1. FM Pham Binh Minh to attend AMM-45/PMC/ARF-19 (Jul. 08-13)

Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh will lead a Vietnamese Delegation to attend the 45th ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting (AMM-45) and related meetings (PMC/EAS, ARF-19) from July 8 – 13 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. On this occasion, Minister Minh will also attend the Mekong-Japan Foreign Ministerial Meeting, Mekong-Korea Foreign Ministerial Meeting, the 5th Lower Mekong Initiative Ministerial Meeting, and Friends of the Lower Mekong Foreign Ministerial Meeting.

These are important annual ministerial meetings in the region where orientations and measures are discussed to boost cooperation within ASEAN and between ASEAN and its partners and international and regional issues of mutual concern.

Attending AMM-45 and related meetings, Viet Nam and other ASEAN member states will continuing to strengthen solidarity and cooperation within ASEAN, maintaining ASEAN’s active role and responsibility for regional peace and security and boosting cooperation with the group’s partners.

2. Cuban President to visit to Viet Nam (Jul. 7-10)

At the invitation of Vietnamese Party and State leaders, H.E. Raul Castro Ruz, the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba, President of the State Council and the Ministers Council of the Republic of Cuba will pay an official visit to Viet Nam from July 7 – 10.

The visit is aimed at strengthening and enhancing the solidarity, friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the two Parties, States and peoples. Cuban and Vietnamese leaders will discuss practical ways and means to boost bilateral relations and enhance their collaboration in international forums.

3. Japanese FM to visit Viet Nam (Jul. 13-14)

At the invitation of Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh, Japanese Foreign Minister Gemba Koichiro will pay an official visit to Viet Nam and co-chair the 4th Viet Nam – Japan Cooperation Joint Committee from July 13 – 14.

The visit aims at consolidating and enhancing the Viet Nam-Japan Strategic Partnership, deepening bilateral cooperation towards substantiality and effectiveness, intensifying collaboration in regional and international issues of mutual concern. The two sides will also work on organization of commemorative activities for the Viet Nam – Japan Friendship Year in 2013.

4. Sri Lankan FM to visit Vietnam (Jul. 16 – 18)

At the invitation of Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh, Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Gamini Lakshman Peiris is going to pay an official visit to Viet Nam and co-chair the 3rd Viet Nam – Sri Lanka Joint Committee on Economic, Trade, Science and Technology Cooperation from July 16 to 18.

The two sides will review bilateral cooperation since the 2nd Joint Committee meeting (in 2009) and put forward orientations to improve cooperation in the coming time. The two sides will also discuss international and regional issues of mutual concern.

1. Question: The European Free Trade Association (EFTA) has announced on July 3rd in Hanoi that EFTA recognizes Viet Nam as a market economy and kick-starts negotiations on a free trade agreement with Viet Nam. What is your comment on the significance of this event?

Answer:

“The recognition by the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), consisting of Norway, Switzerland, Iceland and Liechtenstein, that Vietnam is a market economy, together with the launch of FTA negotiations between Vietnam and EFTA, is an important step forward in the ties between Viet Nam and EFTA, especially in economics and trade. This move creates a new framework that helps expand and deepen the multi-faceted and mutually beneficial relationship between Vietnam and the EFTA, as equal partners.

The fact that for the first time EFTA, as a group, recognized Viet Nam’s market economy status, once again shows that the international community positively and broadly supports Vietnam’s renewal (Doi Moi) process, as well as its socialist-oriented market economy and active international integration.”

2. Question:  In the upcoming AMM and ARF, will Viet Nam put forward any initiative to promote peace, stability and dispute settlement in the East Sea?

Answer:

“Peace, stability, security and maritime safety in the East Sea are the common interest of ASEAN as well as all countries in the region and the world.

ASEAN’s united stance is to maintain peace, stability, security and maritime safety in the East Sea, advocate policy of peaceful settlement of disputes on the basis of international law, especially the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the spirit of Declaration of Conduct of parties in South China Sea ( DOC).

These meetings are important forum covering many cooperation fields within ASEAN and between ASEAN and partners and they will discuss issues of mutual concerns.
As a member of ASEAN, Viet Nam will join efforts with other ASEAN countries to contribute to maintaining peace and stability in the region”.