Political News Headlines 14/4 Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov visits Vietnam Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will pay an official visit to Vietnam on April 15-16 at the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh. Lavrov’s visit takes place at a time when both Vietnam and Russia are strengthening their comprehensive strategic partnership which was upgraded in 2012. Russia was one of the first countries establishing strategic partnership with Vietnam during President Vladimir Putin’s Vietnam visit in March 2001. Before flying to Vietnam, Lavrov is making a one-day trip to China on April 15 at the invitation of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. US senator to visit Vietnam The President pro-tempore of the US Senate Patrick Leahy will lead a US parliamentary delegation to visit Vietnam from April 16-20. The visit is made at the invitation of National Assembly (NA) Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung, announced the NA Committee for External Relations on April 13. Party leader visits Laos for New Year Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong paid a two-day visit to Laos over the weekend during the Lao New Year Bunpimay Festival. The visit was made at the invitation of General Secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) and President of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic Choummaly Sayasone. Trong extended his best New Year wishes to LPRP leader Sayasone in the south-eastern province of Attapeu, along with the former President of Laos Khamtay Siphandone in the south-western province of Champasak, as well as local authorities in the two provinces. At the meetings with Lao officials in the two provinces, he expressed belief that under the leadership of the LPRP, the people of Laos will overcome all difficulties and challenges in building a peaceful, independent, democratic, united and prosperous nation. He noted with satisfaction the traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two parties, states and peoples. He confirmed in any circumstances Vietnam will do its best to help Laos maintain and foster this valuable relationship to pass along to the future generations. Further, the Lao officials congratulated Vietnam on its Doi Moi (Renewal) achievements over the years, and said the Lao Party, government and people will do their best to maintain their traditional friendship with Vietnam. Local authorities in the two provinces also informed the Vietnamese Party leader about the social and economic development, as well as their cooperation with Vietnamese localities. During his stay, Trong also visited the Vietnamese Consulate in the southern region of Laos, covering the four provinces of Attapeu, Saravane, Sekong and Champasak. He met with the Vietnamese community in the four provinces and Vietnamese entrepreneurs who are investing in the region. President backs support industry President Truong Tan Sang has asked the province of Vinh Phuc to focus on developing support industries, since they play an important role in attracting investors, especially from overseas. The President made the request at a meeting with key provincial leaders during his visit to the province last Saturday. He also emphasised the need for Vinh Phuc, and the nation as a whole, to develop automotive manufacturing industries and increase the amount of official development assistance (ODA) being received. He also asked the local authorities and residents to make more efforts to successfully implement the Resolution of the 11th National Party Congress, in a bid to transform the country into a modern industrial nation by 2020. Also on Saturday, President Sang attended and delivered a speech at the congress of the provincial association of revolutionary soldiers who were detained by enemies during the war. Additionally, he visited several businesses operating in the support industry, including Cosmos Technology Co. Ltd and Jahwa Vina Co. Ltd based at the Khai Quang Industrial Park in Vinh Yen City. Argentine province keen on all-round links with Vietnam Governor of the Argentine north-western province of Tucuman, Jose Alperovich, has expressed interest in fostering all-round cooperation with Vietnam. Meeting with Vietnamese Ambassador Nguyen Dinh Thao, who was in the locality on April 11-12 to enhance bilateral cooperation and seek for business opportunities, Aperovich hailed the diplomat’s working visit and said he expects to visit Vietnam soon. During his stay in the province, Ambassador Thao attended a business forum held by the Economic Federation of Tucuman and visited a production facility of S.A San Miguel citrus processor and exporter. On the occasion of the ambassador’s visit, a Vietnam culture week opened for the first time in Tucuman, drawing the public attention with exhibitions of photos and traditional costumes. They were enabled to learn about its cultural richness by enjoying popular Vietnamese flicks.- HCM City keen on cooperating with India Ho Chi Minh City welcomes and facilitate foreign investors, including those from India, to invest and do business in the country’s largest economic hub, the city’s senior official. Le Manh Ha, Vice Chairman of the HCM City People’s Committee, made the statement while meeting with a group of Indian business representatives in the city on April 11. Ha emphasised that fine political and diplomatic ties between Vietnam and India over the years have laid a solid foundation for trade and investment relations between the two countries, adding that both nations are striving to bring two-way trade turnover to 7 billion USD in 2015 and 15 billion USD by 2020. According to the Vice Chairman, the city has made contributions to the Vietnam-India all-around relations, especially in the trade and economic fields with two-way turnover reaching over 700 million USD in 2013. India now has 26 investment projects in the city. For his part, Indian Consul General in HCM City Deepak Mittal said that to further develop cooperative relations between the city and Indian partners, the Indian Business Association in Vietnam in 2014 will organise workshops to promote investment and trade so that businesses can seek cooperation opportunities. India will also send delegations of businesses operating in the mechanical, pharmaceutical and oil and gas fields to HCM City to boost investment, he added. Representatives from the Indian Business Association in Vietnam proposed that HCM City offers good opportunities for Indian partners to implement projects for mutual benefits, adding that, Vietnamese businesses can seek promising business opportunities in India by opening a representative office there.- VNA/VOV/VNS