Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung arrived in Buenos Aires on April 15 (local time), beginning his official visit to Argentina at the invitation of President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner.

State President Nguyen Minh Triet and his delegation left the Algerian capital city of Algiers on April 15, concluding his three-day visit, at the invitation of President Abdelaziz Bouteflika.

National Defence Minister General Phung Quang Thanh received visiting Sen. Lt. Gen. Alvaro Lopez Miera, Cuban Deputy Minister and Chief of the General Staff of the Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces, in Hanoi on April 15.

A high-level delegation from the Ministry of National Defence, led by Deputy Minister Sen. Lt. Gen Nguyen Huy Hieu, paid a working visit to Greece from April 12-14.

Vietnamese Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh has concluded his official visit to Laos, which was made at the invitation of Lao State President Chummaly Saynhason.

The Vietnam-Venezuela friendship has grown steadily over the past 20 years, said Professor Vu Van Hien at a function to mark the 200th anniversary of Venezuela’s Independence Day.

Lao and Vietnamese young people gathered in the central coastal city of Da Nang on April 14 for a friendship exchange programme.

Participants in the National Assembly Standing Committee meeting in Hanoi on April 14 focused their discussions on State budget collection and spending in 2008 and 2009.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung left Washington DC on April 15 after attending the first-ever Nuclear Security Summit, and is preparing to fly to Buenos Aires in the evening for an official visit to Argentina.

Algeria is a faithful friend of the Vietnamese people, said State President Nguyen Minh Triet at a meeting with the speaker of the Algerian Parliament, the   Speaker of the Algerian Lower Chamber and the Algerian Prime Minister in Algiers on April 15.

Vietnam’s Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh on April 14 visited former President of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party Central Committee and former State President of Laos Khamtay Siphandone.

Vietnam always attaches importance to its partnership with Belgium, said National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong at a meeting with the delegation from the House of Representatives of Belgium led by President Patrick Dawael in Hanoi on April 14.  

A mourning ceremony for Polish President Lech Kaczynski and his wife and all people killed in a plane crash in Russia, was held at the Saint Joseph Cathedral in Hanoi on April 15.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung sent sympathies to China’s Premier Wen Jiabao over the loss of life and damage caused by earthquakes on April 14 in Yushu County, in the northwest province of Qinghai.

Vietnam wants to foster friendly ties with Algeria and considers this nation a priority partner among Vietnam’s traditional friends in North Africa and across the world, says State President Nguyen Minh Triet.

International cooperation activities should be consulted and widely agreed upon by parties concerned to ensure nuclear security, says Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.

Vietnam condemns terrorist activity in any form and strongly supports the international community’s efforts to combat terrorism based on international law and the UN Charter, said Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.

On April 13, State President Nguyen Minh Triet arrived in Algiers on a State-level visit to Algeria at the invitation of President Abdelaziz Bouteflika.

The governments of Vietnam and Tunisia should speed up negotiations and sign agreements on double tax avoidance, and investment encouragement and protection as soon as possible to increase trade ties.

A delegation from the Cambodian Women’s League, headed by Senator Mean Sam An, is visiting Vietnam from April 12-18 to strengthen bilateral ties of friendship and cooperation.

Vietnam will do its utmost to promote the long-standing friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation with Laos.

Vietnam and Laos will take advantage of each other’s potential and strengthen bilateral relations on the principle of equality for mutual benefit.

The president of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL), Dang Ngoc Tung, received a delegation from the Cambodian Labour Union Federation (CLUF) in Hanoi on April 13, opening up new prospects for bilateral cooperation.

On April 13, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung had meetings with the Prime Ministers of Japan, New Zealand and Morocco and the EU President on the sidelines of the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington DC.  

Lieutenant General Tran Quang Khue, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam’s People Army, received Brigadier General P. Purevbazar, head of the department for command-management and liaison for the Mongolian Armed Forces, in Hanoi on April 12.

Tunisia is one of Vietnam’s priority partners in North Africa, said State President Nguyen Minh Triet during talks with President Zein al-Abidin Ben Ali in Tunis on April 12.

Vietnam has ratified the Plan on the UN Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) and is ready to undertake full responsibility as a member of UNCAC to increase the effectiveness of its anti-corruption efforts.

Every foreign fishing vessels operating in Vietnamese waters will be required to have a member of the Vietnamese authorities on board of June 1.

Vietnam will continue to improve administrative procedures and infrastructure to facilitate US companies’ long-term business in the country, says Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.

The 12th National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee opened its 30th session in Hanoi on April 12 to contribute to reports on the implementation of the second phase of national poverty reduction programme 135.