Lao Party General Secretary and State President Choummaly Sayasone arrived in Hanoi on August 8, beginning his official friendship visit to Vietnam at the invitation of Vietnamese Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and State President Truong Tan Sang.

ASEAN has actually become an important and indispensable factor for peace, stability and development in Southeast Asia, and a momentum to promote dialogue, cooperation and connectivity in East Asian and Asia-Pacific regions.

After two weeks of discussions, the first session of the 13th National Assembly (NA) has achieved great success, leaving behind significant repercussions.

The new National Assembly (NA) tenure should not change its function, but the way it carries out activities to serve the people more effectively, said NA Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung.

The Association of Vietnamese Cambodians in Kongpong Chhnang province held its first congress for the 2011-2014 tenure on August 6 with the participation of 90 delegates.

The Vietnamese Embassy in Moscow on August 5 held the 42nd traditional meeting with former Russian experts, who have helped Vietnam during the war in the country.

The 13th National Assembly concluded its first session in Hanoi on August 6 with a spirit of democracy and a high sense of responsibility.

National Assembly deputies gathered in Hanoi on August 6 to approve a resolution on tax reductions and exemptions for businesses and individuals to boost economic development in 2011.

State President Truong Tan Sang, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung continued to receive congratulatory messages from foreign counterparts on their elections during the ongoing first session of the 13th NA.

Outgoing Ambassador of Germany to Vietnam Rolf Schulze was presented with the insignia “For Peace and Friendship among Nations” from the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO).

A meeting was held in Hanoi on August 5 to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam-Thailand diplomatic ties.

National Assembly deputies gathered at a plenary session in Hanoi on August 5 to discuss tax measures to solve difficulties for businesses and individuals as well as boost economic development in 2011.

Lieutenant General Tran Quang Khue, Deputy Chief of General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army, received the visiting Vice Admiral Scott Van Buskirk, Commander of the US 7th Fleet, in Hanoi on August 5.

“If Vietnam purchases submarines, missiles, warplanes, and other materiel, it will be purely for the purpose of self-defence and protecting peace and the fatherland’s territorial integrity,” said Defence Minister Phung Quang Thanh.

The comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Thailand has always been strengthened and expanded to various fields, said Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Ngo Duc Thang on the occasion of the 35th anniversary of the diplomatic ties between the two countries.

It is necessary for the State and Government to clearly identify management levels from the central down to the grassroots to avoid overlapping decisions, said new Minister of Planning and Investment Bui Quang Vinh in an interview granted to a VOV reporter.

A delegation from the Union for a People’s Movement Party (UMP) of France, led by Secretary Chenva Tieu, who is in charge of foreign relations with Asia, has paid a working visit to Vietnam from August 1-4. 

National Assembly deputies reached a consensus on August 4 on the NA Standing Committee’s proposal to amend and supplement the 1992 Constitution at the session. 

Vietnam welcomes the Swedish Government’s decision to maintain its embassy in Hanoi and believes that the embassy will make positive contributions to promoting the two countries’ relations, a Vietnamese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said.

State Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan has highlighted the huge sacrifices made by the former revolutionary political prisoners and prisoners of war.

A high-ranking delegation of the Cambodia news agency (AKP), led by its Deputy General Director Ouk Kimseng, paid a working visit to Hoi An city in the central province of Quang Nam on August 3. 

Vietnam and China concluded a working-level negotiation on marine issues in Hanoi on August 1, reaching a consensus to solve East Sea issues through peaceful measures.

Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh has emphasised the need to boost relations with all other nations and diversify global integration from its current economic focus to all fields.

Artist Le Quang Dinh will receive an award for his contribution to contemporary arts from the Prince Claus Fund on August 8 at the Dutch Consulate General in HCM City.

The National Assembly’s ratification of the new cabinet members is a great honour for the government as well as a heavy responsibility that the Party, State, and people have given to the new cabinet, said Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.

On the afternoon of August 3, the National Assembly (NA) cast ballots to approve the list of Vice Chairman and members of the National Defence and Security Council at the proposal of the State President.

The Chinese Foreign Minister, Yang Jiechi, sent a telegram of congratulations to Vietnam’s new Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh on August 3.

The National Assembly (NA) on August 3 approved Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung's nomination of the cabinet members for the 13th tenure (2011-2026) with an overwhelming vote of 98.4 percent.

Vietnam and Thailand are celebrating 35 years of diplomatic relations with calls for building the ASEAN Community by 2015 among other regional goals. 

State President Truong Tan Sang on August 2 cabled a message of sympathy to President of the Presidium of Supreme People’s Assembly of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) Kim Yong-nam over great losses caused by recent heavy rains.