Over the past five years, despite regional and international complications as well as adverse impacts of natural disasters, Vietnam has made important achievements in various areas, helping improve people’s living conditions and elevate the country’s position and role in the international arena.

The Second Meeting of the Joint Committee of the Cross-Border Transport Agreement among countries in the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) was held in Beijing, China on March 20.

The 11th session of the 11th National Assembly is taking place at a time when Vietnam has fulfilled its socio-economic development tasks for 2006 - the first year in which the country successfully implemented the 10th National Party Congress’ resolutions and NA resolutions on the socio-economic development plan for the 2006-2010 period, said NA Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong.

President Nguyen Minh Triet has affirmed that Vietnam always creates the most favourable conditions for foreign investors to cooperate with their local partners and do business in the country.

Hungary wants to further foster its traditional friendship and long-term cooperation with Vietnam in all aspects, particularly in animal husbandry, education and training, and tourism, stressed a special envoy of the Prime Minister of Hungary.

Vietnam is interested in French investment as the two countries have traditional time-honoured ties as well as cultural similarities, said Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung at a meeting in Hanoi on March 19 with Jacques Oudin, co-chairman of the Supreme Council for French-Vietnam Economic Cooperation Development.

The last session of the 11th National Assembly will begin in Hanoi on March 20. Deputies will spend time reviewing the performance of State bodies, including the NA, the NA Standing Committee, the NA Ethnicity Council and other committees during the last working term.

Vietnam welcomes the establishment of the new Palestinian national unity government and wished that the concerned parties would cooperate to restart the Middle-East peace process for peace and stability in the region.

Panama's National Assembly Chairman Elias A. Castillo has underscored the need to establish cooperative relations with the Vietnam National Assembly so as to boost the growing ties between the two countries.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Hua Duc Nhi joined other delegates from 130 countries and 40 international organisations at the 18th meeting of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO)’s Committee on Forestry held in Rome, Italy, from March 13-16.

Deputy Foreign Minister Le Cong Phung who led a Vietnamese delegation to the 16th ASEAN-EU Ministerial Meeting (AEMM) in Nuremberg, Germany, on March 14-15, praised the EU’s recent expansion of membership and achievements in regional integration.

To Huy Rua, Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee and head of its Commission for Ideology and Culture received a visiting delegation of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee's Propaganda Department led by its vice chairman Gao Jun Liang, in Hanoi on March 16.

The 11th session of the 11th National Assembly (NA) will open on March 20 and last until April 6. During the 14 working days, the NA will hear a report reviewing its activities in the previous session and reports from the State President, the Prime Minister, the President of the Supreme People’s Court and the Head of the Supreme People’s Procuracy.

The Vietnamese Government and people will do their best to promote the fine relations between Vietnam and France, says Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.

The Vietnamese Defence Ministry and the Australian Department of Defence have agreed to intensify bilateral military cooperation in coming years.

The Vietnam People's Army and the Army of Singapore will further promote cooperation in personnel training and increase the exchange of visits, said Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army (VPA) Nguyen Khac Nghien.

The National Assembly Committee for Science, Technology and Environment convened on Mach 15 to examine the draft Law on Chemical Substances.

France will further help Vietnam carry out judicial reform, particularly in personnel training, French Justice Minister Pascal Clement assured State President Nguyen Minh Triet during a reception in Hanoi on March 15.

Vietnam and Venezuela have agreed to cooperate in their potential areas, namely energy, oil and gas, mining, production of consumer goods, agriculture and fisheries.

The exchange on Vietnamese youth’s creativity in the process of integration and development is due to take place at the Hanoi National University on the morning of March 25.

Former Deputy Prime Minister Vu Khoan has reiterated that Vietnam always places importance on national unity, considering the issue as one of the decisive factors for national development.

During the visit, Minister Pascal Clement will hold talks with senior Vietnamese officials and deliver a speech on current challenges and practical application of the law at the Vietnam National University in Hanoi on March 16.

The Communist Party and people of China are determined to develop China-Vietnam relations in a comprehensive, long-term and sustainable manner, stated Jia Qinglin, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee (CPCCC).

The 17th Assembly of the World Federation of Democratic Youth (WFDY) has called on its members as well as youth, students and people around the world to participate in the struggle for justice for Vietnamese victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin.

Vietnam is willing to assist Laos in propagation and training staff at all levels, said Truong Tan Sang, Politbureau member and permanent member of the Secretariat of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee.

The Vietnamese Government will instruct domestic agencies to ensure effective cooperation in the Atlantic Philanthropies (AP)-financed projects, affirmed Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.

Vietnam always welcomes Japanese investors to the country and the State and Government of Vietnam will create a more favourable environment to attract foreign investors, particularly those from Vietnam, says State President Nguyen Minh Triet.

Peru, Colombia and Paraguay wish to increase cooperation with Vietnam in all fields, especially in agriculture, fisheries, mining and tourism.

The Communist Party of Vietnam’s (CPV) national renovation and socialist construction policies have been praised by left-wing representatives from Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin American and Caribbean regions.

"Although the State of Vietnam respects the right to freedom and democracy of all citizens, the country never accepts abuses of these that violate Vietnamese law," said Vietnamese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Le Dung.