National Assembly (NA) deputies had mixed views on the need of issuing a law on cyber security while scrutinising the draft law on November 23.

 National Assembly (NA) Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan received Singaporean Ambassador to Vietnam Catherine Wong Siow Ping in Hanoi on November 23, discussing her upcoming visit to Singapore.

 Vietnam wants Japanese and Osaka firms to expand operations in the country, especially in farm produce processing and consumption, support industry, health care and technological transfer, said Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc. 

 Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc suggested that Vietnam and Portugal continue promoting their traditional relationship that started 500 years ago since the first Portuguese arrived in Vietnam.

 The National Assembly will hold its closing ceremony on November 24, which will be broadcast live nationwide.

Lawmakers voiced support for appointing a single chief to run each special administrative-economic unit, instead of setting up People’s Councils and People’s Committees, while discussing a draft law on such units on November 22.

 The Gabriel Péri Foundation of France held an international seminar on the East Sea at the European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium, on November 21.

 With 83.1 percent of approval, the National Assembly approved a resolution on investment policy for the construction of some road sections in the eastern route of the North-South Expressway in 2017-2020.

NA Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan will pay official visits to Singapore and Australia from November 26 to December 2, according to a statement of the NA Committee for External Relations released on November 22.

 The Vietnamese Party and State always attach importance to the special friendship and comprehensive cooperation with Laos, affirmed Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

Minister of National Defence General Ngo Xuan Lich has highly valued the deputy ministerial-level defence strategic dialogue between Vietnam and Russia.

 Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh had a meeting with the Republic of Korea (RoK) National Assembly Speaker Chung Sye-kyun in Seoul on November 22 to seek specific measures to forge the two countries’ future partnership, especially in legislation.

 Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc suggested Vietnam and Sweden expand cooperation in various realms during his reception for Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallström in Hanoi on November 22. 

 Vietnam’s Permanent Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son held a political consultation with Secretary General of the Federal Public Service (FPS) Foreign Affairs of Belgium Dirk Achten in Hanoi on November 22. 

 Deputies of the 14th National Assembly debated the draft Law on the Protection of State Secrets during their November 22 sitting.

 Vietnam wants to deepen its traditional friendship and cooperation with Mexico.

 Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh has called on members of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) to take joint actions in order to better deal with current challenges. 

 Lawmakers gave different ideas on specific contents needed adjusting in the draft revised Anti-Corruption Law, especially the expansion of its coverage to the private sector.

 Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh met Norway’s Foreign Minister Ine Eriksen Soreide and Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Ireland Ciaran Cannon on November 21.

Leaders of the 10 ASEAN member states and partner countries have reaffirmed the importance of maintaining peace, stability and security in the East Sea, internationally known as South China Sea.