The spokeswoman of the Vietnamese Foreign Ministry, Nguyen Phuong Nga, on June 16 rejected the US Department of State’s comments on human trafficking situation in the country, saying they are politically purposeful.

A ministerial conference on the United Nations (UN) Delivering as One (DaO) initiative opened in Hanoi on June 16 with the participation of eight pilot countries, 10 countries voluntarily adopting or interested in the DaO approach, 18 donor countries, and numerous executives of the UN system.

The second round of talks on the trans-Pacific strategic economic partnership agreement is being held in San Francisco, the US, on June 14-16 with senior officials from Australia, Brunei, Chile, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, Vietnam and the host country the US.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has urged peaceful dialogues to solve outstanding problems on the Korean Peninsula, especially regarding the Cheonan ship accident.

The Vietnamese Government wants support from the UK to eradicate hunger and reduce poverty, as well as in coping with climate change and other challenges, said Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan.

Vietnam attaches a lot of importance to its relations with Latin American countries, including Uruguay, stated Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem while receiving the Uruguayan Foreign Minister Luis Almagro in Hanoi on June 15.

It is essential to have a land preservation fund in a long-term zoning plan to carry out projects for healthcare, education, trade and services, said Minister of Construction Nguyen Hong Quan.

Namibia’s Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources Bernhard Martin Esau has said he hopes that Vietnam will soon send specialist to Namibia to help it develop aquaculture.

Leaders of state audit agencies of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia met in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on June 14, discussing the role played by state audit in public sector management.

Vietnamese victims of Agent Orange can completely believe in the UNDP’s support in their fight for justice, said UNDP Administrator Helen Clark.

National Assembly (NA) deputies on June 14 focused their discussions on the NA’s resolution regarding key national projects.

The fifth Patriotic Emulation Congress to review the five-year patriotic emulation movement in 2005-2010 period opened in HCM City on June 14 in the presence of Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.

Quang Nam needs to rapidly its economy in a sustainable manner, said Politburo member and permanent member of the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat, Truong Tan Sang during his working visit to Quang Nam on June 13.

In the first half of this month, Ha Tinh province in Vietnam and Bolikhamsay province in Laos erected 13 border markers, bringing the total number to 18 with six still to be built.

The Vietnam Oil and Gas Group (PVN) organised the second Patriotic Emulation Congress and received the Gold Star Order, the State and Party’s highest distinction in Hanoi on June 13.

The Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS) organised a procession of two Jade Buddha Statues and a sari at Quan Su Pagoda in Hanoi on June12.

The National Assembly (NA) finished its question and answer session on June 12 after two and a half days’ sitting, marking an improvement in the method of questioning and answering.

The cause and solutions for rolling blackouts in different areas were the questions raised for Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Sinh Hung, who was the last person to take the floor for the National Assembly (NA)’s question time on June 12.

The licensing of forestation projects to foreign investors ensuring that rice growers make a profit of at least 30 percent compared with production cost topped the concerns of lawmakers at the June 11 Q&A session with Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Cao Duc Phat. 

A delegation of Vietnam headed by Nguyen Hong Cuong, Director of the ASEAN Department under the Foreign Ministry attended the 7th ASEAN-Canada dialogue in Bangkok, Thailand, on June 10 and 11.

A seminar to improve the Party’s leadership in crime prevention and control was held in Hanoi on June 11 by the National Committee for Crime Prevention and Control with the Deputy Minister of Public Security, Senior Lieutenant General Le The Tiem.

Vietnam wants to increase cooperation with Qatar and regards it as an important partner in the Gulf region, said Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan.

Vietnam ranks 38th in the world on the Global Peace Index (GPI) of the Institute for Economics and Peace based in Australia.

As many as 35,000 prisoners will be considered for amnesty in 2010 under a recent decision made by the State President.

Strengthening cooperation between the province of Ryazan will promote Vietnam's faithful friendship with Russia, said the Vietnamese ambassador to Russia, Bui Dinh Dinh, during a recent visit to the province.

156 out of more than 250 entries have made it through to the final round of the 9th Nationwide Radio Festival held in Hanoi from June 8-10, which demonstrates the enthusiasm of and efforts by radio journalists up and down the country.

Almost 500 delegates will be attending the sixth ASEAN People’s Forum (APF) scheduled for this September in Hanoi.

The quality of traffic works, traffic jams and traffic safety as well as the Hanoi-Ho Chi Minh City express railway project were major concerns of NA deputies at a Q&A session for Minister of Transport Ho Nghia Dung in Hanoi on June 10.

Minister of Finance Vu Van Ninh says his ministry (MoF) will work hard with relevant ministries to take tougher measures to keep commodity prices in check.

The Central Committee for Preventing and Fighting Corruption held a symposium in Hanoi on June 10 to improve the detection and handling of corruption cases.