Radio Voice of Vietnam (VOV) and the Vietnam Association for Victims of Agent Orange (VAVA) have discussed plans to launch promotion campaigns about 50 years of the Agent Orange (Dioxin) disaster caused by the US military in Vietnam.

Vietnam plays a prioritised role in India’s “Look East” policy and India commits to further step up the strategic partnership between the two nations, said India Foreign Minister S.M. Krishna.

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong offered incense to the Hung Kings, the nation’s legendary founders, at the Kinh Thien Palace in the Hung Kings Temple relic complex in the northern province of Phu Tho on April 12.

Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh has stressed that ASEAN needs to maintain its centrality, define the agenda and priorities for the East Asia Summit,and build on the Summit’s role in addressing issues of strategic importance.

Australian Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd will pay a working visit to Vietnam on April 13 at the invitation of Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Pham Gia Khiem.

Party Politburo members offered incense and flowers at the Hung Kings’ Temple Relic Complex in the northern province of Phu Tho on April 10 (the eight day of the third lunar month).

Vietnam and the Principality of Monaco should boost cooperation in agriculture, infrastructure, finance and banking, on the back of their growing economic ties, Vice State President Nguyen Thi Doan said.

Vietnam’ Foreign Ministry spokesperson on April 9 rejected comments on human rights in the country made by the US Department of State, UK Department of Foreign Affairs and the EU Delegation to Vietnam, underlining “they are partial and based on erroneous information”.

Both countries need to realize their cooperation strategy in the spirit of friendship, mutual trust, solidarity and development.

Mr Vu Hai is currently the Head of the Overseas Service Channel (VOV5).

The US has shown its willingness to provide technical support for the Vietnam Ministry of Finance and share its management experience with the country.

Robert Newberry, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence for the POW/MIA is on a working visit to Vietnam from April 4-8.

Party leader Nguyen Phu Trong expressed his wish that the overseas Vietnamese community will continue upholding patriotism and strengthening solidarity as well as preserving and promoting national cultural identity.

Vietnam affirms its undisputable sovereignty over the Truong Sa (Spratly) and Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelagoes, said Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Nguyen Phuong Nga.

On April 8, President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee, Huynh Dam sent a letter of congratulations to the Khmer people on their Chol Chnam Thmay traditional New Year Festival.  

An exhibition entitled “Mekong’s stories: Challenge and Dream” opened in the Lao capital of Vientiane on April 6.

Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son and his Kazakh counterpart, Yerzhan Kazhykhanov has held an annual political consultation at deputy foreign ministerial level.

Defence Minister General Phung Quang Thanh received Vice Admiral Ann E. Rondeau, President of the American Defence University in Hanoi on April 7.

The Vietnamese Government is very concerned about its citizens who are living in Ivory Coast, spokesperson of the Foreign Ministry Nguyen Phuong Nga said on April 7.

Lieutenant-general Tran Dai Quang, politburo member and Deputy Minister of Public Security held a reception for British Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Jeremy Browne, in Hanoi on April 7.   

The Vietnamese Embassy in Egypt held a press briefing on April 6 to introduce a strategy for economic development and cooperation between Vietnam and Egypt.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has requested Kazakhstan to soon open its embassy in Vietnam to foster bilateral cooperation and Vietnamese investments in oil and gas, mining and garment industries.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung asked the law enforcement agencies to speed up the handling of corrupt cases, admitting that they are time consuming so to make the corruption fight less efficient in preventing the scourge and spark doubts in the public.

Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Quoc Cuong and UK Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Jeremy Browne held the second deputy ministerial-level political consultation in Hanoi on April 6.

The on-going visit to Vietnam by US Department of Commerce's Under Secretary for International Trade Francisco Sanchez is aimed at cementing the US-Vietnam ties with the focus on boosting education and trade cooperation.

On April 6, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Sinh Hung attended a get-together of Khmer people on their Chol Chnam Thmay traditional New Year Festival in the Mekong Delta province of Can Tho.

Vietnam’s Vice Defence Minister, Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh, on April 5 received the US Defence Ministry’s Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for POW/MIA (Prisoners of War/ Missing in Actions), Robert Newberry, who is on a working visit to Vietnam. 

Vietnam always attaches importance to developing the relations with the Philippines  for the benefits of both countries and contributing to building the ASEAN Community. 

The Truong Sa (Spratly) district off the south-central province of Khanh Hoa on April 5 held a ceremony to mark the 36th anniversary of its liberation (April 29). 

The border guards of the northern province of Quang Ninh have recently broken a Chinese-involved drug trafficking ring, confiscating 2.3 kg of ketamine and 1,500 tablets of amphetamine type stimulants.