Vietnam calls on all parties concerned to conduct a full investigation on the recent massacre of civilians in the Syrian village of Houla and follow international humanitarian norms and respect human rights.

Women play an important role in all fields of socioeconomic and political life and contribute to boosting the world’s economic growth and dealing with major national and international issues.

The first congress of the Vietnam-Palestine Friendship Association (2012-2017 term) on June 1 elected a new 18-member executive board headed by Nguyen Quang Khai, former Vietnamese ambassador to several Arab nations.  

State Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan has expressed hope that Vietnam and Greece will work closely together at the UN and other international forums.

Vietnam is interested in the issues discussed at the World Economic Forum (WEF) on East Asia, especially related to regional connectivity, appropriate economic growth model for East Asia, and dealing with development challenges.

Cooperation and connectivity are major trends in East Asia, with regional countries, especially those in Southeast Asia, forming the core, says Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.

Vietnam’s experiences in socio-economic development will be shared at the World Economic Forum (WEF) on East Asia 2012 which is taking place in Bangkok from May 31 to June 1.

Working teams from Vietnam and China conducted the first round of negotiations on cooperation in less sensitive fields at sea, in Beijing, from May 29-30.

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Van Ninh expressed his delight at the World Bank (WB)’s continued support for Vietnam during his meeting with Karin Finkelston, International Finance Corporation’s Vice President on Asia Pacific under the WB on May 30.

On May 30, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung received Sudanese Minister of Communication and Information Technology Mohamed Abdelkreem Abdalla Alhad who is on a visit to Vietnam.

Although Southeast Asia has successfully maintained peace, stability, cooperation, and development, it still has to deal with security challenges, both traditional and non-traditional.

Two-way trade turnover between Vietnam and Belarus reached US$211 million in 2011 and the two countries are promoting cooperation in education and training as well as in science and technology.  

The Vietnamese government pledges constant support for the cooperation in national defense between Vietnam and Japan.  

Austrian President Heinz Fischer’s Vietnam visit will create a new momentum for expanding the friendship and cooperation between the two states and people.

State President Truong Tan Sang has thanked Austria for providing Vietnam with official development assistance (ODA).

The Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army, Gen. Do Ba Ty, met with the Chief of Joint Staff, Japan Self Defense Forces, Gen. Shigeru Iwasaki, in Hanoi on May 29.  

Vietnam will actively engage in discussions at the sixth ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting-Plus (ADMM6) to make it a success.  

On May 28, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung received Chief of the General Staff of the Lao People’s Army, Major General Suvon Luongbunmi who is currently on a working visit to Vietnam.

New ambassadors from Iran, Mozambique, Georgia, Eritrea and Ethiopia presented their credentials to State President Truong Tan Sang in Hanoi on May 28.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung will attend the World Economic Forum on East Asia 2012 in Bangkok on May 31.

Defence Minister General Phung Quang Thanh has highlighted the contributions made by US Ambassador to Vietnam David Shear to promoting the Vietnam-US relationship and the two countries’ defence cooperation.

It is a must for Vietnam to persist in trying to achieve the socio-economic targets set for this year, including curbing inflation, stabilizing the macro-econnomy, maintaining an appropriate growth rate, and ensuring social welfare.

The first political consultancy between the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its Sri Lankan counterpart was held in Colombo on May 24-25.  

Vietnam’s Deputy Foreign Minister Le Luong Minh and Algerian Ambassador Cherif Chikhi signed an exchange of note ratifying agreements on judicial assistance and maritime transport in Hanoi on May 25. 

Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi held a reception for Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Thanh Son in Beijing on May 25 to discuss consular activities and experiences in affairs relating to citizens overseas. 

Some of the comments on the situation in Vietnam stated in the US Human Rights Report 2011 are not objective, says Foreign Ministry spokesman Luong Thanh Nghi.

The National Assembly has voted to remove NA deputy Dang Thi Hoang Yen from its list of members due to her declaration of dishonesty.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung on May 25 received Prince Alfred of Liechtenstein who is here to prepare for a cultural program that will see Nobel Laureates coming to Vietnam in November.

National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung received the outgoing ambassadors of India and Hungary, Ranjit Rae and Vizi Laszio, in Hanoi on May 25.

Vietnam actively participates in mechanisms to build a nuclear weapon free South East Asia and Asia-Pacific region in a sustainable manner.