Vietnam News Today (April 14): Do Van Chien Becomes New President of VFF Central Committee
	Vietnam News Today (April 12): Romania confident of stronger relations with Vietnam
	Vietnam News Today (April 11): Vietnamese leaders send condolences over Prince Philip’s passing

(Photo: Jerusalem Post)

Leaders extend congratulations to Israel on 73rd Independence Day

Vietnamese President Nguyen Xuan Phuc on April 14 sent a message of congratulations to Israeli President Reuven Rivlin on the country’s 73rd Independence Day, according to VGP.

On this occasion, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh cabled a congratulatory message to Israel's Caretaker Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The same day, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son also extended a message of congratulations to Israel’s Caretaker Minister of Foreign Affairs Gabi Ashkenazi.

Vietnam strengthens defence cooperation with Laos, Cambodia, Russia

Sen. Lieut. Gen. Phan Van Giang, Minister of National Defence, on April 14 expressed his desires to strengthen defence cooperation between Vietnam and Laos, Cambodia and Russia during separate receptions in Hanoi for the ambassadors of those countries.

Receiving Lao ambassador Sengphet Houngbuongnuang, Minister Giang affirmed the traditional friendship, special solidarity, comprehensive cooperation between the two Parties, States and armies of Vietnam and Laos has constantly developed in various fields over the years.

Ambassador Houngbuongnuang congratulated Giang on his appointment as Minister of National Defence of Vietnam at the recently-concluded National Assembly session, and expressed his belief the minister will continue to make a practical contribution to increasing bilateral cooperation.

At a reception for Cambodian ambassador Chay Navuth, both sides highly valued the Vietnam-Cambodia defence cooperation, considering this a pillar in bilateral relations. They agreed to exchange delegations in the coming time to discuss strategic issues of common concern in defence cooperation between the two countries.

While receiving Russian ambassador Konstantin Vnukov, Defence Minister Phan Van Giang affirmed that Vietnam always treasures its traditional relationship with the Russian Federation and does its best to develop the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries, including defence cooperation.

Both host and guest expressed their delight at the defence cooperation between the two countries, saying the two Defence Ministries had worked closely to carry out activities within the framework of the Vietnam-Russia and Russia-Vietnam Cultural Year in 2020 in celebration of 70 years of bilateral diplomacy.

Currently, they said the two sides are preparing for the international Army Games 2021, according to VOV.

More congratulations to newly-elected Vietnamese leaders

Leaders of foreign countries have continued to send their messages of congratulations to newly-elected State and Government leaders of Vietnam.

State President Nguyen Xuan Phuc received congratulatory messages and letters from King Willem Alexander of the Netherlands, President of the Arab Republic of Egypt Abdel Fattah Al Sisi, Hungarian President Asder Janos, and King of Eswatini Mswati III.

(Photo: Vietnam News)

Meanwhile, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, Kazakhstani Prime Minister Askar Mamin, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, and President of the Republic of Panama Laurentino Cortizo Cohen cabled their messages and letters of congratulations to Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, as reported by NDO.

Vietnam prepares funding plans for locally-made COVID-19 vaccines

Vietnam will continue to produce of its own coronavirus vaccines, facilitate clinical trials, and prepare vaccine production and funding plans providing the vaccines are effective.

This information was agreed at a regular meeting of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control in Hanoi on April 14.

Do Quyet, director of the Military Medical University, announced that the second phase of the Nanocovax human trials is set to end on April 15. The university will send a report to the Ministry of Health and the Biomedical Research Ethics Council in order to review and evaluate the scientific basis of the second phase, while simultaneously starting the third phase.

The meeting saw the Ministry of Health (MoH) confirm that many countries globally are continuing to struggle with vaccine shortage, and Vietnam must try its best to secure a sufficient supply of the vaccines for domestic use through a combination of local production and imports.

Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long warned Vietnam is set to face numerous difficulties in accessing and negotiating the purchase of coronavirus vaccines from suppliers.

Addressing the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam requested that the MoH urgently submit specific plans to purchase foreign vaccines, in line with the Political Bureau’s decision and the Government ‘s Resolution No 21/NQ-CP regarding the purchase and use of COVID-19 vaccines, VOV reported.

Vietnam opens UN staff officer training course

The Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations opened a training course for UN staff officers with the support of the US’s Global Peace Operations Initiative (GPOI) on April 14.

Director of the Department Maj. Gen. Hoang Kim Phung said it has organised the course since 2017 but this is the first time it has been held via both online and in-person forms due to COVID-19.

The course attracts the participation of 16 trainees from 10 units of the Defence Ministry. All have a good professional background and English skills.

The course provides basic knowledge on UN military staff for trainees who are about to join UN peacekeeping missions or participate in management, advisory work, research, and teaching at units involved in peacekeeping missions inside and outside of the Defence. Ministry.

It also helps improve the department’s capacity for organising international training courses on UN peacekeeping, with the aim of increasing the quality of the country’s UN peacekeeping training facility.

This is also a chance to intensify the friendship between Vietnam and the US, the EU, and other partners in UN peacekeeping, VOV reported.

Vietnam News Today (April 10): New Vietnamese leadership and aspirations for prosperous nation Vietnam News Today (April 10) features headlines include new Vietnamese leadership and aspirations for prosperous nation, four Politburo Members Assigned To Join PCC Secretariat, Laos, ...

Vietnam News Today (April 9): 14th National Assembly’s last session wraps up Vietnam News Today (April 9) features headlines include 14th National Assembly’s last session wraps up, ceremony held for handover of duty to new Prime Minister, ...

Vietnam News Today (April 8): Two new Deputy PMs nominated in new Cabinet lineup Vietnam News Today (April 8) features headlines include two new Deputy PMs nominated in new Cabinet lineup, NA relieves 13 Cabinet members of their posts, ...