A high-level delegation from the Ministry of National Defense led by Deputy Minister Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Huy Hieu paid an official visit to Slovakia from April 8-10 at the invitation of the Slovak Ministry of Defence.

Dien Bien should pay more attention to economic development criteria to close the gap between the areas and improve the quality of social welfare, said Deputy Prime Minister Truong Vinh Trong.

“Relations between Vietnam and the US are developing well, especially in economics, trade and investment,” said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Gia Khiem.

State President Nguyen Minh Triet successfully concluded his three-day visit to Saudi Arabia on April 12. Agreements signed during the visit will lay a firm legal foundation for the two countries to increase economic and trade ties.

A Vietnamese Government delegation led by Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung arrived at Andrew Air Force Base in Washington DC on April 11 (local time) to attend the Nuclear Security Summit.

Saudi Arabia has noted Vietnam’s experience in ensuring food security and wants to enhance links with Vietnam in agriculture, said Saudi Arabian ministers.

As the incumbent ASEAN Chair and a neighbour of Thailand, Vietnam has followed with keen interest the complicated situation in Thailand, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nguyen Phuong Nga said on April 11.

Vietnam wants to strengthen relations with all countries in the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia, State President Nguyen Minh Triet told the King’s Consultative Council in Riyadh on April 11.

State President Nguyen Minh Triet on April 11 cabled a message of condolence to parliamentary Speaker Bronislaw Komorowski over the April 10 tragic air crash, which killed President Lech Kaczynski and dozens of senior Polish officials. 

In its foreign policy, Vietnam attaches great importance to developing relations with Saudi Arabia and considers the Middle East nation one of its top priority partners in the region, says State President Nguyen Minh Triet.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung left Hanoi on April 11 for the Nuclear Security Summit in the US at the invitation of President Barack Obama.

The 16th ASEAN Summit has shown member state’s determination to create a new impulse for stronger and more effective development of ASEAN to meet the a goal of building the ASEAN Community by 2015, affirmed Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Khiem.

State President Nguyen Minh Triet arrived in capital Riyadh on April 10, beginning an official visit to Saudi Arabia at the invitation of King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud.

Vietnamese authorities on April 10 handed over to the US sets of remains of US soldiers believed missing in action during the American war in Vietnam.

Saudi Arabia’s media has given wide coverage of the Vietnamese State President Nguyen Minh Triet’s visit to this Middle East country, starting on April 10.

Esteban Lazo, Vice President of the Cuban State Council, received Ha Thi Khiet, Head of the Communist Party of Vietnam’s Commission for Mass Mobilisation, in Havana on April 9.

Vietnam and Azerbaijan have signed a protocol on cooperation between their Ministries of Foreign Affairs and an agreement on visa exemptions for ordinary and official passport holders.

Vietnam were lost 2-0 to Malaysia on April 9, failing to qualify for the final match of the Southeast Asian Futsal tournament which is taking place in HCM City. .

State President Nguyen Minh Triet left Hanoi on April 10 for an official visit to Saudi Arabia at the invitation of King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud.

The Russian Centre for ASEAN and Vietnam Studies and the Russia-Vietnam Friendship Association on April 8 jointly held a conference on Vietnam studies and Russia-Vietnam relations.

A delegation from the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) led by Ha Thi Khiet, Head of the CPV Central Committee’s Mass Mobilisation Commission, is on a working visit to Cuba. 

Vietnam is determined to make the most of its ASEAN presidency in 2010, said President Nguyen Minh Triet at a reception on April 9 for the heads of delegations to the 16th ASEAN Summit.

Argentina is willing to share experience with Vietnam in formulating policies on science and technology, and planning the effectively use of energy, said Graciela Maria Giannesttasio, head of the science and technology committee of Argentina’s lower house.

ASEAN leaders adopted three statements at their 16th summit in Hanoi on April 8-9, showing strong commitment to accelerating implementation of the ASEAN Charter and the Roadmap for an ASEAN Community.  

Vietnam and Azerbaijan will promote cooperation in every field, said the Azerbaijani President, Ilham Aliyev at a reception for Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai who is visiting Azerbaijan at the invitation of the Azerbaijani Government.

The Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) is keen to enhance its fraternal friendship with Cuba, said the Secretary of the CPV Central Committee and Head of the CPV’s Central Committee’s Commission for Mass Mobilisation Ha Thi Khiet.

After the closing of the 16th ASEAN summit in Hanoi on April 9, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung – chair of ASEAN 2010 – will meet hundreds of domestic and foreign reporters to brief them on the outcomes of the ASEAN week.

Brunei wishes to boost multi-faced cooperative relations with Vietnam and support the country as the ASEAN Chair in 2010, Brunei’s King Haji Hassanal Bolkiah said at a meeting with Party leader Nong Duc Manh on April 8.