The first APEC Senior Officials Meeting (SOM1) kicked off in Nha Trang city, south central Khanh Hoa province, on March 2, with the attendance of delegates from 21 member economies of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum.

 The Vietnamese Embassy in Belgium on March 1 held a get-together for members of a friendship group of parliamentarians aligned with Vietnam in the European Parliament (EP).

 Several issues of public interests were under focus at the Government’s regular press briefing in Hanoi on March 1.

Vietnam and India held their 10th defence policy dialogue at deputy ministerial level in Hanoi on March 1, focusing on the implementation of the agreement reached between the two countries.

Preparations for the first APEC Senior Officials Meeting have been completed after the SOM Steering Committee on ECOTECH, the SOM Friends of the Chair on Connectivity and the Policy Support Unit concluded their final meetings.

 President Tran Dai Quang and his spouse hosted a State banquet in Hanoi on March 1 in honour of Japanese Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko, who are on their State visit to Vietnam from February 28 – March 5. 

PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc has asked ministries and sectors to work together to build growth scenarios for each sector and field, towards realising the targets of a 6.7 percent growth and 4 percent inflation in 2017. 

 Japanese Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko laid a wreath at the mausoleum of President Ho Chi Minh in Hanoi on March 1 to pay tribute to the greatest leader of Vietnam.

 President Tran Dai Quang and his spouse chaired a welcome ceremony in Hanoi on March 1 for Japanese Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko who arrived in Vietnam on February 28 for their six-day State visit.

 President Tran Dai Quang hosted a welcoming ceremony for Japanese Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko in Hanoi this morning.

 The Vietnam Ministry of Education and Training has discussed with the Japanese Embassy in Vietnam and agreed on measures to control Vietnamese students in Japan and prevent them from illegally staying in the country.

 Vietnamese people’s warm welcome for Japanese Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko made headlines in many Japanese newspapers on March 1.

 Vietnam has contributed to a wide range of international and regional initiatives on human rights and other issues, including efforts to respond to global challenges, according to Deputy Foreign Minister Ha Kim Ngoc.

 The State visit to Vietnam by Japanese Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko will be a historical milestone and open a new chapter in the two countries’ friendship and cooperation, said President Tran Dai Quang. 

On March 1, the first APEC Senior Officials Meeting (SOM1) and related meetings entered the 12th working day - the last working day of APEC committees before SOM1 begins its two-day gathering on March 2.

Japanese Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko began the first State visit to Vietnam with a meeting with volunteers of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) on late February 28.

 Vietnam resolutely opposes and rejects China’s new regulations on a fishing break at sea, Foreign Ministry’s spokesman Le Hai Binh has said. 

As part of the first APEC Senior Officials Meeting and related meetings, the SOM Steering Committee on Economic and Technical Cooperation – Committee of the Whole convened its meeting in Nha Trang on February 28.

The High Command of Vietnam People’s Navy today hosted a flag-hoisting ceremony for two Kilo-class submarines at Cam Ranh Military Base in Khanh Hoa province.

 Japan’s Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko are paying a State visit to Vietnam from February 28 to March 5.