Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh has praised Hanoi capital for its important contributions to nationwide efforts to overcome difficulties and boost the country’s profile internationally.

Vietnam has overcome numerous difficulties and made strong achievements in 2009, which will create an important prerequisite for more success in 2010, says Party leader Nong Duc Manh. 

It is fair to say that Vietnam has fulfilled its mission as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) during the 2008-2009 term, leaving a good impression on many international friends. 

Vietnam always attaches importance to developing its friendly and multifaceted cooperation with traditional friends, including Slovakia, on the basis of equality and mutual benefits.

Vietnam will do its utmost to promote its traditional friendship and comprehensive cooperation with Cambodia, Party leader Nong Duc Manh told King Norodom Sihamoni during their talks in Phnom Penh on December 17. 

Vietnam and Russia have agreed on a range of directions and specific measures to strengthen and expand their bilateral cooperation in the traditional area of energy, including nuclear energy, oil and gas, mining and military technology. 

Vietnam and Spain have agreed to strengthen the two countries’ cooperation at international forums and organisations, including the United Nations and the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), to cope with global challenges such as climate change, energy and food security. 

Spanish King Juan Carlos on December 14 welcomed State President Nguyen Minh Triet’s first visit to Spain, which he said marked a milestone in the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries.

Italy attaches great importance to promoting all-round cooperation with Vietnam – a  country which has great potential for development, says Prime Minister Silvio  Belusconi.

Vietnam is ready to boost relations with the Vatican in the principle of respecting international law in the interest of world peace, cooperation and development.

The Central Highland province Lam Dong’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, cooperating with a US NGO on agricultural development assistance ACDI/VOCA held a conference on cacao development on December 10.

Vietnam considers Italy an important European Union partner and wants to boost friendship and all-round cooperation with Italy, says president Nguyen Minh Triet.

Vietnam considers people an important factor behind national development, therefore, the Party and State have gradually finalised the legal system and developed many programmes to promote the citizens’ fundamental human rights.

A delegation from the National Assembly’s Committee for External Relations led by its Chairman Nguyen Van Son visited the European Union (EU), the European Parliament (EP) in Belgium and the UK Parliament from Nov. 29 to Dec. 4.

Senior diplomats of Vietnam and Cuba pointed to a large range of industries in which the two countries can boost cooperation for mutual development at a meeting in Hanoi on December 5.  

Vietnam, as a responsible member of the family of southern countries, is always willing to join hands with the international community to improve the quality of South-South cooperation.

Vietnam and France signed 18 cooperation deals worth a total of US$9.5 billion at a joint business forum in Hanoi on November 13 in the presence of Deputy PM Nguyen Sinh Hung and French PM Francois Fillon.

Vietnam and France have agreed to promote cooperation in economics, trade and investment to match their fine political ties and potential.

Vietnam will continue to improve its business environment to attract more foreign investors, including those from Japan, says Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.

For the second time in its 2008-09 term Vietnam has taken over the rotating presidency of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). It has not only coordinated UNSC activities, but also put forward initiatives to increase the operational efficiency of this powerful organisation.

The overall economic goal in the remaining months of this year is to maintain the growth rate, stabilize the macro-economy and reach set targets.  

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung received the President of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB), Rifat Hisarcikhoglu, at Government headquarters on October 29.

National Assembly deputies agree that in 2010 the government should focus on stabilising the macro economy, ironing out snags in the implementation of State policies, and overcoming weaknesses in socio-economic management.

Vietnam hopes it will receive strong support from ASEAN member countries in organising the bloc’s important events and the 31st General Assembly of regional parliaments (AIPA) in September 2010.

Vietnam and the Republic of Korea have agreed to raise their relationship to a “strategic cooperative partnership” in the interests of the two countries and for peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung presented a government report at the National Assembly in Hanoi on October 20, reviewing the country’s socio-economic development this year and outlining tasks for 2010 with the aim of achieving a GDP growth rate of 6.5 percent.

Vietnam and China should take further measures to promote cooperation in economics, trade and investment and especially to balance two-way trade and raise revenues to US$25 billion in 2010.

The Chinese province of Sichuan attaches great importance to increasing comprehensive and mutually beneficial cooperation with Vietnam, said Liu Qibao, Secretary of the Sichuan provincial Party Committee.

Legal documents on combating corruption in areas such as taxation, land management, public spending and investments should be finalised to improve the efficiency of the fight.

Vietnam will work closely with the Republic of Korea to build a strategic cooperation partnership between the two countries in the near future, for mutual benefit and for peace, stability and development in the region and the rest of the world.