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Le Hoai Trung designated as head of Party’s Commission for External Relations

Deputy Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung, who is also a member of the Party Central Committee, has been appointed as head of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations. The appointment decision made by the Politburo was released during a conference held on March 19 regarding the implementation of the Politburo's decision on personnel work.

Vo Van Thuong, a member of the Politburo and standing member of the Party Central Committee's Secretariat, offered his congratulations to Deputy Minister Trung on his appointment, and applauded him as a professional diplomat with a rich experience after roughly 40 years working in the diplomacy sector, including over 10 years working as Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Thuong also expressed his confidence that Deputy Minister Trung, due to his capabilities and experience, will uphold and promote the tradition and achievements of the commission alongside staff members of the Commission for External Relations, which is the Party's strategic advisory body in foreign affairs.

During his speech, Deputy Minister Trung stated it was his honour to take on the position, and pledged to put his best efforts in to competently carrying out the task and gaining the trust of the Politburo and Secretariat of the Party Central Committee, VOV reported.

Hanoi leader welcomes US, RoK ambassadors

Vice Secretary of the Party Committee of Hanoi and Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Chu Ngoc Anh on March 19 received US Ambassador to Vietnam Daniel Kritenbrink.

During the meeting, Anh highlighted the Vietnam - US relationship, and expressed his joy at the flourishing relations between Hanoi and US localities.

For his part, Kritenbrink affirmed that the US pledges to become a close partner with Vietnam, as well as cooperate with Hanoi in many fields.

He informed that the US’s Peace Corps programme in Vietnam will be implemented in the time to come.

Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Chu Ngoc Anh (R) receives Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Vietnam Park Noh-wan. (Photo: NDO)

The same day, the Hanoi leader also hosted a reception for Ambassador of the Republic of Korea (RoK) to Vietnam Park Noh-wan, during which the two sides discussed how to promote the bilateral cooperation.

The RoK diplomat proposed organizing a dialogue between the municipal authorities and RoK enterprises to seek measures for further fostering cooperation.

Agreeing with the proposal, Anh said he hopes the ambassador will give his support for creating links between the two sides’ enterprises and for the sharing of experience and transfer of technologies in the areas that Hanoi is interested in such as urban transport, environmental protection and water resources management, VNA reported.

National Assembly Chair visits pandemic prevention forces in Kien Giang

National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan visited the soldiers and officers of the border station at the Ha Tien International Border Gate on March 19 as well as Covid-19 prevention forces further along the border line.

At the border station, Ngan expressed her satisfaction at the efforts of border guards, police officers and customs officers on duty at coronavirus checkpoints, praising them for braving many difficulties to ensure the safety of the people.

National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan visits pandemic prevention forces in Kien Giang Province. (Photo: NDO)

On the same morning, the parliamentary leader worked with the election committee of Ha Tien City.

She spoke highly of the city’s preparations for the National Assembly elections and those for People’s Councils at all levels as well as praising its socio-economic performance in 2020 and during the first two months of 2021.

Ngan asked the city leaders to make efforts to protect the beauty of Ha Tien and transform Ha Tien’s urban area into a city of tourism, NDO said.

Vietnam attends Asian Cultural Council’s second meeting

A delegation of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) attended the second meeting of the Asian Cultural Council (ACC) - a subsidiary body of the International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP), which was held virtually on March 19.

The delegation was led by Nguyen Manh Cuong, Vice Chairman of the CPV Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations, who is also a member of the ICAPP standing board.

At the meeting, Cuong shared the viewpoints and policies of the CPV on culture, underlining that culture is the spiritual foundation of the society and the goal, motivation and internal strength for national sustainable development.

The CPV delegation at the event was led by Nguyen Manh Cuong, Vice Chairman of the CPV Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations (Photo: VNA)

The CPV aims to build a modern culture with strong national identity that is united in diversity, while boosting economic growth in line with cultural development, with great attention paid to the expansion of cultural industry and cultural services in association with the development of the cultural market, helping to preserve, maintain, promote and develop cultural values, cultural exchange and diversification.

Participants discussed the role of culture and solutions to optimise it in inspiring people’s creativity in all fields, contributing to sustainable growth.

They highlighted the significance of cooperation among political parties in promoting cultural collaboration and exchange, and expanding the culture-innovation networks and resources for the development of culture and the cultural industry, according to VOV.

Vietnam calls for early establishment of new government in Lebanon

The nation has called on all concerned parties to swiftly reach an agreement for the establishment of a new Government in Lebanon during a UN Security Council (UNSC) briefing held on March 18 to discuss the ongoing situation in the Middle Eastern country, along with the implementation of the UNSC’s Resolution 1701.

In her speech at the meeting, Nguyen Phuong Tra, deputy permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN, expressed her great appreciation for the efforts made by the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). Indeed, they have been key in maintaining stability and preventing tensions from escalating throughout the Blue Line area.

Moving forward, the nation remains highly concerned over current affairs in Lebanon, particularly with regard to economic and humanitarian issues. It has therefore called on the wider international community to sustain humanitarian aid commitments for Lebanese people, Tra said.

Nguyen Phuong Tra, Deputy Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the United Nations. (Photo: VNA)

The country is also keen to urge all parties in Lebanon to agree to establish a new Government as soon as possible, comply with obligations under Resolution 1701, as well as restraining from and avoiding provocative actions that could lead to an escalation of tension. This should be done whilst respecting UNIFIL's right to freedom of movement and increasing the use of relevant mechanisms in a bid to ease tensions, Tra stated.

With regard to activities which have served to violate Lebanese sovereignty and territorial integrity, the nation has urged all the sides involved to conclude their activities and withdraw their troops from any occupied positions to the north of the Blue Line, the Vietnamese representative added, as reported by VOV.

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