Defence Minister receives US Defence University’s leader

Defence Minister General Phung Quang Thanh received Vice Admiral Ann E. Rondeau, President of the American Defence University in Hanoi on April 7.

At the reception, Minister Thanh said he hopes that the two sides, through exchanges and contacts, will understand each other better and expand cooperation in the coming time.
He agreed that both sides will continue to foster education cooperation in the future.
Minister Thanh expressed his thank for the US’s assistance in providing Vietnam with scholarships for foreign languages training as well as in mine clearance, searching for soldiers remains and detoxifying Agent Orange/dioxin. He added that Vietnam is willing to receive US’s naval ship for technical repair.
Ann E. Rondeau said she believes in Vietnam’s prospects and pledged to work further to promote the effective relations between the two nations.
She hoped that the US and Vietnam in the coming time will continue to exchange delegations with a view to strengthening the cooperation and mutual understanding between the two nations.

Vietnam, Kazakhstan hold political consultation

Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son and his Kazakh counterpart, Yerzhan Kazhykhanov has held an annual political consultation at deputy foreign ministerial level.

The consultation took place during the visit to Vietnam on April 6-7 by Kazakh Deputy Foreign Minister Yerzhan Kazhykhanov, who was also chairman of Kazakhstan’s section in the Vietnam-Kazakhstan Inter-Governmental Committee on Economic-Trade and Science-Technology Cooperation.
Both sides informed each other of the situation in their respective country. Deputy Foreign Minister Yerzhan Kazhykhanov congratulated the Communist Party of Vietnam on its successful 11^th National Congress.
Kazakhstan attaches importance to developing relations with Vietnam, he said, adding that his country wants to continue strengthening the traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation between the two countries as well as the close coordination between the two foreign ministries.
Deputy FM Son congratulated Kazakhstan on its achievements in socio-economic development and the successful organisation of the presidential election with the re-election of Nazarbayev as President of Kazakhstan.
The two sides discussed international and regional issues of common concern, focused their discussion on measures to enhance coordination at international and regional fora, promote bilateral relations in the fields of economy-trade, especially cooperation in oil and gas, education-training, culture, tourism and cooperation between the two foreign ministries.
They also dealt with preparations for the upcoming visit to Vietnam by the Kazakh President.
Vietnam pledged to support favourably Kazakhstan’s bid for support for its bid for a seat in the United Nations Human Rights Council for the 2012-2015 term.
Vietnam also asked Kazakhstan to support Vietnam’s bid for a seat in the UN Human Rights Council for the 2013-2016 term and for non-permanent membership of the UN Security Council for the 2020-2021 term.

Vietnam concerned about its citizens in Ivory Coast

The Vietnamese Government is very concerned about its citizens who are living in Ivory Coast, spokesperson of the Foreign Ministry Nguyen Phuong Nga said on April 7.

In response to reporters’ queries about the situation of the Vietnamese citizens in Ivory Coast amidst increasing conflict and violation in the African country, she said, “The Foreign Ministry has instructed the Vietnamese embassy in Morocco which is in charge of Ivory Coast and Vietnamese representative offices in regional countries to promptly get information on the plight of citizens in Ivory Coast in order to provide timely assistance.”

VNN/VOV/VNS