Vietnam’s economy made a robust recovery and grew at 6.78 percent in 2010 despite difficulties and challenges after the global economic crisis.

The northern province of Phu Tho and the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations on December 29 celebrated the 52nd anniversary of Victory Day of the Cuban Revolution.

Relations between the daily Nhan dan and the China Daily would be more practical and effective, contributing to strengthening friendship between Vietnam and China. 

The Party and State highly value the great, practical and effective contributions of patriotic emulators, State President Nguyen Minh Triet said on December 28.

The National Patriotic Emulation Movement for 2011-2015 will focus on reinforcing solidarity and encouraging creativity to fulfill socio-economic tasks in the new period.

Vietnam and Cambodia wish to promote cooperation legislatures to fulfill their tasks.

Lao National Assembly Chairwoman Pany Yathotu has expressed her wish that the legislative bodies of Vietnam and Laos will increase their cooperation, especially in legislation.

Vietnam and Laos have agreed to accelerate the implementation of a project to reinforce and upgrade the border landmark system in 2011.

A delegation of the Lao People’s Army Air Force and Air Defence Department, led by Colonel Khamphat Mahaxay, is visiting Vietnam.

The General Secretary of the Vietnamese Communist Party, Nong Duc Manh, has urged people from all walks of life to engage in the patriotic emulation movement.

The Central Highlands Steering Committee held a conference in Buon Ma Thuot, Dak Lak province on December 27 to review ten years of implementing the political bureau’s resolution on socio-economic development and national defence and security in the Central Highland region in the 2001-2010 period.

The 8th National Patriotic Emulation Congress opened at the National Convention Centre in Hanoi on December 27 with the participation of 1,500 eminent delegates from across the country.

The Vietnam-Laos joint council convened in Hanoi on Dec. 25 to appraise a collection on the history of special relations between the two nations in the 1930-2007 period.

A delegation of the Vietnam- Cambodia friendship parliamentarians group, led by Head of the NA committee for deputies’ affairs Pham Minh Tuyen, is visiting Cambodia from Dec. 22-27.

The HCM City’s People’s Committee held a ceremony on December 25 to inaugurate the first phase of Rach Chiec Bridge and Thu Thiem Bridge in the presence of Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai.

Lieutenant General Do Ba Ty, Deputy Defence Minister has been appointed the Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army.

The Cao Dai Chon Ly sect held its third congress in My Tho city of the Mekong Delta province of Tien Giang on December 24.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung cabled a message of congratulations to the new Prime Minister of Laos, Thongsing Thammavong, on December 24.

Archbishop of the Hanoi Archdiocese Pierre Nguyen Van Nhon vowed to continue encouraging Catholic dignitaries and believers to follow the Party and State’s guidelines, policies and the law.

The Party committee of the centrally-run agencies bloc closed its congress for the 2010-2015 term in Hanoi Dec. 24 with the election of a 55-member executive board.

A delegation of the Communist Party of Vietnam, led by Party Secretary Ha Thi Khiet, visited dignitaries of the Archbishop Office of Hue on December 24.

Laotian Deputy Prime Minister cum Minister of Foreign Affairs, Thongloun Sisoulith, on December presented the Freedom Order, third class to departments for Lao and Cambodia, protocol and administration, and the office of the Party Central Committee’s (PCC) Commission for External Relations.

Vietnam will participate in major international exhibitions and fairs in France to introduce its image and potential to international friends in 2011.

Vietnam regretted that the Swedish Government will close its embassy in Vietnam in 2011 and pledged to create favourable conditions for it to re-open the embassy.

The Party committee of the centrally-run agencies bloc opened a two-day congress for the 2010-2015 tenure in Hanoi on December 23.

Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Khiem on December 23 visited Christian dignitaries at the Hanoi Archbishop’s Office and the Evangelical Church of Vietnam (North) on the occasion of this year’s Christmas.

The Vietnamese Association in the Lao capital city of Vientiane (VAV) and the Vietnam’s Tradition and History Education Centre (THEC) on December 22 held a cultural exchange to mark the 66th anniversary of the Vietnam People’s Army (December 22) and 62nd anniversary of the Lao People’s Army (January 20, 1949).

State President Nguyen Minh Triet on Dec. 22 sent a message of congratulations to Japanese Emperor Akihito on his 77 th birthday and on the National Day of Japan (Dec. 23).

The 11th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) will open at the National Convention Centre in Hanoi on January 12, 2011 and is expected to last for nine days.

Relations between Vietnam and the Republic of Korea (RoK) have been greatly extended and deepened for peace, stability and development cooperation for the two peoples.