AIPA 32 – a new milestone for development

Second Vietnam-US defence policy dialogue

The second Vietnam-US defence policy dialogue concluded successfully in Washington, D.C. on September 20.

The dialogue was co-chaired by Vietnam’s Deputy Minister of Defence, Lieutenant-General Nguyen Chi Vinh, and US Deputy-Assistant Secretary of Defence, Robert Scher, who signed an MoU on promoting bilateral defence cooperation.

During the event, both sides expressed their delight with the results of bilateral cooperation in defence in recent times and agreed to boost cooperation for mutual benefit in the future.

Vietnam attends Ministerial Meeting on the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty

• Vietnam prioritizes nuclear safety, security

Vietnamese Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh co-chaired the Ministerial Meeting on the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) in New York City on September 23.

He affirmed Vietnam’s policy to continue supporting disarmament, especially nuclear disarmament, as well as the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons

Also at the meeting, Secretary General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon, emphasized the significance of the CTBT and called on nations to take action to enable the treaty to take effect by 2012.

AIPA 32 executive committee meeting opens in Cambodia

• Vietnam attends AIPA committee meetings

• AIPA calls for enhanced peace, cooperation

The 32nd General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA-32) executive committee meeting opened in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on September 20 with the participation of delegations from parliaments of the nine ASEAN member nations.

The Vietnamese delegation was led by National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung.

The five-day AIPA-32 meeting focused on strengthening ASEAN political-security community through Intensifying regional cooperation and integration; promoting and building a trust-oriented community through consolidating and strengthening ASEAN solidarity for prosperity in the region; promoting economic growth for sustainable development toward narrowing the development gap in ASEAN; and climate change: challenges and adaptation for economic growth.

Samdech Heng Samrin, President of the Cambodian National Assembly, said this was an important and meaningful event providing the best opportunity for all national parliaments to exchange views and work together with their dialogue partners to promote integration, strengthen regional cooperation, and contribute to building a prosperous ASEAN Community.

Myanmar's parliament was also adopted as an official member of the Assembly at the AIPA-32.

Putin proposed for 2012 presidential elections

• Vietnam, Russia Parties boost ties

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev proposed Vladimir Putin as a presidential candidate for 2012 on September 24 at the United Russia Party Congress, the pro-Kremlin party that dominates Russian politics.

The proposal is said to guarantee Putin's return to the office after he was legally forced to step aside four years ago.

It has also ended months of intense speculation over whether Medvedev would seek a second term or step aside in favor of his predecessor.

Palestinian president requests statehood

• Vietnam supports Palestinian UN membership

Palestinian President Mahoud Abbas made a historic bid for his country's UN membership as the independent state of Palestine on September 23.

Meanwhile, Israel said the move is premature without direct talks to address its longstanding security concerns.

The formal application is viewed as a largely symbolic gesture because an American veto is all but assured if the request comes to a vote in the Security Council, but it drew applause from the assembly when the Palestinian leader raised the document at the podium during his speech at the 66th annual session of the General Assembly.