Building a shared border of peace and friendship between Vietnam and Cambodia was the main topic of a conference held in the south -western province of Tay Ninh from July 30-31.

More than 40 delegates from ASEAN people’s and social organisations, and non-governmental organisations, have attended the second preparatory consultative meeting for the sixth ASEAN People’s Forum (APF). 

Chairman of the National Assembly Nguyen Phu Trong received Osama Jafar Faquih, President of the General Auditing Bureau (GAB) of Saudi Arabia, in Hanoi on July 30.

The Vietnam Embassy in the Republic of Korea officially held a ceremony to hand over the ASEAN Committee’s Presidency in the country to the Myanmar Ambassador on July 29.

Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Quoc Cuong and his Ukrainian counterpart, A. Gorin, have conducted a regular political consultation in Kiev.

Defence ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and its dialogue partners - Australia, China, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Russia and the US - will convene for the first time in Hanoi on October 12.

State President Nguyen Minh Triet on July 29 sent his condolences to Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari over the deadly crash of an airliner with 152 passengers on board.

National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong has urged provincial Party committees of five northern mountainous provinces to improve their socio-economic development strategies.

Ninh Binh province will have to implement strict measures in order to boost its socio-economic development and fulfill its target of achieving a GDP growth rate of 18 percent.

Organsing the 31st ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA-31) slated for September 19-25 in Hanoi will be the most important event in Vietnam’s AIPA presidential term as well as in the Vietnam National Assembly (NA)’s foreign affairs for 2010.  

The Vietnam-Laos Inter-governmental Committee convened a meeting in the Lao province of Xieng Khouang on July 28 to review the cooperation results in the first half and discuss major tasks for the second half of the year.

Vietnam wants to make bilateral ties with Saudi Arabia more fruitful, especially in areas of each country’s strengths.

President Nguyen Minh Triet has said he welcomed Saudi Arabian businesses’ investment in Vietnam and pledged to create the best possible investment climate for their operations in the country.

Vietnam and Kenya have agreed to promote cooperation in HIV/AIDS prevention and increase visit exchange to share experience in the field.

The 21st ASEAN Senior Officials on the Environment (ASOEN) and other related meetings will be held in Hanoi from August 2-7.

On July 28, 1995 Vietnam officially became a member of ASEAN which marked a crucial turning point in raising Vietnam’s prestige in the region. ASEAN’s admission of Vietnam started a new chapter in the bloc’s history.

A Buddhist Ceremony was held at the Thang Long Royal Citadel on July 28 to launch an overseas Vietnamese and national cultural week.

The Vietnam-Uzbekistan Inter-Governmental Committee for Economic, Commercial, Scientific and Technological Cooperation held its fourth session in Hanoi on July 27 to discuss ways to develop two-way ties in various fields.

The High Level Task Force on ASEAN Economic Integration (HLTF-EI) held its 18th conference in HCM City on July 26-27 to prepare for the 42nd ASEAN Economic Ministers Meeting (AEM-42) slated for August in Danang city.

State Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan on July 27 attended a reburial ceremony for the remains of 114 fallen Vietnamese soldiers in Cambodia and visited some families of social beneficiaries in the southern province of Binh Phuoc.

A seminar entitled “Vietnam-ASEAN: past- present- future” opened in Hanoi on July 27, starting a Vietnam-ASEAN week from July 28 to August 8.

Lithuania will seek measures to boost traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation with Vietnam, says President Dalia Grybauskaite.

An incense offering ceremony was held in Hanoi on July 27 to commemorate the fallen combatants who sacrificed their lives for the nation’s independence and freedom.

A delegation from the National Assembly, led by NA Vice Chair Tong Thi Phong, has paid an official visit to Europe.

Vietnam and Sierra Leone agreed to cooperate in agriculture and fisheries during the visit by the Special Envoy of the Prime Minister, Doan Xuan Hung, from July 19-23.

Lieutenant General Pham Hong Loi, Deputy Chief of Staff of the People’s Army of Vietnam, on July 26 received Indian General Vijay Kumar Singh, Chief of the Indian Army in Hanoi.

Vietnam always wants to strengthen the relations of friendship and comprehensive cooperation with France, said State President Nguyen Minh Triet while receiving French Minister of Defence, Herve Morin.

Ha Tinh provincial authorities and representatives from the Lao province of Bolikhamxai held an official ceremony on July 26 for the planting of border marker 476 at the Cau Treo-Nam Phao border gate.

Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh visited and presented gifts to a number of social policy beneficiary families in Hanoi’s Ba Dinh district on July 26.

Nguyen Truong To, Vice Secretary of the provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee of Ha Giang province, has been expelled from the Party for his violations.