PM sends sympathies to Laos

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung sent a message of sympathy yesterday, July 11, to his Lao counterpart Thongsing Thammavong about the losses caused by tropical storm Haima that hit Laos recently.

Six people were killed, and more than 10,540 people were affected in the two northern provinces of Xieng Khuang and Xayaboury.

VN, Palestine boost ties

Viet Nam is eager to strengthen its relationship with Palestine’s party and people, said Dinh The Huynh, Politburo member, member of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee’s Secretariat and Head of CPVCC Commission for Popularisation and Education.

He was speaking yesterday, July 11, at a reception for Sharif A. Mishaal, member of the Central Committee of the Movement for the National Liberation of Palestine (Fatah) during his working visit to Viet Nam.

Huynh said he valued the traditional relationship between the two communities and affirmed Viet Nam’s sympathies for Palestine’s difficult political situation.

For his part, Sharif A. Mishaal briefed the assembly about the results of the talks, which took place beforehand. At the talks, the two sides exchanged concerns about international issues, discussed measures to enhance the relationship between their two nations.

Cambodian military visits

Viet Nam always attaches importance to developing solidarity and friendship with the Government, people and the Royal Army of Cambodia, said Deputy Defence Minister Do Ba Ty, who is also Chief of the General Staff of the Viet Nam People’s Army.

Ty made this statement yesterday, July 11, at a reception for General Kham Chia Sa-khuon, Deputy Infantry Commander-in-Chief in the Cambodian Royal Army, who is on a working visit to Viet Nam.

Viet Nam also remembers the valuable support of Cambodia during the past wars against the two nations’ common enemies, as well as at the present time, Ty said.

Between 2005 and now, through an agreement between the two defence ministries, co-operation in the realm of national defence has shown progress in numerous areas, he noted.

The Cambodian General briefed his host on outcomes of his working session with the Department of Operation under the Viet Nam People’s Army, saying the visit offered a chance for the Department of Operation under the Cambodian Royal Army to learn and exchange experience with Vietnamese military units in the areas of training, fighting and border work.

Photo exhibit marks ties with Philippines

A meeting was held in Ha Noi yesterday, July 11, to mark the 35th anniversary of the founding of diplomatic ties between Viet Nam and the Philippines.

President of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) Vu Xuan Hong and Philippine Ambassador Jerril G. Santos reviewed the co-operative history between Viet Nam and the Philippines.

Since the establishment of diplomatic ties, the two countries’ senior leaders have exchanged regular visits to expand co-operation in various domains.

The VUFO President hailed the growth of two-way trade which surpassed the target of US$2 billion both countries had set for 2010 in their 2008 session. Fruitful results have been recorded in co-operation in agriculture, science and technology and education, he said.

Both Hong and Santos expressed their belief that the two countries’ comprehensive co-operation would continue to accumulate achievements, meeting mutual desire and practical interest.

At the function, a photo exhibition on 35 years of Vietnam-Philippine relations and an art programme depicting the Santacruzan festival of the Philippines were also displayed.

News agency links up with Venezuela group

Venezuelan News Agency (AVN) and Vietnam News Agency (VNA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Venezuela during VNA delegation’s three-day visit which concluded Sunday.

The accord calls for the two State-run newswires to share information in the forms of text, audio, video, photographs and TV products.

The VNA and AVN are committed to visit exchanges between managerial and journalist staffs to share experiences and improve their service quality.

VNA General Director Tran Mai Huong said, “The memorandum will lay ground for the two news agencies to boost cooperative ties in sharing information and development experiences, as well as helping the Vietnamese and Venezuelan people better understand each other.”

The VNA head and AVN president Freddy Fernandez signed the document after the duo held talks on bilateral relations.

Both host and guest agreed that official sources of information have always played an important role in disseminating Party and State policies to the public, as well as combating hostile forces’ distorted information.

The two news agencies’ leaders also pledged to do their best in their own capacity, with VNA as a member of the Organisation of Asia-Pacific News Agencies (OANA) and AVN as member of the Latin American Union of News Agencies (ULAN), to help each other build relations with the other members of their respective organisations.

During his stay, the VNA leader also met with the leadership of the National Radio of Venezuela (RNV). RNV President Helena Salcedo emphasised that Viet Nam’s experience was invaluable to the Venezuelan people during their revolutionary cause towards socialism.

VNN/VNS/Vietnam+