Binh Phuoc and Champasak
strengthen cooperation

A delegation
from Laos’
Champasak province led by governor and Secretary of the provincial Party
Committee Sonsay Siphandon has visited Binh Phuoc province.

During talks on June 20,
representatives from the two provinces briefed each other on their
socio-economic achievements in recent years and discussed measures to boost
cooperation in all fields in the next five years.

The two provinces will
provide scholarships for students to learn Lao and Vietnamese languages and
organise tours through Binh Phuoc, Kratie, and Stung Treng.

They will also share
experiences in agricultural development and further promote people-to-people
diplomatic activities.

Vietnamese embassy
Headquarters inaugurated

The
Vietnamese embassy in Laos
on June 20 opened its new headquarters in the capital city of Vientiane in the presence of Deputy Minister
of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh.

Speaking at the opening
ceremony, Vietnamese ambassador to Laos Ta Minh Chau expressed his thanks for
the Party, State, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for their attention to
the operation of the embassy.

He also thanked the Lao
Party and State and the Vientiane
municipal authorities for creating favourable conditions for the project to get
off the ground.

The ambassador pledged to
do his best to fulfil his job of promoting the traditional friendship, special
solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries, which have
always been fostered by their Party and State leaders.

Deputy Minister Minh
highlighted the embassy’s efforts to complete a high-quality project and said
he believes it will help the embassy to fulfil its task.

The head office, covering a
total area of 9,000 square metres, includes a 300-seat conference room, an
office block, two housing blocks, a flower garden, and a sports ground.

Irish President highlights
Vietnam’s
development

New
Vietnamese ambassador to the UK
and the Republic
of Ireland Vu Quang Minh
has presented credentials to Irish President Mary McAleese.

At a reception for the
Vietnamese ambassador, Irish President highlighted the fine development of
relations between Ireland
and Vietnam
in recent times, especially after Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and Deputy PM
Hoang Trung Hai visited Ireland
in 2008 and 2009, respectively.

Ms Mary McAleese expressed
her wish that the relations between two countries would further develop to
match their potential.

Ambassador Minh later met
with the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs, and the Ireland Chamber of
Commerce.

He also worked with the
Vietnam-Irish Association’s Executive Committee on the association’s
orientations in the coming period and praised its efforts to preserve the
cultural identity of Vietnam.

VNN/VOV/VNS