Vietnamese ambassador to the US Nguyen Quoc Cuong and other foreign ambassadors engaged in a dialogue on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement which was held in the US on March 28.

President Truong Tan Sang on March 29 handed over appointment decisions to 29 officials who will work as representatives of diplomatic Vietnamese missions in foreign countries. 

Science and technology is considered as one of strong pillars of support for bilateral cooperation between Vietnam and India, said Indian Minister of Science and Technology Vilasrao Deshmukh.

Vietnam and the Republic of Korea (RoK) on March 29 issued a joint press release following Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung’s visit to the RoK and his participation in the second Nuclear Security Summit. 

The 9th ASEAN Chiefs of Defence Forces Informal Meeting (ACDFIM-9) took place in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on March 29, drawing the participation of representatives from all ten member countries.

The Republic of Korea (RoK) considers Vietnam an important partner in development cooperation and investment, says Prime Minister Kim Hwang-Sik.

The Ministry of Planning and Investment and the United Nations (UN), the European Union (EU) on March 28 signed an agreement on updated guidelines for official development assistance (ODA).

Vietnam always creates favourable conditions for businesses from the Republic of Korea (RoK) to invest in the Southeast Asian country, said Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung during his official visit to the country at the invitation of President Lee Myun-pak.

The Vietnamese Embassy has been officially inaugurated in Athens, Greece.

Laos’ Pasason daily newspaper, the organ of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party, on March 28 ran an editorial highlighting 2012 as Laos-Vietnam Solidarity and Friendship Year to promote cooperative relations between the two countries.

Almost 30 young naval officers from ASEAN countries gathered on March 28 in the central city of Nha Trang for an exchange to promote friendship, solidarity and cooperation between the regional countries’ naval forces.

The two Foreign Ministers have agreed to strengthen economic and trade links between Vietnam and Australia on a par with their political relations.

Vietnam and Australia should take advantage of the free trade agreement between the latter, ASEAN and New Zealand to boost bilateral economic cooperation, especially in food safety and hygiene, natural resources and energy exploitation.

The European Union will continue to expand relations with new emerging markets, including Vietnam.

The Vietnamese communities abroad are an inseparable part of the Vietnamese nation, and the Party and State will do their utmost to protect these communities’ interests.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung will lead a Vietnamese delegation to attend the 20th summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) at the invitation of Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Hunsen.

Vietnam and the Republic of Korea have agreed to increase dialogue and multifaceted cooperation, especially in diplomacy, national defence, and security, as well as in economics, trade and investment.

To Huy Rua, Politburo member and Secretary of the Party Central Committee on March 27 received Takebe Chumotu, President of the Japan-Vietnam Parliamentarians’ Friendship League.  

National Assembly (NA) Vice Chairman Uong Chu Luu has affirmed that the visit to Vietnam by a delegation from the Cambodian Commission on Legislation and Justice contributes to promoting the ties of friendship and cooperation between the two legislative bodies.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung held meetings with his New Zealand, UK and Pakistani counterparts on the sidelines of the second Nuclear Security Summit in Seoul on March 27.

Vietnam is ready to expand cooperation with the Czech Republic in various fields including national defence, said State President Truong Tan Sang at a reception for the Czech Defence Minister Alexander Vondra in Hanoi on March 27.

Vietnam has been involved in the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism (GICNT) and is considering approving the Additional Protocol (AP) of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

A Vietnamese delegation led by Lieutenant General Luu Duc Huy attended the 9th ASEAN Military Intelligence Informal Meeting (AMIIM-9) which opened in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on March 27.

The National Assembly is expected to adopt 13 bills and a draft resolution, and debate 7 other bills in its mid-year session, according to NA Office Chairman Nguyen Hanh Phuc.

Vietnam will establish an information technology (IT) training centre named after the Indian IT city of Bangalore, says Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan.

A delegation of the Vietnam National Assembly Council of Ethnic Affairs led by Deputy Head Trieu Thi Nai is on a working visit to Laos from March 24-30.

Vietnam attaches great importance to strengthening relations with France, a priority partner in Europe and the world, says Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.

Officials from the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and the Labour Party of Mexico (PT) have sought ways to enhance friendship and cooperation between their parties.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung left Hanoi on March 26 to attend the second Nuclear Security Summit in Seoul and pay an official visit to the Republic of Korea at the invitation of President Lee Myung-bak.

To maintain GDP growth of 6 percent in 2012, Vietnam should smooth the way for business to boost industrial production, develop markets, facilitate product sales and reduce inventory.