ANNOUNCEMENT

+ DPM Nguyen Thien Nhan to visit Switzerland (Aug. 30  – Sep. 1)

At the invitation of the Federal Government of Switzerland, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan will pay a working visit to Switzerland from August 30 to September 1, 2012.

The visit is aimed at enhancing the cooperation between Viet Nam and Switzerland in the areas of trade and investment, development and cooperation, education and training, science and technology, healthcare etc. Both sides will also discuss international and regional issues of common interests.

The DPM is expected to hold talks with Swiss Ministers of  Federal Department of Home Affairs and of Federal Department of Economic Affairs, visit pharmaceuticals manufacturing and healthcare facilities, and meet with fellow Vietnamese in Switzerland.

+ DPM Nguyen Thien Nhan to visit Bulgaria (Sep. 2 – 4)

At the invitation of the Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister cum Minister of Finance Simeon Djankov, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan will pay an official visit to Bulgaria from September 2 – 4, 2012.

The visit is aimed at enhancing the cooperation between Viet Nam and Bulgaria in the fields of economics, education and training, science and technology, etc.

The Vietnamese DPM is to pay a courtesy call on the Bulgarian President, hold talks with the Bulgarian DPM cum Minister of Finance, meet with Bulgarian Ministers of Education, Youth and Science and of Economy, Energy and Tourism. DPM Nhan will also visit economic and educational establishments and meet with fellow Vietnamese in Bulgaria.

+ Minister Pham Binh Minh to attend the Non – Aligned Movement Summit, Iran (Aug. 30 – 31)

Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh will lead a Vietnamese delegation to attend the 16th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement in Tehran, Iran on August 30 and 31,  2012.

Prompted by the policy of active and pro-active international integration, Viet Nam wishes to make active, constructive, and responsible contributions to promoting the role and prestige of the Non-Aligned Movement while defending its basic principles and legitimate interests of its members. Viet Nam will also seek to enhance the participation and contributions of NAM countries in international bodies, North-South and South-South cooperation and strengthen the relationship between Viet Nam and other NAM members.
 
Question and Answer:

Question: What is Viet Nam’s reaction to the August 20 announcement by Taiwan to hold a live-fire exercise on the Vietnamese Ba Binh (Itu Aba) Island next month?

Answer:

We oppose the Taiwanese above mentioned plan. The conduct of a live-fire exercise by Taiwan on Ba Binh Island, Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago of Viet Nam, constitutes serious violations of Viet Nam’s sovereignty, threatens peace, stability, security and maritime safety, increases tension and complicates the situation in the East Sea. We ask Taiwan to immediately cancel the plan.