Political News 5/8 DPRK Foreign Minister to visit Vietnam The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK)’s Foreign Minister Ri Su Yong will pay an official visit to Vietnam from August 5-8. The visit is made at the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh. Vietnam wishes for German support in search, rescue A Vietnamese senior military official has hoped that Germany will help Vietnam in training German language for military officers, search and rescue activities, and building UN peacekeeping forces. Lieut. Gen. Nguyen Trong Nghia, deputy head of the General Department of Politics under the Vietnam People’s Army, made the wish while receiving a delegation from the Internal Management Centre under the German Ministry of Defence in Hanoi on August 4. At the reception, Nghia suggested the two sides soon reach consensus on the signing of a memorandum of understanding on bilateral defence cooperation. The German Defence Ministry should consider appointing a resident defence attaché to Vietnam to boost collaboration, he said, adding that his country wants to receive German support for its bid to join the International Hydrographic Organisation (IHO). The head of the delegation, Major Dirk Peddinghaus, Director of the ministry’s department for international relations, said that Vietnam and Germany have enjoyed fruitful friendship and cooperation, especially in defence, since they set up diplomatic ties in 1975. He said he believes that the visit will contribute to developing bilateral defence ties in line with the strategic partnership between the two countries. First victory of Vietnam People’s Navy celebrated A grand ceremony honouring the 50th anniversary of the first triumph of the Vietnam People’s Navy in the resistance war against American imperialism was staged in the northern port city of Haiphong on August 4. Speaking at the event, Defence Minister General Phung Quang Thanh asked Vietnam’s naval forces to continue to uphold their glorious tradition of protecting the national sovereignty over sea and islands. In the current context, Thanh said, naval officers and soldiers should raise their awareness of the strategic role of sea and islands in national construction and defence. Proper attention should be given to instilling patriotism and strengthening political and ideological education for naval officers and soldiers, helping them maintain their political posture, remaining loyal to the Party leadership. General Thanh also stressed the need to heighten vigilance, fulfil all assigned tasks and thoroughly grasp Party and State policies of peacefully resolving sea-related disputes. It is essential for the nation to maintain peace and political stability, boost socio-economic development, improve people’s living conditions, and boost friendship and cooperation with neighbouring countries, he noted. The Vietnam People’s Navy victory over the US navy’s USS Maddox destroyer and aircraft in the Tonkin Gulf on August 2 and 5, 1964 was the first victory for the northern army during the American war in Vietnam. The triumph has been considered as a traditional day of celebration for the Navy over the past five decades. Leaders extend sympathy to China over deadly quake Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and President Truong Tan Sang on August 8 sent their condolences to Chinese General Secretary and President Xi Jinping over heavy losses in property and human lives caused by a recent earthquake in Yunnan province. The same day, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung also extended their sympathy to Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress Zhang Dejiang respectively. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh also offered his condolences to Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi, Foreign Minister Wang Yi, and the Secretary of the Party Committee and the Governor of Yunnan province. According to China’s Xinhua News Agency, the death toll from the 6.5-magnitude quake in the southwest Chinese province on August 3 has hit 398. Source: VNA/VOV