Vietnamese Ambassador Duong Chi Dung, head of the Vietnam Permanent Mission to the UN, the WTO and other international organisations in Geneva, has stressed that Vietnam protests the use of force in the Gaza Strip. 

 Mexican Secretary of National Defence General Salvador Cienfuegos Zepeda has received the new Vietnamese Ambassador to Mexico Nguyen Hoai Duong.

A delegation of the Party, State, National Assembly, Government and Vietnam Fatherland Front paid tribute to President Ho Chi Minh at his mausoleum in Hanoi on the occasion of his 128th birthday.

Hospital Ship 561 of the Vietnam People’s Navy returned to Cam Ranh military port of central Khanh Hoa province on May 16, concluding its trip to attend the MNEK 2018 held in Indonesia from May 5-9.

 President Tran Dai Quang hosted separate receptions for Ambassadors of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Mozambique and the Republic of Korea (RoK) after receiving their letter of credentials on May 17.

 Major issues discussed at 7th meeting of 12th Party Central Committee

 Vietnam is concerned about escalating tension and violence in the Gaza Strip over recent days, which killed and injured many Palestinians, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang said at a regular press briefing on May 17.

Ambassador Nguyen Phuong Nga stressed the obligation of each and every State to solve disputes by peaceful means in accordance with international law while attending a UN Security Council debate on May 17.

The 16th meeting of the Vietnam-Cambodia Joint Commission on Economic, Cultural, and Scientific-Technological Cooperation was held in Hanoi on May 17.

 Governor General of Australia Peter Cosgrove and his spouse will pay a State visit to Vietnam from May 23-26 on the occasion of the 45th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties. 

 President Tran Dai Quang on May 17 hosted Cambodian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Prak Sokhonn.

Vietnamese Ambassador Nguyen Phuong Nga deposited with the UN Secretary General Vietnam’s instrument of ratification of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons on May 17, becoming the 10th country ratifying the document.

 The National Assembly Standing Committee yesterday agreed to introduce a draft law on amending 13 planning-related laws to the agenda of next week’s National Assembly plenary meeting.

Vietnam will send more officers, especially females, to participate in the UN peacekeeping operations, said Deputy Defence Minister Sen. Lieut. Gen. Nguyen Chi Vinh. 

The US Air Force Academy is scheduled to send a delegation of students to Vietnam and several other Southeast Asian nations this summer for information, language and cultural exchanges with these countries. 

President Tran Dai Quang hosted a reception in Hanoi on May 15 for Lao Deputy Minister of Public Security Kongthong Phongvichit.

 Voters and people nationwide have sent more than 3,000 opinions and petitions to the National Assembly through local delegations of NA deputies and the Vietnam Fatherland Front’s local chapters, ahead of the NA’s 5th session. 

 Strengthening inspections over social insurance funds is essential given the hike in their management expenses in 2016 and 2017, heard the ongoing 24th session of the National Assembly Standing Committee in Hanoi on May 15.

 Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam has suggested the Asia Pacific ICT Alliance (APICTA) share with Vietnam experiences in building e-government and e-administration accumulated from its members such as Australia, Singapore and Japan.

Vietnam keeps a close watch on and is concerned about the escalating violence in the Gaza Strip over the past days, leaving many Palestinians dead and injured.