Prime Minister to visit Laos

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, accompanied by his wife, will begin a two-day visit to Laos on Friday at the invitation of his Lao counterpart Thoongsin Thammavong, according to the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Dung will co-chair the Viet Nam-Laos investment conference during his stay.

Party General Secretary reaffirms Laos friendship

The Viet Nam-Laos special friendship, an invaluable asset to both nations, should be preserved and promoted for future generations.

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong made the above statement while receiving a delegation from the Office of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee led by its head, Bounpon Buttanavong, in Ha Noi yesterday, Sep 5.

The Vietnamese Party leader applauded the Lao delegation's visit, saying that it would help tighten and further strengthen the Viet Nam-Laos special solidarity.

Trong expressed his belief that, following 25 years of renewal and five years of implementing the Resolution of the 8th LPRP Congress, the Lao Party, State and people would successfully implement the Resolution of the 9th Congress and the 7th five-year socio-economic development plan, building Laos into a peaceful, independent, democratic, united and prosperous socialist-oriented country.

Trong said he was pleased with the practical and effective development of the special solidarity between Viet Nam and Laos as well as the effective cooperation between the Offices of the Communist Party of Viet Nam (CPV) and the LPRP Central Committees.

He expressed his hope that in the future, the two agencies would regularly exchange experiences, speed up the effective implementation of high-level agreements between the two Parties and closely coordinate in realising a cooperative agreement between the two offices in the 2011-15 period.

Buttanavong congratulated the Vietnamese people on their great renewal achievements, expressing his belief that under the leadership of the CPV, the Vietnamese people would successfully implement the Resolution of the 11th Party Congress and continue transforming Viet Nam into an industrialised and strong country consisting of an equitable and civilised society by 2020.

Buttanavong thanked the Vietnamese Party, State and people for their past support and assistance to Laos, affirming that the Lao Party, State and people would try their best, together with Viet Nam, to maintain and promote the special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two nations for purposes of peace, stability, cooperation and development.

Earlier, the Lao officials held talks with a delegation from the CPV Central Committee Office led by its head, Tran Quoc Vuong. The two sides discussed specific measures to boost future cooperation and signed a cooperative plan for the 2011-15 period.

State President welcomes Sri Lankan defence chief

President Truong Tan Sang received Sri Lankan Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa in Ha Noi yesterday, Sep 5.

At the reception, Sang applauded the Sri Lankan Defence Ministry delegation's first visit to Viet Nam, considering it a concrete manifestation of the friendship between the two countries.

He thanked Sri Lanka for its past support to Viet Nam at regional and international forums and congratulated the South Asian country on its socio-economic development achievements, especially its high economic growth in recent years.

He affirmed that Viet Nam was ready to share its experience in national construction and development with Sri Lanka.

He also expressed his belief that the cooperation between the two countries would deepen and expand in future based on shared cultural similarities and long-lasting traditional relations.

For his part, the Sri Lankan guest affirmed that his country wanted to expand its cooperation with Viet Nam, especially in promoting the role of the army in socio-economic development.

Defence official meets high ranking Chinese guest

Viet Nam Deputy Defence Minister, Lt. Gen. Nguyen Chi Vinh, received visiting Deputy Director of Foreign Affairs of the People's Liberation Army of China, Major Gen. Jia Xiaoning, in Ha Noi yesterday.

Major Gen. Jia Xiaoning was in Viet Nam to attend the fifth meeting of the Viet Nam-China Steering Board for Bilateral Cooperation from September 5-9.

Host and guest reviewed the activities and results of defence cooperation between the two countries since the fourth session of the Steering Board.

They highlighted official visits by leaders of the two defence ministries, as well as exchanges of delegations, cooperation and joint patrols at sea and on land between naval and border guard forces, and recently, the Viet Nam-China Defence-Security Strategic Dialogue in Beijing.

They agreed that those activities contributed to strengthening the traditional friendship and cooperation between the two armies and the comprehensive cooperation between the two countries.

Local businessman appointed honorary consul of Portugal

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has recognised businessman Tran Kim Chung, President of the multi-sectoral C.T. Group, as Portugal's Honorary Consul in Viet Nam.

The ministry handed over the certificate of recognition to Chung yesterday.

Chung will be Portugal's sole representative in providing consular services in Ha Noi. His office will open today at 19-21 Dinh Tien Hoang St.

Dr. Jorge Torres-Pereira, Portuguese Ambassador to ASEAN, noted that the two countries commemorated 35 years of diplomatic relations last year, laying the groundwork for "building an appropriate framework to facilitate the work of Portuguese entrepreneurs interested in doing business in Viet Nam and contacting Vietnamese businesses."

The two countries were in the process of finalising institutional instruments to facilitate the growth of bilateral economic ties, Torres-Pereira said.

PM appoints new personnel

The Prime Minister on September 5 re-appointed Le Tien Hao as Deputy Inspector General of the Government.

On the same day, Minister of Finance Vuong Dinh Hue was appointed President of the Board of Directors of the Vietnam Social Insurance and Chairman of the Members Council of the State Capital Investment Corporation and State Governor Nguyen Van Binh President of the Board of Directors of the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies.

Vietnamese Party delegation attends events in Brazil

A delegation of the Communist Party of Vietnam headed by Deputy Director of the Party Central Committee’s Office Hoang Cong Hoan attended events in Brasilia, Brazil from September 1-4.

The Vietnamese delegation attended an international seminar on the situation in Latin America and upcoming presidential elections on Sept. 1 and the extraordinary congress of the Brazilian Workers’ Party from September 2-4.

The international seminar drew 88 delegates of 44 parties from 22 countries in Latin America, Europe and Asia, and about 150 domestic delegates. They discussed the impact of the current economic crisis, the regional situation and prospects of left-wing Latin American parties at presidential elections to take place this year and in 2012.

The extraordinary congress of the Brazilian Workers’ Party saw the attendance of 88 foreign delegates from 44 parties.

The congress passed a Resolution on the current situation in Brazil, including measures to cope with difficulties in developing Brazil rapidly and sustainably. The congress also passed the amended Party Statutes.

The Vietnamese Party delegation was received by President of the Communist Party of Brazil (PCdoB) Renato Rabelo and met with some officials of Brazilian parties and parties of other countries.

VNN/VOV/VNS/VNA