GOVERNMENT IN BRIEF 29/7 Party delegation visits North Korea A delegation of the Communist Party of Viet Nam is paying a working visit to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). At talks with the Workers' Party of Korea delegation in Pyongyang on Friday, the head of the Vietnamese delegation, Tran Quoc Vuong, who is the CPV Central Committee Secretary and head of the Party Central Committee Office, said the Party and State of Vietnam always valued the traditional friendship with the DPRK and wanted to increase co-operation for mutual development in the new situation. Head of the WPK delegation Kim Jong-in, Politburo alternate member and Central Committee Secretary, expressed his delight at the developing traditional friendship between the two Parties, States and peoples, adding that the visit to the DPRK by Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh in October, 2007, had pushed bilateral ties a step forward. On this occasion, the two sides compared notes on measures to enhance their bilateral co-operation in the time to come as well as regional and international issues of mutual concerns. During their current stay in the DPRK, the Vietnamese delegation attended activities to mark the 60th anniversary of the victory of the Korean liberation war and visited several economic, cultural and historical facilities in Pyongyang. Vietnam treasures UN's role in foreign policy Vietnam attaches importance to the United Nations (UN)'s increasing role and its position in the country's foreign policy, especially the guideline of active and proactive international integration, being a constructive and responsible member of the global community. President Truong Tan Sang meets UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. President Truong Tan Sang made the affirmation while meeting with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in New York on July 26 during his official visit to the US. He shared the UN member nations' wish for a sound agenda beyond 2015, ushering in a new period of global development towards prosperity, sustainability and fairness to all nations. "Vietnam is determined to keep working closely with the UN in the new phase of development that matches its priorities for national socio-economic development and comparative edges of each UN agency, in a move to fulfill the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)," the leader said. He said Vietnam hopes the UN will bring into full play its significant role in maintaining peace and stability in the region and the world at large. On top of this, according him, the UN should promote dialogues, peacefully settle international disputes in line with the UN Charter regulations and international law, and facilitate the common development of countries, especially developing nations. For his part, Secretary General Ban Ki-moon spoke highly of the achievements Vietnam has recorded in socio-economic development and maintenance of political stability, thus actively contributing to the stability and development of the region and the world. He praised Vietnam's active role in the ASEAN community and hailed its decision to engage in the UN's peacekeeping operations. The host also expressed his desire to cement far-reaching bilateral links for long-term development goals. Party, State leaders pay tribute to martyrs A delegation of Party and State leaders on July 27 laid a wreath at President Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and Bac Son War Martyr Monument in Hanoi to commemorate those who rendered great service to the nation. The delegation was led by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, National Assembly (NA) Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung, Chairman of the Fatherland Front Central Committee Huynh Dam, former Party leaders Le Kha Phieu and Nong Duc Manh, and former NA Chairman Nguyen Van An. The same day, delegations from a number of ministries, agencies and organizations in Hanoi paid tributes to President Ho at his mausoleum and laid a wreath at the Martyrs’ Cemetery on Bac Son Street. On this occasion, localities across the countries visited and presented gifts to families of invalids and martyrs as well as other social policy beneficiaries. July 27 is observed as War Invalids and Martyrs’ Day to show people’s gratitude towards soldiers who were either wounded or sacrificed their lives during wartime for national independence and freedom. This year, Vietnam marks its 66th anniversary. Enhanced foreign information service A Vietnamese delegation visited three Latin American countries from July 17-26 to boost foreign information services. The delegation was led by Pham Van Linh, deputy head of the Party Central Committee's Commission for Publicity and Education and deputy permanent head of the Steering Committee on External Information Services. In Nicaragua, the Vietnamese delegation attended the 34th Sandinista Revolutionary Day in Nicaragua and met Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega. During the visit in Brazil and Argentina, the Vietnamese delegation met with officials in charge of communications and representatives from several news agencies and television stations. In an interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency, Linh affirmed that the delegation learnt more about these countries' demands for information on Viet Nam, and also