Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem received a delegation from the US Commission on International Religious Freedom, led by its Vice President, Michael Cromartie, in Hanoi on May 12.

Vietnam welcomes Russia’s proposal to hold an international conference on the Middle East peace process in Moscow later this year, especially in the context that recent positive developments are overshadowed by continued insecurity, instability and the rise of tensions in the region.

State President Nguyen Minh Triet has expressed his hope that Vietnam and Laos would boost comprehensive cooperation and mutual assistance, as well as the exchange of information to ensure national defence and security.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung received the Republic of Korea (RoK) President’s Special Envoy, Lee Byung Suk, in Hanoi on May 12.

The southern city of Can Tho plays an important role in terms of economics, society, defence and security and must strive to become a driving force behind the development of the entire Mekong Delta, said Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh.

The Vietnamese government hopes to boost cooperation in trade and investment with Mexico for the mutual benefit of both countries, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung told the out-going Mexican Ambassador Ricardo Camara.

China always treasures its ties with Vietnam and does its best to enhance bilateral relations in a meaningful and sustainable manner under set principles and guidelines, said Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping.

A delegation from the Vietnam National Assembly is currently in Laos to examine a number of joint Vietnam-Laos agreements on economics, culture, education and science and technology that were signed in the 2003-2008 period.

It is essential for lawyers to ensure the good reputation by abiding by the law and carrying out their responsibility towards society, said State President Nguyen Minh Triet.

The National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee is due to open its 20th session on May 12 in Hanoi with a focus on reviewing the implementation of socio-economic development tasks and the State budget for 2008 and 2009 as well as considering a report on final accounts for 2007.  

A high-level Vietnamese delegation, headed by State Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan, arrived in the Uruguayan capital city of Montevideo on May 10 to begin their official visit to the South American nation at the invitation of its Vice President Rodolfo Nin Novoa.

Embassies Night, with Vietnam in the spotlight, held by the University Club of Washington, DC, on May 8 was packed with more than 100 entrepreneurs, professors and lawyers.

Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai has said that it is imperative to conduct quality control checks at the Son La Hydroelectric power Plant and to speed up resettlement programmes and ensure that the people being relocated receive proper support.

Hau Giang can develop in a sustainable way by restructuring agriculture and the rural economy towards increasing agricultural production, said Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh during his working visit to the province from May 9-10.

Vietnam’s deputy representative to the UN Security Council (UNSC) has called on concerned parties in Chad to stop fighting to seek a negotiated solution to the current conflict in the country.

For Vietnam, the people are both the ultimate objective and driving force of any social and economic development policy, and protecting and promoting human rights are always the Government’s consistent policy.

Vietnam will host a conference of the Association of National Police Forces of the ASEAN region (ASEANAPOL) and hold the presidency of the association this year.

Localities should join hands to overcome difficulties, prevent economic slowdown, stabilise the macro-economy, ensure social welfare and maintain an economic growth rate of 5-5.5 percent in 2009, said Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.

The Vietnamese Government on May 7 submitted to the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf a national report on the position of its continental shelf that lies beyond 200 nautical miles from the country’s coastlines.

A diplomatic memo and accompanying map that China submitted to the UN to protest Vietnam’s report on the limits of its continental shelf have violated Vietnam’s sovereignty and its territorial rights over its part of the East Sea.

The Head of the European Delegation to Vietnam, Ambassador Sean Doyle hosted a reception in Hanoi on May 8 to celebrate European Day (May 9).

Switzerland will continue to provide Vietnam with development aid worth US$50 million during the 2009-2012 period.

The Pravda (Trust) newspaper of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation on May 7 ran an article on Vietnam’s victory at Dien Bien Phu 55 years ago, comparing it to the Soviet victory over the German army at Stalingrad.

Vietnam attaches great importance to promoting mutually beneficial cooperation with  its traditional friends, including Slovakia, said Prime Minister while receiving newly accredited ambassador Peter Svitek in Hanoi on May 7.

The victory at Dien Bien Phu over the French colonialists 55 years ago was one of Vietnam’s greatest military exploits and a landmark in the nation’s history of struggle against foreign invaders, which resounded across the globe, said a Party official.

A Government delegation led by Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung on May 7 paid a visit to General Vo Nguyen Giap to congratulate him on the 55th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu victory (May 7, 1954-May 7, 2009).

Defence Minister General Phung Quang Thanh received visiting Japanese Vice Defence Minister Nobuo Kishi in Hanoi on May 6.

President Nguyen Minh Triet on May 6 called for more partnerships between Vietnamese and US universities and colleges as he attended the opening ceremony of the first affiliate of Texas-based Houston Community College (HCC) in HCM City.

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on May 5 had a meeting to discuss the situation in Nepal. Representing the General Secretary of the United Nations, Karin Landgren, reported on positive achievements as well as political developments in the country over the past three months.

The People’s Supreme Procuracy of Vietnam and Laos has held a meeting for people’s procuracies of provinces along the two countries’ common border line.