The Ministry of Justice officially opened the National Centre for Judicial Records in Hanoi on March 2 as a hub for using and protecting legal databases at provincial departments of justice and their counterparts in cities.

Japan’s former Ambassador to Vietnam Norio Hattori has been warmly welcomed back to Hanoi.

Vietnam will run for a position on the United Nations Human Rights Council, Permanent Deputy Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh announced at the Council’s 16th session in Geneva on February 28.

The Vietnamese and Cambodian National Assemblies should strengthen coordination and create the most favourable legal framework for bilateral cooperation.

Lao Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong’s visit to Vietnam demonstrates the special relationship between the two Parties, States and peoples, said State President Nguyen Minh Triet.

On March 1, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, Chairman of the Central Council for Emulation and Reward chaired the council’s 41st session to review emulation and reward activities in 2010 and devise tasks and solutions for 2011.

The meeting discussed measures to implement six key breakthrough programmes set by the 9th municipal Party Congress.

The UN Human Rights Council opened its 16th session in Geneva with the participation of more than 70 world leaders.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has highly appreciated the new Lao Prime Minister’s selection of Vietnam as the destination for his first overseas visit, regarding it as a vivid demonstration of the special solidarity, closeness, and faithfulness that have bonded the two countries.

Party General Secretary and Chairman of the National Assembly, Nguyen Phu Trong, received Lao Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong in Hanoi on February 28. 

Laos’ new Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong is officially visiting Vietnam from February 28 to March 2 to tighten traditional ties and solidarity between the two countries and raise bilateral trade revenues to US$2 billion by 2015.

General Le Van Dung, Chief of the General Political Department of the Vietnam People's Army on February 28 received Indian ambassador to Vietnam Ranjit Rae.

The third conference of the seventh term of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front concluded on February 28 with many passionate and profound speeches on the organization’s development.

Deputy Prime Minister cum Foreign Minister, Pham Gia Khiem, welcomed the Asian Development Bank (ADB) President, Haruhiko Kuroda, in Hanoi on February 28.

Despite regional and international upheavals, Vietnam-Laos relations remain pure and unchanged. At the invitation of Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, Lao Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong will visit Vietnam from February 28- March 2.

The Ho Chi Minh City Police’s Investigation Agency on February 26 caught Nguyen Dan Que red-handed keeping and distributing documents calling for overthrowing the regime and took him into custody.

The 17th ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Meeting (AEM) Retreat was wrapped up in Vientiane on February 27 after two days of sitting for discussions on regional economic integration.

From now to 2020, the Vietnamese Party, State and people will strive to develop the nation into a modern industrialised country.

Fostering bilateral relations between Vietnam and Indonesia Bilateral ties between Vietnam and Indonesia strongly developed in a wide range of areas in recent years, said Indonesian Ambassador Pitono Purnomo at a meeting with media circles (MIG-V) in Ho Chi Minh City on February 25.

Vietnam wants to boost its relations with the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) and other political parties in Japan, creating a firm foundation for strengthening bilateral ties and mutual understanding between the two peoples.

The visit to Vietnam between February 28 and March 2 by Laotian Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong underlines Laos priority of boosting ties and solidarity with Vietnam.

The special envoy of Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong has emphasised Vietnam’s consistent and top priority policy to enhance solidarity, friendship and comprehensive cooperation with Cuba.

Vietnamese and Cambodian officials on border issues have affirmed a resolve to complete land border demarcation and landmark erection by 2012 as the two countries’ leaders agreed.

Religious practices by dignitaries and followers in Vietnam were conducted normally in 2010 in line with laws and with help from the authorities at all levels.

Vietnam is working with its partners on procedures to evacuate over 4,500 Vietnamese workers in Libya to neighbouring countries like Egypt, Turkey, Malta, Greece, the United Arab Emirates and Tunisia, said the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA).

Acting President of the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) Yoshito Sengoku has requested the Vietnamese Government to create favourable conditions for Japan’s long-term investment in Vietnam.

On February 25, Vietnam and Japan signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on a project under which, Japan will provide Vietnam with technical support for legal and judicial reform (second phase).

State President Nguyen Minh Triet, accompanied by HCM City authorities, visited the construction site of the East-West Highway and tunnel running through the Saigon river on February 24.

Vietnam’s northern Hai Duong province and the Republic of Korea (RoK) city of Suwon will cooperate in developing culture, sports and tourism.

Vietnam has always attached great importance to strengthening and expanding multi-faceted co-operation with member countries of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), said National Assembly Vice Chairman Nguyen Duc Kien.