Vietnam attaches great importance to strengthening mutually beneficial cooperation with Sri Lanka in a practical and efficient way.

Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh has underscored Vietnam and Laos’ determination to foster the special solidarity, friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the two Parties, States and peoples on the occasion of the celebration of the Vietnam-Laos Friendship and Solidarity Year 2012.

The Vietnam-Laos friendship and comprehensive cooperation should be further promoted to ensure the two countries’ sustainable development in the context of difficulties in the world’s situation and the process of the socialist construction of the two sides.

Leaders of Vietnam and Laos have exchanged greetings on 35 years of the signing of the bilateral Friendship and Cooperation Treaty and 50 years of diplomatic ties. 

A meeting was held in Ho Chi Minh City on July 17 to mark the 50th anniversary of Vietnam-Laos diplomatic ties and the 35th anniversary of signing the Vietnam-Laos Friendship and Cooperation Treaty.

The 10th anniversary of the Central Highlands Steering Committee was celebrated on July 17 in Buon Ma Thuot city, Dak Lak province, with the attendance of Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.

Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh met with his Sri Lankan counterpart, Gamini Lakshman Peiris, on July 17 during FM Peiris’ official visit to Vietnam from July 16-18.

A ceremony was held in Long Xuyen city in the Mekong Delta province of An Giang on July 17, to receive a special national relics certificate for a memorial site dedicated to President Ton Duc Thang.

Vietnam always attaches importance and gives top priority to the traditional friendship and comprehensive cooperation with Cambodia.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has urged all Vietnamese lawyers to enhance international cooperation by joining hands with the diplomatic sector to increase the country’s role and reputation in the international area.

The ninth session of the National Assembly Standing Committee opened in Hanoi on July 16, reviewing the outcomes of the recent meeting of the NA and discussing preparations for its year-end meeting.

A delegation from the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) led by Deputy Head of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Information and Education Truong Minh Tuan has attended the 13th Congress of the South African Communist Party (SACP) since July 11.

A fleet of 30 fishing ships came to a fishing ground belonging to Vietnam’s Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago on July 15, 78 hours  after setting out to sea from the island province of Hainan.

The Republic of Korea (RoK) is set to hold ministerial-level talks with Vietnam over a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) soon, said the RoK Trade Ministry on July 15.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Doan Xuan Hung has made a fact-finding tour of Ibaraki and other prefectures in northeastern Japan to promote cooperation between Vietnam and these localities.

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung on July 15 hosted separate receptions for Japanese Foreign Minister Gemba Koichiro, who is in Hanoi for the fourth session of the Vietnam-Japan Cooperation Committee. 

Japan considers Vietnam a leading recipient of its official development assistance (ODA) and continues to provide the aid at high levels for the Southeast Asian economy.

The Quang Binh provincial Border Guard High Command, in co-ordination with the Public Security Department of Kham Muon province in Laos, organised an exchange on July 14 entitled “Vietnam-Laos Soldier Friendship”.

Together with other ASEAN countries, the Vietnamese delegation regrets that the 45th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM-45) in Cambodia failed to issue its joint statement.

Chinese fishermen’s activities around the Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago are illegal and violate Vietnam’s sovereignty over this archipelago. 

Deputy Minister of National Defence cum Commander of the Vietnamese Navy, Admiral Nguyen Van Hien, received Commander of the US Pacific Fleet Admiral Cecil D. Haney on July 13 during the fleet's courtesy visit to Vietnam.

A Vietnamese delegation led by Deputy Defence Minister Sen. Lt. General Nguyen Chi Vinh paid a visit to the Lao embassy in Hanoi on July 13 to celebrate the 2012 Vietnam-Laos Year of Friendship and Solidarity and other major anniversaries between the two countries.

Vietnam is keen to boost cooperation with China and ASEAN nations based on equality, mutual benefit and respect for international laws, independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The General Secretary of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee, Vu Trong Kim, has welcomed the Vietnam visit by a Cambodian Buddhist delegation as a practical contribution to promoting the good neighbourliness, traditional friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries.

Both the East Asia Summit (EAS) and the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) need to make further contributions to the region’s common goals of peace, stability, security and cooperation in the region.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has urged Vietnam and Thailand to build a mechanism for strengthening cooperation in rice processing and exporting.

Ambassador Nguyen Thi Hoang Anh presented her credentials to Joachim Gauck, President of the Federal Republic of Germany, at Bellevue Palace on July 11.

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has expressed the wish for further religious cooperation between Vietnam and Cambodia in the near future, helping to consolidate and strengthen the traditional friendship between the two countries. 

The ASEAN+1 Foreign Ministers Meetings with 10 ASEAN partners took place in Phnom Penh on July 11. 

Vietnam’s Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh held talks with his counterpart from China Yang Jiechi on July 11 in Phnom Penh on the sidelines of the 45th ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting (AMM 45).