The Vietnam News Agency on July 18 was empowered to declare refuting untruthful coverage by the Chinese press regarding the East Sea issue which was discussed during a meeting between PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang.

The National Election Council (NEC) held a conference in Hanoi on July 18 to summarise the results of the election of deputies to the 14th National Assembly and the People’s Councils at all levels for 2016-2021.

 Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his Slovakian counterpart Robert Fico compared notes on specific measures to step up cooperation between the two countries during their talks in Hanoi on July 18.

 All government regular procurement transactions and bulk procurement will be done via the electronic national bidding system by 2025, according to a master plan and a road map for online procurement in 2016-2025.

 Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc reaffirmed Vietnam’s consistent policy towards China regarding the East Sea in his meeting on July 14 with his Chinese counterpart on the sidelines of the ASEM Summit in Mongolia.

 Another National Assembly delegate has been dismissed after being found to hold dual citizenship, bringing the total number of delegates in the new legislature to 494 as preparations continue for its first gathering on July 20.

 Marcel Winter, President of the Czech – Vietnamese Society, recently refuted a newspaper article showing China’s wrongful viewpoints on the East Sea situation.

The 49th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) will kick off in Vientiane, Laos, on July 24 with the attendance of Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith.

 Victor Oh, a Canadian senator, encouraged all parties to come together to find a diplomatic solution to the overlapping claims in the East Sea in a statement from Ottawa on July 14.

 A roundtable talk on the East Sea issue took place in New Delhi, India on July 15, drawing scholars, experts and representatives of diplomatic corps.

 Vietnamese Ambassador to the US Pham Quang Vinh has had a meeting with Iowa State’s Governor Terry Branstad, during which the latter expressed his hope to further bolster all-round cooperation with Vietnam, especially in trade.

 The PMs of Vietnam and Slovenia have affirmed that they attached much importance to developing the bilateral friendship and cooperation, which have seen positive growth in recent years.

 Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc left Ulan Bator for Hanoi to wrap up his official visit to Mongolia from July 13-14 and participation in the 11th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Summit from July 15-16.

Laos has been following the East Sea situation closely given the sea area is important and sensitive and called on parties involved to continue exercising restraint and holding talks to settle their disputes peacefully.

Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico began his official visit to Vietnam at the invitation of Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on July 17.

The 11th ASEM Summit wrapped up in Ulan Bator, Mongolia, on July 16 with the approval of the Chair’s Statement and the Ulan Bator Declaration, stating ASEM leaders’ resolve to strengthen Asia-Europe partnership for the future through connectivity.

 Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh has requested Vietnam’s representative agency in Turkey take actions to ensure absolute safety for Vietnamese nationals in the country.

 Only 17 officials have been found to have cheated in their declaration of assets according to the Government Inspectorate at the meeting reviewing 10 years of anti-corruption law implementation on July 12.

 Vietnam strongly condemns the terrorism attack in France’s Nice city which is bloody and inhumane, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Le Hai Binh said on July 15.

 Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh met with the foreign ministers of France, Italy and Ireland and the Swedish minister of education on July 15 within the framework of the 11th ASEM Summit in Ulan Bator, Mongolia.