Vietnamese citizens who used to work and live in Brazil attended a get-together held by the Vietnam-Brazil Friendship and Cooperation Association (VBFC) in Hanoi on May 12, to mark the 22nd anniversary of Vietnam-Brazil diplomatic ties.

Vietnam and Thailand need to strengthen economic cooperation, said Vietnamese and Thai officials at a meeting in Bangkok on May 11.

A conference was held in Hanoi on May 12 to review the Vietnam-China land border demarcation with Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Khiem in the chair.

The holding of elections on the Truong Sa archipelago was an internal affair of Vietnam which has been conducted for a long time in line with its Constitution and law to ensure the interests of Vietnamese citizens.

The Fatherland Front Committees in five precincts and districts of Hai Phong city have arranged for local voters to meet five candidates, including Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung for the coming 13th National Assembly (NA) election.

The Military Medical Department under the Vietnamese Ministry of Defence will host the first ASEAN Chiefs of Military Medicine Conference (ACMMC-1) in Hanoi from May 26-29.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Ngo Duc Thang on May 10 called on the Thai Privy Council President, General Prem Tinsulamonda in the capital city of Bangkok.

Indian Rear Admiral HCS Bisht, Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet of Indian Navy steered two Indian naval ships named INS Delhi and INS Kirch to pay a visit to Ho Chi Minh City from May 10 – 13.

The Laos-Vietnam Friendship Secondary School in Vientiane has launched a contest on Vietnamese President Ho Chi Minh to celebrate his 121st birth anniversary.

The Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, Quentin Bryce AC, visited the central city of Danang and worked with authorities there on May 11.

The Vietnam Buddhist Shangha (SBV) has positively contributed to reinforcing the great national unity bloc.

A delegation from India’s Lower House led by Chairwoman Meira Kumar will pay an official visit to Vietnam from May 14-17.

The leader of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) has expressed the hope that the VFF and the Guangxi Political Consultative Conference (GPCC) would contribute to mobilising the two countries’ people to bring into play the comprehensive strategic cooperation, solidarity and friendship between Vietnam and China.

Vietnam and Australia should step up legislative relations, people exchanges and cultural and sports cooperation, along with developing cooperative ties between governments, ministries and sectors.

Vietnam hopes that more Australian businesses will invest in Vietnam, said State President Nguyen Minh Triet.

ASEAN leaders have agreed to raise ASEAN’s role and international status based on appropriate modes and abilities.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung joined other ASEAN leaders to discuss an expanded East Asia Summit (EAS) and measures to strengthen ASEAN’s foreign relations and improve the bloc’s role in the international arena in a retreat meeting in Jakarta, Indonesia on May 8.

The Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, Quentin Bryce, AC, and her husband Michael Bryce AM AE, are paying a state visit to Vietnam from May 8-14.

ASEAN leaders discussed a plan to establish an ASEAN Institute for Peace and Reconciliation and measures to strengthen cooperation in preventing human trafficking.

The Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) delegation led by Vuong Thua Phong, Deputy Head of the CPV Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations, attended the 15th International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from May 5-7.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung highlighted Vietnam’s views on the implementation of the roadmap to build ASEAN Community and Connectivity at the 18th ASEAN Summit’s plenary meeting in Jakarta on May 7.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung discussed with his Lao and Thai counterparts ways to boost bilateral ties and exchange international and regional issues of mutual concern at separate meetings on May 7 on the sidelines of the 18th ASEAN Summit in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong joined other Candidates for the 13th National Assembly in meeting with voters in Ba Dinh and Hoan Kiem districts of Hanoi on May 7 as part of their election campaign in accordance with the law.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and leaders of other ASEAN member countries attended the opening ceremony of the 18th ASEAN Summit in Jakarta, Indonesia on May 7.

The French Development Agency (AFD) has signed three financing agreements with Vietnamese partners.

Vietnam wants Belgium to continue its investment in infrastructure, economic development, education and training, especially training high-quality human resources for Vietnam’s development.

Vietnam has once again affirmed that it has sufficient historical and legal evidence to prove its sovereignty over the Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos.

The 44th ADB Annual Meeting closed in Hanoi on May 6 after four-day sitting.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and a Vietnamese government delegation are scheduled to leave Hanoi on May 6 for the 18th ASEAN Summit in Jakarta, Indonesia from May 7-8 at the invitation of Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

Guests to the 44th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have praised Vietnam’s solutions to curb inflation and stabilise the macro-economy.