I. ANNOUNCEMENTS

1. Conference on “Multilateral Diplomacy in the 21st Century and Policy Recommendations for Viet Nam” (12^th August 2014)

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in collaboration with the UNDP, is organizing a conference on “Multilateral Diplomacy in the 21^st Century and Policy Recommendations for Viet Nam” on 12^th August 2014 in Ha Noi. Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh will attend and address this conference.

It is the first conference in Viet Nam to discuss multilateral foreign policy in the new context with a view to implementing the policy of “proactive international integration” of the 11^th National Party Congress and Resolution No. 22 of the Politburo on international integration as well as the 28th Diplomatic Conference’s Action Plan on building multilateral foreign policy towards the ASEAN Community in 2015. This conference is aimed at enhancing a shared understanding of Ministries, agencies and provinces on the role, tendency and approach to multilateral foreign policy in a new context, creating a forum to exchange experience and review the overall trend of multilateral foreign policy in the 21^st century, and discussing measures to improve the efficiency of multilateral diplomacy for national development and enhancement of Viet Nam’s international position.

2. 47^th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and related meetings (5^th-10^th August 2014)

The 47^th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM-47), the Post Ministerial Conference (PMC), the 15^th ASEAN +3 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (APT-15), the 4^th East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (EAS FMM-4) and the 21^st ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF-21) will be held from 5^th-10^th August 2014 in Nay Pyi-taw, Myanmar. The Foreign Ministers’ Meetings are to review cooperation within ASEAN, relations between ASEAN and its Partners, discuss further improvement of cooperation, and exchange views on global and regional issues of mutual concerns.

Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh will lead the Vietnamese delegation to these meetings with a view to further enhancing ASEAN unity and cooperation, building a strong, cohesive ASEAN Community and bringing into full play the ASEAN centrality in maintaining peace, stability, security and cooperation in the region, broadening and deepening ASEAN relations with its Partners for common goals and interests.

At the same time, other ministerial meetings within the cooperation framework between Mekong countries and partners will also be held such as the 7th Lower Mekong Initiative Foreign Ministerial Meetings, the 4th Friends of the Lower Mekong Ministerial Meeting, the 8th Mekong- Ganga Cooperation Meeting and the 7th Mekong- Japan Summit.

3. Japanese Foreign Minister to pay official visit to Viet Nam and co-chair 6th Meeting of Viet Nam-Japan Cooperation Committee (31 July-02 August 2014)

At the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh, Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida will make an official visit to Viet Nam from 31 July to 02 August 2014 and to co-chair the 6th Meeting of Viet Nam- Japan Cooperation Committee.

The visit of Japanese Foreign Minister and the 6th Meeting of Viet Nam-Japan Cooperation Committee are aimed at further enhancing the breadth and depth of the strategic partnership between Viet Nam and Japan towards a comprehensive level of development, and strengthening bilateral trust and cooperation in many areas such as economics, agriculture, trade and investment.

In addition, during his stay in Viet Nam, Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida will make courtesy calls on Vietnamese high level leaders and visit Hoa Lac Hi-tech Park.

II. QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Responding to reporters’ questions on measures to protect Vietnamese people in Libya, FM Spokesman Le Hai Binh said:

“There are estimatedly 1,550 Vietnamese nationals working in Libya, mostly in areas unaffected by hostility. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) has instructed Vietnamese diplomatic missions to Libya and other countries in the region to closely follow the situation, and cooperate with local authorities and companies having contracts with Vietnamese labors to provide assistance to Vietnamese nationals working in Libya and assure their safety.

In response to complicating developments in Libya, the Viet Nam Embassy in Libya has kept uninterrupted contact with Vietnamese nationals working here to learn about their situation and provide timely assistance.

The MOFA has been closely collaborating with the Ministry of Labors, War Invalids and Social Affairs as well as Vietnamese diplomatic missions to Libya and other countries in the region to follow the situation and work out necessary measures to secure the safety of Vietnamese nationals working in Libya.

The Viet Nam Embassy in Libya has established two hotlines. The MOFA Consular Department has also established another hotline. These lines operate 24/24 to assist Vietnamese nationals./.”