National Assembly (NA) deputies mulled over debatable points in the draft of the amended Press Law as part of their agenda on the first day of the 11th meeting of the 13th parliament on March 21.

 Vietnam and Russia should enhance information and experience sharing in preventing and fighting crime, Minister of Public Security Tran Dai Quang said at talks with Russian Minister of Internal Affairs Vladimir Kolokoltsev in Hanoi on March 21.

 Outgoing Singaporean Ambassador to Vietnam Ng Teck Hean was presented with the insignia “For Peace and Friendship among Nations” on March 21 in recognition of his contributions to enhancing the two countries’ relations. 

 Vietnam hopes for a closer coordination between Mekong countries in planning, using and regulating the water resources in the Mekong River, known as the Lancang in China, to ensure regional sustainable development.

 Vietnam and Russia convened the second defence strategy dialogue at deputy ministerial level in Moscow on March 21 to discuss strengthening bilateral defence ties.

 The 13th tenure National Assembly (NA) convened its 11th session in Hanoi on March 21.

 Australia and Singapore have reiterated their commitment to the rights of states to freedom of navigation and overflight in the East Sea, amidst rising tension in the region caused by China’s unilateral acts.

 Vietnam in collaboration with Sao Tome and Principe and Palau held a ceremony to celebrate the International Day of Happiness at the Headquarters of the United Nations (UN) on March 20.

 A list of 1,166 candidates running for deputies to the 14 th National Assembly has been approved after the second consultation conference organised across the nation.

A delegation of the National Assembly’s Committee for External Relations visited Algeria from March 16-19 to cement relations between the two countries’ parliaments.

 The visit of President of the French National Assembly (NA) Claude Bartolone to Vietnam marks an important milestone in Vietnam-France relations, said Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong on March 20.

 Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has suggested Vietnam and Japan focus on addressing difficulties and boosting trade promotion to increase Vietnamese agricultural and aquatic exports to Japan.

 Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh will attend the first Lancang-Mekong Cooperation leaders’ meeting and the Boao Forum for Asia in Hainan province, China, from March 22-24.

 President Truong Tan Sang on March 19 cabled a message of condolences to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin over a plane crash at an airport in the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don.

 As the coordinator of ASEAN-India relations, Vietnam will do its utmost to increase the co-operation between the two sides, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung said.

 Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc hosted a reception in Hanoi on March 18 for President of the National Assembly of France Claude Bartolone, who is on a working visit to Vietnam.

 Lao leaders appreciated the cooperation between their Ministry of Planning and Investment (MoPI) and its Vietnamese counterpart during separate meetings with Vietnamese officials in Vientiane on March 18.

 Leading State positions, including the President, Prime Minister and National Assembly (NA) Chairman, are scheduled to be elected at the approaching 11th meeting of the 13th tenure parliament.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Steel houses on reefs and rocks in the southern continental shelf act as guards of Vietnam’s sovereignty in the East Sea.

 President Truong Tan Sang and Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung on March 18 extended their congratulations to newly elected President of Myanmar Htin Kyaw.