discussed specific measures to further raise the quality and efficiency of external information services in order to promote Viet Nam's image in the Latin American region. Indonesia, VN join forces on defence Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has stated that Viet Nam treasures and wishes to further intensify co-operation with Indonesia in various spheres, especially defence – an important mainstay in their bilateral strategic partnership. Receiving visiting Commander-in-Chief of the Indonesian military, Admiral Agus Suhartono, in Ha Noi on Friday, Dung hailed his visit as a significant event which comes at a time when the two nations freshly declared to officially raise bilateral ties to a strategic partnership level. The Vietnamese leader suggested the two defence ministries effectively launch co-operative activities as reached in the past, enhance exchanges between the two navies, and cement links in personnel training, defence technology and joint sea patrols. Switching to the East Sea issue, Dung stressed that peace, stability, maritime safety and freedom are the common aspirations of all ASEAN member nations and relevant parties. He made it clear that Viet Nam wished to work closely with Indonesia and relevant countries, especially in compliance with the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), towards the early achievement of the Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC), as well as the peaceful settlement of the East Sea issue in line with international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Suhartono vowed that Indonesia would do all it could to deepen defence co-operation with Viet Nam in a practical and effective approach. He said he hoped that the Government of Vietnam would always back co-operation between the two armies. At earlier talks with Deputy Defence Minister and Chief of the General Staff of the Viet Nam People's Army, Senior Lieutenant General Do Ba Ty, the two sides agreed to enhance the exchange of high-level delegations and training, establish a deputy-ministerial dialogue mechanism, and expand naval links in the time to come. The same day, Suhartono paid a courtesy visit to Defence Minister General Phung Quang Thanh. Viet Nam, China increase co-operation in theoretical issues Senior Vietnamese and Chinese officials have stressed the need to further enhance co-operation in theoretical issues between the Communist Parties of the two countries. The plan was set out at talks in Beijing on Friday between the head of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee's Propaganda Department, Liu Qibao, and head of the Communist Party of Viet Nam's (CPV) Central Committee's Commission for Popularisation and Education, Dinh The Huynh, who will be in Dalian City, Liaoning Province from July 27-29 to attend the 11th theory workshop. They also agreed to cement exchanges and co-operation between the two sides to enhance understanding, mutual trust and friendship between the two peoples. Huynh, who is also Chairman of the Central Theoretical Council, met with First Secretary of the CPC Central Committee Secretariat Liu Yunshan. He underlined that the CPV, State and people of Viet Nam always attached importance to strengthening and developing ties with China. Vietnam, Laos legislatures share economic management experience Legislators, investors and bankers from Vietnam and Laos examined ways of realising macroeconomic, financial, monetary and banking policies at a workshop in Vientiane on July 27. The workshop brought together representatives from the National Assemblies of Vietnam and Laos, the Association of Vietnamese Investors in Laos (AVIL), and the Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam (BIDV). The event offered the two National Assemblies a chance to share Vietnam’s experience in managing public finance and investment, public debt, banking development and restructuring, and settlement of bad debts. Vice Chairman of the Laos National Assembly Saysomphone Phomvihane said the workshop helped Laos National Assembly, State and government leaders introduce appropriate solutions to economic development. On this occasion, BIDV and several Vietnamese businesses in Laos presented US$100,000 and 15,000 blankets and mosquito nets worth VND7 billion to the Laos national fund for dengue fever prevention to help local people eradicate the disease. Artists to promote Uncle Ho's morals Vietnamese artists have been encouraged to continue creating work that can inspire their communities. Deputy PM Nguyen Thien Nhan hailed the country's arts circle in a speech at a ceremony celebrating the 65th anniversary of the Viet Nam Alliance of Arts and Literature Associations. Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, former Party General Secretary Le Kha Phieu and heads of ministries and sectors also attended the ceremony, held at the Ha Noi Opera House. Nhan stated that the alliance had been asked to launch additional campaigns appealing for artists to create and promote artworks themed "Learning and following President Ho Chi Minh's moral example". Any artworks promoting revolutionary history, modern life and building and protecting the country were welcomed, he said. The State and Government has awarded the titles of People's Artist to around 2,200 artists in order to acknowledge their contributions to the nation's culture. VNN/VOV/VNS/VNA