Vietnam and Thailand have agreed to boost cooperation in search and rescue, sea patrols, exchange of delegations and logistics, as well as coordination within the framework of defence cooperation among ASEAN member countries.

The Supreme People’s Court maintained the original prison sentence from the first trial of Cu Huy Ha Vu for “conducting propaganda against the State of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam”, at an appeal court held in Hanoi on August 2.

The National Assembly (NA) on August 2 adopted a resolution ratifying the government structure formed by the 13th NA.

The Cambodian news agency (AKP) has received active assistance from the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) in information exchange and personnel training, thus contributing to the fine development of the two countries’ relations, said AKP Deputy General Director Ouk Kimseng.

Lao Party General Secretary and State President Choummaly Sayasone will pay an official visit to Vietnam from August 8-10. 

A delegation of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee’s Office led by its Deputy Head Duong Thanh Bac paid a working visit to the Supreme Court of Ukraine on July 26. 

The Supreme People’s Court opened a court of appeals on August 2 for Cu Huy Ha Vu to appeal against a prison sentence for “conducting propaganda against the State of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam”.

The Central Commission for Communication and Education met in Hanoi on August 1 to mark the sector’s 81st anniversary.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has approved a decision to conduct a national survey on business, administrative, non-profit and religious establishments next year.

Achieving three strategic breakthroughs set by the 11th National Party Congress is the central task of the Government during its 2011-2016 tenure, stressed Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.

A Vietnamese defence ministry delegation led by Deputy Minister Nguyen Chi Vinh paid a working visit to the Ku Len War Invalids Centre 317 in Siem Reap province of Cambodia from July 30-31.

Thailand’s PTT Exploration and Production Public Company Limited (PTTEP) will start exploiting oil in Vietnam very soon, said PTTEP President and CEO Anon Sirisaengtaksin.

Entrepreneurs elected to the National Assembly (NA) should do their best to represent the aspirations and raise the voice of the Vietnamese business sector, said NA Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung.

Vietnam and Laos have agreed to further cooperation in culture and tourism at a talks held in Hanoi on July 30.

The whole society should join hands to care for victims of Agent Orange/dioxin, said Minister of National Defence, General Phung Quang Thanh.  

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Vu Van Tam on July 29 met with FAO Assistant Director General for Fisheries and Aquaculture Arni M. Mathiesen and Deputy Director General of FAO Fisheries Department Rohana Subasinghe.

State President Truong Tan Sang, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung have received more congratulatory messages from foreign leaders on their elections at the ongoing 13th NA. 

Vietnam always treasures support by the Party, State and people of Laos for the country during its cause of national defence and development, as well as Laos’ contributions to boosting cooperative relations between the two countries.

Vietnam persists in supporting efforts against proliferation of nuclear weapons and all other weapons of mass destruction towards full disarmament, said Ambassador Le Hoai Trung.

The Hanoi Master Plan covering the period up to 2030 will play a vital role in the country’s socio-economic development, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung said.

Vietnam and Cambodia on July 29 held a ceremony to officially allow each other’s vehicles to go through the pair of international border gates at Hoa Lu-Trapeang Sre in the southern province of Binh Phuoc and the neighbouring Cambodian province of Kratie.

NA deputies have voted to elect more than 400 members to the NA Ethnicity Council and NA agencies.

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan presented an Order of Friendship granted by the Vietnamese State to the German ambassador to Vietnam Rolf Peter Gottfried Schulze in Hanoi on July 29.

The continued imprisonment of Nguyen Van Ly decided by the court conforms to the regulations of Vietnamese law, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Nguyen Phuong Nga said.

State President Truong Tan Sang on July 27 sent a message of condolences to Moroccan King Mohammed VI over an air accident which occurred one day earlier.

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin has congratulated Nguyen Tan Dung on his re-election as Prime Minister of Vietnam at the ongoing 13th National Assembly.

Finnish Ambassador to Vietnam Pekka Hyvonen has received the Friendship Order from the Vietnamese Government for his contributions to boosting friendship and multifaceted cooperation between the two countries.

Vietnam and Laos need to share professional experience and promote mutual understanding to help their government offices obtain substantial results as expected.

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

The total number of members of the National Assembly (NA) Ethnicity Council has been decided at 40, including 4 NA Vice Chairpersons and Ksor Phuoc nominated as Chairman.