An inter-sectoral conference to review two-years of Vietnam’s assumption of United Nation Security Council (UNSC) non-permanent membership during the 2008-09 term was held in Hanoi on February 9 under the chairmanship of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem.

Quang Ninh province should make full use of its potential and strengths to develop rapidly and sustainably, said Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh while visiting the province on February 8-9.

State President Nguyen Minh Triet on February 9 paid Tet visit to families of late Party General Secretary Le Duan, late Party General Secretary Nguyen Van Linh and late Prime Minister Vo Van Kiet.

The Tay Ninh provincial People’s Committee on February 9 held an exchange meeting with Cambodia’s border provinces of Kongpong Cham, Prayveng and Svayrieng.

The 28th session of the 12th National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee opened in Hanoi on February 9 with Nguyen Phu Trong in the chair.

A ceremony was held in Hanoi on February 8 to mark the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Vietnam and six Central European nations: Poland, Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia.

The US’s Deputy Assistance Secretary for East Asia and Pacific-cum-Ambassador for ASEAN Affairs Scot Marciel paid a working visit to Vietnam from February 4-8.

A delegation from the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) has attended the eighth congress of the Communist Party of Peru-Red Fatherland (PCdelP), which reiterated that socialism is the ideal of the party and Marxism-Leninism its ideological foundation.

State President Nguyen Minh Triet paid a pre lunar New Year visit to the southern province of Binh Duong on February 8.

Quang Tri province should make full use of its natural resources, including its land, forests and sea, and especially the East-West Economic Corridor, to develop local industry, tourism and services, says Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) will offer Vietnam more technical and financial assistance in helping the country develop its economy, said Deputy Managing Director, Takatoshi Kato.

A delegation of the Vietnam Sub-committee led by its chairman Ngo Quang Xuan attended the Parliamentary Assembly of the Francophone (APF) executive board’s meeting in N’Djamenia, the Republic of Chad.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung on February 7 paid a pre-Tet visit to Nam Dong district in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue, where 43 percent of its population are ethnic minorities, mostly the Co Tu.

Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai has praised the Mekong Delta province of Soc Trang for having introduced effective solutions to reverse the economic downturn in 2009 and achieve a GDP growth rate of 10.14 percent, 1.6 percent higher than expected.

Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh has asked newly accredited ambassadors to pay special attention to economic and cultural diplomacy, and overseas Vietnamese affairs during their working terms abroad.

Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas spoke highly of traditional friendship between Palestine and Vietnam while receiving Pham Sy Tam, Vietnamese ambassador to Egypt and Palestine, on February 6.

President Nguyen Minh Triet has highlighted Vietnam’s important achievements in 2009, attributing them to the strong resolve and constant efforts by all Vietnamese people, including those residing overseas.

Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai paid a pre-lunar New Year visit to the southern province of Bac Lieu on February 6.

About 1,000 overseas Vietnamese who have returned for lunar New Year celebrations offered incense at the Thang Long Royal Citadel in Hanoi on February 6.

The Mexican State of Veracruz wants to increase cooperation with Vietnam, especially in education and training, petro-chemistry and aquaculture, says governor Fidel Herrera.

Education is a priority sector in the cooperation programme this year between Vietnam and Laos, says Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has asked newly accredited Vietnamese ambassadors to mobilise foreign aid for national development, particularly in coping with climate change, educational cooperation and labour export.

The Vietnamese National Assembly, as Chair of the 31st ASEAN Inter-parliamentary Assembly (AIPA), hosted in Hanoi on February 5 an appointment ceremony for Antonio Cuenco of the Philippines as AIPA Secretary General in the 2010-2013 term.

Hanoi is willing to be a friend and reliable partner of all capitals and cities in the world for the sake of peace, friendship, cooperation and development, says Mayor Nguyen The Thao.

Former State and Party leaders have contributed their opinions to the draft political report to be submitted to the 11th National Party Congress at a two-day conference in Hanoi.

Representatives from diplomatic corps, and international and foreign non-governmental organizations in Vietnam gathered in Hanoi on February 4 to welcome the Lunar New Year festival (Tet).

State President Nguyen Minh Triet on February 4 sent a message of congratulation to his Polish counterpart Lech Kaczynski on the 60th founding anniversary of Vietnam-Poland diplomatic ties.

Vietnam will try its utmost to foster its friendship and cooperation with China on a wider and deeper basis characterised by mutual trust, affirmed National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong.

The Vietnamese government will continue to take bold measures in 2010 to boost socio-economic development in the post-slowdown period, with a focus on social integration, says a Vietnamese representative to the UN.

Defence Minister General Phung Quang Thanh on February 4 visited and extended lunar New Year Greetings to 100-year-old General Vo Nguyen Giap.