Military co-operation among ASEAN countries plays a key role in dealing with challenges and ensuring security, stability and safety in the region.

Dignitaries of Cao Dai religious organisations along with more than 5,000 followers across the country gathered for their third meeting in Ben Tre province on March 24.

The Vietnamese province of Dong Thap and its Cambodian counterpart Prey Veng on March 24 signed an agreement to boost bilateral cooperation in the fields of security and public order, agriculture, trade, services, health care and other social development issues in 2010.

Lao Deputy Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith received a Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) delegation in Vientiane on March 24.

Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Khac Nghien, Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army, and General Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Azizan Ariffin, Chief of Defence Force of Malaysia, held talks in Hanoi on March 24 to strengthen cooperation in national defence.

A seminar on Vietnam’s coastal area management was held in Hanoi on March 24 by the Vietnam General Department for Sea and Islands in coordination with the Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA).

A delegation from the Vietnam Customs Department has signed an agreement on administrative cooperation in customs services with Ukraine.

The central coastal city of Nha Trang will host the 14th ASEAN Financial Ministers Meeting, the ASEAN Bankers Council Meeting and relevant meetings from April 5-8.

French Ambassador to Vietnam Jean Francois Girault held his first meeting with local media on March 24, nearly two months after assuming his position in Vietnam.

35 years after its liberation, the central province of Quang Ngai has successfully turned the arid land in the eastern part of Binh Son district into one of the country’s biggest economic zones.  

The President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee, Huynh Dam, has expressed hope that VFF and the Lao Front for National Construction (LFNC) will move towards closer cooperation.

Vietnam wants to enhance all-around cooperation with Russia, particularly in economics, trade, investment, defence and security as Vietnam is a steadfast friend, affirmed President Nguyen Minh Triet.

An official site connecting the National Assembly (NA) deputies and their constituents was jointly launched on March 23 by the Office of the National Assembly and the British Embassy in Vietnam.

The Chinese National People’s Congress (NPC) and the Vietnam National Assembly will spare no efforts to promote bilateral cooperation.

Together with common international efforts, Vietnam has demonstrated its strong commitment to the UN Decade on Education for Sustainable Development (2005-2014).

The legislative bodies of Vietnam and China should maintain regular exchanges of visits to promote bilateral friendship and cooperation, says National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong.  

Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov arrived in Hanoi on March 23, beginning his official visit to Vietnam at the invitation of his Vietnamese counterpart General Phung Quang Thanh.

A delegation of the Hanoi Municipal People’s Council has visited Geneva city and Bern capital of Switzerland, which are developing cooperative ties with the Vietnamese capital.

“Vietnam and the Republic of Korea (RoK) should focus on investing in technology transfer with a focus on heavy and high-tech industries,” said Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai.  

As President of ASEAN and the AIPA in 2010, Vietnam will actively contribute to boosting ASEAN-China ties.  

The Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee on March 22 extended a message of congratulations to the Central Committee of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) on its 55th anniversary.

The armies of Vietnam and Laos have renewed their commitment to increasing cooperation on training, improving training facilities and fighting cross-border drug trafficking.

Cooperation between Vietnam and the World Bank (WB) has been productive, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Sinh Hung said at his meeting with the WB Vice President for Asia-Pacific, James Adam.

A Vietnam Communist Party (CPV) delegation led by Vuong Thua Phong, Deputy Head of the CPV’s External Relations attended the 9th National Liberation Front (FLN) Party congress in Algeria from March 19-21 at the invitation of the FLN Party’s Standing Committee.

The Party Central Committee opened its 12th conference in Hanoi on March 22 to discuss and approve draft documents to be presented at the upcoming National Party Congress slated for January 2011.

A workshop was held in Montpellier City, France, on March 20 to posthumously honour those who made outstanding contributions to Vietnam-France relations in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Co-prince of Andorra Joan Enric Vives I Sicilia has praised Vietnam’s Renewal achievements and hoped that both countries would increase cooperation in various areas, especially tourism.

State President Nguyen Minh Triet on March 20 attended a groundbreaking ceremony of a 100 million littre ethanol plant in Minh Hung commune, the southern province of Binh Phuoc.

The Japan-Vietnam Friendship Society held a meeting in Tokyo on March 20 to mark its 55th anniversary.  

A National Assembly delegation visited Japan from March 13-19 to gain its experience in formulating and implementing policies on social affairs.