A delegation of the Algeria People’s National Assembly led by Speaker Abdelaziz Ziari will pay an official visit to Vietnam from January 18-23.

President Nguyen Minh Triet on January 14 sent his condolences to Haitian President Rene Preval for the human and material losses caused by an earthquake on January 12.

The fight against corruption should be stepped up. This is a key task for the entire socio-political system, said Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, Head of the Party Central Committee’s Steering Committee for Corruption Prevention and Control.

The 7th Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee Presidium held its first conference in Hanoi on January 14 to review its activities in 2009 and to outline action programmes for 2010.  

State President Nguyen Minh Triet on January 14 announced the appointment of 21 Vietnamese Ambassadors and General Consuls to various countries.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem chaired the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (AMM) Retreat in the central city of Da Nang on January 14.

A national conference was held in Hanoi on Jan. 13 to review the 10-year implementation of the Party Politburo’s Instruction on the building and implementation of democratic regulations at the grassroots level.

Vietnam is capable of building soft power thanks to its current advantages and chances, Professor Joseph Nye of the US Harvard University has said. 

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Sinh Hung made a tour of the northern Lao provinces of Luang Namtha and Oudomxay during his visit to Laos on January 12-13.

Vietnam wants to expand cooperation in culture, education, health care, urban planning and management, says State President Nguyen Minh Triet.

Speaker of the Finnish Parliament Sauli Niinisto left Hanoi on January 13, concluding his official visit to Vietnam.

The ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) was held on January 13 to prepare for the ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting scheduled for January 14 at the Furama resort in Danang.

A groundbreaking ceremony for a Vietnam-Singapore integrated township and industrial park was held in northern Hai Phong city’s Thuy Nguyen district on January 13.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has asked the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE) to focus on perfecting management mechanisms and policies on sustainable protection of the environment.

The Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security and the Cambodian Ministry of Interior need to strengthen their cooperation for the sake of the two countries’ people, said Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.

Vietnam always attaches importance to cooperation for mutual development with the US, affirmed Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.

The two Prime Ministers noted with satisfaction the rapid and positive development of the friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries after five years of implementing the Vietnam-Singapore framework agreement to connect the two economies.

The President’s Office held a meeting on January 12 to review its operations in 2009 and makes plan for the implementation of its 2010 mission.

The 32nd session of the Vietnam-Laos intergovernmental committee on economic, cultural, scientific and technical cooperation took place in the Lao province of Luang Prabang, outlining the way forward for bilateral ties, especially in trade and investment.

Being fully aware of the importance of the event, the central city of Danang has completed all the necessary preparations for the ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting to be held from January 13-15.

National Assembly Vice Chairman Tong Thi Phong warmly received US Senator Christopher S. Bond in Hanoi on January 11. 

Buddhist followers practising teachings of the France-based Lang Mai ( Plum Village ) voluntarily left Phuoc Hue Pagoda in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong for home on December 30, 2009, officials said. 

Vietnam wants to promote friendship and multifaceted cooperation with Finland and welcomes Finnish investors to do business in the country, says State President Nguyen Minh Triet. 

Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong arrived in Hanoi on January 12, beginning a four-day visit to Vietnam at the invitation of Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.

Deputy Prime Minister Truong Vinh Trong has underlined the improvement of assessing and examining legal documents as one of the main tasks for the judicial branch in 2010.

Vietnam and Laos reviewed a programme to upgrade and reinforce the number of border markers along their common border in 2009 at a meeting in Vientiane on January 11.

Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh has emphasised the importance of mass mobilisation, considering it a special task for building the Party and political system and contributing to national stability and sustainable development.

The 14th Conference of the Hanoi municipal Party Committee began on January 11 as the city is preparing to celebrate its 1,000th anniversary and endeavouring to finish its process of industrialization and modernization by 2015.

Vietnam and Finland should increase regular visit exchanges to promote mutual understanding and trust as well as cooperation in all fields, especially in economics, trade, investment, science-technology and education.

The Speaker of the Finnish Parliamentary, Sauli Väinämö Niinistö, arrived in Hanoi on January 10, beginning an official visit to Vietnam at the invitation of his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Phu Trong.