The ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) plays an important role in the region’s stability and development, said Vietnam’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem.

Vietnam reveres the late Lao President Souphanouvong, who established the Vietnam-Laos special relations, said Vice State President Nguyen Thi Doan.

Thai Parliament President and Speaker of the House of Representatives Chai Chidchod and his delegation left Hanoi on July 23, concluding an official three-day visit to Vietnam at the invitation of National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong. 

Vietnam supports peace-building efforts in countries that have undergone conflict and is ready to share its experiences of capacity building and international cooperation with all interested parties, said a Vietnamese diplomat. 

The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) will do its utmost to cement the Sino-Vietnamese friendship to meet the common interests and aspirations of the two nations.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem held separate meetings with Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith and Parliamentary Secretary to the Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Deepak Obhrai on the sidelines of a summit between ASEAN and its dialogue partners in Thailand on July 22.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Viktorovich Lavrov will pay an official visit to Vietnam from July 24-26 at the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem.

Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai on July 22 in Tra Vinh province inspected the Duyen Hai power plant project and a shipyard by the Hau River.

A five-day workshop to review the cooperation process and lay down work plans between the two National Assembly (NA) offices of Vietnam and Laos opened in the central city of Da Nang on July 22.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung approved a ban on sky lanterns on July 22, following concerns that the soaring lanterns start fires once they fall back to the ground.

Vietnam hails recent progress in the development of co-operative ties between ASEAN and its dialogue partners, said Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem at a meeting of members of the groups and its dialogue partners in Phuket, Thailand on July 22.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has affirmed that the Vietnamese government and people will do their utmost to further develop its strategic partnership with Russia to bring practical benefits to both countries.

State President Nguyen Minh Triet has called on people nationwide to actively help and care for war invalids, ailing soldiers and fallen soldiers’ families as well as those who devoted their life to the nation.

State President Nguyen Minh Triet has praised Vietnamese literary and art circles’ contributions to national development, saying that under any circumstances artists are fighters on the cultural and ideological front.

The fifth annual political consultation between the two foreign ministries of Vietnam and Myanmar was held in Nay Pyi Taw the capital of Myanmar on July 20-21.

The National Congress of Representatives of Ethnic Minority Groups in Vietnam will be held in mid-May next year for the first time since national reunification in 1975, according to a press conference held in Hanoi on July 21.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) should mobilise all resources to ensure the successful implementation of overall plans for the Roadmap for an ASEAN Community and the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI) Work Plan 2.

The Cambodian, Lao and Vietnamese parliaments should establish a coordinating committee to oversee and promote the development of the three countries’ development triangle, heard a conference.  

Through improved cooperation, Vietnam and Thailand have a good chance to increase bilateral trade to US$10 billion in 2010.

Nikolai Brunich, general director of the Russian Oil and Gas Joint Stock Company Zarubezhneft has been presented with Vietnam’s Labour Order, first class, in recognition of his contributions to the successful operation of Vietsovpetro and cooperation between Vietnam and Russia.

The Party and State are committed to helping visually impaired people overcome difficulties and integrate into the community, said State President Nguyen Minh Triet.

Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai directed this at a meeting with the leaders of the Mekong Delta province of An Giang on July 20.

The Thai Parliament President, Chai Chidchob, is leading a delegation from the Thai National Assembly on an official friendship visit to Vietnam.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is currently well-situated to set up an ASEAN Community, but is also facing a number of difficulties and challenges, particularly those caused by the global economic recession.

State President Nguyen Minh Triet has congratulated leaders and shareholders of the GTel Mobile Joint Stock Company (GTel Mobile) upon the launch of its Beeline network on July 20.

Vietnam has provided over VND29.5 billion for Laos between 2008 and 2010 to build a cross-border check-point at the Phu Cua International Border Gate in Attapeu province, according to the Central Highland province of Kon Tum’s Department of Planning and Investment.

State President Nguyen Minh Triet chaired a workshop in Hanoi on July 20 to discuss ways of renewing the organisation and operation of judicial agencies.

Vietnam always attaches much importance to strengthening the ties of traditional friendship and strategic partnership with Russia for the sake of the two countries’ long-term interests, said Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh at a reception for the outgoing Russian Ambassador in Hanoi on July 20.

A delegation from the Vietnam National Assembly led by its Vice Chairman Uong Chu Luu has paid a four-day visit to the UK.

Lawmakers from Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam are gathering in the Central Highland province of Kon Tum to examine the National Assembly’s role in developing the triangle.