi Minh Order.

Regarding Vietnam’s role in the 12th ASEAN Summit, Vietnamese Ambassador to the Philippines Vu Xuan Truong said all ASEAN members hope that Vietnam will play a greater role in the ASEAN cooperation framework.

The leaders of ASEAN and dialogue countries unanimously agreed to push the implementation of cooperation plans within the framework of comprehensive or strategic partnership agreed upon by ASEAN and each dialogue country, for peace, stability and development in the region and the whole world at large.

The diplomatic sector has two important tasks of strengthening cooperation and solidarity among the overseas Vietnamese community and supporting trade promotion and economic development, said Vietnamese ambassador to Finland Tran Ngoc An in an exclusive interview granted to a VOVNews reporter.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has proposed that dialogue countries give continued support to ASEAN countries, particularly in infrastructure construction, poverty reduction and scientific and technological development.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has asked regional countries to diversify cooperation formula and consultancy mechanism with partners to make the Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS) a bridge between member countries and the business community.

ASEAN leaders have adopted many key documents at their 12th summit in the Philippines, including the Cebu Declaration Towards One Caring and Sharing Community, on the early Establishment of an ASEAN Community by 2015, the Blueprint of the ASEAN Charter, and the ASEAN Convention on Counter Terrorism.

Nicaragua's President-elect Daniel Ortega has expressed his desire to visit Vietnam in a near future to boost the multifaceted cooperation between the two countries.

Vietnam and the US will see greater trade and investment as well as official contacts between their respective executive and legislative agencies in the coming years, according to Vietnamese Ambassador to the US Nguyen Tam Chien.

A 16-member delegation from Belgium’s Wallonie region flew to Vietnam on January 12 to sound out business opportunities, particularly in healthcare in Ho Chi Minh City.

Vietnam will simplify administrative procedures to increase the efficiency of State management between 2007 and 2010, following a project approved by the Prime Minister on January 10.

On the sidelines of the 12th ASEAN Summit, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung on January 12 attended the third Cambodia-Laos-Myanmar-Vietnam meeting and met with Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

On January 11, many international news agencies commented on Vietnam’s officially becoming the 150th member of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

The US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) honoured Vietnam as its 2006 Country of the Year in recognition of Vietnam’s emergence as a US’ important trade partner in Southeast Asia and its key role in enhancing Vietnam-US relations.

The Central Highlands province of Dak Lak should focus on poverty reduction and social policies in order to improve ethnic minorities’ living standards and bring into full play its roles as a centre of the Centre Highlands.

A Vietnamese Government delegation led by Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung left Hanoi on January 12 for Cebu, the Philippines, to attend the 12th ASEAN summit and related meetings at the invitation of Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

State Vice President Truong My Hoa has attended a conference on strengthening solidarity among young people from different ethnic groups in the Central Highlands region during her recent visit to Dak Lak province.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung welcomed visiting Japanese Communist Party leader Kazuo Shii in Hanoi on January 11, saying the visit made an important contribution to further developing relations between the two parties, governments and peoples.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has called for a fast and sustainable development of a commercial banking system to catch up with the world trend.

The President of the Republic of Mozambique, Armando Emilio Guebuza, will pay an official friendship visit to Vietnam from January 16-20, announced the Foreign Ministry on January 11.

Vietnam’s becoming an official member of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) is an event of great significance to Vietnam’s integration process, marking the country’s full participation in the global trade system.

The Central Highlands province of Gia Lai should focus on maintaining political security and social order, considering it a top priority to boost local socio-economic development.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung will lead a Vietnamese delegation to take part in the 12th summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Cebu, the Philippines from January 12-15, said Foreign Ministry (FM) spokesperson Le Dung at a regular press briefing in Hanoi on January 11.