General Le Van Dung, Chief of the General Political
Department of the Vietnam People’s Army on February 28 received Indian
ambassador to Vietnam Ranjit Rae.

At the reception, General Dung, who
is also President of the Vietnam-India Friendship Parliamentary Group, welcomed
Mr Ranjit Rae as India’s representative to Vietnam and expressed wish that the
ambassador will make great contributions to promoting the Vietnam-India
traditional friendship when taking up his new post as ambassador.

General Dung affirmed Vietnamese
people in general and the Vietnam People’s Army in particular have always
treasured the valuable support of the Indian people and army in the struggle for
national liberation as well as in the cause of national construction and
defense. He expressed his belief that the traditional friendship and cooperation
between the two peoples and armies will continue developing for peace and
stability in the region and the world.

Ambassador Ranjit Rae thanked
General Dung for receiving him, adding that friendship relations between Vietnam
and India which were established by late President Ho Chi Minh and Indian Prime
Minister J.Nehru have been nurtured for a long time.

“It is my wish the armies of both
nations continue strengthening strategic dialogues at the ministerial level”, he
said.

* Newly elected
Lao PM visits Vietnam

Laos’ new Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong is
officially visiting Vietnam from February 28 to March 2 to tighten traditional
ties and solidarity between the two countries and raise bilateral trade revenues
to US$2 billion by 2015.

Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan
Dung received his Lao counterpart in Hanoi on February 28.

In a friendly atmosphere, the two
prime ministers agreed to combine their efforts in conducting agreements between
senior leaders from the two parties and states, especially in politics,
security, defence, economics, trade and investment.

Specifically, they will direct their
respective ministries to prepare for the 33^rd meeting of the Joint
Committee of the two governments, and will jointly promote the implementation of
the agreements on economic, cultural and technical cooperation.

The two leaders also affirmed their
determination to build a stable, peaceful, friendly, cooperative and developed
common borderline, encouraging ties of friendship and unity across the border.

PM Dung said Vietnam will continue
to assist Laos in taking part in APEC and joining the WTO and will share
experience with Laos in order to help the latter successfully host the ASEM and
sub-regional meetings in 2012.

VNN/VOV/VNS