Construction of a new parliament house started in Ba Dinh district in central Hanoi on August 6.

Senior officials of Vietnam and Laos agreed on August 6 to further accelerate cooperation between Vietnam ’s Peace Committee and the Lao Committee for Peace and Solidarity (LCPS).

Vietnam still attracts considerable attention from Singaporean firms as an investment destination despite the ongoing world economic downturn, said Jimmy Chua, Singapore Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City.

The Russian Ambassador to Vietnam, Vadim Viktorovich Serafimov, has received the Friendship Order for his active and effective contributions to developing bilateral ties. 

Vietnam has officially assumed the role of President of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) and will host the 31st General Assembly of this regional parliamentary organisation in 2010.

Russian military experts who worked in Vietnam during the wartime held their 40th meeting in Moscow on August 5.

Vietnam-Norway bilateral trade and investment remains at a modest level and should be enhanced to match the two countries’ potential, according to Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung. 

On August 5 Vietnam put forth raised three initiatives at the ongoing 30 th General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA-30) in Thailand’s resort city of Pattaya. 

Deputy Prime Minister Truong Vinh Trong on August 5 expressed his thanks to the Pakistan government and people for supporting Vietnam’s national liberation and unification.

Senior officials from Vietnamese and Canadian justice agencies shared information and experiences in legal and social reform at a workshop in Hanoi on August 5.

Vietnam is likely to achieve a GDP growth rate of 5 percent, keep the inflation rate less than 7 percent and maintain a budget deficit of below 7 percent of the GDP, according to Cabinet ministers.

The Vice Chairwoman of the Vietnam National Assembly, Tong Thi Phong, on August 5 had bilateral meetings with Chinese and Canadian delegations while attending the 30th General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly in Thailand.

The Vietnamese Foreign Ministry on August 3 sent a diplomatic note to the Chinese Embassy in Vietnam to request China promptly release 13 Vietnamese fishermen and their ship, which were seized by the Chinese side, said the ministry’s spokesman. 

Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh received in Hanoi on Aug. 4 a Lao Government delegation led by Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Somsavat Lengsavad, who is visiting Vietnam for the mid-term meeting of the Vietnam-Laos Inter-Governmental Committee. 

The governments of Vietnam and Israel signed an agreement on double tax avoidance in Hanoi on August 4, creating a transparent and healthy legal environment for their businesses to increase transactions.

The 30th General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) opened in Pattaya, Thailand, on August 4 with the participation of delegates from 8 member states and representatives from observing countries.

Almost 200 executives, researchers and officials from 21 members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum have registered to attend a meeting of the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) in Danang City from August 24-27.

Vietnam’s National Assembly Vice Chairwoman Tong Thi Phong and other female parliamentarians confirmed the important role of women in economic development and poverty alleviation at a meeting in Pattaya City, Thailand on August 3.

The Vietnam-Laos Inter-Government Committee for Cooperation held its mid-year meeting in Nghe An province on August 1-3 to review the implementation of their agreement on economic, cultural, scientific and technological cooperation signed in January 2009.

Vietnamese and Australian armies have agreed to increase the exchange of visits and cooperation in training, military medical services, counter-terrorism, border management and the search for personnel missing in action during the war.

The first meeting of the joint committee between Radio the Voice of Vietnam (VOV) and the Thai Public Relations Department (PRD) was held at VOV headquarters in 58 Quan Su street, Hanoi on August 3.

State President Nguyen Minh Triet and Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung on August 2 cabled condolences to Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo over the death of the country’s former President, Corazon Aquino. 

A Vietnamese National Assembly delegation led by its vice chairwoman Tong Thi Phong left Hanoi on August 2 to attend the 30th ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) in Pattaya, Thailand.

Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai paid an official visit to Singapore from July 29-August 1 at the invitation of the Singaporean Government.

State President Nguyen Minh Triet on July 31 visited Vietnam National University - Ho Chi Minh City (VNU-HCM) - one of the two leading educational institutions in the country.

The Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) will continue to grant loans to banks in Asia, including Vietnam, to help local businesses overcome difficult times and maintain production.

A National Assembly delegation led by Vice Chairwoman Tong Thi Phong will attend the 30th General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) from August 2-8 in Thailand.

Vietnam calls for vigorous international support for the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) in Somalia in its endeavours to repel attempts to destroy the Djibouti peace process and spoil the efforts to bring peace and stability to the country.

State President Nguyen Minh Triet has encouraged the Southern Fruit Research Institute, located in the Mekong Delta province of Tien Giang, to crossbreed more high quality strains to boost exports.

International economic cooperation has raised Vietnam’s prestige in the world arena, Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Khiem has said.