Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.

This is a courtesy visit to member countries under ASEAN practice after Mr Dung was re-elected by the National Assembly as Government PM.

The ties of friendship and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Indonesia have continued to grow and flourish over the years. Last year, both countries have celebrated the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties and promoted the exchange of visits between senior delegations.

In the first half of 2011, two-way trade turnover reached more than US$2 billion. Bilateral cooperation in national defense and security, agriculture, education and training, culture, tourism has increased through the two countries’ close coordination at regional and international forums such as ASEAN, ASEM, APEC, FEALAC and the UN.

PM Dung’s visit aims to affirm that Vietnam regards Indonesia as its important partner within ASEAN and in the region and to discuss ways to build the relationship into a strategic partnership.

During the visit, leaders will exchange views on measures to enhance cooperation in all fields, deal with pending issues and discuss regional and international issues of mutual concern.

On the occasion, both sides are expected to release a joint communiqué and sign the Vietnam-Indonesia action program for the 2012-2015 period.

Vietnam, DPRK boost trade union cooperation

A delegation from the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL) paid an official friendly visit to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea at the invitation of the General Federation of Trade Union of Korea (GFTUK).

The Vietnamese delegation, led by VGCL Chairman Dang Ngoc Tung, was received by General Choe Ryong He, Secretary of the DPRK Workers’ Party Central Committee on Sept. 7.

At the meeting, Choe Ryong He spoke highly of the visit which, he said, takes place at a time when the DPRK Party, State and people are celebrating the 63rd National Day of the DPRK (Sept. 9).

He said he hopes that the friendship and traditional cooperation between the two trade unions in particular and between the Parties, States and people of the two countries in general will be continuously consolidated and developed in the future.

The Lao and Vietnamese governments must develop a favourable legal environment to speed up the execution of licensed projects, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung said at a Viet Nam-Laos investment co-operation conference in Vientiane on Saturday.

The conference, which drew the participation of more than 300 businesses from the two countries, was co-chaired by Dung and his Lao counterpart Thongsing Thammavong.

Dung also proposed the two countries give orientations for areas of co-operation for localities and businesses.

At the conference, Lao leaders briefed the participants of their country's investment potential and discussed issues raised by Vietnamese investors.

Vietnamese businesses proposed the Lao Government develop policies to better train local workers and increase investment in building transport and power and communications infrastructure in regions where bilateral co-operation projects are being carried out.

They said they hoped the Lao Government would continue creating a transparent investment environment and reforming investment procedures to facilitate Vietnamese businesses' long-term investment in Laos.

Dung said both sides' localities needed to increase dialogue and information exchange as well as apply new appropriate forms of co-operation to promote their advantages and potential, he said.

The PM also urged businesses and investors to accelerate the progress of projects, raising efficiency in co-operation.

"The Vietnamese Government highly values Laos' s policy of promoting special friendship with Viet Nam as well as its efforts to facilitate Vietnamese investors' operations in Laos," Dung stressed.

Lao PM Thongsing Thammavong affirmed that Viet Nam's investment projects in Laos contributed to Laos' socio-economic development, adding that Viet Nam was an exemplary foreign investor in Laos.

While affirming the Lao Government always encouraged and created conditions for Vietnamese investors in Laos, he called on Vietnamese firms to continue investing in Laos on a larger scale.

At the event, the two PMs witnessed the signing of a number of important projects, including the construction of a hydro-electric power plant by the Hoang Anh-Gia Lai Group, the Petrolimex Laos, the five-star Vientiane Complex and co-operation agreements on construction and development of a new airport in Houa Phan province and several hydro-electricity plants.

Also on the same day, the two PMs attended a ground-breaking ceremony for the US$70 million Vientiane hotel and apartment complex.

Viet Nam is among the leading foreign investors in Laos with 203 projects worth $3.3 billion. In the first eight months of this year, the total registered capital of Vietnamese firms in Laos reached $469 million.

Viet Nam's projects focus on the services sector with total investment of $1.07 billion, electricity with $867 million, and agriculture with $791 million.

VNN/VOV/VNS/VNA