A delegation from the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment of Vietnam led by Do Hoai Nam, Director of Department of Technology Appraisal Examination and Assessment, has paid a working visit to Argentina.

The President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee (VFFCC), Huynh Dam, has sent a message of congratulation to Phandouangchit Vongsa, member of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Politburo, on his election as President of the Lao Front for National Construction (LFNC).

The Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) presented the “For Peace and Friendship among Nations” insignia to outgoing Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam Sun Gouxiang for his contributions to the friendship between the people of the two countries.

Vietnam strongly condemns the bomb blasts in Mumbai, India, on July 13, a spokeswoman from the Vietnamese Foreign Ministry said.

Vietnam and Laos would do their best to preserve and uphold the traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries for mutual interest and for peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

The first session of the 13th National Assembly (NA), opening on July 21, will focus on its organisation and personnel work.

Deputy Prime Minister cum Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Gia Khiem will lead a Vietnamese delegation to attend the 44th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (AMM 44), the Post Ministerial Conference (PMC), and the 18th ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF 18) which will be held in Indonesia from July 19-23.

The region had reduced the number of poor households to 13.45 percent and created 375,000 new jobs by 2010.

Minister of National Defence General Phung Quang Thanh received the ambassadors of Laos and Malaysia, who came to bid farewell to him before concluding their terms of office in Hanoi on July 13. 

The National Assembly’s Standing Committee on July 13 opened its 42nd session which focused on tax exemption and reduction plans.

The second session of the People’s Councils of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City convened on July 13.

The third conference on the National Assembly (NA)’s Committees for External Relations of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia opened in Champasak province, Laos on July 10.

Nhan Dan (People) and Pasason daily newspapers of the Vietnamese and Lao Parties will enhance the exchange of training, expertise and experiences to help the people understand and follow the Parties’ policies and guidelines, said Nhan Dan Editor-in-Chief Thuan Huu.

The fifth conference of the Hanoi City Party Committee closed in Hanoi on July 12 with the adoption of 4 important programmes.

Bilateral cooperation between Vietnam and France has seen constant growth, said President of the Ho Chi Minh City chapter of the Vietnam-France Friendship Association Duong Quang Trung.

State President Nguyen Minh Triet on July 12 extended his condolences to Russian President D. Medvedev over the recent ship tragedy in the Tatarstan Republic.

State President Nguyen Minh Triet and Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung sent congratulations on July 12 to Filipino President Benigno S.Aquino III on the occasion of the 35th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Vietnam and the Philippines.

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Sinh Hung received outgoing Chinese ambassador to Vietnam Sun Guoxiang at the government headquarters on July 12.

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan and his entourage paid a working visit to the Academy of Science and Technology (VAST), to review its activities in the 2006-2010 period and its development orientations for the 2011-2015 period.  

The Vietnam Naval Force handed over 21 pieces of coral stones taken from the Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago to the northern province of Ninh Binh on July 12.

Vietnam wants to tighten friendly and cooperative ties with the Palestinian Party and people. 

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung received outgoing Chinese and Myanmar Ambassadors Sun Guoxiang and Khin Maung Soe, respectively, at separate receptions on July 11.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung on July 11 sent a message of sympathy to Lao Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong over the recent losses caused by tropical storm Haima to the northern provinces and localities of Laos.

Vietnam always attaches importance to developing solidarity and friendship with the Government, people and the Royal Army of Cambodia, said a Vietnamese military official.

Vietnam wants to promote defence cooperation with Japan in a practical manner to bring benefits for the two countries.

Vietnam officially recognises South Sudan as an independent and sovereign country, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on July 10.

The Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) held a meeting in Hanoi on July 11 to mark the 35th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Vietnam and the Philippines (July 12).

Leaders of press agencies of the Communist Party of Vietnam and the Communist Party of Russian Federation have discussed the role of communist papers in protecting the soundness of Marxism-Leninism in the current situation and their future cooperation. 

In 2010, the industrial and service sectors made up 60 percent of the rural economic structure, and the number of communes connected to the national electric grid reached 97.8 percent, while the number of poor households was dropped to 11.3 percent.

The 11th Party Central Committee (PCC) closed its second conference on July 10 after one week of intensive work and agreed to include 24 important issues in its working programme as required by the 11th National Party Congress.