Political News Headlines 24/6 Vietnam, Japan boost defence cooperation Vietnam and Japan should continue their struggle against China’ wrongful acts in the East and East China Seas, utilizing diplomatic measures grounded in international law, said Japanese Maj. Gen. Naohisa Fukase. Maj. Gen. Fukase, Deputy Director of the Japanese National Institute for Defence Studies (NIDS), made the suggestion at a reception in Hanoi on June 23 hosted by Lieu. Gen. Vo Van Tuan, deputy chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army. He expressed his concern about recent escalating tensions in the East Sea after China positioned its drilling rig Haiyang Shiyou-981 deep inside Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf. He congratulated Vietnam on joining the UN Peacekeeping operation, and said his working visit creates a chance for the NIDS and the National Defence Academy of Vietnam to share experience in training.   For his part, Lieu. Gen. Tuan noted that Vietnam-Japan relations have witnessed steady and strong positive development since the two countries first established diplomatic ties in 1973. Particularly, in March 2014, the two countries signed a joint declaration to elevate bilateral ties to the high level of an “Extensive Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in Asia”. However, defence cooperation remains modest, he said. Few military exchanges have been conducted while cooperation on military training and defence can be described as lackluster at best, he said, adding that he is optimistic these obstacles will be removed in the near future. PM sends condolences to Bulgaria Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung sent a letter of condolences yesterday (June 23) to Bulgarian Prime Minister Plamen Oresharski following floods that resulted in numerous deaths of Bulgarian citizens. Heavy rainfall in the Black Sea resort city of Varna triggered a flood last Thursday in one of the low-laying suburbs that killed at least 10 people, cutting off electricity, blocking roads and sparking evacuations, according to Reuters. Deputy Chief of General Staff receives Cambodian defence official Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army, Lieutenant General Vo Van Tuan hosted a reception on June 23 in Hanoi for General Nem Sowat, head of the Department of Policy and Foreign Affairs of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces. Lieut. Gen. Tuan said as one of the key pillars in Vietnam-Cambodia ties, defence cooperation has helped each country build its strong army while thwarting hostile forces’ plots aimed to undermine friendship and solidarity between the two peoples and armies. The two sides reviewed the cooperation outcomes between the Institutes for Military History of Vietnam and Cambodia, hailing Vietnam’s regular and productive support in training staff and providing equipment for the Cambodian institute. In the future, the two institutes should enhance cooperation in personnel training and material collection, getting themselves ready for major events of the two armed forces. Tuan pledged that the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army will create all possible conditions for both institutes to boost their effective affiliation, serving the study of history as well as security-defence of each country. Laos concerned about East Sea tensions The Laos Ministry of Foreign Affairs on June 23 expressed concern about the escalated tension in the East Sea and asked parties concerned to exercise restraint and avoid further actions that may complicate the situation in the region. The ministry clarified Laos’ stance in a note responding to a Vietnamese note on China’s illegal placement of its floating drilling rig Haiyang Shiyou-981 deep inside Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf. Laos holds that the East Sea is an important and sensitive area, and it is crucial to maintain and promote peace, stability and cooperation in the region. It calls on parties concerned to settle the territorial dispute by peaceful measures, without resorting to the use of force, in accordance with international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Laos suggests that parties concerned fully observe the 2002 ASEAN-China Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), and speed up consultations on a more legally binding code of conduct (COC) to handle the dispute.  Vietnam, Mozambique further education cooperation Vietnam and Mozambique have inked a Protocol on Education Cooperation, allowing both sides to increase exchanges of students and educators as well as other partnership activities. The document was signed by Vietnamese Minister of Education and Training Pham Vu Luan and his Mozambique counterpart Augusto Jone Luis at a ceremony in Hanoi on June 23. From 2014, the number of scholarships for students of Vietnam to study Mozambique and vice verse will be increased to 10 a year, doubling the figure agreed in the protocol signed in 2008 in Maputo, Mozambique, which focused on mutual technical support in education and training. At present, 16 Mozambique students are pursuing training courses in Vietnam, mostly in agriculture. Meanwhile, 25 Vietnamese students have been received to study Portuguese in Mozambique. At the same time, Vietnam has also sent eight education specialists to Mozambique and received one Portuguese teacher from the country. In the framework of his working visit to Vietnam from June 21-26, Augusto Jone Luis had working sessions with the Vietnam Agriculture Academy, University of Electricity, the Hanoi College for Fashion and Textile-Garment, and the Hanoi Medical University. Congratulations to US Communist Party Chairman Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong on June 23 extended his congratulations to John Bachtell on his election as Chairman of the US Communist Party. Bachtell was elected as the chairman of the US Communist Party at its 30th National Convention, which took place on June 13-15. Source: VNN/VOV/VNS/VNA