Top DPRK legislator to visit Vietnam

Kim Yong Nam, President of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea will pay an official visit to Vietnam from August 5-7.

Mr. Kim Yong Nam.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the visit is made at the invitation of State President Truong Tan Sang.

Young military officers strengthen Vietnam-Laos solidarity

Young military officers of Vietnam and Laos gathered for a gala night in Hanoi on August 1 to mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties and the 35th anniversary of the signing of the Friendship and Cooperation Treaty between the two countries.

Addressing the event, Lieutenant-General Dao Duy Minh, Deputy Director of the General Department of Politics, spoke highly of the time-honour relationship between Vietnam and Laos, saying this is a typical model of loyalty and special solidarity between the two peoples.

He emphasized that bilateral ties have been nurtured and developed by generations of Party and State leaders in both countries, including the late President Ho Chi Minh of Vietnam and the late President Kayson Phomvihane of Laos.

Participants in the gala night reviewed the history of Vietnam-Laos friendship and cooperation. They pledged to uphold the glorious traditions of strengthening the special friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries.

Various activities, including music and dance performances, fire camp and torch procession were held during the event.

VFF-UN joint projects advance

The Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) will work closely with UN organisations in the country, especially in the areas of poverty reduction, economic development, improvement of healthcare services, and education and training.

At an August 1 meeting in Hanoi, VFF President Huynh Dam and UN Resident Coordinator in Vietnam Pratibha Mehta said the cooperation will help Vietnam fulfill its socio-economic development targets and Millennium Development Goals.

Dam thanked UN organisations for assisting Vietnam to eliminate poverty and achieve further development.

He said the Vietnamese Party, State, and the VFF will always spare no effort to iron out snags, boost economic development, and ensure social welfare, especially for poor people.

The VFF has mobilised Vietnamese and foreign organisations and individuals to help the poor, he said, citing that over the past 10 years, 1.2 million houses have been built and millions of poor people have found employment and received educational and healthcare services.

Dam said he hopes UN organisations will further strengthen ties with the VFF in such fields.

Phu Tho boosts ties with Lao localities

Phu Tho will continue strengthening cooperation with Lao localities in future, said Hoang Dan Mac, Vice Secretary of the northern province’s Party Committee cum Chairman of the People’s Committee of the northern province.

Mac, who is paying a working visit to Laos from July 30 to August 2, made this remark at a reception given by Lao Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong on August 1.

At the meeting, the Phu Tho’s leader reported on results of his working visit to the Lao province of Luang Namtha, saying that the two sides highly valued each others friendship and effective cooperation, especially in personnel training, political system consolidation and socio-economic development, under a bilateral Memorandum of Understandings signed in 2005.

Leaders of the two localities put forward a mutual plan for the future, in the fields of politics, culture, education and training.

Thongsing Thammavong spoke highly of the support of Phu Tho Province for Lao and Luang Namtha Province, including the building of a National Assembly building and other works.

The Lao Prime Minister also suggested that the two provinces should strengthen cooperation additionally in agriculture, personnel training and investment.

Leader of Labour Confederation visits Australia

A high ranking delegation from the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL) led by its president Dang Ngoc Tung is paying an official visit to Australia from July 30 to August 5.

According to the VGCL’s newspaper, the Lao Dong daily, Tung held talks with President of the Australian Council of Trade Union (ACTU) Ged Kearney in Melbourne on July 30.

The two trade union leaders briefed each other on their activities and discussed measures to further promote the traditional friendship and cooperation between the two sides, thus contributing to the Vietnam-Australia comprehensive partnership.

The ACTU is the only national-scale trade union organisation in Australia and it is established in 1927.

VNN/VOV/VNA