Nhan Dan – As part of the events during Vietnam – Laos Friendship Year 2012, a workshop to promote the two countries’ agricultural co-operation and a ceremony to present Vietnam’s Friendship Medal to the former Chief Judge of the Lao Supreme People’s Court, Khammy Saynhavong, were held in Vientiane on May 15.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Luong Thanh Nghi on May 15 affirmed that Vietnam opposes the Chinese Department of Fisheries' ban on fishing in the East Sea.

The foreign ministries of Vietnam and Israel held the third joint political consultation on May 14 during Deputy Foreign Minister Le Luong Minh’s visit to Israel.

French and Vietnamese experts and students have discussed issues on the development of energy and nuclear power.

The Vietnamese Embassy in Argentina has organised a workshop to promote the image of Vietnam’s land and people in the country.

Vietnam has presented its way of serving and drinking tea at the Asia-Pacific Heritage Month Festival that opened at Stony Brook University in New York, on May 12.

Nhan Dan – Preparations for activities to celebrate the Vietnam – Cambodia Friendship Year (VCFY) 2012 were kicked off in Hanoi on May 10.

Nhan Dan – The book set, ‘A History of the Special Relationship between Vietnam and Laos (1930-2007)’ was introduced in Lao capital city of Vientiane on May 10.

Minister of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs Pham Thi Hai Chuyen led a Vietnamese delegation to attend the 22nd ASEAN Labour Ministers Meeting which took place in the Cambodia capital city of Phnom Penh on May 10.

The Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) and the Lao Front for National Construction (LFNC) jointly held a meeting on front tasks in Vientiane on May 10.

A Vietnamese Foreign Ministry spokesperson has asserted Vietnam’s indisputable sovereignty over the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos, and demanded a stop to actions violating the country’s sovereignty.

A delegation from the Vietnam Fatherland Front’s (VFF) Central Committee led by Vice President Le Ba Trinh are currently on a visit to Laos, from May 9-15, to boost ties with the neighbouring country.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung on May 8 extended his congratulations to the newly elected Russian Prime Minister D.A. Medvedev.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son has met with Hungarian Deputy State Secretary Janos Hovari who began a three-day working visit to Vietnam on May 7 at the invitation of Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Vietnam hopes to receive more support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for hunger elimination and poverty reduction, climate change adaptation, human resource training and HIV/AIDS prevention.

Vietnam hopes to co-operate with the Republic of Korea (RoK) in human resource training and to receive support from the country in coping with climate change and sea level rise, said Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.

President Truong Tan Sang on May 7 received a delegation from the Association of People loving Vietnam in the Republic of Korea (VESAMO), led by founder Prof Park Kwang Joo.

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and President Truong Tan Sang on May 7 sent congratulatory messages to the newly-elected president of France, Francois Hollande.

President Truong Tan Sang has extended his condolences to Russian President D. Medvedev over the twin blasts in the Republic of Dagestan in Russia's North Caucasus on May 3.

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on May 4 hosted a reception for Lao Minister of Industry and Commerce Nam Viyaketh on his working visit to Vietnam.