The President of the Vietnam-Japan Friendship Parliamentarians’ League, Ho Duc Viet, has expressed his wish that Japan would intensify its assistance to Vietnam in education, training and human resource development.

Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem on May 24 held separate meetings with his Japanese, Czech and Estonian counterparts who are in Hanoi for the 9th Asia-Europe Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (FMM 9).

Senior officials from 45 members of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) met in Hanoi on May 24 to prepare for the 9th ASEM Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (FMM 9) slated for May 25-26.

Vietnam was deeply touched by the death of the former president of the Republic of Korea (RoK), Roh Moo-huyn, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Le Dung said in Hanoi on May 24.

The development of the Dung Quat economic zone and Dung Quat oil refinery is a new opportunity for Quang Ngai to develop comprehensively, said Deputy Prime Minister Truong Vinh Trong during his working visit to the Quang Ngai central province from May 23-24.  

This will be the first foreign ministers’ meeting since the membership of Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) increased to 45 and it will act as a bridge between the two summits- ASEM 7 and ASEM8 with the implementation of decisions made by ASEAM leaders.

Vietnam hails the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders for the political leadership they have shown in UN-backed talks aimed at reunifying the divided island.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung’s speech delivered at the opening of the 15th “Future of Asia” Summit in Tokyo, Japan on May 21 captured the attention of more than 800 leaders, experts and economic researchers from Asian nations and international organisations.

Vietnam wishes to develop its friendship and comprehensive cooperation with Singapore, said Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem.

Vietnam and Switzerland have agreed to grant visa exemptions for their diplomatic passport holders.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung had separate meetings with Kono Yohei, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and Eda Satsuki, President of the House of Councillors, in Tokyo on May 22.

Vietnam and Japan have agreed to promote bilateral cooperation in economics, trade, culture and education, and especially in the implementation of large infrastructure projects.

Minister of Construction Nguyen Hong Quan on May 22 presented a report on amendments to article 126 of the Housing Law and article 121 of the Land Law, allowing more overseas Vietnamese to buy and own houses in Vietnam.

Vietnam and Israel will waive visas for diplomatic passport holders in the near future.

The Vietnamese Government has decided to provide US$30,000 in emergency aid to Sri Lanka to help it address the current humanitarian crisis that is affecting civilians who have left the war zone.

Central African President Francois Bozize Yangouvonda and his entourage on May 21 visited the southern province of Binh Duong as part of his official visit to Vietnam.

Angolan Prime Minister Paulo Kassoma has asked Vietnam to continue to share socio-economic experiences with the African country, especially in health care, education and training, agriculture, science-technology and oil and gas.

On May 21, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung delivered a speech at the 15th international conference on “The Future of Asia” in Tokyo hosted by Nikkei newspaper with the participation of more than 800 delegates.

The Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army, Lieutenant General Nguyen Quoc Khanh, and defence and security officers from 23 other members of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) have agreed to made headway towards achieving peace and stability in the region.

The Executive Director of the Geneva-based Advisory Centre on WTO Law (ACWL), Frieder Roessler, on May 19 signed a protocol on Vietnamese membership.

Voters across the country have welcomed the government’s comprehensive solutions to cushion the national economy from the global economic fallout. However, they said more effort should be made to implement the National Assembly and government’s resolutions at grassroots level.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung will pay an official visit to the Republic of Korea (RoK) on May 28 at the invitation of President Lee Myung-bak and Prime Minister Han Seung-soo.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung left Hanoi on May 21 for a three-day working visit to Japan where he is scheduled to attend the 15th international conference on “The Future of Asia” in Tokyo by Nikkei newspaper.

Vietnam will do its utmost to make next year’s World Buddhist Summit in Hanoi successful, said Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Khiem while receiving the Secretary General of the World Buddhist Summit, Hiroshi Fujikura, in Hanoi on May 21.

The French VAR naval ship, led by Vice Admiral Gerard Valin, commander of the French Joint Forces in the Indian Ocean, anchored at Da Nang Port on May 20, beginning a five-day friendly visit to the central city.

The government will continue to give top priority to curbing economic slowdown, stabilising the macro economy, maintaining steady economic growth and ensuring social welfare in the face of the global economic and financial turmoil.

The President of the Central African Republic, Francois Bozize Yangouvonda, and his wife paid a visit to the former imperial city of Hue on May 20 as part of his official visit to Vietnam.

To cope with the impact of the world economic crisis on Vietnam’s socio-economic developments, the National Assembly, the Government and every sector need to do more to fulfill all their key tasks and targets, said NA Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong.  

Vietnam wants to develop its ties of friendship and multi-faceted cooperation with all African countries, including the Republic of Central Africa, for the benefit of both peoples and for peace, cooperation and development in the region and the world at large.

An official welcome ceremony for the President of the Central African Republic, Francois Bozize Yangouvonda, and his wife was held in Hanoi on May 19.