General Le Van Dung, Chief of the General Political Department of the Vietnam People's Army on February 28 received Indian ambassador to Vietnam Ranjit Rae.


At the reception, General Dung, who is also President of the Vietnam-India Friendship Parliamentary Group, welcomed Mr Ranjit Rae as India’s representative to Vietnam and expressed wish that the ambassador will make great contributions to promoting the Vietnam-India traditional friendship when taking up his new post as ambassador.


General Dung affirmed Vietnamese people in general and the Vietnam People’s Army in particular have always treasured the valuable support of the Indian people and army in the struggle for national liberation as well as in the cause of national construction and defense. He expressed his belief that the traditional friendship and cooperation between the two peoples and armies will continue developing for peace and stability in the region and the world.


Ambassador Ranjit Rae thanked General Dung for receiving him, adding that friendship relations between Vietnam and India which were established by late President Ho Chi Minh and Indian Prime Minister J.Nehru have been nurtured for a long time.


“It is my wish the armies of both nations continue strengthening strategic dialogues at the ministerial level”, he said.


* Newly elected Lao PM visits Vietnam


Laos’ new Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong is officially visiting Vietnam from February 28 to March 2 to tighten traditional ties and solidarity between the two countries and raise bilateral trade revenues to US$2 billion by 2015.

Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung received his Lao counterpart in Hanoi on February 28.


In a friendly atmosphere, the two prime ministers agreed to combine their efforts in conducting agreements between senior leaders from the two parties and states, especially in politics, security, defence, economics, trade and investment.


Specifically, they will direct their respective ministries to prepare for the 33rd meeting of the Joint Committee of the two governments, and will jointly promote the implementation of the agreements on economic, cultural and technical cooperation.


The two leaders also affirmed their determination to build a stable, peaceful, friendly, cooperative and developed common borderline, encouraging ties of friendship and unity across the border.


PM Dung said Vietnam will continue to assist Laos in taking part in APEC and joining the WTO and will share experience with Laos in order to help the latter successfully host the ASEM and sub-regional meetings in 2012.


VNN/VOV/VNS