Vietnam always attaches importance and gives top priority to strengthening its special relationship with Laos, said National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong.

Deputy Prime Minister-cum-Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem received the newly-appointed Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam, Tanizaki Yasuaki, in Hanoi on October 26.

Hanoi should strive to become Vietnam’s political, cultural, and economic centre and take the lead in the country’s industrialisation and modernisation process, said Chairman of the National Assembly (NA) Nguyen Phu Trong at the  15th Congress of the Hanoi Municipal Party Committee, which opened on October 26.

State President Nguyen Minh Triet received President of the Philippines, Benigno S. Aquino III, on October 26, for his first official visit to Vietnam from October 26-27, to attend the 17th Summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Hanoi.

Ministers of the three nations in the Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam development triangle gathered in Hoa Binh province on October 26 to discuss adjustments and supplements to the overall plan for socio-economic development in the region.  

A preparatory meeting was held in Hanoi on October 26 in the run up to the week of the 17th ASEAN summit and related meetings.  

Various activities have taken place to celebrate the 17th ASEAN Summit in Hanoi.

It is essential to focus on green growth, financial security and infrastructure development, said Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung at a seminar on creating a sustainable social welfare network for ASEAN in Hanoi on October 26.

Vietnam and Laos are speeding up the compilation of a collection on their special history in an effort to hand down this valuable asset to their next generations.

A nine-member crew and their fishing boat QNg 66478 TS were welcomed at 15:00 hrs on October 25 by a working delegation of the Vietnam National Search and Rescue Committee.

Vietnam wants to further promote cooperation with Japan, the country’s top partner, in the spirit of strategic partnership for mutual benefit, said Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.

Vietnam and Cuba will further strengthen cooperation in agriculture, oil and gas, telecommunications and healthcare. This was agreed by Deputy Foreign Minster Pham Binh Minh and his Cuban counterpart Marcos Rodriguez Costa at their talks in Hanoi on October 25.

Vietnam praises cooperation projects between Defex S.A and Acciona S.A and the Vietnam Coal and Mineral Group and the An Vien Joint Stock Company, said State President Nguyen Minh Triet.

The visit will help to strengthen mutual understanding and consolidate traditional friendship ties between the two countries and armies.

Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Khiem presented the Certificate of Merit to UK and North Ireland Ambassador to Vietnam, Mark Kent, for his contribution to strengthening friendship and co-operation ties between Vietnam and the UK.

A book on President Ho Chi Minh’s political articles was presented by Alberto Anaya, the General Secretary of Mexico’s Labour Party, and Vu Van Phuc, Deputy Head of the Party Central Committee Commission for Communication and Education, in mid-October.

The Secretary General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon and his wife will begin an official visit to Vietnam on October 28.  

The Government of Vietnam will create a favourable environment and better conditions for businesses from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to successfully invest in the country.

Vietnam is ready to join concerted efforts to uphold the Francophone Community’s role in the international arena and solve the issues both international and Francophone communities are concerned about.

Japan wishes to strengthen cooperation with Vietnam in areas that the two countries are interested in, said former Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, who is leading a Japanese parliamentarian delegation to Vietnam.

National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong received outgoing UK Ambassador to Vietnam Mark Kent in Hanoi on October 23.

A high-ranking delegation of the Ministry of National Defence, led by its Deputy Minister, Lieutenant General Nguyen Huy Hieu, is on an official visit to Luxemburg from October 21-23.

Vietnam Airlines will operate 46 flights from Da Nang to Hongkong (China) using its 184-seat Airbus 321 from November 26, 2010 to May 3, 2011.

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and his wife will begin an official visit to Vietnam on October 27.  

Vietnam’s open policies and transparent administrative procedures help foreign investors gain success in Vietnam.

Czech Ambassador Michal Kral has emphasised a need for Vietnam and his country to strongly develop bilateral relations as a great potential is still left untapped. 

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has congratulated the chiefs of UN organisations in Vietnam, John Hendra, on the occasion of the UN’s 65th founding anniversary (October 24). 

Ba Ria – Vung Tau should uphold the spirit of solidarity and make a greater effort to boost socio-economic development and ensure defence and security, said Party Politburo member Ho Duc Viet at the 5th congress of the provincial Party Committee.

A Vietnamese delegation led by State Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan arrived in Switzerland on October 21 for the 13th Francophone Summit in Montreux, from October 22-24.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev’s visit to Vietnam will strengthen and develop the traditional ties and strategic partnership between Vietnam and Russia as well as ensure peace, stability and prosperity in the region.