A ceremony to award 34 Russian experts for their work in preserving the late President Ho Chi Minh’s embalmed body was held at the Vietnamese Embassy to Russia on May 27.

Vietnam supports the efforts made by the Government of Sri Lanka in restoring territorial integrity, national stability and in combating terrorism, said head of the country’s mission at the UN, the WTO and other international organisations in Geneva.

Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Uong Chu Luu received a delegation from the UK-Vietnam Parliamentarians’ Friendship Group on May 27, led by Chairman Ben Chapman, who is currently visiting Vietnam.

Vietnam supports moves by the United Nation Security Council (UNSC) committees and its specialist  bodies to find appropriate ways of strengthening coordinated actions with the Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force to put UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategies in glace.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung is to visit the Republic of Korea from May 28-30 to attend the ASEAN-RoK summit on the island of Jeju from May 31-June 2.

The 6th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Poverty Reduction and Rural Development took place in Hanoi on May 27.

Deputies to the current National Assembly session suggested on May 27 that the government give more priority to upgrading medical centres and education establishments in disadvantaged areas to narrow the development gap between the highland and lowland regions.

A Vietnamese delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem will attend the 17th ASEAN-EU Ministerial Meeting (AEMM-17) in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on May 28.

The 27th ASEAN Senior Transport Officials Meeting (STOM) opened in Da Nang City on May 27.

Vietnam has successfully hosted the 9th Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (FMM9), said Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem in an interview with the media after the FMM9 ended in Hanoi on May 26.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Le Dung has criticised the External Relations Committee of the US House of Representatives for its intention to put Vietnam back onto the list of Countries of Particular Concern (CPC) over religion. He also asked the US Congress not to proceed with the proposal.

Algerian Trade Minister El Hachemi Djaaboub on May 26 received a Vietnamese trade delegation, led by Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Thanh Bien, who are visiting Algeria from May 25-31.

Nguyen Thien Nhan, Deputy Prime Minister-cum-Minister of Education and Training, spoke highly of the positive and comprehensive development of Vietnam’s friendship and multifaceted cooperation with the UK and Germany over recent years.

Vietnam always attaches great importance to regional and global cooperation in rural development and eradicating poverty, following ASEAN’s action plan on the issue and the UN’s Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), said an official.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem on May 26 held separate meetings with the Foreign Ministers of Malaysia and Latvia to discuss bilateral ties.

Foreign Ministers from 45 Asia and Europe Meeting (ASEM) member countries endorsed a number of initiatives in Hanoi on May 26 to promote closer cooperation between the two continents.

The government should keep the budget deficit at less than 7 percent and pay more attention to vocational training and job generation for people in rural areas, said National Assembly deputies.

General Secretary Nong Duc Manh on May 26 received Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi and his entourage, while they were in Vietnam to attend the ninth Asia-Europe (ASEM) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has signed a decision to approve an agreement on investment encouragement and protection between the Governments of Vietnam and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Japan will continue to strengthen its cooperation with Vietnam, said the Japanese Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson, Kazuo Kozama on the sidelines of the 9th Asia-Europe Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (FMM9).

The Working Dinner Session of the ninth Asia-Europe Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (FMM9) opened in Hanoi on May 25 with a focus on “Regional and International Developments”.  

Poland is ready to provide US$280 million in preferential credits to help Vietnam develop its shipbuilding industry and other sectors, said Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Le Dung on May 25 raised worries over the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK)’s latest nuclear test, saying it further complicates the situation and runs counter to peace and stability in the region.

Vietnam has always considered the European Union (EU) as a strategic, comprehensive and important partner, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has said.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung on May 25 sent congratulations to his Indian counterpart, Dr Manmohan Singh, on the establishment of India’s new Government.

ASEM member countries should work closely to build up a more sustained financial and economic system to revive the sluggish economy and address global issues, said Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.

The ASEM Initiative for the Rapid Containment of Pandemic Influenza was jointly launched in Hanoi on May 25 by Japan and the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF).

Algerian Ambassador to Vietnam Naceur Boucherit, who is also head of the African diplomatic mission, has affirmed the special relationship between Vietnam and Africa.

On May 25, State President Nguyen Minh Triet met with Japanese Foreign Minister Nakasone Hirofumi and Slovakian Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajcak.

Within the framework of the 9th Asia-Europe Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (FMM9), Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem met with a number of foreign ministers.