Leader offers sympathy to Koreas over floods

President Truong Tan Sang yesterday, Aug 2, sent a message of sympathies to President of the Presidium of Supreme People's Assembly of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) Kim Yong-nam over great losses caused by recent floods.

He also sent a message of condolences to President of the Republic of Korea (South Korea) Lee Myung-bak over the losses of lives and property caused by the calamity.

The rain and subsequent floods left dozens of people dead, injured or missing and 60,000ha of farmland submerged in North Korea.

They also claimed dozens of lives, left more than 11,000 people homeless and flooded 978ha of farmland across South Korea.

Thai Defence Forces Chief visits Vietnam

Vietnam and Thailand have agreed to boost cooperation in search and rescue, sea patrols, exchange of delegations and logistics, as well as coordination within the framework of defence cooperation among ASEAN member countries.

The agreement was reached at a meeting between Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army Lt. Gen. Do Ba Ty and the visiting Commander of the Defence Forces of the Royal Thai Army General Songkitti Jaggabatara in Hanoi on August 2.

The two sides compared notes on their respective country’s economic, socio-political, defence and security situation and discussed issues of mutual concern to enhance solidarity and mutual understanding between the two peoples and armed forces.

General Songkitti and his entourage, paid a courtesy visit to Defence Minister General Phung Quang Thanh the same day.

Vietnam, Thailand mark 35th anniversary of diplomatic ties

Assistant Foreign Minister Pham Quang Vinh reiterated Vietnam’s unswerving policy of respecting relations with Thailand and other nations in the region, at a workshop held by the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam in Hanoi on August 2. 

“Developing long term and comprehensive relations with Thailand will benefit both countries and contribute to peace, stability, linkage and development in Southeast Asia ,” Vinh said. 

The senior diplomat emphasised the need for the two members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to boost relations within regional frameworks, including the East-West Corridor and the Mekong Sub-region.
Such relations will contribute to building an ASEAN Community by 2015 as well as promoting peace, stability and cooperation for development in the region and the rest of the world, he said. 

In regard to bilateral relations, Thai Ambassador to Vietnam Anuson Chinvanno highlighted the huge leaps forward in the past 35 years since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1976. 

Vietnam and Thailand have signed 50 agreements, creating a firm legal foundation for them to boost bilateral relations in all fields and contribute to building the ASEAN Community by 2015 as planned.