Victory over Nazism celebrated in Vietnam; Vietnam, Laos collaborate to combat wildlife trade; European Day marked in Hanoi; Plans for Vietnam-Brazil friendship association get support

A memorandum of understanding to this effect was signed recently in Vientiane between Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural development and the Laos Agriculture and Forestry Ministry.

The agreement was reached as the illegal hunting, trading and transporting of wild animals and precious woods are complex along the common border between the two countries.

Under the agreement, forest rangers from both countries will increase the amount of inspections on goods for export, share information on local wild life and work together to protect forests and prevent wood being smuggled.

Vietnam will also help Laos to train its technicians.

Both parties passed a joint working plan for the 2009-2012 period.

Plans for Vietnam-Brazil friendship association get support

The Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) supports the establishment of a Vietnam-Brazil Friendship Association, a VUFO official said at a get-together marking the 20th anniversary of Vietnamese-Brazilian diplomatic ties in Hanoi on May 8.

According to VUFO Vice President Tran Dac Loi, the Friendship Association will be officially launched on the 187th anniversary of Brazil’s National Day (September 7).

At the event, VUFO Vice President Loi and the Brazilian Ambassador to Vietnam Joao de Mendonca Lima Neto were enthusiastic at the developments both countries have seen after working together in the fields of politics, economics and culture.

For his part, the Brazilian Ambassador expressed his belief that the friendship, solidarity and cooperation between Brazil and Vietnam will continue to grow further in the future.

Vietnam and Brazil are aiming to increase their two-way trade value to 1 billion USD in 2010 after recording a turnover of 500 million USD in 2008.

VietNamNet/VNA