Government News 14/4 Vietnam enhances cooperation with ICAPP   Chairman of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations Hoang Binh Quan (R) shakes hands with Park Ro-byug, Secretary General of the International Conference of Asian Political Parties   Chairman of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations Hoang Binh Quan on April 12 received Park Ro-byug, Secretary General of the International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP), who is visiting Vietnam.  At the meeting, Quan lauded the development of the ICAPP since its establishment towards the realisation of ICAPP’s key targets, such as promoting exchanges and cooperation between political parties of Asia countries, as well as enhancing mutual understanding among Asian countries and boosting regional cooperation through the unique role political parties, thus contributing to regional peace, stability and prosperity. He affirmed that Vietnam has always attached much importance to multilateral forums, including the ICAPP, saying that Vietnam will continue to participate in ICAPP activities in a bid to build it into a strong multilateral organisation of political parties. For his part, Park hailed the changes and development of Vietnam over the past years under the leadership of the CPV. He also briefed his host about the ICAPP’s agenda and orientations in the coming time to raise its operation effectiveness, turning ICAPP to an institutional multilateral forum of political parties in Asia.  At the meeting, Park thanked practical and efficient contributions of the CPV to the ICAPP in recent years. He also expressed his hope that the CPV, as a member of the ICAPP Standing Committee, will make more contributions to the ICAPP’s development and activities in the future. Earlier, ICAPP Secretary General Park Ro-byug held talks with Vice Chairman of the CPV Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations Tran Dac Loi. Hanoi, Greek city discuss ways to boost bilateral cooperation   Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen The Hung (R) presents a souvenir to Vice Mayor of Edessa Anastasios Diou   The capital city of Hanoi wants to increase exchanges and cooperation with cities and provinces of countries around the world, including Edessa city of Greece, said a local official. Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen The Hung expressed the wish at a reception in Hanoi on April 12 for Vice Mayor of Edessa Anastasios Diou. Hung said a lot of Greek businesses have invested in different fields in Vietnam, including tourism. In 2017 alone, Hanoi welcomed about 3,000 Greek visitors, he said. With a population of nearly 10 million and area of over 3,000 square kilometers, Hanoi is potential market for both domestic and foreign enterprises, he said, adding that Hanoi is looking forward to greeting a delegation of Greek businesses to invest in the city. Hung hoped thta the exchanges and connectivity between Hanoi and Edessa will contribute to lifting the Vietnam-Greece friendship to a new height. For his part, Diou said this is the first time a delegation of high-ranking officials from Edessa city has visited and had a working session with a city of Vietnam. The visit aims  to explore local culture and history, and boost cooperation in tourism between localities, especially with Hanoi and central Nghe An province. He expressed his belief that after the working visit to Hanoi, the relations between the two cities will see new progress.  Leaders of Edessa city will actively urge Greek businesses to pour investments into Hanoi as well as other Vietnamese cities and provinces, he affirmed. President of Lao Front for National Construction visits Hoa Binh   At the meeting between President of the Lao Front for National Construction Central Committee Xaysomphone Phomvihane and Secretary of the provincial Party Committee Bui Van Tinh (Source: http://www.baohoabinh.com.vn)  President of the Lao Front for National Construction Central Committee Xaysomphone Phomvihane visited the northern province of Hoa Binh on April 13. Welcoming the Lao guest, Secretary of the provincial Party Committee Bui Van Tinh highlighted the faithful and close relations between the two countries as well as between the Vietnam Fatherland Front and the Lao counterpart. Phomvihane congratulated Hoa Binh on its achievements in socio-economic development, especially poverty reduction and improvement of local living standards in ethnic minority and disadvantaged areas. He recalled the support of people in Hoa Binh province for Laos’ revolutionaries during the resistant wars against the colonialism and imperialism in the past. Hoa Binh province was the place where the preparatory conference of the second congress of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party congress was held. The province also housed the Pathet Lao radio station from 1969 to 1973. The site in An Binh commune, Lac Thuy district, Hoa Binh province, has become a valuable historical site, helping foster the friendship between the two countries’ generations. VNN