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.

Vietnam will continue to promote relations with Indonesia, affirmed Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung at a meeting with Indonesian Ambassador Artauli Ratna M.P Tobing, in Hanoi on January 10.

Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh has discussed with the visiting leader of the Japanese Communist Party (JCP) ways to promote bilateral relations between the two parties.

National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong on January 10 recommended that the Central Highlands province of Kon Tum be more active to attract investment and develop forestry in order to generate more jobs and secure poverty reduction.

State President Nguyen Minh Triet, on January 9, asked the judicial sector to quickly adjust its system of legal documents so as to make them comply with international laws.

Ho Chi Minh Highway is of historic and strategic significance to the country’s socio-economic development and national modernisation and industrialisation. The construction of the highway will be completed by 2020.

Vice State President Truong My Hoa on January 9 praised the achievements obtained by young people in the Central Highlands in their local socio-economic development as well as in national defence and construction.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has called on sectors and localities to make greater efforts to fulfil major tasks of 2007 including achieving an economic growth rate of 8.5 percent, accelerating administrative reform and intensifying the fight against corruption and wastefulness.

Party leader Nong Duc Manh has urged the capital city of Hanoi to obtain a high economic growth and create a breakthrough in Party building and rectification in 2007, deserving to be the national political and administrative centre and setting a bright example in various areas for other localities to follow.

The Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) has played well its role in gathering mass organisations and people from all social strata to strengthen the bloc of great national unity, said State President Nguyen Minh Triet at the seventh conference of the VFF Presidium in Hanoi on January 9.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung will attend the 12th Summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and related meetings in the Philippines on January 12-15 at the invitation of Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, announced the Foreign Ministry on January 8.

A meeting was opened in the northern province of Quang Ninh on January 8 to review two years of implementing the conclusion report No. 162 of the Party Politburo on State management of journalism and propaganda activities related to important national events in 2007.

A national conference was held in Hanoi on January 8 by the Party Central Committee’s Inspection Commission to review its activities in 2006 and set tasks and orientations for 2007.

Vice State President Truong My Hoa highly valued great effort and achievements made by Vietnam Dairy Products Joint Stock Company (Vinamilk) during a visit to the company on January 8.

Vietnam and Laos signed an agreement on economic, commercial, cultural and scientific-technological cooperation for 2007 at the 29th working session of the Vietnam-Laos Cooperation Committee which closed in Hanoi on January 7.

The Overseas Vietnamese Assistance Fund under the Foreign Ministry’s Committee for Overseas Vietnamese (COV) held a meeting on January 6 to review activities in the past year and set tasks and orientations for this year in the presence of State Vice President Truong My Hoa.

Vietnam and India are not only faithful friends but also comprehensive and reliable partners, a diplomat said in New Delhi on January 4.

Vice State President Truong My Hoa conferred the friendship medal on President of SOS International Children Village Helmut Kutin in Hanoi on January 5.

National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong received a visiting delegation of the Lao National Assembly's Economy, Planning and Finance Committee led by Chairman Khamsing Sayakone on January 4.

Leaders of the People's Army of Vietnam and the Royal Armed Forces of Thailand have decided to maintain and develop the relations of friendship and cooperation between the two militaries in various fields.

The Prime Minister has approved an agreement on joint oil exploration offshore the Bac Bo (Tonkin) Gulf, which was signed last year by the Vietnam Petroleum Corporation (PetroVietnam) and the China National Offshore Oil Corporation.