Looters attack S. Korea embassy in Libya: official             

South Korea's embassy in the Libyan capital Tripoli has been attacked by looters amid the chaos arising from battles to topple leader Moamer Kadhafi, a Seoul official said on Monday.

Some 10 armed attackers stormed the mission on Sunday afternoon and tried to steal furniture and electronics, said foreign ministry spokesman Shin Maeng-Ho.

They fled empty-handed when rebel forces contacted by embassy staff arrived on the scene, he said, adding no one among a handful of Libyan and Bangladeshi workers at the embassy was hurt.

"We believe they were just civilian looters claiming to be rebel forces, considering they ran away when rebel police came," Shin told AFP.

Most of the embassy officials have been temporarily moved to Tunisia since late May amid escalating violence and NATO air strikes.

Fighting has largely ended in the capital, with the longtime leader in hiding, and rebels are trying to restart services.

South Korea has officially recognised Libya's rebel-led council as the legitimate government and pledged to offer humanitarian aid to the National Transitional Council.

Foreign Minister pays visit to Laos                                

Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh paid a working visit to Laos on Friday and Saturday at the invitation of Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Thongloun Sisoulith.

While in Laos, Minh paid a courtesy visit to Vice President Bounnhang Volachit and Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong. He also held talks with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Thongloun Sisoulith.

At the meetings, the two sides exchanged measures to consolidate and intensify bilateral ties and discussed issues of mutual concern.

The two sides expressed their pleasure at the fine development in relations in all fields between the two countries, especially in economies and investment, saying that this has actively contributed to the development of each country.

They agreed to continue organising exchanges between the two foreign ministries, and work closely in the lead-up to events such as the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Viet Nam-Laos diplomatic ties and the 35th anniversary of the signing of the Viet Nam-Laos Friendship Treaty next year.

Minh, on behalf of the Vietnamese Government, handed over US$200,000 to the Lao Government to help victims of a recent typhoon.

Confab eyes Latin America-Asia ties

A Vietnamese delegation led by Deputy Foreign Minister Doan Xuan Hung took part in the 5th Ministerial Meeting of the Forum for East Asia-Latin America Co-operation in Buenos Aires, Argentina, from August 22-26.

Speaking at the plenary session, Hung said the dialogue forum had become an effective bridge between the two regions with dynamic development and great potential, creating opportunities for member countries to boost bilateral and multilateral co-operation.

After four days of sitting, the foreign ministers of 36 forum member countries issued a joint statement stressing the need for comprehensive UN reforms to cope with global challenges more effectively.

They also advocated drawing up an action programme to strengthen trade exchange between the two regions and avoid the application of protective measures in each economy.

On the sidelines, Hung had a meeting with his Argentinean counterpart, Alberto D'Alotto, during which the two sides expressed delight at significant progress made in bilateral ties. They defined priorities of co-operation, including trade and technical, and the exchange of high-ranking delegations.

Hung and D'Alotto also signed a governmental-level technical co-operation agreement.

Hung also met with the foreign ministers of Ecuador, Costa Rica, Uruguay and Venezuela as well as the deputy foreign ministers of New Zealand, Cuba and Mexico.

Embassy officials safe, but stranded in Tripoli

 The Vietnamese Embassy in Libya reports that all its diplomatic officials are safe but are unable to leave the country because of the current upheaval.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said last Saturday the Vietnamese ambassador and four diplomatic staff members were unable to leave the country because of the complicated and unexpected situation in Libya.

The same day, the Vietnamese Embassy in Tripoli reported that a group of armed people had rushed into the embassy building and stolen some of the assets and that the same had occurred at some other embassies in the city.

The ministry said it had contacted the United Nations, NATO and Libya's representative office in Ha Noi, asking them to ensure security for Vietnamese diplomatic officials as well as the embassy headquarters.

The ministry also contacted some friendly countries and international organisations, asking for support to ensure the safety of Vietnamese citizens living in Libya or trying to leave the country.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung also instructed relevant authorities to make best efforts to ensure safety for the country's diplomatic officials. Diplomatic representatives of about 60 other countries are still present in Libya.

Vietnam attends FEALAC meeting in Argentina

A Vietnamese delegation led by Deputy Foreign Minister Doan Xuan Hung took part in the 5th Ministerial Meeting of the Forum for East Asia - Latin America Cooperation (FEALAC) in Buenos Aires, Argentina from August 22-26. 

Speaking at the plenary session, Deputy FM Hung said that from a dialogue forum, FEALAC has become an effective bridge between the two regions with dynamic development and great potential, creating opportunities for member countries to boost bilateral and multilateral cooperation. 

After four days of sitting, the foreign ministers of 36 FEALAC member countries issued a joint statement stressing the need for comprehensive UN reforms to cope with global challenges more effectively as well as drawing out an action programme to strengthen trade exchange between the two regions and avoid the application of protective measures in each economy. 

On the sidelines of the FEALAC Ministerial Meeting, Deputy FM Hung had a meeting with his Argentinean counterpart, Alberto D’Alotto, during which the two sides expressed delights at gigantic progresses made in bilateral ties over the past time. They defined priorities of cooperation in the coming time, including trade, technical cooperation and exchange of high-ranking delegations. 

On the occasion, the two Deputy FMs signed a governmental-level technical cooperation agreement between Vietnam and Argentina.

The Vietnamese diplomat also met with the Foreign Ministers of Ecuador, Costa Rica, Uruguay and Venezuela as well as the Deputy FMs of New Zealand, Cuba and Mexico.

Thai House Speaker receives Vietnamese ambassador

Speaker of Thailand’s House of Representatives, Somsak Kiatsuranont received Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand , Ngo Duc Thang in Bangkok on August 26.

The host and guest talked about the latest political and socio- economic situation in their countries and exchanged views on issues of mutual concern. 

They agreed that strengthening and expanding bilateral cooperation would make the two countries the main pillars in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). 
Speaker Somsak told the Vietnamese diplomat that he agreed upon a plan to sign a bilateral labour cooperation between Thailand and Vietnam. He suggested the two countries cooperate in foreign exchange market and other areas. 

He expressed his hope that the two countries would boost cooperation as they boast in rice resources and close neighbourliness.

Ambassador Thang expressed his hope that the new Thai government and parliament would continue expand relations with Vietnam, especially the linkage between central Vietnam and northeastern Thailand, where a bridge spanning over the Mekong river is going to open to traffic. 

He stressed that the construction of President Ho Chi Minh relic sites and a Thailand-Vietnam Friendship Village, which is expected to be completed in 2015, will be symbols of friendship between the two countries and facilitate the expansion of bilateral ties and contribute to building the ASEAN Community.

The Vietnamese diplomat mentioned the progress in cooperation in security and national defence between the two countries, as well as cooperation programmes within the framework of ASEAN and situation and settlement of issues in the East Sea. 

He expressed his wish that Thailand would have an active, common standpoint to contribute to strengthening ASEAN role in the region. He stressed that relevant parties would soon discuss solutions to pave the way for expanding economic cooperation.

VNN/VOV/VNS/VNA/AFP