The Law Committee of the 14th National Assembly convened its first plenary meeting on July 25.

 Vietnam has reiterated its stance on protecting peace, security, stability and maritime navigation and aviation in the East Sea at separate meetings between ASEAN foreign ministers and their counterparts from partner countries in Laos on July 25.

 Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh had separate meetings with foreign ministers from other countries on the margins of the 49th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM 49) in Laos.

 Legislators continued their plenary session in Hanoi on July 25 under the chair of National Assembly (NA) Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan.

 Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc presented a report on the organisational structure of the Government in the 2016-2021 tenure at the first session of the 14th National Assembly (NA) in Hanoi on July 25.

PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc witnessed the signing of US$370-million cooperative agreements in the fields of competitiveness enhancement, environment protection and sustainable development between the WB and the State Bank of Vietmam.

 Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on July 25 hosted a reception for Cambodian Ambassador Hul Phany, who came to say goodbye at the end of his tenure in Vietnam.

Foreign ministers of ASEAN member states and China issued their joint statement on the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea in Vientiane on July 25.

 The 49th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting issued a Joint communiqué in Vientiane on July 24.

China may damage its image in the international community if the country ignores the ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration on the Philippines’s lawsuit against China’s claims in the East Sea, a South Korean expert in international law said.

 The Government Inspectorate of Vietnam (GIV) and the Government Inspection Authority of Laos (GIA) are hoped to expand and deepen their comprehensive cooperation, especially in experience exchange.

  Airlines using up to 10 aircraft on international routes are required to have minimum investment capital of VND700 billion (US$31.3 million) to establish and maintain its airline service.

 The 49th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM 49) released a joint communiqué in Vientiane, Laos on July 24, showing the ministers’ serious concern over recent and ongoing developments in the East Sea.

 Former Argentine Ambassador to Thailand and Japan Felipe Frydman on July 24 voiced his support for the recent East Sea-related ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague, the Netherland.

Most of the National Assembly deputies at the plenary session on the morning of July 25 agreed that in 2017, the parliament should focus its supervision on pressing issues that are of great interest and have major impact on society and the economy.

 Tran Dai Quang was re-elected as President of Vietnam for the 2016 – 2021 tenure during a plenum of the 14th National Assembly (NA)’s first session on July 25.

  Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida called for peaceful settlement and compliance to international law in disputes in the East Sea when meeting with his Lao counterpart Saleumxay Kommasith on July 24.

 The seventh Foreign Ministerial Meeting of the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation (MGC) issued a joint statement and a MGC Action Plan for 2016-2018 in Vientiane, Laos on July 24.

 Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh held bilateral meetings with the Foreign Ministers of Singapore and Indonesia on July 24 on the sidelines of the 49 th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Vientiane.

 Professor Ezequiel Ramoneda, coordinator from the La Plata University’s Centre for Southeast Asia Studies, has hailed the ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) regarding the Philippines’ lawsuit against China.