Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh has asked the northern mountainous province of Son La to pay special attention to training local ethnic officials.

Vietnam is willing to share its experiences in joining the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and boost cooperation in various areas with the African nation, says National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong.

State President Nguyen Minh Triet has praised the socio-economic developments of the northern province of Hai Duong, expressing his wish that it will soon make a breakthrough to become an engine for the country’s economy.

The French Ambassador to Vietnam, Herve Bolot, on January 19 was awarded the insignia “for the cause of education” in recognition of his great contributions to Vietnam’s education sector.

The results of Vietnamese Chinese cooperation during the past 60 years have formed a foundation for the two countries to elevate bilateral relations to a new level.

Vietnam and Japan have affirmed their determination to effectively implement their economic partnership agreement for mutual benefits.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung on January 18 received the outgoing Ambassador of France, Herve Bolot.

Germany will hold a series of political, economic and cultural activities in Vietnam this year to mark the 35th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties.

The 27th session of the 12th National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee opened in Hanoi on January 18 with Nguyen Phu Trong in the chair. During the January 18-19 session, the Standing Committee will give opinions on six important law drafts.

The neighbouring friendship between Vietnam and China has become a valuable asset that needs to continue developing for the common benefit of people from both countries.

Despite many upheavals in 2009, cooperation relations between Vietnam and Japan have improved significantly thanks to a great effort from both governments, which bodes well for 2010.

The Central Theoretical Council held its 10th meeting in Hanoi on Jan. 18 to review the Council’s activities over the past year.

The Chairman of the Vietnamese National Assembly’s Committee for External Affairs, Nguyen Van Son, and his entourage concluded a two-day working visit to the Philippines on Jan. 17.

The Japanese government wants to promote cooperation and exchange with Vietnam as a strategic partner in various areas, said Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada.

Leaders of the Vietnamese Party, State, Government and National Assembly have exchanged messages of congratulation with their Chinese counterparts on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two nations (January 18).

A conference seeking solutions to boost Vietnam’s investment in Myanmar as well as bilateral trade cooperation was held in Nay Pyi Taw in Myanmar on January 15, according to the “New Light of Myanmar” newspaper.

The 4th forum for East Asia-Latin America Cooperation (FEALAC) foreign ministers opened in Tokyo, Japan, on January 16, drawing the participation of foreign ministers from 33 Asian and Latin-American nations.

Park Soo Kwan and Koo Cha-Yol have been appointed as Vietnam’s honorary general consuls in the Republic of Korea (RoK) for Pusan city and Kyongnam province, and Incheon and Kyonggi province, respectively.

The Indonesian Foreign Minister M. Natalegawa has praised Vietnam at the start of the year it holds the region’s chair, saying that “Vietnam has started its ASEAN chairmanship very well.

The Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) and the Vietnam-China Friendship Organisation (VCFO) held a ceremony in Hanoi on January 15 to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the two countries’ diplomatic ties and the foundation of the VCFO.

National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong made a fact-finding tour of the central province of Quang Tri on January 14-15 to explore its economic development models.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem arrived in Tokyo on January 15, beginning a visit to Japan and attending international conferences there until January 19.

Greek ambassador to Vietnam Platon Alexis Hadjimichalis has been awarded Vietnam’s Friendship Order in recognition of his contributions to promoting the friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong left Hanoi on January 15, concluding his official visit to Vietnam at the invitation of his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Tan Dung.

The ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Retreat and other related meetings have just concluded in the central city of Danang, highlighting Vietnam’s active role in coordinating ASEAN meetings during its term as ASEAN Chair.

A delegation of the Vietnam National Assembly, headed by Chairman of the NA Committee for External Relations Nguyen Van Son, who is also Head of the Organising Committee of the 31st ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA-31), has paid a courtesy visit to the Indonesian House of Representatives Speaker, Marzuki Alie. 

Vietnam will join efforts with Cambodia to build the common borderline into one of peace, friendship, stability, cooperation and development.

The government and people of Vietnam wish and will try their best to bolster relations with Algeria in all fields, said Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung while receiving new Algerian Ambassador, Chikhi Cherif, in Hanoi on January 14. 

Emulation movements should focus on matters of public concern and each locality needs to draw up an agenda for change in different periods of time, said Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung at the 32nd meeting of the Central Council for Emulation and Reward in Hanoi on January 14. 

Radio the Voice of Russia (VoR) in a broadcast on January 13 reviewed the development of Russian-Vietnamese cooperative relations.