Ambassadors, charges d’affaires offer incense in Do Temple; PM Nguyen Tan Dung to visit Myanmar; 2010 Mekong Delta Economic Cooperation Forum to be held; Senior defence officials meet in Japan to share experiences

The programme is organised by the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) in coordination with the Hanoi Union of Friendship Organisations and Bac Ninh provincial People’s Committee.

Participants offered incense at Tieu Pagoda in Tuong Giang commune, Bac Ninh province where King Ly Cong Uan were raised as a youth.

They also visited Do Temple dedicated to 8 kings of the Ly dynasty and enjoyed a performance of Love Duets famous in Bac Ninh and recently recognised by UNESCO as part of the world’s intangible cultural heritage.

Addressing the exchange, Vu Xuan Hong, Chairman of the VUFO, applauded this as a meaningful activity to help the world community learn more about Vietnam’s traditional culture.

On behalf of the diplomatic corps, Moroccan Ambassador El Houcine Fardani, thanked the VUFO and Vietnamese people for their warm affection.

He expressed his hope that Vietnam would successfully fulfill its important role as ASEAN chair and organise the grand celebration of the 1,000th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi.

PM Nguyen Tan Dung to visit Myanmar

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung will pay an official working visit to the Union of Myanmar from April 2-4.

He was invited by Myanmar’s Prime Minister General Thein Sein.

On April 4-5, PM Dung will lead a Vietnamese delegation to participate in the Mekong River Commission Summit in Hua Hin City, Thailand.

2010 Mekong Delta Economic Cooperation Forum to be held

The Prime Minister has agreed to the organisation of the annual Mekong Delta Economic Cooperation (MDEC) Forum.

The MDEC Forum aims to promote economic cooperation among provinces and centrally run cities and create a close link between the Mekong Delta and other regions across the country.

The event’s organising board includes representatives from the southwestern region steering committee, the Ministry of Trade and Industry, the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Government Office, as well as leaders of Mekong Delta provinces and cities.

Senior defence officials meet in Japan to share experiences

The 2nd Japan-ASEAN Senior Defence Officials meeting was open in Tokyo last Wednesday.

Senior officials agreed that international ties and defence capacity should be enhanced through sharing experiences and co-operation on training.

During the five-day event, participants have so far discussed mechanisms for Asia-Pacific security co-operation and non-security challenges facing the region.

Deputy Defence Minister Nguyen Chi Vinh, who is attending the meeting, briefed participants on the progress of Viet Nam’s preparations for the events, saying that Viet Nam was well prepared to host the upcoming meetings of ASEAN defence ministers.

Lt.General Vinh met with Japanese Defence Minister Toshimi Kitazawa and held talks with his Japanese counterpart Kimito Nakae.

The meeting of senior defence officials on common security challenges in the Asia-Pacific region was held for the first time last year in Tokyo.

S Korean friends received by Fatherland Front leader

Chairman of the Association of Viet Nam-loving People in the Republic of Korea Lee Sang Min was received by Vice President of the Viet Nam Fatherland Front Central Committee Nguyen Lam yesterday in Ha Noi.

“The delegation’s visit is veritable proof of the friendship and solidarity between the two organisations,” Lam said.

He thanked the association for its ongoing support to Vietnamese people living and working in South Korea, saying he hoped it would actively promote friendly ties between the two countries and increase co-operation with the front.

The association provides support services to Vietnamese women gone to live in South Korea after marrying Korean men.

PV