Government News 21/7 President bids farewell to outgoing ambassadors President Truong Tan Sang received in Hanoi on July 20 the ambassadors of Germany, Belgium and Finland to Vietnam, who are going to finish their working tenure in the country. The President spoke highly of the diplomats’ contributions to intensifying cooperation between Vietnam and their countries in all fields, including the organisation of visits of senior leaders. He expressed his hope that the aforementioned countries will continue paying attention to the Vietnamese market, maintain their provision of official development assistance (ODA) and intensify investments in Vietnam. He believed that Vietnam’s trade ties with Germany, Belgium and Finland would thrive after the free trade agreement between Vietnam and the European Union is signed. German Ambassador Jutta Frasch expressed his hope that the Vietnamese Government will facilitate the operation of the Vietnam-Germany University in order to boost closer cooperation in education between the two countries. Meanwhile Belgian Ambassador Bruno Angelet said he hoped that Vietnam would create favourable conditions for his country’s investment projects. Finnish Ambassador Kimmo Lahdevirta thanked for assistance of Vietnamese agencies during his tenure in the country, affirming that he would contribute to fostering the partnership between Finland and Vietnam in his new position. Vietnam, Greece should facilitate exchanges: Deputy PM Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh asked the newly-appointed Greek Ambassador to Vietnam Nicolas D. Kanellos to facilitate bilateral exchanges at all levels during a reception in Hanoi on July 20. Minh assured his guest that the Vietnamese government continually encourages the Vietnamese and Greek business communities to share information and form business connection towards stepping up trade and investment. Speaking highly of the effective cooperation between the two foreign ministries, Minh urged the two embassies to serve as a bridge to effectively deliver on commitments between the two countries. Kanellos vowed to contribute to the traditional friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and Greece during his tenure.-VNA Defence, security info imparted to southern religious dignitaries A training course was opened in Ho Chi Minh City on July 20 to equip religious dignitaries and monks in the south with knowledge on defence and security. Course participants, who number over 100, are currently members of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee and leading representatives of religious groups in southern localities. During the course, participants will be provided with basic knowledge about the simultaneous national development and defence missions and the Party and State viewpoints, guidelines and policies on building people-based defence and security. Updates on Vietnam’s socio-economic and security-defence situation along with knowledge on sabotage scheme prevention will also be offered. The course will impart salient points of the laws on defence, national security, land, military conscription, and militia and self-defence forces, which the dignitaries and monks will in turn popularise to religious followers and local residents. The training programme is organised by the Central Council for Defence and Security Education and the standing board of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee. Nearly 200,000 religious dignitaries and monks have been equipped with related knowledge over the past 15 years, according to the Central Council. Vice President visits Phu Tho on War Invalids and Martyrs Day Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan visited heroic Vietnamese mothers and war invalids in Phu Tho province on July 20 on the occasion of the 68 th anniversary of War Invalids and Martyrs Day (July 27). The Vice President presented the provincial Centre for care of revolutionary contributors with 20 million VND (926 USD) and 31 gifts worth 2 million VND (92 USD) each to war invalids at the centre. She also paid a visit and presented gifts to two heroic Vietnamese mothers in Phu Tho town. At the events, the Vice President expressed her deep gratitude to heroic Vietnamese mothers, veterans, war invalids, wounded soldiers and martyrs who contributed to and sacrificed their lives for national independence . She also asked local authorities to do their best to improve living conditions for those who rendered services to the nation. Vietnamese, Cambodian provinces ensure border security The authorities of southern Long An province and the neighbouring Cambodian province of Svay Rieng have ensured security and order in the border area after a group of Cambodian nationals approached the vicinity of border marker No 203. On July 19, about 1,800 Cambodians moved from the capital city of Phnom Penh to the border area between Long An and Svay Rieng. Later, around 800 of them travelled to the area near border marker No 203. The Long An and Svay Rieng authorities deployed competent forces to ensure security and order. They agreed to allow some 100 Cambodian citizens to approach marker No 203 provided that these people maintain order and not violate Vietnam’s territory. After explanation efforts by both sides’ competent agencies, the 800-strong group left the border area and returned to Cambodia at around 5 pm the same day. VNA