Military Zone No 2 should work closely with nine provinces in the north-western region to build a firm line of defence, combine economic development with defence and improve people-to-people relationship, says Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.

A meeting of the Presidents and Secretaries-General of the Southeast Asian Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies opened in Hanoi on August 13.

The public security force should continue to increase its combative strength to maintain political stability for socio-economic development, says Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.

The 22nd session of the National Assembly Standing Committee opened in Hanoi on August 11, debating a number of draft laws, including those on telecommunications and radio frequencies.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has asked all ministries, sectors and localities to launch more campaigns to fulfil and surpass the socio-economic tasks set for 2009.

During the past 42 years, despite many upheavals, ASEAN has grown to become a regional organisation of comprehensive cooperation and a dynamically integrated political and economic entity which is playing an important role in the region and the world.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs gave a banquet in Hanoi on August 7 to foreign ambassadors and representatives of diplomatic corps to mark the 42nd anniversary of the Association of Southeast Asian nations (ASEAN).

Vietnam is likely to achieve a GDP growth rate of 5 percent, keep the inflation rate less than 7 percent and maintain a budget deficit of below 7 percent of the GDP, according to Cabinet ministers.

The 30th General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) opened in Pattaya, Thailand, on August 4 with the participation of delegates from 8 member states and representatives from observing countries.

The Vietnam-Laos Inter-Government Committee for Cooperation held its mid-year meeting in Nghe An province on August 1-3 to review the implementation of their agreement on economic, cultural, scientific and technological cooperation signed in January 2009.

Vietnamese students across Australia gathered at a gala night at the New South Wales University on August 1, showing off their singing, dancing, poem reciting and acting skills.

The Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) will continue to grant loans to banks in Asia, including Vietnam, to help local businesses overcome difficult times and maintain production.

The Party, State and people of Vietnam will work closely with the Party, State and people of Laos to bring their special relationship to new heights in the interests of the two nations and for peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the rest of the world.  

Vietnam wants to foster the friendly and cooperative relations with Russia which is Vietnam’s key strategic partner and a reliable and faithful friend, said President Nguyen Minh Triet.

Vietnam and Russia will continue to promote all-round cooperation, especially in economics, energy, machinery manufacturing, mechanical engineering, infrastructure construction and education in line with their fine political ties.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has called for a greater effort from both Vietnam and Australia to fully exploit their potential available for effective cooperation in trade, investment, education-training and science-technology.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem held separate meetings with Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith and Parliamentary Secretary to the Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Deepak Obhrai on the sidelines of a summit between ASEAN and its dialogue partners in Thailand on July 22.

Through improved cooperation, Vietnam and Thailand have a good chance to increase bilateral trade to US$10 billion in 2010.

Lawmakers from Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam are gathering in the Central Highland province of Kon Tum to examine the National Assembly’s role in developing the triangle.

State President Nguyen Minh Triet on July 16 met with Cuban, Egyptian and Algerian leaders on the sidelines of the 15th Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) summit in Egypt.

Vietnam and Thailand have agreed to promote bilateral friendship and all-round cooperation, especially in economics, investment, trade, culture, education-training, health care, science-technology and tourism.

Vietnam wants to promote all-round cooperation with China, especially with border provinces, including Hainan, said Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.

The 11th National Congress of the  Communist Party of Vietnam is scheduled to take place in Hanoi in the first half  of January 2011, the Party Central Committee announced at its 10th conference in Hanoi from June 29-July 4.

Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva plans to pay an official visit to Vietnam on July 10 at the invitation of his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Tan Dung, according to the Thai PM Office.

Vietnam and Cambodia will hold cultural exchanges for their young people in order to help them understand the lives, customs and cultural traditions of each other’s country and strengthen solidarity and mutual assistance.

The armies of Vietnam and Thailand should increase their joint sea patrols, information exchange, cooperation in crime prevention and personnel training, said Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.

Two-way trade between the European Union and Vietnam is growing and flourishing and the EU wants to boost its trade ties with Vietnam, said the Swedish ambassador to Vietnam, Rolf Bergman.

The 10th conference of the Party Central Committee opened in Hanoi on June 29 to discuss preparations for the 11th National Party Congress scheduled for the first quarter of 2011.

Vietnam attaches great importance to promoting the friendship and cooperation with Turkey, especially in economics and trade, said Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Khiem.

The Chairman of the Hanoi Municipal People’s Committee, Nguyen The Thao, has paid a working visit to Kracow city in the Polish province of Malopolska - the final leg of his trip to France and Poland.