GOVERNMENT IN BRIEF 6/6 PM leaves for World Economic Forum on East Asia Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung on June 6 left Hanoi for the 22nd World Economic Forum (WEF) on East Asia in Myanmar’s capital city of Nay Pyi Taw at the invitation of the host country’s President U Thein Sein and WEF Chairman Klaus Schwab. The three-day forum, entitled “Courageous Transformation for Inclusion and Integration” draws over 900 delegates, including over 500 business executives from 55 countries nationwide. It will focus on three pillars, namely inspiring inclusive transformation, realising regional integration and scaling regional solutions for global resilience. Canadian Deputy FM stresses growing ties with VN Developing the relations with Vietnam is of strategic significance to Canada, Canadian Deputy Foreign Minister Morris Rosenberg said.   Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh receives Canadian Deputy Foreign Minister Morris Rosenberg. (Photo: VNA) He made the remarks while meeting with Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh in Hanoi on June 5, the first day of his two-day working visit to Vietnam. Minister Minh affirmed that Vietnam always places importance to promoting its relationship with Canada and wants both sides to boost the ties on the basis of a long-term, stable and comprehensive partnership. He stressed the need to make greater efforts to increase bilateral relationship more efficiently, referring to the exchange of high-ranking visits, priority to be given to cooperation in economics, trade, investment, science-technology, and education, and closer collaboration at international and regional forums. Minister Minh also expressed hopes that the two countries will continue working closely to successfully organise activities celebrating the 40 th anniversary of Vietnam-Canada diplomatic ties. The visiting Deputy FM appreciated Vietnam’s role in the region and expressed his country’s desire to increase ties with regional countries and institutions, especially ASEAN. He also pledged to work with Vietnam to strengthen cooperation in the fields agreed by the two sides to develop multi-faceted cooperation practically and efficiently. Earlier, Canadian Deputy FM Morris Rosenberg and his Vietnamese counterpart Ha Kim Ngoc held talks during which they touched on measures to enhance bilateral relations in a wide range of fields as well as coordination to deploy activities to mark the two countries’ 40-year-old diplomatic ties. Since establishing the diplomatic ties in 1973, Vietnam and Canada have enhanced their cooperation in various fields, particularly in economics and education. Last year, Vietnam enjoyed a trade surplus of 1.22 billion USD with the North American country. Vietnamese leaders condole over deadly fire in China Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung on June 5 sent a message of sympathy to Chinese Premier Li Keqiang over a recent deadly fire that killed 119 people and injured dozens of others in Dehui City, Jilin Province. On the same day, Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh also sent a message of sympathy to his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi. Vietnamese Deputy PM meets Yunnan Province’s leader Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Vu Van Ninh on June 4 received Governor of China’s Yunnan province Li Jiheng within the framework of his visit to the province to attend the first China-South Asia Expo and the China Import & Export Fair in the province’s Kunming city. At the meeting, Deputy PM Ninh highly valued the fine cooperation between Yunnan province and Vietnam’s localities, especially northern provinces, over the past time. The two sides still hold a lot of cooperation potential, he said, suggesting they continue seeking measures to further boost ties in all fields of economics, trade, tourism and culture, particularly the creation of favourable conditions for both sides’ businesses to expand cooperation. The Deputy PM affirmed that the Vietnamese Government always backs and creates favourable conditions for Vietnam’s northern provinces to strengthen cooperation with China’s southern localities, including Yunnan. This is reflected through the participation of more than 80 Vietnamese businesses at the June 4-7 Kunming fair, the biggest number among ASEAN participating countries, he said. Vietnam is also speeding up the construction of Hanoi-Lao Cai, Hanoi-Quang Ninh highways and related railways to facilitate goods exchange and the travel of people between the two countries, he added. Yunnan province’s leader said that the province attaches importance to cooperation with Vietnam’s localities, including the encouragement of its big businesses to invest in Vietnam. The Kunming-Hekou highway has been open to traffic while the Kunming-Hekou railway will be also put into operation next year, Li said. Earlier, the Vietnamese delegation visited the Vietnamese Consulate General in Kunming City. VNN/VNS/VNA