On October 29, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung chaired the 13th ASEAN-Japan Summit and the 13th ASEAN- the Republic of Korea (RoK) Summit with the participation of Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan, Korean President Lee Myung-bak, and ASEAN leaders.

Vietnam affirms the importance of strengthening the strategic partnership with Japan for the peace and prosperity in Asia, said Truong Tan Sang, Politburo member and Standing member of the Secretariat of the Central Party Committee, at a meeting with Japanese Foreign Minister, Seiji Maehara in Hanoi on October 29.

Vietnam, together with Mekong countries and Japan is always determined to contribute actively to the Mekong-Japan cooperation mechanisms.

The US Agency for International Development (USAID) has announced a US$11.7 million-project to support national efforts to enhance trade and Vietnam’s integration into the global economy

Vietnam is a good example in overcoming the consequences of war in developing country, said Paraguayan President Fernando Lugo.

ASEAN leaders on October 28 discussed several important issues on ASEAN’s affairs and relations with its partners and adopted a number of important documents.

As ASEAN Chair, Vietnam has made positive contributions to a number of programmes to cement ties among regional countries and proposed policy on assisting people in distress at sea.

The Vietnamese Party, State and Government attach importance to the development of the friendly neighbouring relationship and comprehensive cooperation with China, which are considered consistent, long-term and top priorities in Vietnam’s foreign policy, said Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung. 

State President Nguyen Minh Triet on October 27 extended condolences to his Indonesian counterpart Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono over a great loss of life and widespread damage of property caused by earthquake, tsunami and volcanic eruption. 

Ho Chi Minh City wants to further cooperate and exchange with New Zealand in the field of education and training as well as human resource development to serve the city’s development demand.

ASEAN Economic Ministers attended the session of the ASEAN Economic Community on October 28 to discuss important documents to promote the building of the community by 2015.

The 17th ASEAN Summit opened in Hanoi on October 28 with the participation of ASEAN countries’ leaders and delegates, ASEAN's partners' leaders, ASEAN Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan, and nearly 1,000 domestic and foreign journalists.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung on October 28 received his Singaporean counterpart Lee Hsien Loong who arrived in Vietnam to attend the 17th ASEAN summit and related meetings from October 28th to the 30th.

In Vietnam, apart from multilateral meetings, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will meet with various Vietnamese leaders to discuss ways of strengthening cooperation between the two countries.

Vietnam and Brunei will cement co-operative ties in every field to bring benefits to both parties, says Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.

Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan will pay a two-day official visit to Vietnam on October 30-31 to attend the ASEAN Summit.

Vietnam is keen to work with Japan to upgrade its infrastructure with funding from Japanese ODA, said Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung at a meeting with a delegation from the Japanese Federation of Economic Organisations (Keidanren) led by its Vice Chairman, Uchida, in Hanoi on October 28.

Korea Eximbank will provide Vietnam as many loans as it can to help the latter develop transport infrastructure, said Korea Eximbank Chairman cum General Director Dong Soo Kim.

The ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and the 7th Meeting of the ASEAN Coordinating Council Meeting were held in Hanoi on October 27 to finalise preparations for the 17th ASEAN Summit and related summits.

State President Nguyen Minh Triet, on behalf of the Party and State, presented the 70-year Party membership badge to General Vo Nguyen Giap in Hanoi on October 27.

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono shortened his state visit to Vietnam and returned home on October 27 for post-tsunami and earthquake rescue work.

A senior official of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) has said that Japan places emphasis on its relations with Vietnam and would like to see concrete outcomes in each area of its strategic partnership with the Southeast Asian country.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and his wife will pay an official visit to Vietnam from October 28-30 at the invitation of State President Nguyen Minh Triet.

Vietnamese and Indonesian State leaders have discussed ways of promoting ties of traditional friendship and all-round cooperation, particularly in economics, trade, investment, national security and defence, agriculture and tourism.

ASEAN economic senior officials gathered in Hanoi on October 27 to review procedures and documents for the ASEAN Economic Community Council Meeting on October 28.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung on October 26 met with the President of the Philippines, Benigno S. Aquino III, who is on a two-day official visit to Vietnam.

State Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan visited to France from October 24-26 after attending the 13th Francophone Summit in Montreux in Switzerland.

The compilation of a collection on the history of Vietnam-Laos special relationship was of great importance, said a senior Vietnamese Party official.

A delegation from the Defence Ministry’s Political Academy led by its director Lieut. Gen. Nguyen Tien Quoc visited Indonesia from October 19-26 to boost cooperation with Indonesian defence agencies, academies and schools.

President Nguyen Minh Triet and his Philippine counterpart, Benigno S. Aquino III, have discussed directions and measures to promote bilateral cooperation to match the two countries’ potential.